UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023
Or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from _____________ to _____________
Qualigen
Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-37428
26-3474527
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
(Commission
File
Number)
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
2042
Corte Del Nogal , Carlsbad , California 92011
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(760)
918-9165
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
n/a
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading
Symbol
Name
of each exchange on which registered
Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share
QLGN
The
Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
☒
No
☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Yes
☒
No
☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company,
or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller
reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated
filer ☐
Non-accelerated
filer ☒
Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging
growth company ☐
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
☐
No
☒
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
As
of May 11, 2023, there were 5,052,463 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
PART
I.
Financial Information
3
Item
1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
Item
2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
32
Item
3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
42
Item
4.
Controls and Procedures
42
PART
II.
Other Information
43
Item
1.
Legal Proceedings
43
Item
1A.
Risk Factors
43
Item
2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
43
Item
3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
43
Item
4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
43
Item
5.
Other Information
43
Item
6.
Exhibits
44
2
ITEM
1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash
$ 4,362,757
$ 7,034,434
Accounts receivable, net
411,104
538,587
Inventory, net
1,480,755
1,586,297
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,283,358
1,661,220
Total current assets
7,537,974
10,820,538
Restricted cash
5,586
5,690
Right-of-use assets
1,364,901
1,422,538
Property and equipment, net
522,408
345,087
Intangible assets, net
5,839,330
5,845,702
Goodwill
625,602
625,602
Other assets
18,334
18,334
Total Assets
$ 15,914,135
$ 19,083,491
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$ 899,948
$ 857,311
Accrued vacation
353,557
467,948
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
1,893,733
1,511,856
R&D grant liability
634,330
780,682
Deferred revenue, current portion
112,902
116,161
Operating lease liability, current portion
248,809
240,645
Short term debt-related party
958,952
950,722
Warrant liabilities
400,800
788,100
Warrant liabilities - related party
2,183,174
2,834,547
Convertible debt - related party
558,238
60,197
Total current liabilities
8,244,442
8,608,170
Operating lease liability, net of current portion
1,236,024
1,301,919
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
40,712
49,056
Deferred tax liability
192,587
357,757
Total liabilities
9,713,766
10,316,902
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)
-
-
Stockholders’ equity
Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $ 0.001 par value; 225,000,000 shares authorized; 5,052,463 and 4,210,737 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
42,952
42,110
Additional paid-in capital
111,887,447
110,528,050
Accumulated other comprehensive income
170,444
50,721
Accumulated deficit
( 107,231,393 )
( 103,385,172 )
Total Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders’ equity
4,869,450
7,235,709
Noncontrolling interest
1,330,919
1,530,881
Total Stockholders’ Equity
6,200,369
8,766,590
Total Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity
$ 15,914,135
$ 19,083,491
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited)
2023
2022
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
REVENUES
Net product sales
$ 1,607,170
$ 722,029
Total revenues
1,607,170
722,029
EXPENSES
Cost of product sales
1,264,828
828,848
General and administrative
1,714,434
2,898,751
Research and development
2,121,551
1,864,745
Sales and marketing
199,114
138,323
Total expenses
5,299,927
5,730,667
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
( 3,692,757 )
( 5,008,638 )
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME), NET
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities
( 1,038,673 )
( 683,242 )
Interest expense (income), net
544,236
( 6,309 )
Loss on voluntary conversion of convertible debt
1,077,287
—
Other income, net
( 4,881 )
( 36 )
Loss on fixed asset disposal
300
—
Total other expense (income), net
578,269
( 689,587 )
LOSS BEFORE (BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
( 4,271,026 )
( 4,319,051 )
(BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
( 163,777 )
736
NET LOSS
( 4,107,249 )
( 4,319,787 )
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
( 261,028 )
—
Net loss attributable to Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$ ( 3,846,221 )
$ ( 4,319,787 )
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted
$ ( 0.78 )
$ ( 1.22 )
Weighted—average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted
4,959,122
3,529,405
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Net loss
$ ( 4,107,249 )
$ ( 4,319,787 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
119,723
—
Other comprehensive loss
( 3,987,526 )
( 4,319,787 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
( 261,028 )
—
Comprehensive loss attributable to Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$ ( 3,726,498 )
$ ( 4,319,787 )
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
Shares
Amount
Capital
Income
Deficit
Equity
Interest
Equity
Total
Qualigen
Accumulated
Therapeutics,
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Other
Comprehensive
Accumulated
Inc.
Stockholders’
Noncontrolling
Total
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Income
Deficit
Equity
Interest
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2022
4,210,737
$ 42,110
$ 110,528,050
$ 50,721
$ ( 103,385,172 )
$ 7,235,709
$ 1,530,881
$ 8,766,590
Voluntary conversion of convertible debt into common stock
841,726
842
1,111,740
—
—
1,112,582
—
1,112,582
Stock-based compensation
—
—
247,657
—
—
247,657
4,569
252,226
Foreign currency translation adjustment
—
—
—
119,723
—
119,723
56,497
176,220
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 3,846,221 )
( 3,846,221 )
( 261,028 )
( 4,107,249 )
Balance at March 31, 2023
5,052,463
$ 42,952
$ 111,887,447
$ 170,444
$ ( 107,231,393 )
$ 4,869,450
$ 1,330,919
$ 6,200,369
Shares
Amount
$
Paid-In Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Common Stock
Additional
Shares
Amount
$
Paid-In Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Balance at December 31, 2021
3,529,018
$ 35,290
$ 101,274,073
$ ( 84,744,629 )
$ 16,564,734
Stock issued upon exercise of warrants
536
5
4,711
—
4,716
Stock-based compensation
—
—
1,267,166
—
1,267,166
Net Loss
—
—
—
( 4,319,787 )
( 4,319,787 )
Balance at March 31, 2022
3,529,554
$ 35,295
$ 102,545,950
$ ( 89,064,416 )
$ 13,516,829
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
2023
2022
For the Three Months Ended March 31
2023
2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss
$ ( 4,107,249 )
$ ( 4,319,787 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
58,667
29,749
Amortization of right-of-use assets
57,636
54,495
Accounts receivable reserves and allowances
( 120,790 )
( 88,129 )
Inventory reserves
( 1,808 )
4,074
Stock-based compensation
252,226
1,267,166
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
( 1,038,673 )
( 683,242 )
Loss on voluntary conversion of convertible debt
1,077,287
—
Accretion of discount on convertible debt
533,336
—
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
300
—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
246,645
316,142
Inventory and equipment held for lease
71,379
( 348,908 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
377,761
282,074
Accounts payable
43,137
111,184
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
283,431
( 450,526 )
R&D grant liability
( 132,874 )
—
Operating lease liability
( 57,731 )
( 36,297 )
Deferred revenue
( 11,603 )
( 19,606 )
Deferred tax liability
( 165,170
)
—
Net cash used in operating activities
( 2,634,093 )
( 3,881,611 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment
( 198,009 )
( 49,625 )
Net cash (used in) investing activities
( 198,009 )
( 49,625 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from warrant exercises
—
3,858
Net cash provided by financing activities
—
3,858
Net change in cash and restricted cash
( 2,832,100 )
( 3,927,378 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and restricted cash
160,320
—
Cash and restricted cash - beginning of period
7,040,124
17,538,272
Cash and restricted cash - end of period
$ 4,368,343
$ 13,610,894
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest
$ —
$ —
Taxes
$ —
$ —
NONCASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Net transfers to equipment held for lease from inventory
$ 35,971
$ —
Fair value of warrant liabilities on date of exercise
$ —
$ 858
Voluntary conversion of convertible debt into common stock
$
1,112,582
$ —
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE
1 — ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Organization
Qualigen,
Inc., now a subsidiary of Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., was incorporated in Minnesota in 1996 to design, develop, manufacture and sell
Physician Office Laboratory (“POL”) market quantitative immunoassay diagnostic products for use in physician offices and
other point-of-care settings worldwide, and was reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. In May 2020, Qualigen, Inc. completed a reverse recapitalization
transaction with Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ritter”) and Ritter was renamed Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. All shares of
Qualigen, Inc.’s capital stock were exchanged for Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.’s capital stock in the merger. Ritter/Qualigen
Therapeutics common stock, which was previously traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “RTTR,” commenced
trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market, on a post-reverse-stock-split adjusted basis, under the trading symbol “QLGN” on May
26, 2020. Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) operates in one business segment.
On
May 26, 2022, the Company acquired 2,232,861 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock of NanoSynex, Ltd. (“NanoSynex”) from Alpha
Capital Anstalt (“Alpha Capital”), a related party, in exchange for 350,000 reverse split adjusted shares of the Company’s
common stock and a prefunded warrant to purchase 331,464 reverse split adjusted shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise
price of $ 0.001 per share. These warrants were subsequently exercised on September 13, 2022 . Concurrently with this transaction, the
Company also purchased 381,786 shares of Series B preferred stock from NanoSynex for a total purchase price of $ 600,000 . The transactions
resulted in the Company acquiring a 52.8 % interest in NanoSynex. NanoSynex is a micro-biologics diagnostics company
domiciled in Israel.
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), Regulation S-X and rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles
of Consolidation
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany
balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer
to U.S. GAAP. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment. In general, the functional currency
of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, however for NanoSynex, the functional currency is the local currency, New Israeli
Shekels (NIS). As such, assets and liabilities for NanoSynex are translated into U.S. dollars and the effects of foreign currency translation
adjustments are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within the Company’s condensed consolidated statements
of changes in stockholders’ equity.
Accounting
Estimates
Management
uses estimates and assumptions in preparing its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Those estimates and assumptions
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues
and expenses. The most significant estimates relate to the estimated fair value of in-process research and development, goodwill, warrant
liabilities, stock-based compensation, amortization and depreciation, inventory reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts and returns,
and warranty costs. Actual results could vary from the estimates that were used.
Reverse
Stock Split
On
November 23, 2022, the Company effected a 1-for-10, as determined by the
Company’s board of directors, reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”).
The Reverse Stock Split reduced the Company’s shares of outstanding common stock, stock options, and warrants to purchase shares
of our common stock. Fractional shares of common stock that would have otherwise resulted from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded down
to the nearest whole share and cash in lieu of fractional shares was paid to stockholders. All share and per share data for all periods
presented in the accompanying financial statements and the related disclosures have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect the Reverse
Stock Split. The number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share remains unchanged.
7
Cash
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an initial maturity of 90 days or less and money market funds to be cash
equivalents. Restricted cash includes cash that is restricted due to Israeli banking regulations.
The
Company maintains the majority of its cash in accounts at banking institutions in the U.S. that are of high quality. Cash held in these
accounts often exceed the FDIC insurance limits. If such banking institutions were to fail, the Company could lose all or a portion of
amounts held in excess of such insurance limitations. The FDIC recently took control of two such banking institutions, Silicon Valley
Bank on March 10, 2023 and Signature Bank on March 12, 2023. While the Company did not have an account at either of these two banks,
in the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where the Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents, there can be
no assurance that the Company would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Any inability to access or delay
in accessing these funds could adversely affect our business and financial position.
Inventory,
Net
Inventory
is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company reviews
the components of its inventory on a periodic basis for excess or obsolete inventory, and records reserves for inventory components identified
as excess or obsolete.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The
Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the sum of the expected future undiscounted
cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets. The amount of impairment loss, if any, will generally be measured as the
difference between the net book value of the assets and their estimated fair values. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
the Company recorded a non-cash goodwill and fixed asset impairment loss of $ 4,239,000
related to the NanoSynex acquisition. There were no impairment losses during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and
2022.
Segment
Reporting
Operating
segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation
by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. To date, the Company
has viewed its operations and managed its business as one segment operating primarily within the United States and Israel.
Accounts
Receivable, Net
The
Company grants credit to domestic physicians, clinics, and distributors. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers
and generally requires no collateral. Customers can purchase certain products through a financing agreement that the Company has with
an outside leasing company. Under the agreement, the leasing company evaluates the credit worthiness of the customer. Upon acceptance
of the product by the customer, the leasing company remits payment to the Company at a discount. This financing arrangement is without
recourse to the Company.
The
Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts and returns equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts or expected returns. The
Company’s estimates are based on historical collections and returns and a review of the current status of trade accounts receivable.
Accounts
receivable is comprised of the following at:
SCHEDULE
OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Accounts Receivable
$ 478,176
$ 726,449
Less Reserves and Allowances
( 67,072 )
( 187,862 )
Accounts receivable,
net
$ 411,104
$ 538,587
Research
and Development
Except
for acquired in process research and development (IPR&D), the Company expenses research and development costs as incurred including
therapeutics license costs.
8
R&D
Grants
NanoSynex
has received R&D grants from Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and from the European Commission. These grants may provide cash funding
to NanoSynex from time to time in advance of the applicable costs being incurred. When such cash funding is received from these grants
in advance, the proceeds are recorded as a current or non-current R&D grant liability based on the time from the condensed consolidated balance
sheets date to the expected future date of recognition as a reduction to research and development expenses.
Patent
Costs
The
Company expenses all costs as incurred in connection with patent applications (including direct application fees, and the legal and consulting
expenses related to making such applications) and such costs are included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated
statement of operations.
Shipping
and Handling Costs
The
Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound and
outbound freight are generally recorded in cost of sales which totaled approximately $ 66,000 and $ 39,000 , respectively, for the three
months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, Other shipping and handling costs included in general and administrative, research and development,
and sales and marketing expenses totaled approximately $ 8,000 and $ 4,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Revenue
from Contracts with Customers
The
Company applies the following five-step model in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, in order to determine
revenue: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services
are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction
price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and
(v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.
Product
Sales
The
Company generates revenue from selling FastPack System analyzers, accessories and disposable products used with the FastPack System.
Disposable products include reagent packs, which are diagnostic tests for prostate-specific antigen, testosterone, thyroid disorders,
pregnancy, and Vitamin D.
The
Company provides disposable products and equipment in exchange for consideration, which occurs when a customer submits a purchase order
and the Company provides disposable products and equipment at the agreed upon prices in the invoice. Generally, customers purchase disposable
products using separate purchase orders after the equipment (“analyzer”) has been provided to the customer. The initial delivery
of the equipment and reagent packs represents a single performance obligation and is completed upon receipt by the customer. The delivery
of each subsequent individual reagent pack represents a separate performance obligation because the reagent packs are standardized, are
not interrelated in any way, and the customer can benefit from each reagent pack without any other product. There are no significant
discounts, rebates, returns or other forms of variable consideration. Customers are generally required to pay within 30 days.
