Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd
For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Nov 8, 2024.
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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.
Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Nov 8, 2024
Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.
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Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · September 30, · · December 31, | ||||||
| · 2024 · 2023 | ||||||
| | (Unaudited) | | ||||
| ASSETS | | | | | | |
| Current assets: · · | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $3,116,750 | | $2,401,198 | ||
| Investments | | | 7,190,138 | | | 8,293,663 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 190,541 | | 591,034 | ||
| Total current assets | | 10,497,429 | | 11,285,895 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Prepaid expenses - long term | | | 383,390 | | | 300,000 |
| Intangible assets, net | | 508,334 | | 583,334 | ||
| Total assets | | $11,389,153 | | $12,169,229 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | ||||
| Current liabilities: | | | ||||
| Accounts payable | | $222,636 | | $526,523 | ||
| Accrued expenses | | 1,504,852 | | 1,308,706 | ||
| Accrued interest and financing expense | | 1,146,251 | | 1,146,251 | ||
| Due to officers - short term | | 600,000 | | 600,000 | ||
| Total current liabilities | | 3,473,739 | | 3,581,480 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Due to officers - long term | | | 2,473,733 | | | 2,923,733 |
| Total liabilities | | $5,947,472 | | $6,505,213 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| Shareholders’ equity: | | | ||||
| Ordinary shares, no par value per share, 100,000,000 ordinary shares authorized at | | $— | | $— | ||
| September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively - 5,049,720 (5,049,720 ADS's) ordinary shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 987,220 (987,220 ADS's) at December 31, 2023 | | | | | ||
| Additional paid in capital | | 58,296,199 | | 51,867,336 | ||
| Accumulated deficit | | (52,854,518) | | (46,203,320) | ||
| Total shareholders' equity | | 5,441,681 | | 5,664,016 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $11,389,153 | | $12,169,229 | ||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Nine months ended September 30, · · Three months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| General and administrative | | $4,590,936 | | $4,685,241 | | $1,357,715 | | $1,366,464 | ||||
| Research and development | | 2,532,468 | | 2,475,596 | | 1,170,287 | | | 758,759 | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Total operating expenses | | 7,123,404 | | 7,160,837 | | 2,528,002 | | | 2,125,223 | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other (income) and expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Unrealized (gain) loss | | | (23,043) | | | 11,926 | | | (31,729) | | | (2,119) |
| Realized and accrued interest income | | (449,163) | | (536,068) | | (146,388) | | (196,425) | ||||
| Total other income | | | (472,206) | | | (524,142) | | | (178,117) | | | (198,544) |
| Net loss | | $(6,651,198) | | $(6,636,695) | | $(2,349,885) | | $(1,926,679) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Loss per ADS | | | | | | |||||||
| Loss per ADS | | | | | ||||||||
| Basic | | $(1.63) | | $(7.61) | | $(0.47) | | $(1.95) | ||||
| Fully-diluted | | $(1.63) | | $(7.61) | | $(0.47) | | $(1.95) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average number of ADS's outstanding | | | | | ||||||||
| Basic | | 4,071,162 | | 871,835 | | 5,049,720 | | 987,220 | ||||
| Fully-diluted | | 4,071,162 | | 871,835 | | 5,049,720 | | 987,220 | ||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)
Three and Nine months ended September 30, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · · No · · · Additional · · · · | ||||||||||||||||||
| · · Ordinary · · · · Par · · Treasury · · Paid in · · Accumulated · · · | ||||||||||||||||||
| · Shares · ADS's · Value · Stock · Capital · Deficit · Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2023 | 403,887 | 403,887 | — | | $(2,932,000) | | $47,855,521 | | $(37,516,747) | | $7,406,774 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net loss | — | — | — | | — | | — | | (2,603,069) | | (2,603,069) | |||||||
| Issuance of ADS and Pre - Funded Warrants, net | | 583,333 | | 583,333 | | — | | | — | | | 5,849,266 | | | — | | | 5,849,266 |
| Stock based compensation | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | 261,472 | | | — | | | 261,472 |
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | | 987,220 | | 987,220 | | — | | $(2,932,000) | | $53,966,259 | | $(40,119,816) | | $10,914,443 | ||||
| Net loss | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,106,947) | | | (2,106,947) |
| Stock based compensation | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | 264,376 | | | — | | | 264,376 |
