LEAP THERAPEUTICS INC

1. Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity

Nature of Business

Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (“the Company”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on January 3, 2011. During 2015, HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. (“HCP Australia”) was formed and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

On December 10, 2015, the Company entered into a merger agreement with GITR Inc. (“GITR”), an entity under common control, whereby a wholly owned subsidiary was merged with GITR and the surviving name of the wholly owned subsidiary was GITR Inc.

On August 29, 2016, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Macrocure Ltd. (“Macrocure”), a publicly held, clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Petach Tikva, Israel. In connection with the merger, the Company applied to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Nasdaq approved the listing, and trading in the Company’s common stock commenced on January 24, 2017, under the trading symbol “LPTX.” On February 1, 2017, Macrocure’s name was changed to Leap Therapeutics Ltd. In 2020, Leap Therapeutics Ltd. was dissolved.

On December 15, 2021, Leap Securities Corp. was formed and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

On January 17, 2023, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Flame Biosciences, Inc., a privately held, biotechnology corporation (“Flame”), whereby Flame became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company under the name Flame Biosciences, LLC.

The mailing address of the Company’s principal executive office is 47 Thorndike Street, Suite B1-1, Cambridge, MA 02141. The Company’s telephone number is 617-714 -0360 and its website address iswww.leaptx.com (the information contained therein or linked thereto shall not be considered incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K).

The Company is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel biomarker-targeted antibody therapies designed to treat patients with cancer by inhibiting fundamental tumor-promoting pathways, targeting cancer-specific cell surface molecules, and harnessing the immune system to attack cancer cells. The Company’s strategy is to identify, acquire, and develop molecules that will rapidly translate into high impact therapeutics that generate durable clinical benefit and enhanced patient outcomes. The Company’s lead clinical stage program is DKN-01, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits Dickkopf-related protein 1, or DKK1. The Company is currently studying DKN-01 in multiple ongoing clinical trials in patients with esophagogastric cancer, gynecologic cancers, or colorectal cancer. It’s second clinical stage program is FL-301, a monoclonal antibody that targets cells that express Claudin18.2 on their cell surface. The Company also has two preclinical antibody programs, FL-302 and FL-501.

In January 2020, the Company entered into an Option and License Agreement with BeiGene, Ltd., or BeiGene, which granted BeiGene an option to obtain an exclusive license from the Company that would grant to BeiGene the right to develop and commercialize DKN-01 in Asia (excluding Japan), Australia, and New Zealand. In March 2023, BeiGene notified the Company that it did not intend to exercise its option, and the agreement is continuing as a clinical collaboration.

The Company intends to apply its experience identifying and developing products to build a pipeline of programs relating to the practice of cancer medicine.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of its wholly owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Reverse Stock Split

On June 21, 2023, the Company effected aone-for-ten reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, which also adjusted the conversion ratio of its Series X Preferred Stock such that each share of Series X Preferred Stock became convertible into 100 shares of common stock. Accordingly, all share and per share amounts for all periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect this stock split. All fractional shares resulting from the reverse stock split were paid in cash.

1. Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Liquidity (continued)

Liquidity

Since inception, the Company has been engaged in organizational activities, including raising capital, and research and development activities. The Company does not yet have a product that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), has not generated any product sales revenues and has not yet achieved profitable operations, nor has it ever generated positive cash flows from operations. There is no assurance that profitable operations, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. Further, the Company’s future operations are dependent on the success of the Company’s efforts to raise additional capital, its research and commercialization efforts, regulatory approval, and, ultimately, the market acceptance of the Company’s products.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $70,643. Additionally, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $399,582 at December 31, 2023, and during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred a net loss of $81,414. The Company expects to continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future.

The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents of $70,643 as of December 31, 2023 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses for at least 12 months from the issuance of these financial statements.