The
performance obligation arising from the delivery of the equipment is satisfied upon the delivery of the equipment to the customer. The
disposable products are shipped Free on Board (“FOB”) shipping point. For disposable products that are shipped FOB shipping
point, the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership and legal title to the assets when the disposable products leave
the Company’s shipping facilities, thus the customer obtains control and revenue is recognized at that point in time.
The
Company has elected the practical expedient and accounting policy election to account for the shipping and handling as activities to
fulfill the promise to transfer the disposable products and not as a separate performance obligation.
The
Company’s contracts with customers generally have an expected duration of one year or less, and therefore the Company has elected
the practical expedient in ASC 606 to not disclose information about its remaining performance obligations. Any incremental costs to
obtain contracts are recorded as selling, general and administrative expense as incurred due to the short duration of the Company’s
contracts.
9
Contract Asset and Liability Balances
The
timing of the Company’s revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment by the Company’s customers. The Company
records a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to payment and there is an unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when
payment precedes the performance of the related services, the Company records deferred revenue until the performance obligations are
satisfied.
Multiple
performance obligations include contracts that combine both the Company’s analyzer and a customer’s future reagent purchases
under a single contract. In some sales contracts, the Company provides analyzers at no charge to customers. Title to the analyzer is
maintained by the Company and the analyzer is returned by the customer to the Company at the end of the purchase agreement.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, product sales are stated net of an allowance for estimated returns of approximately $ 35,000
and $ 43,000 , respectively.
Deferred
Revenue
Payments
received in advance from customers pursuant to certain collaborative research and license agreements, deposits against future product
sales, multiple element arrangements and extended warranties are recorded as a current or non-current deferred revenue liability based
on the time from the condensed consolidated balance sheet date to the future date of revenue recognition.
Operating
Leases
Effective
April 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted
Improvements (“Topic 842”). In accordance with the guidance in Topic 842, the Company recognizes lease liabilities
and corresponding right-of-use-assets for all leases with terms of greater than 12 months. Leases with a term of 12 months or less
will be accounted for in a manner similar to the guidance for operating leases prior to the adoption of Topic 842. (See Note 13
- Commitments and Contingencies).
Property
and Equipment, Net
Property
and equipment are stated at cost and are presented net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided for on a straight-line basis
over the estimated useful lives of the related assets as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF USEFUL LIVES OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Machinery and equipment
5 years
Computer equipment
3 years
Molds and tooling
5 years
Furniture and fixtures
5 years
Leasehold
improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful lives. The Company occasionally
designs and builds its own machinery. The costs of these projects, which includes the cost of construction and other direct costs attributable
to the construction, are capitalized as construction in progress. No provision for depreciation is made on construction in progress until
the relevant assets are completed and placed in service.
The
Company’s policy is to evaluate the remaining lives and recoverability of long-term assets on at least an annual basis or when
conditions are present that indicate impairment.
Business
Combinations
The
Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 805. This method requires, among other
things, that results of operations of acquired companies are included in Qualigen’s financial results beginning on the respective
acquisition dates, and that assets acquired and liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests are recognized at fair value as of the
acquisition date. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded at fair value using a discounted cash flow model.
We have third-party valuations completed for intangible assets in a business combination using a discounted cash flow analysis, incorporating
various assumptions. The discounted cash flow model requires assumptions about the timing and amount of future net cash flows, the cost
of capital and terminal values from the perspective of a market participant. Each of these factors can significantly affect the value
of the intangible asset. Any excess of the fair value of consideration transferred (the “Purchase Price”) over the fair values
of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. The fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in certain cases may
be subject to revision based on the final determination of fair value during a period of time not to exceed 12 months from the acquisition
date. Legal costs, due diligence costs, business valuation costs and all other acquisition-related costs are expensed when incurred.
10
Goodwill
Goodwill
represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets
acquired, when accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is not amortized
but is reviewed for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the
goodwill may not be recoverable. In testing for impairment, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to the carrying value.
If the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceed the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss equal to the
difference is recorded. As a result of the annual goodwill impairment analysis, the Company recognized a $ 4,239,000
non-cash goodwill and fixed asset impairment charge in the valuation of its business acquisition of NanoSynex for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2022. There were no impairment losses during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Intangible
Assets
In
Process R&D
Acquired
in process R&D (IPR&D) represents the fair value assigned to the research and development assets that have not reached technological
feasibility. The value assigned to IPR&D is determined by estimating the costs to develop the acquired technology into commercially
viable products, estimating the resulting revenue from the projects, and discounting the net cash flow to present value. The revenue
and cost projections used to value acquired IPR&D are, as applicable, reduced based on the probability of success of developing the
new product. Additionally, projections consider relevant market sizes and growth factors, expected trends in technology and the nature
and expected timing of new product introductions. The rates utilized to discount the net cash flow to its present value are commensurate
with the stage of development of the project and uncertainties in the economic estimates used in the projections. Upon the acquisition
of acquired IPR&D, an assessment is completed as to whether the acquisition constitutes an acquisition of a single asset or a group
of assets. Multiple factors are considered in this assessment, including the nature of the technology acquired, the presence or absence
of separate cash flows, the development process and stage of completion, quantitative significance, and the Company’s rationale
for entering into the transaction.
If
a business is acquired, as defined under the applicable accounting standards, then the acquired IPR&D is capitalized as an intangible
asset. If an asset or group of assets is acquired that do not meet the definition under the applicable accounting standards, then the
acquired IPR&D is expensed on its acquisition date. Future costs to develop these assets are recorded to research and development
expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as they are incurred.
IPR&D
is evaluated for impairment annually using the same methodology as described above for calculating fair value. If the carrying value
of the acquired IPR&D exceeds the fair value, then the intangible asset is written down to its fair value, with the resulting adjustment
recorded as a charge to operations. Changes in estimates and assumptions used in determining the fair value of acquired IPR&D could
result in an impairment.
Other
Intangible Assets, Net
Other
intangible assets consist of patent-related costs and costs for license agreements. Management reviews the carrying value of other intangible
assets that are being amortized on an annual basis or sooner when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances may indicate
that impairment exists. The Company considers relevant cash flow and profitability information, including estimated future operating
results, trends and other available information, in assessing whether the carrying value of intangible assets being amortized can be
recovered.
If
the Company determines that the carrying value of other intangible assets will not be recovered from the undiscounted future cash flows
expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the underlying assets, the Company considers the carrying value of such intangible
assets as impaired and reduces them by a charge to operations in the amount of the impairment.
11
Costs
related to acquiring patents and licenses are capitalized and amortized over their estimated useful lives, which is generally 5 to 17
years, using the straight-line method. Amortization of patents and licenses commences once final approval of the patent or license has
been obtained. Patent and license costs are charged to operations if it is determined that the patent or license will not be obtained.
Derivative
Financial Instruments and Warrant Liabilities
The
Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company
evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are
derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as
liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with
changes in the fair value reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Depending on the
features of the derivative financial instrument, the Company uses either the Black-Scholes option-pricing model or a Monte-Carlo
simulation to value the derivative instruments at inception and subsequent valuation dates. The classification of derivative
instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each
reporting period (See Note 10 - Warrant Liabilities and Note 11- Convertible Debt - Related Party).
Fair
Value Measurements
The
Company determines the fair value measurements of applicable assets and liabilities based on a three-tier fair value hierarchy established
by accounting guidance and prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The Company discloses and recognizes the fair value of
its assets and liabilities using a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy
gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level
1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3 measurements).
The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:
● Level
1 - Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;
● Level
2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liability either
directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active;
and
● Level
3 - Inputs that are unobservable.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
Cash,
accounts receivable, prepaids, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities are carried at cost, which management believes approximates
fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
Advertising
Advertising
expense consists primarily of print and digital media promotional materials for distributors. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
Comprehensive
Loss
Comprehensive
loss consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments. Comprehensive gains (losses) have been reflected in the statements
of operations and comprehensive loss and as a separate component in the statements of stockholders’ equity for all periods presented.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Stock-based
compensation cost for equity awards granted to employees and non-employees is measured at the grant date based on the calculated fair
value of the award using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized as an expense, under the straight-line method, over
the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). If the Company determines that other methods are more
reasonable, or other methods for calculating these assumptions are prescribed by regulators, the fair value calculated for the Company’s
stock options could change significantly. Higher volatility, lower risk-free interest rates, and longer expected lives would result in
an increase to stock-based compensation expense to employees and non-employees determined at the date of grant.
12
Income
Taxes
Deferred
income taxes are recognized for temporary differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax reporting
that arise due to net operating loss carry forwards, research and development credit carry forwards and from using different methods
and periods to calculate depreciation and amortization, allowance for doubtful accounts, accrued vacation, research and development expenses,
and state taxes. A provision has been made for income taxes due on taxable income and for the deferred taxes on the temporary differences.
Deferred
tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all
of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws
and rates on the date of enactment. Realization of the deferred income tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income
in future years.
Sales
and Excise Taxes
Sales
and other taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to government authorities are recorded as accounts receivable with
corresponding tax payable. These balances are removed from the condensed consolidated balance sheet as cash is collected from customers and remitted
to the tax authority.
Warranty
Costs
The
Company’s warranty policy generally provides for one year of coverage against defects and nonperformance within published specifications
for sold analyzers and for the term of the contract for equipment held for lease. The Company accrues for estimated warranty costs in
the period in which the revenue is recognized based on historical data and the Company’s best estimates of analyzer failure rates
and costs to repair.
Accrued
warranty liabilities were approximately $ 151,000 and $ 138,000 , respectively, as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
and are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Warranty
costs were approximately $ 41,000 and $ 53,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in cost
of product sales in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Foreign
Currency Translation
The
functional currency for the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency for NanoSynex, the Company’s newly acquired majority
owned subsidiary, is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). The financial statements of NanoSynex are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange
rates in effect at each period end for assets and liabilities; using exchange rates in effect during the period for results of operations;
and using historical exchange rates for certain equity accounts. The adjustment resulting from translating the financial statements of
NanoSynex is reflected as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss).
Other
comprehensive loss related to the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to NanoSynex was $ 119,722 and $ 50,721
at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Global
Economic Conditions
War
in Ukraine
In
February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. While the Company has no direct exposure in Russia and Ukraine, the Company continues to monitor
any broader impact to the global economy, including with respect to inflation, supply chains and fuel prices. The full impact of the
conflict on the Company’s business and financial results remains uncertain and will depend on the severity and duration of the
conflict and its impact on regional and global economic conditions.
Inflationary
Cost Environment
During
the year ended 2022 and continuing into the current fiscal year, global commodity and labor markets experienced significant inflationary
pressures attributable to ongoing economic recovery and supply chain issues. The Company is subject to inflationary pressures with respect
to raw materials, labor and transportation. Accordingly, the Company continues to take actions with its customers and suppliers to mitigate
the impact of these inflationary pressures in the future. Actions to mitigate inflationary pressures with suppliers include aggregation
of purchase requirements to achieve optimal volume benefits, negotiation of cost-reductions and identification of more cost competitive
suppliers. While these actions are designed to offset the impact of inflationary pressures, the Company cannot provide assurance that
it will be successful in fully offsetting increased costs resulting from inflationary pressure.
13
Impact
of COVID-19 Pandemic
The
COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on businesses globally and on the Company’s
business as well. During the pandemic sales of diagnostic products decreased significantly and the Company’s net loss increased significantly, as deferral
of patients’ non-emergency visits to physician offices, clinics and small hospitals sharply reduced demand for FastPack tests. For 2023 we continue to experience recovery in demand.
Other
accounting standard updates are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s
condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE
2 — LIQUIDITY AND GOING CONCERN
As
of March 31, 2023, we had approximately $ 4.4 million in cash and an accumulated deficit of $ 107.2 million. For the three months
ended March 31, 2023 and the three months ended March 31, 2022, we used cash of $ 2.6 million and $ 3.9 million, respectively, in operations.
The Company’s cash balances are expected to fund operations into the third quarter of 2023. As a pre-clinical development-stage
therapeutics biotechnology company, the Company expects to continue to have net losses and negative cash flow from operations, which
over time will challenge its liquidity. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern for the one-year period following the date that these financial statements were issued.
There
is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, or, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In order
to fully execute its business plan, the Company will require significant additional financing for planned research and development activities,
capital expenditures, clinical and pre-clinical testing for its QN-302 clinical trials, preclinical development of RAS and QN-247, and
funding for NanoSynex operations (See Note 3 - Acquisition), as well as commercialization activities.
Historically,
the Company’s principal sources of cash have included proceeds from the issuance of common and preferred equity and proceeds
from the issuance of debt. In December 2021, the Company raised $ 8.8 million from the issuance of common stock to several
institutional investors, and in December 2022 the Company raised $ 3.0 million from the sale of a convertible debt - related party
(see Note 11 - Convertible Debt - Related Party). There can be no assurance that further financing can be obtained on favorable
terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain funding, we could be required to delay, reduce or eliminate research and development
programs, product portfolio expansion or future commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business
prospects.
As
a condition to the NanoSynex closing, the Company agreed to provide NanoSynex with up to $ 10.4
million of future funding based on NanoSynex’s achievement of certain future development milestones and subject to other terms
and conditions described in the Master Agreement for the Operational and Technological Funding of NanoSynex (the “Funding
Agreement”) entered into with NanoSynex. These funding commitments are in the form of convertible promissory notes to be
issued to the
Company with a face value equal to the amount paid by the Company to NanoSynex upon satisfaction of the applicable performance
milestone, bearing interest at the rate of 9% per annum on the principal balance from time to time outstanding under the particular
promissory note, convertible at the option of the Company into additional shares of NanoSynex in order for the Company to maintain
at least a 50.1% controlling ownership interest in NanoSynex, should NanoSynex issue additional shares. The principal of the
convertible notes are due and payable upon the sooner to occur of: i) five years from the date of issuance of the particular
promissory note; ii) the acquisition by any person or entity of all or substantially all of the share capital of NanoSynex, through
share purchase, issuance or shares or merger of NanoSynex, or the purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of NanoSynex;
or iii) the initial public offering of NanoSynex . The Company provided funding to NanoSynex of $ 2.4
million during 2022 and $ 0.5 million in February 2023 pursuant to this agreement. The Company may terminate the Funding Agreement
upon 120 days’ notice, but would still be liable for any payments due for milestones achieved prior to termination.
