SOLIGENIX INC
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Mar 15, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Mar 15, 2024
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Nature of Business
Basis of Presentation
Soligenix, Inc. (the “Company”) is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need. The Company maintainstwo active business segments: Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions.
The Company’s Specialized BioTherapeutics business segment is developing and moving toward potential commercialization of HyBryte™ (a proposed proprietary name of SGX301 or synthetic hypericin sodium), a novel photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) utilizing topical synthetic hypericin activated with safe visible light for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (“CTCL”). With successful completion of the Phase 3 FLASH (Fluorescent Light And Synthetic Hypericin) study, regulatory approval is being pursued in the United States (“U.S.”) and Europe. Following submission of a new drug application (“NDA”) for HyBryte™ in the treatment of CTCL in December 2022, the Company received a refusal to file (“RTF”) letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in February 2023. In April 2023, the Company had a Type A meeting with the FDA to clarify and respond to the issues identified in the RTF letter and to seek additional guidance concerning information that the FDA would require for a resubmitted NDA to be deemed acceptable to file, in order to advance HyBryte™ towards U.S. marketing approval and commercialization. In order to accept an NDA filing for HyBryte™, the FDA is requiring positive results from a second, Phase 3 pivotal study in addition to the Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled FLASH study previously conducted in this orphan indication. Based on this feedback, the Company is collaboratively engaging in active discussions with both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) in order to define the protocol and evaluate the feasibility of conducting the additional Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating HyBryte™ in the treatment of CTCL in support of potential marketing approval.
Development programs in this business segment also include expansion of synthetic hypericin (SGX302) into psoriasis, the Company’s first-in-class Innate Defense Regulator (“IDR”) technology, and dusquetide (SGX942 and SGX945) for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including oral mucositis in head and neck cancer and aphthous ulcers in Behçet’s Disease.
The Company’s Public Health Solutions business segment includes development programs for RiVax®, its ricin toxin vaccine candidate and SGX943, its therapeutic candidate for antibiotic resistant and emerging infectious disease, and vaccine programs, including a program targeting filoviruses (such as Marburg and Ebola) and CiVax™, our vaccine candidate for the prevention of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2). The development of the vaccine programs incorporates the use of the Company’s proprietary heat stabilization platform technology, known as ThermoVax®. To date, this business segment has been supported with government grant and contract funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (“NIAID”), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
The Company primarily generates revenues under government grants and contracts principally from the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). The Company was awarded a subcontract that originally provided for approximately $1.5 million from a NIAID grant overtwo years for development of CiVax™ and a subcontract that originally provided for approximately $1.1 million from a FDA Orphan Products Development grant over four years for an expanded study of HyBryte™ in the treatment of CTCL. The Company will continue to apply for additional government funding.
The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, development of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, protections of proprietary technology, compliance with the FDA regulations, and other regulatory authorities, litigation, and product liability.
Liquidity
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 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 the consolidated financial statements are issued. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $225,704,176 and working capital of $3,355,212. During
the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred a net loss of $6,140,730 and used $8,604,109 of cash in operating activities. The Company expects to continue to generate losses in the foreseeable future. The Company’s liquidity needs will be determined largely by the budgeted operational expenditures incurred in regards to the progression of its product candidates. Management believes that the Company has sufficient resources available to support its development activities and business operations and timely satisfy its obligations as they become due into the fourth quarter of 2024. The Company does not have sufficient cash and cash equivalents as of the date of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K to support its operations for at least the 12 months following the date the financial statements are issued. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through 12 months after the date the financial statements are issued.
To alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company plans to secure additional capital, potentially through a combination of public or private equity offerings and strategic transactions, including potential alliances and drug product collaborations, securing additional proceeds from government contract and grant programs, securing additional proceeds available from the sale of shares of the common stock via an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement and potentially amending the loan agreement with Pontifax to reduce the conversion price in order to allow for conversion of a portion of the debt which will reduce the Company’s debt repayments; however, none of these alternatives are committed at this time. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient funding on terms acceptable to it to fund continuing operations, if at all, identify and enter into any strategic transactions that will provide the capital that it will require or achieve the other strategies to alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If none of these alternatives are available, or if available, are not available on satisfactory terms, the Company will not have sufficient cash resources and liquidity to fund its business operations for at least the 12 months following the date the financial statements are issued. The failure to obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms when needed may require the Company to delay, limit, or eliminate the development of business opportunities and its ability to achieve its business objectives and its competitiveness, and its business, financial condition, and results of operations will be materially adversely affected. In addition, market instability, including as a result of geopolitical instability, may reduce the Company’s ability to access capital, which could negatively affect its liquidity and ability to continue as a going concern. In addition, the perception that the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern may cause others to choose not to deal with it due to concerns about its ability to meet its contractual obligations.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business, and do not include any adjustments relating to recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $8,446,158 as compared to $13,359,615 as of December 31, 2022, representing a decrease of $4,913,457 or 37%. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had working capital of $3,355,212 as compared to a working capital deficit of ($2,663,721) as of December 31, 2022, representing an increase of $6,018,933 or 226%. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily related to cash used in operating activities. The increase in working capital is primarily the result of the net proceeds received from financing activities partially offset by the immediate paydown of $5 million of outstanding debt principal balance and any accrued interest resulting from the amendment to the convertible debt financing agreement with Pontifax during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Management’s business strategy can be outlined as follows:
| ● | Following positive primary endpoint results for the Phase 3 FLASH (Florescent Light Activated Synthetic Hypericin) clinical trial of HyBryte™ in CTCL as well as further statistically significant improvement in response rates with longer treatment (18 weeks compared to 12 and 6 weeks of treatment), collaboratively engage in discussions with both the FDA and the EMA in order to define the protocol and evaluate the feasibility of conducting a second clinical study in order to advance HyBryte™ towards U.S. marketing approval and commercialization while continuing to explore potential marketing approval and partnership in Europe. |
