Equillium, Inc.
For the period ended Jun 30, 2025. Filed Aug 14, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Jun 30, 2025 · Filed Aug 14, 2025
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-03-31; filed 2025-05-14.
0000950170-25-071389
Item 1A. RISK FACTORSCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2025-06-30; filed 2025-08-14.
0000950170-25-108834
Item 1A. RISK FACTORSOTHER INFORMATIONThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 413 previous paragraphs and 457 current paragraphs.
317 unchanged; 79 reworded; 57 added; 16 removed; 1 previous and 4 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 1 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (57)
Current report
Raising additional equity capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, and raising additional equity or debt capital may restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates;
Current report
On August 10, 2025, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement, with certain institutional and accredited investors, the Investors, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001, and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of common stock, in up to two closings in a private placement transaction, the Private Placement. The initial closing of the Private Placement occurred on August 12, 2025, the Initial Closing. At the Initial Closing, we issued and sold 21,814,874 shares at a purchase price of $0.57 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 30,816,705 warrant shares at a purchase price of $0.5699 per warrant share, the Warrant Price, to the Investors for gross proceeds to us of approximately $30.0 million. The Purchase Agreement also provides for a potential second closing for up to approximately $20.0 million in gross proceeds in exchange for up to approximately 35,087,717 shares of common stock, subject to achieving certain specified milestones related to clinical study initiation and stock price conditions or waiver thereof. We expect to use the net proceeds from the private placement transaction to accelerate the clinical development of EQ504, a novel aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or AhR, modulator into a Phase 1 proof-of-mechanism study into mid-2026, with data expected to follow approximately six months thereafter.
Current report
the cost, timing and impact of our new cryptocurrency treasury reserve strategy, if implemented.
Current report
We operate in a global economy, which includes utilizing third-party suppliers in several countries outside the United States. There is inherent risk, based on the complex relationships among the U.S. and the countries in which we conduct our business, that political, diplomatic, and national security factors can lead to global trade restrictions and changes in trade policies and export regulations that may adversely affect our business and operations. The current international trade and regulatory environment is subject to significant ongoing uncertainty. The U.S. government has recently announced substantial new tariffs affecting a wide range of products and jurisdictions and has indicated an intention to continue developing new trade policies, including with respect to the pharmaceutical industry. In response, certain foreign governments have announced or implemented retaliatory tariffs and other protectionist measures. These developments have created a dynamic and unpredictable trade landscape, which may adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Current report
Current or future tariffs would result in increased research and development expenses, including with respect to increased costs associated with APIs, raw materials, laboratory equipment and research materials and components. In addition, such tariffs would increase our supply chain complexity and could also potentially disrupt our existing supply chain. Trade restrictions affecting the import of materials necessary for clinical trials could result in delays to our development timelines. Increased development costs and extended development timelines could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to companies operating in regions with more favorable trade relationships and could reduce investor confidence, negatively impacting our ability to secure additional financing on favorable terms or at all. In addition, as we advance toward commercialization in the future, tariffs and trade restrictions could hinder our ability to establish cost-effective production capabilities, negatively impacting our growth prospects.
Current report
Intellectual property rights may address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.
Current report
Obligations related to data privacy and security (and consumers’ data privacy expectations) are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating uncertainty. Additionally, these obligations may be subject to differing applications and interpretations, which may be inconsistent or conflict among jurisdictions. Preparing for and complying with these obligations requires us to devote significant resources and may necessitate changes to our services, information technologies, systems, and practices and to those of any third parties that process personal data on our behalf.
Current report
The market price of our common stock has fluctuated in the past and may fluctuate significantly in the future in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:
Current report
the registration and subsequent sale of the Shares and Warrant Shares issued in the Private Placement;
Current report
On June 12, 2025, the Company received another notice from Nasdaq that the Company was granted an additional 180 calendar days, until December 8, 2025, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. This notice from Nasdaq states that if compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement cannot be demonstrated by December 8, 2025, Nasdaq staff will provide written notification that the Company’s common stock will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal Nasdaq staff’s determination to a Nasdaq hearings panel.
Current report
Raising additional equity capital would cause dilution to our stockholders, and raising additional equity or debt capital may restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates.*
Current report
As disclosed above, on August 12, 2025, we issued and sold 21,814,874 shares at a purchase price of $0.57 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 30,816,705 warrant shares at a purchase price of $0.5699 per warrant share, to the investors for gross proceeds to us of approximately $30.0 million in connection with the Private Placement. Additionally, the Purchase Agreement provides for a potential second closing for up to approximately $20.0 million in gross proceeds in exchange for up to approximately 35,087,717 shares of common stock, subject to achieving certain specified milestones related to clinical study initiation and stock price conditions or waiver thereof.
Current report
We have indemnity obligations and other responsibilities under the registration rights agreement and securities purchase agreement entered into with investors on August 12, 2025. If these obligations are not met, we may be required to pay damages and indemnify the investors.*
Current report
The registration rights agreement obligates us to file registration statements in a timely manner to register shares sold to investors and maintain their effectiveness to enable the sale of shares by the investors. If we fail to meet these requirements, or if investors cannot sell their shares, we may have to pay damages to the investors of up to 5% of the total purchase price for the shares under the securities purchase agreement.
Current report
We are required to indemnify investors for breaches of our representations, warranties or covenants in the securities purchase agreement. The registration rights agreement also has indemnity obligations for inaccuracies or omissions in registration statements or prospectuses, or violations of securities laws. If we are required to indemnify the investors the costs could be material.
Current report
Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets, and fluctuations in the price of cryptocurrencies are likely to influence our financial results and the market price of our common stock.*
Current report
In August 2025 we announced the expansion of our treasury strategy to include digital currencies for the diversification, liquidity and long-term capital appreciation potential they represent, and we updated our treasury investment policy to permit such investments. We have not initiated our cryptocurrency treasury strategy but we may in the future invest in or otherwise acquire digital currencies.
