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Decoy Therapeutics Inc.

For the period ended Mar 31, 2025. Filed May 14, 2025.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Mar 31, 2025 · Filed May 14, 2025

DCOY$1.13+0.9%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

What changed in Risk Factors?

Read the current filing

Previous report: 10-Q

Period ended 2024-09-30; filed 2024-11-14.

0001615219-24-000089

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Current report: 10-Q

Period ended 2025-03-31; filed 2025-05-14.

0001615219-25-000048

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.

Compared 14 previous paragraphs and 29 current paragraphs.

3 unchanged; 4 reworded; 22 added; 7 removed; 0 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.

Tables are not compared: 3 previous and 3 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.

A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.

Added paragraphs (22)

Current report

If a Qualified Financing and the Merger are not completed in the next few months, Salarius will not be able to otherwise source adequate liquidity to fund its operations, meet its obligations, and continue as a going concern. Salarius’ board of directors will likely decide to pursue a dissolution and liquidation of Salarius. In such an event, there can be no assurances as to the amount or timing of available cash left, if any, to distribute to its stockholders after paying its debts and other obligations and setting aside funds for reserves.

Current report

While Salarius has entered into the Merger Agreement with Decoy, the Merger Closing may be further delayed or may not occur at all and there can be no assurance that the Merger will deliver the anticipated benefits Salarius expects or enhance stockholder value. If the Merger is not completed and the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, Salarius may be required to pay Decoy a termination fee of $300,000. Even if a termination fee is not payable in connection with a termination of the Merger Agreement, Salarius will have incurred significant fees and expenses, which must be paid whether or not the Merger is completed.

Current report

Salarius does not currently have adequate financial resources to fund its forecasted operating costs for at least twelve months from the filing of this prospectus. As of March 31, 2025, Salarius’ cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $1.8 million, which were held in bank deposit accounts and a money market account. As of As a result, Salarius believes its existing cash resources are sufficient to meet its anticipated needs into the later part of the second quarter of 2025. If for any reason the Merger does not close in the next few months, Salarius would need to raise additional capital to continue to fund the further development of its product candidates and its operations thereafter. Salarius has based its cash sufficiency estimates on its current business plan and its assumptions may prove to be wrong. Salarius could utilize its available capital resources sooner than it currently expects, and it could need additional funding sooner than currently anticipated. Additionally, the process of advancing early stage product candidates and testing product candidates in clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress in these clinical trials is uncertain. Even if Salarius raises sufficient funds and decides to continue the development of its product candidates, its ability to successfully transition to profitability will be dependent upon achieving a level of product sales adequate to support its cost structure. Salarius cannot assure you that it will ever be profitable or generate positive cash flow from operating activities.

Current report

Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms or the failure of the proposed Merger to be consummated in a timely manner would require Salarius to further delay or abandon any potential future clinical development plans. If, for any reason, the Merger does not close, the Salarius board of directors may elect to, among other things, attempt to complete another strategic transaction like the Merger, attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of the various assets of Salarius, resume its research and development activities and continue to operate the business of Salarius. Any of these alternatives would be costly and time-consuming and would require that Salarius obtain additional funding. Salarius expects that it would be difficult to secure financing in a timely manner, on favorable terms or at all. Salarius can make no assurances that it would be able to obtain additional financing or find a partner and close an alternative transaction on terms that are as favorable or more favorable than the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement or that any such alternatives are possible or would be successful, if pursued. To the extent that Salarius seeks and is able to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, Salarius’ stockholders’ ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect their rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting Salarius’ ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If Salarius raises funds through strategic transactions or marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements with third parties, Salarius may have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to it. Even if Salarius is able to pursue such alternatives, the failure to complete the Merger may result in negative publicity and/or a negative impression of Salarius in the investment community, could significantly harm the market price of Salarius common stock and may affect Salarius’ relationship with employees and other partners in the business community.

Current report

If the Salarius board of directors were to decide to dissolve and liquidate Salarius’ assets, Salarius would be required to pay all of its debts and contractual obligations, and to set aside certain reserves for potential future claims, and there can be no assurances as to the amount or timing of available cash left, if any, to distribute to stockholders after paying its debts and other obligations and setting aside funds for reserves. In addition, Salarius may be subject to litigation or other claims related to a dissolution and liquidation. If a dissolution and liquidation were pursued, the Salarius board of directors, in consultation with its advisors, would need to evaluate these matters and make a determination about a reasonable amount to reserve. Accordingly, Salarius’ stockholders would likely lose all or a significant portion of their investment in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Salarius.