| Balance at June 30, 2023 | | 987,220 | | 987,220 | | — | | $(2,932,000) | | $54,230,635 | | $(42,226,763) | | $9,071,872 | ||||
| Net loss | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,926,679) | | | (1,926,679) |
| Stock based compensation | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | 268,503 | | | — | | | 268,503 |
| Balance at September 30, 2023 | | 987,220 | | 987,220 | | — | | $(2,932,000) | | $54,499,138 | | $(44,153,442) | | $7,413,696 | ||||
Three and Nine months ended September 30, 2024
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · · · No · · · Additional · · · · | ||||||||||||||||||
| · Ordinary · · · · Par · · Treasury · · Paid in · · Accumulated · · · | ||||||||||||||||||
| · Shares · ADS's · Value · Stock · Capital · Deficit · Total | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2024 | | 987,220 | | 987,220 | | — | | $— | | $51,867,336 | | $(46,203,320) | | | 5,664,016 | |||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net loss | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,327,280) | | | (2,327,280) |
| Issuance of ADS's, pre-funded warrants and warrants, net | 2,808,750 | 2,808,750 | — | | — | | 5,482,472 | | — | | 5,482,472 | |||||||
| Stock based compensation | — | — | — | | — | | 306,314 | | — | | 306,314 | |||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | | 3,795,970 | | 3,795,970 | | — | | $— | | $57,656,122 | | $(48,530,600) | | $9,125,522 | ||||
| Net loss | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | (1,974,033) | | | (1,974,033) |
| Exercise of pre-funded warrants | | 184,000 | | 184,000 | | — | | | — | | | 18 | | | — | | | 18 |
| Reversal of accrued offering expenses | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | 13,707 | | | — | | | 13,707 |
| Stock based compensation | | — | | — | | — | | | — | | | 313,122 | | | — | | | 313,122 |
| Balance at June 30, 2024 | 3,979,970 | 3,979,970 | — | | $— | | $57,982,969 | | $(50,504,633) | | $7,478,336 | |||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | | — | | — | | (2,349,885) | | (2,349,885) | |||||||
| Exercise of pre-funded warrants | 1,069,750 | | 1,069,750 | | — | | — | | 108 | | — | | 108 | |||||
| Stock based compensation | — | — | — | | — | | 313,122 | | — | | 313,122 | |||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2024 | 5,049,720 | 5,049,720 | — | | $— | | $58,296,199 | | $(52,854,518) | | $5,441,681 | |||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||
| | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| Cash flows used in operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Net loss | | $(6,651,198) | | $(6,636,695) | ||
| Stock based compensation | | 932,558 | | 794,351 | ||
| Amortization of intangibles | | 75,000 | | 78,032 | ||
| Unrealized gain and accrued interest on investments | | | (186,512) | | | (369,467) |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | ||
| Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses | | (107,741) | | 1,052,872 | ||
| Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets | | 317,103 | | 440,123 | ||
| Net cash used in operating activities | | $(5,620,790) | | $(4,640,784) | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Cash flows provided (used) in investing activities: | | | ||||
| Purchase of investments | | $(11,255,963) | | $(18,090,684) | ||
| Proceeds from maturity of investments | | | 12,546,000 | | | 17,635,000 |
| Net cash provided (used) in investing activities | | $1,290,037 | | $(455,684) | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Cash flows provided by financing activities: | | | ||||
| Payment of amounts due to officers | | $(450,000) | | $(450,000) | ||
| Proceeds from sale of equity securities, net | | 5,496,305 | | | 5,849,266 | |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | | $5,046,305 | | $5,399,266 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents: | | 715,552 | | 302,798 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | | 2,401,198 | | 2,860,628 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents - end of period | | $3,116,750 | | $3,163,426 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Supplemental information - Non cash items: | | | ||||
| Offering expenses associated with warrant modification | | $209,225 | | $238,231 | ||
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (“Quoin Ltd.,” or the “Company”), formerly known as Cellect Biotechnology Ltd. (“Cellect”), is the holding company for Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Quoin Inc.”). Quoin Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on March 5, 2018. On October 28, 2021, Cellect completed the business combination with Quoin Inc., with Quoin Inc. surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cellect (the “Merger”). Immediately after completion of the Merger, Cellect changed its name to “Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.”