To
the extent that the Company raises additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests
of its common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely
affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or
restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
If the Company raises additional funds through government or other third-party funding, commercialization, marketing and distribution
arrangements or other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, it may have to relinquish valuable
rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be
favorable to the Company. Additional funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, any future
financing (depending on the terms and conditions) may be subject to the approval of Alpha Capital, the holder of the Company’s
8% Senior Convertible Debenture (the “Debenture”), or trigger certain adjustments to the Debenture or warrants held by Alpha
Capital.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The financial statements
do not include any adjustments that would be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern, and therefore, be
required to liquidate its assets and discharge its liabilities in other than the normal course of business and at amounts that may differ
from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements
14
NOTE
3 — ACQUISITION
Business
Combination
The
Company acquired a 52.8 % voting equity interest in NanoSynex on May 26, 2022 (the “NanoSynex Acquisition Date”) through:
(1) the purchase of 2,232,861 shares Preferred A-1 Stock of NanoSynex from Alpha Capital, a related party, for 350,000 reverse split
adjusted shares of the Company’s common stock and a prefunded warrant to purchase 331,464 reverse split adjusted shares of the
Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $ 0.001 per share ( these warrants were subsequently exercised on September 13, 2022 ),
and (2) the purchase of 381,786 shares of Series B preferred stock of NanoSynex from NanoSynex in exchange for $ 600,000 (collectively,
the “NanoSynex Acquisition”).
The
NanoSynex Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method, in accordance with
FASB ASC Topic 805. Identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree are recognized and
measured as of the acquisition date at fair value. Determining the fair value of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and noncontrolling
interest requires management’s judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions
with respect to future cash flows, discount rates and asset lives among other items. The Company uses third-party valuations for intangible
assets in a business combination using a discounted cash flow analysis, incorporating various assumptions.
A
summary of the consideration transferred and fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the NanoSynex Acquisition is as
follows (all shares shown post Reverse Stock Split):
SCHEDULE
OF CONSIDERATION TRANSFERRED
Consideration transferred, net of cash acquired
Cash paid for NanoSynex preferred stock:
$ 600,000
FMV of 350,000 shares of Qualigen stock issued to Alpha Capital
$ 1,904,989
FMV of 331,464 shares of Qualigen stock related to prefunded warrant issued to
Alpha Capital (See Note 15)
$ 1,804,102
Total consideration paid for NanoSynex preferred stock
$ 3,709,091
FMV of consideration related to repricing of 7,048 shares of Alpha Capital/Qualigen warrants *
$ 696
NanoSynex cash acquired
( 735,354 )
Total consideration transferred, net of cash acquired
$ 3,574,433
* See Note 15 –
Stockholders’ Equity and disclosure under Noncompensatory Equity Classified Warrants for additional details regarding the
warrants issued to Alpha Capital in the NanoSynex Acquisition.
SCHEDULE
OF ASSETS ACQUIRED AND LIABILITIES
Purchase Price
Allocation
Accounts receivable
$ 75,336
Property and equipment
120,942
In process R&D
5,700,000
Accounts payable
( 4,588 )
Accrued expenses and other payables
( 291,093 )
R&D grant liability
( 1,362,264 )
Short term debt
( 941,898 )
Deferred tax liability
( 629,379 )
Noncontrolling interest assumed
( 3,882,225 )
Identifiable net assets acquired
( 1,215,169 )
Goodwill
4,789,602
Total consideration transferred, net of cash acquired
$ 3,574,433
15
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company made measurement period
adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation, which included: (i) a decrease to noncontrolling interest of $ 117,775 , and (ii)
a decrease to goodwill of $ 106,621 . The measurement period adjustments were made to reflect facts and circumstances that existed as of
the acquisition date and are reflected in the table above.
Company
transaction costs, which were immaterial, have been expensed as incurred and charged to the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss. There was no provision for reimbursement of transaction costs from the Company to NanoSynex.
Goodwill
represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired as of the acquisition date. Goodwill represents
the value of the future technology to be developed in excess of the identifiable assets as well as the operational synergies of the combined
companies to be recognized. Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is not amortized. None of the Goodwill is expected to be deductible
for tax purposes.
As
a condition to the closing, the Company agreed to provide NanoSynex with up to $ 10.4 million of future funding based on NanoSynex’s
achievement of certain future development milestones and subject to other terms and conditions described in the Funding Agreement entered
into with NanoSynex. (See Note 2 - Liquidity for further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement).
The
Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for three months ended March 31, 2023 and
2022 include approximately $ 0.5 million and $ 0 , respectively, of net loss associated with the results of operations of NanoSynex.
NOTE
4 — INVENTORY, NET
Inventory,
net consisted of the following at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF INVENTORY
March 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Raw materials
$ 985,396
$ 949,796
Work in process
180,324
200,318
Finished goods
315,035
436,183
Total
inventory
$ 1,480,755
$ 1,586,297
NOTE
5 — PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets consisted of the following at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Prepaid insurance
$ 1,142,839
$ 1,377,323
Prepaid manufacturing expenses
38,503
43,820
Other prepaid expenses
89,855
227,451
Other current assets
12,161
12,626
Prepaid expenses and
other current assets
$ 1,283,358
$ 1,661,220
16
NOTE
6 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property
and equipment, net consisted of the following at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Machinery and equipment
$ 2,692,307
$ 2,510,148
Computer equipment
369,052
395,836
Leasehold improvements
336,916
333,271
Molds and tooling
260,002
260,002
Furniture and fixtures
144,832
144,832
Equipment held for lease
1,428,414
1,399,444
Property and equipment, gross
5,231,523
5,043,533
Accumulated depreciation
( 4,634,115 )
( 4,623,446 )
Fixed asset impairment
( 75,000 )
( 75,000 )
Property and equipment,
net
$ 522,408
$ 345,087
Depreciation
expense relating to property and equipment was approximately $ 20,000 and $ 23,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively.
Upon
termination of the Sekisui Distribution Agreement on March 31, 2022, the Company had a commitment to purchase leased FastPack rental
systems back from Sekisui at Sekisui’s net book value, which was determined to be approximately $ 154,000 . This amount is included
in equipment held for lease in the table above and accounts payable at March 31, 2023. An assignment agreement will be executed by the parties to legally transfer
title to this equipment from Sekisui to the Company.
NOTE
7 — GOODWILL, IPR&D AND OTHER INTANGIBLES
SCHEDULE
OF GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Estimated Useful Lives
Gross carrying
amounts
Gross carrying
amounts
Goodwill
$ 625,602
$ 625,602
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Developed-product-technology rights
8 - 17 years
$ 479,103
$ 479,103
Licensing rights
10 years
418,836
418,836
Less: Accumulated amortization
( 758,608 )
( 752,237 )
Total finite-lived intangible assets, net
139,330
145,702
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
In-process research and development
5,700,000
5,700,000
Total other intangible assets, net
$ 5,839,330
$ 5,845,702
The
Company periodically reviews goodwill for impairment in accordance with relevant accounting standards. Goodwill is attributable to the
NanoSynex Acquisition. Goodwill and intangible assets are recognized at fair value during the period in which an acquisition is completed,
from updated estimates during the measurement period, or when they are considered to be impaired. These non-recurring fair value measurements,
primarily for goodwill and intangible assets acquired, were based on Level 3 inputs. The Company estimates the fair value of long-lived
assets on a non-recurring basis based on a market valuation approach, engaging independent valuation experts to assist in the determination
of fair value. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, in conjunction with the annual impairment assessment, the Company determined that
the fair value of the reporting unit was less than the carrying value. In addition to continued losses in the reporting unit, the Company
considered macroeconomic conditions including a deterioration in the equity markets evidenced by sustained declines in the Company’s
stock price, peer companies, and major market indices since the acquisition date. The Company engaged independent valuation experts to
assist in determining the fair value of the reporting unit. As a result of this analysis, the Company recorded a $ 4,239,000 goodwill
and fixed asset impairment charge associated with the reporting unit for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. There were no impairment losses during the three months ended March 31,
2023 and 2022.
17
The
carrying value of the patents of approximately $ 136,000 and $ 140,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, are stated
net of accumulated amortization of approximately $ 343,000 and $ 339,000 , respectively. Amortization of patents charged to operations for
the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $ 5,000 for each period. Total future estimated amortization of patent
costs for the five succeeding years is approximately $ 14,000 for the remaining three months in the year ending December 31, 2023, approximately
$ 15,000 for the year ending December 31, 2024, approximately $ 14,000 for year 2025 through year 2027 and approximately $ 65,000 thereafter.
The
carrying value of the in-licenses of approximately $ 4,000 and $ 5,000 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are stated net of accumulated
amortization of approximately $ 415,000 and $ 414,000 , respectively. Amortization of licenses charged to operations for the three months
ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $ 2,000 for each period. Total future estimated amortization of license costs is approximately
$ 4,000 for the remaining nine months in the year ending March 31, 2023.
NOTE
8 — ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
March 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Board compensation
$ 42,000
70,000
Equipment held for lease
—
154,433
Franchise, sales and use taxes
21,562
27,531
Income taxes
6,056
4,663
Interest (Convertible debt - related party)
31,124
2,829
License fees
50,013
150,130
Payroll
277,964
209,303
Professional fees
328,647
238,211
Research and development
722,344
322,987
Royalties
8,772
13,158
Warranty liability
150,746
137,568
Other
254,505
181,043
Accrued liabilities
$ 1,893,733
$ 1,511,856
NOTE
9 – SHORT TERM DEBT - RELATED PARTY
NanoSynex
has four separate Notes Payable (the “Notes”) outstanding to Alpha Capital, issued between March 26, 2020 and September 2,
2021, aggregating to a total principal outstanding balance of $ 905,000 , and aggregate accrued interest of $ 53,952 for a total outstanding
balance of $ 958,952 as of March 31, 2023. The Notes all accrue interest at 2.62 % per annum, accrued daily, and provide that the full
amount of principal and interest under each Note shall be due immediately prior to a Liquidation Event (the Maturity Date) unless due
earlier in accordance with the terms of the Notes. “Liquidation Event” means either i) the merger or consolidation of NanoSynex
into any other entity, other than one in control or under control of NanoSynex or NanoSynex’s majority shareholder; ii) a transaction
or series of transactions resulting in the transfer of all or substantially all of NanoSynex’s assets or issued and outstanding
share capital (other than to a company under the control of NanoSynex or NanoSynex’s majority shareholders; or iii) an underwritten
public offering by NanoSynex of its ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the above, if NanoSynex receives subsequent debt, convertible debt,
or equity funding with gross proceeds of USD $ 3,000,000 or more, then these Notes shall be due and payable upon the actual receipt of
such funding.
NOTE
10 – WARRANT LIABILITIES
In
2004, the Company issued warrants to various investors and brokers for the purchase of Series C preferred stock in connection with a
private placement (the “Series C Warrants”). The Series C Warrants were subsequently extended and, upon closing of the reverse
recapitalization transaction with Ritter, exchanged for warrants to purchase common stock of the Company, pursuant to the Series C Warrant
terms as adjusted.
In
exchange for the Series C Warrants, upon closing of the merger with Ritter,
the holders received warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at $ 7.195 per share, subject to adjustment. As of
March 31, 2023, the Series C Warrants have remaining terms ranging from .65 to 1.24 years. The Series C Warrants were determined to be
liability-classified pursuant to the guidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815-40, based on the inclusion of a leveraged ratchet provision for subsequent
dilutive issuances. On April 25, 2022 the Series C Warrants were repriced from $ 7.195 to $ 6.00 with an additional 49,318 ratchet Warrants
issued, and on May 26, 2022 the Series C Warrants were repriced from $ 6.00 to $ 5.136 with an additional 49,952 ratchet Warrants issued.
On December 22, 2022, the Series C Warrants were repriced again from $ 5.136 to $ 1.32 with an additional 1,002,717 ratchet Warrants issued.
18
Additionally,
on December 22, 2022, in conjunction with the issuance of the Debenture
to Alpha Capital (see Note 11 – Convertible Debt – Related Party), the Company issued to Alpha Capital a warrant to purchase
2,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Alpha Warrant”). The exercise price of the Alpha Warrant is $ 1.65
(equal to 125 % of the conversion price of the Debenture on the closing date). The Alpha Warrant may be exercised by Alpha Capital, in
whole or in part, at any time on or after June 22, 2023 and before June 22, 2028, subject to certain terms and conditions described in
the Alpha Warrant, including the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
The
following table summarizes the activity in liability classified warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2023:
SCHEDULE OF WARRANTS ACTIVITY
Common Stock Warrants
Shares
Weighted–
Average
Exercise
Price
Range of Exercise
Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2022
3,849,571
$ 1.53
$ 1.32 - $
1.65
3.9
Exercised
—
—
—
—
Forfeited
—
—
—
—
Expired
—
—
—
—
Granted
—
—
—
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2023
3,849,571
$ 1.53
$ 1.32
- $ 1.65
3.66
Exercisable
1,349,571
$ 1.32
$ 1.32
0.76
The
following table summarizes the activity in liability classified warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2022:
Common Stock Warrants
Shares
Weighted– Average
Exercise
Price
Range of Exercise
Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding –December 31, 2021
248,161
$ 7.20
2.00
Exercised
( 536 )
7.20
Forfeited
—
—
Expired
—
—
Granted
—
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2022
247,625
$ 7.20
Exercisable
247,625
$ 7.20
$ 7.20
1.76
The
following table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its liabilities measured at fair value on
a recurring basis as of March 31, 2023:
SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE HIERARCHY FOR WARRANT LIABILITIES
Quoted
Market
Significant
Prices for
Other
Significant
Identical
Observable
Unobservable
Assets
Inputs
Inputs
Common Stock Warrant liabilities
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2022
$ —
$ —
$ 3,622,647
$ 3,622,647
Exercises
—
—
—
—
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities
—
—
( 1,038,673 )
( 1,038,673 )
Balance as of March 31, 2023
$ —
$ —
$ 2,583,974
$ 2,583,974
There
were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between category levels for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
19
The
value of the warrant liabilities was based on a valuation received from an independent valuation firm determined using a Monte-Carlo
simulation. For volatility, the Company considers comparable public companies as a basis for its expected volatility to calculate the
fair value of common stock warrants and transitions to its own volatility as the Company develops sufficient appropriate history as a
public company. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury notes with a term approximating the expected term of the common
stock warrant. The Company uses an expected dividend yield of zero based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and
does not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any significant changes in the inputs may result in significantly higher
or lower fair value measurements.
