Alaunos Therapeutics Inc

Current report

The United States has enacted and continues to enact significant new tariffs, and President Trump has directed various federal agencies to further evaluate key aspects of U.S. trade policy. There has been and are ongoing discussions and commentaries regarding potential significant changes to U.S. trade policies, treaties and tariffs. There exists significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the U.S. and other countries with respect to such trade policies, treaties and tariffs. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may have a material adverse effect on global and domestic economic conditions, whether or not there will be a recession, and the stability of global and domestic financial markets, and may significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between the impacted nations and the U.S. These actions and policies may adversely affect the ability of the Company to fund our operations, affect our ability to develop products and work with partner companies and generally carry on our respective businesses. Although it is not yet possible to assess their impact, any of these factors could depress economic activity and restrict access to suppliers or customers, hinder our ability to obtain funding from the government through grants and from investors, and have a material adverse effect on our overall business, financial condition and results of operations.

Current report

*If Nasdaq does not approve our plan for compliance with Nasdaq List Rule 5550(b)(1) following the April 7, 2025 notice that our stockholders' equity has fallen below the required $2,500,000, we may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market exchange.

Current report

On April 7, 2025, the Company received the Notice from the Listing Qualifications staff of Nasdaq notifying us that our stockholders equity as reported in our 2024 10-K, did not satisfy the continued listing requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) for the Nasdaq Capital Market (the "Nasdaq SE Rule"), which requires that a listed company’s stockholder equity be at least $2,500,000. In our 2024 10-K, we reported stockholders’ equity of $2,063,000, and, as a result, do not currently satisfy Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). While the Notice has no immediate effect on our Nasdaq listing, in order to regain compliance, we are required to present a our plan within 45 calendar days or by May 22, 2025 to Nasdaq staff. If our compliance plan is accepted at that time, we may be granted up to 180 calendar days from April 7, 2025, to evidence compliance.

Current report

We may not be able to timely present a plan for compliance within the 45 days. Even if we do present a compliance plan within the prescribed deadline, Nasdaq staff may find it insufficient to evidence compliance with the Nasdaq SE Rule. If they do not find it sufficient, we may be delisted. If the Nasdaq staff do find our plan to sufficiently demonstrate compliance with the Nasdaq SE Rule, we may be granted up to 180 calendar days to implement the plan and regain compliance. Nasdaq may provide us insufficient time to implement our compliance plan or at the end of the compliance period, we may not be able to demonstrate compliance for any number of reasons. If any of these events occur, we could be delisted.

Current report

*Artificial intelligence used by us and our partners and vendors may have negative effects on our company.

Current report

Artificial intelligence or AI use in many industries has rapidly expanded. While we do not utilize any specific AI technologies internal to Alaunos, we may work with vendors or service providers that do utilize AI technologies with or without our knowledge. Areas in which our business that could be negatively impacted include novel cybersecurity threats such as malicious code or phishing attempts. AI could also perpetrate fraud or misappropriation of company funds. From a regulatory standpoint, we could be liable for noncompliance related to data compromise or perceived or actual noncompliance with data privacy or protection or AI requirements to various agencies or jurisdictions. There are also potential risks around ethical, social, and reputational risks should AI cause us to infringe on privacy rights or violate intellectual property rights. AI is also known for “deep fakes” or false information being spread electronically and attributed to innocent companies and their management or directors. Such accusations could negatively impact human rights, privacy, employment, or other social concerns, which may result in claims, lawsuits, brand or reputational harm, and increased regulatory scrutiny, any of which could harm our business, financial condition, and operating results. Operational risks potentially caused by AI technologies include unanticipated disruptions to systems, potential loss or corruption of data, implementation delays, and cost overruns that could stem from underlying defects in the AI tools used. Finally, competition risk may result from rapid adoption of AI that could provide unforeseen advantages to our competitors and lead to the erosion of our market share by potentially leading to the emergence of new products and categories, the rapid maturation of categories, cannibalization of categories, changing price points and product replacement and upgrade cycles.

Previous report

RISKS RELATED TO OUR STRATEGIC REPRIORITIZATION

Previous report

*Our strategic reprioritization may not be successful, may not yield the desired results and we may be unsuccessful in identifying and implementing any strategic transaction.

Previous report

On August 14, 2023, we announced a strategic reprioritization of our business and wind down of our TCR-T Library Phase 1/2 Trial. In connection with the reprioritization, we have reduced our workforce by approximately 95% to date and we continue working to reduce costs in order to extend our cash runway. We continue to explore strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, sale of assets, strategic partnerships, capital raises or other transactions. We have engaged Cantor to act as strategic advisor for this process. In addition, while we are evaluating several potential opportunities including our own internal obesity program, there is no assurance that any of these potential opportunities will come to fruition.