Current report
Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets, and significant fluctuations in the price of cryptocurrencies over short periods of time are likely to influence our financial results and the market price of our common stock. Our financial results and the market price of our common stock would be adversely affected, and our business and financial condition would be negatively impacted, if the price of cryptocurrency decreased substantially (as it has in the past, such as during 2022), including as a result of:
Current report
decreased user and investor confidence in cryptocurrency, including due to the various factors described herein;
Current report
investment and trading activities such as (i) trading activities of highly active retail and institutional users, speculators, miners and investors, or of the U.S. or state governments, (ii) actual or expected significant dispositions of cryptocurrency by large holders, and (iii) actual or perceived manipulation of the spot or derivative markets for cryptocurrency or spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded products, or ETPs;
Current report
negative publicity, media or social media coverage, or sentiment due to events in or relating to, or perception of, cryptocurrency or the broader digital assets industry, for example, (i) public perception that cryptocurrency can be used as a vehicle to circumvent sanctions, including sanctions imposed on Russia or certain regions related to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, or to fund criminal or terrorist activities, such as the purported use of digital assets by Hamas to fund its terrorist attack against Israel in October 2023; (ii) expected or pending civil, criminal, regulatory enforcement or other high profile actions against major participants in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, including potential future SEC enforcement actions; (iii) additional filings for bankruptcy protection or bankruptcy proceedings of major digital asset industry participants, such as the bankruptcy proceeding of FTX Trading and its affiliates; and (iv) the actual or perceived environmental impact of cryptocurrency and related activities, including environmental concerns raised by private individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other actors related to the energy resources consumed in the cryptocurrency mining process;
Current report
changes in consumer preferences and the perceived value or prospects of cryptocurrency;
Current report
competition from other digital assets that exhibit better transaction speed, security, scalability, or energy efficiency, that feature other more favored characteristics, that are backed or held in large amounts by governments, including the U.S. government, or reserves of fiat currencies, or that represent ownership or security interests in physical assets;
Current report
a decrease in the price of other digital assets, including stablecoins, or the crash or unavailability of stablecoins that are used as a medium of exchange for cryptocurrency purchase and sale transactions, such as the crash of the stablecoin Terra USD in 2022, to the extent the decrease in the price of such other digital assets or the unavailability of such stablecoins may cause a decrease in the price of cryptocurrency or adversely affect investor confidence in digital assets generally;
Current report
disruptions, failures, unavailability, or interruptions in service of trading venues for cryptocurrency, such as, for example, the announcement by the digital asset exchange FTX Trading that it would freeze withdrawals and transfers from its accounts and subsequent filing for bankruptcy protection or an SEC enforcement action brought against an exchange or other trading venue, which seeks to freeze all of its assets during the pendency of the enforcement action;
Current report
regulatory, legislative, enforcement and judicial actions that adversely affect the price, ownership, transferability, trading volumes, legality or public perception of cryptocurrency, or that adversely affect the operations of or otherwise prevent digital asset custodians, trading venues, lending platforms or other digital assets industry participants from operating in a manner that allows them to continue to deliver services to the digital assets industry;
Current report
transaction congestion and fees associated with processing transactions on the applicable cryptocurrency network;
Current report
developments in mathematics or technology, including in digital computing, algebraic geometry and quantum computing, that could result in the cryptography used by the cryptocurrency blockchain becoming insecure or ineffective; and
Current report
changes in national and international economic and political conditions, including, without limitation, the adverse impact attributable to the economic and political instability caused by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the economic sanctions adopted in response to the conflict, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, as well as expectations regarding changes to the regulatory environment, including for the U.S. digital asset industry.
Current report
We may use the net proceeds from any offering by the company to purchase cryptocurrencies, the price of which has been, and will likely continue to be, highly volatile.*
Current report
Except for the proceeds from the Private Placement, we may use the net proceeds from any offering by the Company, including the Open Market Sale Agreement SM, dated October 5, 2023, as amended August 3, 2025, or the Agreement, between LifeSci Capital LLC and us, to purchase cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and do not pay interest or other returns, and, as a result, our ability to generate a return on any investments into cryptocurrencies from the net proceeds from any offering will depend on whether there is appreciation in the value of the cryptocurrencies we purchase, if any, following our purchases thereof with the net proceeds from such offering. Future fluctuations in cryptocurrency trading prices may result in our converting cryptocurrencies purchased with the net proceeds from an offering, if any, into cash with a value substantially below the net proceeds from such offering.
Current report
Cryptocurrency and other digital assets are novel assets, and are subject to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty.*
Current report
Cryptocurrency and other digital assets are relatively novel and are subject to significant uncertainty, which could adversely impact their price. The application of state and federal securities laws and other laws and regulations to digital assets is unclear in certain respects and evolving, and it is possible that regulators in the United States or foreign countries may interpret or apply existing laws and regulations in a manner that adversely affects the price of digital assets or results in increased compliance costs, limitations on our business model, or the forced liquidation of our digital asset holdings, if any. We may also be subject to enforcement actions or penalties if our activities are deemed to violate applicable laws or regulations.
Current report
The U.S. federal government, states, regulatory agencies, and foreign countries may also enact new laws and regulations, or pursue regulatory, legislative, enforcement or judicial actions, that could materially impact the price of cryptocurrency or the ability of individuals or institutions such as us to own or transfer cryptocurrency. For example, in July 2025 the United States enacted the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Ac, or the GENIUS Act, the first federal statute establishing prudential requirements for the issuance, reserve backing and supervision of U.S.-dollar-pegged stablecoins. In the same week, the House of Representatives passed the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act of 2025, or the CLARITY Act, which—if ultimately enacted—would allocate jurisdiction between the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission and create a market-structure framework for digital commodities; the bill now awaits Senate action. International laws, including the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation and the U.K.’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 have also recently taken effect.
Current report
It is also not possible to predict the nature of any such additional authorities, how additional legislation or regulatory oversight—such as the implementing regulations under the GENIUS Act or any Senate amendments to the CLARITY Act—might impact the ability of digital asset markets to function or the willingness of financial and other institutions to continue to provide services to the digital assets industry, nor how any new regulations or changes to existing regulations might impact the value of digital assets generally and cryptocurrency specifically. The consequences of increased or different regulation of digital assets and digital asset activities could adversely affect the market price of cryptocurrency and in turn adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Current report
Moreover, the risks of engaging in a cryptocurrency treasury strategy are relatively novel and have created, and could continue to create, complications due to the lack of experience that third parties have with companies engaging in such a strategy, such as increased costs of director and officer liability insurance or the potential inability to obtain such coverage on acceptable terms in the future.
Current report
The growth of the digital assets industry in general, and the use and acceptance of cryptocurrency in particular, may also impact the price of cryptocurrency and is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The pace of worldwide growth in the adoption and use of cryptocurrency may depend, for instance, on public familiarity with digital assets, ease of buying, accessing or gaining exposure to cryptocurrency, institutional demand for cryptocurrency as an investment asset, the participation of traditional financial institutions in the digital assets industry, consumer demand for cryptocurrency as a means of payment, and the availability and popularity of alternatives to cryptocurrency. Even if growth in cryptocurrency adoption occurs in the near or medium-term, there is no assurance that cryptocurrency usage will continue to grow over the long-term.
Current report
Recent actions by U.S. banking regulators have reduced the ability of cryptocurrency-related services providers to gain access to banking services and liquidity of digital assets may also be impacted to the extent that changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements negatively impact the ability of exchanges and trading venues to provide services for cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
Showing the first 40 of 57 passages. Open the source sections for the rest.
Removed paragraphs (16)
Previous report
Our corporate cash saving initiatives and the associated headcount reductions we implemented, and potential additional headcount reductions in the future, could disrupt our business, and may not achieve our intended objectives;
Previous report
Should we need to pursue strategic alternatives or a dissolution of the company, the value to stockholders in such an event may depend on the extent to which we will be able to successfully satisfy our existing contractual obligations to third parties and regulatory commitments on favorable terms, which may include the outcome of our negotiations to reduce or terminate such commitments;
Previous report
Our 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 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. We have delayed and reduced the scope of our development activities including accelerating the closure of the Phase 3 EQUATOR study and not undertaking further development of EQ504 and EQ302. We may be forced to extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible at a potentially lower amount than as recorded in our financial statements, further curtail planned operations or cease operations entirely and wind up our business. Any of these could materially and adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and business prospects and, as a result, our stockholders may not receive full value, or may receive no value, for their investment. In light of our existing cash and cash equivalents and our current obligations, such a liquidation or disposition process may occur subject to bankruptcy.
