UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from to
Commission
File No. 001-38207
CELCUITY
INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
No.
82-2863566
(State
of incorporation)
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
16305
36th Avenue North ; Suite 100
Minneapolis ,
Minnesota 55446
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (763) 392-0767
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, $0.001 par value per share
CELC
The
Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files). YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ NO
☒
On
May 8, 2024 there were 31,230,085 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.
Celcuity
Inc.
Table
of Contents
PAGE
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
3
Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
3
Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
4
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2024
5
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023
6
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
7
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements
8
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
14
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
22
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
22
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings
22
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
22
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
22
ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
22
ITEM 4 . Mine Safety Disclosures
22
ITEM 5 . Other Information
22
ITEM 6. Exhibits
23
Signatures
24
As
used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Celcuity,” and the “Company”
mean Celcuity Inc., unless the context indicates another meaning.
2
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
Celcuity
Inc.
Condensed
Balance Sheets
March 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
(unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 31,214,741
$ 30,662,774
Investments
146,447,843
149,919,974
Other current assets
9,860,535
10,007,849
Total current assets
187,523,119
190,590,597
Property and equipment, net
306,024
228,782
Operating lease right-of-use assets
351,911
400,019
Total Assets
$ 188,181,054
$ 191,219,398
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 5,276,690
$ 5,076,699
Operating lease liabilities
181,882
184,950
Accrued expenses
11,237,509
8,927,094
Total current liabilities
16,696,081
14,188,743
Operating lease liabilities
182,079
225,922
Note payable, non-current
37,566,230
37,035,411
Total Liabilities
54,444,390
51,450,076
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
-
-
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $ 0.001 par value: 2,500,000 shares authorized; 505,277 and 854,134 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
505
854
Common stock, $ 0.001 par value: 65,000,000 shares authorized; 30,773,895 and 25,506,012 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
30,774
25,506
Additional paid-in capital
315,393,843
299,818,965
Accumulated deficit
( 181,688,458 )
( 160,076,003 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity
133,736,664
139,769,322
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
$ 188,181,054
$ 191,219,398
See
accompanying notes to the financial statements
3
Celcuity
Inc.
Condensed
Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
Operating expenses:
Research and development
$ 20,647,559
$ 11,278,493
General and administrative
1,846,276
1,269,044
Total operating expenses
22,493,835
12,547,537
Loss from operations
( 22,493,835 )
( 12,547,537 )
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
( 1,400,712 )
( 1,242,012 )
Interest income
2,282,092
1,851,132
Other income, net
881,380
609,120
Net loss before income taxes
( 21,612,455 )
( 11,938,417 )
Income tax benefits
-
-
Net loss
$ ( 21,612,455 )
$ ( 11,938,417 )
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
$ ( 0.64 )
$ ( 0.55 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
33,612,054
21,680,877
See
accompanying notes to the financial statements
4
Celcuity
Inc.
Statements
of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2024
Common
Stock
Preferred
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Total
Balance
at December 31, 2023
25,506,012
$ 25,506
854,134
$ 854
$ 299,818,965
$ ( 160,076,003 )
$ 139,769,322
Stock-based
compensation
-
-
-
-
1,331,346
-
1,331,346
Exercise
of common stock warrants, net of shares withheld for exercise price
1,742,763
1,742
-
-
14,007,409
-
14,009,151
Exercise
of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price
36,550
37
-
-
239,263
-
239,300
Conversion
of preferred to common stock
3,488,570
3,489
( 348,857 )
( 349 )
( 3,140 )
-
-
Net
loss
-
-
-
-
-
( 21,612,455 )
( 21,612,455 )
Balance
at March 31, 2024 (unaudited)
30,773,895
$ 30,774
505,277
$ 505
$ 315,393,843
$ ( 181,688,458 )
$ 133,736,664
See
accompanying notes to the financial statements
5
Celcuity
Inc.
Statements
of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2023
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Additional Paid-In
Accumulated
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Total
Balance at December 31, 2022
21,667,250
$ 21,667
1,120,873
$ 1,121
$ 230,045,566
$ ( 96,296,887 )
$ 133,771,467
Balance
21,667,250
$ 21,667
1,120,873
$ 1,121
$ 230,045,566
$ ( 96,296,887 )
$ 133,771,467
Stock-based compensation
-
-
-
-
1,273,282
-
1,273,282
Exercise of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price
24,122
24
-
-
127,898
-
127,922
Conversion of preferred to common stock
250,000
250
( 25,000 )
( 25 )
( 225 )
-
-
Issuance costs associated with private placement offering
-
-
-
-
( 7,486 )
-
( 7,486 )
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
( 11,938,417 )
( 11,938,417 )
Balance at March 31, 2023 (unaudited)
21,941,372
$ 21,941
1,095,873
$ 1,096
$ 231,439,035
$ ( 108,235,304 )
$ 123,226,768
Balance
21,941,372
$ 21,941
1,095,873
$ 1,096
$ 231,439,035
$ ( 108,235,304 )
$ 123,226,768
See
accompanying notes to the financial statements
6
Celcuity
Inc.
Condensed
Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ ( 21,612,455 )
$ ( 11,938,417 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operations:
Depreciation
29,557
43,938
Stock-based compensation
1,331,346
1,273,282
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount
65,309
57,004
PIK interest
465,510
438,184
Non-cash operating lease, net
1,197
438
Change in accrued interest income
( 153,845 )
( 1,697,811 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other current assets
268,849
( 15,809 )
Accounts payable
237,992
( 8,545 )
Accrued expenses
2,298,379
( 1,020,102 )
Net cash used for operating activities
( 17,068,161 )
( 12,867,838 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments
( 121,435,343 )
( 3,125,462 )
Proceeds from maturities of investments
125,061,320
25,000,000
Purchases of property and equipment
( 89,676 )
( 6,987 )
Net cash provided by investing activities
3,536,301
21,867,551
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants
14,009,151
-
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options
131,090
127,922
Payments for secondary registration statement costs
( 56,414 )
( 55,789 )
Payments for debt issuance costs
-
( 2,716 )
Payments for finance leases
-
( 1,469 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
14,083,827
67,948
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
551,967
9,067,661
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period
30,662,774
24,571,557
End of period
$ 31,214,741
$ 33,639,218
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid
$ 869,893
$ 746,824
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Offering and registration statement costs included in accounts payable
$ 13,325
$ 2,402
Property and equipment included in accounts payable
18,702
-
Property and equipment included in accrued expenses
12,036
-
Exercise of stock options pending receipt of cash proceeds
108,210
-
See
accompanying notes to the financial statements
7
CELCUITY
INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
(For
the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023)
1. Organization
Nature
of Business
Celcuity
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pursuing development for oncology.