In addition, to support its future operations, the Company will likely seek additional funding through public or private equity financings or government programs and will seek funding or development program cost-sharing through collaboration agreements or licenses with larger pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. If the Company does not obtain additional funding or development program cost-sharing, or exceeds its current spending forecasts or fails to receive the research and development tax incentive payment, the Company has the ability and would be forced to: delay, reduce or eliminate certain clinical trials or research and development programs, reduce or eliminate discretionary operating expenses, and delay company and pipeline expansion, any of which could adversely affect its business prospects. The inability to obtain funding, as and when needed, could have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The presentation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consisted of overnight investments and money market funds.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include personnel costs associated with research and development activities, including noncash share-based compensation and costs for third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials and manufacture drug supplies and materials. The Company accrues for costs incurred by external service providers, including contract research organizations and clinical investigators, based on its estimates of service performed and costs incurred. These estimates include the level of services performed by the third parties, patient enrollment in clinical trials, administrative costs incurred by the third parties, and other indicators of the services completed. Based on the timing of amounts invoiced by service providers, the Company may also record payments made to those providers as prepaid expenses that will be recognized as expense in future periods as the related services are rendered.

Research and development incentive income and receivable

The Company recognizes other income from Australian research and development incentives when there is reasonable assurance that the income will be received, the relevant expenditure has been incurred, and the consideration can be reliably measured. The research and development incentive is one of the key elements of the Australian Government’s support for Australia’s innovation system and is supported by legislative law primarily in the form of the Australian Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 as long as eligibility criteria are met.

Management has assessed the Company’s research and development activities and expenditures to determine which activities and expenditures are likely to be eligible under the research and development incentive regime described above. At each period end management estimates the refundable tax offset available to the Company based on available information at the time. This estimate is also reviewed by external tax advisors on an annual basis.

Under the program, a percentage of eligible research and development expenses incurred by the Company through its subsidiary in Australia is reimbursed. This percentage was 43.5% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The research and development incentive receivable represents an amount due in connection with the above program. The Company has recorded a research and development incentive receivable of $771 and $2,099 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets and other income from Australian research and development incentives of $1,101 and $2,051, in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to refundable research and development incentive program payments in Australia.

The following table shows the change in the research and development incentive receivable from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023:

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents. All cash and cash equivalents are held in United States or Australian financial institutions and money market funds. At times, the Company may maintain cash balances in excess of the federally insured amount of $250 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Although the Company currently believes that the financial institutions with whom it does business will be able to fulfill their commitments to the Company, there is no assurance that those institutions will be able to continue to do so. The Company has not experienced any credit losses associated with its balances in such accounts for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at enacted statutory tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

The Company follows accounting guidance concerning provisions for uncertainty in income tax positions. This guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that an uncertain tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit to be recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax position as part of the income tax provision. There wereno uncertain tax positions or income tax related interest and penalties recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The income tax returns of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent years are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing authorities, generally for three years after the return is filed.

Foreign Currency Translation

The financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiary are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of this subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates as of the consolidated balance sheet date. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average rates of exchange in effect during the year. The resulting cumulative translation adjustments have been recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ deficiency. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset. Computer equipment is depreciated over three years. Laboratory equipment, office equipment and furniture and fixtures are depreciated over five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in loss from operations. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment. Long-lived assets to be held and used are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset group for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset group are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset group over its fair value. The Company did not record any impairment losses on long-lived assets during 2023 and 2022.

Deferred Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional, accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded in stockholders’ equity (deficiency) as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the offering.

As of December 31, 2022 there was $576 of deferred costs. As of December 31, 2023, the Company didnot have any deferred costs.

Deposits

Deposits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 included $966 and $1,108, respectively, of deposits made by the Company with certain service providers that are to be applied to future payments due under the service agreements or returned to the Company if not utilized.