The
following are the weighted average and the range of assumptions used in estimating the fair value of warrant liabilities (weighted average
calculated based on the number of outstanding warrants on each issuance) as of March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE
OF ASSUMPTIONS OF WARRANT LIABILITIES
March 31, 2023
March 31, 2022
Range
Weighted
Average
Range
Weighted
Average
Risk-free interest rate
3.531 % — 4.743 %
3.93 %
2.03 % — 2.29 %
2.08 %
Expected volatility (peer group)
70.3 % — 132 %
110.9 %
88 % — 101 %
90.4 %
Term of warrants (in years)
.64 — 5.23
3.66
1.65 — 2.24
1.76
Expected dividend yield
0.00 %
0.00 %
0.00 %
0.00 %
NOTE
11 — CONVERTIBLE DEBT- RELATED PARTY
On
December 22, 2022, the Company issued to Alpha Capital, an 8 % Senior Convertible
Debenture in the aggregate principal amount of $ 3,300,000 for a purchase price of $ 3,000,000 pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated December 21, 2022. The Debenture is convertible, at any time, and from time to time, at Alpha Capital’s option,
into shares of common stock of the Company (the “Conversion Shares”), at a price equal to $ 1.32 per share, subject to adjustment
as described in the Debenture (the “Conversion Price”) and other terms and conditions described in the Debenture, including
the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals. Additionally, on December 22, 2022, the Company issued to Alpha Capital
a liability classified warrant to purchase 2,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (see Note 10-Warrant Liabilities). The
exercise price of the Alpha Warrant is $ 1.65 (equal to 125 % of the Conversion Price of the Debenture on the closing date). The Alpha Warrant
may be exercised by Alpha Capital, in whole or in part, at any time on or after June 22, 2023 and before June 22, 2028, subject to certain
terms and conditions described in the Alpha Warrant, including the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
The
proceeds from the transaction will be dedicated to the Company’s efforts of advancing its QN-302 Investigative New Drug candidate
towards clinical trials and other working capital purposes.
20
Commencing
June 1, 2023 and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter until
the earlier of (i) December 22, 2025 and (ii) the full redemption of the Debenture (each such date, a “Monthly Redemption Date”),
the Company will redeem $ 110,000 plus accrued but unpaid interest, liquidated damages and any amounts then owing under the Debenture (the
“Monthly Redemption Amount”). The Monthly Redemption Amount will be paid in cash; provided that after the first two monthly
redemptions, the Company may elect to pay all or a portion of a Monthly Redemption Amount in shares of common stock of the Company, based
on a Conversion Price equal to the lesser of (i) the then Conversion Price of the Debenture and (ii) 85 % of the average of the VWAPs (as
defined in the Debenture) for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day that is immediately prior to the applicable
Monthly Redemption Date. The Company may also redeem some or all of the then outstanding principal amount of the Debenture at any time
for cash in an amount equal to 105 % of the then outstanding principal amount of the Debenture being redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest,
liquidated damages and any amounts then owing under the Debenture. The Company’s election to pay monthly redemptions in Conversion Shares
or to effect an optional redemption is subject to the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions (as defined in the Debenture), including the
Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
The
Debenture accrues interest at the rate of 8 % per annum, which does not
begin accruing until December 1, 2023, and will be payable on a quarterly basis. Interest may be paid in cash or shares of common stock
of the Company or a combination thereof at the option of the Company; provided that interest may only be paid in shares if the Equity
Conditions have been satisfied, including the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
Both
the Debenture and the Alpha Warrant provide for adjustments to the Conversion
Price and exercise price, respectively, in connection with stock dividends and splits, subsequent equity sales and rights offerings, pro
rata distributions, and certain fundamental transactions. Both the Debenture and the Alpha Warrant include a beneficial ownership blocker
of 9.99 %, which may only be waived by Alpha Capital upon 61 days’ notice to the Company.
The
Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-269088) with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2022 registering the resale by Alpha Capital of an aggregate of 5,157,087 shares
of the Company’s common stock, which may be issuable to Alpha Capital pursuant to the terms of the Debenture and the Alpha Warrant.
The
Company evaluated the Debenture and the Alpha Warrant and determined that
the Alpha Warrant is a freestanding financial instrument. The Alpha Warrant is not considered indexed to the Company’s own stock, because
the settlement amount would not equal the difference between the fair value of a fixed number of the Company’s equity shares and a fixed
strike price and all of the adjustment features in Section 3(b) of the warrant agreement are not down round provisions, as defined in
ASU 2017-11. Accordingly, the Alpha Warrant is classified as a liability and recognized at fair value, with subsequent changes in fair
value recognized in earnings.
The
proceeds from the Debenture were allocated to the initial fair value of
the Alpha Warrant, with the residual balance allocated to the initial carrying value of the Debenture. The Company has not elected the
fair value option for the Debenture. The Debenture was recognized as proceeds received after allocating the proceeds to the Alpha Warrant,
and then allocating remaining proceeds to a suite of bifurcated embedded derivative features (conversion option, contingent acceleration
upon an Event of Default, and contingent interest upon an Event of Default), with the resulting difference, if any, allocated to the loan
host instrument. The suite of derivative features was measured and determined to have no fair value.
The
original issue discount of $ 0.3 million, the initial fair value of the
Warrant of $ 2.8 million, the initial fair value of the suite of bifurcated embedded derivative features of $ 0 , and the fees and costs
paid to Alpha Capital and other third parties of $ 0.1 million comprised the debt discount upon issuance. The debt discount is amortized
to interest expense over the expected term of the Debenture using the effective interest method, in accordance with ASC 835-30. The debt
host instrument of the Debenture will subsequently be measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method to accrete interest
over its term to bring the Debenture’s initial carrying value to the principal balance at maturity.
Between
January 9 and 12, 2023, the Company issued 841,726
shares of common stock upon Alpha Capital’s partial conversion of the Debenture at $ 1.32
per share for a total of $ 1,111,078
principal. Upon conversion, the Company recognized a loss on conversion of convertible debt of approximately $ 1.1
million, recorded to other expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31,
2023, the Company recorded accrued interest of approximately $ 562,000
(of which approximately $ 533,000
was attributable to discount amortization) in other expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. As of March 31,
2023, the fair value of the Alpha Warrant was approximately $ 2.2
million, and the fair value of the suite of bifurcated embedded derivative features was $ 0 .
21
Convertible debt-related party is comprised of the following as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
SCHEDULE OF SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE DEBT
March 31,
2023
December 31, 2022
Senior secured convertible debenture
$ 2,188,922
$ 3,300,000
Discount on convertible debenture
( 1,630,684 )
( 3,239,803 )
Total convertible debt-related party
$ 558,238
$ 60,197
As
of March 31, 2023, there were no events of default or violation of any covenants under our financing obligations.
NOTE
12 — EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
Basic
earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares
outstanding. Diluted EPS is computed based on the sum of the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common
shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares consist of shares issuable from stock options and warrants as
shown below.
The
following table reconciles net loss and the weighted-average shares used in computing basic and diluted EPS in the respective periods:
SCHEDULE OF EARNINGS PER SHARE BASIC AND DILUTED
2023
2022
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
Net loss used for basic earnings per share
$ ( 3,846,221 )
$ ( 4,319,787 )
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding
4,959,122
3,529,405
Dilutive potential shares issuable from stock options and warrants
—
—
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding
4,959,122
3,529,405
SCHEDULE
OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES EXCLUDED FROM DILUTED NET LOSS PER SHARE
As of March 31,
2023
2022
Shares of common stock subject to outstanding options
552,561
486,402
Shares of common stock subject to outstanding warrants
4,254,766
981,603
Total common stock equivalents
4,807,327
1,468,005
Potentially
dilutive common shares excluded from the calculation above represent stock options and warrants because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
NOTE
13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The
Company leases its facilities under a long-term operating lease agreement. On December 15, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Qualigen,
Inc. entered into a Second Amendment to Lease with Bond Ranch LP. This Amendment extended the Company’s triple-net leasehold on
the Company’s existing 22,624 -square-feet headquarters/manufacturing facility at 2042 Corte del Nogal, Carlsbad, California for
the 61 -month period of November 1, 2022 to November 30, 2027 . Over the 61 months, the base rent payable by Qualigen, Inc. will total
$ 1,950,710 ; however, the base rent for the first 12 months of the 61 -month period is only $ 335,966 . Additionally, under the Second Amendment
to Lease Qualigen, Inc. is entitled to a $ 339,360 tenant improvement allowance.
The
tables below show the operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities and the balances as of March 31, 2023 and December
31, 2022, including the changes during the periods:
SCHEDULE OF OPERATING LEASE RIGHT OF USE ASSETS AND OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Net right-of-use assets at December 31, 2022
$ 1,422,538
Less amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets
( 57,637 )
Operating lease right-of-use assets at March 31, 2023
$ 1,364,901
22
Operating lease liabilities
Lease liabilities at December 31, 2022
$ 1,542,564
Less principal payments on operating lease liabilities
( 57,731 )
Lease liabilities at March 31, 2023
1,484,833
Less non-current portion
( 1,236,024 )
Current portion at March 31, 2023
$ 248,809
As
of March 31, 2023, the Company’s operating leases have a weighted-average remaining lease term of 4.6 years and a weighted-average
discount rate of 8.9 %.
SCHEDULE OF MATURITIES OF OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
Year Ending December 31,
Amount
2023 (nine months)
276,256
2024
379,392
2025
390,773
2026
402,497
2027
379,164
Total
1,828,082
Less present value discount
( 343,249 )
Operating lease liabilities
$ 1,484,833
Total
lease expense was approximately $ 116,000 and $ 114,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Lease expense was recorded in cost of product sales, general and administrative expenses,
research and development and sales and marketing expenses.
Termination
of Sekisui Distribution Agreement
Sekisui’s
Distribution Agreement expired on March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a commitment to purchase leased FastPack rental systems back
from Sekisui at Sekisui’s net book value in the amount of $ 154,000 , which is included in equipment held for lease and accounts payable
on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
NanoSynex
Funding Commitment
As
a condition to the NanoSynex Acquisition, the Company agreed to provide NanoSynex with up to $ 10.4 million of future funding in the
form of promissory notes to the Company based on NanoSynex’s achievement of certain future development milestones and subject
to other terms and conditions described in the Funding Agreement entered into with NanoSynex. Of this amount approximately $ 2.4
million was funded during the year ended December 31, 2022, and an additional $ 0.5 million was funded in February 2023 (See Note 2
- Liquidity for further details regarding the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement).
Litigation
and Other Legal Proceedings
On
November 9, 2021, the Company was named as a defendant in an action brought by Mediant Communications Inc. (“Mediant”) in
the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint alleged that Qualigen entered into an implied contract with
Mediant, whereby Qualigen retained Mediant to distribute proxy materials and subsequently conduct shareholder vote tabulations. The Company
filed a Motion to Dismiss with the District Court and on March 14, 2022 a hearing was held at which the presiding judge ruled in
favor of the Motion to Dismiss. The Company and Mediant settled the litigation on April 5, 2022 in the amount of $ 96,558 , at which time
the amount was paid by the Company.
23
NOTE
14 — RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS
The
University of Louisville Research Foundation
In
March 2019, the Company entered into a sponsored research agreement and
an option for a license agreement with University of Louisville Research Foundation “ULRF” for development of several small-molecule
RAS interaction inhibitor drug candidates. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company was to reimburse ULRF for sponsored research
expenses of up to $ 693,000 for this program. In February 2021, March 2022, and October 2022, the Company extended the term of this agreement
until September 2023 and increased the amount that the Company will reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses to approximately $ 2.7
million. In July 2020, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with ULRF for RAS interaction inhibitor drug candidates.
Under the agreement, the Company will take over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of the candidates from ULRF and
is responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, the Company paid ULRF approximately $112,000
for an upfront license fee and reimbursement of prior patent costs. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay ULRF (i) royalties, on
patent-covered net sales associated with the commercialization, of 4% (on net sales up to a cumulative $250,000,000) or 5% (on net sales
above a cumulative $250,000,000), until expiration of the licensed patent, and 2.5% (on net sales for any sales not covered by Licensed
Patents), (ii) 30% to 50% of any non-royalty sublicensee income received (50% for sublicenses granted in the first two years of the ULRF
license agreement, 40% for sublicenses granted in the third or fourth years of the ULRF license agreement, and 30% for sublicenses granted
in the fifth year of the ULRF license agreement or thereafter), (iii) reimbursements for ongoing costs associated with the preparation,
filing, prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, incurred prior to July 2020, and (iv) payments ranging from $ 50,000 to $ 5,000,000
upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. Milestone payments for the first therapeutic indication would be
$ 50,000 for first dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, $ 100,000 for first dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial, $ 150,000 for first dosing
in a Phase 3 clinical trial, $ 300,000 for regulatory marketing approval and $ 5,000,000 upon achieving a cumulative $ 500,000,000 of Licensed
Product sales. The Company also must pay ULRF shortfall payments if the total amounts actually paid with respect to royalties and non-royalty
sublicensee income for any year is less than the applicable annual minimum (ranging from $ 20,000 to $ 100,000 ) for such year.
Sponsored
research expenses related to these RAS agreements for the three months ended
March 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $ 223,000 and $ 184,000 , respectively, and are recorded in research and development expenses
in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. License costs related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31,
2023 and 2022 were approximately $ 14,000 and $ 2,000 , respectively, and are included in research and development expenses in the condensed
consolidated statements of operations.
