UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31 , 2024
Or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 001-41031
Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its
Charter)
Delaware 47-3552922
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
360 Massachusetts Avenue , Suite 203 , Acton , MA 01720
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(844) 327-7078
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area
Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of
the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which
registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share BJDX The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g)
of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required
to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
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, a 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. ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of
an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error
corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s
executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has
filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting
under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its
audit report. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a
shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐
No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s
voting stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2024, was approximately $ 1,700,000 based on the closing price of the common stock of
the registrant as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market on such date. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director
and by each other person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of the registrant have been excluded from this computation. The determination
of affiliate status for this purpose is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. As of March 21, 2025, there were
554,012 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The registrant intends to file a definitive proxy
statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Portions of such
definitive proxy statement are incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K to the extent described therein.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
ii
SUMMARY OF RISK FACTORS
iii
PART I
1
ITEM
1.
BUSINESS
1
ITEM
1A.
RISK FACTORS
8
ITEM
1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
28
ITEM
1C.
CYBERSECURITY
28
ITEM
2.
PROPERTIES
28
ITEM
3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
28
ITEM
4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
28
PART II
29
ITEM
5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
29
ITEM
6.
RESERVED
29
ITEM
7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
29
ITEM
7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
34
ITEM
8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
34
ITEM
9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
34
ITEM
9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
35
ITEM
9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
36
ITEM
9C.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
36
PART III
37
ITEM
10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
37
ITEM
11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
37
ITEM
12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
37
ITEM
13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
37
ITEM
14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
37
PART IV
38
ITEM
15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
38
ITEM
16.
FORM 10-K SUMMARY
39
i
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We
make forward-looking statements in the “Business”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations” and other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”). In some cases,
you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,”
“could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” and the negative of these terms and
other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions
about us, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business.
These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors
that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
While
we believe we have identified material risks, these risks and uncertainties are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Form 10-K may
describe additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive
and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and
uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors,
may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Although
we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of
activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness
of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We are
under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10-K to conform our prior statements to actual
results or revised expectations, and we do not intend to do so.
We
caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Form 10-K in the case
of forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K.
You
should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Our actual results and financial condition may differ
materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary
statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward looking-statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee
future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of the forward-looking statements.
In addition, with respect to all of our forward-looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING COMPANY REFERENCES
In
this Form 10-K, and unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”
refer to Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Bluejay Spinco, LLC, taken as a whole.
ii
SUMMARY
OF RISK FACTORS
Our
business is subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or may adversely
affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects. These risks are discussed more fully in Item
1A. Risk Factors. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
● We
have incurred significant losses since our inception, do not currently generate any operating
income, and will continue to incur losses as we work to obtain product approval, and thus
we may never achieve or maintain profitability.
● We
will require material additional funding to finance our operations to continue as a going
concern, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, and our lack of
cash resources has slowed the timeline of our clinical trial work and could cause us to run
out of cash resources in the near-term.
● Since
the initial public offering of our common stock in November 2021, the market price of our
common stock has fallen by more than 99.9%, and we expect to need additional funding amounts
substantially greater than the current market capitalization of our common stock, which may
result in future dilution that coincides with further material declines in the trading price
of our common stock beyond the substantial declines that have occurred in recent years.
● The
number of shares of common stock underlying our outstanding warrants is several times greater
than our currently outstanding common stock, which could have a negative effect on the market
price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future
equity offerings. In addition, in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of all
or substantially all of our assets, holders of our outstanding warrants would be entitled
to receive the Black Scholes value of such warrants, which may reduce the consideration otherwise
available for payment to holders of our common stock.
● Our
common stock is currently listed for quotation on the Nasdaq Capital Market, but we may be
unable to meet requirements for continued listing in the future.
● We
may be obligated to current and/or prior financial advisors under engagement letters that
we enter into from time to time.
● Our
license and supply arrangements with Toray, which relate to the license of the core technology
used in our Symphony Cartridges and the supply of cartridge intermediates from Toray to SanyoSeiko
for SanyoSeiko to manufacture cartridges for Bluejay, are subject to significant risks that
may threaten our viability or otherwise have a material adverse effect on us and our business,
assets and its prospects.
● We
do not currently have sufficient supply of, or know-how from Toray to produce the capture
antibody for our cartridges that we currently depend on.
● We
might not be able to discover the underlying cause of an ongoing performance reproducibility
issue with our product, and if the issues are ultimately determined to be inherent in the
design process of the platform, we might have to undertake a significant adjustment to our
process and materials.
● Our
Symphony platform, including its software and systems, may contain undetected errors, which
could limit our ability to provide our products and diminish the attractiveness of our offerings.
● If
we or our manufacturers fail to comply with the regulatory quality system regulations or
any applicable equivalent regulations, our proposed operations could be interrupted, and
our operating results would suffer.
● If
we are found to have violated laws protecting the confidentiality of patient health information,
we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, which could increase our liabilities
and harm our reputation or our business.
● Significant
raw material shortages, supplier capacity constraints, supplier disruptions, and sourcing
issues may adversely impact or limit our products sales and or impact our product margins.
● Our
ability to solve ongoing issues with critical raw material supply, stability, and reliability
of the Symphony Cartridge product may adversely impact our ability to complete clinical trial
work and commercialize Symphony.
iii
● The
regulatory approval process which we may be required to navigate may be expensive, time-consuming,
and uncertain and may prevent us from obtaining clearance for our planned products.
● Our
Symphony platform may be sold as a research use only product. The FDA could disagree with
this strategy and subject the product to regulation as a regulated medical device, which
could increase our costs and delay our commercialization efforts, thereby materially and
adversely affecting our business and results of operations.
● Clinical
data obtained in the future may not meet the required objectives, which could delay, limit
or prevent any regulatory approval.
● We
may be unable to complete required clinical evaluations, or we may experience significant
delays in completing such clinical evaluations, which could prevent or significantly delay
our targeted product launch timeframe and impair our viability and business plan.
● We
and our suppliers may not meet regulatory quality standards applicable to our manufacturing
processes, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results
of operations.
● We
may be liable if the FDA or another regulatory agency concludes that we have engaged in the
off-label promotion of our products.
● Legislative
or regulatory reforms may make it more difficult and costly for us to obtain regulatory clearance
or approval of any future products and to manufacture, market and distribute our products
after clearance or approval is obtained.
● We
depend on intellectual property licensed from Toray, and any dispute over the license would
significantly harm our business.
● We
will depend primarily on Toray to file, prosecute, maintain, defend and enforce intellectual
property that we license from it and that is material to our business.
● We
and Toray may be unable to protect or enforce the intellectual property rights licensed to
us, which could impair our competitive position.
● We
and/or Toray may be subject to claims alleging the violation of the intellectual property
rights of others.
● We
and Toray may be subject to claims challenging the invention of the intellectual property
that we license from Toray.
● We
are currently only pursuing one aspect of analytical validation, one of three series of validation
tests required for FDA clearance, and we cannot be certain how long the remaining tests will
take us.
● The
FDA could request additional data or testing after our submission for application, requiring
additional costs and delaying approval.
● We
face intense competition in the diagnostic testing market, particularly in the IL-6 space,
and as a result we may be unable to effectively compete in our industry.
● Sales
of substantial amounts of our securities in the public market could depress the market price
of our common stock.
● Failure
to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act could have material adverse effect on our business and stock price. Our President and
Chief Executive Officer, in addition to serving as principal executive officer, currently
serves as our principal financial and accounting officer, and we have no employees devoted
on a full-time basis to our finance, accounting, legal or compliance functions, which may
substantially increase the likelihood that we will fail to successfully maintain effective
internal controls over financial reporting, or effective disclosure controls and procedures.
iv
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
Overview
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc. (“Bluejay”) is a medical diagnostics company focused on improving patient outcomes in critical care
settings. We are working on developing rapid tests using whole blood on our Symphony technology platform (“Symphony”),
which consists of an analyzer and single-use cartridges. We do not yet have regulatory clearance for Symphony, and we will need to
receive regulatory authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) to be marketed as a diagnostic
product in the United States. We have completed the development of the Symphony analyzer. We are currently preparing to transfer
the intellectual property underlying the production of the Symphony cartridges from the original developer and outside supplier,
Toray Industries, to an in-house facility. We are also beginning the process of redeveloping aspects of the Symphony cartridges to
address several technical challenges to bring Symphony to a level consistent with necessary performance and quality requirements.
After redevelopment, we plan to transfer manufacturing of the Symphony cartridges to a Contract Manufacturing Organization
(“CMO”) to manufacture the Symphony cartridges. To achieve our plan, we expect to need to raise at least $30
million of capital between the second quarter of 2025 and the end of the 2027 fiscal year, which we hope to do in various tranches
during this time period. Our current plan, subject to achieving necessary financing, is to begin testing of samples we are
collecting as part of our ongoing SYMON-II clinical trial in mid-2027, with a goal of being in position to submit a 510(k)
regulatory application to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2027, with an objective of achieving FDA approval as early as the third
quarter of 2028.
Our
Symphony platform is a combination of Bluejay’s intellectual property (“IP”) and exclusively licensed and patented
IP on the Symphony technology that we believe, if cleared, authorized, or approved by the FDA, can provide a solution to a significant
market need in the United States. The Symphony device is designed to produce laboratory-quality results in 20 minutes in critical care
settings, including Intensive Care Units (“ICUs”) and Emergency Rooms (“ERs”), where rapid and reliable results
are required.
Our
first product candidate, the Symphony IL-6 test, is an immunoassay for the measurement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) to be used for the monitoring
of disease progression in critical care settings. We are currently focused on pursuing the Symphony IL-6 test in the context of sepsis.
IL-6 is a clinically established inflammatory biomarker, and is considered a ‘first-responder,’ for assessment of severity
of infection and inflammation across many disease indications, including sepsis. A current challenge of healthcare professionals is the
excessive time and cost associated determining a patient’s level of severity at triage and we believe that our Symphony IL-6 test,
if ultimately successful and approved, could have the ability to consistently monitor this critical care biomarker with rapid results.
If
we succeed with the foregoing plan, in the future we hope to develop additional tests for Symphony, including tests for myocardial infraction
and congestive heart failure (cardiac biomarkers hsTNT and NT pro-BNP) as well as other tests using the Symphony platform.
In
the future, we also hope to explore new products to support our biomarker detection program. Furthermore, we intend to explore strategic
opportunities around our pending IP on clinical utilities of IL-6 and the specimen biobanks generated from our SYMON I and SYMON II clinical
studies.
Our
operations to date have been funded primarily through the proceeds of (i) our initial public offering (the “IPO”) on November
2021 (the “IPO Date”), (ii) the registered direct offering of common stock and concurrent private placement of warrants that
we completed on August 28, 2023, (iii) the public offering of common stock and warrants that we completed on January 2, 2024, and (iv)
the public offering of common stock and warrants that we completed on June 20, 2024. Since inception, our operations have resulted in
accumulated deficit of approximately $34.7 million, and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred operating losses of
approximately $7.2 million. As described above and elsewhere herein, we expect to need a material amount of additional funding to finance
our operations during the next several years and ultimately commercialize our products, and we do not currently expect to have any sources
of revenue during this period.
We
were incorporated under the laws of Delaware on March 20, 2015. Our headquarters is located in Acton, Massachusetts.
On
June 4, 2021, Bluejay formed Bluejay Spinco, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, for purposes of further development of our ALLEREYE diagnostic
test. ALLEREYE is a point-of-care device offering healthcare providers a solution for diagnosing Allergic Conjunctivitis.
Our
Market
The
Symphony platform is designed to address a subset of the global in vitro diagnostics devices (“IVDs”) market, with
a focus on targeting critical care markets where physicians must quickly determine patient acuity to identify optimal treatment regimens.
We are currently focused on our initial biomarker test, Symphony IL-6 test, in the context of the evaluation of the risk of mortality
due to sepsis. We hope in the future to also explore the potential for adding new biomarker tests to the Symphony platform to also be
used in the context of cardio-metabolic diseases, cancer and other diseases that require rapid tests.
1
Our
Business Model
We
do not currently have any revenue-generating operations. Our goal is to become the first provider of rapid tests for critical care settings,
including infectious, inflammatory and metabolic diseases, by leveraging the strengths of our Symphony platform. We intend to target
our sales and marketing of Symphony to the largest critical care facilities in the United States. Our planned business model, which is
contingent on us ultimately obtaining market approval and commercializing our Symphony platform, includes the following:
● Financing
Model . We intend to offer various financing options for the device itself. As such, our planned business model would not require
customers to incur a significant capital outlay, assuming we are able to successfully offer such financial options.
● Recurring
Revenue . We intend to sell single-use diagnostic test cartridges, thereby seeking to create a growing and recurring revenue stream,
as adoption and utilization increase, and as we develop tests for additional indications. We intend that the sale of test cartridges
would generate the majority of our revenue and gross profit.
● Expand
our Menu of Diagnostic Products . Our goal would be for the average customer use of the Symphony platform to increase as overall adoption
of the product occurs. If we are able to achieve market approval in the context of sepsis and then expand our test menu to other diseases
and/or conditions, we hope to be able to increase our annual revenue per customer through the resulting increase in utilization.
The
Symphony Platform
The
Symphony platform is a proprietary technology platform that is designed to provide rapid and accurate measurements of key diagnostic
biomarkers found in blood in a manner that we believe is innovative in the market. Symphony is compact and is designed for the potential
of it to be deployed in a manner that is more mobile than current laboratory diagnostic platforms on the market. Symphony incorporates
a user-friendly interface where all sample preparation and reagents are integrated into the disposable Symphony cartridges. Symphony
only requires a few drops of blood to provide a measurement in approximately 20 minutes.
The
Symphony analyzer is developed and is designed to orchestrate sample processing (e.g. whole blood, plasma, serum, etc.), biomarker isolation,
and immunoassay preparation using non-contact centrifugal force. All necessary reagents and components are integrated into the Symphony
cartridges. Utilizing precision microchannel technology and high specificity antibodies, liquid samples are processed, and the biomarker
is isolated within the Symphony cartridge. Intermitted centrifugation cycles enable complex fluid movements, allowing sequential reagent
additions and independent reaction steps inside the Symphony cartridge. At the conclusion of the test, the Symphony analyzer measures
the fluorescence signature correlating to a highly sensitive quantitation of the biomarker.
To
perform a Symphony test, the test operator adds the sample (e.g. whole blood, plasma, serum, etc.) to the Symphony cartridge. After scanning
the patient ID, the Symphony cartridge is inserted into the Symphony analyzer and the operator initiates the fully automated test. Each
analyzer can run up to six cartridges simultaneously, either with six different patient samples or six different tests, providing quantitative
measurements used for improved patient management and clinical decision-making.
Bluejay’s
current supply agreement of Symphony cartridges from Toray Industries is valid through October 2025, at which point we expect the
agreement to expire. To date, Bluejay has relied on Toray’s development and manufacturing of the Symphony cartridges. We have
encountered several technical challenges in the performance and quality of the Symphony cartridges. We are currently preparing to
transfer the intellectual property underlying production of the cartridges from Toray to an in-house facility for redevelopment.
We are also beginning the process of redeveloping aspects of the cartridges to address several technical challenges to bring our
product to a level consistent with the necessary performance and quality requirements. To address the technical challenges related
to the Symphony cartridges, we expect the redevelopment work will occur over at least the next year. In particular, several
individual components in the cartridges need to be replaced and/or validated due to limited supply or discontinuation (including the
antibody used in the cartridge). In addition, we are working to correct several reliability and stability issues with the cartridge
product.
After
the cartridge redevelopment is completed, we plan to transfer the manufacturing process to an FDA-registered CMO. We expect that production
lots for validation testing to support the FDA submission will be available once the transfer to an FDA registered CMO is completed.
At this time, we do not anticipate being able to perform analytical performance validation testing until mid-2027.
Manufacturing
We
plan to manufacture our analyzers through Sanyoseiko Co. Ltd. (“Sanyoseiko”), as a contract manufacturing organizations (“CMO”),
and we have a contract with Sanyoseiko for this purpose.
Once
redeveloped, we plan to transfer manufacturing of our cartridges to Sanyoseiko, or other suitable CMO. We currently do not have a contract
for the manufacture of the redeveloped cartridges.
2
Sanyoseiko
had been selected as our CMO due to their core competencies in manufacturing and quality system recognized by the FDA. Sanyoseiko’s
facilities are located in Japan. We currently license the technology for the Symphony cartridges from Toray. Our license grants us exclusive
global marketing rights, with the exception of Japan. Bluejay holds the rights to manufacture the analyzers.
FDA
Regulatory Strategy
Our
current regulatory strategy is designed to support commercialization of Symphony in the United States once we receive marketing authorization
from the FDA. In May 2023, we submitted a pre-submission application to the FDA presenting study designs to validate Symphony IL-6 for
use with hospitalized sepsis patients. We participated in a pre-submission meeting with the FDA on August 11, 2023, and at the meeting
the FDA provided feedback on the study design, determined that the submission of a 510(k) is the appropriate premarket submission pathway,
and requested that certain data be provided in the 510(k). Based on this feedback, we determined to proceed on this basis, which considers
the FDA’s feedback.
In
the second quarter of 2024, we completed a multicenter SYmphony IL-6 MONitoring Sepsis (“SYMON”) clinical study investigating
the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock. This prospective study assessed the performance
of IL-6 upon initial presentation to the intensive care unit (ICU). A primary analysis of the SYMON-I pilot clinical study (registered
clinical trial number NCT06181604) highlighted that IL-6 levels within 24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to
the ICU may predict patient mortality out to 28 days. Furthermore, a secondary outcome of the SYMON-I study showed that IL-6 levels within
24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to the ICU is a predictor of patient mortality during their hospitalization.
Other secondary outcomes showed that lactate and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), standard clinical tests used for sepsis
and septic shock patients, were not predictors of patient mortality out to 28 days. We believe that the findings underscore the potential
importance of IL-6 as a predictor and provide new insights into the potential pathways for improving sepsis outcomes.
Using
the data analysis from the SYMON-I pilot clinical study, we initiated the SYMON-II pivotal clinical study in the third quarter of 2024.
The SYMON II clinical study has three components: (1) collection, freezing, and biobanking of patient samples, (2) measuring IL-6 concentrations
in the biobanked samples near the end of patient enrollment or after the patient enrollment has completed, and (3) analysis of the IL-6
data with the patient outcomes to see if the established IL-6 cutoff value has been validated for 28-day all-cause mortality. Patient
enrollment started during the fourth quarter of 2024. Our goal is to use the Symphony IL-6 test to complete the testing in the SYMON-II
clinical trial.
If
we are able to complete the SYMON-II clinical study and the results are positive, we intend to use the data generated from SYMON-II to
support a 510(k) application to the FDA. This application is currently expected to be based on the following intended use: “Symphony
IL-6 is intended for use to determine the IL-6 concentration as an aid in assessing the cumulative 28-day risk of all-cause mortality
in conjunction with other laboratory findings and clinical assessments for patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock in the ICU.”
We also plan to present the SYMON-I and SYMON-II results at future national scientific meetings and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.
Subject to achieving needed funding and successfully addressing the technical challenges that our described above, our goal is to be
in position to submit a 510(k) regulatory application to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2027, with an objective of achieving FDA approval
as early as the third quarter of 2028.
Our
ability to engage in and complete the activities needed for an FDA submission will be contingent upon us addressing these and other challenges,
including possessing and/or raising sufficient capital, remaining a going concern, and producing product capable of supporting our product
requirements and meeting analytical validation and clinical validation.
Sales
and Marketing
Until
such time as Symphony products may be authorized by the FDA, our sales and marketing efforts are intended to focus on brand awareness
and market education to potential customers, emphasizing the value of monitoring a critical care patient’s IL-6 levels to improve
decision making and patient outcomes. If the device is cleared by the FDA, we intend to target sales to ERs and ICUs at United States
hospitals, as well as to long-term acute care facilities. We hope to establish a market presence by selling Symphony devices and tests
both directly and through various distribution channels to maximize sales volume and market penetration. In addition to our hope to sell
Symphony for eventual use in the patient care market, we are also evaluating sales of Symphony devices for “research use only”
purposes.
3
License
Agreement
We
depend on Toray’s intellectual property to develop the Symphony cartridges upon which the Symphony platform relies. On October
6, 2020, we entered into a License and Supply Agreement, as amended (the “License Agreement”), with Toray, providing us with
an exclusive global license with Toray, excluding Japan, to use their patents and know-how related to the Symphony detection cartridges
for the manufacturing, marketing and sale of the products (as defined in the License Agreement).
On
October 23, 2023, we entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement (the “New Toray License Agreement”) and a Master
Supply Agreement (the “New Toray Supply Agreement” and, together, the “Toray Agreements”) with Toray. Under the
New Toray License Agreement, we continue to license from Toray intellectual property rights needed to manufacture single-use test cartridges,
and we have received the right to sublicense certain Toray intellectual property to Sanyoseiko in connection with our ongoing agreement
with Sanyoseiko to manufacture our Symphony analyzers and cartridges. In addition, the New Toray License Agreement provides for the transfer
of certain technology related to the cartridges to Sanyoseiko. The royalty payments we are required to pay Toray have been reduced under
the New Toray License Agreement from 15% to 7.5% (or less in certain circumstances) of net sales of certain cartridges for a term of
10 years. A 50% reduction in the royalty rate applies upon expiry of applicable Toray patents on a product-by-product and country-by-country
basis. The New Toray License Agreement contemplates that applicable royalty payment obligations from us to Toray for other products will
be determined separately in the future.
