Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item
7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
General
In
reviewing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, you should refer to our Consolidated
Financial Statements and the notes related thereto.
28
Results
of Operations
Fiscal
Year ended October 31, 2025 compared with Fiscal Year ended October 31, 2024
Revenue
We
did not have any revenue in fiscal years 2025 and 2024. Over the past several years, our revenue, if any, was derived from technology
licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including revenue from the settlement of litigation. As part of our legacy operations,
the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities in the area of encrypted audio/video conference calling. We do not
expect these activities to be a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations, nor do we expect these activities to require
material financial resources or attention of senior management.
We
have not generated any revenue to date from our therapeutics or vaccine programs. In addition, while we pursue our therapeutics and vaccine
programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies. We do not expect to begin
generating revenue with respect to any of our current therapy or vaccine programs in the near term. Our plan is to achieve a profitable outcome
by eventually licensing our technologies to large pharmaceutical companies that have the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture,
market and sell our technologies as therapeutics or vaccines. The eventual licensing of any of our technologies may take several years,
if it is to occur at all, and may depend on positive results from human clinical trials.
Research
and Development Expenses
Our
research and development expenses are related to the development of our cancer vaccines and CAR-T therapeutics programs and in fiscal year 2025,
the expenses incurred consisted of approximately $3,121,000 and $1,950,000 for cancer vaccines and CAR-T therapeutics, respectively.
In fiscal year 2024, research and development expenses for our cancer vaccines and CAR-T therapeutics were approximately $3,748,000 and
$2,648,000, respectively.
Research
and development expenses decreased by approximately $1,325,000 to approximately $5,071,000 in fiscal year 2025, from approximately
$6,396,000 in fiscal year 2024. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to a decrease in research and
development expenses related to our breast cancer vaccine development program as a result of fluctuations in the timing of certain
materials manufacturing activities of approximately $674,000, a decrease in research and development expenses related to our CAR-T
development program as a result of fluctuations in the timing of certain materials manufacturing activities of approximately
$406,000, a decrease in employee stock option expense as a result of decreases in the calculated fair market value of stock options
granted during the year and allocations of headcount to research and development activities of approximately $274,000, and a
decrease in employee compensation expense other than stock-based compensation as a result of changes in allocations of headcount to
research and development activities of approximately $61,000, offset by an increase in research and development expenses related to
our new vaccine discovery program due to a full year of activity compared to the prior year of approximately $113,000.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $805,000 to approximately $6,630,000 in fiscal year 2025, from approximately
$7,435,000 in fiscal year 2024. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was principally due to a decrease in investor
and public relations firm expenses as a result of changes in firms used during the year of approximately $454,000, a decrease in
director stock option compensation expense as a result of decreases in the calculated fair market value of stock options granted
during the year of approximately $359,000, a decrease in stock compensation for investor and public relations firms as a result of
changes in firms used during the year of approximately $219,000, a decrease in employee stock option compensation expense as a
result of decreases in the calculated fair market value of stock options granted during the year of approximately $106,000, and a
decrease in employee compensation expense other than stock-based compensation as a result of changes in allocations of headcount between research and development and general and administrative
activities as well as changes in employee compensation of approximately $54,000, offset by an increase in expenses related to a change in clinical materials manufacturing vendors of approximately $244,000, an increase in
shareholder relations expenses of approximately $74,000, and an increase in patent prosecution expenses of approximately
$73,000.
Interest
Income
Interest
income decreased to approximately $673,000 in fiscal year 2025 compared to approximately $1,133,000 in fiscal year 2024, due to a decrease
in the amount of short-term investments held and a decrease in interest rates.
29
Net
Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
The
net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, representing Wistar’s ownership interest in Certainty’s net loss, decreased
by approximately $43,000 to approximately $101,000 in fiscal year 2025, from approximately $144,000 in fiscal year 2024, as Certainty’s
net loss decreased.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Based
on currently available information as of January 12, 2026, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments
and expected cash flows will be sufficient to fund our activities for at least the next twelve months. We have implemented a business
model that conserves funds by collaborating with third parties to develop our technologies. However, our projections of future cash needs
and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash that may be
generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we elect to invest in or acquire a
company or companies or new technology or technologies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, we may be required
to obtain more working capital. During the year ended October 31, 2025, we raised approximately $2,378,000, net of expenses, through
an at-the-market equity offering of 772,001 shares of common stock. Under our at-the-market equity program, which is currently effective
and may remain available for us to use in the future, as of October 31, 2025, we may sell up to $100 million of common stock. We may
seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2026 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit
facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible. We cannot be certain that additional funding
will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities
or convertible debt will result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows
in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of
equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. If we fail
to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of
operations and financial condition. Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated
capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which could significantly harm the business and development of operations.