| ● | Expanding development of synthetic hypericin under the research name SGX302 into psoriasis with the conduct of a Phase 2a clinical trial, following the positive Phase 3 FLASH study and positive proof-of-concept demonstrated in a small Phase 1/2 pilot study in mild-to-moderate psoriasis patients. |
| ● | Following feedback from the United Kingdom (“UK”) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) that a second Phase 3 clinical trial of SGX942 (dusquetide) in the treatment in oral mucositis would be required to support a marketing authorization; design a second study and attempt to identify a potential partner(s) to continue this development program. |
| ● | Expanding development of dusquetide under the research name SGX945 into Behçet’s Disease with the conduct of a Phase 2a clinical trial, where previous studies with dusquetide in oral mucositis have validated the biologic activity in aphthous ulcers induced by chemotherapy and radiation. |
| ● | Continue development of the Company’s heat stabilization platform technology, ThermoVax®, in combination with its programs for RiVax® (ricin toxin vaccine), and filovirus vaccines (targeting Ebola, Sudan, and Marburg viruses and multivalent combinations), with U.S. government or non-governmental organization funding support. |
| ● | Continue to apply for and secure additional government funding for the Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions programs through grants, contracts and/or procurements. |
| ● | Pursue business development opportunities for pipeline programs, as well as explore all strategic alternatives, including but not limited to merger/acquisition strategies. |
| ● | Acquire or in-license new clinical-stage compounds for development, as well as evaluate new indications with existing pipeline compounds for development. |
The Company’s plans with respect to its liquidity management include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | The Company has up to approximately $844,000 in active government grant funding still available as of December 31, 2023 to support its associated research programs through May 2026, provided the federal agencies do not elect to terminate the grants for convenience. The Company plans to submit additional contract and grant applications for further support of its programs with various funding agencies. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will obtain additional governmental grant funding. |
| ● | The Company has continued to use equity instruments to provide a portion of the compensation due to vendors and collaboration partners and expects to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. |
| ● | The Company will continue to pursue Net Operating Loss (“NOL”) sales in the state of New Jersey pursuant to its Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program if the program is available. |
| ● | The Company plans to pursue potential partnerships for pipeline programs as well as continue to explore merger and acquisition strategies. However, there can be no assurances that the Company can consummate such transactions. |
| ● | The Company completed a public offering of 2,301,500 shares of its common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 4,237,000 shares of its common stock and common warrants to purchase up to 6,538,500 shares of its common stock at a combined public offering price of $1.30. The pre-funded warrants had an exercise price of $0.001. The common warrants have an exercise price of $1.50 per share, are exercisable immediately and expire five years from the issuance date. The total gross proceeds to the Company from this offering was approximately $8.5 million before deducting commissions and other estimated offering expenses. The Company plans to use the proceeds for further support of its programs, as well as for working capital; and |
| ● | The Company is currently evaluating additional equity/debt financing opportunities on an ongoing basis and may execute them when appropriate. However, there can be no assurances that it can consummate such a transaction, or consummate a transaction at favorable pricing. |
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include Soligenix, Inc., and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated as a result of consolidation.
Operating Segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing the performance of the segment. The Company divides its operations intotwo operating segments: Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Contracts and Grants Receivable
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13,*Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)*and subsequently related amendments (ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-10, ASU 2019-11, and ASU 2022-02). This guidance replaces the existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost based on expected credit losses. The estimate of expected credit losses requires the incorporation of historical information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted this new accounting standard effective January 1, 2023 and all of the related amendments using the retrospective method. The Company determined there was no effect to its opening balance of shareholders’ equity of initially applying the new credit loss standard to its contracts and grants receivable. There was no significant impact to the Company’s operating results for the current period due to this standard update. Management has evaluated the adoption of ASC Topic 326 and concluded the effect of the adoption was immaterial to the financial statements as a whole.
Contracts and grants receivable consist of amounts due from various grants from the NIH and contracts from NIAID, an institute of NIH, for costs incurred prior to the period end under reimbursement contracts. The amounts were billed to the respective governmental agencies in the month subsequent to period end and collected shortly thereafter. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been established. If amounts become uncollectible, they are charged to operations.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Office furniture and equipment, right of use assets and website development costs with finite lives are evaluated and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company recognizes impairment of long-lived assets in the event the net book value of such assets exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets. Such analyses necessarily involve significant judgment.
The Company didnot record any impairment of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
FASB ASC 820 —Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. FASB ASC 820 requires disclosures about the fair value of all financial instruments, whether or not recognized, for financial statement purposes. Disclosures about the fair value of financial instruments are based on pertinent information available
to the Company on December 31, 2023 and 2022. Accordingly, the estimates presented in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized on disposition of the financial instruments.
FASB ASC 820 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
| ● | Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments whose value is based on quoted market prices such as exchange-traded instruments and listed equities. |
| ● | Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 includes financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. These models consider various assumptions, including volatility factors, current market prices and contractual prices for the underlying financial instruments. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. |
| ● | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial instruments are considered Level 3 when their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flows or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. |
In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, contracts and grants receivable, research and development incentives receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and accrued compensation approximate their fair value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments.
The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 for the convertible debt is its fair value – see Note 5. The principal amount of the convertible debt was $3,000,000 at December 31, 2023 and the fair value was approximately $3,260,934. The fair value of the debt was estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation method, which utilizes certain unobservable inputs. As a result, the fair value estimate represents a Level 3 measurement.
