Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

On April 1, 2024, the Company effected a reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value (“Common Stock”), at a ratio of 1-for-10. All historical share amounts, with the exception of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, disclosed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, as fractional shares of Common Stock were rounded up to the nearest whole share. See Note 9. Equity for additional information.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as determined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the consolidated balance sheet, statements of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other interim period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in its consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements relate to the fair value of the convertible notes payable, fair value of warrant liabilities, fair value of stock options and warrants, and the utilization of deferred tax assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from these estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and actual results, the Company’s future results of operations will be affected.

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

The Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including the risk of failure to secure additional funding to properly execute the Company’s business plan. The Company is subject to risks that are common to companies in the pharmaceutical industry, including, but not limited to, development by the Company or its competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, reliance on third party manufacturers, protection of proprietary technology, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), provides guidance on the development and disclosure of fair value measurements. Under this accounting guidance, fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.

The accounting guidance classifies fair value measurements in one of the following three categories for disclosure purposes:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 prices for similar assets or liabilities that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation. (Refer to Note 11)

Concentration of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are occasionally invested in certificates of deposit. The Company maintains each of its cash balances with high-quality and accredited financial institutions and accordingly, such funds are not exposed to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships. Deposits in financial institutions may, from time to time, exceed federally insured limits. As of September 30, 2024 the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance within money market accounts was in excess of the U.S. federally insured limits by $1.2 million. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash. The Company maintains a portion of its cash and cash equivalent balances in the form of a money market account with a financial institution that management believes to be creditworthy.

Cash and Cash Equivalents 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of initial purchase to be cash equivalents, including balances held in the Company’s money market accounts. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions, in which balances from time to time may exceed the U.S. federally insured limits. The objectives of the Company’s cash management policy are to safeguard and preserve funds to maintain liquidity sufficient to meet the Company’s cash flow requirements, and to attain a market rate of return.

Revenue Recognition 

The Company accounts for revenue under FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue for Contract with Customers (“ASC 606”) or other accounting standards for revenue not derived from customers. Arrangements may include licenses to intellectual property, research services and participation on joint research committees. The Company evaluates the promised goods or services to determine which promises, or group of promises, represent performance obligations. In contemplation of whether a promised good or service meets the criteria required of a performance obligation, the Company considers the stage of research, the underlying intellectual property, the capabilities and expertise of the customer relative to the underlying intellectual property, and whether the promised goods or services are integral to or dependent on other promises in the contract. When accounting for an arrangement that contains multiple performance obligations, the Company must develop judgmental assumptions, which may include market conditions, timelines and probabilities of regulatory success to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract.

The Company enters into contractual arrangements that may include licenses to intellectual property and research and development services. When such contractual arrangements are determined to be accounted for in accordance with ASC 606, the Company evaluates the promised good or services to determine which promises, or group of promises, represent performance obligations. When accounting for an arrangement that contains multiple performance obligations, the Company must develop judgmental assumptions, which may include market conditions, timelines and probabilities of regulatory success to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract.

The License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Alvogen Pharma US, Inc., Alvogen, Inc. and Lotus Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (collectively, “Alvogen”) (as further discussed in Note 6 below) was accounted for in accordance with ASC 606. In accordance with ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, it performs the following five steps:

i. identify the contract(s) with a customer;

ii. identify the performance obligations in the contract;

iii. determine the transaction price;

iv. allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations within the contract; and

v. recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it determines that it is probable it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.

At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within the contract to determine whether each promised good or service is a performance obligation. The promised goods or services in the Company’s arrangements typically consist of a license to intellectual property and research services. The Company may provide options to additional items in such arrangements, which are accounted for as separate contracts when the customer elects to exercise such options, unless the option provides a material right to the customer. Performance obligations are promises in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer that (i) the customer can benefit from on its own or together with other readily available resources, and (ii) is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Goods or services that are not individually distinct performance obligations are combined with other promised goods or services until such combined group of promises meet the requirements of a performance obligation.

The Company determines transaction price based on the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive for transferring the promised goods or services in the contract. Consideration may be fixed, variable, or a combination of both. At contract inception for arrangements that include variable consideration, the Company estimates the probability and extent of consideration it expects to receive under the contract utilizing either the most likely amount method or expected amount method, whichever best estimates the amount expected to be received. The Company then considers any constraints on the variable consideration and includes in the transaction price variable consideration to the extent it is deemed probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

The Company then allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price and recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) control is transferred to the customer and the performance obligation is satisfied. For performance obligations which consist of licenses and other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.

The Company records amounts as accounts receivable when the right to consideration is deemed unconditional. When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded as deferred revenue.

The Company’s revenue arrangements may include the following:

Milestone Payments: At the inception of an agreement that includes milestone payments, the Company evaluates each milestone to determine when and how much of the milestone to include in the transaction price. The Company first estimates the amount of the milestone payment that the Company could receive using either the expected value or the most likely amount approach. The Company primarily uses the most likely amount approach as that approach is generally most predictive for milestone payments with a binary outcome. Then, the Company considers whether any portion of that estimated amount is subject to the variable consideration constraint (that is, whether it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue would not occur upon resolution of the uncertainty.) The Company updates the estimate of variable consideration included in the transaction price at each reporting date which includes updating the assessment of the likely amount of consideration and the application of the constraint to reflect current facts and circumstances.