Current report

Salarius does not believe that its current expenses are indicative of the costs it may incur in the future in connection with the development and commercialization of any product candidate if it consummates the Merger or raises additional capital to continue its operations. Salarius’ future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

Current report

•its ability to consummate the Merger with Decoy;

Current report

•the scope, rate of progress and cost of its preclinical and clinical trials for any product candidate in its future pipeline and results of future clinical trials;

Current report

•the cost and timing of regulatory filings and approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;

Current report

•the timing and nature of any strategic transactions that Salarius undertakes, including potential partnerships;

Current report

•the cost incurred in responding to actions by activist stockholders; and

Current report

•the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing its intellectual property rights.

Current report

In addition, the amounts available under Salarius’ shelf registration statement on Form S-3 will be significantly limited as long as Salarius’ public float remains below $75 million, which, given its currently depressed stock price, limits its ability to obtain meaningful funding through a shelf registration statement at this time, although Salarius could still raise funds through a registration statement on Form S-1 or through private placements.

Current report

On April 23, 2025, Salarius received written notice (the “Notice”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with Nasdaq listing rule 5550(a)(2) because the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the last 30 consecutive business days was lower than the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). Normally, a company would be afforded a 180-calendar day period to demonstrate compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. However, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iv), the Company is not eligible for any compliance period specified in Nasdaq listing rule 5810(c)(3)(A) because the Company has effected a reverse stock split during the prior one-year period.

Current report

In addition, as previously disclosed, on March 26, 2025, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq notifying the Company that, based on the financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company no longer complied with the requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) to maintain a minimum of $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Equity Standard”). The letter indicated that the Company had until May 12, 2025 to either regain compliance with the Equity Standard or submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the Equity Standard (a “Compliance Plan”). However, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rule 5810(d)(2), the Company’s failure to comply with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement serves as a separate and additional reason for delisting and, as such, the Notice indicates that Nasdaq will not entertain a Compliance Plan, and the Company should also address the Company’s noncompliance with the Equity Standard before a Hearings Panel if the Company appeals Nasdaq’s determination.

Current report

Accordingly, unless the Company requested an appeal of the delisting determination by April 30, 2025, Nasdaq had determined that the Company’s securities would have been scheduled for delisting from The Nasdaq Capital Market and suspended at the opening of business on May 2, 2025. In addition, a Form 25-NSE would have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which would have removed the Company’s securities from listing and registration on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

Current report

The Company appealed the delisting determination on or before April 30, 2025 by requesting an appeal with a Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Hearings Panel”). The request for an appeal stayed the suspension of the Company’s securities and the filing of the Form 25-NSE pending the Hearings Panel’s decision. The Company intends to present its plans to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and the Equity Standard in connection with the Company’s planned merger transaction with Decoy Therapeutics Inc. However, there are no assurances a favorable decision from the Hearing Panel will be obtained or that the Company’s securities will remain listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

Current report

In addition, if Salarius ceases to be eligible to trade on Nasdaq, Salarius may have to pursue trading on a less recognized or accepted market, such as the over the counter markets, Salarius’ stock may be traded as a “penny stock” which would make transactions in Salarius stock more difficult and cumbersome, and Salarius may be unable to access capital on favorable terms or at all, as companies trading on alternative markets may be viewed as less attractive investments with higher associated risks, such that existing or prospective institutional investors may be less interested in, or prohibited from, investing in our common stock. This may also cause the market price of Salarius’ common stock to further decline.

Current report

On December 12, 2024, Salarius entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “ELOC Agreement”) with C/M Capital Master Fund, LP (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which Salarius, subject to the restrictions and satisfaction of the conditions in the ELOC Agreement, has the right, but not the obligation, to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser is obligated to purchase, up to the lesser of (i) $10 million of newly issued shares (the “Purchase Shares”) of Salarius’ common stock and (ii) the Exchange Cap (as defined in the ELOC Agreement). As consideration for the Purchaser’s execution and delivery of the ELOC Agreement, Salarius has agreed to issue to the Purchaser, simultaneously with the delivery of any and all Purchase Shares purchased under the ELOC Agreement, a number of shares of Salarius common stock equal to one percent (1%) of the number of Purchase Shares actually sold in each sale under the ELOC Agreement.