A roll forward of the carrying value of the convertible debt to December 31, 2023 is as follows:
| · · · · · · · · · · · · | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Balance · · · · · Adjustment to · · Balance | ||||||||
| | | December 31, 2022 | | Issued | | fair value | | December 31, 2023 |
| Convertible debt at fair value | | $— | | $3,304,000 | | $(43,066) | | $3,260,934 |
Deferred Issuance Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred issuance costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded in shareholders’ equity as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the issuance.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues include revenues generated from government contracts and grants. The revenue from government contracts and grants is based upon subcontractor costs and internal costs incurred that are specifically covered
by the contracts and grants, plus a facilities and administrative rate that provides funding for overhead expenses and management fees. These revenues are recognized when expenses have been incurred by subcontractors or when the Company incurs reimbursable internal expenses that are related to the government contracts and grants.
The Company also records revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (“ASC 606”),Revenue From Contracts with Customers. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
Certain amounts received from or billed to customers in accordance with contract terms are deferred and recognized as future performance obligations are satisfied. All amounts earned under contracts with customers other than sales-based royalties are classified as licensing revenue. Sales-based royalties under the Company’s license agreements would be recognized as royalty revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied or partially satisfied. To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred in accordance with FASB ASC 730,Research and Development. Research and development includes costs such as clinical trial expenses, contracted research and license agreement fees with no alternative future use, supplies and materials, salaries, share-based compensation, employee benefits, equipment depreciation and allocation of various corporate costs.
Share-Based Compensation
Stock options are issued with an exercise price equal to the market price on the date of grant. Stock options issued to directors upon re-election vest quarterly for a period ofone year (new director issuances are fully vested upon issuance). Stock options issued to employees generally vest 25% on the grant date, then 25% each subsequent year for a period ofthree years. These options have aten year life for as long as the individuals remain employees or directors. In general, when an employee or director terminates their position, the options will expire within three months, unless otherwise extended by the Board.
From time to time, the Company issues restricted shares of common stock to vendors and consultants as compensation for services performed under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2015 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock, deferred stock and unrestricted stock to the Company’s employees and non-employees (including consultants). The shares issued under the 2015 Plan are registered on Form S-8 (SEC File No. 333-208515). However, as shares of common stock are not covered by a reoffer prospectus, the certificates reflecting such shares reflect a Securities Act of 1933, as amended restrictive legend. Stock compensation expense for equity-classified awards to non-employees is measured on the date of grant and is recognized when the services are performed.
The fair value of options issued during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the following assumptions:
| ● | a dividend yield of 0%; |
| ● | an expected life of four years; |
| ● | volatility of 94% - 110% for 2023 and 84% - 87% for 2022; and |
| ● | risk-free interest rates ranging from 3.48% to 4.35% in 2023 and ranging from 1.12% to 4.51% in 2022. |
The fair value of each option grant made during 2023 and 2022 was estimated on the date of each grant and recognized as share-based compensation expense ratably over the option vesting periods, which approximates the service period. The expected term of options granted is derived using company history of options exercised. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the period of the expected term. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they are incurred.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation
In 2018, the Company changed the status of a wholly-owned subsidiary in the UK from inactive to active and incurred expenditures in multiple currencies including the U.S. dollar, the British Pound and the Euro to fund its clinical trial operations in the UK and select countries in Europe. In accordance with FASB ASC 830Foreign Currency Matters, the UK subsidiary expresses its U.S. dollar and Euro denominated transactions in its functional currency, the British Pound, with related transaction gains or losses included in net loss. On a quarterly basis, the financial statements of the UK subsidiary are translated into U.S. dollars and consolidated into the Company’s financials, with related translation adjustments reported as a cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”), which is a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. In 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized a foreign currency transaction gain of $1,483 and a foreign currency transaction loss of ($30,549), respectively, in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. A review of all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including the Company’s current and past performance, the market environment in which the Company operates, the utilization of past tax credits, and the length of carryback and carryforward periods. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured utilizing tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company sold 2022, 2021 and 2020 New Jersey NOL carryforwards resulting in the recognition of income tax benefits, net of transaction costs of $1,767,803 and $1,154,935 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company sold its 2022 New Jersey NOLs and has recorded a receivable of $606,606 which is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions, if any, as part of income tax expense. There wereno tax related interest and penalties recorded for 2023 and 2022. Additionally, the Company has not recorded an asset for unrecognized tax benefits or a liability for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2023 or 2022.
Research and Development Incentive Income and Receivable
The Company recognizes other income from UK 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 small or medium sized enterprise (“SME”) research and development tax relief program supports companies that seek to research and develop an advance in their field and is governed through legislative law by HM Revenue & Customs as long as specific 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 SME research and development tax relief program described above. At each period end, management estimates the refundable tax offset available to the Company based on available information at the time. As the tax incentives may be received without regard to an entity’s actual tax liability, they are not subject to accounting for income taxes. As a result, amounts realized under the SME research and development tax relief program are recorded as a component of other income.
The research and development incentive receivable represents an amount due in connection with the above-described tax relief program. The Company has recorded a research and development incentive receivable of approximately $49,000 and $128,000 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively in the consolidated balance sheets.
The following table shows the change in the UK research and development incentives receivable from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · Current · Long-Term · Total | |||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $104,198 | | $24,114 | | $128,312 | ||||
| UK research and development incentives, transfer | | 24,114 | | | (24,114) | | — | ||
| UK research and development incentives | | | — | | | 24,897 | | | 24,897 |
| Adjustments to 2021 and 2022 incentives earned | | | (1,113) | | | — | | | (1,113) |
| UK research and development incentives cash receipt | | (104,422) | | — | | (104,422) | |||
| Foreign currency translation | | 1,117 | | 571 | | 1,688 | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | | $23,894 | | $25,468 | | $49,362 | |||
Loss Per Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Included within the Company’s weighted average common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2023, are common shares issuable upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering, as these pre-funded 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. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that shared in the earnings of the entity. Since there is a significant number of options and warrants outstanding, fluctuations in the actual market price can have a variety of results for each period presented.