We
are currently preparing to transfer the intellectual property and know-how related to the cartridges to an in-house facility for
redevelopment. After the cartridge redevelopment is completed, we plan to transfer the manufacturing process to an FDA-registered
CMO for validation testing and commercial manufacturing. We do not currently expect to be able to complete this transfer prior to
the end of 2026, at the earliest. If Toray were to assert that we have not established a facility to manufacture our cartridges
prior to the expiration of the supply agreement (which is currently expected to occur in October 2025), Toray could assert that we
are in material breach of the license agreement and seek to terminate it as early as November 2025. If Toray sought to terminate the
license, and was successful in doing so, we would lose access to certain technology required to produce the cartridges that our
Symphony system relies on to function, which would likely result in a material adverse effect on our commercialization
efforts. We are in the process of negotiating an agreement with Toray to, among other things, clarify that Toray will not seek to terminate the
license agreement in connection with the expiration of the supply agreement.
Intellectual
Property, Proprietary Technology
In
the fourth quarter of 2024, we submitted a provisional patent to the U.S. Patent Office. The provisional patent is to establish a priority
date to protect certain utilizations of IL-6 with sepsis patients. We plan to file a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application in the
fourth quarter of 2025 for the inventions.
We
do not currently directly hold any granted patents. We rely on a combination either directly or through the License Agreement with Toray
of patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, confidentiality agreements, and contractual protection to establish and protect our proprietary
rights. Of these patents we rely on, the protections expire internationally in 2027 and 2028, while Toray patents in the U.S. expire
on March 18, 2029 and February 22, 2030. As described above, we are currently working toward a goal of achieving FDA approval of the
Symphony product as early as the third quarter of 2028, which means that even if meet our timeline, the period of time we will have to
commercialize our product under the protection of these patents is expected to be very narrow. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors –
“ We and Toray may be unable to protect or enforce the intellectual property rights licensed to us, which could impair our competitive
position. ”
In
connection with prior development work performed by Bluejay, we plan to apply for patent protections related to certain design improvements
made to the Symphony technology platform.
Competition
There
are currently no FDA cleared or approved IL-6 tests on the market. There are IL-6 tests granted FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
for use with only COVID-19 patients, including the Roche Cobas ® , Siemens ADVIA Centaur ® and Beckman Coulter
Access 2 ® , which are laboratory size equipment and require pre-processing of whole blood prior to performing their test.
We believe that Symphony, which is designed for many liquid sample types including whole blood, provides us with a substantial competitive
advantage over our existing competition that will sustain through commercialization, despite the major life science companies and consistent
entry of innovative start-ups that define our competitive landscape.
Government
Regulation
The
design, development, manufacture, testing and sale of our products in the U.S. are subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities,
principally the FDA, and corresponding state and local regulatory agencies.
4
FDA
Regulation
Medical
Devices
Generally,
the products we develop must be cleared by the FDA before they are marketed in the United States. Before and after approval, authorization,
or clearance in the United States, our products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, as well as by other regulatory bodies.
FDA regulations govern, among other things, the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, safety, storage, recordkeeping, market
clearance, authorization or approval, advertising and promotion, import and export, marketing and sales, and distribution of medical
devices, including IVDs. IVDs are a type of medical device and include reagents and instruments used in the diagnosis or detection of
diseases, conditions or infections, including, without limitation, the presence of certain chemicals or other biomarkers. Predictive,
prognostic and screening tests can also be IVDs.
In
the United States, medical devices are subject to varying degrees of regulatory control and are classified in one of three classes depending
on the extent of controls the FDA determines are necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and effectiveness:
● Class
I: general controls, such as labeling and adherence to quality system regulations;
● Class
II: special controls, premarket notification (often referred to as a 510(k)), specific controls such as performance standards, patient
registries, post-market surveillance, additional controls such as labeling and adherence to quality system regulations; and
● Class
III: special controls and requires a premarket approval (“PMA”).
FDA
Premarket Clearance and Approval Requirements
Unless
an exemption applies, each medical device commercially distributed in the United States requires either FDA clearance of a 510(k) premarket
notification, approval of a de novo application, or approval of a premarket approval (PMA).
While
most Class I devices are exempt from the 510(k) premarket notification requirement, manufacturers of most Class II devices
are required to submit to the FDA a premarket notification under Section 510(k) of the FDCA requesting permission to commercially
distribute the device. The FDA’s permission to commercially distribute a device subject to a 510(k) premarket notification is generally
known as 510(k) clearance. Devices deemed by the FDA to pose the greatest risks, such as life sustaining, life supporting or some implantable
devices, or devices that have a new intended use, or use advanced technology that is not substantially equivalent to that of a legally
marketed device, are placed in Class III, requiring approval of a PMA. Some pre-amendment devices are unclassified, but are subject
to FDA’s premarket notification and clearance process in order to be commercially distributed. Our initial product is a Class II
device subject to 510(k) clearance.
510(k)
Clearance Marketing Pathway
To
obtain 510(k) clearance, a company must submit to the FDA a premarket notification submission demonstrating that the proposed device
is “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device already on the market. A predicate device is a legally marketed device
that is not subject to PMA, i.e., a device that was legally marketed prior to May 28, 1976 (pre-amendments device) and for which
a PMA is not required, a device that has been reclassified from Class III to Class II or I, or a device that was found substantially
equivalent through the 510(k) process. The FDA’s 510(k) clearance process usually takes from three to twelve months, but often
takes longer. The FDA may require additional information, including clinical data, to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence.
In addition, the FDA collects user fees for certain medical device submissions and annual fees for medical device establishments.
After
a device receives 510(k) marketing clearance, any modification that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness, or that would
constitute a major change or modification in its intended use, will require a new 510(k) clearance or, depending on the modification,
PMA approval. The FDA requires each manufacturer to determine whether the proposed change requires submission of a 510(k) or a PMA in
the first instance, but the FDA can review any such decision and disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. If the FDA disagrees
with a manufacturer’s determination, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing and/or request the recall of the modified
device until 510(k) marketing clearance or PMA approval is obtained. Also, in these circumstances, the manufacturer may be subject to
significant regulatory fines or penalties.
De
Novo Classification
Devices
of a new type that FDA has not previously classified based on risk are automatically classified into Class III by operation of section
513(f)(1) of the FDCA, regardless of the level of risk they pose. To avoid requiring PMA review of low- to moderate-risk devices classified
in Class III by operation of law, Congress enacted section 513(f)(2) of the FDCA. This provision allows FDA to classify a low- to moderate-risk
device not previously classified into Class I or II. After de novo authorization, an authorized device may be used as a predicate for
future devices going through the 510(k) process.
The
FDA has classified Symphony as de novo, a device of a new type that the FDA has not previously classified. Once obtained, a de novo authorization
may lead to Symphony’s use as a predicate for future devices going through the 510(k) process.
5
Clinical
Trials
Clinical
trials are often required for a de novo authorization. All clinical investigations of devices to determine safety and effectiveness must
be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s IDE regulations which govern investigational device labeling, prohibit promotion of the
investigational device, and specify an array of recordkeeping, reporting and monitoring responsibilities of study sponsors and study
investigators. If the device presents a “significant risk,” to human health, as defined by the FDA, the FDA requires the
device sponsor to submit an IDE application to the FDA, which must become effective prior to commencing human clinical trials. A significant
risk device is one that presents a potential for serious risk to the health, safety or welfare of a patient and either is implanted,
used in supporting or sustaining human life, substantially important in diagnosing, curing, mitigating or treating disease or otherwise
preventing impairment of human health, or otherwise presents a potential for serious risk to a subject. An IDE application must be supported
by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory test results, showing that it is safe to test the device in humans and that the testing
protocol is scientifically sound. The IDE will automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA unless the FDA notifies
the company that the investigation may not begin. If the FDA determines that there are deficiencies or other concerns with an IDE for
which it requires modification, the FDA may permit a clinical trial to proceed under a conditional approval.
In
addition, the study must be approved by, and conducted under the oversight of, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for each clinical
site. The IRB is responsible for the initial and continuing review of the IDE study and may pose additional requirements for the conduct
of the study. If an IDE application is approved by the FDA and one or more IRBs, human clinical trials may begin at a specific number
of investigational sites with a specific number of patients, as approved by the FDA. If the device presents a non-significant risk to
the patient, a sponsor may begin the clinical trial after obtaining approval for the trial by one or more IRBs without separate approval
from the FDA, but must still follow abbreviated IDE requirements, such as monitoring the investigation, ensuring that the investigators
obtain informed consent, and labeling and record-keeping requirements. Acceptance of an IDE application for review does not guarantee
that the FDA will allow the IDE to become effective and, if it does become effective, the FDA may or may not determine that the data
derived from the trials support the safety and effectiveness of the device or warrant the continuation of clinical trials. An IDE supplement
must be submitted to, and approved by, the FDA before a sponsor or investigator may make a change to the investigational plan that may
affect its scientific soundness, study plan or the rights, safety or welfare of human subjects.
During
a study, the sponsor is required to comply with the applicable FDA requirements, including, for example, trial monitoring, selecting
clinical investigators and providing them with the investigational plan, ensuring IRB review, adverse event reporting, record keeping
and prohibitions on the promotion of investigational devices or on making safety or effectiveness claims for them. The clinical investigators
in the clinical study are also subject to FDA regulations and must obtain patient informed consent, rigorously follow the investigational
plan and study protocol, control the disposition of the investigational device, and comply with all reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Additionally, after a trial begins, we, the FDA or the IRB could suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time for various reasons,
including a belief that the risks to study subjects outweigh the anticipated benefits.
Sponsors
of applicable clinical trials of devices also are required to register with www.clinicaltrials.gov, a public database of clinical
trial information. Information related to the device, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators and other
aspects of the clinical trial is made public as part of the registration. Although the FDA’s Quality System Regulation (QSR) does
not fully apply to investigational devices, the requirement for controls on design and development does apply.
Post-market
Regulation
After
a device is cleared or approved for marketing, numerous and pervasive regulatory requirements continue to apply. These include:
● establishment
registration and device listing with the FDA;
●
QSR
requirements, which require manufacturers, including third-party manufacturers, to follow stringent design, testing, control, documentation
and other quality assurance procedures during all aspects of the design and manufacturing process;
●
labeling
regulations and FDA prohibitions against the promotion of investigational products, or the promotion of “off-label”
uses of cleared or approved products;
●
requirements
related to promotional activities;
●
clearance
or approval of product modifications to 510(k)-cleared devices that could significantly affect safety or effectiveness or that would
constitute a major change in intended use of one of our cleared devices, or approval of certain modifications to PMA-approved devices;
●
medical
device reporting regulations, which require that a manufacturer report to the FDA if a device it markets may have caused or contributed
to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned and the device or a similar device that it markets would be likely to cause or
contribute to a death or serious injury, if the malfunction were to recur;
●
correction,
removal and recall reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers report to the FDA field corrections and product recalls
or removals if undertaken to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDCA that may present a
risk to health;
●
the
FDA’s recall authority, whereby the agency can order device manufacturers to recall from the market a product that is in violation
of governing laws and regulations; and
●
post-market
surveillance activities and regulations, which apply when deemed by the FDA to be necessary to protect the public health or to provide
additional safety and effectiveness data for the device.
6
Once
we have a commercialized product, our manufacturing processes will be required to comply with the applicable portions of the QSR, which
cover the methods and the facilities and controls for the design, manufacture, testing, production, processes, controls, quality assurance,
labeling, packaging, distribution, installation and servicing of finished devices intended for human use. The QSR also requires, among
other things, maintenance of a device master file, device history file, and complaint files. As a manufacturer, we are subject to periodic
scheduled or unscheduled inspections by the FDA. Our failure to maintain compliance with the QSR requirements could result in the shut-down
of, or restrictions on, our manufacturing operations and the recall or seizure of our products, which would have a material adverse effect
on our business. The discovery of previously unknown problems with any of our products, including unanticipated adverse events or adverse
events of increasing severity or frequency, whether resulting from the use of the device within the scope of its clearance or off-label
by a physician in the practice of medicine, could result in restrictions on the device, including the removal of the product from the
market or voluntary or mandatory device recalls.
The
FDA has broad regulatory compliance and enforcement powers. If the FDA determines that we failed to comply with applicable regulatory
requirements, it can take a variety of compliance or enforcement actions, which may result in any of the following sanctions:
●
untitled
letters, warning letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
●
unanticipated
expenditures to address or defend such actions;
●
customer
notifications or repair, replacement, refunds, recall, detention or seizure of our products;
●
operating
restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production;
●
refusing
or delaying our requests for regulatory approvals or clearances of new products or modified products;
●
refusal
to grant export approval for our products; or
●
criminal
prosecution.
Employees
As
of March 21, 2025, we have 7 full-time employees, which includes two executive officers. We also contract with several consultants
and contractors performing finance, accounting, regulatory advisory, investor relations and manufacturing scale-up support. To conserve
costs, our President and Chief Executive Officer serves as our principal financial and accounting officer, in addition to being our principal
executive officer. In addition, we do not employ any internal legal personnel. None of our employees are represented by labor unions
or covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Reverse
Stock Splits and Increase to Authorized Capital
On
July 24, 2023, we effected the first reverse stock split of our shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-20 (the “July 2023 Reverse
Stock Split”). On June 20, 2024, we effected a second reverse stock split of our shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-8 (the
“June 2024 Reverse Stock Split”). On November 18, 2024, we effected a third reverse stock split of our shares of common stock
at a ratio of 1-for-50 (the “November 2024 Reverse Stock Split” and together with the July 2023 Reverse Stock Split and the
June 2024 Reverse Stock Split, the “Reverse Stock Splits”). As such, collectively, the Company’s common stock has undergone
reverse stock splits that have combined the shares on a 1-for-8,000 aggregate basis since July 2023. The Reverse Stock Splits became
effective on the dates noted above, when the Company’s common stock opened for trading on Nasdaq on a post-split basis under the
Company’s existing trading symbol, “BJDX.” All historical share and per share amounts reflected throughout this Form
10-K have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Splits. However, our periodic and current reports, and all other documents incorporated
by reference into this Form 10-K that were filed prior to the dates noted above, do not give effect to the applicable Reverse Stock Splits.
On
October 23, 2024, the stockholders of the Company approved and adopted an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock to 250,000,000.
Available
Information
Our
principal executive offices are located at 360 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 203, Acton, MA 01720 and our telephone number is (844) 327-7078.
Our website address is www.bluejaydx.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K
and all amendments to those reports, proxy statements and other information about us are made available, free of charge, through the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Filings section of our website at www.ir.bluejaydx.com/financial-information/sec-filings
and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished
to the SEC. We include our website address in this report only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active
link to our website. The contents of our website are not incorporated into this report.
In
addition, our Board of Directors has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all officers, directors and
employees, which is available through the “Governance Overview” section of our website at www.ir.bluejaydx.com/corporate-governance/governance-overview.
We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and by posting such information on the website address and location specified above.
7
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing
in our securities carries a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of
the other information in this Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this
Form 10-K, before deciding whether to invest in our securities. If any or a combination of the following risks were to materialize, our
results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that were to be the case, the market
price of our securities could decline, and investors could lose all or part of their investment. The risks and uncertainties described
below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be
immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
Risks
Related to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements
We
have incurred significant losses since our inception, do not currently generate any operating income, and expect to continue incurring
losses as we work to obtain product approval, and thus we may never achieve or maintain profitability.
Since
our inception, we have engaged primarily in development activities, including planning and implementing clinical trials to support commercialization
and FDA approval of our Symphony platform. We have funded our operations primarily through debt and equity financings, and have incurred
losses since inception, including a net loss of approximately $7.7 million and approximately $10.0 million for the years ended December
31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and from our inception through December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $34.7
million.
We
currently have no product revenue and we may not be able to commercialize our Symphony technology platform or achieve significant revenues
or profitability. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends upon our ability, alone or with others, to complete
the development process of our product candidates, including regulatory approvals, and thereafter achieve substantial acceptance in the
marketplace for our products. We may be unable to achieve any or all of these goals.
We
will require additional funding to finance our operations to continue as a going concern, which may not be available to us on acceptable
terms, or at all, and our lack of cash resources has slowed the timeline of our clinical trial work and could cause us to run out of
cash resources in the near-term.
To
date, we have relied primarily on private debt and equity financing to carry on our business. We have limited financial resources, negative
cash flow from operations and no assurance that sufficient funding will be available to us to fund our operating expenses and to further
our product development efforts and pursue clinical trials for FDA approval. Based on these and other factors, in our audited consolidated
financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we concluded that this circumstance raised substantial doubt about
our ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the original issuance date of such financial statements. Similarly, in
its report on the consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, our independent registered public
accounting firm included an emphasis of matter paragraph stating that our recurring losses from operations and continued cash outflows
from operating activities raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our consolidated financial statements
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Absent
further funding, we currently expect to run out of available cash resources during the third quarter of 2025. To achieve our current
strategic plan, which strives to be in position to submit a 510(k) regulatory application to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2027 and
achieve FDA approval as early as the third quarter of 2028, we expect to need to raise at least $30 million of capital between the
second quarter of 2025 and the end of the 2027 fiscal year, which we hope to do in various tranches during this time period. There can
be no assurance that such additional capital will be available on a timely basis or on terms that will be acceptable to us. We currently
do not have any contracts or commitments for additional financing. In addition, any additional equity financing may involve substantial
dilution to our existing stockholders, or provide that an equity or debt financing source obtains rights to control the membership of
our board of directors.
As
a result of our lack of cash resources, we have slowed the timeline of our clinical trial work to preserve cash resources in the near-term.
If we fail to obtain additional financing, we likely will be forced to abandon such activities entirely and file for bankruptcy protection,
with the possible loss of such properties or assets (including the license to our core technology). Based on our explorations to date,
we do not expect that any other strategic alternatives, such as a potential sale of the Company or its assets or other restructuring
efforts, will be available to us in the near-term. As a result, any inability to obtain additional financing in the near-term, including
a material amount of financing over the next 2-3 years, would likely result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations, cash flow, financial condition and prospects and cause our stockholders to receive little or no return on their shares of
common stock.
8
Since
the initial public offering of our common stock in November 2021, the market price of our common stock has fallen by more than 99.9%,
and we expect to need additional funding amounts substantially greater than the current market capitalization of our common stock, which
may result in future dilution that coincides with further material declines in the trading price of our common stock beyond the substantial
declines that have occurred in recent years.
Since
the initial public offering of our common stock in November 2021, the market price of our common stock has fallen by more than 99.9%,
including declines of greater than 80% per year in each of 2022, 2023 and 2024. During such period of time, we have conducted several
public offerings of securities to raise additional capital, and in each case, the market price of our common stock has fallen substantially
after the consummation of such offerings. As described above, we expect to need to raise at least $30 million of funding over the next 2-3
years – an aggregate amount approximately 15 times the current market capitalization of our outstanding common stock, and we do
not expect to be able to complete necessary product re-development, troubleshooting and clinical trial work absent such material funding.
This may cause new investors to demand terms in future offerings that substantially dilute existing shareholders, or result in such holders
obtaining or being granted shareholder voting or board governance control positions, which could cause our common stock to fall further
from current levels on a per share basis.
The
number of shares of common stock underlying our outstanding warrants is several times greater than our currently outstanding common stock,
which could have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future
equity offerings. In addition, in connection with any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, holders
of our outstanding warrants would be entitled to receive the Black Scholes value of such warrants, which may reduce the consideration
otherwise available for payment to holders of our common stock.
As
part of our public offerings of common stock in June 2024, January 2024 and August 2023, we issued warrants to purchase shares of our
common stock. As of December 31, 2024, remaining warrants exercisable from these transactions included (i) Class C Common stock warrants
to purchase 1,372,586 shares of common stock which are exercisable at a price of $16.30 per share, (ii) January 2024 Common Stock Warrants
to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,201 shares of common stock at an exercise prices ranging from $520.00 to $650.00 per share and (iii)
August 2023 Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 576 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $2,896.00
to $3,684.00 per share. The June Class C Warrants, January 2024 Common Stock Warrants and August 2023 Common Stock Warrants are exercisable
for five years from the date of issuance until various dates in 2029 or 2028, respectively.
The Class C Warrants, January 2024 Common Stock Warrants
and August 2023 Common Stock Warrants are generally only exercisable solely by means of a cash exercise. A holder of these warrants (together
with its affiliates) may not exercise any portion of the warrants to the extent that the holder would beneficially own more than 4.99%
(or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock immediately after exercise. The common stock warrants include
certain rights upon “fundamental transactions” as described in the warrants, including the right of the holders thereof to
receive from us or a successor entity cash or the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion) that is being offered
and paid to the holders of common stock in such fundamental transaction in the amount of the Black Scholes value (as described in such
warrants) of the unexercised portion of the applicable warrants on the date of the consummation of such fundamental transaction.
Although
these warrants are subject to beneficial ownership limitations, upon exercise in full of the warrants, the shares issuable upon exercise
would represent a significant portion of our outstanding common stock. As a result, the holders of these warrants may be able to exert
substantial influence over our business. The concentration of voting power resulting from the exercise of the warrants could delay, defer
or prevent a change of control, or delay or prevent a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us on terms
that other stockholders may desire. In addition, conflicts of interest could arise in the future between us, on the one hand, and the
holders of these warrants, concerning the issuance of additional securities and other matters. In addition, sales of these shares could
cause the market price of our common stock to decline significantly.
9
We
have registered the issuance of shares upon exercise of these warrants under registration statements. As a result, the shares issuable
upon exercise of these warrants can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance. Sales of these shares could cause the market price
of our common stock to decline significantly. Furthermore, if our stock price rises, the holders of these warrants may be more likely
to exercise their warrants and sell a large number of shares, which could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and
reduce or eliminate any appreciation in our stock price that might otherwise occur.
