PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

Nature of Business

The Company is a leader in the treatment of life-threatening conditions in intensive care and cardiac surgery using blood purification. The Company, through its subsidiary CytoSorbents Medical, Inc. (formerly known as CytoSorbents, Inc.), is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of medical devices with its blood purification technology platform which incorporates a proprietary adsorbent, porous polymer technology. The Company, through its wholly owned European subsidiary, CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, conducts sales and marketing related operations for the CytoSorb device. In March 2016, the Company formed CytoSorbents Switzerland GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of CytoSorbents Europe GmbH. This subsidiary, which began operations during the second quarter of 2016, provides marketing and direct sales services in Switzerland. In November 2018, the Company formed CytoSorbents Poland Sp. z.o.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of CytoSorbents Europe GmbH. This subsidiary, which began operations during the first quarter of 2019, provides marketing and direct sales services in Poland. In the third quarter of 2019, the Company formed CytoSorbents UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CytoSorbents Medical, Inc., which is responsible for the management of the Company’s clinical trial activities in the United Kingdom. In March 2022, the Company formed CytoSorbents Medical UK Limited to provide marketing and direct sales services in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. In October 2022, the Company formed CytoSorbents France SAS to provide marketing and direct sales services in France. CytoSorb, the Company’s flagship product, was approved in the European Union (“EU”) in March 2011 and is currently being marketed and distributed in more than 75 countries around the world, as an effective extracorporeal cytokine absorber, designed to reduce the “cytokine storm” or “cytokine release syndrome” seen in critical illnesses that may result in massive inflammation, organ failure, and patient death. In May 2018, the Company received a label extension for CytoSorb covering use of the device for the removal of bilirubin and myoglobin which allows for the use of the device in the treatment of liver failure and trauma, respectively. CytoSorb is also being used during and after cardiac surgery to remove inflammatory mediators that can lead to post-operative complications, including multiple organ failure. In January 2020, CytoSorb received EU CE Mark label expansion to include the removal of ticagrelor during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. In May 2020, CytoSorb also received EU CE Mark label expansion to include rivaroxaban removal for the same indication.

In April 2020, CytoSorb received United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) of CytoSorb for use in adult critically-ill COVID-19 patients with imminent or confirmed respiratory failure. The CytoSorb device has neither been cleared nor approved for the indication to treat patients with COVID-19 infection. The EUA will be effective until a declaration is made that the circumstances justifying the EUA have terminated or until revoked by the FDA.

In April 2020, the Company also announced that the FDA had granted Breakthrough Designation for its DrugSorb-ATR Antithrombotic Removal System for the removal of ticagrelor in a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit during emergent and urgent cardiothoracic surgery. The Breakthrough Devices Program provides for more effective treatment of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating disease or conditions, in this case the need to reverse the effects of ticagrelor in emergent or urgent cardiac surgery that can otherwise cause a high risk of serious or life-threatening bleeding. Through Breakthrough Designation, the FDA intends to work with CytoSorbents to expedite the development, assessment, and regulatory review of CytoSorbents’ technology for the removal of ticagrelor, while maintaining statutory standards of regulatory approval (e.g., 510(k), de novo 510(k) or premarket approval) consistent with the FDA’s mission to protect and promote public health. In July 2021, the Company received full approval of its Investigative Device Exemption (“IDE”) to conduct the pivotal STAR-T (Safe and Timely Antithrombotic Removal – Ticagrelor) double-blind randomized control trial (“RCT”) for up to 120 patients in the United States to support FDA marketing approval.

In August 2021, the Company announced that it was granted a second Breakthrough Device designation for its DrugSorb-ATR Antithrombotic Removal System by the FDA. This Breakthrough Device designation covers the removal of the Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) apixaban and rivaroxaban in a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit to reduce the likelihood of serious perioperative bleeding during urgent cardiothoracic surgery. In October 2021, the Company also received full FDA approval of an IDE application to conduct a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical study for up to 120 patients entitled, “Safe and Timely Antithrombotic Removal – Direct Oral Anticoagulants (STAR-D),” in the United States to support FDA marketing approval.

If FDA marketing approval is obtained for either the removal of ticagrelor or direct oral anticoagulants indications, the device would be marketed as DrugSorb-ATR in the United States. The DrugSorb-ATR Antithrombotic Removal System is based on the same polymer technology as CytoSorb.

In May 2022, the Company announced that the Company entered into a 3-year preferred supplier agreement with Asklepios, making CytoSorb available without restrictions to all of the approximate 170 healthcare facilities across 14 states throughout Germany at which Asklepios operates. This includes Asklepios Klinik St. Georg in Hamburg, Germany, which pioneered the use of CytoSorb to remove antithrombotic drugs during cardiothoracic surgery and is well-known for their seminal publication on CytoSorb use for this application during emergency cardiac surgery in patients at high risk of bleeding.