Previous report
our ability to timely implement and realize the benefit of significant expense reductions;
Previous report
Our corporate cash saving initiatives and the associated headcount reductions we implemented, and potential additional headcount reductions in the future, could disrupt our business, and may not achieve our intended objectives.*
Previous report
Due to our limited cash balance and operating runway, we have undertaken and may continue to undertake cash savings initiatives that include terminating entirely certain development activities and eliminating certain positions, including executive-level positions. There can be no assurances that we will not need to eliminate additional positions as well as potentially reducing the size of our board of directors. These initiatives may be disruptive to our operations. For example, our headcount reductions could yield unanticipated consequences and costs, such as increased difficulties in implementing our business strategy due to the loss of institutional knowledge and expertise, attrition beyond the intended number of employees, decreased morale among our remaining employees, and the risk that we may not achieve the cost-saving benefits of the eliminated positions. In addition, while certain positions have been eliminated, certain functions necessary to our operations remain, and we may be unsuccessful in distributing the duties and obligations of departed employees among our remaining employees. The organizational reduction could also make it difficult for us to pursue, or prevent us from pursuing, new opportunities and initiatives or require us to incur additional and unanticipated costs to hire new personnel to pursue such opportunities or initiatives. Moreover, employee litigation related to the headcount reductions could be costly and prevent management from fully concentrating on the business.
Previous report
Our future financial performance and our ability to develop our product candidates or additional assets will depend, in part, on our ability to raise additional capital and effectively manage future growth or restructuring, as the case may be. In addition, if we are unable to realize the anticipated benefits from our cash savings initiatives, including those we discussed under “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources”, or if we experience significant adverse consequences of such initiatives, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Previous report
Should we need to pursue strategic alternatives or a dissolution of the company, the value to stockholders in such an event may depend on the extent to which we will be able to successfully satisfy our existing contractual obligations to third parties and regulatory commitments on favorable terms, which may include the outcome of our negotiations to reduce or terminate such commitments.
Previous report
We are currently subject to certain contractual and regulatory obligations and commitments. Should we pursue strategic alternatives, including potentially winding up operations entirely, we may seek to negotiate with third parties in order to reduce or eliminate such obligations and commitments. Our ability to successfully negotiate such obligations or commitments on favorable terms, or at all, or our ability to satisfy any such obligations may impact our ability to pursue a strategic transaction on terms favorable to us, the resulting value to stockholders in a strategic transaction or the cash available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our dissolution. We may also incur substantial costs in connection with or as a result of such negotiations or termination of any of our commitments. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in negotiating to reduce or eliminate any of our existing contractual or regulatory obligations and commitments, or that we will be able to satisfy any such obligations on a timetable that will allow us to maximize potential value to our stockholders.
Previous report
Itolizumab (EQ001) is a first-in-class immune-modifying mAb that selectively targets CD6, a target for which there are no FDA-approved therapies. This makes it difficult to predict the timing and costs of clinical development for itolizumab (EQ001). We do not know whether our approach in targeting CD6 will allow us to develop any products of commercial value.
Previous report
Targeting CD6 is a therapeutic approach that represents a significant component of our current research and development, and the successful development of this therapeutic approach to the diseases we are targeting for treatment plays a major factor in our future success. To date, there are no FDA-approved drugs that target CD6, and while there are a number of independent studies clinically validating CD6 as a target, other than our partner Biocon, CD6 has not traditionally been a pathway targeted by other biopharmaceutical companies. The regulatory approval process for novel product candidates such as itolizumab (EQ001) can be more expensive and take longer than for other, better known or extensively studied therapeutic approaches. Delay or failure to obtain, or unexpected costs in obtaining, the regulatory approval necessary to bring itolizumab (EQ001) to market could decrease our ability to generate sufficient revenue to maintain our business.
Previous report
Additionally, companion diagnostic tests may be developed for use with itolizumab (EQ001). We, or our collaborators, will be required to obtain FDA clearance or approval for these tests, as well as coverage and reimbursement separate and apart from the approval, coverage and reimbursement we seek for our itolizumab (EQ001). Our inability to collaborate with a companion diagnostics developer could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Previous report
We may not ultimately realize the potential benefits of orphan drug designation for itolizumab (EQ001) or, if we resume development activities, EQ101.
Previous report
Itolizumab (EQ101) has been granted orphan drug designations by the FDA for both the prevention and treatment of aGVHD, and EQ101 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency for CTCL. The FDA grants orphan designation to drugs that are intended to treat rare diseases with fewer than 200,000 patients in the United States or that affect more than 200,000 persons but are not expected to recover the costs of developing and marketing a treatment drug. Orphan drugs do not require prescription drug user fees with a marketing application, may qualify the drug development sponsor for certain tax credits, and may be eligible for a market exclusivity period of seven years (with certain exceptions). However, orphan drug designation neither shortens the development time nor regulatory review time of a product candidate nor gives the candidate any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process. Even if we are awarded marketing exclusivity, the FDA can still approve another drug containing the same active ingredient and used for the same orphan indication if it determines that a subsequent drug is safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care, and orphan exclusivity can be lost if the orphan drug manufacturer is unable to assure that a sufficient quantity of the orphan drug is available to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition. Orphan drug exclusivity may also be lost if the FDA later determines that the initial request for designation was materially defective. In addition, orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving competing drugs for the same or similar indication containing a different active ingredient. If orphan drug exclusivity is lost and we were unable to successfully enforce any remaining patents covering our eligible product candidates, we could be subject to biosimilar competition earlier than we anticipate. In addition, if a subsequent drug is approved for marketing for the same or a similar indication as itolizumab (EQ001) or EQ101, we may face increased competition and lose market share regardless of orphan drug exclusivity.
Previous report
our implementation and execution of a stock repurchase program;
Previous report
In the event we do not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement by June 11, 2025, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day compliance period if, on the last day of the initial compliance period, we meet the market value of publicly held shares requirement for continued listing as well as all other standards for initial listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and provide Nasdaq written notice of our intention to cure the bid price deficiency during the second compliance period. If we do not indicate our intent to cure the deficiency, or if it appears to Nasdaq that it is not possible for us to cure the deficiency, we will not be eligible for the second compliance period and our common stock will become subject to delisting. In the event that we receive notice that our common stock is being delisted, the Nasdaq listing rules permit us to appeal a delisting determination by the staff to a hearings panel.
Reworded paragraphs (79)
Previous wording
Our need for additional capital raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We will require substantial additional funding, in the immediate term, to continue operations and to resume and complete the planned or future development and any commercialization of EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001), EQ302 and any future product candidates. If we are unable to raise this capital when needed, we may be forced to delay or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations;
Current wording
We will require substantial additional funding to complete the planned or future development and any commercialization of EQ504, EQ302 and any future product candidates. If we are unable to raise this capital when needed, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations;
Previous wording
We are highly dependent on the successful planned or future development of our current product candidates, EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) and EQ302, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory or marketing approval of, or successfully commercialize, these product candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them;
Current wording
We are highly dependent on the successful planned or future development of our current product candidates, EQ504 and EQ302, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory or marketing approval of, or successfully commercialize, these product candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them;
Previous wording
We have licensed the rights to itolizumab in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Any adverse developments that occur during any research, clinical, or commercial use of itolizumab by Biocon or third parties in other jurisdictions may affect our ability to secure a partnership or financing to advance the further clinical development of itolizumab (EQ001), obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize itolizumab (EQ001) or otherwise adversely impact our business;
Current wording
We have licensed the rights to itolizumab in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Any adverse developments that occur during any research, clinical, or commercial use of itolizumab by Biocon or third parties in other jurisdictions may affect our ability to advance the further clinical development of itolizumab (EQ001), obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize itolizumab (EQ001) or otherwise adversely impact our business;
Previous wording
We have licensed itolizumab from Biocon pursuant to an exclusive license agreement, which license is conditioned upon us meeting certain diligence obligations with respect to the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of itolizumab, and making significant milestone payments in connection with regulatory approval and commercial milestones as well as royalty payments;
Current wording
We have licensed itolizumab from Biocon pursuant to an exclusive license agreement, which license is conditioned upon us meeting certain diligence obligations with respect to the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of itolizumab, and making significant milestone payments in connection with regulatory approval and commercial milestones as well as royalty payments. We do not intend to advance itolizumab in any further clinical development and may consider terminating our exclusive license agreement with Biocon or seeking alternative means to monetize our rights under the license agreement;
Previous wording
Any delays in the commencement or completion, or termination or suspension, of our planned or future clinical studies could result in increased costs to us, delay or limit our ability to raise capital or generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects;
Current wording
Any delays in the commencement and completion, or any termination or suspension, of our planned or future clinical studies could result in increased costs to us, and delay or limit our ability to raise capital or generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects;
Previous wording
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with contracted third parties to market and sell any of our approved products, if approved, we may not be able to generate product revenue.