Given
the amount and terms of these warrants, we may find it more difficult to raise additional equity capital on favorable terms or at all
while these warrants are outstanding.
Our
ability to raise additional capital via a registered public offering on Form S-3 will be limited in the near-term as a result of the
SEC’s “baby shelf” rules.
In
June 2023 we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was declared effective by the SEC on June 20, 2023 (the “Shelf
Registration Statement”). The Shelf Registration Statement allows us to sell from time to time up to $25 million of common
stock, preferred stock, debt securities, debentures, warrants, rights or units comprised of any combination of these securities, for
our own account in one or more offerings. In August 2023, we completed a public offering under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant
to which we raised gross proceeds of approximately $1.6 million. Under applicable SEC rules, smaller companies like us are only permitted
to raise up to 1/3 rd of their public float under Form S-3 over a 12-month period. As a result, based on our current public
float, we are only able to sell up to approximately $700,000 as of the date of this filing pursuant to our Form S-3, assuming we continue
the applicable eligibility requirements thereof. This limit on our use of Form S-3 in the near-term may make it more difficult for us
to raise equity capital in the public markets, as we expect to be required to conduct any such fundraising via private placements, or
sales on Form S-1, which sales of Form S-1 may be more difficult for us to execute in a timely manner.
We
may be obligated to current and/or prior financial advisors under engagement letters that we enter into from time to time, and we are
currently subject to such an obligation.
As
part of our capital raising and financial planning measures, we have entered into, and may in the future enter into, various engagement
letters with financial advisors. Such engagement letters have included, and may in the future include, rights of first offer or refusal
and similar provisions that require us to offer such financial advisors the right to serve as underwriter, placement agent or in similar
roles in connection with certain future public or private financing transactions, or that require us to pay prior financial advisors
fees in connection with certain transactions consummated using other financial advisors.
For
example, our existing engagement letter with Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”) provides that until June 3, 2025, Aegis shall
have the right to act as sole book-running manager, sole underwriter, sole placement agent or sole agent, as applicable, if we decide
to finance any indebtedness or decide to raise funds by means of a public offering, private placement or any other capital raising financing
of equity, equity-linked or debt securities. If Aegis decides to accept such assignment, we are required to provide Aegis customary fees
for transactions of similar size and nature (but in no event less than the fees provided to Aegis in the transactions they advised the
Company on in mid-2024). It is possible that potential investors who would otherwise seek to invest in the Company will prefer to work
with other banks, in which case we may be unable to pursue such transaction unless Aegis declines its right of first refusal with respect
to such transaction.
The
placement agent from our August 2023 Registered Direct Offering and January 2024 Public Offering could assert that they are entitled
to a fee in connection with our June 2024 Public Offering.
In
August 2023, we entered into an engagement letter with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Prior Placement Agent”), which
was amended in October 2023, and pursuant to which the Prior Placement Agent served as the placement agent in our August 2023 public
offering, August 2023 private placement and January 2024 public offering. Pursuant to this engagement letter, we provided the Prior Placement
Agent a right of first refusal to serve as underwriter in any public offering or private placement we engaged in prior to January 2,
2025, and the right to receive compensation comparable to what it received in the August 2023 public offering and January 2024 public
offering (e.g., 7% of the gross proceeds of such an offering and additional warrants exercisable at 125% of the offering price) in connection
with such offering or placement. Prior to filing the registration statement with respect to our June 2024 public offering, we provided
the Prior Placement Agent the opportunity to serve as underwriter for that transaction and it declined such opportunity. While we believe
that the Prior Placement Agent is not entitled to any fees in connection with the June 2024 public offering given that it declined to
serve as underwriter, the Prior Placement Agent could assert that it is nevertheless entitled to compensation under a separate “tail”
provision included in the letter. While we believe such a position would be unreasonable and invalid, and we would intend to challenge
it, any such assertion that is ultimately successful could cause us to pay an addition substantial fee (such as up to 7% of the proceeds
from our June 2024 public offering) in connection with that offering.
10
Our
common stock currently is listed for quotation on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We are required to meet specified financial requirements
in order to maintain such listing, including a requirement that the bid price for our common stock remain above $1.00, and that the market
value of our publicly held securities be at least $1 million.
Nasdaq
Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires listed companies to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital
Market. As of the close of business on March 17, 2025, the most recent closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
was $4.07 per share. If the trading price were to fall below $1.00 per share, we would not be compliant this requirement. In such
event, we would be subject to delisting, and because we consummated reverse stock splits during 2024 with a cumulative ratio of 1-for-400
(following an earlier reverse stock split in 2023 with a ratio of 1-for-20), we would be ineligible for any compliance period under recently
implemented Nadsaq listing rules if this event occurred prior to June 20, 2026. As a result, such a decline in the price of our common
stock, if it were to occur, would be expected to result in the prompt delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market.
In
addition, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(5) requires the market value of our publicly held common stock (which is our only outstanding class
of capital stock) to be at least $1 million. As of the close of business on March 17, 2025, such market value of our publicly held common
stock was approximately $1.7 million. If the market value of our publicly held common stock declines below $1 million, we would also
be subject to Nasdaq delisting proceedings on that basis.
Nasdaq’s
staff also maintains discretionary authority under its listing rules to delist companies whose capital structure or public offerings
raise public interest and investor protection concerns, including as a result of highly dilutive issuances, and it is possible that Nasdaq
could assert that past offerings that we have consummated, or future offerings we may consummate, raise such concerns. In addition, to
raise the significant amount of capital that we expect to need to fund our strategic plan, potential investors may require us to accept
terms (such as board representation rights in excess of an investor’s beneficial ownership of our common stock) that could conflict
with Nasdaq listing standards and result in us being delisted.
If
our common stock is delisted, we may seek to have our common stock quoted on an over-the-counter marketplace, such as on the OTCQX. The
OTCQX is not a stock exchange, and if our common stock trades on the OTCQX rather than a securities exchange, there may be significantly
less trading volume and analyst coverage of, and significantly less investor interest in, our common stock, which may lead to lower trading
prices for our common stock.
Any
potential delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market may have materially adverse consequences to our stockholders,
including:
●
A
reduced market price and liquidity with respect to our shares of common stock;
●
limited
dissemination of the market price of our common stock;
●
limited
news coverage;
●
limited
interest by investors in our common stock;
●
volatility
of the prices of our common stock, due to low trading volume;
●
our
common stock being considered a “penny stock,” which would result in broker-dealers participating in sales of our common
stock being subject to the regulations set forth in Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act;
●
increased
difficulty in selling our common stock in certain states due to “blue sky” restrictions; and
●
limited
ability to issue additional securities or to secure additional financing.
Risks
Related to Our Business
We
are subject to the risks associated with new businesses.
We
are effectively a new business with a plan to commercialize our licensed technology. Our limited operating history may not be adequate
to enable you to fully assess our ability to develop and market our Symphony platform and test cartridges, assuming we receive regulatory
clearances, for which there is no assurance, and respond to competition. Our efforts to date have related to the organization and formation
of our Company, research and development and performing clinical trials. We have no approved products, have not yet generated sustainable
revenue, and we cannot guarantee we will ever be able to generate future revenues. Therefore, we are, and expect for the foreseeable
future to be, subject to all the risks and uncertainties, inherent in a new business focused on the development and sale of new medical
devices. As a result, we may be unable to further develop, obtain regulatory approval for, manufacture, market, sell and derive revenues
from our Symphony platform and test cartridges and the other product candidates in our pipeline, and our inability to do so would materially
and adversely impact our viability. In addition, we still must optimize many functions necessary to operate a business, including expanding
our managerial, personnel and administrative structure, continuing product research and development, and assessing and commencing our
marketing activities.
11
Accordingly,
you should consider our prospects in light of the costs, uncertainties, delays and difficulties frequently encountered by companies that
have not yet commercialized their products, particularly those in the medical device field. In particular, potential investors should
consider that there is a significant risk that we will not be able to:
●
implement
or execute our current business plan, or that our business plan is sound;
●
maintain
our management team and Board of Directors;
●
determine
that the technologies that have been developed are commercially viable;
●
attract,
enter into or maintain contracts with, and retain customers; and
●
raise
any necessary additional funds in the capital markets or otherwise to effectuate our business plan.
In
the event that we do not successfully address these risks, our business, prospects, financial condition, and results of operations could
be materially and adversely affected.
Our
license and supply agreements with Toray, which relate to the license of the core technology used in our Symphony Cartridges and the
supply of cartridge intermediates from Toray to SanyoSeiko for SanyoSeiko to manufacture cartridges for Bluejay, are subject to significant
risks that may threaten our viability or otherwise have a material adverse effect on us and our business, assets and its prospects.
We
have an exclusive license with Toray for the entire world, excluding Japan, to use their patents and know-how related to our Symphony
test cartridges for the manufacturing, marketing and sale of such products. We also have a nonexclusive license for manufacturing purposes
in Japan. We have a right to sublicense these Toray patents and know-how (upon either (a) obtaining consent from Toray prior to obtaining
FDA approval or (b) giving notice to Toray after obtaining FDA approval), and for the purpose of obtaining FDA approval, we will need
to exercise this sublicence to have the cartridges manufactured for Bluejay by a Japanese manufacturer, SanyoSeiko, Inc. (“SanyoSeiko”).
We have no contractual rights to the intellectual property covered in the license agreement other than as expressly set forth therein.
Our plans, business, prospects and viability are substantially dependent on that intellectual property and subject to the limitations
relating thereto as set forth in the license agreement. Some of the risks this may give rise to are described below.
●
We
are currently preparing to transfer this intellectual property and know-how on the Symphony cartridge manufacturing to an in-house
facility for redevelopment. After the cartridge redevelopment is completed, we plan to transfer the manufacturing process to an
FDA-registered CMO for validation testing and commercial manufacturing. We do not expect to be able to complete this transfer prior
to the end of 2026, at the earliest. If Toray were to assert that we have not established a facility to manufacture our cartridges
prior to the expiration of the supply agreement (which is currently expected to occur in October 2025), Toray could assert that we
are in material breach of the license agreement and seek to terminate it as early as November 2025. If Toray sought to terminate the
license, and was successful in doing so, we would lose access to certain technology required to produce the cartridges that our
Symphony system relies on to function, which would likely result in a material adverse effect on our commercialization efforts. We
are in the process of negotiating an agreement with Toray to, among other things, clarify that Toray will not seek to terminate the
license agreement in connection with the expiration of the supply agreement.
●
After
the receipt of regulatory approval in a country, we are required to pay Toray a minimum royalty of $60,000 for the initial year that
royalties are payable increasing to a minimum of $100,000 thereafter, regardless of the actual amount of sales by us of licensed
products. Accordingly, we could be obligated to pay royalties even though we have generated no or limited revenue. Such payments
could materially and adversely affect our profitability and could limit our investment in our business.
●
Toray
may not be able to provide all necessary know-how related to the test cartridges, which may increase the time and cost of remediating
product defects, or impair our ability to timely scale up cartridge manufacturing.
●
The
license and regulatory approvals (once obtained) are non-assignable. These restrictions may limit our flexibility to structure our
operations in the most advantageous manner.
●
At
our sole expense, we must file for, prosecute the application for, and obtain all regulatory approvals for the licensed products
and obtain all legal permits necessary for promoting, marketing, offering or selling each licensed product. The regulatory approval
process can be expensive and time consuming, and there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain or maintain any or all
required permits.
12
●
We
are required to use reasonable efforts to obtain market approval for the products in the United States or the European Union by October
2026 or we may lose exclusivity in territory of the license agreement with Toray. We will not obtain market approval by this date, and we are in the process of negotiating with Toray to, among other things, extend this
date.
●
We are required to use reasonable efforts to start commercial
sales by October 2028, though this period may be extended in 6-month increments for up to 2 years in total if such inability to start
commercial sales is due to reasons not attributable to us. If we are unable to start commercial sales by such later date, Toray
would have the right to terminate the license agreement or make it non-exclusive.
●
Except
with respect to (a) Toray’s ownership of, or rights to license, all intellectual property rights in respect of the licensed
property and (b) Toray’s applicable patents being duly maintained and in effect, Toray provides no, and disclaims all, representations,
warranties or covenants relating to the licensed intellectual property or any other matters under the license agreement and in particular
disclaims any fitness of the intellectual property for any purpose or any warranty against infringement of any third-party patent.
These provisions limit our recourse in the event that the licensed intellectual property is flawed, defective, inadequate, incomplete,
uncommercial, wrongly described or otherwise not useful for our purposes. We have not independently verified all of the technical,
scientific, commercial, legal, medical or other circumstances or nature of the licensed intellectual property and therefore there
can be no assurances that any of the foregoing risks have been reduced or eliminated. We have performed numerous evaluations of the
Symphony product and have identified numerous risks. These risks are described below. These provisions represent a significant risk
of a material adverse impact on us, our business and our prospects.
●
While
we are in principle permitted, even after the license agreement expires or is terminated, to continue manufacturing and selling products
that incorporate Toray intellectual property and the royalties for which are fully paid up, if we commit certain material breaches
of the agreement, Bluejay may be obligated to use reasonable efforts to arrange for the transfer to Toray of FDA or any other regulatory
approvals for any products the royalties for which are not fully paid up. Where any such transfer is possible and approved by the
regulator (if necessary), then depending on the nature of the material breach, we may be required to undertake the transfer at no
cost to Toray or on reasonable terms and conditions. The loss of any such market approvals, especially if we are unable to receive
any consideration for them, could have a material adverse impact on us, our business and our prospects, and depending on the timing
and extent of the loss, it could even threaten our viability.
In
addition, see the risks in “ Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property ” below. These risks are not the only risks
inherent in the license agreement with Toray.
As
an intermediate step to commercial viability, we need to demonstrate that our IL-6 samples do not degrade over time, and our premise
would be undermined if we fail to do so.
We
are currently conducting testing to demonstrate specimen stability, which will be important to our future development efforts. Confirming
stability of the samples collected from the SYMON-II clinical study is one of the integral aspects that we will have to establish before
we can proceed to FDA clearance. We plan to establish sample stability using standard plate ELISA technology. Once Symphony is operational,
we plan to perform a bridging study to demonstrate specimen stability commutability. If we fail to prove that IL-6 is stable over time,
we might have to redesign our business plan.
There
is a risk that validation of the primary outcome measure of our SYMON-I study will not achieve statistical significance.
Although
our SYMON-I study found promising results, there is a risk that subsequent validation will not achieve statistical significance, which
would render those results subject to scrutiny and subject us to setbacks, including having to redesign our preliminary study at considerable
expense and time delay.
There
is a risk of our cartridges not passing analytical validation, one of the key requirements of FDA approval.
There
is a risk that our cartridges, a core component of our Symphony system, will not pass analytical validation due to failures in performance.
We are working on plans to redevelop the cartridges in order to reduce this risk, but we cannot be sure that our attempts will be successful
until they have been tested and have successfully passed analytical validation themselves.
We
are currently only pursuing one aspect of analytical validation and we cannot be certain how long the remaining tests will take us.
Analytical
validation is comprised of a series of studies to validate test performance by testing precision, reproducibility, interference, linearity,
detection capability, high-dose hook, hematocrit tolerance, specimen stability, cartridge stability, sample carry-over, reference range,
and matrix comparison. Currently, we are only pursuing specimen stability and have paused all other analytical testing until the Symphony
IL-6 redevelopment and manufacturing transfer has been completed and Symphony IL-6 cartridges are available, which we expect will not
occur sooner than the end of 2026. Uncertainties in the timeline make it difficult for us to precisely forecast when we will be able
to move on to the rest of the FDA-required studies needed in order to gain approval for our product.
13
FDA
requirements could change prior to submission and lead to delays and additional costs.
The
Symphony analyzer has previously passed all safety validations required by the FDA. However, we plan to reperform some of the validations
surrounding electromagnetic compatibility and safety standards due to a recent FDA requirement changes. Should other FDA standards change,
we could need to perform those tests as well, incurring additional expenses and delays that are impossible to predict due to the uncertain
nature of what standards the FDA might change in the future.
The
FDA could request additional data or testing after our application submission, requiring additional costs and delaying approval.
Although
we have had a pre-submission meeting with FDA and included FDA feedback into our plan, the FDA could decide to request additional data
or testing after we have submitted our FDA application. This could result in significant additional costs generated in the process of
gathering whatever additional data or developing and running the additional testing requested by the FDA. Furthermore, it can take several
months to years to conduct testing and collect data, and depending on the extent of the FDA’s additional request, the delay caused
could be significant. During any such period of delay, not only would we be incurring the additional expenses of the testing, but we
would also continue to not generate any revenue.
We
depend on, and are liable for, SanyoSeiko as our Symphony analyzer contract manufacturing organization (CMO), so its inability or failure
to perform appropriately in that capacity may threaten our viability or have a material adverse effect on us and our business, assets
and its prospects.
We
are dependent on SanyoSeiko to maintain compliance with the FDA requirements, and continuously manufacture and supply us with our Symphony
analyzers. If SanyoSeiko is unable to do so for any reason and we are unable to activate a new CMO to produce analyzers, we may be unable
to obtain FDA approval and commence any commercial sales or unable to supply products to our customers in a timely manner or at all,
either of which could threaten our viability.
We
are also liable for SanyoSeiko’s performance and actions as our CMO, and any breach by SanyoSeiko of our license and/or supply
agreements with Toray may have a material adverse effect on us and our business.
If
we can not find a suitable CMO for the manufacturing of our Symphony cartridges, requiring additional costs and delaying FDA approval.
We
plan to redevelop the Symphony cartridge and once redevelopment is completed, we plan to transfer manufacturing to a FDA-registered CMO
for the manufacturing of Symphony cartridges to support validations and commercialization. If we are unable to find a suitable CMO, we
will have to establish manufacturing internally, which may result in additional costs and delays to our FDA application submission.
We
have not yet launched any products and the ability to do so will depend on the acceptance of our Symphony platform in the healthcare
market.
We
have not yet launched or received regulatory approvals in any country or territory for our Symphony platform or test cartridges. Even
if we receive regulatory approvals, we are faced with the risk that our Symphony platform will not be accepted over competing products
and that we will be unable to enter the marketplace or compete effectively. We cannot assure you that our Symphony platform or test cartridges
will gain market acceptance. If the market for our future products fails to develop or develops more slowly than expected, or if any
of the technology and standards supported by us do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business and operating results would
be materially and adversely affected.
We
cannot accurately predict the volume or timing of any sales, making the timing of any revenues difficult to predict.
We
may be faced with lengthy and unpredictable customer evaluation and approval processes associated with our Symphony platform. Consequently,
we may incur substantial expenses and devote significant management effort and expense in developing customer adoption of our Symphony
platform, which may not result in revenue generation. We must also obtain regulatory approvals of our Symphony platform and test cartridges
in jurisdictions in which we pursue approvals, which is subject to risk and potential delays. The same risks apply to other tests we
may develop based on our Symphony platform. As such, we cannot accurately predict the volume, if any, or timing of any future sales.
14
If
third-party payors do not provide coverage and reimbursement for the use of our platform, our business and prospects may be negatively
impacted.
Third-party
payors, whether governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In addition,
in certain countries, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for medical device products and services exists among third-party
payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for medical device products and services can differ significantly from payor to payor.
In addition, payors continually review new technologies for possible coverage and can, without notice, deny coverage for these new products
and procedures. As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time-consuming and costly process that will require us to
provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our products to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate
reimbursement will be obtained.
Our
Symphony platform, including its software and systems, may contain undetected errors, which could limit our ability to provide our products
and diminish the attractiveness of our offerings.
Our
Symphony platform may contain undetected errors, defects, or bugs. As a result, our customers or end users may discover errors or defects
in our products, software or systems, or our products, software or systems may not operate as expected. We may discover significant errors
or defects in the future that we may not be able to fix. Our inability to fix any of those errors could limit our ability to provide
our products and services, impair the reputation of our brand and diminish the attractiveness of our product and service offerings to
our customers.
In
addition, we may utilize third party technology or components in our products, and we rely on those third parties to provide support
services to us. The existence of errors, defects, or bugs in third party technology or components, or the failure of those third parties
to provide necessary support services to us, could materially adversely impact our business.
We
will rely on the proper function, security and availability of our information technology systems and data to operate our business, and
a breach, cyber-attack or other disruption to these systems or data could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations,
financial condition, cash flows, reputation, or competitive position.
We
will depend on sophisticated software and other information technology systems to operate our business, including to process, transmit
and store sensitive data, and our future products and services may include information technology systems that collect data regarding
patients. We could experience attempted or actual interference with the integrity of, and interruptions in, our technology systems, as
well as data breaches, such as cyber-attacks, malicious intrusions, breakdowns, interference with the integrity of our products and data
or other significant disruptions. Furthermore, we may rely on third-party vendors to supply and/or support certain aspects of our information
technology systems. These third-party systems could also become vulnerable to cyber-attack, malicious intrusions, breakdowns, interference,
or other significant disruptions, and may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could result in system disruption
or compromise the information security of our own systems.
If
in the future we pursue foreign jurisdictions, such international operations will mean that we are subject to laws and regulations, including
data protection and cybersecurity laws and regulations, in many jurisdictions. Furthermore, there has been a developing trend of civil
lawsuits and class actions relating to breaches of consumer data held by large companies or incidents arising from other cyber-attacks.
Any data security breaches, cyber-attacks, malicious intrusions or significant disruptions could result in actions by regulatory bodies
and/or civil litigation, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition,
cash flows, reputation, or competitive position.