Between
June 2018 and September 2020, the Company entered into license and sponsored
research agreements with the ULRF for QN-247, a novel aptamer-based compound that has shown promise as an anticancer drug. Under the agreements,
the Company took over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of the compound from ULRF and is responsible for maintenance
of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, ULRF received a $ 50,000 convertible promissory note in payment of an upfront
license fee, which was subsequently converted into the Company’s common stock, and the Company agreed to reimburse ULRF for sponsored
research expenses of up to $ 830,000 and prior patent costs of up to $ 200,000 . The sponsored research agreement was terminated on August 31, 2022.
Under the license agreement, the Company agreed to pay ULRF (i) royalties, on patent-covered net sales associated with the commercialization
of anti-nucleolin agent-conjugated nanoparticles, of 4% (on net sales up to a cumulative $250,000,000) or 5% (on net sales above a cumulative
$250,000,000), until expiration of the last to expire of the licensed patents, (ii) 30% to 50% of any non-royalty sublicensee income received
(50% for sublicenses granted in the first two years of the ULRF license agreement, 40% for sublicenses granted in the third or fourth
years of the ULRF license agreement, and 30% for sublicenses granted in the fifth year of the ULRF license agreement or thereafter), (iii)
reimbursements for ongoing costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, incurred prior
to June 2018, and (iv) payments ranging from $ 100,000 to $ 5,000,000 upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones .
Milestone payments for the first therapeutic indication would be $ 100,000 for first dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, $ 200,000 for first
dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial, $ 350,000 for first dosing in a Phase 3 clinical trial, $ 500,000 for regulatory marketing approval
and $ 5,000,000 upon achieving a cumulative $ 500,000,000 of Licensed Product sales; the Company would also pay another $ 500,000 milestone
payment for any additional regulatory marketing approval for each additional therapeutic (or diagnostic) indication. The Company also
must pay ULRF shortfall payments if the total amounts actually paid with respect to royalties and non-royalty sublicensee income for any
year is less than the applicable annual minimum (ranging from $ 10,000 to $ 50,000 ) for such year.
Sponsored
research expenses related to these QN-247 agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $ 0
and $ 87,000 ,
respectively, and these amounts are recorded in research and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of
operations. License costs were approximately $ 21,000
and $ 55,000
related to these QN-247 agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in research
and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
In
June 2020, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with ULRF for its intellectual property in the use of QN-165 as a
treatment for COVID-19. Under the agreement, the Company took over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of the compound
(for such use) from ULRF and was responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, ULRF received
approximately $ 24,000 for an upfront license fee and reimbursement of prior patent costs. In addition, the Company executed a sponsored
research agreement with ULRF (for QN-165 as a treatment for COVID-19) supporting up to $ 430,000 . This sponsored research agreement expired
in November 2021 and effective October 31, 2022 the license agreement for QN-165 was terminated.
There were no sponsored
research expenses or license costs related to these QN-165 agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
24
Yi
Xin
In
October 2020, through its wholly-owned diagnostics subsidiary Qualigen,
Inc., the Company entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement with Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd. (“Yi Xin”), of Suzhou,
China, for Yi Xin to develop, manufacture and sell new generations of diagnostic test systems based on the Company’s core FastPack technology.
In addition, the Technology Transfer Agreement authorizes Yi Xin to manufacture and sell the Company’s current generations of FastPack
System diagnostic products (1.0, IP and PRO) in China.
The Company will receive low- to mid-single-digit royalties on any future
new-generations and current-generations product sales by Yi Xin. Under the Technology Transfer Agreement, during the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2021 we recognized revenues of approximately $ 670,000 . There were no revenues under this agreement for the three months ended
March 31, 2023, and the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company provided technology transfer and patent/know-how license rights
to facilitate Yi Xin’s development and commercialization.
The
Company gave Yi Xin the exclusive rights for China – which is a market it has not otherwise entered – both for Yi Xin’s
new generations of FastPack-based products and for Yi Xin-manufactured versions of our existing FastPack product lines. Yi Xin also has
the right to sell its new generations of FastPack-based diagnostic test systems throughout the world (but not to or toward current customers
of the Company’s existing generations of FastPack products). After March 31, 2022, Yi Xin has the right to sell Yi Xin-manufactured
versions of existing FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines worldwide (other than in the United States and other than to or toward current
non-US customers of those products), as well as the right to buy Qualigen-manufactured FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO products from us at distributor
prices for resale in and for the United States (but not to or toward current U.S. customers of those products). The Company did not license
Yi Xin to sell in the U.S. market any Yi Xin-manufactured versions of those legacy FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines. In the Technology
Transfer Agreement the Company also confirmed that after March 31, 2022 it would not seek new FastPack customers outside the United
States, European Union, Canada and Mexico.
UCL
Business Limited
In
January 2022, the Company entered into a License Agreement with UCL Business Limited to obtain an exclusive worldwide in-license of a
genomic quadruplex (G4)-selective transcription inhibitor drug development program which had been developed at University College London,
including lead and back-up compounds, preclinical data and a patent estate. (UCL Business Limited is the commercialization company for
University College London.) The program’s lead compound is now being developed at Qualigen under the name QN-302 as a candidate
for treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which represents the vast majority of pancreatic cancers. The License Agreement
required a $ 150,000 upfront payment, reimbursement of past patent prosecution expenses (approximately $ 160,000 ), and (if and when applicable)
tiered royalty payments in the low to mid-single digits, clinical/regulatory/sales milestone payments and a percentage of any non-royalty
sublicensing consideration paid to Qualigen.
For
the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, there were license costs of approximately $ 5,000 and $ 310,000 , respectively, related
to this agreement which are included in research and development expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Prediction
Biosciences
In
November 2015, the Company entered into a long-term development and supply agreement with Prediction Biosciences SAS to develop and manufacture
diagnostic tests for use in the stroke Physician Office Laboratory (POL) market. The Company recognizes development revenue and product
sales over the performance period of the contract. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, there was $ 86,000 and $ 0 , respectively,
in product sales related to this agreement.
25
NOTE
15 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
As
of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had two classes of capital stock: common stock and preferred stock.
Common
Stock
Holders
of common stock generally vote as a class with the holders of the preferred stock and are entitled to one vote for each share held. Subject
to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock to receive preferential dividends, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive
dividends when and if declared by the Board of Directors. Following payment of the liquidation preference of the preferred stock, any
remaining assets will be distributed ratably among the holders of the common stock and, on an as-if-converted basis, the holders of any
preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. The holders of common stock have no preemptive,
subscription or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions.
On
December 22, 2022, the Company issued to Alpha Capital, an 8 % Senior Convertible Debenture in the aggregate principal amount of $ 3,300,000
for a purchase price of $ 3,000,000 pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 21, 2022. The Debenture is
convertible, at any time, and from time to time, at Alpha Capital’s option, into shares of common stock of the Company, at a price
equal to $ 1.32 per share, and other terms and conditions described in the Debenture (see Note 11 - Convertible Debt - Related Party).
As part of this transaction, the Company issued to Alpha Capital a warrant to purchase 2,500,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock (see Note 10-Warrant Liabilities). Between January 9 and 12, 2023, Alpha Capital voluntarily converted $ 1,111,078 of its outstanding the
Debenture principal into 841,726 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $ 1.32 per share.
At
March 31, 2023, the Company has reserved 4,807,327 shares of authorized but unissued common stock for possible future issuance. At March
31, 2023, shares were reserved in connection with the following:
SCHEDULE
OF RESERVED SHARES
Exercise of issued and future grants of stock options
552,561
Exercise of stock warrants
4,254,766
Total
4,807,327
Preferred
Stock
At
March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding. All shares of Series A, B, C, D, D-1 convertible
preferred stock were converted into common stock at the time of the May 2020 reverse recapitalization transaction.
Stock
Options and Equity Classified Warrants
Stock
Options
The
Company recognizes all compensatory stock-based payments as compensation expense over the service period, which is generally the vesting
period.
In
April 2020, the Company adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) which provides for the grant of
incentive or non-statutory common stock options, restricted stock, stock bonus awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
units and performance awards to qualified employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers. At March 31, 2023
and December 31, 2022 there were 552,561 and 608,012 outstanding stock options, respectively, under the 2020 Plan and there were
203,141 and 147,690 of 2020 Plan shares available, respectively, for future grant.
26
The
following represents a summary of the options granted to employees and non-employee service providers that were outstanding at March
31, 2023, and changes during the three-month period then ended:
SCHEDULE
OF STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY
Shares
Weighted–
Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise
Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2022
608,012
$ 35.02
$ 5.14 - $ 51.30
8.09
Granted
—
—
—
—
Expired
—
—
—
—
Forfeited
( 55,451 )
33.05
5.14 - 51.30
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2023
552,561
$ 35.22
$ 5.14 — $ 51.30
7.82
Exercisable (vested)
290,438
$ 46.17
$ 10.50
— $ 51.30
7.35
Non-Exercisable (non-vested)
262,123
$ 23.08
$ 5.14
- $ 51.30
8.40
The
following represents a summary of
the options granted (under the 2020 Plan and otherwise) to employees and non-employee service providers that were outstanding at March
31, 2022, and changes during the three-month period then ended:
Shares
Weighted–
Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise
Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2021
484,186
$ 60.70
$ 12.40 — $ 14,657.50
8.52
Granted
2,500
10.50
10.50
9.79
Expired
—
—
—
—
Forfeited
( 283 )
30.00
12.40 - 49.70
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2022
486,403
$ 60.50
$ 10.50
— $ 14,657.50
8.28
Exercisable (vested)
141,720
$ 108.30
$ 32.90
— $ 14,657.50
7.69
Non-Exercisable (non-vested)
344,683
$ 40.80
$ 10.50
— $ 51.30
8.57
There
was approximately $ 0.2 million and $ 1.3 million of compensation cost related to outstanding options for the three months ended March
31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of March 31, 2023, there was approximately $ 1.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related
to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1 year.
No
stock options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The
exercise price for an option issued under the 2020 Plan is determined by the Board of Directors, but will be (i) in the case of an incentive
stock option (A) granted to an employee who, at the time of grant of such option, is a 10% stockholder, no less than 110% of the fair
market value per share on the date of grant; or (B) granted to any other employee, no less than 100% of the fair market value per share
on the date of grant; and (ii) in the case of a non-statutory stock option, no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the
date of grant . The options awarded under the 2020 Plan will vest as determined by the Board of Directors but will not exceed a 10-year
period.
Fair
Value of Equity Awards
The
Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value awards under the 2020 Plan, and for equity classified compensatory warrants.
Key valuation assumptions include:
● Expected
dividend yield. The expected dividend is assumed to be zero, as the Company has never
paid dividends and has no current plans to pay any dividends on the Company’s common
stock.
● Expected
stock-price volatility. The Company’s expected volatility is derived from the average
historical volatilities of publicly traded companies within the Company’s industry
that the Company considers to be comparable to the Company’s business over a period
approximately equal to the expected term.
● Risk-free
interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect
at the time of grant for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal
to the expected term.
● Expected
term. The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected
to be outstanding. The Company’s historical share option exercise experience does not
provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate an expected term because of a lack of sufficient
data. Therefore, the Company estimates the expected term by using the simplified method provided
by the SEC. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the time-to-vesting
and the contractual life of the options.
27
The
material factors incorporated in the Black-Scholes model in estimating the fair value of the options granted for the periods presented
were as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF ASSUMPTION USED IN BLACK-SCHOLES OPTION-PRICING METHOD
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
Expected dividend yield
0.00 %
0.00 %
Expected stock-price volatility
—
102 %
Risk-free interest rate
—
1.58 % — 1.67 %
Expected average term of options (in years)
—
6.00
Stock price
$ —
$ 1.05
The
Company recorded share-based compensation expense and classified it in the condensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:
SCHEDULE
OF SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE
2023
2022
For the Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
General and administrative
$ 203,722
$ 1,113,384
Research and development
48,504
153,782
Total
$ 252,226
$ 1,267,166
Equity
Classified Compensatory Warrants
In
connection with the $ 4.0 million equity capital raise as part of the May 2020 reverse recapitalization transaction, the Company
issued common stock warrants to an advisor and its designees for the purchase of 81,143 reverse split adjusted shares of the
Company’s common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 11.10 per share. The issuance cost of these warrants was
charged to additional paid-in capital, and did not result in expense in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss.
In
addition, various service providers hold equity
classified compensatory warrants issued in 2017 and earlier for the purchase of 66,802 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common
stock (originally exercisable to purchase Series C convertible preferred stock) at a weighted average exercise price of $ 23.40 per share.
These are to be differentiated from the Series C Warrants described in Note 10 - Warrant Liabilities.
During
the year ended December 31, 2021,
the Company issued equity classified compensatory warrants to a service provider for the purchase of 60,000 reverse split adjusted shares
of Company common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 13.20 per share. The fair value issuance cost of approximately
$ 0.3 million using the Black-Scholes options pricing model for these warrants was charged to general and administrative expenses in the
Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. On April 25, 2022, 60,000 warrants were repriced
from $ 13.20 to a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 6.00 and extended from June 3, 2023 to September 14, 2023 . The increase in
fair value of $ 67,370 using a Monte Carlo pricing model for the modification of these warrants was charged to general and administrative
expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. On April 25, 2022 and May 26,
2022 an additional 67,619 reverse split adjusted warrants were repriced from a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 11.10 to $ 5.136 .
The increase in fair value of $ 31,010 using a Monte Carlo pricing model for the modification of these warrants was charged to additional
paid-in capital and did not result in expense on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
loss. On December 22, 2022, 67,620 warrants were repriced from a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 5.136 to $ 1.32 .