The Company’s lead therapeutic candidate is gedatolisib, a potent pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibitor. Its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic
properties are highly differentiated from other currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together.
A Phase 3 clinical trial, VIKTORIA-1, evaluating gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant with or without palbociclib in patients
with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer is currently enrolling patients. A Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, CELC-G-201, evaluating gedatolisib
in combination with darolutamide in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, was initiated in the first quarter
of 2024 and is currently enrolling patients. The Company’s CELsignia companion diagnostic platform is uniquely able to analyze
live patient tumor cells to identify new groups of cancer patients likely to benefit from already approved targeted therapies. The Company
was co-founded in 2012 by Brian F. Sullivan and Dr. Lance G. Laing and is based in Minnesota. The Company has not generated any revenues
to date.
2. Basis of Presentation, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying unaudited financial statements include the accounts of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with Article 10
of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, as permitted by Article 10,
the unaudited financial statements do not include all of the information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The balance sheet at December 31, 2023 was derived from the audited financial statements at
that date and does not include all the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of
a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in the financial statements. These unaudited condensed
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023
and the related footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Operating
results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected during the remainder of
the current year or for any future period.
Accounting
Estimates
Management
uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these unaudited condensed financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Those estimates
and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported
revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates and the difference could be material. Significant items subject
to such estimates and assumptions include the valuation of stock-based compensation and prepaid or accrued clinical trial costs.
Risks
and Uncertainties
The
Company is subject to risks common to companies in the development stage including, but not limited to, dependency on the clinical and
commercial success of its diagnostic tests, ability to obtain regulatory approval of its diagnostic tests, the clinical and commercial
success of its initial drug product, gedatolisib, the need for substantial additional financing to achieve its goals, uncertainty of
broad adoption of its approved products, if any, by physicians and consumers, and significant competition.
Clinical
Trial Costs
The
Company records prepaid assets or accrued expenses for prepaid or estimated clinical trial costs conducted by third-party service providers,
which includes the conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials. These costs can be a significant component of the Company’s
research and development expenses. The Company primarily relies on a compilation of progress reports from third-party service providers,
including the respective invoicing, to record actual expenses, along with determining changes to prepaid assets and accrued liabilities.
To date, the Company believes utilization of third-party reports most accurately reflects expenses incurred. As the current VIKTORIA-1
Phase 3 and CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials ramp up site activation and patient enrollment, the Company’s estimated expenses in future
periods and actual services performed may vary from these estimates, and these estimates may become more significant. Changes in these
estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s prepaid assets or accrued expenses could materially affect the Company’s
results of operations.
8
3. Net Loss Per Common Share
Basic
and diluted net loss per common share is determined by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average
common shares outstanding during the period. For all periods presented, the common shares underlying the preferred stock, options, warrants,
and restricted stock have been excluded from the calculation because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, the weighted-average
shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted loss per common share are the same.
The
following table summarizes the potentially-dilutive shares excluded from the diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:
Schedule of Potentially-Dilutive Shares Excluded from Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
March 31,
2024
2023
Preferred stock on an as-if-converted to common stock basis
5,052,770
10,958,730
Options to purchase common stock
3,049,387
2,068,458
Warrants to purchase common stock
5,517,725
7,266,102
Restricted common stock
1,958
3,273
Total
13,621,840
20,296,563
Pre-funded
warrant shares of 5,747,787 and zero are included in the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the periods ended March
31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, respectively, as the pre-funded warrants are exercisable for nominal consideration.
4. Investments
Debt
securities for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and reported
at historical cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Expected credit losses, if any, are recorded through
the establishment of an allowance for credit losses. All of the Company’s held-to-maturity
investment securities are U.S. Treasury and agencies securities that are guaranteed or otherwise
supported by the United States government and have no history of credit losses. Accordingly, the Company does not expect to incur any
credit losses on held-to-maturity investment securities and has no allowance
for credit losses recorded for these securities.
The
following tables summarize the Company’s held-to-maturity investment securities at amortized cost as of March 31, 2024 and December
31, 2023:
Schedule of Investment
March 31, 2024
Amortized Cost,
as Adjusted
Gross
Unrealized
Holding Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Holding Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
U.S. Treasury Bills
$ 146,447,843
$ -
$ ( 2,059 )
$ 146,445,784
Total
$ 146,447,843
$ -
$ ( 2,059 )
$ 146,445,784
December 31, 2023
Amortized Cost,
as Adjusted
Gross
Unrealized
Holding Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Holding Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
U.S. Treasury Bills
$ 149,919,974
$ 30,995
$ -
$ 149,950,969
Total
$ 149,919,974
$ 30,995
$ -
$ 149,950,969
The
fair value of the Company’s held-to-maturity debt securities is determined based upon inputs, other than the quoted prices in active
markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly and are classified as level 2 fair value instruments.
9
5. Commitments
Operating
and Finance Leases
The
Company leases its corporate space in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an operating lease in place through April 30, 2026. The lease provides
for monthly rent, real estate taxes, and operating expenses. Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Clinical
Research Studies
The
Company enters into contracts in the normal course of business to conduct research and development programs internally and through third
parties that include, among others, arrangements with vendors, consultants, CMO’s, and CRO’s. The Company currently has three
Phase 2 clinical trial agreements in place to evaluate targeted therapies selected with one of our CELsignia tests. Timing of milestone
payments related to the Phase 2 clinical trials are uncertain and the contracts generally provide for termination following a certain
period after notice, therefore the Company believes that non-cancelable obligations under the agreements are not material. The Company
also has a license agreement in place with Pfizer to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize gedatolisib. In conjunction with
the license agreement, the Company continued a Phase 1b study – B2151009 related to gedatolisib. These patients subsequently transitioned
to an Expanded Access study – CELC-G-001. Contracts related to the Phase 1B and the Expanded Access studies are generally based
on time and material. In addition, contracts related to the Company’s Phase 3 clinical study (VIKTORIA-1) and Phase 1b/2 clinical
study (CELC-G-201) are generally cancelable with reasonable notice within 120 days and the Company’s obligations under these contracts
are primarily based on services performed through termination dates plus certain cancelation charges, if any, as defined in each of the
respective agreements. In addition, these agreements may, from time to time, be subjected to amendments as a result of any change orders
executed by the parties. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had two material non-cancelable contractual commitments with respect to these
arrangements, which totaled approximately $ 2.0 million.