Warrants

The Company will recognize on a prospective basis the value of the effect of the down round feature in the warrants to purchase shares of common stock that were issued in a private placement in November 2017 (the “2017 Warrants”) when it is triggered (i.e., when the exercise price is adjusted downward). This value is measured as the difference between (1) the financial instrument’s fair value (without the down round feature) using the pre-trigger exercise price and (2) the financial instrument’s fair value (with the down round feature) using the reduced exercise price. The value of the effect of the down round feature will be treated as a dividend and a reduction to income available to common stockholders in the basic EPS calculation.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:

During the years presented, the Company has not changed the manner in which it values assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs. The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers within the hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

A summary of the assets and liabilities carried at fair value in accordance with the hierarchy defined above is as follows (in thousands):

Cash equivalents of $39,065 and $62,074 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, consisted of overnight investments and money market funds and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in active markets.

The carrying value of the research and development incentive receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.

Leases

At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease based on the unique facts and circumstances present. All leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets, lease liabilities and, if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company has elected not to recognize on the balance sheet leases with terms of one year or less. Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding right-of-use assets are recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected remaining lease term. The Company has determined that the rate implicit in the lease is not determinable and the Company does not have borrowings with similar terms and collateral. Therefore, the Company considered a variety of factors, including observable debt yields from comparable companies and the volatility in the debt market for securities with similar terms, in determining that 8% was reasonable to use as the incremental borrowing rate for purposes of the calculation of lease liabilities.

In accordance with the guidance in ASC 842 “Leases”, components of a lease should be split into three categories: lease components (e.g. land, building, etc.), non-lease components (e.g. common area maintenance, maintenance, consumables, etc.), and non-components (e.g. property taxes, insurance, etc.). Then the fixed and in-substance fixed contract consideration (including any related to non-components) must be allocated based on fair values to the lease components and non-lease components.

Although separation of lease and non-lease components is required, certain practical expedients are available. Entities may elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components. Rather, they would account for each lease component and the related non-lease component together as a single component. The Company has elected to account for the lease and non-lease components of each of its operating leases as a single lease component and allocate all of the contract consideration to the lease component only. The lease component results in an operating right-of-use asset being recorded on the consolidated balance sheets and amortized such that lease expense is recorded on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Segment Information

The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions. The Company’s singular focus is developing novel, targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer. Substantially all of the Company’s tangible assets are held in the United States.

Patent Costs

All patent related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to employees, consultants and nonemployees based on the fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. Generally, the Company issues stock options with only service-based vesting conditions and records the expense for these awards using the straight-line method.

Stock-based compensation is classified in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations based on the function to which the related services are provided.

The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company. The expected term of the Company’s stock options granted to employees has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The expected term of stock options granted to nonemployees is equal to the contractual term of the option award. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield of zero is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends on common stock and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and, if dilutive, the weighted average number of potential shares of common stock, including the assumed exercise of stock options and warrants.

Subsequent Events

The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the financial statements to provide additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated as required.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and are early adopted by the Company or adopted as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed below, the Company does not believe that the adoption of recently issued standards have or may have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

In May 2021, FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options. FASB issued this update to clarify the accounting by issuers for modifications or exchanges of equity-classified warrants. The updated guidance is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2021-04 in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and the Company’s adoption of this standard did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options, or ASC 470 and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity, or ASC 815. FASB issued this update to simplify the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The updated guidance is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASC 470 in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 and the Company’s adoption of this standard did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Acquisition of Flame Biosciences

Merger

On January 17, 2023 (the “Effective Date”), Leap acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Flame, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the Effective Date (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Leap, Fire Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (“First Merger Sub”), Flame Biosciences LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (“Second Merger Sub”), Flame, and the Stockholder Representative named therein. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, First Merger Sub merged with and into Flame, and Flame was the surviving corporation of such merger and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap (the “First Merger”). Immediately following the First Merger, Flame merged with and into Second Merger Sub, and Second Merger Sub was the surviving entity of such merger (together with the First Merger, the “Merger”).

