XML 48 R18.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.24.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Basis of Presentation

(a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Use of Estimates

(b) Use of Estimates

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include those used in the accounting for research and development contracts, including clinical trial accruals, common stock warrant liabilities, and the accounting and fair value measurement of equity instruments.

Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share

(c) Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share

Basic net loss per share is determined using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as stock options and warrants, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. The computation of diluted net loss per shares does not include the conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents may include bank demand deposits and money market funds that invest primarily in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and U.S. government agency securities and treasuries. The Company records interest income received on cash and cash equivalents to other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company has significant cash balances at financial institutions which throughout the year regularly exceed the federally insured limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flow.

Issuance Costs Associated with Equity Issuances

(e) Issuance Costs Associated with Equity Issuances

Issuance costs incurred in connection with the Company’s equity issuances, which primarily consisted of direct incremental legal, printing, listing and accounting fees, are offset against proceeds received in the issuances and charged to additional paid-in capital in the period the equity issuance is completed.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

(f) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” equals or approximates the carrying amounts represented in the consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature, except for the derivative warrant liabilities (see Note 3).

Common Stock Warrants

(g) Common Stock Warrants

On October 31, 2023, the Company completed a registered direct offering with a single institutional investor whereby the Company sold (i) 1,250,000 shares of common stock and (ii) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $9.00 per share (“Canaccord Warrants”). The warrants are liability classified as they contain certain cash settlement adjustment features that are outside of the Company’s control or not deemed to be indexed to the Company’s stock. The

warrant liabilities are recorded at fair value regardless of the timing of the redemption feature or the redemption price or the likelihood of redemption. These warrants are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date and any change in fair value is recognized as a component of change in fair value of warrant liability in the statements of operations. The Company will continue to adjust the liability for changes in fair value until the earlier of the exercise or expiration of the warrants. The warrants are classified as Level 3 liabilities.

Research and Development

(h) Research and Development

Research and development costs are either expensed as incurred or recorded separately as a prepaid asset, and the expense recognized when the service is performed and are primarily comprised of personnel-related expenses and external research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations and consultants. At the end of each reporting period, the Company compares the payments made to each service provider to the estimated progress towards completion of the related project. Factors that the Company considers in preparing these estimates include the number of patients enrolled in studies, milestones achieved, and other criteria related to the efforts of its vendors. These estimates will be subject to change as additional information becomes available. Depending on the timing of payments to vendors and estimated services provided, the Company will record net prepaid or accrued expenses related to these costs. Prepaid clinical expenses represent valid future economic benefits based on our contracts with our vendors and are realized in the ordinary course of business.

Stock-Based Compensation

(i) Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The Company has issued stock-based compensation awards including stock options. ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments, including grants of stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options granted. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.

Expense related to stock-based compensation awards granted with service-based vesting conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis based on the grant date fair value over the associated service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term. Stock options have a contractual term of 10 years. Expense for stock-based compensation awards with performance-based vesting conditions is only recognized when the performance-based vesting condition is deemed probable to occur. Expense related to stock-based compensation awards are recorded to research and development expense or general and administrative expense based on the underlying function of the individual that was granted the stock-based compensation award.

Estimating the fair value of stock options requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected term of the stock option, stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. The assumptions used in the Company’s Black-Scholes option-pricing model represent management’s best estimates and involve a number of variables, uncertainties, assumptions, and the application of management’s judgment, as they are inherently subjective. If any assumptions change, the Company’s stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future.

The assumptions used in the Company’s Black-Scholes option-pricing model for stock options are as follows:

Expected Term. As Annovis does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term, the expected term of employee stock options subject to service-based vesting conditions is determined using the “simplified” method, as prescribed in SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, whereby the expected term equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the stock option.

Expected Volatility. The expected volatility is based on historical volatilities of Annovis and similar entities within the Company’s industry for periods commensurate with the assumed expected term.

Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the interest rate payable on U.S. Treasury securities in effect at the time of grant for a period that is commensurate with the assumed expected term.

Expected Dividends. The expected dividend yield is 0% because Annovis has not historically paid, and does not expect for the foreseeable future to pay, a dividend on its common stock.

Income Taxes

(j) Income Taxes

The Company provides for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the tax rates in effect when these differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

The Company is subject to the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a more likely-than-not threshold for the financial statement recognition of uncertain tax positions. ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. There are currently no open federal or state tax audits. The Company has not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2023 or 2022.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(k) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASC 326), which changes how entities account for credit losses on financial assets and other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income, including available-for-sale debt securities. The Company implemented the guidance as of January 1, 2023 and there was not a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which improves income tax disclosures by requiring: (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation, and (2) income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. It also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The ASU indicates that all entities will apply the guidance prospectively with an option for retroactive application to each period presented in the financial statements. The Company has not determined the impact ASU 2023-09 may have on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.