6. Stockholders’
Equity
Capital
Stock
At
December 31, 2023, the Company’s authorized capital stock consisted of 65,000,000 shares of $ .001 par value common stock, of which
25,506,012 shares were outstanding, and 2,500,000 shares of $ .001 par value preferred stock, of which 854,134 shares were outstanding.
On
January 15, 2024, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 224,244 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock into 2,242,440 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis
of the shares transferred is $ 5.75 per share.
On
March 14, 2024, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 50,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock into 500,000 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis of
the shares transferred is $ 5.75 per share.
On
March 15, 2024, one of the Company’s investors exercised 1,739,080
of common stock warrants at an exercise price of $ 8.05 ,
which generated approximately $ 14
million in cash. The warrants were issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022, that closed and was
funded on December 9, 2022. Additional common stock warrants of 3,683
from several investors were exercised, which generated approximately $ 9,000 in
cash in the first quarter of 2024. The 3,683 common stock warrants were net of shares withheld for exercise price.
On
March 19, 2024, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 43,913 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock into 439,130 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis of
the shares transferred is $ 5.75 per share.
On
March 26, 2024, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 30,700 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock into 307,000 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis of
the shares transferred is $ 5.75 per share.
At
March 31, 2024, the Company’s authorized capital stock consisted of 65,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 30,773,895 shares
were outstanding, and 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, including 1,850,000 shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock, of which
505,277 shares were outstanding. As of March 31, 2024, no dividends have been declared on the Company’s capital stock.
10
7. Stock-Based Compensation
The
following table summarizes the activity for all stock options outstanding for the three months ended March 31:
Schedule of Stock Options Activity
2024
2023
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Options outstanding at beginning of year
2,815,392
$ 7.95
1,976,586
$ 6.34
Granted
285,795
15.29
119,985
11.36
Exercised
( 36,550 )
6.55
( 24,122 )
5.30
Forfeited
( 15,250 )
9.05
( 3,991 )
6.55
Balance at March 31
3,049,387
$ 8.65
2,068,458
$ 6.65
Options exercisable at March 31:
1,569,614
$ 6.55
1,114,767
$ 5.91
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value for options granted during the period:
$ 10.53
$ 7.81
The
following table summarizes additional information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2024:
Schedule of Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Options
Outstanding
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Options
Exercisable
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
3,049,387
7.95
$ 8.65
$ 39,506,833
1,569,614
$ 6.55
$ 23,646,843
The
Company recognized stock-based compensation expense for stock options of $ 1,290,193 and $ 1,222,328 for the three months ended March 31,
2024 and 2023, respectively. In May 2022, the Company modified the exercise price on 776,324 stock option awards to $ 5.50 , the closing
market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on May 17, 2022. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation was $ 26,719 and
$ 39,612 for the three months ending March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation
over the remaining service period will be approximately $ 137,000 . In December 2021, the Company modified the exercise price on 311,000
stock option awards to $ 13.44 , the closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 15, 2021. No director or officer awards
were modified. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation was $ 15,764 and $ 16,924 for the three months ended March 31,
2024 and 2023, respectively. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation over the remaining service period will be approximately
$ 82,000 . In May 2020, the Company modified the exercise price on 203,750 stock option awards to $ 5.10 , the closing market price on the
Nasdaq Capital Market on May 14, 2020. No director or officer awards were modified. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation
was $ 696 and $ 7,108 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effect of this modification on stock-based
compensation over the remaining service period will be $ 0 .
The
Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used to estimate the fair value of equity-based awards with the following weighted-average assumptions
for the three months ended March 31:
Schedule of Assumptions for Fair Value of Equity-based Awards
2024
2023
Risk-free interest rate
3.94 % - 4.33 %
3.64 % - 4.14 %
Expected volatility
76.1 %
79.8 %
Expected life (years)
5.25 to 6.08
5.25 to 6.08
Expected dividend yield
0 %
0 %
The
inputs for the Black-Scholes valuation model require management’s significant assumptions. Prior to the Company’s initial
public offering, the price per share of common stock was determined by the Company’s board based on recent prices of common stock
sold in private offerings. Subsequent to the initial public offering, the price per share of common stock is determined by using the
closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the grant date. The risk-free interest rates are based on the rate for U.S. Treasury
securities at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected life at the grant date. The expected life is
based on the simplified method in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Nos. 107 and 110. The expected volatility is estimated
based on historical volatility information of peer companies that are publicly available in combination with the Company’s calculated
volatility since being publicly traded.
All
assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of non-employee options are generally consistent with the assumptions used for
options granted to employees. In the event the Company terminates any of its consulting agreements, the unvested options issued in connection
with the agreements would also be cancelled.
11
No
restricted stock awards were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company had 1,958 and 3,273 shares of
restricted stock outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 0 shares of restricted stock vested during the three months
ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock of $ 4,849 and $ 4,642 for
the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The
Company initially reserved a maximum of 750,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2017 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive
Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The number of shares reserved for issuance was automatically increased by 102,998 , 149,189 , 216,673 ,
and 255,060 shares on January 1, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, and will increase automatically on January 1 of each year
from 2025 through 2028 by the number of shares equal to 1.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Company common stock as
of the immediately preceding December 31. However, the Company’s board may reduce the amount of the increase in any particular
year.
At
the annual meeting held on May 12, 2021 and May 12, 2022, the stockholders approved a one-time, 500,000 increase each year for a total
of 1,000,000 increase, to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan. At the Annual Meeting held on May 11, 2023,
the stockholders approved a one-time, 1,500,000 increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan. The total
remaining shares available for grant under the Company’s 2017 Plan as of March 31, 2024 was 1,003,414 .
Total
unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options and restricted stock is estimated to be recognized at March 31, 2024:
Schedule of Unrecognized Compensation Cost
2024
$ 3,661,229
2025
3,483,405
2026
2,496,276
2027
1,501,013
2028
48,146
Total estimated compensation cost to be recognized
$ 11,190,069
The
Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to its employee stock purchase plan of $ 36,304 and $ 46,312 for the three
months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company initially reserved a total of 100,000 shares for issuance under the employee
stock purchase plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance was automatically increased by 51,499 , 74,594 , 108,337 , and 127,530 shares
on January 1, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, and will increase automatically on each subsequent January 1 by the number of
shares equal to 0.5% of the total outstanding number of shares of Company common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31. However,
the Company’s board may reduce the amount of the increase in any particular year. The total remaining shares available for issuance
under the employee stock purchase plan as of March 31, 2024 was 394,165 .