Previous report

We believe there is value in our hunTR® TCR discovery platform. However, the platform is experimental. There can be no assurances that we can succeed in improving the platform’s appeal and increasing its value. The value of our hunTR platform may be affected by our termination of the A&R License Agreement with Precigen which returned our rights to the Sleeping Beauty technology on which the platform was designed. We may be unable to successfully monetize the platform or any TCRs we discovered, either through partnerships or out-licensing.

Previous report

We expect to devote substantial time and resources to exploring strategic alternatives that our Board of Directors believes will maximize stockholder value. Despite devoting significant efforts to identify and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, there can be no assurance that this strategic review process will result in us pursuing any transaction or that any transaction, if pursued, will be completed on attractive terms or at all. We have not set a timetable for completion of this strategic review process, and our Board of Directors has not approved a definitive course of action. Additionally, there can be no assurances that any particular course of action, business arrangement or transaction, or series of transactions, will be pursued, successfully consummated or lead to increased stockholder value or that we will make any additional cash distributions to our stockholders.

Previous report

The process of continuing to evaluate these strategic options may be very costly, time-consuming and complex and we have incurred, and may in the future incur, significant costs related to this continued evaluation, such as legal and accounting fees and expenses and other related charges. We may also incur additional unanticipated expenses in connection with this process. A considerable portion of these costs will be incurred regardless of whether any such course of action is implemented or whether any transaction is completed. Any such expenses will decrease the remaining cash available for use in our business.

Previous report

In addition, potential counterparties in a strategic transaction involving the Company may place minimal or no value on our assets or our public listing. Further, for our small molecule oral obesity program or should we resume the development of our product candidates of our TCR-T program, the development and any potential commercialization of our product candidates will require substantial additional cash to fund the costs associated with conducting the necessary preclinical and clinical testing and obtaining regulatory approval. Consequently, any potential counterparty in a strategic transaction involving the Company may choose not to spend additional resources and continue development of our product candidates and may attribute little or no value, in such a transaction, to those product candidates.

Previous report

If we are not successful in setting forth a new strategic path for the Company, or if our plans are not executed in a timely fashion, this may cause reputational harm with our stockholders and the value of our securities may be adversely impacted. In addition, speculation regarding any developments related to the review of strategic alternatives and perceived uncertainties related to the future of the Company could cause our stock price to fluctuate significantly.

Previous report

Even if we successfully consummate a transaction from our strategic assessment, we may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the transaction, those benefits may take longer to realize than expected, or we may encounter integration difficulties.

Previous report

Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of any potential business combination or any other result from our strategic assessment is highly uncertain. Any anticipated benefits will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to integrate with any future business partner, the success of any future business we may engage in following the transaction and our ability to obtain value for our product candidates or technologies, if divested. The process may be disruptive to our business and the expected benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated timeframe, or at all. The failure to meet the challenges involved and to realize the anticipated benefits of any potential transaction could adversely affect our business and financial condition. Furthermore, our stockholders may experience substantial dilution as a result of the transaction without receiving the expected commensurate benefit, or only receiving part of the commensurate benefit to the extent we are able to realize only part of the expected strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from a transaction.

Previous report

*We may require substantial additional financial resources to continue as a going concern, including through the strategic review process, and if we raise additional funds, this may materially and negatively affect the value of your investment in our common stock.

Previous report

We have not generated significant revenue and have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we had a net loss of $3.9 million, and, as of September 30, 2024, our accumulated deficit since inception in 2003 was $919.7 million. Although we are in the process of implementing a restructuring plan, or the Plan, whereby we are winding down our TCR-T Library Phase 1/2 Trial, other development programs and implemented a reduction in force, in order to reduce operating expenditures and net losses, as discussed above, there can be no assurances we will be successful at all, or in the amount we anticipate. In connection with our strategic reprioritization, we unilaterally terminated the CRADA in August 2023 and the Patent License in October 2023.

Previous report

As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $1.7 million of cash and cash equivalents. Following implementation of the Plan, we anticipate our cash resources will be sufficient to fund our operations into the third quarter of 2024. We have not set a timetable for completion of the strategic review process and the timing of consummating a strategic transaction, if any, is not entirely within our control. We have no committed sources of additional capital at this time. Accordingly, we could exhaust our current cash resources prior to the identification or consummation of a suitable strategic alternative, requiring the Company to raise additional capital.

Previous report

We anticipate that our exploration of strategic alternatives will make it more difficult to raise additional capital. To the extent that we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our existing stockholders’ ownership will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, creating liens, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends, which may further constrain our ability to execute on strategic alternatives.