Current wording
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with contracted third parties to market and sell any of our products, we may not be able to generate product revenue;
Previous wording
If we are unable to obtain or protect intellectual property rights covering our product candidates, or if the scope of the intellectual property protection is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products similar or identical to ours, and we may not be able to compete effectively in our market;
Current wording
If we are unable to obtain or protect intellectual property rights covering our product candidates, or if the scope of the intellectual property protection is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products similar or identical to our product candidates, and we may not be able to compete effectively in our market;
Previous wording
Even if our product candidates receive marketing approval in any indication, they may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, hospitals, healthcare payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
Current wording
Even if our product candidates receive marketing approval in any indication, they may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, hospitals, healthcare payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success; and
Previous wording
If we are unable to regain compliance with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, with an initial deadline of June 11, 2025, followed by a potential 180-day extension, our common stock may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and could make it difficult for you to sell your shares.
Current wording
If we are unable to regain compliance with the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, with an initial deadline of June 11, 2025, followed by a 180-day extension until December 8, 2025, our common stock may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and could make it difficult for you to sell your shares.
Previous wording
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company incorporated in March 2017 and our operations, to date, have consisted primarily of organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, in-licensing rights to itolizumab (EQ001), conducting preclinical development of EQ504 and EQ302, filing three INDs, conducting clinical development of itolizumab (EQ001), EQ101, and EQ102, conducting chemistry, manufacturing and controls, or CMC, and formulation development activities, conducting business development activities including the acquisitions of Bioniz, Inc. and Ariagen, Inc., effecting a stock repurchase program, and the general and administrative activities associated with being a public company. We have never completed the development of any product candidate through to marketing approval, and we have never generated any revenue from sales of an approved product. Consequently, we have no meaningful operations upon which to evaluate our business, and predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a history of successfully developing and commercializing biopharmaceutical products.
Current wording
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company incorporated in March 2017 and our operations, to date, have consisted primarily of organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, in-licensing product rights, conducting clinical and preclinical development, filing three INDs, conducting chemistry, manufacturing and controls, or CMC, and formulation development activities, conducting business development activities including the acquisitions of Bioniz, Inc. and Ariagen, Inc., effecting a stock repurchase program, and the general and administrative activities associated with being a public company. We have never completed the development of any product candidate through to marketing approval, and we have never generated any revenue from sales of an approved product. Consequently, we have no meaningful operations upon which to evaluate our business, and predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a history of successfully developing and commercializing biopharmaceutical products.
Previous wording
Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that a product candidate will fail to gain regulatory approval or become commercially viable. We have never generated any revenues from sales of an approved product, and we cannot estimate with precision the extent of our future losses. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and the year ended December 31, 2024, our net losses were $8.7 million and $8.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $202.5 million. Subject to raising additional capital in the second quarter of 2025, we expect to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future as we execute our plan to perform research and development activities, conduct preclinical studies on EQ504 and potentially other product candidates, potentially perform discovery research, conduct formulation development of our product candidates, potentially expand the indications for which we conduct clinical development of our product candidates, potentially acquire or develop new products and/or product candidates, seek regulatory approvals of and potentially commercialize any approved products, hire and retain additional personnel, maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, protect our intellectual property, and manage the administrative aspects of our business. Furthermore, strategic transactions have and may in the future accelerate the rate at which our operating losses increase, including as a result of preclinical, clinical and regulatory expenses incurred to advance our potential product candidates. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval of any of our product candidates, we expect to incur increased sales and marketing expenses, with certain of such investments potentially being made in advance of an approval. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. These losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our financial position and working capital.
Current wording
Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that a product candidate will fail to gain regulatory approval or become commercially viable. We have never generated any revenues from sales of an approved product, and we cannot estimate with precision the extent of our future losses. For the six months ended June 30, 2025 and the year ended December 31, 2024, our net losses were $14.4 million and $8.1 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $208.2 million. We expect to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future as we execute our plan to perform research and development activities, conduct preclinical studies on EQ504 and potentially other product candidates, potentially perform discovery research, conduct formulation development of our product candidates, potentially expand the indications for which we conduct clinical development of our product candidates, potentially acquire or develop new products and/or product candidates, seek regulatory approvals of and potentially commercialize any approved products, hire and retain additional personnel, maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, protect our intellectual property, and manage the administrative aspects of our business. Furthermore, strategic transactions have and may in the future accelerate the rate at which our operating losses increase, including as a result of preclinical, clinical and regulatory expenses incurred to advance our potential product candidates. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval of any of our product candidates, we expect to incur increased sales and marketing expenses, with certain of such investments potentially being made in advance of an approval. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. These losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our financial position and working capital.
Previous wording
Our need for additional capital raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We will require substantial additional funding, in the immediate term, to continue operations and to resume and complete the planned or future development and any commercialization of EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001), EQ302 and any future product candidates. If we are unable to raise this capital when needed, we may be forced to delay or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations.*
Current wording
We will require substantial additional funding to complete the planned or future development and any commercialization of EQ504, EQ302 and any future product candidates. If we are unable to raise this capital when needed, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations.*
Previous wording
Although we have implemented operating changes and plan to take further actions as necessary to decrease our expenditures and conserve our cash, we expect our expenses to potentially increase substantially over the next few years if EQ504 or other product candidates successfully advance through additional stages of development and larger, more expensive clinical studies. The development of biotechnology product candidates is capital intensive. As we conduct non-clinical research and clinical development of our product candidates, we will need substantial additional funds to maintain and expand our capabilities in a variety of areas including discovery and non-clinical research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, product development, product quality assurance, and pharmacovigilance. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval of any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses for marketing, sales, manufacturing and distribution. Some of those commercialization investments may be made at-risk in advance of receiving an approval.
Current wording
We expect our expenses to potentially increase substantially over the next few years if EQ504 or other product candidates successfully advance through additional stages of development and larger, more expensive clinical studies. The development of biotechnology product candidates is capital intensive. As we conduct non-clinical research and clinical development of our product candidates, we will need substantial additional funds to maintain and expand our capabilities in a variety of areas including discovery and non-clinical research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, product development, product quality assurance, and pharmacovigilance. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval of any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses for marketing, sales, manufacturing and distribution. Some of those commercialization investments may be made at-risk in advance of receiving an approval.