During
the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025, cash used in operating activities was approximately $7,173,000. Cash provided by investing activities
was approximately $4,866,000, resulting from the proceeds on maturities of short-term investments of approximately $49,226,000, which
was offset by the purchase of short-term investments of approximately $44,360,000. Cash provided by financing activities was approximately
$2,280,000, resulting from the sale of 772,001 shares of common stock in an at-the-market equity offering of approximately $2,378,000
net of expenses and proceeds from the sale of common stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan of approximately $7,000, offset
by net costs from the exercise of stock options of approximately $105,000. As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments
at October 31, 2025 decreased approximately $4,750,000 to approximately $15,174,000 from approximately $19,924,000 at the end of fiscal
year 2024.
We
have expected future cash obligations related to the lease of our offices through 2029, inclusive of extension periods, estimated at
approximately $256,000.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
have no variable interest entities or other significant off-balance sheet obligation arrangements.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. In preparing these financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant
impact on amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience
and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On a regular basis, we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates and make
changes accordingly.
30
We
believe that, of the significant accounting policies discussed in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, the following accounting
policies require our most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments:
●
Revenue Recognition;
●
Stock-Based Compensation;
and
●
Research and Development
Expense.
Revenue
Recognition
Our
revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer
of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that
reflects the consideration we expect to receive.
Our
revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas
may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services,
identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate
performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license
is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over
time.
Our
revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up
license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies
owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive,
retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company,
(ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation.
In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related
patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property
rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control
of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from
these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
compensation cost for service-based stock options granted to employees, directors and consultants is measured at the grant date, based
on the fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the
requisite service period (the vesting period of the stock option) which is one to four years. For employee options vesting if the trading
price of the Company’s common stock exceeds certain price targets, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value
at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied service period. For stock-based awards that vest upon the achievement
of a performance metric, the Company recognizes the estimated fair value of the award when achievement becomes probable.
For
restricted stock awards granted to employees and directors that vest at date of grant, we recognize expense based on the grant date
market price of the underlying common stock. For restricted stock awards vesting upon achievement of a price target of our common
stock, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied
service period (median time to vest).
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The
Black-Scholes pricing model and the Monte Carlo Simulation we use to estimate fair value requires valuation assumptions of expected term,
expected volatility, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yield. The expected term of stock options represents the weighted
average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. For employees, we use the simplified method, which is a weighted
average of the vesting term and contractual term, to determine expected term. The simplified method was adopted since we do not believe
that we have sufficient historical exercise data on which to base our own estimate. For consultants, we use the contract term for expected term. Under the Black-Scholes pricing model,
we estimated the expected volatility of our shares of common stock based upon the historical volatility of our share price over a period
of time equal to the expected term of the grants. We estimated the risk-free interest rate based on the implied yield available on the
applicable grant date of a U.S. Treasury note with a term equal to the expected term of the underlying grants. We made the dividend yield
assumption based on our history of not paying dividends and our expectation not to pay dividends in the future.
We
will reconsider use of the Black-Scholes pricing model and the Monte Carlo Simulation if additional information becomes available in
the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in future periods,
the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.
Research
and Development Expense
We
recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred
and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed
pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations
(“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf.
Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each
service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended
in each reporting period.
At
each balance sheet date, management estimates prepaid and accrued research and development costs by discussing progress or stage of completion
of activities with internal personnel and external service providers, and comparing this information to payments made, invoices received,
and the agreed-upon contractual fee to be paid for such services in the applicable contract or statements of work.
In
addition, we allocate certain internal compensation costs to research and development expenses based on management’s estimates
of each employee’s time and effort expended.
Effect
of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We
discuss the potential expected impacts of recently issued pronouncements in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not
required for a smaller reporting company.
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See
accompanying “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
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