The Company is a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of therapeutic products that treat rare and orphan diseases for which there are currently no approved treatments or cures. The Company’s initial focus is on the development of products, using proprietary owned and in-licensed drug delivery technologies, that could help address rare skin diseases. The Company’s first lead product, QRX003, is a topical lotion comprised of a broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor, formulated with the proprietary in-licensed Invisicare® technology, is under development as a potential treatment for Netherton Syndrome (“NS”), a rare hereditary genetic disease. QRX003 is currently being tested in two clinical studies in the United States (“U.S.”) under an open Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application with the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Dosing of patients commenced in December 2022 for the first study and in March 2023 for the second study. The Company is also developing QRX004 as a potential treatment for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (“RDEB”). In addition, the Company has entered into Research Agreements with the Queensland University of Technology (“QUT”), which include an option for global licenses to QRX007 for the potential treatment of NS and QRX008 for the potential treatment of scleroderma, and with the University College Cork (“UCC”) for the development of novel topical formulations of rapamycin (sirolimus) as potential treatments for a number of rare and orphan diseases for which there are currently no approved therapies or cures. To date, no products have been commercialized and no revenue has been generated.
NOTE 2 - LIQUIDITY RISKS AND OTHER UNCERTAINTIES
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), which contemplates continuation of the Company as a going concern. The Company has incurred net losses every year since inception and has an accumulated deficit of approximately $52.9 million at September 30, 2024. The Company has a limited operating history and has historically funded its operations through debt and equity financings. The Company incurred net losses of approximately $6.7 million, and negative cash flows from operations of $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents balances totaling $3.1 million and investments of $7.2 million. The Company has determined that it has sufficient cash and liquidity to effect its business plan for at least one year from the issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Additional financing will still be required to complete the research and development of the Company’s therapeutic targets and its other operating requirements until it achieves commercial profitability, if ever. Such financing may not be available at acceptable terms, if at all. If the Company is unable to obtain additional funding when it becomes necessary, the development of its product candidates will be impacted and the Company would likely be forced to delay, reduce, or terminate some or all of its development programs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
Other risks and uncertainties:
The Company is subject to risks common to development stage biopharmaceutical companies including, but not limited to, new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, product liability, pre-clinical and clinical trial outcome risks, regulatory approval risks, uncertainty of market acceptance and additional financing requirements.
The Company’s products require approval or clearance from the FDA prior to commencing commercial sales in the United States. There can be no assurance that the Company’s products will receive all of the required approvals or clearances. Approvals or clearances are also required in foreign jurisdictions in which the Company may license or sell its products.
There can be no assurance that the Company’s products, if approved, will be accepted in the marketplace, nor can there be any assurance that any future products can be developed or manufactured at an acceptable cost and with appropriate performance characteristics, or that such products will be successfully marketed.
The Company is also dependent on several third party suppliers, in some cases a single source supplier including the contract research organization managing both of the Company’s current clinical studies, the supplier of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), as well as the contract manufacturer of the drug product for clinical development.
On April 29, 2024, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that the closing bid price per ADS of the Company was below the required minimum of $1.00 for a period of 31 consecutive business days and that the Company did not meet the minimum bid price requirements set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5550(a)(2).
Pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company had an initial period of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days, or until October 28, 2024 (the “Compliance Period”) to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirement. Compliance could be achieved without further action if the closing bid price of the Company’s ADS was at or above $1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days at any time during the Compliance Period, in which case Nasdaq would notify the Company if it determined the Company was in compliance and the matter would be closed; however Nasdaq could require the closing bid price to equal or to exceed the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for more than 10 consecutive business days before determining that a company complies. In the event the Company did not regain compliance by October 28, 2024, the Company could be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day grace period. To qualify, the Company would be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held ADSs and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the minimum bid price requirement, and would need to provide written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period. Please refer to Note 16 regarding the extension letter received from the Staff on October 29, 2024.
NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation:
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, such statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) which are considered necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2024 and for the three and nine months then ended. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the year or any other period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related disclosures as of December 31, 2023 and for the year then ended which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10- K, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2024. The Company operates inone segment.
Effective July 18, 2023, the ratio of American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) evidencing ordinary shares changed from 1 ADS representing five thousand (5,000) ordinary shares to 1 ADS representing sixty thousand (60,000) ordinary shares, which resulted in a 1 for 12 reverse split of the issued and outstanding ADSs. Effective November 8, 2023, the Company completed a 1 for 60,000 reverse split of the ordinary shares which resulted in the ratio of ADSs evidencing ordinary shares to be changed from 1 ADS representing sixty thousand (60,000) ordinary shares to 1 ADS representing one (1) ordinary share. Except as specifically provided, ADSs and related option and warrant information presented in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the number of ordinary shares and ADSs resulting from the aforementioned ordinary share reverse split and ADS ratio changes.