Pursuant to the Merger, Leap agreed to issue to the stockholders of Flame (the “Flame Stockholders”)1,972,901 shares of common stock, and 136,248 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, which was a newly designated series of preferred stock that was intended to have economic rights equivalent to the common stock, but with limited voting rights, and issued to the warrant holders of Flame (the “Flame Warrant Holders”) the right to acquire 6,530 shares of common stock (the “January 2023 Common Stock Warrants”) and 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (the “January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants”). Each share of Series X Preferred Stock converted into 100 shares of common stock during the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of theone-for-ten reverse stock split approved by the stockholders and effected by the Board of Directors. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Leap held back approximately 15,604 Series X Preferred shares (the “Holdback Shares”), which converted into 1,560,400 shares of common stock out of the aggregate number of shares that the Flame Stockholders otherwise would be entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger so that Leap can have recourse to the Holdback Shares for purposes of satisfying certain claims for indemnification that Leap may have against the Flame Stockholders in connection with the Merger.

On June 16, 2023, the Company obtained Stockholder Approval to convert the Series X Preferred Stock into shares of its common stock, which occurred on June 21, 2023.

The Company accounted for the acquisition of Flame as an asset acquisition allocating the purchase price under GAAP of $79,016 to net assets acquired. Although there is a presumption under SEC Rule 11-01(d) (“11-01(d)”) that when a legal entity is acquired, it represents a business acquisition, the Company concluded that, in this case, the transaction did not represent the acquisition of a business. After considering the criteria set forth in 11-01(d), the Company concluded that the acquisition of Flame by the Company was an acquisition of assets and not an acquisition of a business in accordance with 11-01(d). Specifically, the Company concluded that 1) the entity did not generate revenue and 2) there was not sufficient continuity of Flame’s operations prior to and following the transaction, in that no facilities, employees, sales force, distribution system, customer base, trade names or production techniques remained with the entity after the acquisition.

Leap primarily acquired cash of $50,362, certain working capital items ($928) and a portfolio of clinical- and pre-clinical-stage intellectual property, in connection with the acquisition of Flame. The Company accounted for the acquisition of Flame by recording the cash and any other assets and liabilities of Flame on its consolidated balance sheet at their historical carrying values, which approximated fair values. The remaining fair value of the consideration transferred was allocated to the in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) assets acquired. Certain transaction costs that were not deemed to meet the criteria of costs directly attributable to the issuance of securities were capitalized in accordance with ASC 805-50-30-1 and recognized as part of fair value of assets acquired. As the Company concluded that such IPR&D did not have an alternative future use, the relative fair value allocated to acquired IPR&D of $29,582 was expensed in research and development expenses within the Company’s consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2023.

The following table summarizes the net assets acquired based on their estimated fair values as of January 17, 2023 (in thousands):

The fair value assigned to each component of the purchase consideration, including direct costs of the acquisition of $1,393, as of the Effective Date is set forth in the table below (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

In addition, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company may also (i) pay Contingent Merger Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) that may become payable if, and only if, certain assets of Flame related to Flame’s FL-101 program and/or FL-103 program are sold after the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the FL-101/103 Disposition Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement), which Contingent Merger Consideration shall be 80% of the after-tax net proceeds of such sale, if any, and the payment thereof is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and (ii) issue pursuant to the Merger additional shares of Series X Preferred Stock or common stock as a result of any applicable post-closing purchase price adjustment in the event that Flame’s actual Company Net Cash (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as of the Effective Date is determined to be greater than Flame’s estimated Company Net Cash as of the closing.

Sale of FL-101/FL-103 to AlmataBio, Inc.

On December 6, 2023 the Company sold certain IPR&D assets previously acquired from Flame related to Flame’s FL-101/FL-103 program which included permits, clinical trial material, clinical data, and related identified contracts, such as licensing, research, clinical trials, and various other agreements. The Company received total consideration in the form of a non-refundable closing date cash payment of $500.

Pursuant to the terms of the asset purchase agreement, the Company is entitled to receive milestone payments of up to $70,000 upon achievement of certain regulatory approval and sales milestones specified in the asset purchase agreement.