The
Company recognized total stock-based compensation expense as follows for the three months ended March 31:
Schedule of Stock-based Compensation Expense
2024
2023
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Stock-based compensation expense in operating expenses:
Research and development
$ 832,180
$ 654,471
General and administrative
499,166
618,811
Total
$ 1,331,346
$ 1,273,282
12
8. Debt
On
April 8, 2021, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Innovatus Life Sciences
Lending Fund I, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Innovatus”) in its capacity as Collateral Agent and sole Lender. On
August 9, 2022, the Company amended the Loan Agreement. Under the amended Loan Agreement, Innovatus, as Lender, has agreed to loan up
to $ 75 million, a $ 50 million increase from the original Loan Amount. As of March 31, 2024, term loans totaling $ 35 million are outstanding
under the Loan Agreement, including the initial Term A loan of $ 15 million which was funded on April 8, 2021, and a $ 20 million Term
B loan which was funded on December 22, 2022. On
March 29, 2024, the Company entered into a second amendment to its existing Loan Agreement to extend the date through which the Company
may draw on the Term C Loan from April 1, 2024 to June 1, 2024. Other than as set forth in the second amendment, the amended Loan Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect without alteration or amendment.
Long-term
debt consisted of the following at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Schedule of Long-term Debt
March 31,
2024
December 31,
2023
Note payable
$ 35,000,000
$ 35,000,000
Add: PIK interest (added to principal)
3,031,170
2,565,660
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
( 419,921 )
( 480,810 )
Less: unamortized debt discount
( 45,019 )
( 49,439 )
Total long-term debt
$ 37,566,230
$ 37,035,411
Future
principal payments, including the incurred PIK interest, are as follows:
Schedule of Long Term Debt Future Principal Payments
Years
Ending
December 31,
2025
$ 14,261,689
2026
19,015,585
2027
4,753,896
Total
$ 38,031,170
9. Subsequent Event
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, pursuant
to an Open Market Sale Agreement SM with Jefferies LLC, as agent, the Company sold 435,414 shares of common stock at an average
selling price of $ 17.55 per share, generating gross proceeds of $ 7.6 million before deducting commissions and other offering expenses
of $ 0.2 million.
13
ITEM
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You
should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed
financial statements and the related notes appearing under Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly
Report”). Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including
information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and expected financial results, includes forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024, and the cautionary statements elsewhere in this Quarterly Report
for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by
the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
Celcuity
is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of targeted therapies for oncology. The Company’s lead therapeutic
candidate is gedatolisib, a pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic properties are highly differentiated
from other currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together. The Company initiated VIKTORIA-1,
a Phase 3 study evaluating gedatolisib in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in 2022 and is currently enrolling patients.
In addition to the Phase 3 study, the Company recently announced that it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)
clearance for its Investigational New Drug (IND) submission for the clinical development of gedatolisib in combination with Nubeqa®
(darolutamide), for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The Company initiated a Phase
1b/2 study, CELC-G-201, in the first quarter of 2024 and is currently enrolling patients. Its CELsignia companion diagnostic platform
is uniquely able to analyze live patient tumor cells to identify new groups of cancer patients likely to benefit from already approved
targeted therapies.
Gedatolisib,
is a potent, well-tolerated, small molecule reversible dual inhibitor, administered intravenously, that selectively targets all Class
I isoforms of PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In April 2021, we obtained exclusive global development and commercialization
rights to gedatolisib under a license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. We believe gedatolisib’s unique mechanism of action, differentiated
chemical structure, favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and intravenous formulation offer distinct advantages over currently approved
and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together.
● Overcomes
limitations of therapies that only inhibit a single Class I PI3K isoform or only one mTOR
kinase complex.
Gedatolisib
is a pan-class I isoform PI3K inhibitor with low nanomolar potency for the p110α, p110β, p110γ, and p110δ isoforms
and mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Each PI3K isoform and mTOR complex is known to preferentially affect different signal transduction events
that involve tumor cell survival, depending upon the aberrations associated with the linked pathway. When a therapy only inhibits a single
Class 1 isoform (e.g., alpelisib, a PI3K-α inhibitor ) or only one mTOR kinase complex (e.g., everolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor),
numerous feedforward and feedback loops between the PI3K isoforms and mTOR complexes cross-activate the uninhibited sub-units. This,
in turn, induces compensatory resistance that can reduce the efficacy of isoform specific PI3K or single mTOR kinase complex inhibitors.
Inhibiting all four PI3K isoforms and both mTOR complexes, as gedatolisib does, thus prevents the confounding effect of isoform interaction
that may occur with isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors and the confounding interaction between PI3K isoforms and mTOR.
● Better
tolerated by patients than oral PI3K and mTOR drugs.
Gedatolisib
is administered intravenously (IV) on a four-week cycle of three weeks-on, one week-off, in contrast to the orally administered pan-PI3K
or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors that are no longer being clinically developed. Oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors have repeatably been
found to induce significant side effects that were not well tolerated by patients. This typically leads to a high proportion of patients
requiring dose reductions or treatment discontinuation. The challenging toxicity profile of these drug candidates ultimately played a
significant role in the decisions to halt their development, despite showing promising efficacy. By contrast, gedatolisib stabilizes
at lower concentration levels in plasma compared to orally administered PI3K inhibitors, resulting in less toxicity, while maintaining
concentrations sufficient to inhibit PI3K/mTOR signaling.
Isoform-specific
PI3K inhibitors administered orally were developed to reduce toxicities in patients. While the range of toxicities associated with isoform-specific
inhibitors is narrower than oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, administering them orally on a continuous basis still leads to challenging
toxicities. The experience with an FDA approved oral p110-α specific inhibitor, Piqray, illustrates the challenge. In its Phase
3 pivotal trial Piqray was found to induce a Grade 3 or 4 adverse event (AE) related to hyperglycemia in 39% of patients evaluated. In
addition, 26% of patients discontinued alpelisib due to treatment related adverse events. By contrast, in the 103-patient dose expansion
portion of the Phase 1b clinical trial with gedatolisib, only 7% of patients experienced Grade 3 or 4 hyperglycemia and less than 10%
discontinued treatment.
14
As
of March 31, 2024, 492 patients with solid tumors have received gedatolisib in eight clinical trials sponsored by Pfizer. Of the 492
patients, 129 were treated with gedatolisib as a single agent in three clinical trials. The remaining 363 patients received gedatolisib
in combination with other anti-cancer agents in five clinical trials. Additional patients received gedatolisib in combination with other
anti-cancer agents in nine investigator sponsored clinical trials.