In
addition, our information technology systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect, and enhance
existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving legal and
regulatory standards, the increasing need to protect patient and customer information, changes in the techniques used to obtain unauthorized
access to data and information systems, and the information technology needs associated any new products and services. There can be no
assurance that our process of consolidating, protecting, upgrading and expanding our systems and capabilities, continuing to build security
into the design of our products, and developing new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology
will be successful or that additional systems issues will not arise in the future.
If
our information technology systems, products or services or sensitive data are compromised, patients or employees could be exposed to
financial or medical identity theft or suffer a loss of product functionality, and we could lose existing customers, have difficulty
attracting new customers, have difficulty preventing, detecting, and controlling fraud, be exposed to the loss or misuse of confidential
information, have disputes with customers, physicians, and other health care professionals, suffer regulatory sanctions or penalties,
experience increases in operating expenses or an impairment in our ability to conduct our operations, incur expenses or lose revenues
as a result of a data privacy breach, product failure, information technology outages or disruptions, or suffer other adverse consequences
including lawsuits or other legal action and damage to our reputation.
15
If
we are not able to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, scientific and technical personnel, we may not be able to implement
our business model successfully, and our limited cash resources could require us to make further cost reductions.
We
believe that our management team must be able to act decisively to apply and adapt our business model in the markets in which we will
compete. Our future performance depends to a large extent on the continued services of members of our current management, including our
President and Chief Executive Officer, Neil Dey, and our Chief Technology Officer, Jason Cook. In addition, we rely upon technical and
scientific employees or third-party contractors to effectively establish, manage and grow our business. Consequently, we believe that
our future viability will depend largely on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, sales, scientific and technical
personnel.
In
order to do so, we may need to pay higher compensation or fees to our employees or consultants than we currently expect, and such higher
compensation payments would have a negative effect on our operating results. Competition for experienced, high-quality personnel is intense
and we cannot assure that we will be able to recruit and retain such personnel, or that we will possess the cash resources to do so.
For example, our limited cash resources have caused us to reduce our overall full-time employment headcount to 7 persons, and we could
need to implement further personnel-related cost reductions in the near-term. As such, we may not be able to hire or retain the necessary
personnel to implement our business strategy. For example, Mr. Dey is currently serving as our principal financial and accounting officer,
in addition to serving as our principal executive officer. Our failure to hire and retain such personnel could impair our ability to
develop new products and manage our business effectively. In the event that we lose the continued services of such key personnel for
any reason, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and prospects.
If
we are not able to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, scientific and technical personnel, we may not be able to implement
our business model successfully, and our limited cash resources could require us to make further cost reductions.
We
believe that our management team must be able to act decisively to apply and adapt our business model in the markets in which we will
compete. Our future performance depends to a large extent on the continued services of members of our current management, including our
President and Chief Executive Officer, Neil Dey, and our Chief Technology Officer, Jason Cook. In addition, we rely upon technical and
scientific employees or third-party contractors to effectively establish, manage and grow our business. Consequently, we believe that
our future viability will depend largely on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled managerial, sales, scientific and technical
personnel. In addition, given our small headcount, the loss of existing employees (including our President and Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Technology Officer) could result in the loss of institutional knowledge relating to our product development that would be difficult
for us to replace.
We
do not have a meaningful amount of authorized shares remaining under our equity compensation plans and therefore cannot incentivize our
directors and employees with non-cash compensation.
We
have undergone a series of reverse stock splits at a cumulative ratio of 1-for-8,000 over the last two years. As a result, the authorized
shares in our stock compensation plans have been correspondingly reduced, and we only possess a de minimus amount of equity under our
2018 Stock Incentive Plan and our 2021 Stock Plan. As a result, we currently cannot incentivize our directors and employees with non-cash
compensation, and even if we possessed such available shares, the substantial declines in the value of our common stock in each of the
prior three years may substantially depress the desired incentive effects of using such shares for compensatory purposes. We believe
that stock incentive plans serve to closely align the interests of directors and officers with the interests of the Company’s shareholders,
and without this tool we are left paying all compensation in cash. In 2024, cash fees paid to non-employee directors were $380,000 in
the aggregate and cash fees paid to our two executive officers were $526,000. Given our lack of available equity incentives as a compensatory
tool, we expect to continue incurring significant cash compensation expense relative to our overall market capitalization.
If
we or our manufacturers fail to comply with the regulatory quality system regulations or any applicable equivalent regulations, our proposed
operations could be interrupted, and our operating results would suffer.
We
and any third-party manufacturers and suppliers of ours will be required, to the extent of applicable regulation, to follow the quality
system regulations of each jurisdiction we will seek to penetrate and also will be subject to the regulations of these jurisdictions
regarding the manufacturing processes. If we or any third-party manufacturers or suppliers of ours are found to be in significant non-compliance
or fail to take satisfactory corrective action in response to adverse regulatory findings in this regard, regulatory agencies could take
enforcement actions against us and such manufacturers or suppliers, which could impair or prevent our ability to produce our products
in a cost-effective and timely manner in order to meet customers’ demands. Accordingly, our operating results would suffer.
Product
liability suits, whether or not meritorious, could be brought against us due to an alleged defective product or for the misuse of our
Symphony platform or test cartridges. These suits could result in expensive and time-consuming litigation, payment of substantial damages,
and an increase in our insurance rates.
If
our Symphony platform or test cartridges, or any future tests based on our Symphony platform, are defectively designed or manufactured,
contain defective components or are misused, or if someone claims any of the foregoing, whether or not meritorious, we may become subject
to substantial and costly litigation. Misusing our devices or failing to adhere to the operating guidelines or our devices producing
inaccurate readings could cause significant harm to patients. In addition, if our operating guidelines are found to be inadequate, we
may be subject to liability. Product liability claims could divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive
to defend and result in sizable damage awards against us. While we expect to maintain product liability insurance, we may not have sufficient
insurance coverage for all future claims. Any product liability claims brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our
product liability insurance rates or prevent us from securing continuing coverage, could harm our reputation in the industry and could
reduce revenue. Product liability claims in excess of our insurance coverage would be paid out of cash reserves harming our financial
condition and adversely affecting our results of operations.
16
If
we are found to have violated laws protecting the confidentiality of patient health information, we could be subject to civil or criminal
penalties, which could increase our liabilities and harm our reputation or our business.
There
are a number of laws around the world protecting the confidentiality of certain patient health information, including patient records,
and restricting the use and disclosure of that protected information. Privacy rules protect medical records and other personal health
information by limiting their use and disclosure, giving individuals the right to access, amend and seek accounting of their own health
information and limiting most use and disclosures of health information to the minimum amount reasonably necessary to accomplish the
intended purpose. We may face difficulties in holding such information in compliance with applicable law. If we are found to be in violation
of the privacy rules, we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties, which could increase our liabilities, harm our reputation and
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Significant
raw material shortages, supplier capacity constraints, supplier disruptions, and sourcing issues may adversely impact or limit our products
sales and or impact our product margins.
Our
key suppliers are limited- or sole-source suppliers. Disruptions in deliveries, capacity constraints, production disruptions up- or down-stream,
price increases, or decreased availability of raw materials or commodities, including as a result of war, natural disasters (including
the effects of climate change such as sea level rise, drought, flooding, wildfires and more intense weather events), actual or threatened
public health emergencies or other business continuity events, adversely affect our operations and, depending on the length and severity
of the disruption, can limit our ability to meet our commitments to customers or significantly impact our operating profit or cash flows.
Specific
raw materials used in the production of Symphony IL-6 cartridges are being discontinued or are otherwise limited in supply and the process
of finding a suitable substitute could be expensive, use important resources, reduce the efficacy of the platform, or lead to other delays
and setbacks.
Several
raw materials used in production of Symphony IL-6 cartridges are being discontinued and we will need to validate new materials to use
as substitutes. These materials include hydrophobic coating solution, side film plastic laminate, and antibody. Testing new raw materials
at the same time that we are testing to discover the previously discussed instability in the product introduces additional variables
that could make it more difficult for us to discover the source of the instability, adding extra expense and delay. We cannot currently
predict what substitute materials will be found to work for the discontinued ones, whether they will perform as well, their availability,
or their precise cost.
We
do not currently have sufficient supply to or know-how from Toray to reproduce the capture antibody in the Symphony IL-6 cartridges.
The
procedures Toray has provided to us on manufacture of the capture antibody we use in our product are incomplete. To address this, we
plan to develop manufacturing process for or procure from third-party vendor the immunogen source. We plan to use industry-standard polyclonal
antibody manufacturing using this immunogen. If we are unable to do so, we expect that we would need to find a substitute that is different
from Toray’s original design. We expect that it could currently take over one year for us to complete work on the capture antibody,
and any additional delay would further increase our expected timeline to FDA approval and commercialization further into the future,
and require additional funding beyond the amount that we currently forecast.
We
might not be able to discover the underlying cause of a Symphony performance reproducibility issue, and if the issues are inherent in
the design of the platform we might have to redesign our approach.
We
continue to face a performance reproducibility issue with the Symphony cartridges, and we have been unable to discover the cause to date.
Our efforts to redevelop the cartridge might not adequately resolve the issues if they are inherent to the design of the cartridge. If
the issue lies in these or similarly difficult-to-address areas, we might need to redesign our approach, which would likely be expensive
and significantly delay the FDA approval process.
17
If
there is a shift in customer demand for the type of near-patient diagnostic test that we are working to develop, we would be left without
a commercially marketable product in the pipeline.
Our
only viable product in development at this time is a near-patient diagnostic test. If there is a shift in consumer demand away from such
tests, for any reason, by or before the time we are ready to reach the market, we might find ourselves without a viable product sales
market. We cannot be certain that there will be demand for our product by the time it is ready for commercial use or sale, and if there
is not, we could be left without a revenue-generating product, as we do not currently have any other products under development.
Risks
Related to Product Development and Regulatory Approval
We
adapted our clinical trial design in 2023 to obtain more patient data to reflect recent FDA feedback, and our regulatory pathway remains
subject to further FDA review and feedback and the results of ongoing and future clinical studies.
Our
current regulatory strategy is designed to support commercialization of Symphony in the United States pending marketing authorization
from the FDA. Previously, our regulatory strategy involved clinical studies involving COVID-19 patients. However, we have shifted our
focus away from COVID-19 patients due to a significant decline in the number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations. Pursuant to this revised
strategy, we are beginning to conduct a clinical study to support an FDA regulatory submission with an initial indication for risk stratification
of hospitalized sepsis patients. We submitted a pre-submission application to the FDA presenting the new study design in May 2023 and
participated in a pre-submission meeting on August 11, 2023. At the meeting, the FDA provided feedback on the new study design, determined
that the submission of a 510(k) is the appropriate premarket submission pathway, and requested that certain data be provided in the 510(k).
Based on this feedback, we determined to proceed on this basis, which considers the FDA’s feedback.
In
the second quarter of 2024, we completed a multicenter SYmphony IL-6 MONitoring Sepsis (“SYMON”) clinical study investigating
the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock. This prospective study assessed the performance
of IL-6 upon initial presentation to the intensive care unit (ICU). A primary analysis of the SYMON-I pilot clinical study (registered
clinical trial number NCT06181604) highlighted that IL-6 levels within 24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to
the ICU may predict patient mortality out to 28 days. Furthermore, a secondary outcome of the SYMON-I study showed that IL-6 levels within
24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to the ICU is a predictor of patient mortality during their hospitalization.
Other secondary outcomes showed that lactate and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), standard clinical tests used for sepsis
and septic shock patients, were not predictors of patient mortality out to 28 days. We believe that the findings underscore the potential
importance of IL-6 as a predictor and provide new insights into the potential pathways for improving sepsis outcomes.
Using
the data analysis from the SYMON-I pilot clinical study, we initiated the SYMON-II pivotal clinical study in the third quarter of 2024.
The SYMON II clinical study has three components: (1) collection, freezing, and biobanking of patient samples, (2) measuring IL-6 concentrations
in the biobanked samples near the end of patient enrollment or after the patient enrollment has completed, and (3) analysis of the IL-6
data with the patient outcomes to see if the established IL-6 cutoff value has been validated for 28-day all-cause mortality. Patient
enrollment started during the fourth quarter of 2024.
After
our Symphony IL-6 cartridges are redeveloped, transferred to a CMO, and pass analytical validation, our goal is to use the Symphony IL-6
test to complete the testing in the SYMON-II clinical trial.
As
a result of our lack of cash resources and timeline associated with cartridge redevelopment, we have recently slowed the timeline of
this study to preserve cash resources in the near-term, and we expect that these delays will prevent us from submitting an FDA application
for our Symphony platform within the next 30 months.
Although
we believe that we have a sound strategy for obtaining FDA regulatory approval and clearance, there can be no assurance that it will
ultimately be obtained. Reasons that approval and clearance might not be obtained, on our expected timeline or at all, include that we
are unable to complete our planned studies (due to lack of funding, delays or interruptions in the manufacturing of quality-sufficient
cartridges needed to be used in the study, or otherwise), that clinical results are not sufficient to demonstrate required efficacy,
or that the FDA does not agree with our study design or aspects of our submission. In addition, the FDA could also change its clearance
and approval policies, adopt additional regulations, or revise existing regulations, or take other actions which could prevent or
delay approval or clearance. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results
of operations.
Delays
in the Symphony cartridge redevelopment and manufacturing transfer to a CMO could negatively affect our timeline for the FDA submission
of Symphony.
We
plan to redevelop the Symphony cartridge to achieve performance requirements. Delays in the redevelopment or transfer will negatively
affect our timeline for the FDA submission of Symphony.
18
Our
ability to engage in and complete the activities needed for an FDA submission will be contingent upon us addressing these and other challenges,
including possessing and/or raising sufficient capital, remaining a going concern, and producing product capable of supporting our product
requirements and meeting analytical validation, clinical validation. The delays described above, coupled with our lack of cash resources,
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The
regulatory approval process which we may be required to navigate may be expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain and may prevent us from
obtaining clearance for our planned products.
We
intend to market our Symphony platform and test cartridges following regulatory approval. To date, we have not received regulatory approval
in any jurisdiction. The research, design, testing, manufacturing, labeling, selling, marketing, and distribution of medical devices
are subject to extensive regulation by country-specific regulatory authorities, which regulations differ from country to country. There
can be no assurance that, even after such time and expenditures, we will be able to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for clinical
testing or for the manufacturing or marketing of any products. In addition, during the regulatory process, other companies may develop
other technologies with the same intended use as our products.
We
also will be subject to numerous post-marketing regulatory requirements, which may include labeling regulations and medical device reporting
regulations, which may require us to report to different regulatory agencies if our device causes or contributes to a death or serious
injury, or malfunctions in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. In addition, these regulatory requirements
may change in the future in a way that adversely affects us. If we fail to comply with present or future regulatory requirements that
are applicable to us, we may be subject to enforcement action by regulatory agencies, which may include, among others, any of the following
sanctions:
●
warning
letters, fines, injunctions, consent decrees and civil penalties;
●
customer
notification, or orders for repair, replacement, or refunds;
●
voluntary
or mandatory recall or seizure of our products;
●
imposing
operating restrictions, suspension, or shutdown of production;
●
refusing
our requests for clearance or pre-market approval of new products, new intended uses or modifications to any products;
●
rescinding
clearance or suspending or withdrawing pre-market approvals that have already been granted; and
●
criminal
prosecution.
The
occurrence of any of these events may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Product
clearances and approvals can often be denied or significantly delayed.
Under
FDA regulations, unless exempt, a new medical device may only be commercially distributed after it has received 510(k) clearance, is
authorized through the de novo classification process, or is the subject of a PMA. The FDA will clear marketing of a medical device through
the 510(k) process if it is demonstrated that the new product is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed product not subject
to a PMA. Sometimes, a 510(k) clearance must be supported by preclinical and clinical data.
The
PMA process typically is more costly, lengthy, and stringent than either the 510(k) process or the de novo classification process. Unlike
a 510(k) review, which determines “substantial equivalence,” a PMA requires that the applicant demonstrate reasonable assurance
that the device is safe and effective by producing valid scientific evidence, including data from preclinical studies and human clinical
trials. Therefore, to obtain regulatory clearance or approvals, we typically must, among other requirements, provide the FDA and similar
foreign regulatory authorities with preclinical and clinical data that demonstrate to their satisfaction that our products satisfy the
criteria for approval. Preclinical testing and clinical trials must comply with the regulations of the FDA and other government authorities
in the United States and similar agencies in other countries.
We
may be required to obtain PMAs, PMA supplements, de novo classification, or additional 510(k) pre-market clearances to market modifications
to our products once they are approved and commercialized. The FDA requires device manufacturers to make and document a determination
of whether a device modification requires approval or clearance; however, the FDA can review a manufacturer’s decision. The FDA
may not agree with our decisions not to seek approvals or clearances for particular device modifications. If the FDA requires us to obtain
PMAs, PMA supplements or pre-market clearances for any modification to a previously cleared or approved device, we may be required to
cease manufacturing and marketing of the modified device and perhaps also to recall such modified device until we obtain FDA clearance
or approval. We may also be subject to significant regulatory fines or penalties.
19
The
FDA may not clear or approve our product submissions or applications on a timely basis or at all. Such delays or refusals could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The
FDA may also change its clearance and approval policies, adopt additional regulations, or revise existing regulations, or take other
actions which may prevent or delay approval or clearance of our products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently
approved or cleared products on a timely basis. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, and results of operations.
International
regulatory approval processes may take more or less time than the FDA’s clearance or approval process. If we fail to comply with
applicable FDA and comparable non-U.S. regulatory requirements, we may not receive regulatory clearances or approvals or may be subject
to FDA or comparable non-U.S. enforcement actions. We may be unable to obtain future regulatory clearance or approval in a timely manner,
or at all, especially if existing regulations are changed or new regulations are adopted. For example, the FDA’s clearance or approval
process can take longer than anticipated due to requests for additional clinical data and changes in regulatory requirements. Any failure
or delay in obtaining necessary regulatory clearances or approvals would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition,
and results of operations.
Our
Symphony platform may be sold as a research use only product. The FDA could disagree with this strategy and subject the product
to regulation as a regulated medical device, which could increase our costs and delay our commercialization efforts, thereby materially
and adversely affecting our business and results of operations.
In
the United States, we may decide to label and sell our Symphony platform for research use only, and not for the diagnosis or treatment
of disease. Our future product candidates also may follow this same pathway to market. Because such products are not intended for use
in clinical practice in diagnostics, and the products cannot include clinical or diagnostic claims, they are exempt from many regulatory
requirements otherwise applicable to medical devices. In particular, while FDA regulations require that RUO products be labeled, “For Research
Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures,” the regulations do not otherwise subject such products to the FDA’s pre-
and post-market controls for medical devices.
A
significant change in the laws governing RUO products or how they are enforced may require us to change our ability to consider generating
revenue via this path in order to maintain compliance. For instance, in November 2013 the FDA issued a guidance document entitled “Distribution
of In Vitro Diagnostic Products Labeled for Research Use Only or Investigational Use Only” (the “RUO Guidance”)
which highlights the FDA’s interpretation that distribution of RUO products with any labeling, advertising or promotion that suggests
that clinical laboratories can validate the test through their own procedures and subsequently offer it for clinical diagnostic use as
a laboratory developed test is in conflict with RUO status. The RUO Guidance further articulates the FDA’s position that any assistance
offered in performing clinical validation or verification, or similar specialized technical support, to clinical laboratories, conflicts
with RUO status. If we engage in any activities that the FDA deems to be in conflict with the RUO status held by the products that we
sell, we may be subject to immediate, severe and broad FDA enforcement action that would adversely affect our ability to continue operations.
Accordingly, if the FDA finds that we are distributing our RUO products in a manner that is inconsistent with its regulations or guidance,
we may be forced to stop distribution of our RUO tests until we are in compliance, which would reduce our revenue, increase our costs
and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the FDA’s proposed implementation
for a new framework for the regulation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) may negatively impact the LDT market and thereby reduce demand
for RUO products.
Clinical
data obtained in the future may not meet the required objectives, which could delay, limit or prevent any regulatory approval.
There
can be no assurance that we will successfully complete any clinical evaluations necessary to receive regulatory approvals. While preliminary
results have been encouraging and indicative of the potential performance of our Symphony platform and test cartridges, data already
obtained, or in the future obtained, from clinical studies do not necessarily predict the results that will be obtained from later clinical
evaluations. The failure to adequately demonstrate the performance characteristics of the device under development could delay or prevent
regulatory approval of the device, which could prevent or result in delays to market launch and could materially harm our business. There
can be no assurance that we will be able to receive approval for any potential applications of our principal technology, or that we will
receive regulatory clearances from targeted regions or countries.
We
may be unable to complete required clinical evaluations, or we may experience significant delays in completing such clinical evaluations,
which could prevent or significantly delay our targeted product launch timeframe and impair our viability and business plan.
The
completion of any future clinical evaluations of our Symphony platform or test cartridges, or other studies that we may be required to
undertake in the future, could be delayed, suspended, or terminated for several reasons, including:
●
we
may fail to or be unable to conduct the clinical evaluation in accordance with regulatory requirements;
●
sites
participating in the trial may drop out of the trial, which may require us to engage new sites for an expansion of the number of
sites that are permitted to be involved in the trial;
●
patients
may not enroll in, remain in or complete, the clinical evaluation at the rates we expect; and
●
clinical
investigators may not perform our clinical evaluation on our anticipated schedule or consistent with the clinical evaluation protocol
and good clinical practices.
If
our clinical evaluations are delayed it will take us longer to ultimately launch our Symphony platform and test cartridges in the market
and generate revenues. Moreover, our development costs will increase if we have material delays in our clinical evaluation or if we need
to perform more or larger clinical evaluations than planned.