In June 2022, the Company announced that, following a successful pilot program in three countries, the Company signed an expanded non-exclusive agreement with Nikkiso Europe GmbH (“Nikkiso”) to distribute Nikkiso’s PureADJUST stand-alone hemoperfusion pump and accessories in a total of 14 countries. In addition to securing the rights to sell Nikkiso’s stand-alone pump and accessories in Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, the Company entered into an expanded multi-country reseller agreement with Nikkiso covering the following countries: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Finland, France, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland. The Company will also be able to provide field support services in these countries.

In August 2022, the Company entered into a Marketing Agreement (the “Marketing Agreement”) with Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (“Fresenius”), which expands the Company’s strategic partnership with Fresenius by establishing a multi-stage global collaboration to combat life-threatening diseases in critical care. The Marketing Agreement provides for the combined marketing and promotion of CytoSorb with Fresenius’ critical care products by Fresenius’ marketing organization worldwide, excluding the United States. The Marketing Agreement has an initial term of three years, with an automatic renewal for an additional two years at the end of such initial term, subject to earlier termination by either of the parties (the “Term”). Compared to the prior co-marketing agreement between the parties, the Marketing Agreement intends to increase the commitments from both parties and to ensure an ongoing and consistent level of marketing and promotional activity specifically focused around CytoSorb, where Fresenius will actively market and promote CytoSorb as the featured blood purification therapy for removal of cytokines, bilirubin, and myoglobin on its critical care platforms. Specifically, the Marketing Agreement provides that various Fresenius-led in-person, virtual, social media, and web-based marketing programs and events will feature the CytoSorb therapy and highlight the cooperation between the two companies in the field of critical care during the Term. To help support the increased marketing and promotional efforts of the expanded collaboration, CytoSorbents has agreed to subsidize a portion of the marketing costs through a royalty payment to Fresenius Medical Care based on CytoSorb sales in the intensive care unit on Fresenius Medical Care platforms, excluding the United States. In addition to strengthening and expanding the global marketing of CytoSorb, the Company and Fresenius also plan to work together to bring new innovative solutions to the market. The Marketing Agreement also includes the certification of compatibility of CytoSorb for usage on Fresenius’ current critical care platforms. The launch of this program is expected to occur sometime in 2023.

The technology is based upon biocompatible, highly porous polymer sorbent beads that can actively remove toxic substances from blood and other bodily fluids by pore capture and surface adsorption. The Company has numerous products under development based upon this unique blood purification technology, which is protected by 19 issued U.S. patents and multiple international patents, with applications pending both in the U.S. and internationally, including HemoDefend, ContrastSorb, DrugSorb, DrugSorb-ATR and others. These patents and patent applications are directed to various compositions and methods of use related to the Company’s blood purification technologies and are expected to expire between 2023 and 2038, absent any patent term extensions. Management believes that any near-term expiring patents will not have a significant impact on the Company’s ongoing business.

Stock Market Listing

Stock Market Listing

On December 17, 2014, the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, was approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), and it began trading on Nasdaq on December 23, 2014, under the symbol “CTSO.” Previously, the Company’s common stock traded in the over-the-counter-market on the OTC Bulletin Board.

Basis of Consolidation and Foreign Currency Translation

Basis of Consolidation and Foreign Currency Translation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CytoSorbents Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, CytoSorbents Medical, Inc. and CytoSorbents Europe GmbH. In addition, the consolidated financial statements include CytoSorbents Switzerland GmbH, CytoSorbents Poland Sp. z.o.o., CytoSorbents Medical UK Limited and CytoSorbents France SAS, wholly owned subsidiaries of CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, and CytoSorbents UK Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CytoSorbents Medical, Inc. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Translation gains and losses resulting from the process of remeasuring into the United States Dollar, the foreign currency financial statements of the European subsidiary are included in operations. The Euro is the functional currency of the European Subsidiary. Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) included in net loss amounted to approximately $661,000 and $(1,213,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.  The Company translates assets and liabilities of all of its foreign subsidiaries at the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. The Company translates revenue and expenses at the daily average exchange rates. The Company includes accumulated net translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of stockholders’ equity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

The following table provides a summary of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash to amounts shown in the consolidated balance sheets:

	March 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	19,048,410	$	22,144,567
Restricted cash		1,687,459		1,687,459
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	20,735,869	$	23,832,026

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

The Company’s total restricted cash in the amount of $1,687,459 consists of cash of $1,467,459 that the Company is obligated to maintain as collateral for the outstanding letter of credit with Bridge Bank that was provided to the landlord of the College Road facility as security and cash of $220,000 that the Company is obligated to maintain as collateral for the credit limit on the Company’s credit card accounts.

Grants and Accounts Receivable

Grants and Accounts Receivable

Grants receivable represent amounts due from U.S. government agencies and are included in Grants and Accounts Receivable.

Accounts receivable are unsecured, non-interest bearing customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company sells its devices to various hospitals and distributors. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial conditions. Management reviews accounts receivable periodically to determine collectability. Balances that are determined to be uncollectible are written off to the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts amounted to approximately $47,000 and $76,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value under the first in, first out (FIFO) method. At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company’s inventory was comprised of finished goods, which amounted to $839,033 and $1,567,871, respectively; work in process which amounted to $289,123 and $1,280,368, respectively; and raw materials, which amounted to $597,517 and $613,347, respectively. Devices used in clinical trials or for research and development purposes are removed from inventory and charged to research and development expenses at the time of their use. Donated devices are removed from inventory and charged to selling, general and administrative expenses.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of property and equipment is provided for by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their economic useful lives or the term of the related leases. Gains and losses on depreciable assets retired or sold are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the year of disposal. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are expensed as incurred.