A
Phase 1b trial (B2151009) evaluating patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer was initiated in 2016 and subsequently enrolled
138 patients. Four patients from this study continue to receive study treatment, as of March 31, 2024, each of whom have received study
treatment for more than five years. The B2151009 clinical was an open label, multiple arm Phase 1b study that evaluated gedatolisib in
combination with palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and fulvestrant or letrozole in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Thirty-five
patients were enrolled in two dose escalation arms to evaluate the safety and tolerability and to determine the maximum tolerated dose
(MTD) of gedatolisib when used in combination with the standard doses of palbociclib and endocrine therapy (letrozole or fulvestrant).
The MTD was determined to be 180 mg administered intravenously once weekly. A total of 103 patients were subsequently enrolled in one
of four expansion arms (A, B, C, D).
High
objective overall response rates (ORR) were observed in all four expansion arms and were comparable in each arm for PIK3CA WT and
PIK3CA MT patients. As of the data cut-off date, March 16, 2023, for treatment- naïve patients in Escalation Arm A and
Expansion Arm A (n=41), median progression free survival (mPFS) was 48.6 months, median duration of response (mDOR) was 46.9 months,
and ORR was 79%, respectively. This data compares favorably to published data for current first-line standard-of-care treatments for
patients with HR+/HER2-advanced breast cancer. In patients who received prior hormonal therapy alone or in combination with a CDK4/6
inhibitor (Arms B, C, and D), ORR (including unconfirmed partial responses) ranged from 36% to 77%. Each arm achieved its primary
endpoint target, which was reporting higher ORR in the study arm than ORR from either the PALOMA-2 (ORR=55%) study that evaluated
palbociclib plus letrozole for Arm A or the PALOMA-3 study (ORR=25%) that evaluated palbociclib plus fulvestrant for Arms B, C, and
D. For all enrolled patients, a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of ≥ 79% was observed. Median progression-free survival (PFS)was 12.9
months for patients who received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor and were treated in the study with the Phase 3 dosing schedule (Arm
D).
Gedatolisib
combined with palbociclib and endocrine therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile with manageable toxicity. The majority of treatment
emergent adverse events were Grade 1 and 2. The most frequently observed adverse events included stomatitis/mucosal inflammation, the
majority of which were Grade 1 and 2. The most common Grade 4 AEs were neutropenia and neutrophil count decrease, which were assessed
as related to treatment with palbociclib. No grade 5 events were reported in this study.
We
are currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical trial (VIKTORIA-1) to evaluate the efficacy and safety
of two regimens in adults with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer whose disease has progressed after prior CDK4/6 therapy in combination
with an aromatase inhibitor: 1) gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant; and 2) gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant.
Approximately two hundred clinical sites in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia have been selected to participate
in the study. The first clinical site was activated in the third quarter of 2022, and the first patient was dosed in December 2022.
The
VIKTORIA-1 clinical trial will enable separate evaluation of subjects according to their PIK3CA status. Subjects who meet eligibility
criteria and are PIK3CA WT will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant
(Arm A), gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm B), or fulvestrant (Arm C). Subjects who meet eligibility criteria and are PIK3CA MT will be
randomly assigned (3:3:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant (Arm D) or alpelisib and fulvestrant
(Arm E), or gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm F).
We
received approval from the FDA in mid-2023 to proceed with the clinical development
of gedatolisib in combination with Nubeqa® (darolutamide), an approved androgen receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of patients
with mCRPC. We have since initiated a Phase 1b/2 study (CELC-G-201) that will enroll up to 54 participants with mCRPC who progressed
after treatment with an androgen receptor inhibitor. We dosed our first patient in this trial in February 2024.
In
the Phase 1b portion of the study, Celcuity expects that 36 participants will be randomly assigned to receive 600 mg darolutamide
combined with either 120 mg gedatolisib in Arm 1 or 180 mg gedatolisib in Arm 2. An additional 12 participants will then be enrolled
in the Phase 2 portion of the study at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) level to enable evaluation of 30 participants treated
with the RP2D of gedatolisib.
The
primary objectives of the Phase 1b portion of the trial include assessment of the safety and tolerability of gedatolisib in combination
with darolutamide and determination of the recommended Phase 2 dose of gedatolisib. The primary objective of the Phase 2 portion of the
trial is to assess the radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) at six months of patients who received the RP2D.
15
Our
proprietary CELsignia diagnostic platform is the only commercially ready technology we are aware of that uses a patient’s living
tumor cells to identify the specific abnormal cellular process driving a patient’s cancer and the targeted therapy that best treats
it. This enables us to identify patients whose tumors may respond to a targeted therapy, even though they lack a previously associated
molecular mutation. By identifying cancer patients whose tumors lack an associated genetic mutation but have abnormal cellular activity
a matching targeted therapeutic is designed to inhibit, CELsignia CDx can expand the markets for a number of already approved targeted
therapies. Our current CDx identifies breast and ovarian cancer patients whose tumors have cancer drivers potentially responsive to treatment
with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2), mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET), or phosphatidylinositol
3-kinases (PI3K) targeted therapeutics. While FDA approval or clearance is not currently required for CELsignia tests offered as a stand-alone
laboratory developed test, if we are partnered with a drug company to launch a CELsignia test as a companion diagnostic for a new drug
indication, we would be required to obtain premarket approval, or PMA, in conjunction with the pharmaceutical company seeking a new drug
approval for the matching therapy.
We
are supporting the advancement of new potential indications for three different targeted therapies, controlled by other pharmaceutical
companies, that would rely on a CELsignia CDx to select patients. Three Phase 2 trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy and safety
of these therapies in CELsignia selected patients. These patients are not currently eligible to receive these drugs and are not identifiable
with a molecular test.
Supporting
the development of a potential first-in-class targeted therapy for breast cancer, like gedatolisib, with our CELsignia platform is a
natural extension of our strategy to use our CELsignia CDx to enable new indications for other companies’ targeted therapies. By
combining companion diagnostics designed to enable proprietary new drug indications with targeted therapies that treat signaling dysregulation
our CDx identifies, we believe we are uniquely positioned to improve the standard-of-care for many early and late-stage breast cancer
patients. Our goal is to play a key role in the multiple treatment approaches required to treat breast cancer patients at various stages
of their disease. With each program, we are:
● Leveraging
the proprietary insights CELsignia provides into live patient tumor cell function
● Using
a CELsignia CDx to identify new patients likely to respond to the paired targeted therapy
● Developing
a new targeted therapeutic option for breast cancer patients
● Maximizing
the probability of getting regulatory approval to market the targeted therapy indication
Recent
Developments
On
February 22, 2024, the Company announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 1b/2 study (CELC-G-201) evaluating gedatolisib
in combination with Nubeqa® (darolutamide), an approved androgen receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with mCRPC.