20
We
and our suppliers may not meet regulatory quality standards applicable to our manufacturing processes, which could have an adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
As
a medical device manufacturer, we will need to register with the FDA and various non-U.S. regulatory agencies and will be subject to
periodic inspection by the FDA and foreign regulatory agencies, for compliance with certain Good Manufacturing Practices, including design
controls, product validation and verification, in process testing, quality control and documentation procedures. Compliance with applicable
regulatory requirements is subject to continual review and is rigorously monitored through periodic inspections by the FDA and foreign
regulatory agencies. Our product and component suppliers may also be required to meet certain standards applicable to their manufacturing
processes.
We
cannot assure you that we or our products or component suppliers will comply with all regulatory requirements. The failure by us or one
of our suppliers to achieve or maintain compliance with these requirements or quality standards may disrupt our ability to supply products
sufficient to meet demand until compliance is achieved or, until a new supplier has been identified and evaluated. Our or any product
or component supplier’s failure to comply with applicable regulations could cause sanctions to be imposed on us, including warning
letters, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, failure of regulatory authorities to grant marketing approval of our products, delays,
suspension or withdrawal of approvals or clearances, license revocation, seizures or recalls of products, operating restrictions and
criminal prosecutions, which could harm our business. We cannot assure you that if we need to engage new suppliers to satisfy our business
requirements, we can locate new suppliers in compliance with regulatory requirements at a reasonable cost and in an acceptable timeframe.
Our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We
may be liable if the FDA or another regulatory agency concludes that we have engaged in the off-label promotion of our products.
Our
promotional materials and training methods must comply with FDA and other applicable laws and regulations, including the prohibition
of the promotion of the off-label use of our products. Once our products are cleared or approved for clinical use, healthcare providers
may use our products for off-label uses, as the FDA does not restrict or regulate a physician’s choice of treatment within the
practice of medicine. However, if the FDA determines that our promotional, or training materials for sales representatives or physicians
constitute promotion of an off-label use, the FDA could request that we modify our training, promotional materials and/or subject us
to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance of an untitled letter, a warning letter, injunction, seizure, disgorgement
of profits, significant penalties, including civil fines and criminal penalties. Other federal, state or foreign governmental authorities
also might take action if they consider our promotion, reimbursement or training materials to constitute promotion of an off-label use,
which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.
In those possible events, our reputation could be damaged, and adoption of the products would be impaired.
Our
products may be subject to recalls after receiving FDA or foreign approval or clearance or cause or contribute to a death or a serious
injury or malfunction in certain ways prompting voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions, which could divert managerial
and financial resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affect our business.
The
FDA and similar foreign governmental authorities have the authority to require the recall of our products because of any failure to comply
with applicable laws and regulations, or defects in design or manufacture, or if there is a reasonable likelihood our products might
cause or contribute to a death or a serious injury or malfunction. A government mandated or voluntary product recall by us could occur
because of, for example, component failures, device malfunctions or other adverse events, such as serious injuries or deaths, or quality-related
issues, such as manufacturing errors or design or labeling defects. Any future recalls of our products could divert managerial and financial
resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affect our business.
If
we initiate a correction or removal for one of our devices to reduce a risk to health posed by the device, we would be required to submit
a publicly available Correction and Removal report to the FDA and, in many cases, similar reports to other regulatory agencies. This
report could be classified by the FDA as a device recall which could lead to increased scrutiny by the FDA, other international regulatory
agencies and our customers regarding the quality and safety of our devices. Furthermore, the submission of these reports has been and
could be used by competitors against us in competitive situations and cause customers to delay purchase decisions or cancel orders and
would harm our reputation.
21
In
addition, we will be subject to medical device reporting regulations that will require us to report to the FDA or similar foreign governmental
authorities if one of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or if we become aware that it has malfunctioned
in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction recurred. Failures to properly identify
reportable events or to file timely reports, as well as failure to address each of the observations to the FDA’s satisfaction,
can subject us to sanctions and penalties, including warning letters and recalls. Physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers
may make similar reports to regulatory authorities. Any such reports may trigger an investigation by the FDA or similar foreign regulatory
bodies, which could divert managerial and financial resources, harm our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations. Any adverse event involving our products also could result in future voluntary corrective
actions, such as recalls or customer notifications, or agency action, such as inspection or enforcement action. Any corrective action,
whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending ourselves in a lawsuit, would require our time and capital, distract management
from operating our business and may harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and
results of operations.
Legislative
or regulatory reforms may make it more difficult and costly for us to obtain regulatory clearance or approval of any future products
and to manufacture, market and distribute our products after clearance or approval is obtained.
From
time to time, legislation is drafted and introduced in Congress that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing the
regulatory approval, manufacture and marketing of regulated products or the reimbursement thereof. In addition, the FDA may change its
clearance and approval policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions, which may prevent
or delay approval or clearance of our future products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently cleared products
on a timely basis. Any new regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen
review times of planned or future products. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, or FDA regulations,
guidance or interpretations changed, and what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.
FDA
regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the FDA in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products.
Any new statutes, regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen review
times of any future products or make it more difficult to obtain clearance or approval for, manufacture, market or distribute our products.
We cannot determine what effect changes in regulations, statutes, legal interpretation or policies, when and if promulgated, enacted
or adopted may have on our business in the future. Such changes could, among other things, require additional testing prior to obtaining
clearance or approval; changes to manufacturing methods; recall, replacement or discontinuance of our products; or additional record
keeping.
Any
change in the laws or regulations that govern the clearance and approval processes relating to our current, planned and future products
could make it more difficult and costly to obtain clearance or approval for new products or to produce, market and distribute existing
products. Significant delays in receiving clearance or approval or the failure to receive clearance or approval for any new products
would have an adverse effect on our ability to expand our business. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements
or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing clearance
that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
Risks
Related to Our Intellectual Property
We
depend on intellectual property licensed from Toray, and any dispute over the license would significantly harm our business.
We
are dependent on the intellectual property licensed from Toray. Disputes may arise between us and Toray regarding intellectual property
subject to our license agreement with Toray. If disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability
to maintain our current licensing arrangements on acceptable terms or are insufficient to provide us the necessary rights to use the
intellectual property, we may be unable to successfully develop and launch our Symphony platform and our other product candidates. If
we or Toray fail to adequately protect this intellectual property, our ability to launch our products in the market could be limited.
For so long as we are dependent on the intellectual property covered by the license agreement for the pursuit of our business, any such
disputes relating to the license agreement or failure to protect the intellectual property could threaten our viability.
We
will depend primarily on Toray to file, prosecute, maintain, defend and enforce intellectual property that we license from it and that
is material to our business.
The
key underlying intellectual property relating to our Symphony platform is owned by Toray. Under our license agreement with Toray, Toray
generally has the right to file, prosecute, maintain and defend the intellectual property we have licensed from Toray. If Toray fails
to conduct these activities for intellectual property protection covering any of our product candidates, our ability to develop and launch
those product candidates may be adversely affected and we may not be able to prevent competitors from making, using or selling competing
products. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, Toray generally has the right to control the enforcement of our
licensed intellectual property and the defense of any claims asserting the invalidity of that intellectual property. We cannot be certain
that Toray will allocate sufficient resources to and otherwise prioritize the enforcement of such intellectual property or the defense
of such claims to protect our interests in the licensed intellectual property. In the absence of action by Toray, we may be unable to
protect and enforce the proprietary rights on which our business relies. Even if we are not a party to these legal actions, an adverse
outcome could harm our business because it might prevent or impede us from continuing to use the licensed intellectual property that
we need to operate our business or from realizing the full commercial benefit contemplated by the agreement. In addition, even if we
take control of the prosecution of licensed intellectual property and related applications, enforcement of licensed intellectual property,
or defense of claims asserting the invalidity of that intellectual property, we may still be adversely affected or prejudiced by actions
or inactions of Toray and its counsel that took place prior to or after our assuming control, and we cannot ensure the cooperation of
Toray in any such action. Furthermore, if we take action to protect, enforce or defend the licensed intellectual property, we may incur
significant costs and the attention of our management may be diverted from our normal business operations. As a result, our business,
results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
22
We
and Toray may be unable to protect or enforce the intellectual property rights licensed to us, which could impair our competitive position.
In
order for our business to be viable and to compete effectively, the proprietary rights with respect to the technologies and intellectual
property used in our products must be developed and maintained. Toray relies primarily on patent protection and trade secrets to protect
its technology and intellectual property rights. There are significant risks associated with Toray’s ability (or our ability, in
the absence of action by Toray) to protect the intellectual property licensed to us, including:
●
pending
intellectual property applications may not be approved or may take longer than expected to result in approval in one or more of the
countries in which we operate;
●
Toray’s
intellectual property rights may not provide meaningful protection;
●
other
companies may challenge the validity or extent of Toray’s patents and other proprietary intellectual property rights through
litigation, oppositions and other proceedings. These proceedings can be protracted as well as unpredictable;
●
other
companies may have independently developed (or may in the future independently develop) similar or alternative technologies, may
duplicate Toray’s technologies or may design their technologies around Toray’s technologies;
●
enforcement
of intellectual property rights is complex, uncertain and expensive, and may be subject to lengthy delays. In the event we take control
of any such action under the our license agreement with Toray, our ability to enforce our intellectual property protection could
be limited by our financial resources; and
●
the
other risks described in “— Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”
If
any of Toray’s patents or other intellectual property rights fail to protect the technology licensed by us, it would make it easier
for our competitors to offer similar products. Any inability on Toray’s part (or on our part, in the absence of action by Toray)
to adequately protect its intellectual property may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations. In addition, the patents we rely on are generally set to expire within the next five years, which could have a material impact
on the future of our products.
We
and/or Toray may be subject to claims alleging the violation of the intellectual property rights of others.
We
may face significant expense and liability as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to intellectual property rights of
others. In the event that another party has intellectual property protection relating to an invention or technology licensed by us from
Toray, we and/or Toray may be required to participate in an interference proceeding declared by the regulatory authorities to determine
priority of invention, which could result in substantial uncertainties and costs for us, even if the eventual outcome was favorable to
us. We and/or Toray also could be required to participate in interference proceedings involving intellectual property of another entity.
An adverse outcome in an interference proceeding could require us and/or Toray to cease using the technology, to substantially modify
it or to license rights from prevailing third parties, which could delay or prevent the launch of our products in the market or adversely
affect our profitability.
The
cost to us of any intellectual property litigation or other proceeding relating the intellectual property licensed by us from Toray,
even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial, especially given our early stage of development. A third party may claim that we
and/or Toray are using inventions claimed by their intellectual property and may go to court to stop us and/or Toray from engaging in
our normal operations and activities, such as research, development and the sale of any future products. Such lawsuits are expensive
and would consume significant time and other resources. There is a risk that a court will decide that we and/or Toray are infringing
the third party’s intellectual property and will order us to stop the activities claimed by the intellectual property. In addition,
there is a risk that a court will order us and/or Toray to pay the other party damages for having infringed their intellectual property.
Moreover, there is no guarantee that any prevailing intellectual property owner would offer us a license so that we could continue to
engage in activities claimed by the intellectual property, or that such a license, if made available to us, could be acquired on commercially
acceptable terms.
23
We
and Toray may be subject to claims challenging the invention of the intellectual property that we license from Toray.
We
and Toray may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in intellectual property
as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we and Toray may have inventorship disputes arising from conflicting obligations of consultants
or others who are involved in developing our product candidates. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims
challenging inventorship. If we and Toray fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we and Toray may
lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership of, or right to use, valuable intellectual property. Such an
outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation
could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. As a result, it is unclear whether and, if
so, to what extent employees of ours and Toray may be able to claim compensation with respect to our future revenue. We may receive less
revenue from future products if any of our or Toray’s employees successfully claim compensation for their work in developing our
intellectual property, which in turn could impact our future profitability.
Risks
Related to Our Industry
We
face intense competition in the diagnostic testing market, particularly in the IL-6 space, and as a result we may be unable to effectively
compete in our industry.
We
expect to compete directly and primarily with large medical device companies. These large companies have most of the diagnostic testing
business and strong research and development capacity. Their dominant market position and significant control over markets could significantly
limit our ability to introduce our Symphony platform or effectively market and generate sales of our products.
We
have not yet entered the revenue stage and most of our competitors have long histories and strong reputations within the industry. They
have significantly greater brand recognition, financial and human resources than we do. They also have more experience and capabilities
in researching and developing testing devices, obtaining and maintaining regulatory clearances and other requirements, manufacturing
and marketing those products than we do. There is a significant risk that we may be unable to overcome the advantages held by our competition,
and our inability to do so could lead to the failure of our business.
Competition
in the diagnostic testing markets is intense, which can lead to, among other things, price reductions, longer selling cycles, lower product
margins, loss of market share and additional working capital requirements. To succeed, we must, among other critical matters, gain consumer
acceptance for our products, technical solutions, prices and response time, or a combination of these factors. If our competitors offer
significant discounts on certain products, we may need to lower our prices or offer other favorable terms in order to compete successfully.
Moreover, any broad-based changes to our prices and pricing policies could make it difficult to generate revenues or cause our revenues,
if established, to decline. Moreover, if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are more desirable than the products
that we may develop, we may not convince customers to use our products. Any such changes would likely reduce our commercial opportunity
and revenue potential and could materially adversely impact our operating results.
If
we or Toray fail to respond quickly to technological developments, our products may become uncompetitive and obsolete.
The
diagnostic testing market may experience rapid technology developments, changes in industry standards, changes in customer requirements
and frequent new product introductions and improvements. If we or Toray are unable to respond to these developments, we may lose competitive
position, and our products or technology may become uncompetitive or obsolete, causing our business and prospects to suffer. In order
to compete, we and Toray may have to develop, license or acquire new technology on a schedule that keeps pace with technological developments
and the requirements for products addressing a broad spectrum and designers and designer expertise in our industries.
Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Sales
of substantial amounts of our securities in the public market could depress the market price of our common stock.
Our
common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market. If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in
the public market, including the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Class C Warrants and Class D Warrants issued
in the public offering that we consummated in June 2024, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of our securities
could fall and we may be unable to sell our securities in the future.
24
We
could issue “blank check” preferred stock without stockholder approval with the effect of diluting interests of then-current
stockholders and impairing their voting rights, and provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could discourage a takeover
that stockholders may consider favorable.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation provides for the authorization to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock
with designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is
empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting
or other rights which could dilute the interest of, or impair the voting power of, our common stockholders. The issuance of a series
of preferred stock could be used as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control. For example, it would be possible
for our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt
to change control of our Company. In addition, advanced notice is required prior to stockholder proposals, which might further delay
a change of control.
Shares
eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market for our common stock.
The
price of our common stock could decline if there are substantial sales of our common stock, particularly sales by our significant stockholders,
or when there is a large number of shares of our common stock available for sale.
Our
existing stockholders (including the holders of warrants) may be eligible to sell all or some of their shares of common stock by means
of ordinary brokerage transactions in the open market, subject to the limitations of Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities Act.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, once we have been subject to public company reporting requirements for at least 90 days,
a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act at any time during the 90 days
preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period
of any prior owner other than our affiliates, is entitled to sell those shares without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation
or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially
owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates,
then that person is entitled to sell those shares without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144. Our affiliates and other
persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates also are entitled to sell as long as they comply with Rule 144’s manner of sale,
volume limitation and notice provisions, in addition to the provisions applicable to non-affiliates described above.
The
market price of the shares of our common stock could decline as a result of the sale of a substantial number of our shares of common
stock in the public market or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares.
We
do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, and consequently, your ability to achieve a return
on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.
We
do not anticipate paying any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Consequently, investors must rely
on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their
investments. There is no guarantee that shares of our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which our stockholders
have purchased their shares.
If
securities industry analysts do not publish research reports on us, or publish unfavorable reports on us, then the market price and market
trading volume of our common stock could be negatively affected.
Any
trading market for our common stock will be influenced in part by any research reports that securities industry analysts publish about
us. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities industry analysts. If no securities industry analysts
commence coverage of us, the market price and market trading volume of our common stock could be negatively affected. In the event we
are covered by analysts, and one or more of such analysts downgrade our securities, or otherwise reports on us unfavorably, or discontinues
coverage or us, the market price and market trading volume of our common stock could be negatively affected.
As
an “emerging growth company” under applicable law, we are subject to lessened disclosure requirements, which could leave
our stockholders without information or rights available to stockholders of other public companies that are not “emerging growth
companies.”
For
as long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we have elected to take advantage of certain
exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies”
including, but not limited to:
●
not
being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
●
reduced
disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements; and
●
exemptions
from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute
payments not previously approved.
25
We
expect to take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We could be an
emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier. We will remain an emerging
growth company until the earlier of: (1) December 31, 2026, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue
of at least $1.235 billion, (3) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which is the end of the fiscal year
in which the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of our most recent
second fiscal quarter, and (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the
prior three-year period.
Because
of these lessened regulatory requirements, our stockholders would be left without information or rights available to stockholders of
other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” In addition, we cannot predict if investors will find our
common stock less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result,
there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may suffer or be more volatile.
Because
we have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards for an “emerging growth
company” our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
We
have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under Section 102(b)(1) of
the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates
for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. While we are not currently delaying the implementation
of any relevant accounting standards, in the future we may avail ourselves of these rights, and as a result of this election, our financial
statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. Because our financial statements may not
be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates, investors may have difficulty evaluating or comparing our
business, performance or prospects in comparison to other public companies, which may have a negative impact on the value and liquidity
of our common stock.
Anti-takeover
provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our Company and may affect
the trading price of our common stock.
We
are a Delaware corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law may discourage, delay or prevent
a change in control by prohibiting us from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years
after the person becomes an interested stockholder, even if a change in control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In
addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management
or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will:
●
provide
for the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our Board of Directors to thwart a takeover
attempt;
●
provide
that stockholders will not be able to take action by written consent, and special meetings of stockholders may only be called by
our Chief Executive Officer, our President, our Board of Directors or a majority of our stockholders;
●
provide
that our stockholders are required to provide advance notice and additional disclosures in order to nominate individuals for election
to our Board of Directors or to propose matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or
deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise
attempting to obtain control of our Company; and
●
do
not provide stockholders with the ability to cumulate their votes, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director
candidates.
These
provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing
the market price of our common stock.
We
will continue incurring increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is now required to devote substantial
time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
Our
common stock began trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market in November 2021. As a public company, and particularly after we are no
longer an EGC, we are incurring and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as
a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements
of the NASDAQ Global Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including
establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. These requirements result
in significant legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more time-consuming and costly. These rules and regulations
are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in
practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This results in continuing uncertainty
regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
26
Failure
to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have material adverse effect
on our business and stock price, and our limited internal staffing may enhance the likelihood of such a controls failure. To reduce expenses,
our President and Chief Executive Officer, in addition to serving as principal executive officer, currently serves as our principal financial
and accounting officer, and we have no employees devoted on a full-time basis to our finance, accounting, legal or compliance functions,
which may substantially increase the likelihood that we will fail to successfully maintain effective internal controls over financial
reporting, or effective disclosure controls and procedures.
Pursuant
to SOX Section 404 we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting in
our Annual Reports on Form 10-K with the SEC since becoming a public company, including an attestation report on internal
control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. However, while we remain an EGC, we
are not required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent
registered public accounting firm. To comply with SOX Section 404, we document and evaluate our internal control over financial
reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we have and will need to continue to dedicate internal resources,
potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over
financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are
functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial
reporting. Despite our efforts, we may identify one or more material weaknesses (as we did in connection with the preparation of this Form 10-K, as described below), which could result in an adverse reaction in the
financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. Neil Dey, our President and Chief
Executive Officer, serves as our principal financial and accounting officer, in addition to serving as our principal executive
officer, and Mr. Dey is not a certified public accountant. We also do not presently employ an internal legal officer. Our lack of a
directly employed principal financial and accounting officer or principal legal officer may increase the likelihood that we will
fail to successfully maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, or effective disclosure controls and
procedures.
We recently identified a material weakness
in our internal control over financial reporting, and our business and stock price may be adversely affected if our internal control over
financial reporting is not effective.
In connection with the preparation and finalization
of this Form 10-K, our independent registered public accounting firm identified an issue with respect to the Company’s application
of provisions of the Accounting Standards Codification of the FASB related to the accounting and valuation of certain warrants. In particular,
in June 2024, the Company issued Class C and Class D warrants that contained “reset” features that caused the exercise prices
and number of shares of Company common stock issuable upon exercise to increase following stockholder approval of such warrants in August
2024 and changes in the market price of our common stock that were measured in the period that immediately followed. Under applicable
accounting guidance, upon reset, the Company should have recorded in its consolidated statement of operations the “deemed dividend
on warrant modification” and “net loss applicable to common stockholders,” in each case, below the presentation of net
loss. In addition, these non-book entry line items were not included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September
30, 2024. As a result of the foregoing, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting arising from
a lack of sufficient internal accounting expertise at the Company.
As previously discussed, if we fail to maintain an effective system
of internal controls or if management or our independent registered public accounting firm were to discover additional material weaknesses
in our internal controls, we may be unable to produce reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, which could harm our financial condition
and operating results, and could result in a loss of investor confidence and a decline in our stock price.