The following table summarizes potentially dilutive adjustments to the number of common shares which were excluded from the diluted calculation because their effect would be anti-dilutive due to the losses in each period:
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | December 31, | | December 31, |
| · 2023 · 2022 | ||||
| Common stock purchase warrants | | 6,538,073 | | 667 |
| Stock options | 906,892 | 192,273 | ||
| Convertible debt | 2,114,403 | 162,602 | ||
| Total | 9,559,368 | 355,542 | ||
Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions such as the fair value of warrants and stock options and to accrue for clinical trials in process that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Note 3. Leases
The Company classifies a lease for its office space at 29 Emmons Drive, Suite B-10 in Princeton, New Jersey as an operating lease, and recorded a related right-of-use lease asset and lease liability accordingly. Pursuant to an amendment executed on June 21, 2022, the lease has been extended to October 2025. The current rent of $11,367 per month will be maintained until November 2024 when it will be increased to $11,625 where it will remain until expiration. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets included a right-of-use lease asset of $229,834 and $340,987 for the office space, respectively. The Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 included corresponding lease liabilities of $233,627 and $342,575 for the office space, respectively.
The following represents a reconciliation of contractual lease cash flows to the right-of-use lease asset and liability recognized in the financial statements:
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Operating · | ||||
| · Lease | ||||
| Contractual cash payments for the remaining lease term as of December 31, 2023 | | | | |
| 2024 | $136,917 | | ||
| 2025 | | | 116,250 | |
| Less implied interest | | | 19,540 | |
| Total | | $233,627 | | |
| Discount rate applied | | 8.47% | ||
| Remaining lease term (months) as of December 31, 2023 | | 22 | | |
| | | | | |
| Right-of-use lease asset: | | | ||
| Right-of-use lease asset, January 1, 2022 | | $106,155 | | |
| New lease extension June 21, 2022 | | | 347,546 | |
| Less: reduction/amortization | | 112,714 | | |
| Right-of-use lease asset, December 31, 2022 | | | 340,987 | |
| Less: reduction/amortization | | | 111,153 | |
| Right-of-use lease asset, December 31, 2023 | | $229,834 | | |
| | | | | |
| Lease liability: | | | ||
| Lease liability, January 1, 2022 | | $106,151 | | |
| New lease extension June 21, 2022 | | | 347,546 | |
| Less: repayments | | 111,122 | | |
| Lease liability, December 31, 2022 | | 342,575 | | |
| Less: repayments | | 108,948 | | |
| Lease liability, December 31, 2023 | | $233,627 | | |
| | | | | |
| Lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2022: | | | ||
| Lease expense | | $134,892 | | |
| Total | | $134,892 | | |
| | | | | |
| Lease expense for the year ended December 31, 2023: | | | | |
| Lease expense | | $136,022 | | |
| Total | | $136,022 | | |
| | | | | |
**Note 4.**Accrued Expenses
The following is a summary of the Company’s accrued expenses:
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · December 31, | ||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | ||||
| Clinical trial expenses | | $1,993,784 | | $1,884,117 |
| Other | | 424,218 | | 423,629 |
| Total | | $2,418,002 | | $2,307,746 |
**Note 5.**Debt
In December 2020, the Company entered into a $20 million convertible debt financing agreement with Pontifax Medison Debt Financing (“Pontifax”), the healthcare-dedicated venture and debt fund of the Pontifax life science funds. Under the terms of the agreement with Pontifax, the Company had access to up to $20 million in convertible debt financing inthree tranches, which will mature on June 15, 2025 and had an interest-only period for the firsttwo years with a fixed interest rate of 8.47% on borrowed amounts and an interest rate of 1% on amounts available but not borrowed as an unused line of credit fee. After the interest-only period, the outstanding principal is to be repaid in quarterly payments of $1 million each
commencing in the first quarter of 2023. The agreement is secured by a lien covering substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than intellectual property.
Upon the closing of this transaction, the Company accessed the first tranche of $10 million, had the option to draw the second tranche of $5 million at any time during the initial 12 months of the loan and the third tranche of $5 million upon filing of the HyBryte™ NDA, subject to certain conditions. The Company elected to let the options to borrow both the second and third tranches expire as of December 15, 2021 and March 15, 2022, respectively.
On April 19, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the convertible debt financing agreement dated December 15, 2020 with Pontifax. The amendment called for the immediate payment of $5 million of the outstanding principal balance and any accrued interest, waived any prepayment charge in connection with the repayment of this amount and resulted in an outstanding principal balance of $3 million. The amendment also provided for a new interest only period from the date of the amendment through June 30, 2024, reduced quarterly principal repayments from $1 million to $750,000 and eliminated the minimum cash covenant. Further, the amendment reduced the conversion price with respect to the remaining principal amount under the agreement to (i)90% of the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the day before the delivery of the conversion notice with respect to the first 588,599 shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion and to (ii) $1.70 with respect to all shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion in excess of the first 588,599 shares so issued. The remaining terms of the agreement remain in effect without modification.
The amendment to the convertible debt financing agreement with Pontifax resulted in the extinguishment of the original convertible debt for accounting purposes. The Company concluded that the amended debt instrument has an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation pursuant to ASC 815-15-25-1 and qualifies for the fair value option in accordance with ASC 815-15-25-4 through ASC 815-15-25-6. The Company elected to account for the amended convertible debt using the fair value option, which requires the Company to record changes in fair value as a component of other income or expense. The fair value of the convertible debt on the date of the amendment was approximately $3,304,000, which resulted in the recognition of a loss on extinguishment of approximately $394,000 on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The fair value of the convertible debt as of December 31, 2023 was approximately $3,260,934, which resulted in the recognition of $43,066 of other income from the change in the fair value of the convertible debt on the Company’s accompanying consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The fair value of the convertible debt was estimated using the Monte Carlo valuation method.