Previous wording
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes disclosures regarding management’s assessment of our ability to continue as a going concern as our current liquidity position and recurring losses from operations since inception and negative cash flows from operating activities raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of March 31, 2025, we had $14.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on our current operating plans, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2025, will be sufficient to fund operations into the third quarter of 2025, based on certain assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Specifically, management’s projected cash runway is based on estimates of reduced expenses related to cash savings initiatives and operational changes including accelerating the closure of the Phase 3 EQUATOR study, not undertaking further development of EQ504 and EQ302, eliminating certain positions, pausing of prosecution and renewals of patents related to itolizumab, and reducing certain discretionary expenditures.
Current wording
As of June 30, 2025, we had $11.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. We expect that the net proceeds from the Private Placement with the cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2025, will enable us to fund our operations through 2027, based on certain assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate.
Previous wording
Ono did not exercise its option to acquire our rights to itolizumab (EQ001) and as a result, on October 30, 2024, Ono’s option and the Asset Purchase Agreement automatically terminated. With the expiration of Ono’s option period, we no longer receive reimbursement from Ono for our itolizumab (EQ001) development expenses incurred after October 30, 2024, which has adversely impacted our net cash used in operations. As a result of Ono’s decision to let its option lapse, we will need to significantly reduce our operating burn to be able to fund our operations into the third quarter of 2025, as described above. In addition to significantly decreasing our spending, we have and will continue to pursue sources of additional capital, including potentially the 2023 ATM Facility as well as other financing sources that may be available to us. Our ability to meaningfully access our 2023 ATM Facility or otherwise raise additional capital was adversely impacted by negative FDA feedback on our EQUATOR results. We have implemented further cost cutting measures including ceasing development of our product candidates, such as EQ504. Further, we may need to pursue strategic alternatives, including mergers, or wind up the company’s operations entirely.
Current wording
We have and will continue to pursue sources of additional capital, including pursuant to the Open Market Sales Agreement SM, dated October 8, 2023, as amended August 3, 2025, with LifeSci Capital LLC, the 2023 ATM Facility, as well as other financing sources that may be available to us.
Previous wording
We do not have sufficient funds to continue the clinical development of EQ504 or any of our product candidates. We will need to raise substantial additional capital to complete the development and commercialization of each of those product candidates, which additional capital, if capable of being raised, may be raised through the sale of our common stock or other securities or through the entering into of alternative strategic transactions, the terms of which may require us to divest one or more of our product candidates, or cause our stockholders to incur substantial dilution.
Current wording
We do not have sufficient funds to complete the clinical development of EQ504 or any of our product candidates. We will need to raise substantial additional capital to complete the development and commercialization of EQ504 and any other product candidates, which additional capital, if capable of being raised, may be raised through the sale of our common stock or other securities or through the entering into of alternative strategic transactions, the terms of which may require us to divest one or more of our product candidates, or cause our stockholders to incur substantial dilution.
Previous wording
the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results, if we resume development activities, of our planned or future non-clinical and clinical studies of EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001), EQ302 and other future product candidates, including as such activities may be adversely impacted by public health epidemics or outbreaks, the evolving conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, bank failures, tariffs and inflationary pressures on the economy;
Current wording
the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of our planned or future non-clinical and clinical studies of EQ504, EQ302 and other future product candidates, including as such activities may be adversely impacted by public health epidemics or outbreaks, the evolving conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, bank failures, tariffs and inflationary pressures on the economy;
Previous wording
the advancement and cost of preclinical research, if we resume development activities, of EQ504, EQ302 and other novel preclinical drug candidates;
Current wording
the advancement and cost of preclinical research of EQ504, EQ302 and other novel preclinical drug candidates;
Previous wording
the costs and timing of manufacturing EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) and other product candidates;
Current wording
the costs and timing of manufacturing EQ504 and other product candidates;
Previous wording
the legal and other transactional costs associated with our business development activities; and
Current wording
the legal and other transactional costs associated with our business development activities;
Previous wording
the cost associated with commercializing EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) or any of our other product candidates, if approved for commercial sale.
Current wording
the cost associated with commercializing EQ504 or any of our other product candidates, if approved for commercial sale; and
Previous wording
In October 2023, we entered into the 2023 ATM Facility with Jefferies, under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $21.95 million from time to time through Jefferies acting as our sales agent. As of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have sold 109,410 shares under the 2023 ATM Facility.
Current wording
In August 2025, we amended the 2023 ATM Facility with Jefferies LLC, to replace Jefferies LLC as the sales agent with LifeSci Capital LLC. Under the 2023 ATM Facility, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $21.95 million from time to time through LifeSci Capital LLC acting as our sales agent. As of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have sold 1,719,485 shares under the 2023 ATM Facility.
Previous wording
Our commercial revenues, if any, are expected to be primarily derived from sales of products, which is unlikely to happen within the next 12 months, if ever. We will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our ability to raise additional capital was adversely impacted by the FDA's negative feedback on the EQUATOR trial results, and will be adversely impacted by the potential worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from public health epidemics or outbreaks, bank failures, potential tariffs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East, and monetary policy changes of federal agencies that have increased interest rates to address increasing inflationary pressures on the economy. If such disruptions persist and deepen, we could experience an inability to access additional capital. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations, potentially entirely, or enter into partnerships or otherwise monetize our pipeline through strategic transactions on terms that may not be as favorable to us as if we developed or commercialized the product candidates ourselves. Further, we may not be able to access a portion of our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments due to market conditions.
Current wording
Our commercial revenues, if any, are expected to be primarily derived from sales of products, which is unlikely to happen for at least several years, if ever. We will need to obtain substantial additional funding to continue our operations. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our ability to raise additional capital was adversely impacted by the FDA's negative feedback on the EQUATOR trial results, and may be adversely impacted by the potential worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from public health epidemics or outbreaks, bank failures, potential tariffs, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East, and monetary policy changes of federal agencies that have increased interest rates to address inflationary pressures on the economy. If such disruptions persist and deepen, we could experience an inability to access additional capital. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or other operations or enter into partnerships or otherwise monetize our pipeline through strategic transactions on terms that may not be as favorable to us as if we developed or commercialized the product candidates ourselves. Further, we may not be able to access a portion of our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments due to market conditions.
Previous wording
We are highly dependent on the successful planned or future development of our current product candidates, EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) and EQ302, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory or marketing approval of, or successfully commercialize, these product candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them.*
Current wording
We are highly dependent on the successful planned or future development of our current product candidates, EQ504 and EQ302, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory or marketing approval of, or successfully commercialize, these product candidates in any of the indications for which we plan to develop them.*
Previous wording
Our future success will depend on raising additional capital in the immediate term and, if we resume development activities, almost entirely on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval of and then successfully commercialize EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) and EQ302 in any of the indications for which we are currently planning to develop them, including treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, with EQ504, or treatment of celiac disease or other gastrointestinal conditions with EQ302, which may never occur. We currently generate no revenues from sales of any biopharmaceutical products, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable biopharmaceutical product.
Current wording
Our future success will depend almost entirely on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval of and then successfully commercialize EQ504 and EQ302 in any of the indications for which we are currently planning to develop them, including treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, with EQ504, or treatment of celiac disease or other gastrointestinal conditions with EQ302, which may never occur. We currently generate no revenues from sales of any biopharmaceutical products, and we may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable biopharmaceutical product.