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’
ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to limited exceptions,
that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other
similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder
bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel in any action brought to
enforce the exclusive forum provision. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock
shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability
created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent
jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the
rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will provide that the Court of Chancery and the federal
district court for the District of Delaware will have concurrent jurisdiction over any action arising under the Securities Act or the
rules and regulations thereunder, and the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability
created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
To the extent the exclusive forum provision restricts the courts in which our stockholders may bring claims arising under the Securities
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision. Investors cannot
waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
This
exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes
with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
By requiring a stockholder to bring such a claim in the Court of Chancery (or the federal district court for the District of Delaware,
in the case of an action under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder), the exclusive forum provision also may increase
the costs to a stockholder of bringing such a claim. Alternatively, if a court were to find the exclusive forum provision contained in
our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs
associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
27
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM
1C. CYBERSECURITY
We
maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats.
Our
President and Chief Executive Officer is responsible for overseeing our cybersecurity processes and works directly with third party service
providers, as applicable, to identify , assess and manage the Company’s cybersecurity threats and risks. In doing so, he seeks to
identify and assess risks from cybersecurity threats in a manner appropriate for a company of comparable size and resources.
Our
assessment and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats are integrated into the Company’s overall risk management
processes. For example, our IT Consulting Firm works with management to prioritize our risk management processes and mitigate cybersecurity
threats that are more likely to lead to a material impact to our business.
Governance
Our
Board of Directors addresses the Company’s cybersecurity risk management as part of its general oversight function. The Board is
responsible for overseeing Company’s cybersecurity risk management processes. Our cybersecurity risk assessment and management
processes are implemented and maintained by our President and Chief Executive Officer.
Our
cybersecurity incident response and vulnerability management processes are designed to escalate certain cybersecurity incidents to members
of management and/or the Board of Directors depending on the circumstances. The Board receives periodic reports and updates from our
senior management concerning cybersecurity threats and risks, and the processes that the Company has implemented to address them.
We
are not aware of any instances of material cybersecurity incidents that impacted the Company.
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES
We
have leased two facilities in Acton, Massachusetts, one which is month-to-month beginning March 2025 and the other will expire in March
2027.
Our
President and Chief Executive Officer and his spouse, who is also a director of our Company, serve as officers and/or directors of two
business entities that are unaffiliated with us (Canary, Inc. and Laminar Pharma, Inc.), and we permit these entities to use our main
facility as their registered business address.
Our
Chief Technology Officer majority owned business entity (NanoHybrids, Inc.) is permitted to use our laboratory facility. We bill such
entity for the part-time use of our personnel at a rate of the respective employee’s fully burdened personnel cost, plus an additional
10% fee for use of the facility.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From
time to time in the ordinary course of our business, we may be involved in legal proceedings, the outcomes of which may not be determinable.
The results of litigation are inherently unpredictable. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result
in costly litigation, require significant amounts of management time and result in diversion of significant resources. However, we are
currently not a party to any pending legal actions. We have insurance policies covering any potential losses where such coverage is cost
effective.
We
are not at this time involved in any additional legal proceedings that we believe could have a material effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
28
PART
II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market
Information
Our
common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BJDX”.
Dividends
We
have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to finance the growth
and development of our business. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Payment of
future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of
operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in any financing instruments, provisions of applicable law and other factors
our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Holders
of Common Stock
As
of March 21, 2025, we had 554,012 shares of common stock outstanding held by approximately fifteen stockholders of record. The actual
number of stockholders is greater than this number of record holders, and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners, but whose
shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
See
Part III, Item 12 to this Form 10-K for information relating to securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans.
Purchases
of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
ITEM
6. RESERVED
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You
should read the following discussion and analysis together with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For additional
discussion, see “CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” above.
Overview
We
are a clinical-stage medical diagnostics company developing rapid tests using whole blood on our Symphony platform (“Symphony”)
to improve patient outcomes in critical care settings. Our Symphony technology platform is an exclusively licensed, patented system that
consists of a mobile device and single-use test cartridges that if cleared, authorized, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(“FDA”), could provide a solution to a significant market need in the United States. Clinical trials indicate Symphony produces
laboratory-quality results in less than 20 minutes in critical care settings, including Intensive Care Units (“ICUs”) and
Emergency Rooms (“ERs”), where rapid and reliable results are required.
Since
inception, we have incurred net losses from operations each year and we expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.
We incurred net losses of approximately $7.7 million and $10.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
We had negative cash flow from operating activities of approximately $7.5 million and $8.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024
and 2023, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $34.7 million and $26.95 million as of December 31, 2024 and
2023, respectively.
29
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
The
following table sets forth our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
For Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development
$ 3,471,671
$ 5,714,574
General and administrative
3,689,648
4,313,200
Sales and marketing
8,297
283,443
Total operating expenses
7,169,616
10,311,217
Operating loss
(7,169,616 )
(10,311,217 )
Other income (expense):
Interest expense
(823,028 )
-
Interest income
145,823
164,900
Other income, net
129,027
192,429
Total other income (expense)
(548,178 )
357,329
Net loss
$ (7,717,794 )
$ (9,953,888 )
Research
and development
Research
and development expenses decreased approximately $2.2 million, or 39%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 2023. The
decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to a $0.5 million decrease in personnel related costs, a $0.8 million
decrease in depreciation expense, and a $1.1 million decrease in product development costs, which was partially offset by a $0.5 million
increase in clinical development costs.
The
decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to a reduction in technology transfer efforts which offset increased
clinical trial expenses. We expect future research and development expenses to be focused on costs specifically associated with our clinical
trial program supporting our regulatory strategy, technology transfer efforts and any necessary manufacturing improvements.
General
and administrative
General
and administrative expenses decreased approximately $0.6 million, or 14%, for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 2023.
The decrease in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the cost reduction efforts focused on reducing personnel and
other administrative costs.
We
expect to monitor and continue to reduce our general and administrative spend, as necessary, to optimize operational alignment.
30
Sales
and marketing
Sales
and marketing expenses decreased approximately $0.3 million, or 97%, for year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 2023. The low sales
and marketing expenses in 2024 are due to a reduction in spending in all sales and marketing efforts.
Other
income (expense)
Total
other income (expense) decreased approximately $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023. The decreases primarily
related to the $0.8 million increase in interest expense associated with the Bridge Note Financing.
Summary
Statement of Cash Flows
The
following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for each of the periods presented.
Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Cash proceeds provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$ (7,819,769 )
$ (8,313,870 )
Investing activities
(306,783 )
(704,166 )
Financing activities
10,219,981
1,111,562
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$ 2,093,429
$ (7,906,474 )
Net
cash used in operating activities
During 2024, we used approximately $7.8 million
in cash for operating activities, a decrease of approximately $0.5 million from 2023. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities
was primarily due to a decrease in the net loss and partially offset by the timing of payments to vendors and other decreases in working
capital during 2024.
Net
cash used in investing activities
During
2024, we used approximately $0.3 million in cash for investing activities, an approximately $0.4 million decrease from 2023. The Company
acquired laboratory equipment and manufacturing equipment for the development of the Symphony devices in both 2024 and 2023.
Net
cash provided by financing activities
During 2024, we generated approximately $10.2
million in cash from financing activities, as compared to $1.1 million in 2023. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities
was primarily due to the proceeds from our public offerings in January 2024 and June 2024 as compared to our private placement of common
stock in August 2023.
31
Contractual
Obligations
See
Note 9 to consolidated financial statements for our lease obligations and Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for our other
non-cancellable contractual obligations.
Liquidity
and Going Concern
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4,301,945
and current liabilities of $810,368 on its balance sheet as of December 31, 2024. The Company has incurred net losses since its inception,
and has negative cash flows from operations and had an accumulated deficit of $34,668,784 as of December 31, 2024. The Company continues
to develop its Symphony device and its first test for the measurement of IL-6. The Company remains committed to obtaining FDA clearance
and hopes to conduct clinical trials to obtain sufficient data to support its FDA submission, while also continuing to build its manufacturing
operations with its contract manufacturing organizations. Current cash resources and expected operating expenses are considered in determining
its liquidity requirements. The Company estimates cash resources will be sufficient to fund its operations up to the third quarter of
2025. The Company will need additional capital to fund its planned operations for the next 12 months. These conditions raise substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date these financial statements are issued.
The consolidated financial statements for the
years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were prepared under the assumption that the Company will continue as a going concern, and do not
include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification
of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The
Company expects that it will seek to raise such additional capital through public or private equity offerings, grant financing and support
from governmental agencies, convertible debt, collaborations, strategic alliances and distribution arrangements. Additional funds may
not be available when it needs them on terms that are acceptable to them, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, it may be required
to delay its FDA regulatory strategy, and to delay or reduce the scope of its research or development programs, its commercialization
efforts or its manufacturing commitments and capacity. In addition, if it raises additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances
or distribution arrangements with third parties, it may have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies or future revenue streams.
Recent
Offerings
August
2023 Offering
On
August 24, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional and accredited investors (the “Purchase
Agreement”) relating to the registered direct offering and sale of 540 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase
price of $2,946.00 per share (the “Offering”).
In
a concurrent private placement, the Company also issued to such institutional and accredited investors unregistered warrants to purchase
up to 540 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, for each share of Common
Stock issued in this offering an accompanying Warrant was issued to the purchaser thereof. Each Warrant is exercisable for one share
of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $2,896.00 per share, will be immediately exercisable upon
issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The Warrants were offered and sold at a purchase price of $50.00 per underlying
warrant share, which purchase price is included in the offering price per share of Common Stock issued in the Offering (the “Private
Placement”).
Pursuant
to an engagement letter, dated as of August 7, 2023, between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, or the placement agent,
the Company paid the placement agent a total cash fee of $111,359 equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds received in the Offering and the
Private Placement. The Company also agreed to pay the placement agent in connection with the Offering and the Private Placement a management
fee equal to $15,908 or 1.0% of the gross proceeds raised in the Offering and Private Placement, $45,000 for non-accountable expenses,
and $15,950 for clearing fees. In addition, the Company agreed to issue to the placement agent, or its designees, warrants to purchase
up to 36 shares of Common Stock (the “Placement Agent Warrants”), which represents 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock sold in the Offering. The Placement Agent Warrants have substantially the same terms as the Warrants, except that the
Placement Agent Warrants have an exercise price equal to $3,684.00, or 125% of the offering price per share of Common Stock sold in the
Offering, and a term of five years from the commencement of the sales pursuant to the Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the Offering and the Private Placement are $1,590,840. The Company incurred offering costs of $413,544.
32
January
2024 Offering
On
January 2, 2024, the Company sold in a public offering (such transaction, the “January 2024 Offering”) (i) 1,344 shares of
the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and (ii) prefunded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 5,386 shares
of Common Stock (the “January Prefunded Warrants”). The Shares and January Prefunded Warrants were sold together with warrants
to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,730 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $520.00 per share (the “January 2024 Warrants”).
The combined public offering price was $520.00 per share of Common Stock and related January 2024 Warrant and $519.96 per January Prefunded
Warrant and related January 2024 Warrant.
As
of December 31, 2024, all January Prefunded Warrants have been exercised in full. The January 2024 Warrants are exercisable for a period
of five years following the date of issuance.
Pursuant
to an engagement letter, dated as of August 7, 2023, as amended October 11, 2023, by and between the Company and the Placement Agent,
the Company paid the Placement Agent a total cash fee of $245,000 equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds received in the January 2024 Offering.
The Company also paid the Placement Agent in connection with the January Offering a management fee of $35,000 equal to 1.0% of the gross
proceeds raised in the January 2024 Offering and certain expenses incurred in connection with the January Offering. In addition, the
Company issued to the Placement Agent, warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 471 shares of Common Stock (the “January 2024 Placement
Agent Warrants”), which represents 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock and Prefunded Warrants sold in the January
2024 Offering. The January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants have substantially the same terms as the January 2024 Warrants, except that
the January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants have an exercise price equal to $650.00, or 125% of the offering price per share of Common
Stock and related January 2024 Warrant sold in the January Offering and expire on the fifth anniversary from the date of the commencement
of sales in the January 2024 Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the January 2024 Offering were $3,500,000. The Company incurred offering costs of $711,031.
May
2024 Bridge Note Financing
On
May 31, 2024, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with an accredited investor (the “NPA”), and a Securities
Purchase Agreement with three accredited investors (the “SPA”). Under the terms of the NPA, the investor provided the Company
with a $1,000,000 cash subscription in exchange for the issuance of a senior secured note. As of December 31, 2024, a total of $1,176,470
was repaid to the NPA investors. The difference between such note and the subscription amount, initially recorded as a discount on the
notes, was the result of the discount factor included in the NPA of approximately 17.6%.
Under
the terms of the SPA, the three investors agreed to collectively provide the Company with a separate $1,000,000 cash subscription in
exchange for the issuance of senior secured notes ($333,333 each), and the collective issuance of 1,451 shares of the Company’s
common stock. The fair value of the common stock issued in connection with the SPA was $307,563. As of December 31, 2024, a total of
$1,111,110 was repaid to the SPA investors. The difference between such notes and the subscription amounts, initially recorded as a discount
on the notes, was the result of the discount factor included in the SPA of 11.11%.
Interest
expense recorded on the NPA and SPAs was $807,797 for the year ended December 31, 2024, including debt issuance costs related to the
NPA and SPA totaling $212,654.
June
2024 Offering
On
June 28, 2024, the Company sold in a public offering ( the “June 2024 Offering”), (i) 11,541 common units (the “Common
Units”), each consisting of one share of common stock, two Class C Warrants and one Class D Warrant and (ii) 95,815 prefunded warrants
(the “Prefunded Units”), each consisting of one prefunded warrant to purchase one share of common stock (each, a “Prefunded
Warrant”), two Class C Warrants and one Class D Warrant to purchase Common Shares. Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis” or,
the “Underwriter”) partially exercised its over-allotment option in respect to 13,573 Class C Warrants and 6,787 Class D
Warrants (the “Over-Allotment Warrants”). The Common Units were sold at a price of $81.50 per unit and the Prefunded Warrants
were sold at a price of $81.495 per unit. As of December 31, 2024, all Prefunded Warrants have been exercised in full.
33
Pursuant
to an engagement letter dated June 6, 2024, by and between the Company and Aegis, the Company paid Aegis a total cash fee of $743,750
equal to 8.5% of the gross proceeds received in the June 2024 Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the June 2024 Offering were $8,569,075. The Company incurred offering costs of $1,133,419.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Some
of our critical accounting policies require us to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments or estimates. An accounting estimate
is considered to be critical if it meets both of the following criteria: (i) the estimate requires assumptions about matters that
are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made, and (ii) different estimates reasonably could have been used,
or changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period may have a material impact on the presentation of
our financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations.
As
an emerging growth company, we have elected to opt-in to the extended transition period for new or revised accounting standards.
As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with public company effective
dates.
See Note 2 to consolidated financial statements for a summary of significant
accounting policies.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Standards
See
Note 2 to consolidated financial statements (under the caption “Recently Issued Accounting Standards”).
Recently
Issued Accounting Standards
See
Note 2 to consolidated financial statements (under the caption “Recently Issued Accounting Standards”).
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Information
requested by this Item is not applicable as we are electing scaled disclosure requirements available to Smaller Reporting Companies with
respect to this Item.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our
Consolidated Financial Statements and The Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are included in this Form 10-K
on pages F-1 through F-19.
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
34
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our President and Chief Executive Officer, who
serves as our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting officer, has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness
of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2024. The term “disclosure controls and
procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company
that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures include, without
limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or
submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer,
to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer concluded
that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2024.
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange
Act). Our President and Chief Executive Officer, who serves as our principal executive officer and our principal financial and accounting
officer, has conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024.
In making this assessment, our President and Chief Executive Officer used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission, or COSO, in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment and using the COSO criteria,
our President and Chief Executive Officer have concluded that, as a result of a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting
arising from a lack of sufficient internal accounting expertise at the Company, our internal control over financial reporting was not
effective as of December 31, 2024.
The foregoing determination was made in connection
with the preparation and finalization of this Form 10-K. In connection therewith, our independent registered public accounting firm identified
an issue with respect to the Company’s application of provisions of the Accounting Standards Codification of the FASB related to
the accounting and valuation of certain warrants. In particular, in June 2024, the Company issued Class C and Class D warrants that contained
“reset” features that caused the exercise prices and number of shares of Company common stock issuable upon exercise of such
warrants to increase following stockholder approval of such warrants in August 2024 and changes in the market price of our common stock
that were measured in the period that immediately followed. Under applicable accounting guidance, upon reset, the Company should have
recorded in its consolidated statement of operations the “deemed dividend on warrant modification” and “net loss applicable
to common stockholders,” in each case, below the presentation of net loss. In addition, these non-book entry line items were not
included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 in the Company’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024.
35
Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, management
has concluded that the financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, our financial
position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. In addition, the Company intends to include an “out-of-period
adjustment” in its upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025 to provide these additional
non-book entry line item amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over
financial reporting for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the Jumpstart Our Business
Startups Act.
Plan to Remediate Material Weakness
As noted above, our President and Chief Executive
Officer currently serves as our principal executive officer, and our principal financial and accounting officer, and has done so since
we separated with our prior Chief Financial Officer in October 2023 and our prior Interim Chief Financial Officer in March 2024. Our President
and Chief Financial Officer, who is not a certified public accountant and does not have a prior background in public accounting, works
with external and internal consultants in preparing and reviewing the Company’s consolidated financial statements. As a result of
the material weakness determination that occurred in connection with the preparation of this Form 10-K, we plan to enhance our processes
by designing and implementing controls to review the results of valuations and estimates, including the completeness and accuracy of relevant
data elements included in the valuation or estimate. We also plan, subject to the availability of sufficient financial resources in the
future, to engage additional qualified resources and/or hire additional staff to ensure these incremental controls are properly implemented
and to ensure proper segregation of duties around the review of manual journal entries.
Management is currently evaluating steps to remediate
the material weaknesses, including enhanced processes to identify and appropriately apply applicable accounting requirements to better
evaluate and understand the nuances of the complex accounting standards that apply to our consolidated financial statements. This includes
providing enhanced access to accounting literature, research materials, and documents, and increasing communication among our personnel
and third-party professionals with whom we consult regarding complex accounting applications.
When fully implemented and operational, we believe
the measures described above will remediate the underlying causes of the control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weakness
and will strengthen our internal control over financial reporting. However, remediation efforts are expected to continue into future fiscal
quarters. Further, we will not be able to fully remediate this material weakness until these steps have been completed and have been operating
effectively for a sufficient period of time. We may also identify additional measures that may be required to remediate the material weakness
in our internal control over financial reporting, necessitating further action.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Other than the material weakness determination
described above and the commencement of the Company’s remediation activities in connection therewith, there
have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter, that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent
Limitations of Controls
Management
does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all
errors and all fraud. Controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving
their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that
all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities
that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls
can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls.
The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there
can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls
may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or deterioration in the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures.
Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During
the three months ended December 31, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”
or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM
9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not
applicable.
36
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The
information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table sets forth information regarding our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2024:
Plan
category
Number
of securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and
rights
(a)
Weighted-
average exercise
price
of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
(b)
Number
of securities
(by class) remaining
available for future
issuance under
equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities reflected in
column (a))
(c)
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
73
$ 14,902.00
136
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)
108
$ 7,180.00
-
(1) Represents
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and rights under
our 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) and 2021 Stock Plan (the “2021
Plan”). Both plans permit the Company to grant incentive and nonqualified stock options
for the purchase of common stock, and restricted stock awards. The maximum number of shares
of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2018 Plan and 2021 Plan are 79 and 245, respectively.
At December 31, 2024 there were 35 and 101 shares of common stock available for grant under
the 2018 Plan and 2021 Plan, respectively.
(2) Consists
of warrants issued to placement agents, underwriters and consultants.
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The
information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
information required by this item is hereby incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 annual meeting of
stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
37
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The
following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1) Financial
Statements—See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at Part II, Item 8 on
page F-1 of this Form 10-K.
(2) All
financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required
or because the information is included elsewhere in the financial statements or the Notes
thereto.
(3) See
the accompanying Index to Exhibits filed as a part of this Form 10-K, which list is incorporated
by reference in this Item.
(b) See
the accompanying Index to Exhibits filed as a part of this Form 10-K.
(c) Other
schedules are not applicable.
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description of Document
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on July 21, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2023).
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 14, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 16, 2024).
3.4
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on June 17, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2024).
3.5
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 28, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 23, 2024).
3.6
Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc., filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 15, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2024).
3.7
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
3.8
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2024).
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
4.2
Form of Prefunded Common Stock Warrant (January 2024 Offering) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2024).
4.3
Form of Common Stock Warrant (January 2024 Offering (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2024).
4.4
Form of Placement Agent Common Stock Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2024).
4.5
Form of Common Stock (August 2023 Offering) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 28, 2023).
4.6
Form of Class A Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2021).
4.7
Form of Class B Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
4.8
Form of Warrant Agency Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
4.9
Form of IPO Underwriters’ Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
4.10 *
Description of Securities of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc.
4.11
Form of Prefunded Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-280253), filed on June 17, 2024).
4.12
Form of Class C Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-280253), filed on June 17, 2024).
38
4.13
Form of Class D Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-280253), filed on June 17, 2024).
10.1**
2021 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
10.2**
Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2021, between Neil Dey and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
10.3**
First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated January 27, 2023, between Neil Dey and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2023).
10.4**
Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 2021, between Jason Cook and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. * (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
10.5
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 27, 2023, between certain purchasers and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2024).
10.6
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 24, 2023, by and between the Company and each of the Purchasers signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on August 28, 2023).
10.7
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2021, between certain purchasers and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
10.8
Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 7, 2021, between certain purchasers and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
10.9
Amended and Restated License Agreement, entered into on October 23, 2023, by and between Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. and Toray Industries, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 26, 2023).