Previous report

We follow the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, in order to determine whether there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date our financial statements are issued. Based on the current cash forecast, management has determined that our present capital resources will not be sufficient to fund our planned operations for at least one year from the issuance date of the financial statements, which raises substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.

Previous report

The forecast of cash resources is forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, and our actual cash requirements may vary materially from our current expectations for a number of other factors that may include, but are not limited to, the progress of our strategic review and the pursuit of and progress on one or more options identified in such review. Global political and economic events, including the war in Ukraine and increased inflation, have already resulted in a significant disruption of global financial markets. If the disruption persists and deepens, we could experience an inability to access additional capital or make the terms of any available financing less attractive, which could in the future negatively affect our operations.

Previous report

increased near-term and long-term expenditures;

Previous report

unknown liabilities;

Previous report

higher than expected acquisition or integration costs;

Previous report

increased amortization expenses;

Previous report

difficulty and cost in combining the operations and personnel of any counterparty business with our operations and personnel;

Previous report

possibility of future litigation.

Previous report

Any of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.

Previous report

There can be no assurance that a strategic transaction will be completed. If a strategic transaction is not completed, our Board of Directors may decide to pursue a dissolution and liquidation. In such an event, the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders will depend heavily on the timing of such decision and, with the passage of time the amount of cash available for distribution will be reduced as we continue to fund our operations and exploration of strategic alternatives. In addition, if our Board of Directors were to approve and recommend, and our stockholders were to approve, a dissolution and liquidation, we would be required under Delaware corporate law to pay our outstanding obligations, as well as to make reasonable provision for contingent and unknown obligations, prior to making any distributions in liquidation to our stockholders. As a result of this requirement, a portion of our assets may need to be reserved pending the resolution of such obligations and the timing of any such resolution is uncertain. In addition, we may be subject to litigation or other claims related to a dissolution and liquidation. If a dissolution and liquidation were pursued, our Board of Directors, in consultation with our advisors, would need to evaluate these matters and make a determination about a reasonable amount to reserve. Accordingly, holders of our common stock could lose all or a significant portion of their investment in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Previous report

Our ability to consummate a strategic transaction depends on our ability to retain our remaining employees and consultants.

Previous report

Our ability to consummate a strategic transaction depends upon our ability to retain our remaining employees and consultants, the loss of whose services may adversely impact our ability to consummate such transaction. In connection with the evaluation of strategic alternatives and in order to extend our resources, on August 14, 2023, we implemented the Plan that included reducing our workforce. The reduction in force has impacted over 95% of our workforce to date, including key members of our management team. Our cash conservation activities may yield unintended consequences, such as attrition beyond our planned reduction in workforce and reduced employee morale, which may cause remaining employees and consultants to seek alternative opportunities. If we are unable to successfully retain our remaining personnel, we are at risk of a disruption to our exploration and consummation of a strategic alternative as well as business operations.

Previous report

Our corporate restructuring and the associated headcount reduction may not result in anticipated savings, could result in total costs and expenses that are greater than expected and could significantly disrupt our business.

Previous report

On August 14, 2023, in connection with the evaluation of strategic alternatives and in order to extend our resources, our Board of Directors approved the Plan that included reducing our workforce, which has impacted over 95% of our workforce to date. In addition, the Plan included a discontinuation of our clinical development programs and further prioritization of our resources as we assess strategic alternatives. We may not realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits, savings and improvements in our cost structure from our restructuring efforts due to unforeseen difficulties, delays or unexpected costs. If we are unable to realize the expected operational efficiencies and cost savings from the restructuring, our operating results and financial condition would be adversely affected. Furthermore, the Plan may be disruptive to our operations. For example, our headcount reductions could yield unanticipated consequences, such as increased difficulties in implementing our business strategy, including retention of our remaining employees and consultants. Any employee litigation related to the headcount reduction could be costly and prevent management from fully concentrating on the business.

Previous report

Any future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees. Due to our limited resources, we may not be able to effectively manage our operations or recruit and retain qualified personnel, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure and operations, risks that we may not be able to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, and loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. For example, the workforce reduction may negatively impact our clinical, regulatory, technical operations, and commercial functions, should we choose to continue to pursue them, which would have a negative impact on our ability to successfully develop, and ultimately, commercialize our product candidates. Our future financial performance and our ability to develop our product candidates or additional assets will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth or restructuring, as the case may be.

Previous report

In the past, litigation, including securities class action litigation, has often followed certain significant business transactions, such as the sale of a company or announcement of any other strategic transaction, or the announcement of negative events, such as negative results from clinical trials. These events may also result in investigations by the SEC or other governmental agencies. We may be exposed to such litigation even if no wrongdoing occurred. Litigation is usually expensive and diverts management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect our business and cash resources and our ability to consummate a potential strategic transaction or the ultimate value our stockholders receive in any such transaction.