Use of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. Management considers many factors in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements including: expected business and operational changes, sensitivity and volatility associated with the assumptions used in developing estimates, and whether historical trends are expected to be representative of future trends. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. Estimates are used in the following areas, among others: settlement of debt or other obligations, stock-based compensation, research and development expense recognition, intangible asset estimated useful lives and impairment assessments, allowances of deferred tax assets, and cash flow assumptions regarding going concern considerations.
Cash and cash equivalents:
The Company considers all highly liquid investments and short-term debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company, from time to time during the periods presented, has had bank account balances in excess of federally insured limits where substantially all cash is held in the United States. The Company has not experienced losses in such accounts. The Company believes that it is not subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.
Warrants:
The Company classifies as equity any contracts that (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) provide the Company with a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement) provided that such contracts are indexed to the Company’s own stock. The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the Company’s control) or (ii) give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement).
The Company assesses classification of its warrants and other free-standing derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets, liabilities and equity is required. The Company evaluated its warrants outstanding to assess their proper classification using the applicable criteria enumerated under U.S. GAAP and determined that such warrants meet the criteria for equity classification in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Investments:
Investments as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consist of U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes, which are classified as trading securities, totaling $7.2 million and$8.3 million, respectively. The Company determines the appropriate balance sheet classification of its investments at the time of purchase and evaluates the classification at each balance sheet date. All of the Company’s U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes held on September 30, 2024 have maturities withinone year from the balance sheet date. As of September 30, 2024, the carrying value of the Company’s U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes approximates their fair value due to their short-term maturities.
Long-lived assets:
Long-lived assets are comprised of acquired technology and licensed rights to use technology, which are considered platform technology with alternative future uses beyond the current products in development. Such intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful life of 10 years.
The Company assesses the impairment for long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors we consider that could trigger an impairment review include the following:
| ● | Significant changes in the manner of the Company’s use of the acquired assets or the strategy for its overall business, |
| ● | Significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected development milestones, |
| ● | Significant negative regulatory or economic trends, and |
| ● | Significant technological changes which could render the platform technology obsolete. |
The Company recognizes impairment when the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Impairment losses, if any, are measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its estimated fair value. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, there wereno impairment indicators which required an impairment loss measurement.
Research and development:
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include personnel costs associated with research and development activities, including 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 third parties, patient enrollment in clinical trials when applicable, administrative costs incurred by 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 expenses in future periods as the related services are rendered.
Stock based compensation:
The Company recognizes compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors as an expense in the consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. The fair value of each option grant is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, net of actual forfeitures. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
Since the Company has a limited history of trading as a public company, the Company’s expected stock volatility is based on a weighting of its historical volatility along with a group of a publicly traded set of peer companies. The Company utilizes the simplified method to estimate the expected term. The risk-free interest rate was 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. The expected dividend yield was assumed to be zero as the Company has not paid any dividends since its inception and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
Fair value of financial instruments:
The Company considers its cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts payable, accrued expenses to meet the definition of financial instruments. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximated their fair values due to the short maturities.
The Company measures fair value as required by ASC Topic 820,Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC Topic 820”). ASC Topic 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework and gives guidance regarding the methods used for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC Topic 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.
Earnings (loss) per share:
The Company reports loss per share in accordance with ASC 260-10,Earnings Per Share, which provides for calculation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings per share. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The calculation of diluted net earnings (loss) per share gives effect to ordinary shares equivalents; however, other than unexercised prefunded warrants as described below, potential common shares are excluded if their effect is anti-dilutive.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the number of shares excluded from the diluted net earnings (loss) per share included outstanding warrants to purchase 8,988,346 ADS and outstanding stock options to purchase 278,011 ADS, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the number of shares excluded from the diluted net earnings (loss) per share included outstanding warrants to purchase 864,068 ADS and outstanding stock options to purchase 26,667 ADS, respectively, as their inclusion in the denominator would be anti-dilutive.