10.10
Master Supply Agreement, entered into on October 23, 2023, by and between Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. and Toray Industries, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 26, 2023).
10.11
Form of Note Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2024).
10.12
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2024).
10.13
Form of Senior Secured Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2024).
10.14
Underwriting Agreement, dated June 27, 2024, between Aegis and Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2024).
14.1
Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
19.1*
Insider Trading Policy.
21.1
List of Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260029), filed on October 4, 2021).
31.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
31.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
32.1*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
97.1
Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 28, 2024)
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL 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 (formatted as Inline XBRL and included in Exhibit 101)
* Filed
herewith.
** Management
contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
ITEM
16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.
None.
39
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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 on March 31, 2025.
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
By:
/s/
Neil Dey
Neil
Dey
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
Neil Dey
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
March
31, 2025
Neil
Dey
(Principal
Executive Officer and
Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/
Douglas C. Wurth
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
March
31, 2025
Douglas
C. Wurth
/s/
Donald R. Chase
Director
March
31, 2025
Donald
R. Chase
/s/ Svetlana
Dey
Director
March
31, 2025
Svetlana
Dey
/s/ Fred
S. Zeidman
Director
March
31, 2025
Fred
S. Zeidman
/s/
Gary Gemignani
Director
March
31, 2025
Gary
Gemignani
40
Index
to Consolidated Financial Statements
Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID # 392 ) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7
F- 1
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To
the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc.:
Opinion
on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31,
2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended,
and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the “financial statements”). In our opinion,
the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and
2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
Emphasis
of Matter Regarding Going Concern
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note
1 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred net losses since its inception, and has negative cash flows from operations and
will need additional funding to complete planned development efforts. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability
to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters also are described in Note 1. The financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis
for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s
financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company
is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits,
we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion
on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error
or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
Wolf & Company, P.C.
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
Boston,
Massachusetts
March
31, 2025
F- 2
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
December 31,
2024
2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 4,301,945
$ 2,208,516
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
596,938
747,263
Deferred offering costs
-
265,081
Total current assets
4,898,883
3,220,860
Property and equipment, net
1,513,495
1,285,741
Operating lease right-of-use assets
209,788
333,267
Other non-current assets
35,257
28,663
Total assets
$ 6,657,423
$ 4,868,531
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 145,122
$ 491,474
Operating lease liability, current
113,260
162,990
Accrued expenses
551,986
1,116,911
Total current liabilities
810,368
1,771,375
Operating lease liability, non-current
108,989
189,987
Other non-current liabilities
8,567
12,321
Total liabilities
927,924
1,973,683
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $ 0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 554,012 and 3,098 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
55
-
Additional paid-in capital
40,398,228
29,845,838
Accumulated deficit
( 34,668,784 )
( 26,950,990 )
Total stockholders’ equity
5,729,499
2,894,848
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 6,657,423
$ 4,868,531
See
report of independent registered public accounting firm and notes to consolidated financial statements.
Reflects
a 1-for-50 reverse stock split effective November 18, 2024 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split effective June 20, 2024.
F- 3
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
For Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development
$ 3,471,671
$ 5,714,574
General and administrative
3,689,648
4,313,200
Sales and marketing
8,297
283,443
Total operating expenses
7,169,616
10,311,217
Operating loss
( 7,169,616 )
( 10,311,217 )
Other income (expense):
Interest expense
( 823,028 )
-
Interest income
145,823
164,900
Other income, net
129,027
192,429
Total other income (expense), net
( 548,178 )
357,329
Net loss
( 7,717,794 )
( 9,953,888 )
Deemed dividend on warrant modification
13,223,053
-
Net loss applicable to common stockholders
$ ( 20,940,847 )
$ ( 9,953,888 )
Net loss per share to common stockholders - Basic and diluted
$ ( 114.19 )
$ ( 3,631.48 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted
183,392
2,741
See
report of independent registered public accounting firm and notes to consolidated financial statements.
Reflects
a 1-for-50 reverse stock split effective November 18, 2024 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split effective June 20, 2024.
F- 4
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Total
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Balance as of December 31, 2022
2,526
$ -
$ 28,538,375
$ ( 16,997,102 )
$ 11,541,273
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
24,385
-
24,385
Issuance of common stock from exercised RSU’s, net of RSU tax withholding
1
-
( 1,453 )
-
( 1,453 )
Issuance of common stock to settle accrued bonus, net of shares withheld
31
-
107,235
-
107,235
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $ 413,544
540
-
1,177,296
-
1,177,296
Net loss
-
-
-
( 9,953,888 )
( 9,953,888 )
Balance as of December 31, 2023
3,098
-
29,845,838
( 26,950,990 )
2,894,848
Stock-based compensation expense
-
-
20,094
-
20,094
Issuance of common stock in connection with January 2024 Offering, net of issuance costs of $ 711,031
6,730
-
2,788,969
-
2,788,969
Issuance of common stock in connection with Bridge Note Financing
1,451
-
307,563
-
307,563
Issuance of common stock in connection with June 2024 Offering, net of issuance costs of $ 1,133,419
107,356
11
7,435,645
-
7,435,656
Exercise of Series D Warrants
435,377
44
514
-
558
Cash for fractional shares from reverse stock split
-
-
( 395 )
-
( 395 )
Net loss
-
-
-
( 7,717,794 )
( 7,717,794 )
Balance as of December 31, 2024
554,012
$ 55
$ 40,398,228
$ ( 34,668,784 )
$ 5,729,499
See
report of independent registered public accounting firm and notes to consolidated financial statements.
Reflects
a 1-for-50 reverse stock split effective November 18, 2024 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split effective June 20, 2024.
F- 5
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss
$ ( 7,717,794 )
$ ( 9,953,888 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense
75,618
648,708
Stock-based compensation expense
20,094
189,245
Amortization of right-of-use asset
123,479
132,247
Non-cash interest expense for finance lease
1,053
1,305
Non-cash interest expense for note payable
307,563
-
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
3,411
1,787
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
150,325
926,217
Deferred offering costs
265,081
-
Other non-current assets
( 6,594 )
6,548
Accounts payable
( 346,352 )
( 235,760 )
Accrued expenses and other current and non-current liabilities
( 695,653 )
( 30,279 )
Net cash used in operating activities
( 7,819,769 )
( 8,313,870 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment
( 306,783 )
( 704,166 )
Net cash used in investing activities
( 306,783 )
( 704,166 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, gross
12,069,075
1,590,840
Payment for issuance costs of common stock
( 1,844,450 )
( 413,544 )
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable
2,000,000
-
Repayment of notes payable
( 2,000,000 )
-
Proceeds from exercise of Class D warrants
558
-
Fractional shares adjustment for reverse stock split
( 395 )
-
Payment of deferred offering costs
-
( 1,849 )
Payment of tax withholding on obligations on restricted stock units
-
( 59,078 )
Payment of finance lease
( 4,807 )
( 4,807 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
10,219,981
1,111,562
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
2,093,429
( 7,906,474 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
2,208,516
10,114,990
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$ 4,301,945
$ 2,208,516
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION AND NON-CASH INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses
$ -
$ 263,232
Fair value of common stock issued in connection with notes payable
$ 307,563
$ -
See
report of independent registered public accounting firm and notes to consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc.
Notes
to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Business
Bluejay
Diagnostics, Inc. (“Bluejay” and/or the “Company”) is a medical diagnostics company focused on improving patient
outcomes in critical care settings. The Company is working on developing rapid tests using whole blood on its Symphony technology platform
(“Symphony”), which consists of an analyzer and cartridges. The Company’s Symphony platform is a combination of Bluejay’s
intellectual property (“IP”) and exclusively licensed and patented IP that consists of a mobile device and single-use test
cartridges that if cleared, authorized, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), could provide a
solution to a significant market need in the United States.
On
June 4, 2021, the Company formed Bluejay Spinco, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for purposes of further development of
the Company’s ALLEREYE diagnostic test. ALLEREYE is a point-of-care device offering healthcare providers a solution for diagnosing
Allergic Conjunctivitis.
FDA
Regulatory Strategy
The
Company’s current regulatory strategy is designed to support commercialization of Symphony in the United States pending marketing
authorization from the FDA. In May 2023, the Company submitted a pre-submission application to the FDA presenting study designs to validate
Symphony IL-6 for use with hospitalized sepsis patients. We participated in a pre-submission meeting with the FDA on August 11, 2023,
and at the meeting the FDA provided feedback on the new study design, determined that the submission of a 510(k) is the appropriate premarket
submission pathway, and requested that certain data be provided in the 510(k). Based on this feedback, the Company determined to proceed
on this basis, which considers the FDA’s feedback.
In
the second quarter of 2024, we completed a multicenter SYmphony IL-6 MONitoring Sepsis (“SYMON”) clinical study investigating
the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock. This prospective study assessed the performance
of IL-6 upon initial presentation to the intensive care unit (ICU). A primary analysis of the SYMON-I pilot clinical study (registered
clinical trial number NCT06181604) highlighted that IL-6 levels within 24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to
the ICU may predict patient mortality out to 28 days. Furthermore, a secondary outcome of the SYMON-I study showed that IL-6 levels within
24 hours of sepsis or septic shock diagnosis and admission to the ICU is a predictor of patient mortality during their hospitalization.
Other secondary outcomes showed that lactate and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), standard clinical tests used for sepsis
and septic shock patients, were not predictors of patient mortality out to 28 days. We believe that the findings underscore the potential
importance of IL-6 as a predictor and provide new insights into the potential pathways for improving sepsis outcomes. In the third quarter
of 2024, we initiated SYMON-II pivotal clinical study to validate the findings of the SYMON-I pilot clinical study.
As
a result of its lack of cash resources, the Company has recently slowed the timeline of this study to preserve cash resources in the
near-term, and the Company expects that these delays will prevent the Company from submitting an FDA application for its Symphony platform
before the fourth quarter of 2027.
Product
Manufacturing
The
Company maintains contracts with Sanyoseiko Co. Ltd (“Sanyoseiko”) to manufacture its analyzer. Once redeveloped, the Company
plans to transfer manufacturing of its cartridges to Sanyoseiko, or other suitable CMO, to manufacture the cartridges.
Risks
and Uncertainties
As
noted above, Bluejay is reliant upon Sanyoseiko to provide analyzers in sufficient quantity and quality to complete the validations for
our FDA application. Our FDA application submission could be delayed if the Company encounters any material supply interruptions. In
addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain necessary regulatory authorization for the manufacturing or marketing
of the Symphony in the United States or elsewhere. There also can be no assurance that we will successfully complete any clinical evaluations
necessary to receive regulatory approvals, or that the clinical study will demonstrate sufficient safety and effectiveness of the Symphony
IL-6 test. The failure to adequately demonstrate the clinical performance of the Symphony IL-6 test could delay or prevent regulatory
approval, which could prevent or result in delays to market launch and could materially harm our business.
In
addition to the FDA regulatory strategy risks and uncertainties, the Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other companies
in its industry, including rapid technological change, competition from larger biotechnology companies and dependence on key personnel.
The Company is also impacted by inflationary pressures and global supply chain disruptions currently impacting many companies.
F- 7
Reverse
Stock Splits and Increase to Authorized Capital
On
July 24, 2023, the Company effected the first reverse stock split of its shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-20 (the “July
2023 Reverse Stock Split”). On June 20, 2024, the Company effected a second reverse stock split of its shares of common stock at
a ratio of 1-for-8 (the “June 2024 Reverse Stock Split”). On November 18, 2024, the Company effected a third reverse stock
split of its shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-50 (the “November 2024 Reverse Stock Split” and, together with the
July 2023 Reverse Stock Split and June 2024 Reverse Stock Split, the “Reverse Stock Splits”). As such, collectively, the
Company’s common stock has undergone reverse stock splits that have combined the shares on a 1-for-8,000 aggregate basis since
July 2023. All of the Company’s historical share and per share information related to issued and outstanding common stock and outstanding
options and warrants exercisable for common stock in these financial statements have been adjusted, on a retroactive basis, to reflect
these reverse stock splits.
On
October 23, 2024, the stockholders of the Company approved and adopted an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s Common Stock to 250,000,000 .
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States (“US GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the presentation of the Company’s consolidated
financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The consolidated financial statements include
the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Going
Concern
The
consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were prepared under the assumption that the Company
will continue as a going concern, which contemplates that the Company will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the
normal course of business.
The
Company had cash and cash equivalents of $ 4,301,945 and current liabilities of $ 810,368 as of December 31, 2024. The Company has incurred
net losses since its inception, has incurred negative cash flows from operations and has an accumulated deficit of $ 34,668,784 as of
December 31, 2024. The Company estimates cash resources will be sufficient to fund its operations up to the third quarter of 2025. These
conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date these financial statements were issued.
The
Company continues to develop the Symphony device and its first test for the measurement of IL-6. The Company remains committed to obtaining
FDA clearance and will conduct clinical studies to obtain sufficient data to support its FDA submission, while also continuing to build
its manufacturing operations with its contract manufacturing organizations.
The
Company expects that it will seek to raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, grant financing and support
from governmental agencies, convertible debt, collaborations, strategic alliances and distribution arrangements. Additional funds may
not be available when it needs them on terms that are acceptable to them, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, it may be required
to delay its FDA regulatory strategy, and to delay or reduce the scope of its research or development programs, commercialization efforts
or manufacturing commitments and capacity, or even cease operations and enter into receivership. In addition, if the Company raises additional
funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or distribution arrangements with third parties, it may have to relinquish valuable
rights to its technologies or future revenue streams.
These accompanying financial statements do not
include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of
liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use
of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures reported in these consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. The Company evaluates its estimates
and assumptions as facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results
could differ from these estimates and assumptions, and those differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.
F- 8
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Cash equivalents, consisting of highly liquid money market funds are carried at fair market value which approximates cost. The Company
recognized interest income associated with cash equivalents of $ 145,823 and $ 164,900 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023,
respectively.
Leases
The
Company accounts for its leases under the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”).
The
Company has arrangements involving the lease of facilities and the lease of copiers. Under ASC 842, at inception of the arrangement,
the Company determines whether the contract is or contains a lease and whether the lease should be classified as an operating or a financing
lease. This determination, among other considerations, involves an assessment of whether the Company can control the underlying asset
and have the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits or outputs from the asset. The Company accounts for the leases
of less than 12 months as short-term leases.
The
Company recognizes right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities as of the lease commencement date based on the net present
value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. The Company amortizes the right-of-use assets over the remaining terms
of the lease. ASC 842 requires the leases to use the rate implicit in the lease unless it is not readily determinable and then it may
use its incremental borrowing rate (“IBR”) to discount the future minimum lease payments. Most of the Company’s leases
do not provide an implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses its IBR to discount the future minimum lease payments. The Company determines
its IBR with its credit rating and other economic information available as of the commencement date, as well as the identified lease
term. During the assessment of the lease term, the Company considers its renewal options and extensions within the arrangements and the
Company includes these options when it’s reasonably certain to extend the term of the lease.
The
Company has lease arrangements that contain incentives for tenant improvements as well as fixed rent escalation clauses. For contracts
with tenant improvement incentives that are determined to be leasehold improvements and the Company is reasonably certain to exercise,
it records a reduction to the lease liability and amortizes the incentive over the identified term of the lease as a reduction to rent
expense. The Company records rental expense on a straight-line basis over the identified lease term on contracts with rent escalation
clauses.
Fair
Value Measurements
The
accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosure for each
major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or non-recurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit
price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between
market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants
would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance establishes a three-tier
fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
Level
1: Observable
inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.
Level
2: Inputs,
other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly.
Level
3: Unobservable
inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its ow n assumptions.
The
Company determines fair value for cash equivalents with Level 1 inputs through the reference to the quoted market prices.
There
were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring
basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
The
carrying values of financial instruments such as prepaid expenses, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated fair value as
of December 31, 2024 and 2023 due to their short-term maturities.
Impairment
of Property and Equipment
The
Company evaluates its long-lived assets with definite lives, such as fixed assets and right-of-use assets for impairment. The carrying
value of fixed assets and right-of use assets is reviewed on a regular basis for the existence of facts or circumstances, both internally
and externally, that may suggest impairment. Some factors which the Company considers to be triggering events for impairment review include
a significant decrease in the market value of an asset, a significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, a significant
adverse change in the business climate that could affect the value of an asset, an accumulation of costs for an asset in excess of the
amount originally expected, a current period operating loss or cash flow decline combined with a history of operating loss or cash flow
uses or a projection that demonstrates continuing losses and a current expectation that, it is more likely than not, a long-lived asset
will be disposed of at a loss before the end of its estimated useful life. The factors that drive the estimate of the life are often
uncertain and are reviewed on a periodic basis or when events occur that warrant review. Recoverability is measured by comparison of
the assets’ book value to future net undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. If the assets are not recoverable,
the impairment charge is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the fair value.
F- 9
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Cash,
and cash equivalents consist of financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk in the event
of a default by the related financial institution holding the securities, to the extent of the value recorded in the balance sheet. The
Company invests cash that is not required for immediate operating needs primarily in highly liquid instruments with lower credit risk.
Research
and Development Expenses
Costs
incurred in the research and development of new products are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include, but are not
limited to, salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation, laboratory supplies, fees for professional service providers and costs associated
with product development efforts, including preclinical studies and clinical trials.
The
Company estimates preclinical study and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed, pursuant to contracts with research
institutions and clinical research organizations that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on its behalf. In accruing
service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each
period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust
the accrual accordingly. Payments made to third parties under these arrangements in advance of the receipt of the related services are
recorded as prepaid expenses until the services are rendered.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Share-based
compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees, directors and non-employees is measured based on the grant-date
fair value of the award. Share-based compensation expense for awards granted to non-employees is determined using the fair value of the
consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured.
The
Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of options granted. The Company recognizes the compensation
cost of share-based awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For stock awards for which vesting is subject
to performance-based milestones, the expense is recorded over the implied service period after the point when the achievement of the
milestone is probable, or the performance condition has been achieved.
The
determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards utilizing the Black-Scholes model is affected by the stock price and a
number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. The Company does
not have a history of market prices of its common stock, and as such, volatility is estimated using historical volatilities of similar
public entities. The expected life of the awards is estimated based on the simplified method for grants to employees and is based on
the contractual term for non-employee awards. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate
for the terms of the awards. The dividend yield assumption is based on history and expectation of paying no dividends.
The
Company recognizes forfeitures related to employee share-based payments when they occur.
Warrants
The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified
instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, or the FASB, ASC, 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, or ASC 480, and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC
815. The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of
a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including
whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net
cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. Finally,
the Company determines if the warrants meet the definition of a derivative based on their contractual terms. This assessment, which requires
the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while
the warrants are outstanding.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity
classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. For issued
or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded at their initial
fair value on the date of issuance, and at each balance sheet date thereafter. Changes in the estimated fair value of liability-classified
warrants are recognized as a non-cash gain or loss on the consolidated statements of operations. The Company also evaluates if changes
in contractual terms or other considerations would result in the reclassification of outstanding warrants from liabilities to stockholders’
equity (or vice versa).
Segment
Reporting
Management
has determined that the Company has one operating segment, which is consistent with the Company’s structure and how it manages
the business.
Income
Taxes
The
Company follows accounting guidance regarding the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions in
the consolidated financial statements. Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Company’s tax
returns are required to be evaluated to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained
by the applicable tax authorities. Tax positions not deemed to meet a more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded in the consolidated
financial statements. There are no uncertain tax positions that require accrual or disclosure as of December 31, 2024. Any interest or
penalties are charged to expense. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no significant interest and penalties.
Tax years subsequent to December 31, 2021 are subject to examination by federal and state authorities.
F- 10
The
Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized
for tax and financial reporting purposes measured by applying enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences
are expected to reverse, net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits. Valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce
net deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The deferred tax benefit or expense for the period
represents the change in the deferred tax asset or liability from the beginning to the end of the period.
Deferred
Offering Costs
Deferred
offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through December 31, 2023 that are directly
related to the January 2024 Offering and that were charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the January 2024 Offering.
Net
Loss per Share
Basic net loss per share to common stockholders is
computed by dividing the net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding
for the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net
loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined
using the treasury stock and if-converted methods. Dilutive common stock equivalents are comprised of options outstanding under the Company’s
stock option plan, restricted stock units, and warrants. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used
to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding as inclusion of the potentially dilutive securities would be antidilutive.
Potentially
dilutive securities not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, because to do so would be anti-dilutive, are as follows
(in common stock equivalent shares):
December 31,
2024
2023
Options to purchase common stock
72
74
Restricted stock units
1
20
Warrants for common stock
660
679
Class A Warrants for common stock
310
311
Class B Warrants for common stock
9
9
5-Year warrants for common stock
6,730
-
Class C warrants for common stock
1,372,586
-
Placement agent warrants
471
-
Recently
Issued Accounting Standards
The
Company does not believe that any recently issued but not yet effective accounting pronouncements will have a material effect on the
accompanying consolidated financial statements.
3.
LICENSE AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH TORAY INDUSTRIES
On
October 6, 2020, the Company entered into a License and Supply Agreement (“License Agreement”) with Toray Industries, Inc.
(“Toray”). Under the License Agreement, the Company received the exclusive license (outside of Japan) to make and distribute
protein detection cartridges that have a function of automatic stepwise feeding of reagent (the “Cartridges”). In exchange
for the license, the Company committed to make two payments of $ 120,000 each, both of which were made in 2021. In addition, following
the first sale of the Cartridges after regulatory approval, the Company will make royalty payments to Toray equal to 15 % of the net sales
of the Cartridges for the period that any underlying patents exist or five years after the first sale. Following the first sale after
obtaining regulatory approval, the Company will make minimum annual royalty payments of $ 60,000 for the first year and $ 100,000 for each
year thereafter, which shall be creditable against any royalties owed to Toray in such calendar year.
