Salarius Pharmaceuticals Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Mar 22, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Mar 22, 2024
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
Nature of Business
Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Salarius” or the “Company”), together with its subsidiaries, Salarius Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Flex Innovation Group LLC, and TK Pharma, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing effective treatments for cancers with high, unmet medical need. Specifically, the Company is focused on treatments for cancers caused by dysregulated gene expression, i.e., genes that are incorrectly turned on or off. The Company is focused on two classes of drugs that address gene dysregulation: targeted protein inhibitors and targeted protein degraders. The Company's technologies have the potential to work in both liquid and solid tumors. The Company's current pipeline consists of two small molecule drugs: 1) SP-3164, a targeted protein degrader, and 2) seclidemstat (SP-2577), a targeted protein inhibitor. The Company is located in Houston, Texas.
Going Concern
Salarius has no products approved for commercial sale, has not generated any revenue from product sales to date and has suffered recurring losses from operations since its inception. The lack of revenue from product sales to date and recurring losses from operations since its inception raise substantial doubt as to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements are prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. Salarius will require substantial additional capital to fund its research and development expenses related to its pipeline including SP-3164 and seclidemstat. Based on Salarius’ expected cash requirements, Salarius believes that there is substantial doubt that its existing cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund its operations through one year from the financial statements' issuance date. The Company may attempt to obtain additional capital through the sale of equity securities in one or more offerings or through issuances of debt instruments, and may also consider new collaborations or selectively partnering its technology. However, the Company cannot provide any assurance that it will be successful in accomplishing any of its plans.
Although the Company is currently exploring various strategic alternatives, these strategic alternatives may not be successful in the next several months prior to its cash position getting to the point that it will need to pursue the winding down and dissolution of the Company. If the Company does not raise capital or successfully engage a strategic partner before the first half of 2025, it will be forced to cease operations, liquidate assets and possibly seek bankruptcy protection or engage in a similar process.
NOTE 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") and Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB").
The Company considered its going concern disclosure requirements in accordance with ASC 205-40-50.The Company has performed an analysis and concluded substantial doubt exists with respect to the Company being able to continue as a going concern through one year from the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as defined by the FASB ASC requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Salarius considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. There wereno impairment charges related to long-lived assets during the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Goodwill
Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested at least annually for impairment at the reporting unit level. The Company has determined that the reporting unit is the single operating segment disclosed in its current financial statements. Additional impairment assessments may be performed on an interim basis if the Company encounters events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that, more likely than not, the carrying value of goodwill has been impaired.
Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. The Company utilizes the option to perform a qualitative assessment for its reporting unit and if the Company concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the Company utilizes the two-step quantitative assessment. The Company’s qualitative assessment is sensitive to assumptions related to potential adverse events and circumstances, including current market trends in control premiums and involves judgement in determining comparable peer companies to include in the control premium evaluation. The Company recorded a goodwill impairment loss of $8.9 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. There was no goodwill balance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Financial Instruments and Credit Risks
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk include cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. Cash is deposited in demand accounts in federally insured domestic institutions to minimize risk. Insurance is provided through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Although the balances in these accounts exceed the federally insured limit from time to time, the Company has not incurred losses related to these deposits.
Warrants
The Company determines whether warrants should be classified as a liability or equity. For warrants classified as liabilities, the Company estimates the fair value of the warrants at each reporting period using Level 3 inputs with changes in fair value recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations within change in fair value of warrant liability. The estimates in valuation models are based, in part, on subjective assumptions, including but not limited to stock price volatility, the expected life of the warrants, the risk-free interest rate and the fair value of the common stock underlying the warrants, and could differ materially in the future. The Company will continue to adjust the fair value of the warrant liability at the end of each reporting period for changes in fair value from the prior period until the earlier of the exercise or expiration of the applicable warrant. For warrants classified as equity contracts, the Company allocates the transaction proceeds to the warrants and any other free-standing instruments issued in the transaction based on an allowable allocation method.
Clinical Trial Accruals
The Company’s preclinical and clinical trials are performed by third party contract research organizations (CROs) and/or clinical investigators, and clinical supplies are manufactured by contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs). Invoicing from these third parties may be monthly based upon services performed or based upon milestones achieved. The Company accrues these expenses based upon its assessment of the status of each clinical trial and the work completed, and upon information obtained from the CROs and CMOs. The Company’s estimates are dependent upon the timeliness and accuracy of data provided by the CROs and CMOs regarding the status and cost of the studies, and may not match the actual services performed by the organizations. This could result in adjustments to the Company’s research and development expenses in future periods. To date the Company has had no significant adjustments.