Previous wording
Before we can market and sell any of our product candidates in the United States, we will need to manage research and development activities, commence and complete our planned or future clinical studies, obtain necessary regulatory approvals from the FDA and build a commercial organization or enter into a marketing collaboration with a third party, among other things. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully complete the necessary planned or future clinical studies and/or obtain regulatory approval and develop sufficient commercial capabilities for any of our product candidates. Further, we may decide to modify the design of our planned or future clinical studies, which could adversely impact the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval. We have not submitted a BLA or an NDA to the FDA or filed for approval with any other regulatory authority outside the United States for any product candidate. Further, our product candidates may not receive regulatory approval even if they are successful in planned or future clinical studies. If we do not receive regulatory approvals, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. Even if we obtain regulatory approval, we may never generate significant revenues from any commercial sales of any of our products. If any of our product candidates are approved and we fail to successfully commercialize them, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain and grow our business, and our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Current wording
Before we can market and sell any of our product candidates in the United States, we would need to manage research and development activities, commence and complete our planned or future clinical studies, obtain necessary regulatory approvals from the FDA and build a commercial organization or enter into a marketing collaboration with a third party, among other things. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully complete the necessary planned or future clinical studies and/or obtain regulatory approval and develop sufficient commercial capabilities for any of our product candidates. Further, we may decide to modify the design of our planned or future clinical studies, which could adversely impact the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval. We have not submitted a BLA or an NDA to the FDA or filed for approval with any other regulatory authority outside the United States for any product candidate. Further, our product candidates may not receive regulatory approval even if they are successful in planned or future clinical studies. If we do not receive regulatory approvals, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. Even if we obtain regulatory approval, we may never generate significant revenues from any commercial sales of any of our products. If any of our product candidates are approved and we fail to successfully commercialize them, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain and grow our business, and our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Previous wording
The collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available to collaborate on and whether such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate. We may also be restricted under any license agreements from entering into agreements on certain terms or at all with potential collaborators. Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators and changes to the strategies of the combined company. As a result, we may not be able to negotiate collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of such product candidate, reduce or delay one or more of our other development programs, delay the potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any planned sales or marketing activities for such product candidate, or increase our expenditures and undertake development, manufacturing or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development, manufacturing or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be able to further develop our future product candidates or bring them to market and generate product revenue. Even if we are successful in our efforts to establish such collaborations, the terms that we agree upon may not be favorable to us, and we may not be able to maintain such collaborations if, for example, development approval of a product candidate is delayed, the safety of a product candidate is questioned or sales of an approved product candidate are unsatisfactory.
Current wording
Any collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available to collaborate on and whether such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate. We may also be restricted under any license agreements from entering into agreements on certain terms or at all with potential collaborators. Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators and changes to the strategies of the combined company. As a result, we may not be able to negotiate collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of such product candidate, reduce or delay one or more of our other development programs, delay the potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any planned sales or marketing activities for such product candidate, or increase our expenditures and undertake development, manufacturing or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development, manufacturing or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be able to further develop our future product candidates or bring them to market and generate product revenue. Even if we are successful in our efforts to establish such collaborations, the terms that we agree upon may not be favorable to us, and we may not be able to maintain such collaborations if, for example, development approval of a product candidate is delayed, the safety of a product candidate is questioned or sales of an approved product candidate are unsatisfactory.
Previous wording
We initiated our first clinical study in the first quarter of 2019, which was a Phase 1 clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) for the treatment of aGVHD. Since then, we have initiated three additional clinical studies of itolizumab (EQ001), two of which were Phase 1 clinical studies in uncontrolled asthma and lupus/LN and one was a Phase 3 clinical study in aGVHD. The Phase 1 studies of itolizumab (EQ001) have been completed. The Phase 3 study in aGVHD stopped enrollment in October 2024 and based on FDA feedback received in April 2025 we have accelerated closure of the trial. We completed a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical study of EQ102 in healthy volunteers in Australia and a Phase 2 clinical study of EQ101 in subjects with AA in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to initiating a clinical study of EQ504, data from animal toxicology studies will be required as well as formulation development. We have two active INDs with the FDA for the use of itolizumab (EQ001) in the treatment of aGVHD and LN. Through the acquisition of Bioniz, we also have INDs with the FDA for the use of EQ101 in the treatment of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, cutaneous T cell lymphoma, or CTCL, and AA. Because of our limited interaction with the FDA, we may not learn of certain information or data that the FDA may request until future interactions. In part because of our limited infrastructure, experience conducting clinical studies as a company and regulatory interactions, we also cannot be certain that our planned or future clinical studies will be completed on time, if at all, that our planned or future clinical studies will be initiated on time, if at all, or that our planned development programs would be acceptable to the FDA.
Current wording
We initiated our first clinical study in the first quarter of 2019, which was a Phase 1 clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) for the treatment of aGVHD. Since then, we have initiated three additional clinical studies of itolizumab (EQ001), two of which were Phase 1 clinical studies in uncontrolled asthma and lupus/LN and one was a Phase 3 clinical study in aGVHD. The Phase 1 studies of itolizumab (EQ001) have been completed. The Phase 3 study in aGVHD stopped enrollment in October 2024 and based on FDA feedback received in April 2025 we accelerated closure of the trial. We completed a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical study of EQ102 in healthy volunteers in Australia and a Phase 2 clinical study of EQ101 in subjects with AA in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to initiating a clinical study of EQ504, data from animal toxicology studies will be required as well as formulation development. Because of our limited interaction with the FDA, we may not learn of certain information or data that the FDA may request until future interactions. In part because of our limited infrastructure, experience conducting clinical studies as a company and regulatory interactions, we also cannot be certain that our planned or future clinical studies will be completed on time, if at all, that our planned or future clinical studies will be initiated on time, if at all, or that our planned development programs would be acceptable to the FDA.
Previous wording
Our ability to generate product revenues, which we do not expect will occur for at least the next several years, if ever, will depend heavily on our ability to successfully complete the above activities and any other activities required for the successful development and eventual commercialization of our product candidates. The success of our product candidates will further depend on factors such as:
Current wording
Our ability to generate product revenues, which we do not expect will occur for at least the next several years, if ever, will depend heavily on our ability to raise additional capital and successfully complete the above activities and any other activities required for the successful development and eventual commercialization of our product candidates. The success of our product candidates will further depend on factors such as:
Previous wording
We have licensed the rights to itolizumab in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Any adverse developments that occur during any research, clinical, or commercial use of itolizumab by Biocon or third parties in other jurisdictions may affect our ability to secure a partnership or financing to advance the further clinical development of itolizumab (EQ001), obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize itolizumab (EQ001) or otherwise adversely impact our business.*
Current wording
We have licensed the rights to itolizumab in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Any adverse developments that occur during any research, clinical, or commercial use of itolizumab by Biocon or third parties in other jurisdictions may affect our ability to advance the further clinical development of itolizumab (EQ001), obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize itolizumab (EQ001) or otherwise adversely impact our business.*
Previous wording
One element of our strategy is to expand our pipeline by acquiring a portfolio of other product candidates through business or product candidate acquisitions such as our acquisitions of Bioniz and Ariagen. The success of this strategy depends in large part upon the combination of our regulatory, development and commercial capabilities and expertise and our ability to identify, select and acquire product candidates for therapeutic indications that complement or augment our current pipeline, or that otherwise fit into our development or strategic plans on terms that are acceptable to us. Identifying, selecting and acquiring promising product candidates requires substantial technical, financial and human resources expertise. Efforts to do so may not result in the actual acquisition or license of a particular product candidate, potentially resulting in a diversion of our management’s time and the expenditure of our resources with no resulting benefit. If we are unable to identify, select and acquire suitable product candidates from third parties or acquire businesses at valuations and on other terms acceptable to us, or if we are unable to raise capital required to acquire businesses or new product candidates, our business and prospects will be limited and may require us to divest one or more of our product candidates to enable us to acquire businesses or new product candidates or progress the development of our other product candidates.