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumptions · · 4/19/2023 · · 9/30/2023 · · 12/31/2023 | |||||||||
| Stock price | | $1.72 | | $0.56 | | $0.76 | |||
| Volatility | | | 75.20% | | | 110.50% | | | 141.90% |
| Discount rate | | | 16.28% | | | 14.84% | | | 13.62% |
| Risk-free rate | | | 4.27% | | | 5.24% | | | 4.65% |
Interest expense incurred during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $402,615 and $847,000, respectively. Interest expense paid during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $552,058 and $857,411, respectively.
Pontifax may elect to convert the outstanding loan drawn into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time prior to repayment. There was $3,000,000 of principal and $63,351 of accrued interest outstanding as of December 31, 2023.The Convertible Notes were convertible at (i)90% of the closing price of our common stock on the day before the delivery of the conversion notice with respect to the first 588,599 shares issuable upon conversion as of December 31, 2023 and (ii) $1.70 with respect to all shares issuable upon conversion in excess of the first 588,599 shares issued upon conversion as of December 31, 2023. The Company also has the ability to force the conversion of the loan into shares of the Company’s common stock at the same conversion price, subject to certain conditions.
Annual principal and interest payments due, according to the agreement’s contractual terms, assuming no conversion is as follows:
| · · · · · · · · · | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year · Principal · Interest · Total | ||||||
| 2024 | | $2,250,000 | | $270,808 | | $2,520,808 |
| 2025 | | 750,000 | | 16,012 | | 766,012 |
| Total | | $3,000,000 | | $286,820 | | $3,286,820 |
Note 6. Income Taxes
The income tax benefit consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · 2023 · 2022 | ||||
| Federal | | $— | | $— |
| Foreign | | — | | — |
| State & Local | | (1,767,803) | | (1,154,935) |
| Income tax benefit | | $(1,767,803) | | $(1,154,935) |
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · 2023 · 2022 | ||||||
| Net operating loss carry forwards | | $27,522,000 | | $27,252,000 | ||
| Orphan drug and research and development credit carry forwards | | 8,921,000 | | 8,837,000 | ||
| Equity based compensation | | 246,000 | | 285,000 | ||
| Intangibles | | 1,409,000 | | 1,696,000 | ||
| Capitalized research and development (Section 174) | | 2,311,000 | | 1,832,000 | ||
| Lease liability | | 66,000 | | 96,000 | ||
| Other | | | (12,000) | | | — |
| Total | | 40,463,000 | | 39,998,000 | ||
| Valuation allowance | | | (40,398,000) | | | (39,902,000) |
| Net deferred tax assets | | | 65,000 | | | 96,000 |
| Right of use asset | | | (65,000) | | | (96,000) |
| Total gross deferred tax liabilities | | (65,000) | | (96,000) | ||
| Net deferred tax assets | | $— | | $— | ||
The Company had gross NOLs at December 31, 2023 of approximately $123.0 million for federal tax purposes, approximately $12.9 million for state tax purposes and approximately $3.7 million for foreign tax purposes. Federal losses generated in 2018 or later will carry forward indefinitely. In addition, the Company has approximately $8.9 million of various tax credits which credit the Company may be able to utilize its NOLs to reduce future federal and state income tax liabilities. However, these NOLs are subject to various limitations under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 382. IRC Section 382 limits the use of NOLs to the extent there has been an ownership change of more than 50 percentage points. In addition, the NOL carryforwards are subject to examination by the taxing authority and could be adjusted or disallowed due to such exams. Although the Company has not undergone an IRC Section 382 analysis, it is likely that the utilization of the NOLs may be substantially limited.
The Company and one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and local jurisdictions. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 in accordance with the State of New Jersey’s Technology Business Tax Certificate Program, which allowed certain high technology and biotechnology companies to sell unused NOL carryforwards to other New Jersey-based corporate taxpayers, the Company sold New Jersey NOL carry forwards, resulting in the recognition of $1,767,803 and $1,154,935, respectively, of income tax benefit, net of transaction costs. The Company sold its 2022 New Jersey NOLs and has recorded a receivable of $606,606 which is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2023. There can be no assurance as to the continuation or magnitude of this program in the future.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) has modified the IRC 174 expenses related to research and development for the tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. Under the TCJA, the Company must now capitalize the expenditures related to research and development activities and amortize over five years for U.S. activities and 15 years for non-U.S. activities using a mid-year convention. Therefore, the capitalization of research and development costs in accordance with IRC 174 resulted in a deferred tax asset of $2,310,677.
Reconciliations of the difference between income tax benefit computed at the federal and state statutory tax rates and the provision for income tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| · · · · · | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| · 2023 · 2022 | |||
| Federal tax at statutory rate | (21.0)% | (21.0)% | |
| State tax benefits, plus sale of NJ NOL, net of federal benefit | (21.6) | (2.4) | |
| Foreign tax rate difference | 0.1 | 0.2 | |
| Orphan drug and research and development credits | (2.0) | (3.9) | |
| Permanent differences | 0.9 | 3.1 | |
| Foreign NOL adjustments | 0.7 | 0.4 | |
| Expiration of tax attributes | 14.2 | 9.1 | |
| Change in valuation allowance | 6.3 | 6.8 | |
| Income tax benefit | (22.4)% | (7.7)% | |
Entities are also required to evaluate, measure, recognize and disclose any uncertain income tax provisions taken on their income tax returns. The Company has analyzed its tax positions and has concluded that as of December 31, 2023, there were no uncertain positions. The Company’s U.S. federal and state net operating losses have occurred since its inception and as such, tax years subject to potential tax examination could apply from 2011, the earliest year with a net operating loss carryover, because the utilization of net operating losses from prior years opens the relevant year to audit by the IRS and/or state taxing authorities. Interest and penalties, if any, as they relate to income taxes assessed, are included in the income tax provision. The Company didnot have any unrecognized tax benefits and hasnot accrued any interest or penalties for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Note 7. Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Preferred Stock
The Company has 350,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, of which 50,000 were designated as Series D preferred stock during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Series D Preferred Stock
On December 21, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend for the stockholders of record on January 3, 2023. The dividend consists of oneone-thousandth of a share of Series D preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock. The Series D preferred stock has the following rights and restrictions:
General; Transferability - Series D preferred stock shares will be in book-entry form without certificates. Transfers can only happen alongside common stock transfers, with 1/1,000th of a Series D preferred stock share transferred for each common stock share transferred.
