UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year endedDecember 31,2023
or
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number:001-38323
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 82-3074668 |
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| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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4870 Sadler Road, Suite 300
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(804) 487-8196
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
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| Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | ADIL | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the issuer: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer, “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
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| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
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| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive- based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No☒
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing price of a share of the registrant’s common stock on June 30, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant’s mostly recently completed second fiscal quarter) as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market on such date was $5,385,155. This calculation does not reflect a determination that certain persons are affiliates of the registrant for any other purpose.
As of March 29, 2024, the issuer had 4,054,861 shares of common stock outstanding.
Documents incorporated by reference:None
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page |
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| PART I |
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| Item 1. | Business | 1 |
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| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 24 |
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| Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | 59 |
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| Item 1C. | Cybersecurity | 59 |
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| Item 2. | Properties | 60 |
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| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | 60 |
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| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 60 |
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| PART II |
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| Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 61 |
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| Item 6. | [Reserved] | 63 |
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| Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 63 |
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| Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 72 |
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| Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | F-1 |
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| Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 73 |
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| Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | 73 |
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| Item 9B. | Other Information | 74 |
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| Item 9C. | Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 74 |
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| PART III |
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| Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 75 |
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| Item 11. | Executive Compensation | 81 |
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| Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 88 |
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| Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 90 |
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| Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services | 93 |
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| PART IV |
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| Item 15. | Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules | 94 |
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| SIGNATURES | 99 | |
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PART I
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In particular, statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including but not limited to, statements regarding the sufficiency of our cash, our ability to finance our operations and business initiatives and obtain funding for such activities; our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plan prospects, or costs and objectives of management for future initiatives, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “goals,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” and “continue” or similar words. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those identified below, under Part I, Item lA. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed, projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.
NOTE REGARDING COMPANY REFERENCES
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, “Adial,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Summary Risk Factors
Our business faces significant risks and uncertainties of which investors should be aware before making a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks are realized, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The following is a summary of the more significant risks relating to the Company. A more detailed description ofour risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Risks Relating to Our Company
| ● | We have a limited operating history and have incurred significant losses since our inception. |
| ● | There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. |
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| ● | We currently have no product revenues and may not generate revenue at any time in the near future, if at all. |
| ● | There can be no assurance that we will be able to execute on our business strategy. |
| ● | We will need to secure additional financing, which may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. |
| ● | We have identified weaknesses in our internal controls. |
| ● | We rely on a license to use various technologies that are material to our business. |
| ● | Our business is dependent upon the success of our product candidate, AD04. |
| ● | The active ingredient of our product candidate, ondansetron, is currently available in generic form. |
| ● | Changes in general economic conditions and geopolitical and other conditions may adversely impact us. |
| ● | For ondansetron, under short-term use, there are currently no long-term use clinical safety data available. |
| ● | All of our current data for our product candidate does not necessarily provide sufficient evidence that our product is viable as a potential pharmaceutical product. |
| ● | The FDA and/or EMA may not accept our planned Phase 3 endpoints for final approval of AD04. |
| ● | We will incur additional costs if the FDA or EMA requires additional clinical trials. |
| ● | AD04 is dependent on a successful development, approval, and commercialization of a genetic test. |
| ● | We have limited experience as a company conducting clinical trials. |
| ● | Our product candidate will require extensive clinical and other testing. |
| ● | Our clinical trials may fail to demonstrate adequately the safety and efficacy of AD04. |
| ● | Delays in the enrollment of patients in our clinical trials could impact our regulatory approvals. |
| ● | Our success will be dependent upon adoption of our products by physicians. |
| ● | Rapid technological change and substantial competition may impair the business. |
iii
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
| ● | We must obtain regulatory approvals in every jurisdiction in which we intend to sell our product candidate. |
| ● | Clinical trials are very expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement. |
| ● | AD04 and any future product candidates may cause undesirable side effects. |
| ● | We may incur substantial liabilities and may be subject to product liability lawsuits. |
| ● | There is uncertainty as to market acceptance of our technology and product candidates. |
| ● | We will continue to be subject to ongoing and extensive regulatory requirements even after regulatory approval, and compliance with such regulatory requirements cannot be assured. |
| ● | Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities. |
| ● | We have no experience selling, marketing or distributing products and have no internal capability to do so. |
| ● | We may not be successful in establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships. |
| ● | Our internal computer systems, or those used by our CROs or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches and we may face particular data protection, data security and privacy risks. |
| ● | We have limited protection for our intellectual property. |
| ● | We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce the patents of our licensors. |
| ● | Obtaining and maintaining patent protection depends on compliance with requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies and the courts. |
| ● | Our ability to generate product revenues will be diminished if our products sell for inadequate prices or patients are unable to obtain adequate levels of reimbursement. |
| ● | We rely on key executive officers and scientific, regulatory and medical advisors. |
| ● | Certain of our officers may have a conflict of interest. |
| ● | We may acquire other businesses that could harm our operating results. |
| ● | Declining general economic or business conditions may have a negative impact on our business. |
| ● | Health care policy changes, including legislation reforming the U.S. health care system and other legislative initiatives, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
iv
Risks Related to Our Securities and Investing in Our Securities
| ● | Certain of our shareholders have sufficient voting power to make corporate governance decisions. |
| ● | Future sales of securities could result in additional dilution. |
| ● | Issuance of additional securities could adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock. |
| ● | If we issue preferred stock with superior rights than our common stock, it could result in a decrease in the value of our common stock and delay or prevent a change in control of us. |
| ● | We have never paid dividends and have no plans to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. |
| ● | Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market could result in a de-listing of our common stock. |
| ● | If we implement a reverse stock split, it may not result in intended benefits. |
| ● | As an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company, we have been able to take advantage of reduced SEC reporting requirements. |
| ● | As a result of being a public company, we are subject to additional reporting and corporate governance requirements that will require additional management time, resources and expense. |
| ● | Our common stock has often been thinly traded, so you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all. |
| ● | Our stock price has fluctuated in the past, has recently been volatile and may be volatile in the future. |
| ● | Our need for future financing may result in the issuance of additional securities and dilution. |
| ● | Fluctuations in the international currency markets may significantly impact the cost of our planned trial. |
| ● | The application of the “penny stock” rules to our common stock could limit the trading and liquidity. |
| ● | Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of our company more difficult and may prevent attempts to replace or remove our current management. |
| ● | Our Certificate of Incorporation and our bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for certain types of state actions. |
| ● | If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline. |
| ● | The warrants that we have issued are speculative in nature. |
| ● | There is no established market for the warrants. |
v