The IPR&D assets sold related to Flame’s FL-101/FL-103 program did not meet the definition of a business and had a carrying value of $0 at the time of the sale. In addition, the Company estimated the likelihood of receiving any milestone payments to be remote. As such, management elected the most likely amount method to determine the transaction price of the sale, which included the non-refundable closing date cash payment of $500 and future milestone payments of $0. Therefore, the Company recognized a non-operating gain in other income for the difference between the amount of non-refundable consideration received of $500 and the carrying value of $0 during the year ended December 31, 2023. In the event of a change in circumstances, such that it becomes likely that the Company will receive milestone payments, the Company will recognize income for the change in transaction price in the period in which the transaction price changes.

In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred various qualified expenses, such as legal fees, consulting and general and administrative expenses in connection with the sale of Flame’s FL-101 program. Such expenses exceeded the non-refundable consideration received of $500, and therefore, the Company was not obligated to pay Contingent Merger Consideration to the Flame Stockholders.

Series X Preferred Stock

Pursuant to the Merger, the Company agreed to issue 136,248 shares of Series X Preferred Stock to Flame Stockholders and January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants for 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock to Flame Warrant Holders. The Company obtained Stockholder Approval during the year ended December 31, 2023 to convert each issued share of Series X Preferred Stock and each share of Series X Preferred Stock issuable pursuant to the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants into 100 shares of its common stock. The Series X Preferred Stock was converted to common stock on June 21, 2023, and the carrying value of the Series X Preferred Stock was reclassified from mezzanine equity to permanent equity.

January 2023 Common Stock Warrants and January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants

In January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders became exercisable for 6,530 shares of Leap’s common stock (the “January 2023 Common Stock Warrants”). The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025. The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants qualify for equity classification. Also in January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders became exercisable for 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (the “January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants”). Upon obtaining Stockholder Approval for the conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock and theone-for-ten reverse stock split, each share of Series X Preferred Stock converted into 100 shares of Common Stock. The January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025. The Company initially recorded the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants as a liability on the Effective Date and the warrant liability was subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date and on the date on which Stockholder Approval to convert shares of Series X Preferred Stock into shares of common stock was obtained. On June 21, 2023, after obtaining stockholder approval for the conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock into common stock, the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants were reclassified from liability to equity.

Changes in the fair value of the warrant liability are recognized as gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a gain of $12 in its consolidated statement of operations.

4. Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

Depreciation expense was $15 and $16 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

5. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

6. Leases

The Company has an operating lease for real estate in the United States and does not have any finance leases. The Company’s leases may contain options to renew and extend lease terms and options to terminate leases early. Reflected in the right-of-use asset and lease liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are the periods provided by renewal and extension options that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise, as well as the periods provided by termination options that the Company is reasonably certain to not exercise.

The Company’s existing 47 Thorndike Street Lease was set to expire in July 2024. In January 2024 the Company entered into a fourth amendment with its 47 Thorndike Street Lease (“Fourth Amendment”), extending the lease through July 2025 (see Note 15). The 47 Thorndike Street Lease includes variable lease and non-lease components that are not included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability and are reflected as an expense in the period incurred. Such payments primarily include common area maintenance charges and increases in rent payments that are driven by factors such as future changes in an index (e.g., the Consumer Price Index).

In calculating the present value of future lease payments, the Company utilized its incremental borrowing rate based on the remaining lease term at the date of adoption. The Company has elected to account for each lease component and its associated non-lease components as a single lease component and has allocated all of the contract consideration across lease components only. This will potentially result in the initial and subsequent measurement of the balances of the right-of-use asset and lease liability for leases being greater than if the policy election was not applied. The Company has an existing net lease in which the non-lease components (e.g. common area maintenance, maintenance, consumables, etc.) are paid separately from rent based on actual costs incurred and therefore are not included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability and are reflected as an expense in the period incurred. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company extended the term of its operating lease and recorded an additional right-of-use asset and lease liability of $609. As of December 31, 2023, a right-of-use asset of $257 and lease liability of $262 are reflected on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company recorded operating lease costs of $449 and $443, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities was $452 and $445, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Future lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2023 are detailed as follows:

7. Warrants

As of December 31, 2023, outstanding warrants to purchase common stock, all of which are classified as equity warrants, consisted of the following:

2019 Warrants

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company redeemed 10,000 of the 2019 Warrants at a purchase price of $2.90 per share.