Current wording
One element of our strategy is to expand our pipeline by acquiring a portfolio of other product candidates through business or product candidate acquisitions such as our acquisitions of Bioniz and Ariagen, if we are able to raise additional capital. The success of this strategy depends in large part upon raising additional capital and the combination of our regulatory, development and commercial capabilities and expertise and our ability to identify, select and acquire product candidates for therapeutic indications that complement or augment our current pipeline, or that otherwise fit into our development or strategic plans on terms that are acceptable to us. Identifying, selecting and acquiring promising product candidates requires substantial technical, financial and human resources expertise. Efforts to do so may not result in the actual acquisition or license of a particular product candidate, potentially resulting in a diversion of our management’s time and the expenditure of our resources with no resulting benefit. If we are unable to identify, select and acquire suitable product candidates from third parties or acquire businesses at valuations and on other terms acceptable to us, or if we are unable to raise capital required to acquire businesses or new product candidates, our business and prospects will be limited and may require us to divest one or more of our product candidates to enable us to acquire businesses or new product candidates or progress the development of our other product candidates.
Previous wording
We have licensed itolizumab from Biocon pursuant to an exclusive license agreement, which license is conditioned upon us meeting certain diligence obligations with respect to the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of itolizumab, and making significant milestone payments in connection with regulatory approval and commercial milestones as well as royalty payments.*
Current wording
We have licensed itolizumab from Biocon pursuant to an exclusive license agreement, which license is conditioned upon us meeting certain diligence obligations with respect to the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of itolizumab, and making significant milestone payments in connection with regulatory approval and commercial milestones as well as royalty payments. We do not intend to advance itolizumab in any further clinical development and may consider terminating our exclusive license agreement with Biocon or seeking alternative means to monetize our rights under the license agreement.*
Previous wording
We are party to an exclusive license agreement with Biocon, pursuant to which we initially acquired an exclusive license to develop, make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, import and otherwise exploit itolizumab and any pharmaceutical composition or preparation containing or comprising itolizumab in the United States and Canada and which was later amended to grant us the same exclusive license in Australia and New Zealand as well, or, collectively, the Equillium Territory. We are obligated, under this agreement, to achieve certain development milestones within specified timeframes in order to retain all of the licensed rights. Certain of such milestones are largely outside of our control. We are also obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and seek regulatory approval of, and if regulatory approval is obtained, to commercialize, itolizumab in the Equillium Territory and to secure funding for the development of itolizumab in two or more indications. Further, we are obligated to make certain cash milestone payments to Biocon upon completion of certain regulatory approval and commercial milestones and are required to pay royalties to Biocon on net sales of itolizumab, if approved. Though we believe that the royalty rates and milestone payments are reasonable in light of our business plan, we will require large amounts of capital to satisfy these obligations. We may become obligated to make a milestone payment when we do not have the cash on hand to make such payment, which could require us to delay our planned or future clinical studies, curtail our operations, scale back our commercialization and marketing efforts or seek funds to meet these obligations on terms unfavorable to us. In addition, if we are unable to make any payment when due or, if we fail to achieve the development milestones within the timeframes required by the license agreement, or to satisfy our general diligence obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, register and commercialize itolizumab and to secure funding for the development of itolizumab in two or more indications, Biocon may have the right to limit the scope of our license or terminate the agreement and all of our rights to develop and commercialize itolizumab.
Current wording
We are party to an exclusive license agreement with Biocon, pursuant to which we initially acquired an exclusive license to develop, make, have made, use, sell, have sold, offer for sale, import and otherwise exploit itolizumab and any pharmaceutical composition or preparation containing or comprising itolizumab in the United States and Canada and which was later amended to grant us the same exclusive license in Australia and New Zealand as well, or, collectively, the Equillium Territory. We are obligated, under this agreement, to achieve certain development milestones within specified timeframes in order to retain all of the licensed rights. Certain of such milestones are largely outside of our control. We are also obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and seek regulatory approval of, and if regulatory approval is obtained, to commercialize, itolizumab in the Equillium Territory and to secure funding for the development of itolizumab in two or more indications. Further, we are obligated to make certain cash milestone payments to Biocon upon completion of certain regulatory approval and commercial milestones and are required to pay royalties to Biocon on net sales of itolizumab, if approved. Though we believe that the royalty rates and milestone payments are reasonable in light of our business plan, we will require large amounts of capital to satisfy these obligations. We may become obligated to make a milestone payment when we do not have the cash on hand to make such payment, which could require us to delay our planned or future clinical studies, curtail our operations, scale back our commercialization and marketing efforts or seek funds to meet these obligations on terms unfavorable to us. In addition, if we are unable to make any payment when due or, if we fail to achieve the development milestones within the timeframes required by the license agreement, or to satisfy our general diligence obligation to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, register and commercialize itolizumab and to secure funding for the development of itolizumab in two or more indications, Biocon may have the right to limit the scope of our license or terminate the agreement and all of our rights to develop and commercialize itolizumab. As we no longer intend to develop itolizumab, we may consider terminating our exclusive license agreement with Biocon or seeking alternative means to monetize our rights under the license agreement.
Previous wording
Any delays in the commencement or completion, or termination or suspension, of our planned or future clinical studies could result in increased costs to us, delay or limit our ability to raise capital or generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects.*
Current wording
Any delays in the commencement and completion, or any termination or suspension, of our planned or future clinical studies could result in increased costs to us, and delay or limit our ability to raise capital or generate revenue and adversely affect our commercial prospects.*
Previous wording
Before we can initiate our planned or future clinical studies of our product candidates in any distinct indication in the United States, we must submit the results of non-clinical studies to the FDA along with other information, including information about their chemistry, manufacturing and controls and our proposed clinical study protocol, as part of an IND or similar regulatory filing. To date, we have only submitted INDs for clinical studies of itolizumab (EQ001) for the treatment of aGVHD, LN, and COVID-19. In addition, there are open INDs for EQ101 in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, CTCL and AA, which were originally filed by Bioniz prior to our acquisition of the EQ101 asset.
Current wording
Before we can initiate our planned or future clinical studies of our product candidates in any distinct indication in the United States, we must submit the results of non-clinical studies to the FDA along with other information, including information about their chemistry, manufacturing and controls and our proposed clinical study protocol, as part of an IND or similar regulatory filing. To date, we have only submitted INDs for clinical studies of itolizumab (EQ001) for the treatment of aGVHD, LN, and COVID-19.
