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: June 30, 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 Number 001-38174
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
Nevada 27-3425913
( State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization ) ( IRS Employer
Identification No. )
11 Commerce Drive , First Floor , Cranford , NJ 07016
( Address of principal executive offices ) ( Zip Code )
(908) 967-6677
( 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, $0.001 par value CTXR Nasdaq Capital Market
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
☒
As of August 12, 2024, there were
180,725,407 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, of the registrant issued and outstanding.
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
June 30, 2024
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
1
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023
1
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
4
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
15
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
22
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
22
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
23
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
23
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
23
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
23
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
23
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
23
Item 5.
Other Information
24
Item 6.
Exhibits
24
SIGNATURES
25
i
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and unless
the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Citius
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Citius Pharma”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Leonard-Meron Biosciences, Inc., and Citius Oncology,
Inc. (“Citius Oncology”), and its majority-owned subsidiary, NoveCite, Inc., taken as a whole.
ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking
statements.” Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that express our intentions, beliefs, expectations,
strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions. These statements
are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore,
actual outcomes and results may, and are likely to, differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements
due to numerous factors discussed from time to time in this Report and in other documents which we file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, such statements could be affected by risks and uncertainties related to:
●
our ability to apply for, obtain and maintain required regulatory approvals
for our product candidates;
●
the cost, timing and results of our pre-clinical and clinical trials;
●
our ability to raise funds for general corporate purposes and operations,
including our pre-clinical and clinical trials;
●
the commercial feasibility and success of our technology and product
candidates;
●
our ability to recruit and retain qualified management and technical
personnel to carry out our operations;
●
our ability to realize some or all of the benefits expected to result
from the spinoff of Citius Oncology, or the delay of such benefits;
●
our ongoing businesses may be adversely affected and subject to certain
risks and consequences as a result of the spinoff of Citius Oncology; and
●
the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section
of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 29, 2023, and elsewhere in this Report.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date on which they are made, and except as may be required under applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation
to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the filing date of this Report.
iii
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
June 30,
September 30,
2024
2023
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 17,911,192
$ 26,480,928
Prepaid expenses
10,094,597
7,889,506
Total Current Assets
28,005,789
34,370,434
Property and equipment, net
—
1,432
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net
299,932
454,426
Deposits
38,062
38,062
In-process research and development
59,400,000
59,400,000
Goodwill
9,346,796
9,346,796
Total Assets
$ 97,090,579
$ 103,611,150
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 1,663,336
$ 2,927,334
Accrued expenses
550,485
476,300
Accrued compensation
1,702,668
2,156,983
Operating lease liability
235,581
218,380
Total Current Liabilities
4,152,070
5,778,997
Deferred tax liability
6,569,800
6,137,800
Operating lease liability – noncurrent
84,430
262,865
Total Liabilities
10,806,300
12,179,662
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock – $ 0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock – $ 0.001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 180,725,407 and 158,857,798 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively
180,725
158,858
Additional paid-in capital
276,083,228
252,903,629
Accumulated deficit
( 190,580,054 )
( 162,231,379 )
Total Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
85,683,899
90,831,108
Non-controlling interest
600,380
600,380
Total Equity
86,284,279
91,431,488
Total Liabilities and Equity
$ 97,090,579
$ 103,611,150
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
1
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
2024 AND 2023
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
June 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
Operating Expenses
Research and development
2,763,865
3,764,675
8,991,673
11,937,045
General and administrative
4,808,551
3,733,326
12,755,190
11,129,463
Stock-based compensation – general and administrative
3,061,763
1,174,111
9,198,340
3,540,787
Total Operating Expenses
10,634,179
8,672,112
30,945,203
26,607,295
Operating Loss
( 10,634,179 )
( 8,672,112 )
( 30,945,203 )
( 26,607,295 )
Other Income
Interest income
204,843
336,780
640,686
854,604
Gain on sale of New Jersey net operating losses
—
—
2,387,842
3,585,689
Total Other Income
204,843
336,780
3,028,528
4,440,293
Loss before Income Taxes
( 10,429,336 )
( 8,335,332 )
( 27,916,675 )
( 22,167,002 )
Income tax expense
144,000
144,000
432,000
432,000
Net Loss
( 10,573,336 )
( 8,479,332 )
( 28,348,675 )
( 22,599,002 )
Deemed dividend on warrant extension
321,559
—
321,559
—
Net Loss Applicable to Common Stockholders
$ ( 10,894,895 )
$ ( 8,479,332 )
$ ( 28,670,234 )
$ ( 22,599,002 )
Net Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted
$ ( 0.06 )
$ ( 0.06 )
$ ( 0.17 )
$ ( 0.15 )
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
Basic and diluted
173,856,960
153,775,380
163,947,311
148,746,002
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
2
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
2024 AND 2023
(Unaudited)
Preferred
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Total Citius
Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Stockholders’
Non-Controlling
Total
Stock
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Interest
Equity
Balance, September 30, 2023
$ —
158,857,798
$ 158,858
$ 252,903,629
$ ( 162,231,379 )
$ 90,831,108
$ 600,380
$ 91,431,488
Issuance of common stock for services
—
108,778
109
76,037
—
76,146
—
76,146
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
3,058,185
—
3,058,185
—
3,058,185
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 9,231,185 )
( 9,231,185 )
—
( 9,231,185 )
Balance, December 31, 2023
—
158,966,576
158,967
256,037,851
( 171,462,564 )
84,734,254
600,380
85,334,634
Issuance of common stock for services
—
128,205
128
97,951
—
98,079
—
98,079
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
3,078,392
—
3,078,392
—
3,078,392
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 8,544,154 )
( 8,544,154 )
—
( 8,544,154 )
Balance, March 31, 2024
—
159,094,781
159,095
259,214,194
( 180,006,718 )
79,366,571
600,380
79,966,951
Issuance of common stock for services
—
150,000
150
109,800
—
109,950
—
109,950
Issuance of common stock in registered direct offering, net of costs of $ 1,281,051
—
21,428,574
21,428
13,697,523
—
13,718,951
—
13,718,951
Issuance of common stock upon cashless exercise of stock options
—
52,052
52
( 52 )
—
—
—
—
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
3,061,763
—
3,061,763
—
3,061,763
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 10,573,336 )
( 10,573,336 )
—
( 10,573,336 )
Balance, June 30, 2024
$ —
180,725,407
$ 180,725
$ 276,083,228
$ ( 190,580,054 )
$ 85,683,899
$ 600,380
$ 86,284,279
Balance, September 30, 2022
$ —
146,211,130
$ 146,211
$ 232,368,121
$ ( 129,688,467 )
$ 102,825,865
$ 600,380
$ 103,426,245
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
1,201,081
—
1,201,081
—
1,201,081
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 3,593,645 )
( 3,593,645 )
—
( 3,593,645 )
Balance, December 31, 2022
—
146,211,130
146,211
233,569,202
( 133,282,112 )
100,433,301
600,380
101,033,681
Issuance of common stock for services
—
100,000
100
101,900
—
102,000
—
102,000
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
—
46,667
47
31,220
—
31,267
—
31,267
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
1,165,595
—
1,165,595
—
1,165,595
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 10,526,025 )
( 10,526,025 )
—
( 10,526,025 )
Balance, March 31, 2023
—
146,357,797
146,358
234,867,917
( 143,808,137 )
91,206,138
600,380
91,806,518
Issuance of common stock in registered direct offering, net of costs of $ 1,201,131
—
12,500,001
12,500
13,786,370
—
13,798,870
—
13,798,870
Stock-based compensation expense
—
—
—
1,174,111
—
1,174,111
—
1,174,111
Net loss
—
—
—
—
( 8,479,332 )
( 8,479,332 )
—
( 8,479,332 )
Balance, June 30, 2023
$ —
158,857,798
$ 158,858
$ 249,828,398
$ ( 152,287,469 )
$ 97,699,787
$ 600,380
$ 98,300.167
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
3
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND
2023
(Unaudited)
2024
2023
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ ( 28,348,675 )
$ ( 22,599,002 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
9,198,340
3,540,787
Issuance of common stock for services
284,175
102,000
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset
154,494
142,257
Depreciation
1,432
2,090
Deferred income tax expense
432,000
432,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses
( 2,205,091 )
( 4,979,740 )
Accounts payable
( 1,263,998 )
1,914,289
Accrued expenses
74,185
( 512,520 )
Accrued compensation
( 454,315 )
( 156,806 )
Operating lease liability
( 161,234 )
( 145,352 )
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
( 22,288,687 )
( 22,259,997 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net proceeds from registered direct offering
13,718,951
13,798,870
Proceeds from common stock option exercise
—
31,267
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
13,718,951
13,830,137
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
( 8,569,736 )
( 8,429,860 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period
26,480,928
41,711,690
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period
$ 17,911,192
$ 33,281,830
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements.