Voting Rights - Each Series D preferred stock share gives the holder 1,000,000 votes. If a shareholder owns a fraction of a share, they will have a proportional number of votes.
Series D preferred stock and common stock shares only vote together on two specific matters:
| 1. | Any plan to change the Company's Certificate of Incorporation for a reverse stock split. |
| 2. | Any plan to delay a stockholders' meeting to vote on a reverse stock split (the "Adjournment Proposal"). |
When voting on the reverse stock split or the Adjournment Proposal, each Series D preferred stock share (or fraction of a share) will vote the same way as the common stock share it was issued from.
Dividend Rights - The holders of Series D preferred stock will not be entitled to receive dividends of any kind.
Liquidation Preference - If the Company undergoes liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, Series D preferred stock has priority over common stock for asset distribution. In such a situation, Series D preferred stockholders will receive a cash payment of $0.001 per share before any distribution is made to common stockholders.
Redemption - If Series D preferred stockholders do not attend or vote by proxy at a meeting for the reverse stock split and Adjournment Proposal, their shares will be automatically redeemed by the Company. If any Series D preferred stock remains after this redemption, it can be redeemed in one of two ways:
| 1. | The Board decides to redeem the shares at a time and date of their choosing. |
| 2. | The shares will be automatically redeemed when the Company's stockholders approve the reverse stock split during a meeting for this purpose. |
When Series D preferred stock is redeemed, stockholders receive a cash payment based on the number of shares they own. For every 100 whole shares redeemed, the stockholder will get $0.10 in cash.
The Series D preferred stock shares were classified as mezzanine equity as of December 31, 2022 since they were not mandatorily redeemable but were redeemable based on an event not entirely controlled by the Company. All Series D preferred stock were redeemed in conjunction with the special meeting of the shareholders’ on February 8, 2023.
Common Stock
The following items represent transactions in the Company’s common stock for the year ended December 31, 2023:
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 50,000 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value based on a closing price of $1.46 per share on April 27, 2023, the date of issuance. |
| ● | The Company sold 851,130 shares of common stock pursuant to the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“B. Riley Sales Agreement”) with B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“B. Riley”) at a weighted average price of $3.63 per share. |
| ● | The Company issued 31,646 shares of fully vested common stock pursuant to an exclusive option agreement at $1.58 per share on May 2, 2023. The share price was calculated using the average closing price of the common stock for the ten days immediately preceding April 27, 2023, the effective date of the option agreement. |
| ● | The Company sold 2,301,500 shares of common stock and 4,237,000 pre-funded warrants pursuant to the May 2023 public offering for $1.30 per share on May 9, 2023. |
| ● | The Company issued 2,023,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering with an exercise price of $0.001 on May 9, 2023. |
| ● | The Company issued 938,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering with an exercise price of $0.001 on May 10, 2023. |
| ● | The Company issued 338,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering with an exercise price of $0.001 on May 22, 2023. |
| ● | The Company issued 400,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise of pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering with an exercise price of $0.001 on June 8, 2023. |
| ● | The Company issued 536,384 shares of common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise of pre-funded warrants associated with the May 2023 public offering with an exercise price of $0.001 on September 6, 2023. |
The following items represent transactions in the Company’s common stock for the year ended December 31, 2022:
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 5,377 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value of $9.30 per share on February 7, 2022. |
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 6,411 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value of $7.80 per share on May 6, 2022. |
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 3,664 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value of $13.65 per share on August 5, 2022. |
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 1,667 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value of $7.20 per share on October 4, 2022. |
| ● | The Company issued a vendor 5,129 shares of fully vested common stock with a fair value of $9.75 per share on November 7, 2022. |
| ● | The Company issued 8,542 shares of common stock pursuant to the B. Riley Sales Agreement at a weighted average price of $9.29 per share. |
All issuances of the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 described above, other than shares issued to vendors or issued pursuant to the exclusive option agreement, were registered on a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (SEC File No. 333-208515), a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-271049) and a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC File No. 333-239928). The certificates evidencing unregistered shares reflect a Securities Act of 1933, as amended, restrictive legend.
The issuances of the Company’s common stock to vendors and pursuant to the exclusive option agreement as described above were exempt under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The recipients are knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making investment decisions of this kind and received adequate information about the Company or had adequate access to information about the Company. The vendors represented to the Company that the vendors are not “consultants” for purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c).
B. Riley At Market Issuance Sales Agreement
On August 11, 2017, the Company entered into the B. Riley Sales Agreement to sell shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time, through an “at-the-market” equity offering program under which B. Riley acts as sales agent. Under the B. Riley Sales Agreement, the Company set the parameters for the sale of shares, including the number of shares to be issued, the time period during which sales may be requested to be made, limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in any one trading day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. The B. Riley Sales Agreement provided that B. Riley was entitled to compensation for its services in an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares sold under the B. Riley Sale Agreement. The B. Riley Sales Agreement has expired.