Grants Receivable and Revenue Recognition
Salarius’ source of revenue has been from a grant received from CPRIT. Grant revenue is recognized when qualifying costs are incurred and there is reasonable assurance that conditions of the grant have been met. Cash received from grants in advance of incurring qualifying costs is recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as revenue when qualifying costs are incurred. The Company records revenue and a corresponding grants receivable when qualifying costs are incurred before the grants are received. The Company's CPRIT grant expired during 2023 and no additional amounts are expected to be recognized or received.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs consist of expenses incurred in performing research and development activities, including pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. Research and development costs include salaries and personnel-related costs, consulting fees, fees paid for contract research services, the costs of laboratory equipment and facilities, license fees and other external costs. Research and development costs are expensed when incurred.
Costs incurred in obtaining IPRD that has no alternative future use are charged to research and development expense as acquired, and presented as investing activity cash outflows on the Statement of Cash Flow.
Equity-Based Compensation
Salarius measures equity-based compensation based on the grant date fair value of the awards and recognizes the associated expense in the financial statements over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of the stock-based compensation and incentive units. Assumptions utilized in these models include expected volatility calculated based on implied volatility from traded stocks of peer companies, dividend yield and risk-free interest rate. Additionally, forfeitures are accounted for in compensation cost as they occur.
Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Since the Company was in a loss position for all periods presented, diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share for all periods, as the inclusion of all potential common shares outstanding is anti-dilutive.
The number of anti-dilutive shares, consisting of common shares underlying (i) common stock options, (ii) stock purchase warrants, (iii) unvested restricted stock and (iv) rights entitling holders to receive warrants to purchase the Company's common shares, which have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, was 10,935,139 and 704,640 shares as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and the tax reporting basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets unless, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. The Company has evaluated available evidence and concluded that the Company may not realize the benefit of its deferred tax assets; therefore, a valuation allowance has been established for the full amount of the deferred tax assets.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any significant uncertain tax positions and no interest or penalties have been charged. The Company's practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions.
Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which is intended to improve the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The ASU is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standard
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets including trade receivables held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2016-13, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. This ASU does not change the core principle of the guidance in ASU 2016-13, instead these amendments are intended to clarify and improve operability of certain topics included within the credit losses guidance. The FASB also subsequently issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Financial Instruments (Topic 825), which did not change the core principle of the guidance in ASU 2016-13, but clarified that expected recoveries of amounts previously written off and expected to be written off should be included in the valuation account and should not exceed amounts previously written off and expected to be written off. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019 for public business entities, excluding smaller reporting companies. Early adoption is permitted. As a smaller reporting company, the guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2023. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to this Company's consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3. GRANTS RECEIVABLE
Grants receivable represents qualifying costs incurred where there is reasonable assurance that conditions of the grant have been met but the corresponding funds have not been received as of the reporting date. Grants receivable balances were $0 as of December 31, 2023 and $1.6 million at December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company received $1.5 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas on February 15, 2023.
NOTE 4. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following:
| December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Prepaid clinical trial expenses | $— | $11,185 |
| Prepaid insurance | 468,495 | 624,612 |
| Other prepaid and current assets | 151,268 | 167,576 |
| Total prepaid expenses and other current assets | $619,763 | $803,373 |
Prepaid insurance is mainly comprised of prepaid directors' and officers' insurance. In July 2023, the Company financed its directors and officers' insurance premium with a short term note the principal amount of which is approximately $0.6 million bearing interest at a rate of 7.87%. The note payable balance, which was included within Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet was $0.3 million as of December 31, 2023.
NOTE 5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
In June 2016, the Company entered into a Cancer Research Grant Contract with CPRIT. Pursuant to the contract, CPRIT awarded the Company a grant up to $18.7 million, further modified to $16.1 million to fund development of LSD 1 inhibitor. The grant expired during 2023.
The Company will retain ownership over any intellectual property developed under the contract ("Project Result"). With respect to non-commercial use of any Project Result, the Company agreed to grant to CPRIT a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license with right to sublicense any necessary additional intellectual property rights to exploit all Project Results by CPRIT, other governmental entities and agencies of the State of Texas, and private or independent institutions of higher education located in Texas, for education, research and other non-commercial purposes.
The Company is obligated to make revenue-sharing payments to CPRIT with respect to net sales of any product covered by the contract, up to a maximum repayment of certain percentage of the aggregate amount paid to the Company by CPRIT under the CPRIT contract. The payments are determined as a percentage of net sales, which may be reduced if the Company is required to obtain a license from a third party to sell any such product. In addition, upon meeting the foregoing limitation on revenue-sharing payments, the Company agreed to make continued revenue-sharing payments to CPRIT of less than 1% of net sales.
License Agreement with the University of Utah Research Foundation
In 2011, the Company entered into a license agreement with the University of Utah, under which, the Company acquired license to LSD 1. In exchange for the license, the Company issued 2% equity ownership in the Company based on a fully diluted basis at the effective date of the agreement and subject to certain adjustments specified in the agreement, granted revenue sharing rights on any resulting products or processes to commence on first commercial sale, and milestone payments based upon regulatory approval of any resulting product or process as well as on the second anniversary of first commercial sale.