Previous report

We received a Delisting Determination from Nasdaq. Delisting could prevent us from maintaining an active, liquid and orderly trading market for our common stock and may materially and adversely impact our ability to consummate certain strategic transactions.

Previous report

Our ability to publicly or privately sell equity securities and the liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected if we are delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market or if we are unable to transfer our listing to another stock market. On January 4, 2023, we were notified by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, that we were in breach of Listing Rule 5450(a)(1), or the Minimum Bid Price Rule, for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market because the minimum bid price of our listed securities for 30 consecutive business days had been less than $1 per share. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), or the Compliance Period Rule, we were provided a period of 180 calendar days, or until July 3, 2023, or the Compliance Date, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement. On June 22, 2023, we applied to transfer our listing from the Nasdaq Global Select Market to the Nasdaq Capital Market, or the Transfer. On July 5, 2023, Nasdaq notified us that the Transfer was approved, and that, in connection with the Transfer, we were eligible for an additional 180 calendar day period, or until January 2, 2024, or the Extended Compliance Date, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule.

Previous report

On November 8, 2023, we received the Delisting Determination notifying us that, because the closing bid price for our common stock was below $0.10 per share for 10 consecutive trading days during the Extended Compliance Period, the Staff has determined to suspend trading of our common stock on Nasdaq, effective November 17, 2023, and file a Form 25-NSE with the SEC to remove our common stock from listing and registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless we timely request an appeal of the Delisting Determination to the Panel. On November 14, 2023, we timely filed a notice requesting a hearing before the Panel to appeal the Delisting Determination. A hearing was initially scheduled for February 15, 2024 and subsequently rescheduled to January 25, 2024. Our common stock continued to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market Exchange, or the Exchange, under the symbol "TCRT" during this time. Following the hearing, on February 5, 2024, the Panel granted our request to continue listing on the Exchange subject to certain conditions until February 15, 2024. These conditions included the completion of the already shareholder approved 1-for-15 reverse stock split and compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule for ten consecutive trading days. We were required to provide prompt notification to the Panel of any "significant" events during the exception period. We executed this reverse stock split on January

Previous report

31, 2024. On February 16, 2024, we were notified by Nasdaq that we had regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. While we are now in compliance, we are now subject to a Mandatory Panel Monitor until February 16, 2025. If we fail to comply with the Minimum Bid Price Rule during this period, we will not be permitted to provide the Staff with a compliance plan and Staff will not be permitted to grant extra time to us to regain compliance. In addition, we would be issued a Delist Determination Letter with the opportunity to request a new hearing with the initial Panel, or a newly convened Hearings Panel if the initial Panel is not available.

Previous report

If our common stock is delisted by Nasdaq, it could lead to a number of negative implications, including an adverse effect on the price of our common stock, deterring broker-dealers from making a market in or otherwise seeking or generating interest in our common stock, increased volatility in our common stock, reduced liquidity in our common stock, the loss of federal preemption of state securities laws and greater difficulty in obtaining financing. Delisting could also cause a loss of confidence of our customers, collaborators, vendors, suppliers and employees, which could harm our business and future prospects.

Previous report

If our common stock is delisted by Nasdaq, the price of our common stock may decline, and although our common stock may be eligible to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board, another over-the-counter quotation system, or on the pink sheets, an investor may find it more difficult to dispose of their common stock or obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of our common stock. If our common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, trading in our securities may be subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules. These “penny stock” rules will require brokers trading in our common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our common stock. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by these requirements may discourage broker-dealers from recommending transactions in our securities, which could severely limit the liquidity of our securities and consequently adversely affect the market price for our securities. Furthermore, if our common stock is delisted, we would expect it to have an adverse impact on our ability to consummate certain strategic alternatives.

Previous report

Further, if our common stock is delisted, we would incur additional costs under state blue sky laws in connection with any sales of our securities. These requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of our common stock and the ability of our stockholders to sell our common stock in the secondary market.

Previous report

*We do not have approval by our shareholders for a third reverse stock split of our common stock to enable the Board of Directors to respond to a Panel if we fail to comply with the Minimum Bid Price Rule during the monitor period.

Previous report

If we receive another delisting notice in respect of the Minimum Bid Price Rule during the monitor period, then we will have to convene a special shareholder meeting to obtain approval for another reverse stock split. There is no guarantee that the Panel will grant us an exception to convene such a meeting. There is no guarantee that the shareholders would approve another reserve stock split.

Previous report

*Shareholders may not approve another reverse stock split.