The increase in fair value of $ 8,548 using a Monte Carlo pricing model for the modification of these warrants was charged to additional
paid-in capital and did not result in expense on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
28
No
compensatory warrants were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The
following table summarizes the equity classified compensatory warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023:
SCHEDULE
OF WARRANT ACTIVITY
Common Stock
Shares
Weighted– Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2022
179,046
$ 9.12
$ 1.32 — $ 25.40
1.73
Granted to advisor and its designees
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Expired
—
—
Forfeited
—
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2023
179,046
$ 9.12
$ 1.32 — $ 25.40
1.48
Exercisable
179,046
$ 9.12
$ 1.32 — $ 25.40
1.48
Non-Exercisable
—
$ —
$ —
—
The
following table summarizes the equity classified compensatory warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2022:
Common Stock
Shares
Weighted– Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2021
179,065
$ 15.20
$ 11.10 — $ 25.40
2.64
Granted to advisor and its designees
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Expired
—
—
Forfeited
—
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2022
179,065
$ 15.20
$ 11.10 — $ 25.40
2.39
Exercisable
179,065
$ 15.20
$ 11.10 — $ 25.40
2.39
Non-Exercisable
—
$ —
$ —
—
There
were no compensation costs related to outstanding warrants for three months
ended March 31, 2023 or the three months ended March 31, 2022. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022,
there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested warrants.
Noncompensatory
Equity Classified Warrants
In
May 2020, as a commitment fee, the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to Alpha Capital (a related party) for the
purchase of 27,048 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 11.10 per share
(of which warrants for 20,000 shares were subsequently exercised in December 2020). In July 2020 the Company issued noncompensatory equity
classified warrants to Alpha Capital for the purchase of 78,019 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at a reverse split
adjusted exercise price of $ 0.01 per share (which were subsequently exercised in July 2020), and 192,068 reverse split adjusted shares
of Company common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 52.50 per share. In August 2020, the Company issued noncompensatory
equity classified warrants to Alpha Capital for the purchase of 128,783 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at a reverse
split adjusted exercise price of $ 60.00 per share. In December 2020, the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to
Alpha Capital for the purchase of 100,000 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise
price of $ 0.10 per share (which were exercised in February 2021) and 219,101 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at
a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 40.70 per share. In May 2022, the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants
to Alpha Capital for the purchase of 331,464 reverse split adjusted shares of Company common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise
price of $ 0.01 per share (See Note 3 - Acquisition).
29
On
November 29, 2021, with the exception of the warrants to purchase 27,048 reverse split adjusted shares of the Company’s common
stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 11.10 per share, the exercise prices of all outstanding warrants to purchase a
total of 539,951 reverse split adjusted shares of the Company’s common stock were modified to a reverse split adjusted
exercise price of $ 20.00 per share and each of their remaining terms extended by six months. The fair value of the modification cost
of these warrant modifications of approximately $ 2.3 million was charged to additional paid-in capital and did not result in expense
on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In May 2022, pre-funded warrants to
purchase 331,464 reverse split adjusted shares of the Company’s common stock at a reverse split adjusted exercise price of
$ 0.01 per share with no expiration date were issued. These warrants were subsequently exercised during the period ended September
30, 2022.
In conjunction with the NanoSynex Acquisition
(See Note 3 - Acquisition), on April 25, 2022 the exercise price of 7,048 reverse split adjusted outstanding warrants with an exercise
price of $ 11.10 per share was modified to a reverse split adjusted exercise price of $ 6.00 . The increase in fair value of $ 2,533 , using
a Monte Carlo pricing model for the modification of these warrants, was charged to additional paid-in capital and did not result in expense
on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. On May 26, 2022, the reverse split adjusted
exercise price of these warrants was modified again to $ 5.136 , and the increase in fair value of $ 696 , using a Monte Carlo pricing model
for the modification of these warrants, was included in consideration transferred in the NanoSynex Acquisition. On December 22, 2022,
the exercise price of these warrants was modified again to $ 1.32 . The increase in fair value of $ 891 , using a Monte Carlo pricing model
for the modification of those warrants, was charged to additional paid-in capital and did not result in expense on the Company’s condensed
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
No
noncompensatory equity classified warrants were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The
following table summarizes the noncompensatory equity classified warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2023:
SCHEDULE
OF WARRANT ACTIVITY
Common Stock
Shares
Weighted–
Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2022
547,003
$ 19.76
1.32 - 20.00
0.33
Legacy Ritter warrants
—
—
-
Granted
—
—
-
Exercised
—
—
Expired
( 320,853 )
20.00
20.00
Forfeited
—
—
-
Total outstanding – March 31, 2023
226,150
$ 19.42
-
-
Exercisable
226,150
$ 19.42
$ 1.32 — $ 20.00
0.46
Non-Exercisable
—
$ —
$ —
—
30
The following table summarizes the noncompensatory equity classified warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2022:
Common Stock
Shares
Weighted–
Average
Exercise
Price
Range of
Exercise Price
Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
Total outstanding – December 31, 2021
554,914
$ 20.10
-
Legacy Ritter warrants
—
—
-
Granted
—
—
Exercised
—
—
Expired
—
—
Forfeited
—
—
Total outstanding – March 31, 2022
554,914
$ 20.10
Exercisable
554,914
$ 20.10
$ 11.10 — $ 37.70
1.07
Non-Exercisable
—
$ —
$ —
—
NOTE
16 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Convertible
Debt
On
December 22, 2022, the Company issued to Alpha Capital, an 8 % Senior Convertible
Debenture in the aggregate principal amount of $ 3,300,000 for a purchase price of $ 3,000,000 pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated December 21, 2022. The Debenture is convertible, at any time, and from time to time, at Alpha Capital’s option,
into shares of common stock of the Company, at a price equal to $ 1.32 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Debenture and
other terms and conditions described in the Debenture, including the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals (See
Note 11 - Convertible Debt - Related Party). Between January 9 and 12, 2023, Alpha Capital voluntarily converted $ 1,111,078 of the Debenture principal into 841,726 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $ 1.32 per share.
Short-Term
Debt
NanoSynex
has four separate notes payable outstanding to Alpha Capital, issued between March 26, 2020 and September 2,
2021, aggregating to a total principal outstanding balance of $ 905,000 , and aggregate accrued interest of $ 53,952 for a total outstanding
balance of $ 958,952 as of March 31, 2023. The Notes all accrue interest at 2.62 % per annum, accrued daily, and provide that the full
amount of principal and interest under each Note shall be due immediately prior to a Liquidation Event (the Maturity Date) unless due
earlier in accordance with the terms of the Notes. “Liquidation Event” means either i) the merger or consolidation of NanoSynex
into any other entity, other than one in control or under control of NanoSynex or NanoSynex’s majority shareholder; ii) a transaction
or series of transactions resulting in the transfer of all or substantially all of NanoSynex’s assets or issued and outstanding
share capital (other than to a company under the control of NanoSynex or NanoSynex’s majority shareholders; or iii) an underwritten
public offering by NanoSynex of its ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the above, if NanoSynex receives subsequent debt, convertible debt,
or equity funding with gross proceeds of USD $ 3,000,000 or more, then these Notes shall be due and payable upon the actual receipt of
such funding (See Note 9 - Short-Term Debt - Related Party).
Nanosynex
Acquisition
The
Company acquired a 52.8 % voting equity interest in NanoSynex on May 26, 2022 through:
(1) the purchase of 2,232,861 shares Preferred A-1 Stock of NanoSynex from Alpha Capital (a related party) for 350,000 reverse split
adjusted shares of the Company’s common stock and a prefunded warrant to purchase 331,464 reverse split adjusted shares of the
Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $ 0.001 per share (these warrants were subsequently exercised on September 13, 2022),
and (2) the purchase of 381,786 shares of Series B preferred stock of NanoSynex from NanoSynex in exchange for $ 600,000 (See Note 3 -
Acquisition).
NOTE
17 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management
has evaluated subsequent events pursuant to the requirements of ASC Topic 855, Subsequent Events , from the balance sheet date
through the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and has determined that there are no material subsequent events
that require disclosure in these financial statements.
31
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and the audited financial statements
and notes thereto as of and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 2, 2023 (as the “2022 Annual Report.) As used in this Quarterly
Report, unless the context suggests otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “Qualigen” refer
to Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements by the Company that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect the Company’s
judgment as of the date of this Report. These statements generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or
operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,”
“will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,”
“intends,” “target,” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions
that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, among other
things, potential future development, testing and launch of products and product candidates. Actual events or results may differ from
our expectations.
Some
of the factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated or predicted include:
● there
can be no assurance that we will successfully develop any drugs or therapeutic devices;
● there
can be no assurance that preclinical or clinical development of our candidate drugs or therapeutic
devices will be successful;
● there
can be no assurance that clinical trials will be approved to begin by or will actually begin
by or will proceed as contemplated by any projected timeline;
● there
can be no assurance that clinical trials will complete enrollment as contemplated by any
projected timeline;
● there
can be no assurance that future clinical trial data will be favorable or that such trials
will confirm any improvements over other products or lack negative impacts;
● there
can be no assurance that any drugs or therapeutic devices will receive required regulatory
approvals or that they will be commercially successful;
● there
can be no assurance that we will be able to procure or earn sufficient working capital to
complete the development, testing and launch of our prospective therapeutic products;
● there
can be no assurance that patents will issue on our owned and in-licensed patent applications;
● there
can be no assurance that such patents, if any, and our current owned and in-licensed patents
would prevent competition; and
● there
can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or expand market demand and/or market
share for our diagnostic products generally, particularly in view of COVID-19-related deferral
of patients’ physician-office visits and in view of FastPack reimbursement pricing
challenges.
Our
stock price could be harmed if any of the events or trends contemplated
by the forward-looking statements fails to occur or is delayed or if any actual future event otherwise differs from expectations. Additional
information concerning these and other risk factors affecting our business (including events beyond our control, such as epidemics and
resulting changes) can be found in our prior filings with the SEC (including the 2022 Annual Report), available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking
statement that we make in this Quarterly Report speaks only as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we disclaim any intent or obligation
to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this Quarterly Report, except as required by law. This caution is made under
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
32
By
their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics, and healthcare,
regulatory and scientific developments and depend on the economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur
on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement
contained in this Quarterly Report, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that
our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ
materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial
condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, are consistent in some future periods with the forward-looking
statements contained in this Quarterly Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in other future periods.
Future
filings with the SEC, future press releases and future oral or written statements made by us or with our approval, which are not statements
of historical fact, may also contain forward-looking statements. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, many of which
are beyond our control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements
to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they are made.
Overview
We
are a diversified life sciences company focused on developing treatments for adult and pediatric cancers with potential for Orphan Drug
designation, while also commercializing diagnostics.
Our
cancer therapeutics pipeline includes QN-302, RAS and QN-247.
Our
lead oncology therapeutics program, QN-302, is an investigational small molecule G4-selective transcription inhibitor with strong binding
affinity to G4s prevalent in cancer cells. Such binding could, by stabilizing the G4s against DNA “unwinding,” help inhibit
cancer cell proliferation. QN-302 is currently undergoing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicology studies.
Our
Pan-RAS portfolio consists of a family of RAS oncogene protein-protein interaction inhibitor small molecules believed to inhibit or block
mutated RAS genes’ proteins from binding to their effector proteins. Preventing this binding could stop tumor growth, especially
in RAS-driven tumors such as pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers.
Our
investigational QN-247 compound binds nucleolin, a key multi-functional regulatory phosphoprotein that is overexpressed in cancer cells.
Such binding could inhibit the cancer cells’ proliferation. The foundational aptamer of QN-247 is QN-165 (formerly referred to
as AS1411), which the Company has deprioritized as a drug candidate for treating COVID-19 and other viral-based infectious diseases.
On November 23, 2022, we effected a 1-for-10, as determined by our board of directors, reverse stock split of our
outstanding shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split reduced our shares of outstanding
common stock, stock options, and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. Fractional shares of common stock that would have otherwise
resulted from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded down to the nearest whole share and cash in lieu of fractional shares was paid to stockholders.
All share and per share data for all periods presented in this section and the accompanying financial statements and related disclosures
have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect the Reverse Stock Split. The number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value
per share remains unchanged.
On
May 26, 2022, we acquired 2,232,861 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock of NanoSynex from Alpha Capital in exchange for 350,000 shares
of our common stock and a prefunded warrant to purchase 331,464 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share.
These warrants were subsequently exercised on September 13, 2022. Concurrently with this transaction, we also purchased 381,786 shares
of Series B preferred stock from NanoSynex for a total purchase price of $600,000. The transactions resulted in our acquiring a 52.8%
interest in NanoSynex. NanoSynex is a micro-biologics diagnostics company domiciled in Israel.
33
Because
our therapeutic candidates are all
still in the pre-clinical development stage, our only products that are currently commercially available for sale are the FastPack System
diagnostic instruments and test kits. Our FastPack System diagnostic instruments and test kits are sold commercially primarily in the
United States, as well as certain European countries. The FastPack System menu includes a rapid, highly accurate immunoassay diagnostic
testing system for cancer, men’s health, hormone function, and vitamin D status. We provide analyzers to our customers (physician
offices, clinics and small hospitals) at low cost in order to increase sales volumes of higher-margin test kits.
We
have always utilized a “razor and blades” pricing strategy, providing analyzers to our customers (physician offices,
clinics and small hospitals) at low cost in order to increase sales volumes of higher-margin test kits. Through the first quarter of
2022, we relied on our diagnostics distribution partner, Sekisui, for most FastPack distribution worldwide pursuant to a
distribution agreement. We maintained direct distribution for certain house accounts, including selling our total testosterone test
kits to Low T Center, the largest men’s health group in the United States, with 40 locations. The Distribution Agreement with
Sekisui expired on March 31, 2022, after which the activities previously provided by Sekisui reverted back to us and we have since
recognized 100% of the revenue from the sales of our FastPack diagnostic instruments and test kits. We have licensed and
technology-transferred our FastPack System technology to Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd. for the China diagnostics
market.
We
do not expect to be profitable before products from our therapeutics pipeline
are commercialized, because we expect that research and development expenses associated with our therapeutics programs will significantly
exceed the profits, if any, that we will generate from our diagnostics products. To experience losses while therapeutic products are still
under development is, of course, typical for biotechnology companies.