Lease Agreement
The Company presently leases office space under operating lease agreements on a month to month basis.
- FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. A fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable, are used to measure fair value:
Level 1-Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2-Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3-Significant unobservable inputs including Salarius’ own assumptions in determining fair value.
The Company believes the recorded values of its financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and note payable approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
On October 14, 2022, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-25 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Reverse Stock Split”), which became effective on October 14, 2022. All historical share and per share amounts reflected throughout this report have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
Common Stock Issuances
On February 5, 2021, the Company entered into an At the Market Offering Agreement ("ATM") with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. Under this agreement the Company is able to issue and sell, from time to time, shares of its common stock. On February 5, 2021 and July 2, 2021, the Company filed prospectus supplements with the SEC to register the offering and sale of Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $6.3 million and $25.0 million, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold 696,271 shares of common stock under the At the Market Offering Agreement with gross proceeds of $1.7 million.
On May 11, 2023, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with an accredited investor (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investor in a private placement (the “Offering”) (i)330,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,306,364 shares of Common Stock, (iii) Series A-1 warrants (the “Series A-1 Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,636,364 shares of Common Stock and (iv) Series A-2 warrants (the “Series A-2 Warrants”) and together with the Series A-1 Warrants, the “Common Stock Warrants,” and together with the Pre-Funded Warrants, the “Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,636,364 shares of Common Stock, at a purchase price of (a) $1.65 per Share and accompanying Common Stock Warrants and (b) $1.6499 per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Common Stock Warrants. The aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering were approximately $6.0 million, exclusive of placement agent fees and expenses and other offering expenses. The Offering closed on May 16, 2023.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 586,364 shares of its Common Stock upon the exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants.
On January 12, 2022, the Company issued 40,000 shares of the Company's common stock, valued at $0.5 million to purchase in-process research and development technology SP-3164.
On April 22, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional and accredited investors for the sale by the Company of approximately 373,577 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a purchase price of $6.25 per share. Concurrently, the Company also sold unregistered warrants exercisable for an aggregate of approximately 280,183 shares of Common Stock, which represents 75% of the shares of Common Stock sold, with an exercise price of $8.4975 per share. The transaction closed on April 26, 2022 with gross proceeds of $2.3 million before deducting certain fees due to the placement agent and other estimated transaction expenses.
Warrants Exercised for Cash
The Company hasfive-year warrants outstanding that were issued in February 2020 and subsequently modified in December 2020 in connection with the issuance of additional inducement warrants. The warrants are exercisable at a price per share of $28.75. The inducement warrants expire on June 11, 2026, and are exercisable at a price per share of $29.55. The Company has 280,183 warrants outstanding that were issued in April 2022, with an exercise price of $8.4975 per share. The warrants were exercisablesix months following the issuance date and will expire five and one-half years from the issuance date. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, no warrants were exercised.
In May 2023, the Company issued Series A-1 Warrants that are exercisable for a period of five and one-half (5.5) years from the issuance date at an exercise price of $1.40 per share. Series A-2 Warrants are exercisable for a period of eighteen (18) months from the issuance date at an exercise price of $1.40 per share. Each Pre-Funded Warrant was sold in lieu of shares of Common Stock, are exercisable immediately upon issuance, have an exercise price of $0.0001 per share and expire when exercised in full. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, no Series A-1 or A-2 warrants were exercised.
In connection with the above mentioned Offering, the Company issued warrants to its exclusive placement agency H.C Wainwright & Co., LLC to purchase up to 254,454 shares of common stock at an exercise price per share of $2.0625 and a term of five and one-half (5.5) years. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, no warrants were exercised.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately 10,844,785 (2,720,000 are Pre-Funded Warrants) and 597,512 warrants remain outstanding, respectively.
The terms of the outstanding warrants require the Company, upon the consummation of any fundamental transaction to, among other obligations, cause any successor entity resulting from the fundamental transaction to assume the Company's obligations under the warrants and the associated transaction documents. In addition, holders of warrants are entitled to participate in any fundamental transaction on an as-converted or as-exercised basis, which could result in the holders of the Company's common stock receiving a lesser portion of the consideration from a fundamental transaction. The terms of the warrants could also impede the Company's ability to enter into certain transactions or obtain additional financing in the future.
- EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
Equity Incentive Plans
The Company has granted options to employees, directors, and consultants under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan"). The 2015 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options ("ISOs"), nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance-based stock awards and other stock-based awards. Additionally, the 2015 Plan provides for the grant of performance-based cash awards. ISOs may be granted only to the Company's employees. All other awards may be granted to the Company's employees, including officers, and to non-employee directors and consultants. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 84,339 and 47,228 shares, respectively, remaining available for the grant of stock option under the 2015 Plan.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company awarded 0 and 51,360, respectively, stock options to its employees and directors, pursuant to the plan described above. Stock options generally vest overone tofour years and have a contractual term often years. Stock options are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and compensation cost is recognized based on the resulting value over the service period. Expected volatilities utilized in the model are based on implied volatilities from traded stocks of peer companies. Similarly, the dividend yield is based on historical experience and the estimate of future dividend yields. The risk-free interest rate is derived from the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected term of the options is based on the average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The fair value of the option grants of $0.5 million has been estimated with the following assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2022:
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.62%-1.70% |
| Volatility | 125.19% - 126.42% |
| Expected life (years) | 5 -6 years |
| Expected dividend yield | 0.00% |
The following table summarizes stock option activity for employees and non-employees for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
| Shares | Weighted-AverageExercise Price | Weighted-AverageRemainingContractualTerm (in years) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding at December 31, 2021 | 63,919 | $68.75 | 8.50 |
| Granted | 51,360 | 10.95 | |
| Exercised | — | — | |
| Forfeited | (6,776) | — | |
| Expired | (1,375) | — | |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | 107,128 | $23.67 | 8.29 |
| Exercisable at December 31, 2022 | 38,100 | $35.85 | 7.63 |
| Granted | — | $— | |
| Exercised | — | ||
| Forfeited | (17,824) | ||
| Expired | — | ||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | 89,304 | $23.78 | 7.26 |
| Exercisable at December 31, 2023 | 67,585 | $26.44 | 7.13 |
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there was approximately $0.3 million and $0.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, respectively, related to unvested stock options. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for future changes in employee and non-employee forfeitures, if any. The Company expects to recognize that cost over a remaining weighted-average period of 1.11 years.
- INCOME TAX
The Company has no current or deferred tax expense due to its current year loss and its overall net operating loss position. A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate and the effective tax rates for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
| December 31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Federal Tax at Statutory Rate | 21.00% | 21.00% |
| Permanent | (0.89)% | (6.25)% |
| Change in Valuation Allowance | (22.77)% | (21.73)% |
| True Ups | —% | (0.06)% |
| R&D Credit | 2.66% | 7.04% |
| Effective Tax Rate | —% | —% |
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets were as follows:
| December 31 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Capitalized R&D Expenses | $5,610,221 | $5,199,721 |
| Other Deferred Items | 44,193 | 145,935 |
| Stock Compensation | 455,192 | 484,205 |
| Net Operating Loss - US | 6,161,916 | 3,919,323 |
| R&D Credits | 3,627,377 | 3,293,572 |
| Net deferred tax assets | 15,898,899 | 13,042,756 |
| Valuation Allowance | (15,898,899) | (13,042,756) |
| Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) | $— | $— |
The valuation allowance recorded by the Company as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 resulted from the uncertainties of the future utilization of deferred tax assets relating from NOL carry forwards for federal and state income tax purposes. Realization of the NOL carry forwards is contingent on future taxable earnings. The deferred tax asset was reviewed for expected utilization using a “more likely than not” approach by assessing the available positive and negative evidence surrounding its recoverability. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance continues to be recorded against the Company’s deferred tax asset, as it was determined based upon past and projected future losses that it was “more likely than not” that the Company’s deferred tax assets would not be realized. In future years, if the deferred tax assets are determined by management to be “more likely than not” to be realized, the recognized tax benefits relating to the reversal of the valuation allowance will be recorded. The Company will continue to assess and evaluate strategies that will enable the deferred tax asset, or portion thereof, to be utilized, and will reduce the valuation allowance appropriately as such time when it is determined that the “more likely than not” criteria is satisfied.
The federal net operating loss carryforwards of $29.3 million have an indefinite life, but the R&D credits of $3.4 million begin to expire in 2039. Due to the change in ownership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the availability of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards could be subject to annual limitations against taxable income in future periods, which could substantially limit the eventual utilization of such carry forwards. The Company has not analyzed the historical or potential impact of its equity financings on beneficial ownership and therefore no determination has been made whether the net operating loss carry forward is subject to any Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limitation. To the extent there is a limitation, there could be a reduction in the deferred tax asset with an offsetting reduction in the valuation allowance.
Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax returns are required to be evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet a more-likely-than-not threshold, as well as accrued interest and penalties, if any, would be recorded as a interest and penalties expense in the current year. There were no uncertain tax positions that require accrual or disclosure to the financial statements as of December 31, 2023.
- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On March 15, 2024, the Company filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC in connection with a special meeting of stockholders will be held on May 9, 2024. The business for the meeting is to consider and vote to approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio in the rage of 1:4 to 1:8.
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