Patents

Patents

Legal costs incurred to establish and successfully defend patents are capitalized. When patents are issued, capitalized costs are amortized on the straight-line method over the related patent term. In the event a patent is abandoned, the net book value of the patent is written off.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses the impairment of patents and other long-lived assets under accounting standards for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. For long-lived assets to be held and used, the Company recognizes an impairment loss only if its carrying amount is not recoverable through its undiscounted cash flows and measures the impairment loss based on the difference between the carrying amount and fair value. There was no impairment recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $111,000 and $306,000, respectively, related to certain patent costs. This charge is included in legal, financial and other consulting in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Product Sales: Revenues from sales of products to both direct and distributor/strategic partner customers are recognized at the time when control passes to the customer, in accordance with the terms of their respective contracts. Recognition of revenue occurs as each performance obligation is completed.

Grant Revenue: Revenue from grant income is based on contractual agreements. Certain agreements provide for reimbursement of costs, other agreements provide for reimbursement of costs and an overhead margin and certain agreements are performance based, where revenue is earned based upon the achievement of milestones outlined in the contract. Revenues are recognized when the associated performance obligation is fulfilled. Costs are recorded as incurred. Amounts invoiced in excess of costs actually incurred on fixed price contracts are classified as deferred revenue and are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. Costs subject to reimbursement by these grants have been reflected as costs of revenue.

Research and Development

Research and Development

All research and development costs, payments to laboratories and research consultants are expensed when incurred.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising Expenses

Advertising expenses are charged to activities when incurred. Advertising expenses amounted to approximately $55,000 and $81,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method prescribed by accounting standards for accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recorded for temporary differences between financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the tax rates expected to be in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company has provided a valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the net operating losses generated prior to the previously completed reverse merger may be limited due to the change in ownership. Additionally, net operating losses generated subsequent to the reverse merger may be limited in the event of changes in ownership.

The Company follows accounting standards associated with uncertain tax positions. The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022. The Company files tax returns in the U.S. federal and state jurisdictions.

The Company utilizes the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program to sell a portion of its New Jersey Net Operating Loss carryforwards to an industrial company.

CytoSorbents Europe GmbH, CytoSorbents Switzerland GmbH, CytoSorbents Poland Sp. z.o.o., CytoSorbents UK Limited, CytoSorbents Medical UK Limited and CytoSorbents France file an annual corporate tax return, a VAT return and a trade tax return in Germany, Switzerland, Poland, France and the United Kingdom, respectively.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets, liabilities at the date of the balance sheet, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The valuation of options granted, allowance for doubtful accounts and recoverability of patents are significant estimates in these consolidated financial statements.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash balances, at times, with financial institutions in excess of amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Beginning in April of 2023, the Company joined the IntraFi network, and established an Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) account whereby all cash that was previously held in the Company’s money market account at Bridge Bank is swept daily in increments of less than $250,000 and deposited in a number of IntraFi’s 4,000 member banks. This arrangement provides FDIC insurance coverage for all of the cash balances previously held in the money market account, which represents all of the cash and cash equivalents held at Bridge Bank. This arrangement excludes the restricted cash balances. Management monitors the soundness of these institutions in an effort to minimize its collection risk of these balances.

A significant portion of the Company's revenues are from product sales in Germany. Substantially all of the Company's grant and other income are from government agencies in the United States. (See Note 4 for further information relating to the Company’s revenue.)

As of March 31, 2023, two distributors accounted for approximately 30% of outstanding grants and accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2022, two distributors accounted for approximately 27% of outstanding grants and accounts receivable. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, one distributor accounted for approximately 11% of the Company’s total revenue and for the three months ended March 31, 2022, no customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenue.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Net Loss Per Common Share

Net Loss Per Common Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is computed using the treasury stock method on the basis of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock plus the dilutive effect of potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and restricted shares. The computation of diluted loss per share does not assume conversion, exercise or contingent exercise of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings (see Note 8).

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation under the recognition requirements of accounting standards for accounting for stock-based compensation, for employees and directors whereby each option granted is valued at fair market value on the date of grant. Under these accounting standards, the fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Company also follows the guidance of accounting standards for accounting for equity instruments that are issued to other than employees for acquiring, or in conjunction with selling, goods or services for equity instruments issued to consultants.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and Handling Costs

The cost of shipping product to customers and distributors is typically borne by the customer or distributor. The Company records other shipping and handling costs in cost of revenue. Total freight costs amounted to approximately $78,000 and $68,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Effect of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effect of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB, issued ASU No. 2016-13 entitled, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. This ASU provides guidance on the calculation of credit losses, which includes the allowance for doubtful accounts on trade accounts receivable. The updated guidance is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company implemented the updated guidance during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and this did not have significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.