January 2023 Common Stock Warrants

In January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders became exercisable for 6,530 shares of Leap’s common stock (the “January 2023 Common Stock Warrants”). The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025. The January 2023 Common Stock Warrants qualify for equity classification.

January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants

In January 2023, pursuant to the Merger, the warrants held by the Flame Warrant Holders also became exercisable for 443 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (the “January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants”). Each share of Series X Preferred Stock converted into 100 shares of common stock, following Stockholder Approval during the year ended December 31, 2023. The January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $6.78 per share and expire in February 2025.

The Company initially recorded the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants as a liability on its consolidated balance sheet as of the Effective Date and subsequently remeasured the warrant liability to fair value at each reporting date and on the date Stockholder Approval was obtained to convert shares of Series X Preferred Stock into shares of common stock. Changes in the fair value of the warrant liability were recognized as gains (losses) in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a gain of $12 in its consolidated statement of operations.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, upon obtaining Stockholder Approval, the January 2023 Series X Preferred Stock Warrants were converted into common stock warrants and reclassified from liability to equity.

8. Common Stock

Each share of common stock entitles the holder toone vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. Common stockholders are entitled to receive dividends, as may be declared by the board of directors, if any, subject to the preferential dividend rights of the preferred stockholders. Through December 31, 2023, no dividends have been declared for shares of common stock.

Acquisition of Flame – January 2023

On January 17, Leap acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Flame. Pursuant to the Merger, Leap issued to Flame Stockholders 1,972,901 shares of common stock. The Company also issued Series X Preferred Stock to Flame Stockholders pursuant to the Merger (see Note 3).

9. Stock-Based Compensation

Equity Incentive Plans

In September 2012, the Company adopted the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”), as amended, which provides designated employees of the Company and its affiliates, certain consultants and advisors who perform services for the Company and its affiliates, and nonemployee members of the Board of Directors of the Company and its affiliates with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options and stock awards. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the 2012 Equity Plan expired.

On January 20, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”). Beginning on January 1, 2018, the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance pursuant to the 2016 Plan was increased each January 1 by an amount equal to four percent (4%) of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year or such other amount as determined by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors.

On June 16, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), which provides for a total of 750,000 new shares of the Company’s common stock to be granted. In addition, on June 16, 2023, stockholders approved 2,250,000 new shares of the Company’s common stock to be added to the 2022 Plan for future issuance.

As of December 31, 2023, there were 1,016,023 shares available for grant under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plans, which excludes the 2012 Plan which expired during the year ended December 31, 2022.

9. Stock-Based Compensation (continued)

A summary of stock option activity under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plans is as follows:

The grant date fair value of the options granted during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The expected life was estimated using the “simplified” method as defined by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 107, Share-Based Payment. The expected volatility was based on the historical volatility of the Company. The risk-free interest rate was based on the continuous rates provided by the U.S. Treasury with a term approximating the expected life of the option. The expected dividend yield was 0% because the Company does not expect to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future. The Company elected the straight-line attribution method in recognizing the grant date fair value of options issued over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods.

The weighted average grant date fair value for the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $2.07 and $10.84 per share, respectively.

The assumptions that the Company used to determine the grant-date fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows, presented on a weighted average basis:

Stock options generally vest over athree orfour year period, as determined by the compensation committee of the board of directors at the time of grant. The options expireten years from the grant date. As of December 31, 2023, there was approximately $5,444 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of approximately 2.19 years.

9. Stock-Based Compensation (continued)

Restricted Stock Units

During the year ended December 31, 2022 the Company granted 265,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to employees that will cliff vest and will be settled after three years of continuous service, or upon a change of control of the Company, whichever is earlier, pursuant to the 2016 Plan. The Company did not grant any RSUs during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $1,632 and $2,086, respectively, of stock based compensation expense related to these equity classified RSUs.