Note 8. Stock Option Plans and Warrants to Purchase Common Stock
Stock Option Plans
The Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”) was replaced by the 2015 Plan, which was approved in June 2015. No securities are available for future issuance under the 2005 Plan. In September 2022, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 2015 Plan to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan by 4,000,000 shares. As of December 31, 2023, there are 5,096,447 shares currently available for grants under the 2015 Plan. The plan is divided into four separate equity programs:
| 1) | the Discretionary Option Grant Program, under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of common stock, |
| 2) | the Salary Investment Option Grant Program, under which eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their base salary invested each year in options to purchase shares of common stock, |
| 3) | the Automatic Option Grant Program, under which eligible nonemployee Board members will automatically receive options at periodic intervals to purchase shares of common stock, and |
| 4) | the Director Fee Option Grant Program, under which non-employee Board members may elect to have all, or any portion, of their annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash applied to a special option grant. |
Shares available for grant under the 2015 Plan were as follows:
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares available for grant at January 1, 2023 | 5,812,991 | |
| Options granted | (731,544) | |
| Options forfeited | 15,000 | |
| Options exercised | | — |
| Shares available for grant at December 31, 2023 | 5,096,447 |
Activity under the 2005 Plan and the 2015 Plan for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Weighted | ||||
| · · · · Average | |||||
| · · · · Exercise | |||||
| · Options · Price | |||||
| Balance outstanding at December 31, 2021 | 140,996 | | $37.12 | ||
| Granted | 55,730 | | 8.85 | ||
| Forfeited | (3,908) | | 107.83 | ||
| Cancelled | | (545) | | | 11.70 |
| Exercised | | — | | | — |
| Balance outstanding at December 31, 2022 | 192,273 | | $27.56 | ||
| Granted | 731,544 | | 0.65 | ||
| Forfeited | (16,925) | | 34.71 | ||
| Cancelled | | — | | | — |
| Exercised | — | | — | ||
| Balance outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 906,892 | | $5.73 | ||
As of December 31, 2023, there were 306,588 options exercisable with a weighted average exercise price of $15.01 and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 7.99 years. As of December 31, 2023, there were 906,892 options outstanding with a weighted average remaining term of 9.25 years. Options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 hadno intrinsic value.
The Company awarded 731,544 and 55,730 stock options during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which had a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $0.50 and $5.57, respectively. The weighted-average exercise price, by price range, for outstanding options to purchase common stock at December 31, 2023 was:
| · · · · · · | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| · Weighted | |||
| · · Average · · · · | |||
| · · Remaining · · · · | |||
| · · Contractual · · Outstanding · · Exercisable | |||
| Price Range | Life in Years | Options | Options |
| $0.59 - $40.05 | 9.31 | 899,794 | 299,490 |
| $111.00- $328.50 | 1.52 | 7,098 | 7,098 |
| Total | 9.25 | 906,892 | 306,588 |
The Company’s share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was recognized as follows:
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share-based compensation · 2023 · 2022 | ||||
| Research and development | | $150,466 | | $142,879 |
| General and administrative | | 219,716 | | 190,510 |
| Total | | $370,182 | | $333,389 |
At December 31, 2023, the total compensation cost for stock options not yet recognized was approximately $421,000 and will be expensed over the next three years.
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock
Warrant activity for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:
| · · · · · · | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Weighted | |||||
| | | | | | Average |
| | | | | | Exercise |
| · Warrants · Price | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | | 221,872 | | $33.79 | |
| Granted | | — | | — | |
| Exercised | | — | | — | |
| Expired | | (221,205) | | 33.81 | |
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | | 667 | | $29.25 | |
| Granted | | 10,775,073 | | 0.91 | |
| Exercised | | (4,237,000) | | 0.001 | |
| Expired | | (667) | | 29.25 | |
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | | | 6,538,073 | | $1.50 |
The remaining life, by grant date, for outstanding warrants at December 31, 2023 was:
| · · · · · · · · · | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Remaining | |||||
| · · Exercise · · Contractual · · Outstanding · · Exercisable | |||||
| Grant Date · Price · Life in Years · Warrants · Warrants | |||||
| May 09, 2023 | | $1.50 | 4.36 | 6,538,073 | 6,538,073 |
Note 9. Concentrations
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had deposits in major financial institutions that exceeded the amount under protection by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Currently, the Company is covered up to $250,000 by the SIPC and FDIC and at times maintains cash balances in excess of the SIPC and FDIC coverages.
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company has commitments of approximately $230,000 as of December 31, 2023 over the next five years for several licensing agreements with partners and universities. Additionally, the Company has collaboration and license agreements, which upon clinical or commercialization success, may require the payment of milestones of up to approximately $13.2 million, royalties on net sales of covered products ranging from 2% to 3%, sub-license income royalties on covered products up to 15% and sub-license global net sales royalties on covered products ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%, if and when achieved. However, there can be no assurance that clinical or commercialization success will occur.
The Company currently leases approximately 6,200 square feet of office space at 29 Emmons Drive, Suite B-10 in Princeton, New Jersey. This office space currently serves as the Company’s corporate headquarters, and both of the Company’s business segments (Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions), operate from this space. Pursuant to an amendment on June 21, 2022, the lease has been extended from November 2022 to October 2025. The current rent is approximately $11,367 per month and will remain so through October 2024. The rent for the lease period starting November 2024 is approximately $11,625 per month.