Our
condensed consolidated financial statements do not separate our diagnostics-related activities from our therapeutics-related
activities. Although to date all of our reported revenue is diagnostics-related, our reported expenses represent the total of our
diagnostics-related and therapeutics-related expenses
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
This
discussion and analysis is based on our condensed consolidated financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements
requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities in our condensed consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates
and judgments, including those related to impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, fair value of warrant liabilities, stock-based
compensation, amortization and depreciation, inventory reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts and returns, and warranty costs. We
base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances,
the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent
from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While
our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1
- Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Estimates to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
appearing in “Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” we believe that the following accounting policies are
the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations:
● Convertible
debt
● Research
and development
● Revenue
recognition
● Allowance
for doubtful accounts and returns
● Inventory
● Impairment
of long-lived assets
● Business
combination
● Goodwill
● In
Process R&D
● Derivative
financial instruments and warrant liabilities
● Stock-based
compensation
● Income
taxes
34
Warrant
Liabilities
In
2004, Qualigen, Inc. issued Series C preferred
stock warrants to investors and brokers in connection with a private placement. These warrants were subsequently extended and survived
the May 2020 Ritter reverse recapitalization transaction and are now exercisable for Qualigen Therapeutics common stock. These warrants
contain a provision that if we issue shares (except in certain defined scenarios) at a price below the warrants’ exercise price,
the exercise price will be re-set to such new price and the number of shares underlying the warrants will be increased in the same proportion
as the exercise price decrease. For accounting purposes, such warrants give rise to warrant liabilities. The operation of the “double-ratchet”
provisions in these warrants in connection with the NanoSynex acquisition and the convertible debenture financing transaction in December
2022 now allow the holders to exercise for a significantly higher number of shares than before. Accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) require us to recognize the fair value of these warrants as warrant liabilities
on our condensed consolidated balance sheets and to reflect period-to-period changes in the fair value of the warrant liabilities on our
condensed consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated fair value of these warrant liabilities was $0.4 million and $0.8
million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. There were 1,349,571 of these warrants outstanding at March 31, 2023 and
December 31, 2022.
On
December 22, 2022, as part of the convertible debenture financing, the
Company issued to Alpha Capital a common stock warrant (the “Alpha Warrant”) for 2,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company.
The exercise price of the Alpha Warrant is $1.65 (equal to 125% of the Conversion Price of the Debenture on the closing date). The Alpha
Warrant may be exercised by Alpha Capital, in whole or in part, at any time on or after June 22, 2023 and before June 22, 2028. U.S. GAAP
requires us to recognize the fair value of this warrant as a warrant liability on our condensed consolidated balance sheets and to reflect
period-to-period changes in the fair value of the warrant liability on our condensed consolidated statements of operations. The estimated
fair value of this warrant liability was $2.2 million and $2.8 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Because
the fair value of the above liability classified warrants will be
determined each quarter on a “mark-to-market” basis , it could result in significant variability in our future quarterly and
annual consolidated statement of operations and consolidated balance sheets based on changes in our public market common stock price.
Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, a quarter-to-quarter increase in our stock price would result in an increase (possibly quite large) in the fair
value of the warrant liabilities and a quarter-to-quarter decrease in our stock price would result in a decrease (possibly quite large)
in the fair value of the warrant liabilities.
35
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
Revenues
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
REVENUES
Net product sales
$ 1,607,170
$ 722,029
Total revenues
1,607,170
722,029
EXPENSES
Cost of product sales
1,264,828
828,848
General and administrative
1,714,434
2,898,751
Research and development
2,121,551
1,864,745
Sales and marketing
199,114
138,323
Total expenses
5,299,927
5,730,667
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
(3,692,757 )
(5,008,638 )
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME), NET
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities
(1,038,673 )
(683,242 )
Interest expense (income), net
544,236
(6,309 )
Loss on voluntary conversion of convertible debt
1,077,287
—
Other income, net
(4,881 )
(36 )
Loss on fixed asset disposal
300
—
Total other expense (income), net
578,269
(689,587 )
LOSS BEFORE (BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
(4,271,026 )
(4,319,051 )
(BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
(163,777 )
736
NET LOSS
(4,107,249 )
(4,319,787 )
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
(261,028 )
—
Net loss attributable to Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$ (3,846,221 )
$ (4,319,787 )
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Net loss
$ (4,107,249 )
$ (4,319,787 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
119,723
—
Other comprehensive loss
(3,987,526 )
(4,319,787 )
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
(261,028 )
—
Comprehensive loss attributable to Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.
$ (3,726,498 )
$ (4,319,787 )
Net
product sales
Net product sales are primarily generated from sales of diagnostic tests.
Net product sales during the three month periods ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $1.6 million and $0.7 million respectively,
representing an increase of approximately $0.9 million, or 123%. This increase was primarily due to the expiration of the Sekisui Distribution
Agreement on March 31, 2022, at which time the distribution services previously provided by Sekisui reverted to the Company, which resulted
in our recognizing 100% of the revenue from sales of our FastPack diagnostic test kits and instruments beginning in the second quarter
of 2022. In addition, net product sales during the three months ended March 31, 2022 were negatively impacted by Sekisui selling off its
remaining inventory prior to termination of the agreement.
36
Expenses
Cost
of Product Sales
Cost
of product sales increased during the three months ended March 31, 2023, to $1.3 million, or 79% of net product sales, versus approximately
$0.8 million, or 115% of net product sales, during the three months ended March 31, 2022. This increase of $0.4 million was due
to the increased sales and manufacturing inefficiencies from material shortages during the current quarter.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses decreased from $2.9 million, during the three months ended March 31, 2022, to $1.7 million during the
three months ended March 31, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to decreases in stock-based compensation expense of $0.9 million,
insurance expenses of $0.2 million, and legal expenses of $0.3 million, offset by increases in consulting expenses of $0.1 million and
other payroll related expenses totaling $0.1 million.
Research
and Development Costs
Research
and development costs include therapeutic and diagnostic research and product development costs. Research and development costs increased
from $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Of the
$1.9 million of research and development costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022, $1.6 million (84%) was attributable to
therapeutics and $0.3 million (16%) was attributable to diagnostics. Of the $2.1 million of research and development costs for the three
months ended March 31, 2023, $1.3 million (60%) was attributable to therapeutics and $0.8 million (40%) was attributable to diagnostics.
The
increase in diagnostic research and development costs was primarily due to $0.6 million in R&D expenses assumed in connection with
the acquisition of NanoSynex, offset by a reduction of $0.1 million in FastPack R&D expenses. The decrease in therapeutics research
and development costs was primarily due to a decrease in pre-clinical research and development costs of $0.6 million for QN-247, a decrease
of $0.2 million in stock-based compensation expenses, a decrease in RAS expenses of $0.1 million, offset by an increase in QN-302 pre-clinical
research and development costs of $0.5 million.
For
the future, we expect our therapeutic research and development costs to significantly outweigh our diagnostic research and development
costs, and to be relatively lower in periods when we are focusing on pre-clinical activities and meaningfully higher in periods when
we are provisioning for and conducting clinical trials, if any.
Sales
and Marketing Expenses
Sales
and marketing expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased to approximately $199,000 as compared to approximately
$138,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in payroll expenses as a result of the termination
of the Sekisui Distribution Agreement.
Other
Expense (Income)
Change
in Fair Value of Warrant Liabilities
During
three months ended March 31, 2023 we experienced a $1.0 million gain
in other income because of the change in fair value of the warrant liabilities arising from our liability classified warrants described
above. The estimated fair value of these warrants decreased to $2.6 million as of March 31, 2023 from $3.6 million as of December 31,
2022 primarily due to a reduction in the Company’s stock price and outstanding terms of the warrants.
Because
the fair value of the warrant liabilities will be determined each quarter on a “mark-to-market” basis, this item is likely
to continue to result in significant variability in our future quarterly and annual consolidated statements of operations based on unpredictable
changes in our public market common stock price and the number of warrants outstanding at the end of each quarter.
Interest
Expense (Income), Net
Interest
expense, net during the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased to approximately $544,000 due to accrued interest on the
convertible debt, as compared to interest income, net of approximately $6,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2022,
primarily due to an increase in accrued interest related to convertible debt.
37
Loss on Voluntary Conversion of Convertible Debt
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recognized
a $1.1 million loss due to a voluntary conversion by Alpha Capital of approximately $1.1 million of convertible debt into 841,726 shares
of common stock (see Note 11 - Convertible Debt - Related Party to our condensed consolidated financial statements). We did not have any
outstanding convertible debt for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Other (Income), Net
Other income was immaterial for both the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As
of March 31, 2023, we had approximately $4.4 million in cash and an accumulated
deficit of $107.2 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the three months ended March 31, 2022, we used cash of $2.6 million
and $3.9 million, respectively, in operations. Our cash balances are expected to fund operations into the third quarter of 2023. As a
pre-clinical development-stage therapeutics biotechnology company, we expect to continue to have net losses and negative cash flow from
operations, which over time will challenge our liquidity. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern for the one-year period following the date that these financial statements were issued.
There
is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, or, if
achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In order to fully execute our business plan, we will require significant additional
funding for planned research and development activities, capital expenditures, clinical and pre-clinical testing for our QN-302 clinical
trials, preclinical development of RAS and QN-247, and funding for NanoSynex operations (See Note 3-Acquisition to our unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements), as well as commercialization activities.
Historically,
our principal sources of cash have included proceeds from the issuance of common and preferred equity and proceeds from the issuance
of debt. In December 2022 we raised $3.0 million from the sale of a convertible debt instrument (see Note 11-Convertible Debt -
Related Party to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements). There can be no assurance that further financing will
be obtained on favorable terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain funding, we could be required to delay, reduce or eliminate
research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or future commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our
business prospects.
As
a condition to the NanoSynex Acquisition, we agreed to provide NanoSynex
with up to $10.4 million of future funding based on NanoSynex’s achievement of certain future development milestones and subject to other
terms and conditions described in the Master Agreement for the Operational and Technological Funding of NanoSynex entered into with NanoSynex.
These funding commitments are in the form of convertible promissory notes to be issued to the Company with a face value equal to the amount
paid by the Company to NanoSynex upon satisfaction of the applicable performance milestone, bearing interest at the rate of 9% per annum
on the principal balance from time to time outstanding under the particular promissory note, convertible at the option of the Company
into additional shares of NanoSynex in order for the Company to maintain at least a 50.1% controlling ownership interest in NanoSynex,
should NanoSynex issue additional shares. The principal of the convertible notes are due and payable upon the sooner to occur of: i) five
years from the date of issuance of the particular promissory note; ii) the acquisition by any person or entity of all or substantially
all of the share capital of NanoSynex, through share purchase, issuance or shares or merger of NanoSynex, or the purchase of all or substantially
all of the assets of NanoSynex; or iii) the initial public offering of NanoSynex. The Company provided funding to NanoSynex of $2.4 million
during 2022 and an additional $0.5 million in February 2023 pursuant to this agreement. We may terminate the Funding Agreement upon 120
days’ notice, but would still be liable for any payments due for milestones achieved prior to termination.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will
continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would be necessary should we be unable to continue
as a going concern, and therefore, be required to liquidate our assets and discharge our liabilities in other than the normal course of
business and at amounts that may differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements.
Our condensed consolidated balance sheet at March
31, 2023 includes $2.6 million of warrant liabilities. We do not consider the warrant liabilities to constrain our liquidity, as a practical
matter. Our current liabilities at March 31, 2023 include $0.9 million of accounts payable, $1.9 million of accrued expenses and other
current liabilities, a $0.6 million R&D grant liability, $0.4 million of accrued vacation, and $1.0 million in short term debt to
a related party.
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
We
have no material contractual obligations that are not fully recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheets or fully disclosed in the notes
to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
38
Lease
Agreement with Bond Ranch LP
On
December 15, 2021, our wholly-owned subsidiary Qualigen, Inc. entered into
a Second Amendment to Lease with Bond Ranch LP. This Amendment extended our triple-net leasehold on our existing 22,624-square-foot headquarters/manufacturing
facility at 2042 Corte del Nogal, Carlsbad, California for the 61-month period of November 1, 2022 to November 30, 2027. Over the 61 months,
the base rent payable will total $1,950,710; however, the base rent for the first 12 months of the 61-month period will be only $335,966.
Additionally, Qualigen, Inc. was entitled to a $339,360 tenant improvement allowance. See Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies to our
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for additional details.
License
and Sponsored Research Agreements
We
have obligations under various license and sponsored research agreements to make future payments to third parties that become due and
payable on the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones (such as the start of a clinical trial, filing
for product approval with the FDA or other regulatory agencies, product approval by the FDA or other regulatory agencies, product launch
or product sales) or on the sublicense of our rights to another party. We have not included these commitments on our balance sheet because
the achievement and timing of these events is not determinable. Certain milestones are in advance of receipt of revenue from the sale
of products and, therefore, we may require additional debt or equity capital to make such payments.
We
have multiple license and sponsored research agreements with ULRF. Under
these agreements, we have taken over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of various drug compounds from ULRF and are
responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. We agreed to reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses
of up to $2.7 million and prior patent costs of up to $112,000 for RAS. As of March 31, 2023, we had up to $532,000 remaining due
under this sponsored research agreement for RAS. We also agreed to reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses of up to $830,000 and
prior patent costs of up to $200,000 for QN-247. As of March 31, 2023, there were no remaining un-expensed amounts under this sponsored
research agreement for QN-247 and the agreement was terminated effective August 31, 2022. We also agreed to reimburse ULRF for sponsored
research expenses of up to $430,000 and prior patent costs of up to $24,000 for QN-165. As of March 31, 2023 there were no remaining
un-expensed amounts under this sponsored research agreement for QN-165, and the agreement was terminated effective November 30, 2021.
Under the terms of these agreements, we are required to make patent maintenance payments and payments based upon development, regulatory
and commercial milestones for any products covered by the in-licensed intellectual property. The maximum aggregate milestone payments
we may be obligated to make per product are $5 million. We will also be required to pay a royalty on net sales of products covered by
the in-licensed intellectual property in the low single digits. The royalty is subject to reduction for any third-party payments required
to be made, with a minimum floor in the low single digits. We have the right to sublicense our rights under these agreements, and we will
be required to pay a percentage of any sublicense income.