NOTE 4 – ACCRUED INTEREST AND FINANCING EXPENSE
On October 2, 2020, Quoin Inc. issued promissory notes (the “2020 Notes”) to certain investors (“2020 Noteholders”). The 2020 Notes were mandatorily convertible into 432 ADSs, subject to adjustment and were converted in 2021. The ADSs issued to the 2020 Noteholders did not include accrued interest. Two of thefive 2020 Noteholders received their amount due during the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company’s estimate of the liability to the remaining three 2020 Noteholders was estimated to be $1,146,000 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
There wasno interest expense recognized in both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
NOTE 5 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company applies fair value accounting for all assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risks inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risk. For certain instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable, and accrued expenses, it was estimated that the carrying amount approximated fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments.
Fair value is estimated using various valuation models, which utilize certain inputs and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The inputs and assumptions used in valuation models are classified in the fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
Level 2: Quoted market prices for similar instruments in an active market; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations inputs of which are observable and can be corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs and assumptions that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset and liability. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
In determining the appropriate hierarchy levels, the Company analyzes the assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value disclosure. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurement.
The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis by fair value hierarchy at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| · · · · · · · · · · · · | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total |
| US Treasury Bills and Notes | $7,190,138 | $— | | $— | | $7,190,138 |
| Total US Treasury Bills amd Notes Asset | $7,190,138 | $— | | $— | | $7,190,138 |
| · · · · · · · · · · · · | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 · Level 1 · Level 2 · Level 3 · Total | ||||||||
| US Treasury Bills and Notes | | $8,293,663 | | $— | | $— | | $8,293,663 |
| Total US Treasury Bills amd Notes Asset | | $8,293,663 | | $— | | $— | | $8,293,663 |
NOTE 6 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
In March 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “Amended Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on April 12, 2022, which increased the number of ordinary shares reserved for issuance under such equity incentive plan to 15% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares on a fully-diluted basis, or 2,147,412 ordinary shares represented by 2,147,412 ADSs as of September 30, 2024. Under the Amended Plan, the Company may grant options to its directors, officers, employees, consultants, advisers and service providers. As of September 30, 2024,1,869,401 shares remained available for issuance.
The following table summarizes stock-based activities under the Amended Plan:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Weighted · Weighted | |||||||
| · · · · Average · · Average | |||||||
| · · ADS Underlying · · Exercise · · Contractual | |||||||
| · · Options · · Price · · Terms | |||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 278,011 | | $25.34 | 9.68 | |||
| Granted | — | | | — | | ||
| Forfeited/Cancelled | — | | | — | | ||
| Outstanding at September 30, 2024 | 278,011 | | $25.34 | 8.93 | |||
| | | | | | | | |
| Exercisable options at September 30, 2024 | 14,407 | | $210.00 | 7.60 | |||
The intrinsic value of outstanding options at September 30, 2024 was $0.
Stock based compensation expense was approximately $313,000 ($68,000 included in research and development expense and $245,000 included in general and administrative expenses) in the three months ended September 30, 2024 and approximately $933,000 ($186,000 included in research and development expense and $747,000 included in general and administrative expenses) in the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Stock based compensation expense was approximately $269,000 ($34,000 included in research and development expense and $235,000 included in general and administrative expenses) in the three months ended September 30, 2023 and approximately $794,000 ($103,000 included in research and development expense and $691,000 included in general and administrative expenses) in the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
At September 30, 2024, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options was approximately $2.1 million and is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average service period of approximately 2.98 years.