Current report

In the Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser represented to the Company, among other things, that it is an “accredited investor” (as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)). The securities are being issued and sold by the Company to the Purchaser in reliance upon the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Current report

Between January 13, 2025 and March 7, 2025, Salarius issued and sold 283,933 Purchase Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to the ELOC Agreement at a weighted average exercise price of $2.61 for an aggregate purchase price of $740,500. These issuances and sales were made following written notice delivered by Salarius to Investor, directing Investor to purchase the Purchase Shares. Salarius also issued 2,839 shares of its common stock to the Purchaser as commitment shares pursuant to the terms of the ELOC Agreement.

Current report

Other than as described above or as previously disclosed on our Current Reports on Form 8-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, we did not issue any unregistered equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Removed paragraphs (7)

Previous report

Risks Related to our Financial Position and Capital Needs and Company

Previous report

We do not currently have sufficient working capital to fund our planned operations for the next twelve months and may not be able to continue as a going concern. There is uncertainty regarding our ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to operate our business, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Previous report

If we do not successfully complete a strategic transaction or raise additional capital, we will need to pursue a dissolution and liquidation of our company. In such an event, the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders will depend heavily on the timing of such liquidation as well as the amount of cash that will need to be reserved for commitments and contingent liabilities.

Previous report

There can be no guarantee that the process to identify a strategic transaction will result in a successfully completed transaction. If no strategic transaction is completed and we are unable to raise additional capital in the next several months, we will be forced to cease operations, liquidate assets and possibly seek bankruptcy protection or engage in a similar process. In that event, the amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders will depend heavily on the timing of such decision and, ultimately, such liquidation, since the amount of cash available for distribution continues to decrease as we fund our operations and evaluate our strategic alternatives. In addition, if our board of directors were to approve and recommend, and our stockholders were to approve, a dissolution of our company, we would be required under Delaware corporate law to pay our outstanding obligations, as well as to make reasonable provision for contingent and unknown obligations, prior to making any distributions in liquidation to our stockholders. As a result of this requirement, a portion of our assets may need to be reserved pending the resolution of such obligations. In addition, we may be subject to litigation or other claims related to a dissolution and liquidation of our company. If a dissolution and liquidation were pursued, our board of directors, in consultation with its advisors, would need to evaluate these matters and make a determination about a reasonable amount to reserve. Accordingly, holders of our common stock could lose all or a significant portion of their investment in the event of a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our company.

Previous report

On August 9, 2024, we reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) that for the three months ended June 30, 2024, our stockholders’ equity was approximately $2.3 million. As further disclosed in the Form 10-Q, subsequent to June 30, 2024, the Company sold 564,730 shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $1.5 million pursuant to that certain At the Market Offering Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2021, with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (the “ATM Financing Transaction”). On August 13, 2024 we reported via Current Report on Form 8-K that we regained compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement after giving effect to the ATM Financing Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Nasdaq will continue to monitor our ongoing compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement and, if at the time of the next periodic report the Company does not evidence compliance, the Company’s common stock may be subject to delisting.

Previous report

We are actively monitoring the market value of our publicly held securities and our stockholders’ equity and will consider any and all options available to us to maintain compliance. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to maintain compliance and meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements.

Previous report

No sales or issuances of unregistered securities occurred that have not previously been disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Reworded paragraphs (4)

Previous wording

We do not currently have adequate financial resources to fund our forecasted operating costs for at least twelve months from the filing of this report. As of September 30, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.3 million, which were held in bank deposit accounts and a money market account. September 30, 2024, we have incurred an accumulated deficit of $80.5 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we reported net losses of $4.1 million. As a result, we believe our existing cash resources are sufficient to meet our anticipated needs into the first half of 2025, even after taking into account our significantly reduced operations, we would need to raise additional capital in the next several months in order to avoid a wind down and dissolution of our company. Our auditor’s report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes an explanatory paragraph related to the existence of substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional equity or debt financing, attain further operating efficiencies, reduce expenditures, and, ultimately, to generate revenue. Since inception, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations. We may not ever obtain additional financing. Our existing cash and cash equivalents will not be sufficient to enable us to continue the clinical development and commercialization of our product candidates for any indications or to in license any other product candidates and develop them. Although we are currently exploring various strategic alternatives, these strategic alternatives may not be successful in the next several months prior to our cash position getting to the point that we will need to pursue the winding down and dissolution of our company. If we do not raise capital in the next several months or engage a strategic partner, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate our assets and seek bankruptcy protection or engage in a similar process. As such, we cannot conclude that such plans will be effectively implemented within one year after the date of this prospectus and there is uncertainty regarding our ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to operate our business effectively, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Current wording

As such, there is uncertainty regarding Salarius’ ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to operate its business effectively, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Previous wording

Our common stock may be subject to delisting from Nasdaq.