On
January 13, 2022, we entered into a License Agreement with UCL Business
Limited to obtain an exclusive worldwide in-license of a genomic quadruplex (G4)-selective transcription inhibitor drug development program
which had been developed at University College London, including lead and back-up compounds, preclinical data and a patent estate. (UCL
Business Limited is the commercialization company for University College London.) The program’s lead compound is being developed
by us under the name QN-302 as a candidate for treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which represents the vast majority
of pancreatic cancers. The Agreement requires (if and when applicable) tiered royalty payments in the low to mid-single digits, clinical/regulatory/sales
milestone payments, and a percentage of any non-royalty sublicensing consideration paid to Qualigen.
Technology
Transfer Agreement with Yi Xin
Through
our wholly-owned diagnostics subsidiary Qualigen, Inc., we entered into
a Technology Transfer Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2020, with Yi Xin of Suzhou, China, which authorizes Yi Xin to develop, manufacture
and sell new generations of diagnostic test systems based on our core FastPack technology. In addition, the Technology Transfer Agreement
authorizes Yi Xin to manufacture and sell our current generations of FastPack System diagnostic products (1.0, IP and PRO) in China. We
have provided technology transfer and patent/know-how license rights to facilitate Yi Xin’s development and commercialization.
Under
the terms of the Technology Transfer Agreement, we have provided Yi Xin the exclusive rights for China – which is a market we have
not otherwise entered – both for Yi Xin’s new generations of FastPack-based products and for Yi Xin-manufactured versions
of our existing FastPack product lines. Yi Xin has the right to sell its new generations of FastPack-based diagnostic test systems throughout
the world (but not to or toward current customers of our existing generations of FastPack products); provided that any non-China sales
would, until March 31, 2022, need to be through Sekisui. As of April 1, 2022, Yi Xin has right to sell Yi Xin-manufactured versions of
existing FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines worldwide (other than in the United States and other than to or toward current non-US
customers of those products). Yi Xin also has the right, as of April 1, 2022, to buy Qualigen-manufactured FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO products
from us at distributor prices for resale in and for the United States (but not to or toward current U.S. customers of those products).
We did not license Yi Xin to sell in the United States market any Yi Xin-manufactured versions of those legacy FastPack product lines,
even after March 31, 2022. We agreed in the Technology Transfer Agreement that we would not, after March 31, 2022, seek new FastPack
customers outside the United States, European Union, Canada, and Mexico.
39
Under the Technology Transfer Agreement, during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2021 we recognized revenues of approximately $670,000. There were no revenues under this agreement for the three months ended March
31, 2023, and the three months ended March 31, 2022. We will receive low- to mid-single-digit royalties on any future new-generations
and current-generations product sales by Yi Xin.
Yi
Xin is a newly-formed company and is subject to many risks. There can be no assurance that Yi Xin will successfully commercialize any
products or that we will receive any royalties from Yi Xin.
Alpha
Convertible Debt
On
December 22, 2022, we issued an 8% Senior Convertible Debenture in the
aggregate principal amount of $3,300,000 to Alpha Capital for a purchase price of $3,000,000 pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated December 21, 2022. The Debenture is convertible, at any time, and from time to time, at Alpha Capital’s option,
into shares of our common stock, at a price equal to $1.32 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Debenture and other terms
and conditions described in the Debenture, including the Company’s receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
Between
January 9 and 12, 2023 Alpha Capital voluntarily converted $1,111,078 of the Debenture principal into
841,726 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $1.32 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recognized
an extinguishment loss on voluntary conversion of convertible debt of approximately $1.1 million and recorded accrued interest of approximately
$562,000 (of which approximately $533,000 was a reduction to the discount) in other expenses in the condensed consolidated statements
of operations. As of March 31, 2023 the remaining Debenture principal balance was approximately $2.2 million, the remaining discount
was approximately $1.6 million, the fair value of the Warrant was approximately $2.2 million, and the fair value of the suite of bifurcated
embedded derivative features was $0.
Commencing June 1, 2023 and continuing on the
first day of each month thereafter until the earlier of (i) December 22, 2025 and (ii) the full redemption of the Debenture, we must redeem
$110,000 plus accrued but unpaid interest, liquidated damages and any amounts then owing under the Debenture. The Monthly Redemption Amount
must be paid in cash; provided that after the first two monthly redemptions, we may elect to pay all or a portion of a Monthly Redemption
Amount in Conversion Shares, based on a Conversion Price equal to the lesser of (i) the then applicable conversion price of the Debenture
and (ii) 85% of the average of the VWAPs (as defined in the Debenture) for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day
that is immediately prior to the applicable Monthly Redemption Date. We may also redeem some or all of the then outstanding principal
amount of the Debenture at any time for cash in an amount equal to 105% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Debenture being
redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest, liquidated damages and any amounts then owing under the Debenture. Our election to pay monthly
redemptions in Conversion Shares or to effect an optional redemption is subject to the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions (as defined
in the Debenture), including our receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
The
Debenture accrues interest at the rate of 8% per annum, which does not begin accruing until December 1, 2023, and will be payable on
a quarterly basis. Interest may be paid in cash or shares of common stock of the Company or a combination thereof at the option of the
Company; provided that interest may only be paid in shares if the Equity Conditions have been satisfied, including our receipt of the necessary stockholder approvals.
Nanosynex
Funding Agreement
As
a condition to the NanoSynex acquisition, we entered into a Master Agreement
for the Operational and Technological Funding of NanoSynex, on May 26, 2022, pursuant to which we have agreed to fund NanoSynex up to
an aggregate of approximately $10.4 million over a three year period, subject to NanoSynex’s achievement of certain performance
milestones specified in the Funding Agreement and the satisfaction of other terms and conditions described in the Funding Agreement.
We
will receive in exchange for any payment made to NanoSynex under the Funding Agreement one or more promissory notes (which may contain
convertible features) with a face value equal to the amount paid by us to NanoSynex upon satisfaction of the applicable performance
milestones. Any promissory notes issued to us by NanoSynex under the Funding Agreement will bear interest at a rate of 9.00% per annum
on the principal balance from time to time outstanding under the promissory note. The principal and interest under any promissory note
issued to us under the Funding Agreement will be due and payable upon the sooner to occur of: (i) five years from the date of the particular
promissory note; (ii) the acquisition by any person or entity of all or substantially all of the share capital of NanoSynex, through
share purchase, issuance of shares or merger of NanoSynex or the purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of NanoSynex; or
(iii) the initial public offering of NanoSynex. If at any time, our ownership of the share capital of NanoSynex on an issued and outstanding
basis falls or is reasonably expected to fall below 50.1%, solely as a result of the exercise of existing or future options (or an equivalent
instrument) or as a result of issuance of restricted, shares, restricted stock units (or an equivalent instruments), we, in our sole
discretion, may elect to convert all or any portion of the outstanding principal amount of any promissory note into shares of NanoSynex’s
most senior class of preferred shares existing immediately prior to such conversion, subject to the terms and conditions described in
the promissory notes so that, following such conversion, we will regain 50.1% ownership of NanoSynex’s issued and outstanding share
capital. During the year ended December 31, 2022 a total of approximately $2.4 million was funded to NanoSynex, and for the three months ended March
31, 2023 an additional $0.5 million was funded to NanoSynex under the Funding Agreement.
40
Other
Service Agreements
We
enter into contracts in the normal course of business, including with clinical sites, contract research organizations, and other professional
service providers for the conduct of clinical trials, contract manufacturers for the production of our product candidates, contract research
service providers for preclinical research studies, professional consultants for expert advice and vendors for the sourcing of clinical
and laboratory supplies and materials. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice, and therefore are cancelable contracts.
Cash
Flows
The
following table sets forth the significant sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for the periods set forth below:
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2023
2022
Net cash (used in) provided by:
Operating activities
$ (2,634,093 )
$ (3,881,611 )
Investing activities
(198,009 )
(49,625 )
Financing activities
—
3,858
Effect of exchange rate on cash
160,320
—
Net decrease in cash and restricted cash
$ (2,671,781 )
$ (3,927,378 )
Net
Cash Used in Operating Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, operating activities
used $2.6 million of cash, primarily resulting from a net loss of $4.1 million. Cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net
loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were positively impacted by adjustments for a $1.1 million non cash loss on voluntary
conversion of convertible debt, accretion of discount of $0.5 million on convertible debt, $0.2 million in employee/director stock-based
compensation expense, depreciation and amortization of $0.1 million, as well as a $0.4 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other
assets, a $0.3 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a $0.1 million decrease in accounts receivable and
related reserves, and a $0.1 million decrease in inventory. Cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three
months ended March 31, 2023 were negatively impacted by a $1.0 million decrease in fair value of warrant liabilities, a $0.2 million
decrease in deferred tax liability, and a $0.1 million decrease in R&D grant liability.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, operating activities used $3.9 million of cash, primarily resulting from a net loss of $4.3 million.
Cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 benefited from $1.2 million in
employee/director stock-based compensation expense, a $0.3 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $0.2 million decrease
in accounts receivable, a $0.1 million increase in accounts payable, and depreciation and amortization of $0.1 million. Cash flows from
operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were negatively impacted by a $0.5 million decrease
in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a $0.3 million increase in inventory, and a $0.7 million decrease in fair value of
warrant liabilities.
Net
Cash Used in Investing Activities
During
the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $0.2 million, primarily related to the
purchase of property and equipment.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $50,000, primarily related to the purchase
of property and equipment.
Net
Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $0.
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was approximately $4,000, due to net proceeds from exercise
of warrants.
41
3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We
are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise
required under this Item.
4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our
management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of
our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.
Based
on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that , due to the material weakness described below, our disclosure controls and
procedures as of March 31, 2023 were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by
us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our
management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. We believe that a disclosure controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot
provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls system are met, and no evaluation of disclosure controls
can provide absolute assurance that all disclosure control issues, if any, within a company have been detected.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f)
and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision
and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes
in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As of December 31, 2022, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated
Framework, or 2013 Framework. Based on this assessment, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, our internal control
over financial reporting was not effective because of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to
the lack of accounting department resources and/or policies and procedures to ensure recording and disclosure of items in compliance
with generally accepted accounting principles. We have taken and are taking steps to remediate the material weakness, including implementing
additional procedures and utilizing external consulting resources with experience and expertise in U.S. GAAP and public company accounting
and reporting requirements to assist management with its accounting and reporting of complex and/or non-recurring transactions and related
disclosures.
Notwithstanding
the identified material weakness, our management believes that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly
Report fairly represent in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows at and for the periods
presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Nonetheless, we also believe that an internal control system, no matter how well designed and
operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met, and no evaluation of internal
control can provide absolute assurance that all internal control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company are detected.
42
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We
are not currently involved in any legal matters. From time to time, we could become involved in disputes and various litigation matters
that arise in the normal course of business. These may include disputes and lawsuits related to intellectual property, licensing, contract
law and employee relations matters.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
The
Company’s business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition, as well as the price of its stock, can be affected
by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including those described in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s 2022
Annual Report under the heading “Risk Factors.” When any one or more of these risks materialize, the Company’s business,
reputation, results of operations and financial condition, as well as the price of its stock, can be materially and adversely affected.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors since the 2022 Annual Report.
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities
None
Purchases
of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None
ITEM
3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
Applicable
ITEM
5. OTHER INFORMATION
None
43
ITEM
6. EXHIBITS
Incorporated
by Reference
Exhibit
No.
Description
Form
File
No.
Exhibit
Filing
Date
2.1
Contingent Value Rights Agreement, dated May 22, 2020, among the Company, John Beck in the capacity of CVR Holders’ Representative and Andrew J. Ritter in his capacity as a consultant to the Company
8-K
001-37428
2.4
5/29/2020
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-37428
3.1
7/1/2015
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-37428
3.1
9/15/2017
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
001-37428
3.1
3/22/2018
3.4
Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series Alpha Preferred Stock of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 20, 2020
8-K
001-37428
3.1
5/29/2020
3.5
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020 [reverse stock split]
8-K
001-37428
3.2
5/29/2020
3.6
Certificate of Merger, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020
8-K
001-37428
3.3
5/29/2020
3.7
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020 [name change]
8-K
001-37428
3.4
5/29/2020
3.8
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, through August 10, 2021
8-K
001-37428
3.1
8/13/2021
3.9
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
8-K
001-37428
3.1
11/22/2022
4.1
Warrant, issued by the Company in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated May 22, 2020
8-K
001-37428
10.13
5/29/2020
4.2
Form of Warrant, issued by the Company in favor of GreenBlock Capital LLC and its designees, dated May 22, 2020 [post-Merger]
8-K
001-37428
10.10
5/29/2020
4.3
Common Stock Purchase Warrant in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated July 10, 2020
8-K
001-37428
10.2
7/10/2020
44
4.4
Common Stock Purchase Warrant in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated August 4, 2020
8-K
001-37428
10.3
8/4/2020
4.5
“Two-Year” Common Stock Purchase Warrant for 1,348,314 shares in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated December 18, 2020
8-K
001-37428
10.3
12/18/2020
4.6
“Deferred” Common Stock Purchase Warrant in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated December 18, 2020
8-K
001-37428
10.4
12/18/2020
4.7
Form of liability classified Warrant to Purchase Common Stock
10-K
001-37428
4.13
3/31/2021
4.8
Form of “service provider” compensatory equity classified Warrant
10-K
001-37428
4.14
3/31/2021
4.9
Description of Common Stock
10-K
001-37428
4.7
3/31/2020
4.10
Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Warrant to GreenBlock Capital LLC, dated April 25, 2022
10-Q
001-37428
4.15
5/13/2022
4.11
Amended and Restated Common Stock Purchase Warrant to Christopher Nelson, dated April 25, 2022
10-Q
001-37428
4.16
5/13/2022
4.12
Common Stock Purchase Warrant for 2,500,000 shares in favor of Alpha Capital Anstalt, dated December 22, 2022
8-K
001-37428
4.1
12/22/2022
31.1
Certificate of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certificate of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Certificate of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS#
Inline XBRL
Instance Document.
101.SCH#
Inline XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL#
Inline XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF#
Inline XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB#
Inline XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE#
Inline XBRL
Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104
Cover page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
#
XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed herewith, is not a part of a registration statement
or Prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
45
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
May
15, 2023
QUALIGEN
THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:
/s/
Michael S. Poirier
Name:
Michael
S. Poirier
Title:
Chairman
of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
46
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.