Results
of Operations
We
have not generated any revenue from sales to date, and we continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related
to our ongoing operations. As a result, we are not and have never been profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception
in 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we reported a net loss of approximately $21.6 million and $11.9 million,
respectively. As of March 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $181.7 million. As of March 31, 2024, we had
cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $177.7 million.
Components
of Operating Results
Revenue
To
date, we have not generated any revenue. With the execution of the Pfizer license agreement in April 2021, whereby we acquired exclusive
world-wide licensing rights to develop and commercialize gedatolisib, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial, VIKTORIA-1, in 2022 to support
potential regulatory approval to market gedatolisib. In August 2023, we announced plans to proceed with the clinical development of gedatolisib
in combination with Nubeqa® (darolutamide), an approved androgen receptor inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with mCRPC. If
we obtain regulatory approvals to market gedatolisib, we expect to initially generate revenue from sales of the drug for the treatment
of breast cancer patients. Additionally, we will seek to generate revenue from partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies to
provide companion diagnostics for such pharmaceutical partners’ existing or investigational targeted therapies. If a new drug indication
is received that requires use of our companion diagnostic to identify eligible patients, we expect to generate revenues from sales of
tests to treating physicians.
Research
and Development
Since
our inception, we have primarily focused on research and development of gedatolisib, a PI3K/mTOR targeted therapy and our CELsignia platform
and corresponding tests. Research and development expenses primarily include:
● employee-related
expenses related to our research and development activities, including salaries, benefits,
recruiting, travel and stock-based compensation expenses;
16
● laboratory
supplies;
● consulting
fees paid to third parties;
● clinical
trial costs;
● validation
costs for gedatolisib;
● facilities
expenses; and
● legal
costs associated with patent applications.
Internal
and external research and development costs are expensed as they are incurred. As we continue development of gedatolisib and manage studies
and clinical trials, including the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, the CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trial, and other clinical trials to evaluate the
efficacy of targeted therapies in cancer patients selected with one of our CELsignia tests, the proportion of research and development
expenses allocated to external spending will grow at a faster rate than expenses allocated to internal expenses.
General
and Administrative
General
and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation related to our executive, finance and
support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees for auditing, tax, and legal services associated
with being a public company, director and officer insurance, investor relations and travel expenses for our general and administrative
personnel.
Sales
and Marketing
Sales
and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional and consulting fees related to these functions. To date, we have incurred immaterial
sales and marketing expenses as we continue to focus primarily on the development of our first drug, gedatolisib, managing the VIKTORIA-1
Phase 3 and CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials, and developing our CELsignia platform and corresponding CELsignia tests. We would expect to
begin to incur increased sales and marketing expenses in anticipation of the commercialization of our first drug, gedatolisib, and CELsignia
tests. These increased expenses are expected to include employee-related and consulting costs.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense is primarily due to a Loan Agreement and finance lease obligations.
Interest
Income
Interest
income consists of interest income earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and investment balances.
17
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Increase (Decrease)
2024
2023
$
Percent Change
Statements of Operations Data:
Operating expenses:
Research and development
$ 20,647,559
$ 11,278,493
$ 9,369,066
83 %
General and administrative
1,846,276
1,269,044
577,232
45
Total operating expenses
22,493,835
12,547,537
9,946,298
79
Loss from operations
(22,493,835 )
(12,547,537 )
(9,946,298 )
79
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
(1,400,712 )
(1,242,012 )
(158,700 )
13
Interest income
2,282,092
1,851,132
430,960
23
Other income (expense), net
881,380
609,120
272,260
45
Net loss before income taxes
(21,612,455 )
(11,938,417 )
(9,674,038 )
81
Income tax benefits
-
-
-
-
Net loss
$ (21,612,455 )
$ (11,938,417 )
$ (9,674,038 )
81 %
Research
and Development
Our
research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were approximately $20.7 million, representing an increase
of approximately $9.4 million, or 83%, compared to the same period in 2023. Of the $9.4 million increase in research and development
expense, $1.5 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $7.9 million increase of research and
development costs are primarily related to costs supporting activities for the VIKTORIA-1 and CELC-G-201 pivotal trials.
Conducting
a significant amount of research and development is central to our business model. We plan to increase our research and development expenses
for the foreseeable future as we seek to develop gedatolisib, manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 and the CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials, discover
new cancer sub-types, and develop and validate additional CELsignia tests to diagnose such sub-types. We also expect to incur increased
expenses to support companion diagnostic business development activities with pharmaceutical companies as we develop additional CELsignia
tests and manage the clinical trials for gedatolisib.
General
and Administrative
Our
general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were approximately $1.8 million, representing an increase
of approximately $0.5 million, or 45%, compared to the same period in 2023. Of the $0.5 million increase in general and administrative
expense, $0.3 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $0.2 million of the $0.5 million increase
resulted from professional fees and other administrative expenses.
We
anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting both increased costs in connection
with the potential future commercialization of gedatolisib and CELsignia tests, an expanding infrastructure, and increased professional
fees associated with public company regulatory developments and other compliance matters.
Interest
Expense
Interest
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $1.4 million and represents an increase of $0.2 million compared to the same
period in 2023. Interest expense is the result of a Loan Agreement that was executed in April 2021 and amended in August 2022 and
March 2024. The increase is due to the increase in prime interest rates. The $1.4 million of interest expense includes $0.5 million
of non-cash interest expense.
Interest
Income
Interest
income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $2.3 million and represents an increase of $0.4 million compared to the same period
in 2023. The increase was primarily the result of higher market interest rates and the closing of additional financing activities, leading
to higher cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.
18
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Since
our inception, we have incurred losses and cumulative negative cash flows from operations. Through March 31, 2024, we have funded our
operations primarily through private placements and registered offerings of our equity securities and unsecured convertible notes, and
borrowings under loan agreements. From inception through March 31, 2024, we raised an aggregate of approximately $303.7 million of net
proceeds through sales of our securities, and as of March 31, 2024 had $35.0 million of borrowings under loan agreements. In March 2024,
an investor exercised 1,739,080 warrants at an exercise price of $8.05, which generated approximately $14 million in cash. The warrants
were issued pursuant to a previously reported private placement that closed and was funded on December 9, 2022. Subsequent to March 31,
2024, pursuant to an Open Market Sale Agreement SM with Jefferies LLC, as agent, the Company sold 435,414 shares of common
stock at an average selling price of $ 17.55 per share, generating gross proceeds of $7.6 million before deducting commissions and other
offering expenses of $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately
$31.2 million and $146.5 million, respectively, and we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $181.7 million.