The following table presents RSU activity under the 2016 Plan as of December 31, 2023:

As of December 31, 2023, there were 262,500 shares outstanding covered by RSUs that were vested and expected to vest with a weighted average grant date fair value of $19.97 per share and an aggregate grant date fair value of $5,242. As of December 31, 2023, there was approximately $1,682 of unrecognized compensation costs related to RSUs granted to employees, which are expected to be recognized as expense over a remaining weighted average period of 1.1 years.

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to the issuance of stock option awards and RSUs to employees and non-employees in the consolidated statements of operations during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as follows:

Stock Based Compensation Expense

10. Income Taxes

There is no provision for income taxes in the United States because the Company has historically incurred operating losses and maintains a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets in these jurisdictions.

Loss before income taxes consisted of the following:

A summary of the Company’s current and deferred expense for income tax is as follows:

A reconciliation of the Company’s statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

10. Income Taxes (continued)

The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $17,487, and $18,532, respectively. The Company’s federal NOL’s can be carried forward indefinitely and the state NOL’s begin to expire in 2038.

Under Internal Revenue Code Section 382, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. The Company has completed a study to assess whether an ownership change occurred or whether there had been multiple ownership changes since the Company became a “loss corporation” as defined in Section 382. The Company experienced multiple ownership changes occurring in 2019, 2020, and 2023. The ownership changes have and will continue to subject the Company’s pre-ownership change NOL carryforwards to an annual limitation, which will significantly restrict its ability to use them to offset taxable income in periods following the ownership changes. In general, the annual use limitation equals the aggregate value of the Company’s stock at the time of the ownership change multiplied by a specified tax-exempt interest rate. As a result of the ownership changes, the Company is limited to a $0 annual limitation on its ability to utilize its NOL’s and research and development (“R&D”) credits recognized prior to the Flame merger. Due to this limitation, approximately $210,844 of the federal NOL’s and $7,889 of federal R&D credits that had been available to offset future taxable income prior to the date of the ownership change, will expire unutilized. Additionally, approximately $192,689 and $1,771 of state NOL’s and R&D tax credits that had been available to offset future taxable income prior to the date of the ownership change, will expire unutilized. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company has reduced its deferred tax assets related to the federal and state NOL and R&D credits which is offset by the corresponding decrease in a valuation allowance.

In addition, As of December 31, 2023, the Company has federal and state R&D tax credits of approximately $1,466 and $231, respectively, that begin to expire in 2043 and 2038, respectively, for federal and state tax purposes.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets, as realization of any associated tax benefit in the future is not more likely than not. The valuation allowance decreased by $42,726 and increased by $14,886 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2023 is due primarily to Section 382 limitations on NOL’s and R&D tax credits.

10. Income Taxes (continued)

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) resulted in significant changes to the treatment of R&D expenditures under Section 174. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, taxpayers are required to capitalize and amortize all R&D expenditures that are paid or incurred in connection with their trade or business. Specifically, costs for U.S.-based R&D activities must be amortized over five years and costs for foreign R&D activities must be amortized over 15 years, both using a midyear convention. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company capitalized $41,838 of R&D expenses.

The Company follows the authoritative guidance on accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in tax positions, which requires the Company to determine whether a tax position of the Company is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals of litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon the ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has not recorded any uncertain tax positions.

The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The earliest tax years that may be subject to examination by jurisdiction are 2020 for both federal and state purposes. The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties related to income taxes as part of the tax provision. There wereno interest and penalties pertaining to uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.

11. Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was calculated as follows:

Included within weighted average common shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, are 1,421,768 common shares issuable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants and penny warrants, as the warrants are exercisable at any time for nominal consideration, and as such, the shares are considered outstanding for the purpose of calculating basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders.

11. Net Loss Per Share (continued)

The Company’s potentially dilutive securities include RSUs, stock options and warrants. These securities were excluded from the computations of diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as the effect would be to reduce the net loss per share. The following table includes the potential common shares of common stock, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, that were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

12. Commitments and Contingencies

**Manufacturing Agreements—**The Company is party to manufacturing agreements with vendors to manufacture DKN-01, its lead product candidate, for use in clinical trials. As of December 31, 2023, noncancelable commitments under these agreements totaled $558.