On
October 23, 2023, the Company and Toray entered into an Amended and Restated License Agreement (the “New Toray License Agreement”)
and a Master Supply Agreement (the “New Toray Supply Agreement”). Under the New Toray License Agreement, the Company continues
to license from Toray intellectual property rights needed to manufacture single-use test cartridges, and the Company has received the
right to sublicense certain Toray intellectual property to Sanyoseiko in connection with Sanyoseiko’s ongoing agreement with the
Company to manufacture its Symphony device and cartridges (including in connection with the Company’s clinical trials). In addition,
the New Toray License Agreement provides for the transfer of certain technology related to the cartridges to Sanyoseiko. The royalty
payments payable by the Company to Toray have been reduced under the New Toray License Agreement from 15 % to 7.5 % (or less in certain
circumstances) of net sales of certain cartridges for a term of 10 years. A 50 % reduction in the royalty rate applies upon expiry of
applicable Toray patents on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis. The New Toray License Agreement contemplates that applicable
royalty payment obligations from the Company to Toray for other products will be determined separately by the parties in the future.
There were no sales of or revenues from the cartridges during the 12-month periods ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
F- 11
Under
the New Toray Supply Agreement, Toray will manufacture in the near-term (through its wholly owned subsidiary Kamakura Techno- Science,
Inc.) certain product intermediate components for use in cartridges being manufactured for the Company by Sanyoseiko. These cartridges
made using Toray intermediates are only suitable for the purpose of obtaining FDA approval and not for commercial sale. The New Toray
Supply Agreement has a term ending on the earlier of October 23, 2025 or the date that the Company obtains FDA approval for its product,
and may be extended for up to six months by mutual agreement of the parties. Once FDA approval has been obtained, the intermediates and
cartridges will be manufactured by SanyoSeiko under a separate supply agreement between the Company and SanyoSeiko.
At
December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no amounts accrued related to the New Toray License Agreement or the License Agreement.
4.
FINANCINGS
June
2024 Offering
On
June 28, 2024, the Company sold in a public offering ( the “June 2024 Offering”), (i) 11,541 common units (the
“Common Units”), each consisting of one share of common stock, two Class C Warrants and one Class
D Warrant and (ii) 95,815 prefunded units (the “Prefunded Units”), each consisting of one prefunded warrant
to purchase one share of common stock (each, a “Prefunded Warrant”), two Class C Warrants and one Class
D Warrant. The Common Units were sold at a price of $ 81.50 per unit and the Prefunded Warrants were sold at a price of $ 81.495 per
unit. As of December 31, 2024, all Prefunded Warrants have been exercised in full.
Pursuant
to an engagement letter dated June 6, 2024, by and between the Company and Aegis, the Company paid Aegis a total cash fee of $ 743,750
equal to 8.5 % of the gross proceeds received in the June 2024 Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the June 2024 Offering were $ 8,569,075 . The Company incurred offering costs of $ 1,133,419 .
May
2024 Bridge Note Financing
On
May 31, 2024, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with an accredited investor (the “NPA”), and a Securities
Purchase Agreement with three accredited investors (the “SPA”). This transaction closed on June 3, 2024. Debt issuance
costs related to the NPA and SPA totaled $ 212,654 . Under the terms of the NPA, the investor provided the Company with a $ 1,000,000 cash
subscription in exchange for the issuance of a senior secured note (the “Bridge Note”). As of December 31, 2024, a total
of $ 1,176,470 was repaid to the NPA investor in full satisfaction of the Bridge Note. The difference between the Bridge Note and
the subscription amount, initially recorded as a discount on the notes, was the result of the discount factor included in the NPA of
approximately 17.6 %.
Under
the terms of the SPA, the three investors agreed to collectively provide the Company with a separate $ 1,000,000 cash subscription
in exchange for the issuance of senior secured notes (the “SPA Notes”), and the collective issuance of 1,451 shares
of the Company’s common stock. The fair value of the common stock issued in connection with the SPA was $ 307,563 . As of December
31, 2024, a total of $ 1,111,110 has been repaid to the SPA investors, in full satisfaction of the SPA Notes. The difference between
the SPA Notes and the subscription amounts, initially recorded as a discount on the SPA Notes, was the result of the discount factor
included in the SPA of 11.11 %.
The
interest expense recorded on the NPA and SPAs was $ 807,797 for the year ended December 31, 2024, including debt issuance costs related
to the NPA and SPA totaling $ 212,654 .
January
2024 Offering
On
January 2, 2024, the Company sold in a public offering (such transaction, the “January 2024 Offering”) (i) 1,344 shares of
the Company’s Common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share and (ii) prefunded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 5,386 shares
of Common Stock (the “Prefunded Warrants”). The Shares and Prefunded Warrants were sold together with warrants to purchase
up to an aggregate of 6,730 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 520.00 per share (the “January 2024 Warrants”).
The combined public offering price was $ 520.00 per share of Common Stock and related January 2024 Warrant and $ 519.96 per Prefunded Warrant
and related January 2024 Warrant.
As
of December 31, 2024, all Prefunded Warrants have been exercised in full. The January 2024 Warrants are exercisable immediately and for
a period of five years following the date of issuance.
F- 12
Pursuant
to an engagement letter, dated as of August 7, 2023, as amended October 11, 2023 (the “Amended Engagement Letter”), by and
between the Company and the Placement Agent, the Company paid the Placement Agent a total cash fee of $ 245,000 equal to 7.0 % of the gross
proceeds received in the January 2024 Offering. The Company also paid the Placement Agent in connection with the January Offering a management
fee of $ 35,000 equal to 1.0 % of the gross proceeds raised in the January 2024 Offering and certain expenses incurred in connection with
the January Offering. In addition, the Company issued to the Placement Agent, warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 471 shares of Common
Stock (the “January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants”), which represents 7.0 % of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
and Prefunded Warrants sold in the January 2024 Offering. The January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants have substantially the same terms
as the January 2024 Warrants, except that the January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants have an exercise price equal to $ 650.00 , or 125 %
of the offering price per share of Common Stock and related January 2024 Warrant sold in the January Offering and expire on the fifth
anniversary from the date of the commencement of sales in the January 2024 Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the January 2024 Offering were $ 3,500,000 . The Company incurred offering costs of $ 711,031 .
August
2023 Offering
On
August 24, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional and accredited investors (the “Purchase
Agreement”) relating to the registered direct offering and sale of 540 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase
price of $ 2,946.00 per share (the “August 2023 Offering”).
In
a concurrent private placement, the Company also issued to such institutional and accredited investors unregistered warrants to purchase
up to 540 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, for each share of Common
Stock issued in this offering an accompanying Warrant was issued to the purchaser thereof. Each Warrant is exercisable for one share
of Common Stock (the “August 2023 Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $ 2,896.00 per share, is immediately exercisable
upon issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The Warrants were offered and sold at a purchase price of $ 50.00
per underlying warrant share, which purchase price is included in the offering price per share of Common Stock issued in the Offering
(the “Private Placement”).
Pursuant
to an engagement letter, dated as of August 7, 2023, between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Placement Agent”)
the Company paid the placement agent a total cash fee of $ 111,359 equal to 7.0 % of the gross proceeds received in the Offering and the
Private Placement. The Company also paid the placement agent the management fee equal to $ 15,908 or 1.0 % of the gross proceeds raised
in the Offering and Private Placement, $ 45,000 for non-accountable expenses, and $ 15,950 for clearing fees. In addition, the Company
issued to the placement agent, warrants to purchase up to 36 shares of Common Stock (the “Placement Agent Warrants”), which
represents 7.0 % of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offering. The Placement Agent Warrants have substantially
the same terms as the Warrants, except that the Placement Agent Warrants have an exercise price equal to $ 3,684.00 , or 125 % of the offering
price per share of Common Stock sold in the Offering, and a term of five years from the commencement of the sales pursuant to the Offering.
The
gross proceeds to the Company from the August 2023 Offering and the August 2023 Private Placement are $ 1,590,840 . The Company incurred
offering costs of $ 413,544 .
5.
WARRANTS
The
following table summarizes information with regard to warrants outstanding at December 31, 2024:
Shares Exercisable for Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Weighted Average
Remaining
Life
(in Years)
June 2024 Class C Warrants 1,372,586 Common Stock $ 16.30 4.5
January 2024 Common Stock Warrants 6,730 Common Stock $ 520.00 4.0
January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants 471 Common Stock $ 650.00 4.0
August 2023 Common Stock Warrants 540 Common Stock $ 2,896.00 3.6
August 2023 Placement Agent Warrants 36 Common Stock $ 3,684.00 3.6
Class A Warrants 310 Common Stock $ 56,000.00 1.9
Class B Warrants 9 Common Stock $ 80,000.00 1.9
Other Pre-2024 Common Stock Warrants 84 Common Stock $ 27,327.00 1.4
F- 13
June
2024 Common Stock Warrants and June 2024 Underwriter Warrants
As
a part of the June 2024 Offering, the Company issued 214,724 Class C Warrants and 107,362 Class D Warrants. The Underwriter partially
exercised its over-allotment option with respect to 13,573 Class C Warrants and 6,787 Class D Warrants (the “Over-Allotment Warrants”).
Upon
stockholder approval of the issuance of Class C Warrants on August 21, 2024, the Class C Warrants, which had an initial exercise price
of $ 98.00 per share of common stock, were adjusted to be exercisable at an exercise price of $ 16.30 per share (representing 20 % of the
Nasdaq Minimum Price), and the number of shares issuable upon exercise were proportionately adjusted to 1,372,586 shares. In connection with this reset price and number of Class C Warrants,
we recorded a deemed dividend of $ 9,282,075 based on the excess of the fair value of the modified Class C Warrants over the fair value
of the Class C Warrants before the modification, the effect of which was an increase in the net loss attributable to common shareholders
in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Class C
Warrants may be exercised at any time for a period of five (5) years following the first exercisable date.
The
Class D Warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $ 0.0001 per share of common stock for a period of five (5)
years following the date of issuance. Upon stockholder approval of issuance of Class D Warrants on August 21, 2021, the number of
shares of common stock issuable under the Class D Warrants increased to four shares per warrant for the remaining unexercised Class
D Warrants as the weighted average price of our common stock over a rolling five (5)-trading day period fell below $ 16.30 per share
(representing 20 % of the Nasdaq Minimum Price) following the issuance date. In connection with this reset price and number of Class
D Warrants, we recorded a deemed dividend of $ 3,940,978 based on the excess of the fair value of the modified Class D Warrants over
the fair value of the Class D Warrants before the modification, the effect of which was an increase in the net loss attributable to
common shareholders in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, all Class D
Warrants have been exercised and none remain outstanding.
During
2024, the Company issued 435,377 shares of common stock upon exercise of the June 2024 Class D Warrants. The Class D Warrants were exercised
on either a cash basis at $ 0.0001 per share exercise price or on a proportional cashless basis. During the years ended December 31, 2024
and 2023, no other warrants were exercised.
January
2024 Common Stock Warrants and January 2024 Placement Agent Warrants
As
part of the January 2024 Offering, the Company issued 6,730 Common Stock Warrants with an exercise price of $ 520.00 per share and 471
Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $ 650.00 per share. The January 2024 Warrants became exercisable immediately upon issuance
for a period of five years following the date of issuance.
August
2023 Common Stock Warrants and August 2023 Placement Agent Warrants
As
part of the August 2023 Offering that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 540 Warrants with a purchase
price of $ 2,896.00 per share and 36 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $ 3,684.00 per share.
The
Company’s warrants were accounted for as equity classified financial instruments as they meet the requirements for equity
classification under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging .
6.
STOCK COMPENSATION
Stock
Incentive Plans
In
2018, the Company adopted the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) for employees, consultants, and directors. The
2018 Plan, which is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors, permits the Company to grant incentive and nonqualified stock
options for the purchase of common stock, and restricted stock awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance
under the 2018 Plan is 79 . At December 31, 2024 there were 35 shares of common stock available for grant under the 2018 Plan.
On
July 6, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders approved and adopted the Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. 2021 Stock Plan
(the “2021 Plan”). A total of 245 shares of common stock were approved to be initially reserved for issuance under the 2021
Stock Plan. At December 31, 2024 there were 101 shares of common stock available for grant under the 2021 Plan.
F- 14
Stock
Award Activity
The
following table summarizes the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted stock awards for years ended December 31, 2024:
Non-vested
Restricted Stock Awards
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2023
20
$ 4,384
Granted
-
-
Vested
( 18 )
3,981
Cancelled / forfeited
( 1 )
10,320
Outstanding at December, 2024
1
$ 10,320
In
February 2023, the Company issued 47 fully vested restricted stock units to certain employees in lieu of cash to satisfy their 2022 accrued
bonuses of $ 164,860 . Of the 47 restricted stock units issued, 16 shares were withheld for tax liabilities with a fair value of $ 57,625 .
The number of restricted stock unit awards issued was determined based on the approved bonus amount divided by the market price of the
Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
Stock
Option Plan Summary
The
following is a summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2024:
Number of
Stock
Options Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life in
Years Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 74 $ 14,604 6.7 $ -
Granted -
-
-
Exercised -
-
-
Cancelled / forfeited ( 2 ) -
-
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 72 $ 14,966 5.8 $ -
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 64 $ 14,966 5.6 $ -
The
weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $ 4,240.00 per share. The Company
determined the grant-date fair value of stock option awards granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 using the Black-Scholes model
with the following assumptions:
2023
Risk-free interest rate 3.63 %
Expected dividend yield 0.00 %
Volatility factor 108.78 %
Expected life of option (in years) 6.00
F- 15
Stock-Based
Compensation Expense
For
the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Year ended December 31,
2024
2023
Research and development
$ 16,648
$ 62,955
General and administrative
3,446
133,840
Marketing and business development
-
( 7,550 )
Total stock-based compensation
$ 20,094
$ 189,245
At
December 31, 2024, there was approximately $ 1,996 of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock option awards that
are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.83 years. At December 31, 2024, there was approximately $ 944 of unrecognized
compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock awards that are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period
of 0.44 years.
7.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
NanoHybrids,
Inc.
In
December 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with NanoHybrids, Inc. (“NanoHybrids”) to utilize the Company’s
research and development staff and laboratory facility when available to perform work for NanoHybrids. Any hours worked by Company employees
for NanoHybrids is billed to NanoHybrids at a bill rate of the respective employee’s fully burdened personnel cost plus 10 %. Additionally,
the Company may purchase certain lab supplies for NanoHybrids and rebill these costs to NanoHybrids. The Company’s Chief Technology
Officer is the majority shareholder of NanoHybrids. The table below summarizes the amounts earned for the years ended December 31, 2024
and 2023 and balances due from NanoHybrids as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year
Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Income
from NanoHybrids included in Other Income
$
127,079
$
178,042
Cash
receipts from NanoHybrids
$
153,783
$
156,504
As
of December 31,
2024
2023
Amounts
receivable from NanoHybrids included in Prepaids and Other Current Assets
$
14,564
$
41,269
8.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property
and equipment consisted of the following at December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31,
Depreciable lives 2024 2023
Construction in process $ 1,351,179 $ 1,052,822
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 3 - 5 years 136,312 141,164
Software 3 years 4,457 4,457
Lab equipment 3 - 5 years 173,268 1,287,783
Leasehold improvements Life of lease 43,231 43,231
1,708,447 2,529,457
Less: accumulated depreciation ( 194,952 ) ( 1,243,716 )
Property and equipment, net $ 1,513,495 $ 1,285,741
The
Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when events, expectations, or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s
carrying value may not be recoverable. As a result of this review in 2023, the Company revised the useful life of certain lab equipment
in the first quarter of 2023 due to a change in expectations of the time the equipment will be used which resulted in approximately $ 382,795
of additional depreciation recorded in the year ended December 31, 2023.
Construction
in process consists of symphony cartridge manufacturing equipment. There are no commitments in place to complete construction in process
as of December 31, 2024.
F- 16
9.
LEASES
The
Company primarily enters into lease arrangements for office, laboratory space, and copiers. A summary of supplemental lease information
is as follows:
December 31,
2024 2023
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years) 2.1 2.9
Weighted average remaining lease term - finance leases (in years) 3.1 4.1
Weighted average discount rate – operating leases 7.0 % 7.0 %
Weighted average discount rate – finance leases 7.0 % 7.0 %
Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 177,081 $ 174,640
Operating cash flows from finance leases $ 1,053 $ 1,305
A
summary of the Company’s lease assets and liabilities are as follows:
December 31,
2024 2023
Operating lease right-of-use asset $ 209,788 $ 333,267
Finance leases in Property and Equipment 10,421 15,152
Total lease assets $ 220,209 $ 348,419
Current portion of operating lease liability $ 113,260 $ 162,990
Current portion of finance lease liability included in accrued expenses 4,807 4,807
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 108,989 189,987
Noncurrent finance lease liabilities 8,567 12,321
Total lease liabilities $ 235,623 $ 370,105
The
following table reconciles the undiscounted lease liabilities to the total lease liabilities recognized on the consolidated balance sheet
as of December 31, 2024:
Year
Operating Lease
Finance
Lease
2025
$ 113,259
$ 4,807
2026
100,000
4,807
2027
25,000
4,807
2028
-
400
Thereafter
-
-
Total future lease payments
238,259
14,821
Less: Imputed interest
16,010
1,447
Present value of lease liability
$ 222,249
$ 13,374
10.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Minimum
Royalties
As
required under the License Agreement (see Note 3), following the first sale of Cartridges, the Company will also make royalty payments
to Toray equal to 7.5 % of the net sales of the Cartridges for a term of 10 years. A 50 % reduction in the royalty rate applies upon expiry
of applicable Toray patents on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis. There were no sales of or revenues from the Cartridges
through December 31, 2024.
Indemnification
The
Company has certain agreements with service providers with which it does business that contain indemnification provisions pursuant to
which the Company typically agrees to indemnify the party against certain types of third-party claims. The Company accrues for known
indemnification issues when a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company would also accrue for estimated incurred
but unidentified indemnification issues based on historical activity. As the Company has not incurred any indemnification losses to date,
there were no accruals for or expenses related to indemnification issues for any period presented.
F- 17
11.
SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
December 31,
2024
2023
Prepaid insurance
$ 489,174
$ 136,342
Vendor prepayments
21,946
558,959
Prepaid other
85,818
51,962
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$ 596,938
$ 747,263
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:
December 31,
2024
2023
Accrued personnel costs
$ 100,974
$ 566,087
Goods received but unpaid
-
78,579
Accrued expenses for CFO separation agreement
-
160,000
Accrued legal fees
48,860
157,670
Accrued clinical trial expenses
191,673
-
Accrued board of director fees
95,000
95,000
Accrued other
115,479
59,575
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities
$ 551,986
$ 1,116,911
12.
INCOME TAX
No
provision for federal income taxes has been recorded for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 due to net losses and the valuation
allowance established.
Significant
components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows:
As of December 31,
2024
2023
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating losses
$ 6,356,812
$ 4,553,431
Tax credits
812,541
546,325
Intangible assets
52,813
58,063
Capitalized R&D expenses
2,619,730
2,106,995
Fixed assets
-
114,657
Other
193,197
314,958
Total deferred tax assets
10,035,093
7,694,429
Valuation allowance
( 10,035,093 )
( 7,694,429 )
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance
$ -
$ -
F- 18
A
reconciliation of the statutory tax rates and the effective tax rates for the years ended December 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Federal statutory rate
21.00 %
21.00 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit and tax credits
7.31 %
7.43 %
Change in valuation allowance
( 30.33 )%
( 30.80 )%
Permanent differences and other
2.02 %
2.37 %
Effective tax rate
0.00 %
0.00 %
The
Company regularly assesses the need for a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. In making that assessment, the Company
considers both positive and negative evidence related to the likelihood of realization of the deferred tax assets to determine, based
on the weight of available evidence, whether it is more-likely-than-not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers taxable income in prior carryback years, as permitted under
the tax law, forecasted taxable earnings, tax planning strategies, and the expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences.
This determination requires significant judgment, including assumptions about future taxable income that are based on historical and
projected information and is performed on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis.
The
Company continues to maintain a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and
2023, management assessed the positive and negative evidence in its operations, and concluded that it is more likely than not that its
deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 will not be realized given the Company’s history of operating losses. The
valuation allowance against deferred tax assets increased by approximately $ 2.3 million and $ 3.1 million during 2024 and 2023, respectively,
related to a full valuation allowance recorded against capitalized research expenditures, additional net operating losses and tax credits
generated in the year.
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had federal net operating losses of approximately $ 23.4 million. The Company’s federal net
operating losses incurred prior to 2018 totaling $ 713,000 expire through 2037, while its federal net operating losses incurred in 2018
to 2024 totaling approximately $ 22.7 million can be carried forward indefinitely but are limited to 80 % utilization against future taxable
income each year. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal net operating losses of $ 16,772,000 , which may be available
to offset future federal income tax liabilities.
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had post-apportioned state net operating losses of approximately $ 22.8 million that can generally
be carried forward 20 years and will expire at various dates through 2044. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had post-apportioned
Massachusetts net operating losses of approximately $ 16.3 million that can generally be carried forward 20 years and will expire at various
dates through 2043.
As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had $ 569,000 and $ 307,000 of federal and state research and development credits, respectively,
which will expire at various dates through 2044. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $ 381,000 and $ 208,000 of federal and state
research and development credits, respectively, which will expire at various dates through 2043.
F- 19
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.