Private
Placement. On December 9, 2022, we issued 6,182,574 shares of common stock, 1,120,873 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants
exercisable for 6,956,450 shares of common stock to certain institutional and other accredited investors pursuant to a securities purchase
agreement entered into on May 15, 2022. Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, the closing (funding) of the private placement
occurred following dosage of the first patient in the Company’s Phase 3 study, VIKTORIA-1. Investors purchased shares of common
stock and Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $5.75 per share (on an as converted to common stock basis), with forty percent (40%)
warrant coverage (on an as converted to common stock basis) and customary resale registration rights. The warrants have an exercise price
of $8.05 per share. The private placement generated gross proceeds of approximately $100 million before deducting placement agent fees
and other offering expenses of $4.3 million.
Pre-funded
Warrants On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement to sell pre-funded warrants at a price of
$8.70 per warrant, to purchase up to 5,747,787 shares of the Company’s common stock in a private placement. The closing of the
private placement occurred on October 20, 2023, and resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $50 million, before deducting offering
expenses of approximately $0.1 million.
Open
Market Sale Agreement SM . On February 4, 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement SM with Jefferies
LLC, as agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, through Jefferies, shares of our common stock having an aggregate
offering price of up to $50,000,000. On December 1, 2023, pursuant to this agreement, the Company sold 1,034,500 shares of common stock
in a single transaction at a price of $14.50 per share, generating gross proceeds of $15 million ($14.4 million net of commissions and
offering expenses). At March 31, 2024, $29.8 million of common stock remains available for sale under the Jefferies agreement.
Innovatus
Loan Agreement. On April 8, 2021, we entered into a Loan Agreement with Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP (“Innovatus”),
under which Innovatus agreed to loan up to $25 million in three tranches consisting of (i) a $15.0 million non-contingent Term A loan
that was funded on April 8, 2021, (ii) a $5 million Term B loan with a deadline of March 31, 2022, and (iii) a $5 million Term C loan
to be funded upon our request, subject to our ability to achieve certain milestones, no later than March 31, 2023. On August 9, 2022,
the Company amended the Loan Agreement with Innovatus to provide for up to $75 million in term loans. As of March 31, 2024, term loans
totaling $35 million are outstanding under the Loan Agreement, including the initial Term A loan of $15 million which was funded on April
8, 2021, and a $20 million Term B loan which was funded on December 22, 2022 following the closing of the $100 million private placement
described above. Additionally, the Company will be able to draw on two additional tranches of $10 million and one additional tranche
of $20 million upon achievement of certain clinical trial milestones and satisfaction of certain financial covenants determined on a
pro forma as-funded basis. Funding of these additional tranches is also subject to other customary conditions and limits on when the
Company can request funding for such tranches. On March 29, 2024, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Loan Agreement with
Innovatus in order to extend the date through which the Company may draw on the Term C loan from April 1, 2024 to June 1, 2024. Other
than as set forth in the Second Amendment to Loan Agreement, the amended Loan Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without
alteration or amendment.
We
expect that our research and development and general and administrative expenses will increase as we continue to develop gedatolisib,
manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 and CELC-G-201 Phase 1b/2 trials, conduct research related to the discovery of new cancer sub-types, conduct
other studies and clinical trials, and pursue other business development activities. We would also expect to incur sales and marketing
expenses as we commercialize gedatolisib and our CELsignia tests. We expect to use cash on hand, together with the funds to be received
under the debt and equity financings described above, to fund our research and development expenses, clinical trial costs, capital expenditures,
working capital, sales and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses.
Based
on our current business plan, we believe that our current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments together with available borrowings
under the Innovatus Loan Agreement will provide sufficient cash to finance our operations and pay obligations when due through at least
2025.
Our
expectations as to how long our current capital resources will be sufficient to fund our operations are based on assumptions that may
not be accurate, and we could use our current capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, we may seek to raise additional
capital to finance capital expenditures and operating expenses over the next several years as we launch our integrated therapeutic and
companion diagnostic strategy and expand our infrastructure, commercial operations and research and development activities, and to take
advantage of financing or other opportunities that we believe to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Additional
capital may be raised through the sale of common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, entry into debt facilities or other
third-party funding arrangements. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and those
securities may have rights senior to those of our common shares. Agreements entered into in connection with such capital raising activities
could contain covenants that would restrict our operations or require us to relinquish certain rights. Additional capital may not be
available on reasonable terms, or not at all.
19
Cash
Flows
The
following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for the three months ended March 31:
2024
2023
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$ (17,068,161 )
$ (12,867,838 )
Investing activities
3,536,301
21,867,551
Financing activities
14,083,827
67,948
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$ 551,967
$ 9,067,661
Operating
Activities
Net
cash used in operating activities was approximately $17.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and consisted primarily of
a net loss of approximately $21.6 million, offset by working capital changes of $2.8 million and non-cash expense items of approximately
$1.7 million. Non-cash expense items of approximately $1.7 million primarily consisted of $1.3 million of stock-based compensation expense
and net non-cash interest of $0.4 million. The approximately $2.8 million of working capital changes was primarily due to increases in
accrued expenses and accounts payable and a decrease in other current assets. The net cash used in operating activities was approximately
$12.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and consisted primarily of a net loss of approximately $11.9 million and
working capital changes of $1.0 million, offset by non-cash expense items of $0.1 million. Non-cash expense items of approximately $0.1
million primarily consisted of $1.3 million of stock-based compensation expense and non-cash interest expense of $0.5 million, offset
by $1.7 million of non-cash interest income. The approximately $1.0 million of working capital changes was primarily due to a decrease
in accrued expenses.
Investing
Activities
Net
cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was approximately $3.5 million and consisted primarily
of net proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in government securities (U.S. Treasury Bills), partially offset by $0.1 million
purchases of property and equipment. Net cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was approximately
$21.9 million and consisted of net proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in government securities (U.S. Treasury Bills and
U.S. government securities) and minimal purchases of property and equipment.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was approximately $14.1 million and primarily consisted
of proceeds from the exercise of common stock warrants and the exercise of employee stock options, slightly offset by payments for secondary
registration costs. The net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was minimal and primarily
consisted of the exercise of employee stock options offset by payments for secondary registration and debt issuance costs.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
From
time-to-time new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies and
adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements
included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective
will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.
20
Critical
Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our
management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our unaudited condensed financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. These items are monitored and
analyzed by us for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. We base our
estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances; the results of
which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results for the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ
materially from these estimates.