**License and Service Agreements—**On January 3, 2011, the Company entered into a license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”), a shareholder, to grant a license to the Company for certain intellectual property rights relating to pharmaceutically active compounds that may be useful in the treatment of bone healing, cancer and, potentially, other medical conditions. As defined in the license agreement, the Company would be required to pay royalties to Lilly based upon a percentage in the low single digits of net sales of developed products, if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical or commercialization success of developed products will occur, andno royalties have been paid or accrued through December 31, 2023.

**License Agreement—**On May 28, 2015, the Company entered into a license agreement with Lonza Sales AG (“Lonza”), pursuant to which Lonza granted the Company a world-wide, non-exclusive license for certain intellectual property relating to a gene expression system for manufacturing DKN-01. As defined in the license agreement, the Company would be required to pay royalties to Lonza based on a percentage in the low single digits of net sales of DKN-01, if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical or commercialization success will occur, andno royalties have been paid or accrued through December 31, 2023.

Collaboration Agreement--On August 10, 2020, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Adimab, LLC (the “Adimab Agreement”), pursuant to which Adimab will conduct research programs to develop monoclonal antibodies to certain targets identified by the Company and provide it with an option to acquire exclusive rights to such antibodies. Upon payment of an option fee, on a product-by-product basis, Adimab will grant the Company a world-wide, exclusive license for, or assign ownership to the Company of, certain intellectualproperty rights and grant the Company a non-exclusive license with respect to the Adimab platform technology. As defined in the Adimab Agreement, after exercising an option and making the option payment, the Company would be required to pay Adimab milestones upon the completion of clinical development and regulatory milestones, along with a royalty in the low-single digits of net sales of each product, if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical, or commercialization success will occur, and no royalties have been paid or accrued through December 31, 2023.

12. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

License Agreement --On August 13, 2021, the Company entered into a strategic partnership and license agreement with NovaRock Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “NovaRock Agreement”), pursuant to which NovaRock granted the Company a world-wide, excluding the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, exclusive license for certain intellectual property rights relating to FL-301 and FL-302. As defined in the license agreement, the Company would be required to pay NovaRock milestones upon the completion of development, regulatory and sales milestones for up to three different products (FL-301, FL-302 and potentially one additional target), along with a royalty in the mid-single digits of net sales of each product in the territory, if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical, or commercialization success will occur, and no royalties have been paid or accrued through December 31, 2023.

**Legal Proceedings—**At each reporting date, the Company evaluates whether a potential loss amount or a potential range of loss is probable and reasonably estimable under the provisions of the authoritative guidance that addresses accounting for contingencies. The Company expenses as incurred the costs related to its legal proceedings. As of the date of this report, the Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings.

**Indemnification Agreements—**In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications. The Company is not aware of any claims under indemnification arrangements, and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

13. Defined Contribution Plan

The Company has a 401(k) defined contribution plan (the “401(k) Plan”) for substantially all of its employees. Eligible employees may make pretax contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to statutory limits.

The Company makes matching employee contributions in cash to the 401(k) Plan at a rate of 100% of the first 3% of earnings contributed and 50% of the next 2% of earnings contributed.

Employees participating in the 401(k) Plan are fully vested in the Company matching contributions, and investments are directed by participants. The Company made matching contributions of $443 and $333 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

14. Related Party Transactions

The Company has a license agreement with a stockholder (See Note 12).

15. Subsequent Events

On January 3, 2024, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment. Under the Fourth Amendment, the Company extended the term of the 47 Thorndike Street Lease through July 31, 2025. Under the Fourth Amendment, the Company will continue to pay the current monthly base rent amount of $38,335 contemplated by the 47 Thorndike Street Lease through July 31, 2024, with an increase commencing on August 1, 2024 adjusting the monthly base rent amount to approximately $38,974 through July 31, 2025.

In January 2024, the Company released the Holdback Shares to the Flame Shareholders (see Note 3).