4
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND
2023
(Unaudited)
1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION
AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Citius Pharma,”
and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we” or “us”) is a late-stage biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products with a focus on oncology, anti-infectives
in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products and stem cell therapies.
On March 30, 2016, Citius Pharma acquired Leonard-Meron
Biosciences, Inc. (“LMB”) as a wholly-owned subsidiary by issuing shares of its common stock.
On September 11, 2020, we formed NoveCite, Inc.
(“NoveCite”), a Delaware corporation, of which we own 75 % ( 7,500,000 shares) of the issued and outstanding capital stock
(see Note 3).
On August 23, 2021, we formed Citius Oncology,
Inc. (formerly named Citius Acquisition Corp.) (“Citius Oncology”), as a wholly-owned subsidiary in conjunction with the
acquisition of LYMPHIR, which began operations in April 2022. On October 23, 2023, Citius Pharma and Citius Oncology entered into an
agreement and plan of merger and reorganization with TenX Keane Acquisition, and its wholly owned subsidiary, TenX Merger Sub Inc., whereby
TenX Merger Sub Inc. will merge with and into Citius Oncology, with Citius Oncology surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of TenX Keane
Acquisition. The newly combined publicly traded company is to be named “Citius Oncology, Inc.” (see Note 9).
An inactive subsidiary, Citius Pharmaceuticals,
LLC, was dissolved on December 29, 2023.
In-process research and development (“IPR&D”)
consists of (i) the $ 19,400,000 acquisition value of LMB’s drug candidate Mino-Lok®, which is an antibiotic solution used to
treat catheter-related bloodstream infections and is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of eight years commencing
upon revenue generation, and (ii) the $ 40,000,000 acquisition value of the exclusive license for LYMPHIR (denileukin diftitox), which
is a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and
is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of twelve years commencing upon revenue generation.
Goodwill of $ 9,346,796 represents the value of
LMB’s industry relationships and its assembled workforce. Goodwill will not be amortized but will be tested at least annually for
impairment.
Since our inception, we have devoted substantially
all our efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital. We are subject
to a number of risks common to companies in the pharmaceutical industry including, but not limited to, risks related to the development
by Citius Pharma or its competitors of research and development stage products, regulatory approval and market acceptance of its products,
competition from larger companies, dependence on key personnel, dependence on key suppliers and strategic partners, the Company’s
ability to obtain additional financing and the Company’s compliance with governmental and other regulations.
5
Basis of Presentation and Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation — The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the operations of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its wholly-owned
subsidiaries, LMB and Citius Oncology, and its majority-owned subsidiary NoveCite. NoveCite began operations in October 2020 and Citius
Oncology began operations in April 2022. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the
opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the condensed
consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2024, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three- and
nine-month periods ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. The operating results for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2024 are
not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2024. These unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) on December 29, 2023.
Use of Estimates — Our accounting
principles require our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the
disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Estimates having relatively higher significance include the accounting for in-process research and development and
goodwill impairment, stock-based compensation, valuation of warrants, and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates
and changes in estimates may occur.
Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Common Share —
Basic and diluted net loss per common share applicable to common stockholders is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders
in each period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during such period. For the periods presented, common
stock equivalents, consisting of stock options and warrants, were not included in the calculation of the diluted loss per share because
they were anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Other than as disclosed in our Form 10-K, we
are not aware of any other recently issued accounting standards not yet adopted that may have a material impact on our financial statements.
2. GOING CONCERN UNCERTAINTY AND MANAGEMENT’S
PLAN
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company experienced negative cash flows from operations of $ 22,288,687 for the nine
months ended June 30, 2024. The Company had working capital of approximately $ 23,850,000 at June 30, 2024. The Company estimates that
its available cash resources will be sufficient to fund its operations through December 2024, which raises substantial doubt
about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the accompanying condensed consolidated
financial statements are issued.
The Company has generated no operating revenue to date and has principally
raised capital through the issuance of equity instruments to finance its operations. However, the Company’s continued operations
beyond December 2024, including its development plans for LYMPHIR (including after the proposed spin-off of Citius Oncology), Mino-Lok,
Halo-Lido and NoveCite, will depend on its ability to obtain regulatory approval to market Mino-Lok, successfully commercialize LYMPHIR,
Mino-Lok and any other approved products and generate substantial revenue from the sale of LYMPHIR and/or Mino-Lok and on its ability
to raise additional capital through various potential sources, such as equity and/or debt financings, strategic relationships, or out-licensing
of its product candidates. However, the Company can provide no assurances on regulatory approval, commercialization, or future sales of
LYMPHIR and/or Mino-Lok or that financing or strategic relationships will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If the Company
is unable to raise sufficient capital, find strategic partners or generate substantial revenue from the sale of LYMPHIR and/or Mino-Lok,
there would be a material adverse effect on its business. Further, the Company expects in the future to incur additional expenses as it
continues to develop its product candidates, including seeking regulatory approval, and protecting its intellectual property.
6
3. PATENT AND TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AGREEMENTS
Patent and Technology License Agreement
– Mino-Lok
LMB has a patent and technology license agreement
with Novel Anti-Infective Therapeutics, Inc. (“NAT”) to develop and commercialize Mino-Lok on an exclusive, worldwide sub-licensable
basis, as amended. LMB pays an annual maintenance fee each June until commercial sales of a product subject to the license commence.
The Company recorded an annual maintenance fee expense of $ 90,000 in both 2024 and 2023 respectively.
LMB will also pay annual royalties on net sales
of licensed products, with a low double digit royalty rate (within a range of 10 % to 15 %). In limited circumstances in which the licensed
product is not subject to a valid patent claim and a competitor is selling a competing product, the royalty rate is in the low- to mid-single
digits (within a range of 2 % to 7 %). After a commercial sale is obtained, LMB must pay minimum aggregate annual royalties of $ 100,000
in the first commercial year which is prorated for a less than 12-month period, increasing $ 25,000 per year to a maximum of $ 150,000
annually. LMB must also pay NAT up to $ 1,100,000 upon achieving specified regulatory and sales milestones. Finally, LMB must pay NAT
a specified percentage of payments received from any sub-licensees.
Unless earlier terminated by NAT, based on the
failure to achieve certain development and commercial milestones, the license agreement remains in effect until the date that all patents
licensed under the agreement have expired and all patent applications within the licensed patent rights have been cancelled, withdrawn,
or expressly abandoned.
Patent and Technology License Agreement
– Mino-Wrap
On January 2, 2019, we entered into a patent
and technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System on behalf of the University of Texas M.
D. Anderson Cancer Center (“Licensor”), whereby we in-licensed exclusive worldwide rights to the patented technology for
any and all uses relating to breast implants. We terminated the Mino-Wrap license agreement on December 11, 2023.
License Agreement with Eterna
On October 6, 2020, our subsidiary, NoveCite,
signed an exclusive license agreement for a novel cellular therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with a subsidiary of
Novellus, Inc. (“Novellus”). Upon execution of the agreement, we paid $ 5,000,000 to Novellus, which was charged to research
and development expense during the year ended September 30, 2021, and issued Novellus shares of NoveCite’s common stock representing
25 % of the outstanding equity. We own the other 75 % of NoveCite’s outstanding equity. Pursuant to the terms of the original stock
subscription agreement, if NoveCite issued additional equity, subject to certain exceptions, NoveCite had to maintain Novellus’s
ownership at 25 % by issuing additional shares to Novellus.