Royalties: For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).

Research Services: The Company incurred research costs in association with the License Agreement. After the First Milestone Payment (as defined in Note 6 below), the Company would have been reimbursed for certain costs incurred related to reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs for clinical and non-clinical development activities. The Company would have recognized revenue for the reimbursed costs when the First Milestone Payment contingencies had been achieved and the Company had an enforceable claim to the reimbursed costs.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development expense consists primarily of costs associated with the Company’s clinical trials, salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits, and stock-based compensation charges for those individuals involved in ongoing research and development efforts. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are recorded as prepaid assets and expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received.

Non-cancellable Contracts

The Company may record certain obligations as liabilities related to non-cancellable contracts. If appropriate, the offsetting costs may be recorded as a deferred cost asset.

Convertible Notes Payable and Fair Value Election

As permitted under FASB ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments (“ASC 825”), the Company elected to account for its promissory notes, which meet the required criteria, at fair value at inception. Subsequent changes in fair value are recorded as a component of non-operating loss in the consolidated statements of operations. The portion of total changes in fair value of the notes attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk are determined through specific measurement of periodic changes in the discount rate assumption exclusive of base market changes and are presented as a component of comprehensive income in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As a result of electing the fair value option, direct costs and fees related to the promissory notes are expensed as incurred.

The Company estimates the fair value of its notes payable using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which uses as inputs the fair value of its Common Stock and estimates for the equity volatility of its Common Stock, the time to expiration (i.e., expected term) of the note, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the time to expiration, and probability of default. Therefore, the Company estimates its expected future equity volatility based on the historical volatility of its Common Stock price utilizing a lookback period consistent with the time to expiration. The time to expiration is based on the contractual maturity date, giving consideration to the redemption features embedded in the notes. The risk-free interest rate is determined based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of measurement for time periods approximately equal to the time to expiration. Unless otherwise specified, the probability of default is estimated using Bloomberg’s Default Risk function which uses its financial information to calculate a default risk specific to the Company. At September 30, 2024, the Streeterville Note valuation was adjusted to the post settlement amount agreed upon. Interest expense is included within the fair value of the note payable. Management believes those assumptions are reasonable but if these assumptions change, it could materially affect the fair value.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company expenses stock-based compensation to employees and non-employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Stock-based awards with graded-vesting schedules are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. The Company estimates the fair value of restricted stock award grants using the closing trading price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of issuance. All stock-based compensation costs are recorded in general and administrative or research and development costs in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based upon the underlying individual’s role at the Company.

Warrants

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in FASB ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own Common Stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be liability classified and recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and remeasured at fair value and each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the statements of operations. The Company generally determines fair value of the Common Stock Warrants (as defined below) using a Black Scholes valuation methodology.

A change in any of the terms or conditions of warrants is accounted for as a modification. The accounting for incremental fair value of warrants is based on the specific facts and circumstances related to the modification which may result in a reduction of additional paid-in capital, recognition of costs for services rendered, or recognized as a deemed dividend.

Preferred Stock

In accordance with ASC 480, the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock was classified as permanent equity as it was not mandatorily redeemable upon an event that is considered outside of the Company’s control. Further, in accordance with ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, the Series A Preferred Stock did not meet any of the criteria that would preclude equity classification. The Company concluded that the Series A Preferred Stock was more akin to an equity-type instrument than a debt-type instrument, therefore the conversion features associated with the convertible preferred stock were deemed to be clearly and closely related to the host instrument and were not bifurcated as a derivative under ASC 815.

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. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. 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 would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. 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. The Company recognizes any interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.

Loss Per Share

The Company applies the two-class method when computing net income or loss per share attributable to common stockholders. In determining net income or loss attributable to common stockholders, the two-class method requires income or loss allocable to participating securities for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based on their respective rights to share in the earnings as if all of the income or loss allocable for the period had been distributed. In periods of net loss, there is no allocation required under the two-class method as the participating securities do not have an obligation to fund the losses of the Company.

Basic loss per share of Common Stock is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options, restricted stock awards and warrants were to vest and be exercised. Diluted earnings per share excludes, when applicable, the potential impact of stock options, Common Stock warrant shares, convertible notes, and other dilutive instruments because their effect would be anti-dilutive in the periods in which the Company incurs a net loss.

The following outstanding shares of Common Stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of the diluted net loss per share attributable to Common Stock for the periods in which a net loss is presented because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

	Nine months ended September 30,
	2024		2023
Stock options		131,833		254,885
Restricted stock awards		33,333		66,667
Common stock warrants		5,327,636		3,302,159
Anson Note		3,236,280		—
Convertible preferred stock		—		300,000

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2023‑07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280)-Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07), which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 should be applied on a retrospective basis. ASU 2023-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09-Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (ASU 2023-09), which is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures, primarily by amending disclosure requirements for the effective tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 should be applied on a prospective basis, and retrospective application is permitted. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its disclosures.