On September 3, 2014, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Hy Biopharma, Inc. (“Hy Biopharma”) pursuant to which the Company acquired certain intangible assets, properties and rights of Hy Biopharma related to the development of Hy BioPharma’s synthetic hypericin product. As consideration for the assets acquired, the Company paid $275,000 in cash and issued 12,328 shares of common stock with a fair value based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant of $3.75 million. These amounts were charged to research and development expense during the third quarter of 2014 as the assets will be used in the Company’s research and development activities and do not have alternative future use pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. In March 2020, the Company issued 130,413 fully vested shares of common stock to Hy Biopharma as payment for achieving a milestone: the Company determining the Phase 3 clinical trial of HyBryte™ to be successful in the treatment of CTCL. The number of shares of common stock issued
to Hy Biopharma was calculated using an effective price of $38.40 per share, based upon a formula set forth in the purchase agreement.
Provided the sole remaining future success-oriented milestone of FDA approval is attained, the Company will be required to make an additional payment of $5 million, if and when achieved. Such payment will be payable in restricted securities of the Company provided such number of shares does not exceed 19.9% ownership of the Company’s outstanding stock. As of December 31, 2023, no other milestone or royalty payments have been paid or accrued.
In January 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the amendment of Dr. Schaber’s employment agreement to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock from 334 to 33,334 issuable to Dr. Schaber immediately prior to the completion of a transaction, or series or a combination of related transactions, negotiated by its Board of Directors whereby, directly or indirectly, a majority of its capital stock or a majority of its assets are transferred from the Company and/or its stockholders to a third party.
As a result of the above agreements, the Company has future contractual obligations over the next five years as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · Research and · Property and · | |||||||||
| Year · Development · Other Leases · Total | |||||||||
| 2024 | | $46,000 | | $136,917 | | $182,917 | |||
| 2025 | | 46,000 | | 116,250 | | 162,250 | |||
| 2026 | | 46,000 | | — | | 46,000 | |||
| 2027 | | | 46,000 | | | — | | | 46,000 |
| 2028 | | | 46,000 | | | — | | | 46,000 |
| Total | | $230,000 | | $253,167 | | $483,167 | |||
Contingencies
The Company follows subtopic 450-20 of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to report accounting for contingencies. Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. A liability is only recorded if management determines that it is both probable and reasonably estimable.
COVID-19
Based on the current outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19, which has already had an impact on financial markets, there could be additional repercussions to the Company’s operating business, including but not limited to, the sourcing of materials for product candidates, manufacture of supplies for preclinical and/or clinical studies, delays in clinical operations, which may include the availability or the continued availability of patients for trials due to such things as quarantines, conduct of patient monitoring and clinical trial data retrieval at investigational study sites.
COVID-19 affected the Company’s operations but did not have a material impact on the Company’s business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The future impact of the outbreak is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and the Company cannot provide any assurance that the outbreak will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operations or future results or filings with regulatory health authorities. The extent of the impact to the Company, if any, will depend on future developments, including actions taken to contain the coronavirus.
Note 11. Operating Segments
The Company maintainstwo active operating segments: Specialized BioTherapeutics and Public Health Solutions. Each segment includes an element of overhead costs specifically associated with its operations, with its corporate shared services group responsible for support functions generic to both operating segments.
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · For the Years Ended | ||||||
| · · December 31, | ||||||
| · · 2023 · 2022 | ||||||
| Revenues · · · | ||||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $395,124 | | $31,929 | ||
| Public Health Solutions | | | 444,235 | | | 916,982 |
| Total | | $839,359 | | $948,911 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Income (loss) from Operations | | | ||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $(2,812,303) | | $(7,614,988) | ||
| Public Health Solutions | | | (36,531) | | | 26,612 |
| Corporate | | (4,849,106) | | (6,650,528) | ||
| Total | | $(7,697,940) | | $(14,238,904) | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Amortization and Depreciation Expense | | | ||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $3,932 | | $10,087 | ||
| Public Health Solutions | | | 655 | | | 1,681 |
| Corporate | | 1,967 | | 12,794 | ||
| Total | | $6,554 | | $24,562 | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Other (Expense) Income, Net | | | ||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $25,267 | | $102,320 | ||
| Corporate | | (235,860) | | (816,690) | ||
| Total | | $(210,593) | | $(714,370) | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Share-Based Compensation | | | ||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $145,683 | | $138,075 | ||
| Public Health Solutions | | | 4,782 | | | 4,804 |
| Corporate | | 219,717 | | 190,510 | ||
| Total | | $370,182 | | $333,389 | ||
| · · · · · · | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | As of December 31, | |||
| · · · · · · | ||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | ||||
| Identifiable Assets · · | ||||
| Specialized BioTherapeutics | | $272,099 | | $103,742 |
| Public Health Solutions | | 3,976 | | 121,290 |
| Corporate | | 9,521,251 | | 14,054,685 |
| Total | | $9,797,326 | | $14,279,717 |
Note 12. Subsequent Event
Convertible Debt Financing Agreement
On April 19, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the convertible debt financing agreement with Pontifax (See Note 5). The amendment reduced the conversion price with respect to the remaining principal amount outstanding under the agreement. The conversion price was amended to be (i)90% of the closing price of our common stock on the day before the delivery of the conversion notice with respect to the first 588,599 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion and (ii)$1.70 with respect to all shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion in excess of the first 588,599 shares so issued.
Conversion of Promissory Notes
On January 3, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of 146,199 shares of common stock to two lenders upon conversion of approximately$100,000 of principal under promissory notes at a conversion price of$0.68 per share.
Remaining Convertible Debt
As of March 8, 2024,$2,900,585 of principal and$45,840 of accrued interest remain outstanding under the agreement. The conversion price for the remaining principal amount as of March 8, 2024 is (i)90% of the closing price of our common stock on the day before the delivery of the conversion notice with respect to the first 442,400 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion and (ii)$1.70 with respect to all shares issuable upon conversion in excess of the first 442,400 shares so issued.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.