In July 2021, Novellus was acquired by Brooklyn
ImmunoTherapeutics, Inc. (“Brooklyn”). In connection with that transaction, the stock subscription agreement was amended
to assign to Brooklyn all of Novellus’s right, title, and interest in the stock subscription agreement and delete the anti-dilution
protection and replace it with a right of first refusal whereby Brooklyn will have the right to purchase all or a portion of the securities
that NoveCite intends to sell or in the alternative, at the option of NoveCite, Brooklyn may purchase that amount of the securities proposed
to be sold by NoveCite to allow Brooklyn to maintain its then percentage ownership. In October 2022, Brooklyn changed its name to Eterna
Therapeutics Inc. (“Eterna”).
Citius Pharma is responsible for the operational
activities of NoveCite and bears all costs necessary to operate NoveCite. Citius Pharma’s officers are also the officers of NoveCite
and oversee the business strategy and operations of NoveCite. As such, NoveCite is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary with a
noncontrolling interest.
Eterna has no contractual rights in the profits
or obligations to share in the losses of NoveCite, and the Company has not allocated any losses to the noncontrolling interest.
7
NoveCite is obligated to pay Eterna up to $ 51,000,000
upon the achievement of various regulatory and developmental milestones. NoveCite also must pay a royalty equal to a mid-teens percentage
of net sales, commencing upon the sale of a licensed product. This royalty is subject to downward adjustment to a mid-single digit percentage
(within a range of 4 % to 8 %) of net sales in any country in the event of the expiration of the last valid patent claim or if no valid
patent claim exists in that country. The royalty will end on the earlier of (i) date on which a biosimilar product is first marketed,
sold, or distributed in the applicable country or (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of expiration of the last-to-expire valid
patent claim in that country. In the case of a country where no licensed patent ever exists, the royalty will end on the later of (i)
the date of expiry of such licensed product’s regulatory exclusivity and (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of the first
commercial sale of the licensed product in the applicable country. In addition, NoveCite will pay to Eterna an amount equal to a mid-twenties
percentage of any sublicensee fees it receives.
Under the terms of the license agreement, if
Eterna receives any revenue involving the original cell line included in the licensed technology, then Eterna shall remit to NoveCite
50 % of such revenue.
The term of the license agreement continues on
a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term. Either party
may terminate the license agreement upon written notice if the other party is in material default. NoveCite may terminate the license
agreement at any time without cause upon 90 days prior written notice.
Eterna will be responsible for preparing, filing,
prosecuting, and maintaining all patent applications and patents included in the licensed patents in the territory, provided however,
that if Eterna decides that it is not interested in maintaining a particular licensed patent or in preparing, filing, or prosecuting
a licensed patent, NoveCite will have the right, but not the obligation, to assume such responsibilities in the territory at NoveCite’s
sole cost and expense.
License Agreement with Eisai
In September 2021, Citius Pharma entered into
an asset purchase agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories SA, a subsidiary of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd. (collectively,
“Dr. Reddy’s”) and a license agreement with Eisai Co., Ltd. (“Eisai”) to acquire an exclusive license for
E7777 (denileukin diftitox), a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of CTCL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We renamed
E7777 as I/ONTAK and also obtained the trade name LYMPHIR for the product. Citius Pharma assigned these agreements to Citius Oncology
effective April 1, 2022.
Under the terms of the
agreements, Citius Pharma acquired Dr. Reddy’s exclusive license for E7777 from Eisai and other related assets owned by Dr. Reddy’s.
The exclusive license includes rights to develop and commercialize E7777 in all markets except for Japan and certain parts of Asia. Additionally,
we retain an option on the right to develop and market the product in India. Eisai retains exclusive development and marketing rights
for the agent in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, India (subject to the
India option), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia,
and Papua New Guinea. Citius Pharma paid a $ 40 million upfront payment which represents the acquisition date fair value of the in-process
research and development acquired from Dr. Reddy’s. Dr. Reddy’s is entitled to up to $ 40 million in development milestone
payments related to CTCL approvals in the U.S. and other markets, up to $ 70 million in development milestones for additional indications,
as well as commercial milestone payments and low double-digit tiered royalties on net product sales (within a range of 10 % to 15 %), and
up to $ 300 million for commercial sales milestones. We also must pay on a fiscal quarter basis tiered royalties equal to low double-digit
percentages of net product sales (within a range of 10 % to 15 %). The royalties will end on the earlier of (i) the 15-year anniversary
of the first commercial sale of the latest indication that received regulatory approval in the applicable country and (ii) the date on
which a biosimilar product results in the reduction of net sales in the applicable product by 50 % in two consecutive quarters, as compared
to the four quarters prior to the first commercial sale of the biosimilar product. We will also pay to Dr. Reddy’s an amount equal
to a low-thirties percentage of any sublicense upfront consideration or milestone payments (or the like) received by us and the greater
of (i) a low-thirties percentage of any sublicensee sales-based royalties or (ii) a mid-single digit percentage of such licensee’s
net sales.
8
Under the license agreement, Eisai is to receive
a $6.0 million development milestone payment upon initial approval and additional commercial milestone payments related to the achievement
of net product sales thresholds (which increases to $7 million in the event we have exercised our option to add India to the licensed
territory prior to FDA approval) and an aggregate of up to $22 million related to the achievement of net product sales thresholds. Citius
Oncology was required to reimburse Eisai for up to $2.65 million of its costs to complete the Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial for LYMPHIR
for the CTCL indication and reimburse Eisai for all reasonable costs associated with the preparation of a Biologics License Application
(“BLA”) for LYMPHIR. Eisai was responsible for completing the CTCL clinical trial, and chemistry, manufacturing, and controls
(“CMC”) activities through the filing of the BLA for LYMPHIR with the FDA. The BLA was filed with the FDA on September 27,
2022, refiled on February 13, 2024, and accepted by the FDA on March 18, 2024, which assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”)
goal date of August 13, 2024. Citius Oncology will also be responsible for development costs associated with potential additional
indications.
The term of the license
agreement will continue until (i) if there has not been a commercial sale of a licensed product in the territory, the 10-year anniversary
of the original license effective date, March 30, 2016, or (ii) if there has been a first commercial sale of a licensed product in the
territory within the 10-year anniversary of the original license effective date, the 10-year anniversary of the first commercial sale
on a country-by-country basis. The term of the license may be extended for additional 10-year periods for all countries in the territory
by notifying Eisai and paying an extension fee equal to $ 10 million. Either party may terminate the license agreement upon written notice
if the other party is in material breach of the agreement, subject to cure within the designated time periods. Either party also may
terminate the license agreement immediately upon written notice if the other party files for bankruptcy or takes related actions or is
unable to pay its debts as they become due. Additionally, either party will have the right to terminate the agreement if the other party
directly or indirectly challenges the patentability, enforceability or validity of any licensed patent.
Also under the purchase
agreement with Dr. Reddy’s, we are required to (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to make commercially available products
in the CTCL indication, peripheral T-cell lymphoma indication and immuno-oncology indication, (ii) initiate two investigator initiated
immuno-oncology trials (both of which have been initiated), (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve each of the approval
milestones, and (iv) complete each specified immuno-oncology investigator trial on or before the four-year anniversary of the effective
date of the definitive agreement. Additionally, we are required to commercially launch a product in a territory within six months of
receiving regulatory approval for such product in each such jurisdiction.
4. PREPAID EXPENSES
Prepaid expenses at June 30, 2024 and September
30, 2023 consist of $ 87,782 and $ 154,611 of prepaid insurance, respectively, and $ 10,006,815 and $ 7,734,895 of advance
payments, respectively, made for the preparation of long-lead time drug substance and product costs, which will be utilized in the manufacturing
of LYMPHIR for sales upon approval.
5. COMMON STOCK, STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Common Stock Issued for Services
On October 10, 2023, the Company issued 108,778
shares of common stock for media, and public and investor relations services and expensed the $ 76,146 fair value of the common stock
issued.
On January 17, 2024, the Company issued 128,205
shares of common stock for general and business development advisory services and expensed the $ 98,079 fair value of the common stock
issued.
On April 25, 2024, the Company issued 150,000
shares of common stock for financial, general and business development advisory services and expensed the $ 109,950 fair value of the
common stock issued.
9
Common Stock Offerings
On May 8, 2023, the Company closed a registered
direct offering of 12,500,001 common shares and warrants to purchase up to 12,500,001 common shares, at a purchase price of $ 1.20 per
share and accompanying warrant for gross proceeds of $ 15,000,001 . The warrants have an exercise price of $ 1.50 per share, are exercisable
six months from the date of issuance, and expire five years from the date of issuance. The estimated fair value of the warrants issued
to the investors was approximately $ 11,000,000 .
Net proceeds were $ 13,798,870 after deducting
the placement agent fee of $ 1,050,000 , placement agent expenses of $ 85,000 , legal fees of $ 50,181 , and other offering expenses of $ 15,950 .
The Company also issued 875,000 warrants to the placement agent at an exercise price of $ 1.50 per share, that are exercisable six months
from the date of issuance, and expire five years from the date of issuance. The estimated fair value of the warrants issued to the placement
agent was approximately $ 771,000 .
On April 30, 2024, the Company closed a registered
direct offering of 21,428,574 common shares and warrants to purchase up to 21,428,574 common shares, at a purchase price of $ 0.70 per
share and accompanying warrant for gross proceeds of $ 15,000,002 . The warrants have an exercise price of $ 0.75 per share, are exercisable
six months from the date of issuance, and expire on October 30, 2029 . The estimated fair value of the warrants issued to the investors
was approximately $ 11,206,000 .
Net proceeds were $ 13,718,951 after deducting
the placement agent fee of $ 1,050,000 , placement agent expenses of $ 135,000 , legal fees of $ 80,101 , and other offering expenses of $ 15,950 .
The Company also issued 1,500,000 warrants to the placement agent at an exercise price of $ 0.875 per share, that are exercisable six
months from the date of issuance, and expire on April 25, 2029 . The estimated fair value of the warrants issued to the placement agent
was approximately $ 756,000 .
Stock Option Plans
Pursuant to our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, we
reserved 866,667 shares of common stock. As of June 30, 2024, there were options to purchase 705,441 shares outstanding, options to purchase
57,943 shares were exercised, options to purchase 103,283 shares expired or were forfeited, and no shares were available for future grants.
Pursuant to our 2018 Omnibus Stock Incentive
Plan, we reserved 2,000,000 shares of common stock. As of June 30, 2024, there were options to purchase 1,720,000 shares outstanding,
options to purchase 116,667 shares were exercised, options to purchase 53,333 shares expired or were forfeited, and the remaining 110,000
shares were transferred to the 2020 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (“2020 Plan”).
Pursuant to our 2020 Plan, we reserved 3,110,000
shares of common stock. As of June 30, 2024, there were options to purchase 1,735,000 shares outstanding, options to purchase 135,000
shares expired or were forfeited and the remaining 1,240,000 shares were transferred to the 2021 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (“2021
Stock Plan”).
Pursuant to our 2021 Stock Plan, we reserved
8,740,000 shares of common stock. As of June 30, 2024, options to purchase 8,398,333 shares were outstanding, options to purchase 306,667
shares expired or were forfeited and the remaining 35,000 shares were transferred to the 2023 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (“2023
Stock Plan”).
In November 2022, our Board approved the 2023
Stock Plan, subject to stockholder approval, which was received on February 7, 2023. The 2023 Stock Plan reserved 12,035,000 shares of
common stock for issuance. As of June 30, 2024, options to purchase 4,360,000 shares were outstanding, options to purchase 100,000 shares
expired or were forfeited and 7,575,000 shares remain available for future grants.
The fair value of each stock option award is
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury
yield curve in effect at the time of grant commensurate with the expected term assumption. The expected term of stock options granted,
all of which qualify as “plain vanilla,” is based on the average of the contractual term (generally 10 years) and the
vesting period. For non-employee options, the expected term is the contractual term.
10
A summary of option activity under our stock
option plans (excluding the NoveCite and Citius Oncology Stock Plans) is presented below:
Option
Shares Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2023 13,305,171 $ 1.79 7.41 years $ 56,203
Granted 4,160,000 0.70
Exercised ( 53,114 ) 0.02
Forfeited or expired ( 493,283 ) 1.59
Outstanding at June 30, 2024 16,918,774 $ 1.54 7.32 years $ 750
Exercisable at June 30, 2024 9,192,107 $ 1.91 6.21 years $ 750
On October 10, 2023, the Board of Directors granted
options to purchase 3,725,000 shares to employees, 300,000 shares to directors and 60,000 shares to consultants at $ 0.70 per share. On
March 14, 2024, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 75,000 shares to a director at $ 0.69 per share. The weighted average
grant date fair value of the options granted during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 was estimated at $ 0.53 per share. These options
vest over terms of 12 to 36 months and have a term of 10 years.
On October 4, 2022, the Board of Directors granted
options to purchase 3,375,000 shares to employees, 375,000 shares to directors and 50,000 shares to a consultant at $ 1.25 per share.
On November 8, 2022, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 50,000 shares to a consultant at $ 1.04 per share. On February
7, 2023, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 150,000 shares to an employee and 75,000 shares to a director at $ 1.42 per
share. On April 10, 2023, the Board of Directors granted options to purchase 75,000 shares to an employee at $ 1.46 per share. The weighted
average grant date fair value of the options granted during the nine months ended June 30, 2023 was estimated at $ 0.98 per share. These
options vest over terms of 12 to 36 months and have a term of 10 years.
Stock-based compensation expense for the three
months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $ 3,061,763 (including $ 13,858 for the NoveCite plan and $ 1,957,000 for the Citius Oncology Plan)
and $ 1,174,111 (including $ 31,858 for the NoveCite Stock Plan), respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended
June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $ 9,198,340 (including $ 47,574 for the NoveCite plan and $ 5,831,000 for the Citius Oncology Plan) and $ 3,540,787
(including $ 98,524 for the NoveCite Stock Plan), respectively.
At June 30, 2024, unrecognized total compensation
cost related to unvested awards under the Citius Pharma stock plans of $ 3,651,795 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average
period of 1.49 years.
NoveCite Stock Plan - Under the
NoveCite Stock Plan, adopted November 5, 2020, we reserved 2,000,000 common shares of NoveCite for issuance. The NoveCite Stock Plan
provides incentives to employees, directors, and consultants through grants of options, SARs, dividend equivalent rights, restricted
stock, restricted stock units, or other rights.
As of June 30, 2024, NoveCite has options outstanding
to purchase 1,911,500 common shares of NoveCite, all of which are exercisable, and 88,500 shares available for future grants. All of
the options were issued during the year ended September 30, 2021. These options vested over 36 months and have a term of 10 years. The
weighted average remaining contractual term of options outstanding under the NoveCite Stock Plan is 6.64 years and the weighted average
exercise price is $ 0.24 per share. At June 30, 2024, there is no unrecognized compensation cost related to these awards.
11
Citius Oncology Stock Plan - Under
the Citius Oncology Stock Plan, adopted on April 29, 2023, we reserved 15,000,000 common shares of Citius Oncology for issuance. The
Citius Oncology Stock Plan provides incentives to employees, directors, and consultants through grants of options, SARs, dividend equivalent
rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or other rights.
During the year ended September 30, 2023, Citius
Oncology granted options to purchase 12,750,000 common shares at a weighted average exercise price of $ 2.15 per share, of which options
to purchase 150,000 common shares were forfeited. The weighted average grant date fair value of the options granted during the year ended
September 30, 2023 was estimated at $ 1.65 per share. These options vest over periods from 12 to 36 months and have a term of 10 years.
At June 30, 2024, Citius Oncology has options
outstanding to purchase 12,600,000 shares, of which 3,605,556 common shares are exercisable, and 2,400,000 shares available for future
grants. The weighted average remaining contractual term of options outstanding under the Citius Oncology Stock Plan is 9.02 years. At
June 30, 2024, unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested awards under the Citius Oncology Stock Plan of $ 13,011,500 is
expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.
Warrants
As of June 30, 2024, we have reserved shares
of common stock for the exercise of outstanding warrants as follows:
Exercise
price Number Expiration Date
August 2018 Offering Investors $ 1.15 3,921,569 August 14, 2024
August 2018 Offering Agent 1.59 189,412 August 8, 2024
April 2019 Registered Direct/Private Placement Investors 1.42 1,294,498 April 5, 2025
April 2019 Registered Direct/Private Placement Agent 1.93 240,130 April 5, 2025
September 2019 Offering Investors 0.77 2,793,297 September 27, 2024
September 2019 Offering Underwriter 1.12 194,358 September 27, 2024
February 2020 Exercise Agreement Agent 1.28 138,886 August 19, 2025
May 2020 Registered Direct Offering Investors 1.00 1,670,588 November 18, 2025
May 2020 Registered Direct Offering Agent 1.33 155,647 May 14, 2025
August 2020 Underwriter 1.31 201,967 August 10, 2025
January 2021 Private Placement Investors 1.23 3,091,192 July 27, 2026
January 2021 Private Placement Agent 1.62 351,623 July 27, 2026
February 2021 Offering Investors 1.70 20,580,283 February 19, 2026
February 2021 Offering Agent 1.88 2,506,396 February 19, 2026
May 2023 Registered Direct Offering Investors 1.50 12,500,001 May 8, 2028
May 2023 Registered Direct Offering Agent 1.50 875,000 May 3, 2028
April 2024 Registered Direct Offering Investors 0.75 21,428,574 October 30, 2029
April 2024 Registered Direct Offering Agent 0.88 1,500,000 April 25, 2029
73,633,421
On April 3, 2024, the Board of Directors approved
a one-year extension to April 5, 2025 for warrants to purchase 1,294,498 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $ 1.42 per share.
The warrants are held by Leonard Mazur, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Myron
Holubiak, the Company’s Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors, and were originally issued in April 2019
in a registered direct offering of common stock. Additionally, 240,130 warrants with an exercise price of $ 1.9313 per share issued in
connection with the registered direct offering were extended by one-year to April 5, 2025. These warrants are held by certain representatives
of the registered direct offering placement agent. The terms of the warrants were previously extended in April 2021 to April 5, 2024.
If these warrants are fully exercised, the Company would receive approximately $ 2.3 million in cash proceeds. We recorded a deemed
dividend of $ 321,559 based on the excess of the fair value of the modified warrants over the fair value of the 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 three
and nine months ended June 30, 2024.
12
At June 30, 2024, the weighted average remaining
life of the outstanding warrants is 3.0 years, all warrants are exercisable except for the April 2024 registered direct offering warrants
for 22,928,574 shares which are exercisable commencing October 30, 2024, and there was no aggregate intrinsic value of the warrants outstanding.
Common Stock Reserved
A summary of common stock reserved for future
issuances as of June 30, 2024 is as follows:
Stock plan options outstanding
16,918,774
Stock plan shares available for future grants
7,575,000
Warrants outstanding
73,633,421
Total
98,127,195
6. OPERATING LEASE
Effective July 1, 2019, Citius Pharma entered
into a 76-month lease for office space in Cranford, NJ. Citius Pharma pays its proportionate share of real estate taxes and operating
expenses in excess of the base year expenses. These costs are variable lease payments and are not included in the determination of the
lease’s right-of-use asset or lease liability.
The Company identified and assessed the following
significant assumptions in recognizing its right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities:
●
As the Company’s lease does not provide an implicit rate, the
Company estimated the incremental borrowing rate in calculating the present value of the lease payments based on the remaining lease
term as of the adoption date.
●
Since the Company elected to account for each lease component and its
associated non-lease components as a single combined component, all contract consideration was allocated to the combined lease component.
●
The expected lease terms include noncancelable lease periods.
The elements of lease expense are as follows:
Lease cost Nine Months Ended
June 30,
2024 Nine Months Ended
June 30,
2023
Operating lease cost $ 179,117 $ 179,118
Variable lease cost 3,732 3,567
Total lease cost $ 182,849 $ 182,685
Other information
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases 1.3 Years 2.3 Years
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases 8.0 % 8.0 %
Maturities of lease liabilities due under the
Company’s non-cancellable leases are as follows:
Year Ending September 30,
June 30,
2024
2024 (excluding the 9 months ended June 30, 2024)
$ 63,167
2025
253,883
2026
21,460
Total lease payments
338,510
Less: interest
( 18,499 )
Present value of lease liabilities
$ 320,011
13
Leases
Classification
June 30,
2024
September 30,
2023
Assets
Lease asset
Operating
$ 299,932
$ 454,426
Total lease assets
$ 299,932
$ 454,426
Liabilities
Current
Operating
$ 235,581
$ 218,380
Non-current
Operating
84,430
262,865
Total lease liabilities
$ 320,011
$ 481,245
Interest expense on the lease liability was $ 24,623
and $ 36,861 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
7. GAIN ON SALE OF NEW JERSEY NET OPERATING
LOSSES
The Company recognized a gain of $ 2,387,842 and
$ 3,585,689 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in connection with sales of certain New Jersey income tax
net operating losses to third parties under the New Jersey Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program.
8. NASDAQ LISTING
On September 12, 2023, we received a notification
letter from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2)
because the minimum bid price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market closed below $ 1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business
days. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company had a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until March
11, 2024, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.
On March 12, 2024, Nasdaq granted our request
for an extension through September 9, 2024 to evidence compliance with the $ 1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the
Nasdaq Capital Market. If at any time before September 9, 2024, the bid price of our common stock closes at $1.00 per share or more for
a minimum of ten consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide us with written confirmation of compliance with the Bid Price Rule. If
we do not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by September 9, 2024, Nasdaq will provide notice to us that our common stock is subject
to delisting. At that time, we may appeal the determination to a Nasdaq hearings panel. The request for a hearing will stay any suspension
or delisting action pending the issuance of the hearing panel’s decision. The Extension Notice has no effect at this time on the
listing of our common stock, which will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market. We are currently evaluating our options for regaining
compliance. There can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule, even if we maintain compliance
with the other listing requirements.
9. MERGER AGREEMENT
On October 23, 2023, Citius Pharma and Citius
Oncology entered into an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”) with TenX Keane Acquisition,
a Cayman Islands exempted company (“TenX”), and its wholly owned subsidiary, TenX Merger Sub Inc. (“Merger Sub”),
a Delaware corporation. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, (i) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein,
that Merger Sub will merge with and into Citius Oncology, with Citius Oncology surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of TenX (the “Merger”),
and (ii) that prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), TenX will migrate to and domesticate as a
Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Cayman Islands Companies
Act (As Revised) (the “Domestication”). The newly combined publicly traded company is to be named “Citius Oncology,
Inc.” (the “Combined Company”). The Domestication, Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
are referred to as the “Business Combination.”
In the Merger, all shares of Citius Oncology would be converted into
the right to receive common stock of the Combined Company. As a result, upon closing, Citius Pharma would receive 67.5 million shares
of common stock of the Combined Company. As part of the transaction, Citius Pharma will contribute $ 10 million in cash to the Combined
Company for transaction expenses and general operating expenses. The 12.6 million existing Citius Oncology common stock options will be
assumed by the Combined Company. Citius Pharma and the Combined Company will also enter into an amended and restated shared services agreement,
which, among other things, will govern certain management and scientific services that Citius Pharma will continue to provide to the Combined
Company following the Effective Time.
The Merger Agreement, Business Combination and
the transactions contemplated thereby were unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of Citius Pharma, Citius Oncology
and TenX. The transaction is expected to be completed in August 2024, subject to and the provisions of the Merger Agreement and other
customary closing conditions, including final regulatory approvals and SEC filings. There can be no assurance regarding the ultimate
timing of the proposed transaction or that the transaction will be completed at all.
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On August 8, 2024, the Company announced
that the FDA had approved LYMPHIR.
On August 12, 2024, the Company completed the Merger, whereby its wholly owned subsidiary Citius
Oncology, Inc. (now known as Citius Oncology Sub, Inc.), became a wholly owned subsidiary of TenX Keane Acquisition (now Citius
Oncology, Inc.). In connection with Closing, Citius Pharma and Citius Oncology entered into an amended and restated shared services
agreement, which, among other things, governs certain management and scientific services that Citius Pharma will continue to provide
to Citius Oncology. After the closing of the Merger, Citius Pharma continues to control a majority of the voting power of Citius
Oncology, owning approximately 92.6 % of the outstanding shares of Citius Oncology.
14
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our
financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 should be read together with
our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Report and in conjunction with
the audited financial statements of Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September
30, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on December 29, 2023. The following discussion contains
“forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. Our actual results
may differ materially from those currently anticipated and expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors.
We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual
results and the differences can be material. Please see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page iii
of this Report.
Historical Background
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Citius Pharma,”
and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we” or “us”) is a late-stage biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products with a focus on oncology, anti-infectives
in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products and stem cell therapies. On September 12, 2014, we acquired Citius Pharmaceuticals,
LLC as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Citius Pharmaceuticals, LLC, was dissolved on December 29, 2023.
On March 30, 2016, we acquired all of the outstanding
stock of Leonard-Meron Biosciences, Inc. (“LMB”) by issuing shares of our common stock. We acquired identifiable intangible
assets of $19,400,000 related to in-process research and development and recorded goodwill of $9,346,796 for the excess of the purchase
consideration over the net assets acquired.
On September 11, 2020, we formed NoveCite, Inc.
(“NoveCite”), a Delaware corporation, of which we own 75% of the issued and outstanding capital stock.
On August 23, 2021, we formed Citius Oncology, Inc. (formerly named
Citius Acquisition Corp.) (“Citius Oncology”) (now named “Citius Oncology Sub, Inc.), as a wholly-owned subsidiary in
conjunction with the acquisition of LYMPHIR, which began operations in April 2022. On August 12, 2024, Citius Pharma completed the Spinoff
of Citius Oncology as a separate publicly traded entity (Nasdaq: CTOR) focused on commercializing LYMPHIR.
In-process research and development (“IPR&D”)
consists of (i) the $19,400,000 acquisition value of LMB’s drug candidate Mino-Lok®, which is an antibiotic solution used to
treat catheter-related bloodstream infections and is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of eight years commencing
upon revenue generation, and (ii) the $40,000,000 acquisition value of the exclusive license for LYMPHIR (denileukin diftitox), which
is a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (“CTCL”), a rare form of non-Hodgkin
lymphoma, and is expected to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of twelve years commencing upon revenue generation.
Goodwill of $9,346,796 represents the value of
LMB’s industry relationships and its assembled workforce. Goodwill will not be amortized but will be tested at least annually for
impairment.
Through June 30, 2024, we have devoted substantially
all our efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital. We have
not yet realized any revenues from our operations.
Recent Developments
On October 23, 2023, Citius Pharma and Citius Oncology entered into
an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization with TenX Keane Acquisition, and its wholly owned subsidiary, TenX Merger Sub Inc.,
whereby TenX Merger Sub Inc. will merge with and into Citius Oncology, with Citius Oncology surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of
TenX Keane Acquisition. The newly combined publicly traded company is to be named “Citius Oncology, Inc.” On August 2, 2024,
the shareholders of TenX Keane Acquisition approved the transaction. The transaction closed on August 12, 2024.
15
Patent and Technology License Agreements
Mino-Lok® – LMB has a patent
and technology license agreement with Novel Anti-Infective Therapeutics, Inc. (“NAT”) to develop and commercialize Mino-Lok
on an exclusive, worldwide sub-licensable basis, as amended. Since May 2014, LMB has paid an annual maintenance fee, which began at $30,000
and increased over five years to $90,000, where it will remain until the commencement of commercial sales of a product subject to the
license. LMB will also pay annual royalties on net sales of licensed products, with a low double digit royalty rate (with a range of
10% to 15%). In limited circumstances in which the licensed product is not subject to a valid patent claim and a competitor is selling
a competing product, the royalty rate is in the low- to mid-single digits (within a range of 2% to 7%). After a commercial sale is obtained,
LMB must pay minimum aggregate annual royalties that increase in subsequent years. LMB must also pay NAT up to $1,100,000 upon achieving
specified regulatory and sales milestones. Finally, LMB must pay NAT a specified percentage of payments received from any sub licensees.
Mino-Wrap – On January 2, 2019,
we entered into a patent and technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System on behalf of the
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (“Licensor”), whereby we in-licensed exclusive worldwide rights to the patented
technology for any and all uses relating to breast implants. We terminated the Mino-Wrap license agreement on December 11, 2023.
NoveCite – On October 6, 2020, our
subsidiary NoveCite entered into a license agreement with Novellus Therapeutics Limited (“Licensor”), whereby NoveCite acquired
an exclusive, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, develop and commercialize a stem cell therapy based on the Licensor’s
patented technology for the treatment of acute pneumonitis of any etiology in which inflammation is a major agent in humans. Upon execution
of the license agreement, NoveCite paid an upfront payment of $5,000,000 to Licensor and issued to Licensor shares of Novecite’s
common stock representing 25% of NoveCite’s currently outstanding equity. We own the other 75% of NoveCite’s currently outstanding
equity.
Citius Pharma is responsible for the operational
activities of NoveCite and bears all costs necessary to operate NoveCite. Citius Pharma’s officers are also the officers of NoveCite
and oversee the business strategy and operations of NoveCite. As such, NoveCite is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary with a
noncontrolling interest.
In July 2021, Novellus was acquired by Brooklyn
ImmunoTherapeutics (“Brooklyn”). Pursuant to this transaction, the NoveCite license was assumed by Brooklyn with all original
terms and conditions. As part of the Novellus and Brooklyn merger transaction, the 25% non-dilutive position per the subscription agreement
between Novellus and NoveCite was removed. In October 2021, Brooklyn changed its name to Eterna Therapeutics Inc. (“Eterna”).
Under the license agreement, NoveCite is obligated
to pay Licensor up to an aggregate of $51,000,000 in regulatory and developmental milestone payments. NoveCite also must pay a royalty
equal to a mid-teens percentage of net sales, commencing upon the first commercial sale of a licensed product. This royalty is subject
to downward adjustment on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis to a mid-single digit percentage (within a range of 4% to
8%) of net sales in any country in the event of the expiration of the last valid patent claim or if no valid patent claim exists in that
country. The royalty will end on the earlier of (i) date on which a biosimilar product is first marketed, sold, or distributed by Licensor
or any third party in the applicable country or (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of expiration of the last-to-expire valid patent
claim in that country. In the case of a country where no licensed patent ever exists, the royalty will end on the later of (i) the date
of expiry of such licensed product’s regulatory exclusivity and (ii) the 10-year anniversary of the date of the first commercial
sale of the licensed product in the applicable country. In addition, NoveCite will pay to Licensor an amount equal to a mid-twenties
percentage of any sublicensee fees it receives.
Under the terms of the license agreement, in
the event that Licensor receives any revenue involving the original cell line included in the licensed technology, then Licensor shall
remit to NoveCite 50% of such revenue.
16
LYMPHIR – In September 2021, Citius Pharma
entered into an asset purchase agreement with Dr. Reddy’s and a license agreement with Eisai to acquire an exclusive license for
E7777 (denileukin diftitox), a late-stage oncology immunotherapy for the treatment of CTCL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Citius
Pharma renamed E7777 as I/ONTAK and also obtained the trade name LYMPHIR for the product. Citius Pharma assigned these agreements to
Citius Oncology effective April 1, 2022.
Under the terms of the agreements, Citius Pharma
acquired Dr. Reddy’s exclusive license for E7777 from Eisai and other related assets owned by Dr. Reddy’s (now owned by Citius
Oncology). The exclusive license rights, through Citius Oncology, include rights to develop and commercialize E7777 in all markets except
for Japan and certain parts of Asia. Additionally, we, through Citius Oncology, retain an option on the right to develop and market the
product in India. Eisai retains exclusive development and marketing rights for the agent in Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau,
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, India (subject to the India option), Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, and Papua New Guinea. Citius Pharma paid a $40 million upfront payment,
which represents the acquisition date fair value of the in-process research and development acquired from Dr. Reddy’s. Dr. Reddy’s
is entitled to up to $40 million in development milestone payments related to CTCL approvals in the U.S. and other markets, up to $70
million in development milestones for additional indications, as well as commercial milestone payments and low double-digit tiered royalties
on net product sales (within a range of 10% to 15%), and up to $300 million for commercial sales milestones. We also must pay on a fiscal
quarter basis tiered royalties equal to low double-digit percentages of net product sales (within a range of 10% to 15%). The royalties
will end on the earlier of (i) the 15-year anniversary of the first commercial sale of the latest indication that received regulatory
approval in the applicable country and (ii) the date on which a biosimilar product results in the reduction of net sales in the applicable
product by 50% in two consecutive quarters, as compared to the four quarters prior to the first commercial sale of the biosimilar product.
We will also pay to Dr. Reddy’s an amount equal to a low-thirties percentage of any sublicense upfront consideration or milestone
payments (or the like) received by us and the greater of (i) a low-thirties percentage of any sublicensee sales-based royalties or (ii)
a mid-single digit percentage of such licensee’s net sales.
Under the license agreement, Eisai is to receive
a $6 million development milestone payment upon initial approval and additional commercial milestone payments related to the achievement
of net product sales thresholds (which increases to $7 million in the event we have exercised our option to add India to the licensed
territory prior to FDA approval) and an aggregate of up to $22 million related to the achievement of net product sales thresholds. Citius
Oncology was also required to reimburse Eisai for up to $2.65 million of its costs to complete the Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial for
LYMPHIR for the CTCL indication and reimburse Eisai for all reasonable costs associated with the preparation of a BLA for LYMPHIR. Eisai
was responsible for completing the CTCL clinical trial, and CMC activities through the filing of a Biologics License Application (“BLA”)
for LYMPHIR with the FDA. The BLA was filed with the FDA on September 27, 2022. We, through Citius Oncology, will be responsible for
development costs associated with potential additional indications.
On July 29, 2023, we received a Complete Response
Letter (“CRL”) from the FDA regarding the BLA seeking approval for LYMPHIR. The FDA has required that we incorporate enhanced
product testing, and additional controls agreed to with the FDA during the market application review. The FDA raised no concerns relating
to the safety and efficacy clinical data package.
On September 8, 2023, we announced that the FDA agreed with our plans
to address the requirements outlined in the CRL. No additional clinical efficacy or safety trials were requested by FDA for the resubmission.
On February 13, 2024, we filed the BLA resubmission package with the FDA and on March 18, 2024, the FDA accepted the resubmission of the
BLA, and on August 8, 2024, we a announced that the FDA had approved LYMPHIR.
17
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three months ended June 30, 2024 compared with
the three months ended June 30, 2023
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2024
Three Months
Ended
June 30,
2023
Revenues
$ —
$ —
Operating expenses:
Research and development
2,763,865
3,764,675
General and administrative
4,808,551
3,733,326
Stock-based compensation expense
3,061,763
1,174,111
Total operating expenses
10,634,179
8,672,112
Operating loss
(10,634,179 )
(8,672,112 )
Interest income
204,843
336,780
Loss before income taxes
(10,429,336 )
(8,335,332 )
Income tax expense
144,000
144,000
Net loss
$ (10,573,336 )
$ (8,479,332 )
Revenues
We did not generate any revenues for the three
months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.
Research and Development Expenses
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, research
and development expenses were $2,763,865 as compared to $3,764,675 during the three months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $1,000,810.
Research and development costs for Mino-Lok increased
by $52,558 to $1,144,058 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $1,091,500 for the three months ended June 30, 2023,
due primarily to study close out costs related to the Phase 3 trial. On January 2, 2024, Citius Pharma announced that it had completed
enrollment in its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for Mino-Lok, an antibiotic lock solution to salvage catheters in patients with catheter-related
bloodstream infections. A total of 109 catheter failure events were observed in the event-based trial; a minimum of 92 catheter failure
events were required to complete the trial. The study enrolled 241 patients at clinical sites in the U.S. and India. On May 21, 2024,
we announced positive topline data from our Phase 3 study as primary and secondary endpoints were met with statistical significance.
The next steps are to prepare a submission to the FDA and schedule a Type B meeting.
Research and development costs for Halo-Lido
decreased by $973,287 to $29,596 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $1,002,883 for the three months ended June 30,
2023 due to lower costs associated with the Phase 2b trial incurred in the current quarter. On June 20, 2023, we announced that the high
dose formulation of CITI-002, a lidocaine and halobetasol propionate combination formulation, provided a meaningful reduction in symptom
severity, as reported by patients, when compared to individual components alone. Moreover, there were no reported significant adverse
events and CITI-002 was well tolerated by patients in the study. An end of Phase 2 meeting was held with the FDA in the second
calendar quarter of 2024 and we have begun planning the next steps in the regulatory and clinical development program for CITI-002.
Research and development costs for LYMPHIR were
$1,583,970 during the three months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $1,658,838 for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The $74,868
decrease in expenses was primarily due to completion of the BLA resubmission package in the prior quarter. On February 13, 2024, we filed
the BLA resubmission package with the FDA and on March 18, 2024, the FDA accepted the resubmission of the BLA and assigned a PDUFA goal
date of August 13, 2024.
We expect that research and development expenses
will stabilize at current levels in fiscal 2024 as we focus on the commercialization of LYMPHIR, prepare a submission to the FDA and
schedule a Type B meeting for Mino-Lok, and analyze the data from our Phase 2b trial and begin planning our Phase 3 trial for Halo-Lido.
18
General and Administrative Expenses
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, general
and administrative expenses were $4,808,551 as compared to $3,733,326 during the three months ended June 30, 2023. General and administrative
expenses increased by $1,075,225 in comparison with the prior period. The primary reasons for the increase were higher costs for pre-launch
sales and market research activities associated with LYMPHIR. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs,
professional fees for legal, regulatory, accounting, and corporate development services, and investor relations expenses.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, stock-based
compensation expense was $3,061,763 as compared to $1,174,111 for the three months ended June 30, 2023. For the three months ended June
30, 2024 and 2023, stock-based compensation includes $13,858 and $31,858, respectively, in expense for the NoveCite stock plan. For the
three months ended June 30, 2024, stock-based compensation also includes $1,957,000 in expense for the Citius Oncology stock plan. Stock-based
compensation expense for the most recently completed quarter increased by $1,887,652 in comparison to the prior period primarily due
to the Citius Oncology stock plan.
Other Income
Interest income for the three months ended June
30, 2024 was $204,843 as compared to interest income of $336,780 for the prior period. The decrease is due to lower investable balances
of the remaining proceeds of our equity offerings and common stock warrant exercises in money market accounts.
Income Taxes
The Company recorded deferred income tax expense
of $144,000 for both the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, related to the amortization for taxable purposes of its in-process
research and development asset.
Net Loss
For the three months ended June 30, 2024, we
incurred a net loss of $10,573,336, compared to a net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023 of $8,479,332. The $2,094,004 increase
in the net loss was primarily due to increases of $1,075,225 in general and administrative expenses and $1,887,652 in stock-based compensation
expense, being partially offset by the $1,000,810 decrease in research and development expenses.
Nine months ended June 30, 2024 compared with
the nine months ended June 30, 2023
Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2024
Nine Months
Ended
June 30,
2023
Revenues
$ —
$ —
Operating expenses:
Research and development
8,991,673
11,937,045
General and administrative
12,755,190
11,129,463
Stock-based compensation expense
9,198,340
3,540,787
Total operating expenses
30,945,203
26,607,295
Operating loss
(30,945,203 )
(26,607,295 )
Interest income
640,686
854,604
Gain on sale of New Jersey net operating losses
2,387,842
3,585,689
Loss before income taxes
(27,916,675 )
(22,167.002 )
Income tax expense
432,000
432,000
Net loss
$ (28,348,675 )
$ (22,599,002 )
19
Revenues
We did not generate any revenues for the nine
months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.
Research and Development Expenses
For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, research
and development expenses were $8,991,673 as compared to $11,937,045 during the nine months ended June 30, 2023, a decrease of $2,945,372.
Research and development costs for Mino-Lok increased
by $364,721 to $3,673,969 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $3,309,248 for the nine months ended June 30, 2023,
due primarily to study close out costs associated with the Phase 3 trial. On January 2, 2024, Citius Pharma announced that it had completed
enrollment in its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for Mino-Lok, an antibiotic lock solution to salvage catheters in patients with catheter-related
bloodstream infections. A total of 109 catheter failure events were observed in the event-based trial; a minimum of 92 catheter failure
events were required to complete the trial. The study enrolled 241 patients at clinical sites in the U.S. and India. On May 21, 2024,
we announced positive topline data from our Phase 3 study as primary and secondary endpoints were met with statistical significance.
The next steps are to prepare a submission to the FDA and schedule a Type B meeting.
Research and development costs for Halo-Lido
decreased by $3,255,843 to $478,138 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $3,733,981 for the nine months ended June
30, 2023 due to lower costs associated with the Phase 2b trial. On June 20, 2023, we announced that the high dose formulation of CITI-002,
a lidocaine and halobetasol propionate combination formulation, provided a meaningful reduction in symptom severity, as reported by patients,
when compared to individual components alone. Moreover, there were no reported significant adverse events and CITI-002 was well tolerated
by patients in the study. An end of Phase 2 meeting was held with the FDA in the second calendar quarter of 2024 and we have begun
planning the next steps in the regulatory and clinical development program for CITI-002.
Research and development costs for LYMPHIR were
$4,817,350 during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $4,490,291 for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. The $327,059
increase in expenses was primarily due to costs associated with new analytical testing methods related to the remediation activities
to respond to the CRL. On February 13, 2024, we filed the BLA resubmission package with the FDA and on March 18, 2024, the FDA accepted
the resubmission of the BLA and assigned a PDUFA goal date of August 13, 2024.
We expect that research and development expenses
will stabilize at current levels in fiscal 2024 as we focus on the commercialization of LYMPHIR, prepare a submission to the FDA and
schedule a Type B meeting for Mino-Lok, and analyze the data from our Phase 2b trial and begin planning our Phase 3 trial for Halo-Lido.
General and Administrative Expenses
For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, general
and administrative expenses were $12,755,190 as compared to $11,129,463 during the nine months ended June 30, 2023. General and administrative
expenses increased by $1,625,727 in comparison with the prior period. The primary reasons for the increase were higher costs for pre-launch
sales and market research activities associated with LYMPHIR. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation costs,
professional fees for legal, regulatory, accounting, and corporate development services, and investor relations expenses.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, stock-based
compensation expense was $9,198,340 as compared to $3,540,787 for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. For the nine months ended June
30, 2024 and 2023, stock-based compensation includes $47,574 and $98,524, respectively, in expense for the NoveCite stock plan. For the
nine months ended June 30, 2024, stock-based compensation also includes $5,831,000 in expense for the Citius Oncology stock plan. Stock-based
compensation expense for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 increased by $5,657,553 in comparison to the prior period primarily due
to the Citius Oncology stock plan.
20
Other Income
Interest income for the nine months ended June
30, 2024 was $640,686 as compared to interest income of $854,604 for the prior period. The decrease is due to lower investable balances
of the remaining proceeds of our equity offerings and common stock warrant exercises in money market accounts.
Other income for the nine months ended June 30,
2024 and 2023 includes gains of $2,387,842 and $3,585,689, respectively, recognized in connection with the sale of certain New Jersey
income tax net operating losses to third parties under the New Jersey Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program.
Income Taxes
The Company recorded deferred income tax expense
of $432,000 for both the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, related to the amortization for taxable purposes of its in-process
research and development asset.
Net Loss
For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, we incurred
a net loss of $28,348,675 compared to a net loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 of $22,599,002. The $5,749,673 increase in the
net loss was primarily due to the increase in stock-based compensation expense of $5,657,553.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity and Working Capital
Citius Pharma has incurred operating losses since
inception and incurred a net loss of $28,348,675 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2024, Citius Pharma had an accumulated
deficit of $190,580,054. Citius Pharma’s net cash used in operations during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 was $22,288,687.
As a result of the Company’s common stock
offerings and common stock warrant exercises during the year ended September 30, 2021, the May 2023 registered direct offering and the
April 2024 registered direct offering, the Company had working capital of approximately $23,800,000 at June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2024,
Citius Pharma had cash and cash equivalents of $17,911,192 available to fund its operations. The Company’s primary sources of cash
flow since inception have been from financing activities. Our primary uses of operating cash were for in-licensing of intellectual property,
product development and commercialization activities, employee compensation, consulting fees, legal and accounting fees, insurance, and
investor relations expenses.
Based on our cash and cash equivalents at June
30, 2024, we expect that we will have sufficient funds to continue our operations through December 2024. We expect to need to raise additional
capital in the future to support our operations beyond December 2024. There is no assurance, however, that we will be successful in raising
the needed capital or that the proceeds will be received in an amount or in a timely manner to support our operations.
Inflation
Our management believes that inflation has not
had a material effect on our results of operations.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our financial statements and
related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses recorded during the reporting periods.
We base our estimates on historical experience, where applicable, and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances.
Actual results may differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our critical accounting policies and use of estimates
are discussed in, and should be read in conjunction with, the annual consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on December 29, 2023.
21
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures
designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the specified time periods
and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate
to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Our Chief Executive Officer (who is our principal
executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (who is our principal financial officer and principal accounting officer), evaluated the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act)
as of June 30, 2024. In designing and evaluating disclosure controls and procedures, we recognize that any disclosure controls and procedures,
no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective. As of June
30, 2024, based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in 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.
Changes In Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control
over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
22
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the Company’s
risk factors as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, filed with
the SEC on December 29, 2023.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
and Use of Proceeds.
On April 25, 2024, we issued 150,000 shares of
common stock for financial, general and business development advisory services. The issuance of the shares was exempt from registration
under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
23
Item 5. Other Information.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, none
of our directors or officers adopted or terminated any contract or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities.
Warrant Extension
In August 2024, we extended the term by one year
to August 14, 2025 for an aggregate of 3,921,569 warrants with an exercise price of $1.15 per share of common stock, par value $0.001
per share (the “Common Stock”). The warrants are held by Leonard Mazur, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board of Directors, and Myron Holubiak, the Company’s Executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors, and
were originally issued in August 2018 in a private placement conducted simultaneously with a registered direct offering of shares of Common
Stock (the “2018 Offering”) managed by H. C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Wainwright”). Mr. Mazur and Mr. Holubiak
participated in the private placement on the same basis as all other investors. Additionally, 189,412 placement agent warrants with an
exercise price of $1.5938 per share of Common Stock issued in connection with the 2018 Offering were extended by one year to August 8,
2025. Such placement agent warrants are held by certain representatives of Wainwright. There are no other warrants remaining outstanding
from the 2018 Offering and if such warrants are fully exercised, the Company would receive $4,811,680 in cash proceeds.
At The Market Offering Agreement
On August 12, 2024, Citius entered into an At
The Market Offering Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Wainwright under which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time
at its sole discretion, shares of Common Stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $50 million through Wainwright as its sales
agent.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement,
Wainwright may sell the Common Stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in
Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Wainwright will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Common Stock
from time to time, based upon instructions from the Company (including any price, time or size limits or other customary parameters or
conditions the Company may impose). The Company will pay Wainwright a commission equal to 3.0% of the gross sales proceeds of any Common
Stock sold through Wainwright under the Agreement, plus certain specified expenses. The Agreement contains customary representations and
warranties and conditions to the sale of the Common Stock and includes customary indemnification rights for Wainwright.
The Company is not obligated to make any sales
of Common Stock under the Agreement and may at any time suspend solicitation and offers thereunder. The offering of shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all Common Stock subject to the Agreement or (ii) termination
of the Agreement in accordance with its terms.
The issuance and sale of shares, if any, of Common
Stock by the Company under the Agreement will be pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-277319)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2024 (the “Registration Statement”)
and declared effective by the SEC on March 1, 2024, the prospectus supplement relating to the offering to be filed with the SEC, and any
applicable additional prospectus supplements related to the offering that form a part of the Registration Statement.
This Report shall not constitute an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of the securities
in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws
of any such state.
The foregoing description of the Agreement is
not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit
1.1 to this Report.
The opinion of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton
LLP, the Company’s legal counsel, regarding the legality of the shares of Common Stock to be offered and sold under the Agreement
is filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto. This opinion is also filed with reference to, and is hereby incorporated by reference into, the Registration
Statement.
24
Item 6. Exhibits.
1.1
At the Market Offering Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2024, between Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC.
4.1
Form of Investor Warrant issued on April 30, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2024).
5.1
Opinion of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP.
10.1
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2024, by and among Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the investors signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2024).
23.1
Consent of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP (included in Exhibit
5.1).
31.1
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
31.2
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 13a-14(a).*
32.1
Certification of the Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officer
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.*
EX-101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document*
EX-101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
EX-101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
EX-101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
EX-101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
EX-101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
EX-104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
Filed herewith.
25
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.
CITIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Date: August 12, 2024
By:
/s/ Leonard Mazur
Leonard Mazur
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 12, 2024
By:
/s/ Jaime Bartushak
Jaime Bartushak
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
25
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.