NOTE 7 – PREPAID EXPENSES
Prepaid expenses are as follows:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · September 30, · December 31, | ||||||
| · · 2024 · · 2023 | ||||||
| Prepaid R&D costs | | $398,920 | | $447,979 | ||
| Prepaid insurance | | 45,586 | | 401,972 | ||
| Prepaid expense | | 21,322 | | 8,500 | ||
| Deferred offering costs (note 13) | | | 108,103 | | | 32,583 |
| Total | | $573,931 | | $891,034 | ||
| Less: Short-term portion | | | (190,541) | | | (591,034) |
| Long-term portion | | $383,390 | | $300,000 | ||
NOTE 8 - ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses are as follows:
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · September 30, · December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Research contract expenses (note 12) | | $417,461 | | $358,287 |
| Payroll (note 11) | | 859,447 | | 804,156 |
| Payroll taxes (note 11) | | 79,948 | | 93,989 |
| Professional fees | | 94,952 | | 50,534 |
| Other expenses | | 53,044 | | 1,740 |
| Total | | $1,504,852 | | $1,308,706 |
NOTE 9 – IN-LICENSED TECHNOLOGY
Skinvisible:
In October 2019, Quoin Inc. entered into the Exclusive Licensing Agreement (as amended from time to time, the “License Agreement”) with Skinvisible Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Skinvisible”), under which Skinvisible granted the Company an exclusive royalty-bearing license relating to the production and manufacture of prescription drug products related to certain patents held by Skinvisible, including those related to QRX003 and QRX004. The Company made Skinvisible a one-time non-refundable, non-creditable license fee of $1 million (the “License Fee”). In addition, the Company agreed to pay Skinvisible a single digit royalty percentage of the Company’s net sales revenues for any licensed product covered by the patent rights licensed under the License Agreement. The Company also agreed to pay Skinvisible 25% of any revenues the Company receives as royalties in the event that the Company sublicenses any licensed products to a third party. The License Agreement also requires that the Company make a $5 million payment to Skinvisible upon receiving approval in the U.S. or European Union, whichever occurs first, for the first drug product developed using intellectual property licensed thereunder. There were no milestone or royalty obligations due at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
NOTE 10 - INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets are as follows:
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · September 30, · December 31, | ||||
| | | 2024 | | 2023 |
| Technology license – Skinvisible | | $1,000,000 | | $1,000,000 |
| Total cost | | 1,000,000 | | 1,000,000 |
| Accumulated amortization | | (491,666) | | (416,666) |
| Net book value | | $508,334 | | $583,334 |
The Company recorded amortization expense of approximately $25,000 and $26,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company recorded amortization expense of approximately $75,000 and $78,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The annual amortization expense expected to be recorded for existing intangible assets for the remaining of 2024 through 2027, and thereafter, is approximately $25,000, $100,000, $100,000, $100,000 and $183,000, respectively.
NOTE 11 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Employment Agreements and Due to Officers/Founders:
Due to the limited funding of Quoin Inc. prior to the consummation of the Merger, the compensation, including salary, office and car allowances and other benefits, due to Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter under their respective employment agreements, as well as reimbursement of expenses and other amounts paid by Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter to third parties on behalf of Quoin Inc., were not paid by Quoin Inc. to Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter, and were accrued as indebtedness to Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter. Following the closing of the Merger, Quoin Inc. began making payments of $25,000 per month to each of Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter torepay the above-described non-interest-bearing indebtedness. The Company repaid $75,000 and $75,000 of such indebtedness to Dr. Myers and $75,000 and $200,000 to Ms. Carter in the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company repaid $225,000 and $225,000 of such indebtedness to Dr. Myers and $225,000 and $225,000 to Ms. Carter in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As of September 30, 2024, approximately $1.7 million and $1.3 million ofsuch indebtedness was outstanding to Dr. Myers and Ms. Carter, respectively.
Amounts due to officers at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consisted of the following:
| · · · · · · | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · September 30, · December 31, | |||||
| · · 2024 · · 2023 | |||||
| Salaries and other compensation | | $3,073,733 | $3,523,733 | ||
| Less: Short-term portion | | (600,000) | | (600,000) | |
| Long-term portion | | $2,473,733 | | $2,923,733 | |
Interest Payable:
See Note 4 for interest payable on the 2020 Notes.
NOTE 12 – RESEARCH, CONSULTING AGREEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS
Research agreements
In November 2020, Quoin Inc. entered into a Master Service Agreement with Therapeutics Inc. for the management of the preclinical and clinical development of QRX003 for Netherton Syndrome. The initial term of the agreement wasthree years with automatic one year extensions, and the agreement required the execution of individual work orders. Quoin Inc. may terminate any work order for any reason with 90 days written notice subject to costs incurred through termination and a defined termination fee, unless there is a material breach by Therapeutics Inc. A work order was entered into in June 2022 for the first QRX003 clinical study at an expected estimated cost of approximately $4.4 million. An additional work order was entered into in December 2022 for a second QRX003 clinical study at an expected estimated cost of approximately $830,000. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred a research and development expense under these agreements of approximately $275,000 and $926,000 and $155,000 and $1,113,000 respectively.
In November 2021, the Company entered into a research agreement with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for a pre-clinical research program for the development of a product to treat Netherton Syndrome of approximately $250,000. In May 2022, the Company entered into a second research agreement with QUT for the development of a product to treat Scleroderma of approximately $610,000. Each agreement remains in place until the completion of the research program, which in each case was initially anticipated to be 18 months from execution. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred research and development costs related to these agreements of approximately $0 and $0, and $85,000 and $361,000, respectively.