Our
significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements included in Item 1
of Part I of this Quarterly Report.
Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act
The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking
information is included in this Quarterly Report and in other materials filed or to be filed by us with the SEC (as well as information
included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us). Forward-looking statements include all statements
based on future expectations. This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including,
but not limited to, (i) our clinical trial plans and the estimated costs for such trials; (ii) our expectations with respect to our
competitive advantages, including the potential efficacy of gedatolisib in various patient types alone or in combination with other treatments;
(iii) our expectations regarding the timeline of patient enrollment and results from clinical trials, including our existing Phase 3
VIKTORIA-1 clinical trial and Phase 1b/2 study and clinical trial for gedatolisib; (iv) our expectations regarding our ability to obtain
FDA approval to commercialize gedatolisib; (v) our expectations with respect to the development, validation, required approvals, costs
and timelines of gedatolisib and our CELsignia tests; (vi) our plans with respect to research and development and related expenses for
the foreseeable future; (vii) our beliefs about our ability to capitalize on the exclusive global development and commercialization rights
obtained from our license agreement with Pfizer with respect to gedatolisib; (viii) the future payments that may be owed to Pfizer under
the license agreement; (ix) our beliefs related to the perceived advantages of our CELsignia tests compared to traditional molecular or
other diagnostic tests; (x) our revenue expectations; (xi) our expectations regarding business development activities, including collaborations
with pharmaceutical companies; (xii) our expectations as to the use of proceeds from our recent financing activities; (xiii) our beliefs
regarding the ability of our cash on hand to fund our research and development expenses, capital expenditures, working capital, sales
and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses, as well as the increased costs associated with being a public company; and (xiv)
our plans with respect to potentially raising capital.
In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,”
“potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,”
or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking
statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and
assumptions, which in turn are based on their interpretation of currently available information.
These
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results or our industry’s actual
results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our limited operating history;
our potential inability to develop, validate and commercialize gedatolisib on a timely basis or at all; the uncertainties and costs associated
with clinical studies and with developing and commercializing biopharmaceuticals; the complexity and difficulty of demonstrating the
safety and sufficient magnitude of benefit to support regulatory approval of gedatolisib and other products we may develop; challenges
we may face in developing and maintaining relationships with pharmaceutical company partners; the complexity and timeline for development
of CELsignia tests; the uncertainty and costs associated with clinical trials; the uncertainty regarding market acceptance by physicians,
patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community, and with the size of market opportunities available to us; the pricing
of molecular and other diagnostic products and services that compete with us; uncertainty with insurance coverage and reimbursement for
our CELsignia tests; difficulties we may face in managing growth, such as hiring and retaining
a qualified sales force and attracting and retaining key personnel; changes in government regulations; tightening credit markets and
limitations on access to capital; and obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our technology and time and expense
associated with defending third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, investigations or litigation threatened or initiated
against us. These and additional risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through
the SEC’s electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.
You
should read the cautionary statements made in this Quarterly Report as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever
they appear in this Quarterly Report. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report will prove to
be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should read this
Quarterly Report completely. Other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even
though our situation may change in the future.
21
ITEM
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
As
a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this item.
ITEM
4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, referred to collectively herein as the Certifying Officers, are responsible for
establishing and maintaining our disclosure controls and procedures. The Certifying Officers have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness
of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of March 31, 2024. Based on that review and evaluation, the Certifying Officers
have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures, as designed
and implemented, are effective and provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the periodic and current
reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the periods specified by
the SEC’s rules and forms.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting .
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act)
during the three months ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
PART
II. — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal Proceedings
From
time to time we may be involved in disputes or litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party
to any legal proceedings that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors
As
a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this item. However, in addition to other information
set forth in this Quarterly Report, including the important information in the section entitled “Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act,” you should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023, for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results
described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Additional risks and uncertainties not
currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial might materially adversely affect our actual business, financial condition
and/or operating results.
ITEM
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Recent
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, we issued 3,683 shares of common stock upon the exercise of previously issued warrants as follows:
●
1,006
shares were issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants at an exercise price of $9.50 per share, resulting in cash proceeds of approximately
$9,000; and
●
2,677
shares were issued pursuant to the exercise of 5,922 warrants in a cashless exercise whereby 3,245 shares with a value of $17.34
per share were used to settle the exercise price and the remaining 2,677 shares were issued to the warrant holders.
The
shares were issued pursuant to exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
None
ITEM
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
ITEM
4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
ITEM
5. Other Information
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of our directors or officers adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”
or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
22
ITEM
6. Exhibits
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, including the Certifications of Designations of Preferences, Rights, and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 7, 2023).
3.2
Bylaws, incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017.
4.1
Specimen Certificate representing shares of common stock of Celcuity Inc., (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed September 12, 2017).
4.2
Form of Warrant to Purchase Units of Membership Interest issued by Celcuity LLC to Cedar Point Capital, LLC, as placement agent of membership units and unsecured convertible promissory notes of Celcuity LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on August 23, 2017).
4.3*
Form of Amendment to Placement Agent’s Warrants, dated February 13, 2024.
4.4
Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock issued by Celcuity Inc. in connection with the conversion of 1.25% Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2017).
4.5*
Form of Amendment to Warrants to Purchase Shares of Common Stock, dated February 13, 2024.
4.6
Representative’s Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2017).
4.7
First Amendment to Representative’s Warrant, dated September 13, 2022, between Celcuity Inc. and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).
4.8
Form of Warrant issued by Celcuity Inc. to Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP in connection with the Loan and Security Agreement dated April 8, 2021(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021).
4.9
Equity Grant Agreement, dated April 8, 2021, between the Company and Pfizer, Inc., (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021).
4.10
Form of Warrant issued by Celcuity Inc. in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2022).
4.11
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant issued by Celcuity Inc. in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated October 18, 2023(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 23, 2023).
10.1*+
Amendment to Form of Stock Option Agreement pursuant to Celcuity Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan..
10.2*+
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Transfer Agreement pursuant to Celcuity Inc. Amended and Restated 2017 Stock Incentive Plan..
10.3
Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 29, 2024 by and among the Company and Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024.
31.1*
Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**
Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101*
Financial
statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March
31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed
Statements of Operations, (iii) the Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’
Equity, (iv) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Financial
Statements.
104*
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Filed
herewith.
** Furnished
herewith.
+
Management contract or compensatory plan.
23
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated:
May 15, 2024
CELCUITY INC.
By
/s/
Brian F. Sullivan
Brian
F. Sullivan
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
By
/s/
Vicky Hahne
Vicky
Hahne
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
24
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.