Current wording

Salarius’ common stock is subject to delisting from Nasdaq, which would seriously harm the liquidity of Salarius’ common stock and its ability to raise capital or complete a strategic transaction.

Previous wording

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq. To maintain our listing on Nasdaq, we are required to maintain: (i) a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share, (ii) a market value of publicly held securities of $1 million, (iii) a certain number of round lot stockholders and (iv) one of the following: a net income from continuing operations (in the latest fiscal year or two of the three last fiscal years) of at least $500,000, a market value of listed securities of at least $35 million or a stockholders' equity of at least $2.5 million (the "Stockholders' Equity Requirement). Nasdaq has the authority to delist our common stock if we fail to maintain these minimum requirements. In addition, Nasdaq may delist us if, based on Nasdaq’s review of our company and pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5101, Nasdaq believes that we are a “public shell” and that the continued listing of our securities in no longer warranted. We have no current plans to delist our shares of common stock from Nasdaq. However, following the decision to close the clinical development of seclidemstat for Ewing sarcoma, we may be treated as a public shell under Nasdaq rules. Although Nasdaq evaluates whether a listed company is a public shell company based on a facts and circumstances determination, a Nasdaq-listed company with no or nominal operations and either no or nominal assets, assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents, or assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets is generally considered to be a public shell company. Listed companies determined to be public shell companies by Nasdaq may be subject to delisting proceedings or additional and more stringent listing criteria.

Current wording

Salarius’ common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). To maintain its listing on Nasdaq, Salarius is required to maintain: (i) a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share; (ii) a market value of publicly held securities of $1 million; (iii) a certain number of round lot stockholders; and (iv) one of the following: a net income from continuing operations (in the latest fiscal year or two of the three last fiscal years) of at least $500,000, a market value of listed securities of at least $35 million or a stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million (the “Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”). Nasdaq has the authority to delist Salarius’ common stock if Salarius fails to maintain these minimum requirements. In addition, Nasdaq may delist Salarius if, based on Nasdaq’s review of Salarius’ operations and pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5101, Nasdaq believes that Salarius is a “public shell” and that the continued listing of its securities is no longer warranted. Salarius has no current plans to delist its shares of common stock from Nasdaq. However, following the decision to close the clinical development of seclidemstat for Ewing sarcoma, Salarius may be treated as a public shell under Nasdaq rules. Although Nasdaq evaluates whether a listed company is a public shell company based on a facts and circumstances determination, a Nasdaq-listed company with no or nominal operations and either no or nominal assets, assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents, or assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets is generally considered to be a public shell company. Listed companies determined to be public shell companies by Nasdaq may be subject to delisting proceedings or additional and more stringent listing criteria.

Previous wording

If our common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, whether because Nasdaq determines we are a “public shell” or we fail to maintain compliance with the continued listed requirements, or otherwise, our securities may qualify for trading over-the-counter, or OTC, in the United States on a market colloquially referred to as the “Pink Sheets.” Securities quoted on OTC are generally subject to lesser requirements than securities listed for trading on a U.S. national stock exchange, such as Nasdaq, including reduced corporate governance and public reporting standards. If Nasdaq should delist our common stock from trading, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could have a material adverse effect on holders of our common stock: the liquidity of our common stock; the market price of the common stock; the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of investors in general that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of market makers in our common stock; the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of the common stock; and the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in our common stock. In addition to the foregoing, there are certain consequences under the Securities Act of being a public shell company, including the unavailability of Rule 144 thereunder for the resale of restricted securities and the inability to utilize Form S-8 for the registration of employee benefit plan securities.

Current wording

If Salarius’ common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, whether because Nasdaq determines Salarius is a “public shell” or Salarius fails to maintain compliance with the continued listed requirements, or otherwise, Salarius’ securities may qualify for trading over-the-counter (“OTC”), in the United States on a market colloquially referred to as the “Pink Sheets.” Securities quoted on OTC are generally subject to lesser requirements than securities listed for trading on a U.S. national stock exchange, such as Nasdaq, including reduced corporate governance and public reporting standards. If Nasdaq should delist Salarius’ common stock from trading, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could have a material adverse effect on holders of Salarius’ common stock: the liquidity of the common stock; the market price of the common stock; the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of investors in general that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of market makers in the common stock; the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of the common stock; and the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in the common stock. In addition to the foregoing, there are certain consequences under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of being a public shell company, including the unavailability of Rule 144 thereunder for the resale of restricted securities and the inability to utilize Form S-8 for the registration of employee benefit plan securities.