On June 10, 2024, the Company signed a research agreement with The School of Pharmacy at UCC. The scope of the agreement encompasses the development of novel topical formulations of rapamycin (sirolimus) as potential treatments for a number of rare and orphan diseases for which there are currently no approved therapies or cures. Under the terms of the agreement, based on the achievement of certain milestones, the Company will fund up to approximately €567,000 ($608,000) plus VAT over an anticipated 2-1/2 year period to support UCC research program to investigate the development of a number of topical rapamycin formulations for future development as potential treatments for several rare and orphan diseases. Following completion of the research program, the Company will have the option to advance the clinical development of rapamycin formulations developed by UCC. The Company incurredno costs related to this agreement in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Performance milestones and Royalties
See Note 9 for asset and in-licensed technology commitments.
NOTE 13 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Alumni Equity Line and Purchase Agreement
On January 25, 2024, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Alumni Purchase Agreement”) with Alumni Capital LP (“Alumni”). Pursuant to the Alumni Purchase Agreement, the Company has the right to sell to Alumni up to $8,000,000 (the “Commitment Amount”) of newly issued ordinary shares that are represented by ADS, subject to certain conditions and limitations, from time to time during the term of the Alumni Purchase Agreement.
The Company does not have the right to commence any sales of ordinary shares represented by ADSs to Alumni under the Alumni Purchase Agreement until the date, which the Company refers to as the Commencement Date, that all of the conditions set forth in the Alumni Purchase Agreement have been satisfied, including that the registration statement the Company agreed to file with the SEC pursuant to the Alumni Purchase Agreement is declared effective by the SEC, and the Company’s shareholders have approved of the issuance of ADSs under the Alumni Purchase Agreement, which approval was obtained on April 5, 2024.
From and after the Commencement Date, the Company may, from time to time and at the Company’s sole discretion for a period of three months, which the Company at its sole discretion may increase by an additional three months (such period, including any extension, the “Commitment Period”), on any business day that the Company may select, direct Alumni to purchase ordinary shares represented by ADSs. The purchase price for the ordinary shares represented by ADSs the Company may sell to Alumni will be based upon formulas set forth in the Alumni Purchase Agreement based on the then current market price of the ADSs as computed under the Alumni Purchase Agreement and will depend on the type of purchase notice the Company submits to Alumni from time to time. There is no upper limit on the price per share that Alumni could be obligated to pay for the ADSs under the Alumni Purchase Agreement; provided, however at no time can the purchase price be below a floor price of $1.00 per share (subject to adjustment). The Company agreed to issue purchase notices for an aggregate of at least $4,000,000 of the Commitment Amount prior to the end of the Commitment Period.
As consideration for Alumni’s irrevocable commitment to purchase ADSs under the Alumni Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to Alumni, at the times set forth in the Alumni Purchase Agreement beginning with the trading day after the Commencement Date, a number of ADSs with a value at the time of issuance not to exceed $240,000 in the aggregate (the “Commitment Securities”). The Company may pay cash in lieu of issuing all or any portion of the Commitment Securities.
As of September 30, 2024 the Company has not filed the required registration statement or sold any ADSs to Alumni under the Alumni Purchase Agreement.
Public Offering
On March 7, 2024, (the “2024 Closing Date”) the Company completed an offering (the “2024 Offering”) of the following securities (i)811,250 ordinary shares represented by ADSs, (ii)4,062,500 Series D warrants (the “Series D Warrants”) to purchase 4,062,500 ordinary shares represented by ADSs, (iii)4,062,500 Series E warrants (the “Series E Warrants” and together with the Series D Warrants, the “2024 Warrants”) to purchase 4,062,500 ordinary shares represented by ADSs, and (iv)3,251,250 pre-funded warrants (the “2024 Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase 3,251,250 ordinary shares represented by ADSs for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6.5 million, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $5.5 million, after deducting the placement agent’s fees and offering expenses paid by the Company. Each ADS (or 2024 Pre-Funded Warrant to purchaseone ADS in lieu thereof) was sold together with a Series D Warrant to purchaseone ADS and a Series E Warrant to purchaseone ADS. The ADSs and accompanying 2024 Warrants were sold at a combined public offering price of $1.60 and the 2024 Pre-Funded Warrants and accompanying 2024 Warrants were sold at a combined public offering price of $1.5999, which is equal to the combined purchase price per ADS and accompanying 2024 Warrants, minus the exercise price of each 2024 Pre-Funded Warrant of $0.0001. As of September 30, 2024, all 2024 Pre - Funded Warrants have been exercised and are included in issued and outstanding ADSs. The Series D and Series E warrants have an exercise price of $1.60 per share, were exercisable immediately following the 2024 Closing Date and expire intwo years andfive years, respectively, from the closing of the 2024 Offering.