Previous wording
We have conducted studies of itolizumab (EQ001) at sites located outside of the United States, including our Phase 3 clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in aGVHD, and we may in the future use sites outside of the United States for our planned or future clinical studies of EQ504 and possibly EQ302, if we resume development activities, or any other future product candidates. The FDA may not accept data from such studies, in which case our development plans will be delayed, which could materially harm our business.*
Current wording
We have conducted studies of itolizumab (EQ001) at sites located outside of the United States, including our Phase 3 clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in aGVHD, and we may in the future use sites outside of the United States for our planned or future clinical studies of EQ504 and possibly EQ302 or any other future product candidates. The FDA may not accept data from any such studies, in which case our development plans will be delayed, which could materially harm our business.*
Previous wording
We have utilized sites in Australia and New Zealand for a Phase 1b clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in uncontrolled moderate to severe asthma, and we have utilized sites in India for a Phase 1b clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in lupus and LN. Our Phase 2 clinical study of EQ101 in subjects with AA was conducted in Australia and New Zealand. Subject to successfully raising capital in the immediate term, we expect to be ready to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study of EQ504 in Australia in the first quarter of 2026. In addition, if we advance EQ302 into clinical studies, we may decide to utilize sites in countries outside of the United States. Although the FDA may accept data from clinical studies conducted entirely outside the United States and not under an IND, acceptance of such clinical study data is generally subject to certain conditions. For example, the FDA requires the clinical study to have been conducted in accordance with GCPs, and the FDA must be able to validate the data from the clinical studies through an onsite inspection if it deems such inspection necessary. In addition, when clinical studies are conducted only at sites outside of the United States, the FDA generally does not provide advance comment on the clinical protocols for the studies, and therefore there is an additional potential risk that the FDA could determine that the study design or protocol for a non-U.S. clinical study was inadequate, which would likely require us to conduct additional clinical studies. Conducting clinical studies outside the United States also exposes us to additional risks, including risks associated with:
Current wording
We have utilized sites in Australia and New Zealand for a Phase 1b clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in uncontrolled moderate to severe asthma, and we have utilized sites in India for a Phase 1b clinical study of itolizumab (EQ001) in lupus and LN. Our Phase 2 clinical study of EQ101 in subjects with AA was conducted in Australia and New Zealand. We expect to be ready to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study of EQ504 in Australia in mid-2026. In addition, if we advance EQ302 into clinical studies, we may decide to utilize sites in countries outside of the United States. Although the FDA may accept data from clinical studies conducted entirely outside the United States and not under an IND, acceptance of such clinical study data is generally subject to certain conditions. For example, the FDA requires the clinical study to have been conducted in accordance with GCPs, and the FDA must be able to validate the data from the clinical studies through an onsite inspection if it deems such inspection necessary. In addition, when clinical studies are conducted only at sites outside of the United States, the FDA generally does not provide advance comment on the clinical protocols for the studies, and therefore there is an additional potential risk that the FDA could determine that the study design or protocol for a non-U.S. clinical study was inadequate, which would likely require us to conduct additional clinical studies. Conducting clinical studies outside the United States also exposes us to additional risks, including risks associated with:
Previous wording
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with contracted third parties to market and sell any of our products, if approved, we may not be able to generate product revenue;
Current wording
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with contracted third parties to market and sell any of our approved products, we may not be able to generate product revenue.
Previous wording
We are aware that other products addressing the same indications as EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001) and EQ302 are in development, and some have been approved. There are no FDA-approved therapies indicated as a first-line treatment of aGVHD. Other than our EQUATOR study, the only late-stage clinical study for the treatment of first line aGVHD that we are aware of is CSL Behring’s Phase 3 study of alpha-1 antitrypsin. Incyte Corporation’s ruxolitinib and Mesoblast’s remestemcel-L-rknd have been approved for treatment of steroid refractory aGVHD. Other second-line, or steroid refractory therapy consists of off-label immunosuppressives for which the therapeutic benefit has not been established. Private and public companies with Phase 3 development programs in second-line, or steroid refractory aGVHD, include Maat Pharma SA, Medac GmbH and Mediolanum Farmaceutici. There are currently no approved products for celiac disease. Private and public companies with development programs targeting celiac disease include Amgen Inc. (former asset of Provention Bio), Anokion SA, Barinthus Biotherapeutics Ltd., Calypso Biotech BV (acquired by Novartis AG), Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Immunic, Inc., ImmunogenX, Inc. (acquired by Entero Therapeutics, Inc.), Mozart Therapeuitcs, Pfizer Inc., Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., Sanofi SA, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Topas Therapeutics GmbH, and Zedira GmbH. There are multiple private and public companies with over 25 active clinical development programs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. There are also 13 currently approved products for the treatment of ulcerative colitis being marketed by AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos N.V., Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Current wording
We are aware that other products addressing the same indications as EQ504, EQ302 and itolizumab (EQ001) are in development, and some have been approved. There are no FDA-approved therapies indicated as a first-line treatment of aGVHD. Other than our EQUATOR study, the only late-stage clinical study for the treatment of first line aGVHD that we are aware of is CSL Behring’s Phase 3 study of alpha-1 antitrypsin. Incyte Corporation’s ruxolitinib and Mesoblast’s remestemcel-L-rknd have been approved for treatment of steroid refractory aGVHD. Other second-line, or steroid refractory therapy consists of off-label immunosuppressives for which the therapeutic benefit has not been established. Private and public companies with Phase 3 development programs in second-line, or steroid refractory aGVHD, include Maat Pharma SA, Medac GmbH and Mediolanum Farmaceutici. There are currently no approved products for celiac disease. Private and public companies with development programs targeting celiac disease include Amgen Inc. (former asset of Provention Bio), Anokion SA, Barinthus Biotherapeutics Ltd., Calypso Biotech BV (acquired by Novartis AG), Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Immunic, Inc., ImmunogenX, Inc. (acquired by Entero Therapeutics, Inc.), Mozart Therapeuitcs, Pfizer Inc., Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., Sanofi SA, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Topas Therapeutics GmbH, and Zedira GmbH. There are multiple private and public companies with over 25 active clinical development programs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. There are also 13 currently approved products for the treatment of ulcerative colitis being marketed by AbbVie Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Galapagos N.V., Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Previous wording
Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller and other early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical study sites and subject enrollment for clinical studies, as well as acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, EQ504, itolizumab (EQ001), EQ302 or any future programs.
Current wording
Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller and other early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical study sites and subject enrollment for clinical studies, as well as acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, EQ504, EQ302 and itolizumab (EQ001) or any future programs.
Showing the first 40 of 79 pairs. Open the source sections for the rest.
Rearranged current paragraphs (4)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
Our success depends in significant part on our, and with respect to itolizumab (EQ001), Biocon’s, ability to establish, maintain and protect patents and other intellectual property rights with respect to our proprietary technologies, research programs, and product candidates including EQ504, EQ302 and itolizumab (EQ001), and operate without infringing the intellectual property rights of others. The patent prosecution process is expensive and time-consuming, and we and our current or future licensors, licensees or partners may not be able to prepare, file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we or our current and future licensors, licensees or partners will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research or inventions made in the course of development and commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them.
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
India’s Information Technology Act and supplementary rules, and Australia’s Privacy Act, impose strict requirements for processing personal data.
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
federal civil and criminal false claims laws, such as the FCA which can be enforced by private citizens, on behalf of the government, through civil qui tam actions, and civil monetary penalty laws prohibits individuals or entities from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false, fictitious or fraudulent claims for payment or approval by the federal government, including federal health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, or knowingly making a false statement to improperly avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. In addition, a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
In October 2023, we entered into the 2023 ATM Facility with Jefferies, under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $21.95 million from time to time through Jefferies acting as our sales agent. On August 3, 2025, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to the 2023 ATM Facility pursuant to which Jefferies LLC was replaced by LifeSci Capital LLC as the sales agent under the 2023 ATM Facility. Since June 30, 2025 and through the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have sold 1,610,075 shares under the 2023 ATM Facility, as amended, for gross proceeds of approximately $0.9 million.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (1)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Our business and our products are subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations and economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets