Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. 10-Q

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. The following discussion and analysis provide information which our management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical financial information, this discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the section within Part II-Other Information - titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” References in the following discussion to “we”, “us”, “our” and the “Company” refer to Ensysce Biosciences, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries following the Closing of the Business Combination. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “LACQ” refer to Leisure Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, prior to the Closing. Overview Ensysce is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company seeking to develop innovative solutions for severe pain relief while reducing the fear of and the potential for addiction, opioid misuse, abuse and overdose. Our lead product candidate, PF614, is an extended release TAAP prodrug of oxycodone. TAAP modification of prescription drugs removed the ability to crush, chew or manipulate and inject to achieve the effect of the medication more quickly than by swallowing. MPAR® adds a layer of overdose protection to each TAAP product. Since our inception in 2003, we devoted substantially all of our efforts and financial resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, discovering product candidates and securing related intellectual property rights and conducting research and development activities for our product candidates. We do not have any products approved for sale and we have not generated any revenue from product sales. We may never be able to develop or commercialize a marketable product. Our lead product candidate, PF614, is in Phase 2 clinical development, PF614-MPAR is in Phase 1b clinical development and nafamostat is proceeding towards Phase 2 clinical development. Our other product candidates and our research initiatives are in preclinical or earlier stages of development. Our ability to generate revenue from product sales sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. We have not yet successfully completed any pivotal clinical trials, nor have we obtained any regulatory approvals, manufactured a commercial-scale drug, or conducted sales and marketing activities. We have incurred significant operating losses since inception and we expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. We expect that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially in connection with our ongoing development activities, particularly if and as we: ● continue preclinical studies and continues existing and initiates new clinical trials for PF614, PF614-MPAR and nafamostat, our lead product candidates being tested for chronic pain and infectious disease; ● advance the development of our product candidate pipeline of other product candidates, including through business development efforts to invest in or in-license other technologies or product candidates; ● maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; ● hire additional clinical, quality control, medical, scientific and other technical personnel to support our clinical operations; ● seek regulatory approval for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials; ● undertake any pre-commercialization activities to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for any product candidates for which we may receive regulatory approval; ● expand our infrastructure and facilities to accommodate our growing employee base; and ● add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our research and development programs and any future commercialization efforts. 18 We have incurred and expect to continue to incur costs associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, accounting, insurance, investor relations and other expenses. We may never become profitable. We require substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, which may include collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of private or public equity or convertible debt securities, existing ownership interests will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our equity holders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making acquisitions or capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations or other strategic transactions with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or drug candidates, or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates or delay our pursuit of potential in-licenses or acquisitions. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations. We have generated limited revenues, have incurred significant operating losses since our inception and expect to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our future viability is dependent on our ability to raise additional capital to finance our operations. We expect to incur substantial expenses in the foreseeable future for the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates and ongoing internal research and development programs. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the nature, timing, or aggregate amount of costs for our development, potential commercialization, and internal research and development programs. However, in order to complete our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, and to complete the process of obtaining regulatory approval for our product candidates, as well as to build the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure that we believe will be necessary to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, we may require substantial additional funding in the future. 19 2023 May Offering On May 12, 2023, the Company completed a public offering of an aggregate of 1,800,876 shares of its common stock at par value $0.0001 per share (including pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof), Series A-1 warrants to purchase up to 1,800,876 shares of common stock and Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 1,800,876 shares of common stock, at a combined public offering price of $3.887 per share (or pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) and accompanying warrants. Gross proceeds from this offering were approximately $7.0 million before the deduction of placement agent fees and related costs of $0.7 million. The Series A-1 and Series A-2 warrants were repriced to $1.31 per share and exercised in February 2024. H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the exclusive placement agent for the offering. The Company also registered warrants issued to the placement agent to purchase 126,061 shares of common stock at a per share exercise price of $4.8588, which was 125% of the price of the shares in the offering. In connection with the offering, the Company amended certain existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 210,085 shares of the Company’s common stock that were previously issued in September 2021 through December 2022 to purchasers in the offering at exercise prices ranging from $16.80 to $187.20 per share, such that the amended warrants have a reduced exercise price of $3.64 per share, at an additional offering price of $0.125 per amended warrant. 2023 Notes On October 23, 2023, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) for an aggregate financing of $1.7 million with investors, including $0.2 million with a board member. The notes are subject to an original issue discount of 8%, have a term of six months from their respective date of issuance and accrue interest at the rate of 6.0% per annum. The Company is required to pay scheduled redemption amounts in cash with a premium of 10% or, at the election of the investor at any time, some or all of the principal amount and interest may be paid by conversion of shares under the note into common stock based on a conversion price equal to $1.5675. Conversions and repayments of principal and interest on the notes in January and February 2024 totaled $1.7 million. The Company also issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,767,091 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.5675 that are exercisable for five years following issuance. Warrants for 1.3 million shares of common stock were exercised in January 2024. 2024 Warrant Inducement On February 12, 2024, the Company entered into an Inducement Letter with certain holders of existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,601,752 shares of the Company’s common stock issued to the holders in connection with the 2023 May Offering. Pursuant to the Inducement Letter, the holders agreed to exercise for cash their existing warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,601,752 shares of Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $1.31 per share in consideration of the Company’s agreement to issue new unregistered Series A Warrants (the “Series A Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,601,752 shares of Common Stock and new unregistered Series B Warrants (the “Series B Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,601,752 shares of Common Stock (collectively, the “New Warrant Shares”). The Series A Warrants have an exercise price of $1.06 per share and have a term equal to eighteen months from the date of issuance. The Series B Warrants have an exercise price of $1.06 per share and will expire on May 12, 2028. The gross proceeds to the Company from the exercise of the warrants were approximately $4.7 million, prior to deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses. The closing of the offering occurred on February 14, 2024. In connection with the execution of the Inducement Letter, the Company entered into a waiver related to the 2023 Notes’s SPA it had entered into as of October 23, 2023. The SPA contained restrictions on the Company’s ability to undertake certain transactions, which included entering into the Inducement Letter. The Waiver permitted the Company to enter into the Inducement Letter but required repayment of the remaining $0.5 million of investor held notes issued under the SPA with a premium of $0.5 million following closing of the transaction contemplated thereby. 20 The Company utilized an exclusive placement agent for the 2024 Warrant Inducement and incurred approximately $0.5 million in legal fees and other closing costs. Additionally, the Company issued to the placement agent as compensation unregistered warrants to purchase up to 252,123 shares of Common Stock, equal to 7.0% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock (or warrants) placed in the transaction. The placement agent warrants expire on May 12, 2028, and have an exercise price of $1.6375 per share of Common Stock (equal to 125% of the reduced exercise price per Existing Warrant). Components of Our Operating Results Revenue We have generated limited revenue since our inception and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the near future, if at all. If our development efforts are successful and we commercialize our products, or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales, as well as upfront, milestone and royalty payments from such collaboration or license agreements, or a combination thereof. We have received funding under federal grants from the NIH through NIDA. In September 2018, we were awarded a research and development grant related to the development of our MPAR® overdose prevention technology (the “MPAR Grant”). In September 2019, we were awarded a second research and development grant related to the development of our TAAP/MPAR abuse deterrent technology for Opioid Use Disorder (“OUD”) (the “OUD Grant”). Grant funds are awarded annually through a Notice of Award which contains certain terms and conditions including, but not limited to, complying with the grant program legislation, regulation and policy requirements, complying with conditions on expenditures of funds with respect to other applicable statutory requirements such as the federal appropriations acts, periodic reporting requirements, and budget requirements. Operating Expenses Research and Development Expenses Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for research activities, including drug discovery efforts and the development of our product candidates. We expense research and development costs as incurred, which include: ● expenses incurred to conduct the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials required to obtain regulatory approval; ● expenses incurred under agreements with CROs that are primarily engaged in the oversight and conduct of our drug discovery efforts and preclinical studies, clinical trials and CMOs that are primarily engaged to provide preclinical and clinical drug substance and product for our research and development programs; ● other costs related to acquiring and manufacturing materials in connection with our drug discovery efforts and preclinical studies and clinical trial materials, including manufacturing validation batches, as well as investigative sites and consultants that conduct our clinical trials, preclinical studies and other scientific development services; ● payments made in cash or equity securities under third-party licensing, acquisition and option agreements; ● employee-related expenses, including salaries and benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense for employees engaged in research and development functions; ● costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and ● allocated facilities-related costs, depreciation and other expenses, which include rent and utilities. 21 We recognize external development costs as incurred. Any advance payments we make for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. Such amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the related services are performed, or until it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered or the services rendered. We estimate and accrue for the value of goods and services received from CROs and other third parties each reporting period based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information provided to us by our service providers. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual costs. We do not track our research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis. Our direct external research and development expenses consist primarily of external costs, such as fees paid to outside consultants, CROs, CMOs and research laboratories in connection with our preclinical development, process development, manufacturing and clinical development activities. We do not allocate employee costs, costs associated with our discovery efforts, laboratory supplies, and facilities, including depreciation or other indirect costs, to specific programs because these costs are deployed across multiple programs and, as such, are not separately classified. We use internal resources primarily to manage our preclinical development, process development, manufacturing and clinical development activities. These employees work across multiple programs and, therefore, we do not track our costs by program and cannot state precisely the total costs incurred for each of our clinical and preclinical programs on a project-by-project basis. Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. As a result, we expect that our research and development expenses will remain elevated as we continue our existing, and commence additional, planned clinical trials for PF614, PF614-MPAR and nafamostat, as well as conduct other preclinical and clinical development, including submitting regulatory filings for our other product candidates, subject to our ability to obtain financing. We also expect our related personnel costs to increase and, as a result, we expect our research and development expenses, including costs associated with stock-based compensation, to remain elevated. In addition, we may incur additional expenses related to milestone and royalty payments payable to third parties with whom we may enter license, acquisition and option agreements to acquire the rights to future product candidates. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the preclinical and clinical development of any of our product candidates or when, if ever, material net cash inflows may commence from any of our product candidates. The successful development and commercialization of our product candidates are highly uncertain. This uncertainty is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development and commercialization, including the uncertainty of the following: ● the scope, progress, outcome and costs of our preclinical development activities, clinical trials and other research and development activities; ● establishing an appropriate safety and efficacy profile with investigational new drug (“ IND ”) enabling studies; ● successful patient enrollment in and the initiation and completion of clinical trials; ● the timing, receipt and terms of any marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities including the FDA and non-U.S. regulators; ● the extent of any required post-marketing approval commitments to applicable regulatory authorities; ● establishing clinical and commercial manufacturing capabilities or making arrangements with third-party manufacturers in order to ensure that we or our third-party manufacturers are able to make product successfully; 22 ● development and timely delivery of clinical-grade and commercial-grade drug formulations that can be used in our clinical trials and for commercial launch; ● obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; ● significant and changing government regulation; ● launching commercial sales of our product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and ● maintaining a continued acceptable safety profile of our product candidates following approval, if any, of our product candidates. Any changes in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of our product candidates in preclinical and clinical development could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of these product candidates. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to delay our planned start of clinical trials or require us to conduct clinical trials or other testing beyond those that we currently expect or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our planned clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development of that product candidate. General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, including salaries and related benefits, travel and stock-based compensation for personnel in executive, business development, finance, human resources, legal, information technology, and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include direct and allocated facility-related costs as well as insurance costs and professional fees for legal, patent, consulting, investor and public relations, accounting and audit services. We expense general and administrative costs as incurred. We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support the continued development of our product candidates, subject to our ability to obtain financing. We also anticipate that we will continue to incur significant accounting, audit, legal, regulatory, compliance and director and officer insurance costs as well as investor and public relations expenses. Additionally, if and when we believe a regulatory approval of a product candidate appears likely, we anticipate an increase in payroll and other employee-related expenses as a result of our preparation for commercial operations, especially as it relates to the sales and marketing of that product candidate. Other Income (Expense) Change in fair value of convertible notes The 2022 Notes were accounted for under ASC 480 – Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, due to share settlement features contained within the notes. We used a discounted cash flow model and a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the fair value of the notes, both of which rely on unobservable Level 3 inputs. Changes in the fair value of the notes are recognized through earnings for each reporting period. 23 Change in fair value of liability classified warrants We use a Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of the liability classified warrants. Changes in the fair value of the warrants are recognized through earnings for each reporting period. Interest Expense Interest expense consists of interest accrued on our financed directors’ and officers’ insurance, and accumulated interest from the 2023 Notes based on the stated interest rate. In addition, the 2023 Notes balances reflect amortization of the debt discount from the original issuance and a discount associated with the warrant issuances and amortization of the associated debt issuance costs that are all recorded as interest expense. Interest expense related to the 2021 Notes and 2022 Notes was included in the estimate of fair value of the convertible notes. Provision for Income Taxes We have not recorded any significant amounts related to income tax expense, we have not recognized any reserves related to uncertain tax positions, nor have we recorded any income tax benefits for the majority of our net losses we have incurred to date or for our research and development tax credits. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or our tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards, which are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income, the amount and timing of which are uncertain. Valuation allowances are provided, if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against all of our deferred tax assets based on our evaluation of all available evidence. Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Tax Act, eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenditures currently and requires taxpayers to capitalize and amortize them over five or fifteen years pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 174. This has not impacted our effective tax rate or our cash tax payable in 2024; however, if the requirement to capitalize Section 174 expenditures is not modified, it may also impact our effective tax rate and our cash tax liability in future years. We file income tax returns in the United States federal tax jurisdiction and state jurisdictions and may become subject to income tax audit and adjustments by related tax authorities. Our tax return period for United States federal income taxes for the tax years since 2020 remain open to examination under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service and state jurisdictions. We record reserves for potential tax payments to various tax authorities related to uncertain tax positions, if any. The nature of uncertain tax positions is subject to significant judgment by management and subject to change, which may be substantial. These reserves are based on a determination of whether and how much a tax benefit taken by us in our tax filings or whether our position is more likely than not to be realized following the resolution of any potential contingencies related to the tax benefit. We develop our assessment of uncertain tax positions, and the associated cumulative probabilities, using internal expertise and assistance from third-party experts. As additional information becomes available, estimates are revised and refined. Differences between estimates and final settlement may occur resulting in additional tax expense. Potential interest and penalties associated with such uncertain tax positions is recorded as a component of our provision for income taxes. To date, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position. 24 Results of Operations Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023: Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Change Federal grants $ 305,722 $ 789,635 $ (483,913 ) Operating expenses: Research and development 778,904 1,796,015 (1,017,111 ) General and administrative 1,369,782 1,554,855 (185,073 ) Total operating expenses 2,148,686 3,350,870 (1,202,184 ) Loss from operations (1,842,964 ) (2,561,235 ) 718,271 Other income (expense): Change in fair value of convertible notes - 146,479 (146,479 ) Change in fair value of liability classified warrants 8,955 219,028 (210,073 ) Interest expense (1,248,065 ) (1,497 ) (1,246,568 ) Other income and expense, net (34,489 ) 5,419 (39,908 ) Total other income/(expenses), net (1,273,599 ) 369,429 (1,643,028 ) Net loss (3,116,563 ) (2,191,806 ) (924,757 ) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (74 ) (3,941 ) 3,867 Deemed dividend related to warrants down round provision 290 8,309 (8,019 ) Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (3,116,779 ) $ (2,196,174 ) $ (920,605 ) Federal grant funding Funding from federal grants for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 totaled $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The difference is due to the timing of research activities eligible for funding, as current funding under the MPAR grant was completed in December 2023. We expect funding from federal grants to fluctuate in the future due to the timing of preclinical and clinical development activities under the grants. Research and development expenses Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively, representing a decrease of $1.0 million. The decrease was primarily the result of reduced external research and development costs related to clinical and pre-clinical programs for PF614 and PF614-MPAR. We do not currently track expenses on a program-by-program basis. We expect future research and development expenses to approximate current levels but may need to be adjusted based on our ability to raise capital sufficient to fund these expenses. General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $1.4 million and $1.6 million, respectively, representing a decrease of $0.2 million. The decrease was primarily a result of reduced stock-based compensation and consulting fees in the 2024 period. We expect future general and administrative expenses to approximate current levels. Other income and expense Other income and expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, consisted primarily of interest expenses associated with the amortization of the original issue discount and the debt issuance costs associated with the 2023 Notes and represented a net change in other income and expense of $1.6 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. The comparative period for 2023 consisted primarily of changes in fair value associated with the 2022 Notes and the Company’s liability-classified warrants. 25 Liquidity and capital resources Sources of liquidity and capital As of March 31, 2024, we had $3.4 million of cash and cash equivalents. Since inception, we have generated limited revenues and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from our operations, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We have not yet commercialized any of our product candidates and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any product candidates for several years, if at all. We have funded our operations to date primarily with proceeds from the sale of common equity, funding under federal research grants and borrowings under convertible promissory notes. To fund future operations, we will need to raise additional capital. The amount and timing of future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the timing and results of our ongoing research and development efforts and related general and administrative support. We anticipate that we will fund our operations through public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, such as potential collaboration agreements. We cannot make assurances that anticipated additional financing will be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. Remaining funding under two approved federal research grants totaled $1.9 million at March 31, 2024 and is expected to be utilized by August 31, 2024. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the two grants, we are required to submit progress reports to NIDA on an annual basis and a final research performance progress report within 120 days of the performance period end date. Going Concern We have generated limited revenues and have incurred significant operating losses since our inception. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. Without capital raised through financing transactions, existing cash resources are sufficient to allow us to fund current planned operations into the third quarter of 2024, which raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Cash flows The following table summarizes our cash flows for each of the periods presented: Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 2023 Net cash used in operating activities $ (3,408,403 ) $ (3,606,919 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 5,689,148 1,874,982 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 2,280,745 $ (1,731,937 ) Operating activities During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we used cash in operating activities of $3.4 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The decrease primarily resulted from the timing of vendor invoicing and payments. Financing activities During the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $5.7 million, primarily consisting of net proceeds from warrant exercises and the warrant inducement, less repayment of convertible notes and financed insurance premiums. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $1.9 million, primarily consisting of net proceeds from the 2023 February Offering, less repayment of convertible notes and financed insurance premiums. 26 Funding requirements Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses, primarily related to our research and development activities. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and clinical trials of our product candidates. In addition, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, accounting, insurance, investor relations and other expenses. The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend largely on our ability to: ● advance preclinical development of our early-stage programs and clinical trials of our product candidates; ● manufacture, or have manufactured on our behalf, preclinical and clinical drug material and develop processes for late state and commercial manufacturing; ● seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials; ● establish a sales, marketing, medical affairs and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any product candidates for which we may obtain marketing approval and intend to commercialize on our own; ● hire additional clinical, quality control and scientific personnel; ● expand our operational, financial and management systems and increase personnel, including personnel to support our clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization efforts and our operations as a public company; ● obtain, maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; ● manage the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and protecting our intellectual property rights, including enforcing and defending intellectual property related claims; and ● manage the costs of operating as a public company. 27 Commitments Our commitments as of March 31, 2024, included an estimated $17.6 million related to open purchase orders and contractual obligations that occurred in the ordinary course of business, including commitments with contract research organizations for multi-year pre-clinical and clinical research studies. Although open purchase orders are considered enforceable and legally binding, the terms generally allow us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust requirements based on our business needs prior to the delivery of goods or the performance of services. Working capital Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of biologic product candidates, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on and could increase significantly because of many factors, including: ● the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing our product candidates, and conducting preclinical and clinical trials; ● the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates; ● the costs, timing and ability to manufacture our product candidates to supply our clinical and preclinical development efforts and our clinical trials; ● the costs of future activities, including product sales, medical affairs, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval; ● the costs of manufacturing commercial-grade product and necessary inventory to support commercial launch; ● the ability to receive additional non-dilutive funding, including grants from organizations and foundations; ● the revenue, if any, received from commercial sale of our products, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval; ● the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, obtaining, maintaining, expanding and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims; ● our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all; and ● the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies. 28 Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policy is the most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Accrued Research and Development Expenses As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our applicable personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when it has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual costs. Many of our service providers invoice us in arrears for services performed, on a pre-determined schedule or when contractual milestones are met; however, some require advance payments. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of the estimates with the service providers and adjust if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to: ● vendors, including research laboratories, in connection with preclinical development activities; ● CROs and investigative sites in connection with preclinical studies and clinical trials; and ● CMOs in connection with drug substance and drug product formulation of preclinical studies and clinical trial materials. We base our expenses related to preclinical studies and clinical trials on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with multiple research institutions and CROs that supply, conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we adjust the accrual or the prepaid expense accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements We do not have during the periods presented, and do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC. Recently issued accounting pronouncements A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact Ensysce’s financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Smaller reporting company status We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (i) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (ii) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30. 29