In connection with the 2024 Offering, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “2024 Purchase Agreement”) dated March 4, 2024, with certain institutional investors signatory thereto, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to such investors, certain of the ADSs, 2024 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2024 Warrants sold in the 2024 Offering. Pursuant to the terms of the 2024 Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed, subject to certain exceptions, (i) to not enter into variable rate financings for a period of 180 days following the closing of the 2024 Offering, and (ii) to not enter into any equity financings for 90 days from closing of the 2024 Offering.
On March 7, 2024, the Company also entered into privately negotiated agreements with the holders of certain existing outstanding warrants to purchase up to 638,834 ADSs,207,499 of which were warrants issued in the Company’s 2022 public offering and 431,335 of which were warrants issued in the Company’s 2023 public offering (collectively, the “Prior Warrants”) to, among other things, reduce the exercise price of such Prior Warrants to $1.60 and to extend the current expiration date of the Prior Warrants until March 7, 2029. The incremental fair value of the modified warrants was approximately $209,000, which was accounted for as an offering expense in connection with the 2024 Offering.
Warrants
The following table summarizes warrant activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Weighted | ||||||
| · · ADSs · · Average | ||||||
| · · Underlying · · Exercise Price | ||||||
| · · Warrants · · Per ADS · | ||||||
| Outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2023 | | 864,081 | $16.13 | * | ||
| Granted Common Warrants | 8,125,000 | | | 1.60 | | |
| Granted Pre-Funded Warrants | 3,251,250 | | — | | ||
| Exercised Pre-Funded Warrants | (3,251,250) | | | — | | |
| Terminated | (735) | | 1,650.00 | | ||
| Outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2024 | | 8,988,346 | | $2.10 | | |
As of September 30, 2024, outstanding common warrants expire in 2026, 2027 and 2029, and have an intrinsic value of $0.
- Note that the exercise price of certain existing outstanding warrants to purchase up to 638,834 ADSs was reduced from $12.00 and $13.20 to $1.60 on March 7, 2024, see above.
NOTE 14 – CONTINGENCIES
From time to time, the Company may become involved in various legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. Management is unaware of any matters requiring accrual for related losses in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 15 – LICENSE AGREEMENTS
As of September 30, 2024, the Company hadnine commercial license and supply agreements outstanding, whereby the Company will receive a royalty or other proceeds from the specified product revenues from the licensor, if and when the underlying products are approved and commercialized or sold via compassionate use or early access programs. No royalty revenues have been received through September 30, 2024 from any of these agreements.
NOTE 16 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
As previously disclosed, on April 29, 2024, the Company received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq notifying the Company that it was no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement, and that, pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company had an initial period of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days, or until October 28, 2024 to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. See Note 2. On October 16, 2024, the Company submitted a letter to Nasdaq requesting an additional 180-day grace period to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement.
On October 29, 2024, the Company received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq notifying the Company that Nasdaq has granted the Company an additional 180 calendar days, or until April 28, 2025, to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement. The Staff’s determination in granting the Company the extension was based on the Company meeting the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market with the exception of the minimum bid price requirement, and the Company’s written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period by effecting a reverse split, if necessary. Accordingly, there is no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s ADS on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “QNRX.”
Compliance may be achieved without further action if the closing bid price of the Company’s ADS is at or above $1.00 for a minimum of ten consecutive business days at any time during the second 180-day compliance period, in which case Nasdaq will notify the Company if it determines the Company is in compliance and the matter will be closed; however Nasdaq may require the closing bid price to equal or to exceed the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for more than 10 consecutive business days before determining that the Company complies. If compliance cannot be demonstrated by April 28, 2025, the Staff will provide written notification that the Company’s securities will be delisted. At that time, the Company may appeal the Staff’s determination to a Hearings Panel (the “Panel”). If the Company appeals it will be asked to provide a plan to regain compliance to the Panel. Historically, Panels have generally viewed a near-term reverse split as the only definitive plan acceptable to resolve a minimum bid price deficiency.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.