Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that is designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures
include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its
principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure.
In
accordance with Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, an evaluation was completed under the supervision and with the participation of
the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design
and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the end of the
most recent fiscal year covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the
Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods
specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
- 71 -
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The
Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Internal control
over financial reporting is a process, including policies and procedures, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to ensure that material information
regarding the Company’s operations is made available to management and the Board of Directors to provide them reasonable assurance
that the published financial statements are fairly presented.
The
Company’s management assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the Internal Control—Integrated
Framework (2013 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Company’s
system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those
systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Furthermore, smaller
reporting companies face additional limitations. Smaller reporting companies employ fewer individuals and find it more difficult to properly
segregate duties. Smaller reporting companies tend to utilize general accounting software packages that lack a rigorous set of software
controls.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is
a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or deterred on a timely basis.
Based
on the Company’s evaluation under the framework in COSO, the Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of
December 31, 2021.
Management
believes that the consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, the Company’s
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as of and for the period ended December 31, 2021.
Auditor’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financing Reporting
This
report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal
control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered
public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this report.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The
Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has determined that no change in the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) occurred during or subsequent to the period ended December 31, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM
9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not
applicable.
- 72 -
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Directors
and Executive Officers
The
following table and text set forth the names of all of our directors and executive officers as of March 11, 2021. The Board of Directors
is comprised of only one class. All of the directors will serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors
are elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. The brief descriptions of the business experience
of each director and executive officers and an indication of directorships held by each director in other companies subject to the reporting
requirements under the Federal securities laws are provided herein below. Also provided are the biographies of the members of the Scientific
Advisory Committee and our consultants.
Our
directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Held with the Company
Dr.
John S. Kovach
85
President,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dr.
James S. Miser
74
Chief
Medical Officer
Robert
N. Weingarten
69
Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
Eric
J. Forman
42
Chief
Administrative Officer
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
87
Director
Dr.
Stephen J. Forman
73
Director
Gil
N Schwartzberg
79
Director
Regina
Brown
58
Director
Dr.
Yun Yen
65
Director
Biographies
of Directors and Executive Officers
Dr.
John S. Kovach
Dr.
John S. Kovach founded the Company in August 2005 and is our President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and Chairman
of our Board of Directors. He received a B.A. (cum laude) from Princeton University and an M.D. (AOA) from the College of Physicians
& Surgeons, Columbia University. Dr. Kovach trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology at Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University,
and spent six years in the laboratory of Chemical Biology at the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases studying control
of gene expression in bacterial systems.
Dr.
Kovach was recruited to the State University of New York at Stony Brook (“SUNY – Stony Brook”) in Stony Brook, New
York in 2000 to found the Long Island Cancer Center (now named the Stony Brook University Cancer Center). From 1994 to 2000, Dr. Kovach
was Executive Vice President for Medical and Scientific Affairs at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
His responsibilities included oversight of all basic and clinical research initiatives at the City of Hope. During that time, Dr. Kovach
was also Director of the Beckman Research Center at City of Hope and a member of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Scientific Advisory Board
in Newport Beach, California.
From
1976 to 1994, Dr. Kovach was a consultant in oncology and director of the Cancer Pharmacology Division at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota. During this time, he directed the early clinical trials program for evaluation of new anti-cancer drugs as principal investigator
of contracts from the National Cancer Institute. From 1986 to 1994, he was also Chair of the Department of Oncology and Director of the
NCI-designated Mayo Comprehensive Cancer Center. During that time, Dr. Kovach, working with a molecular geneticist, Steve Sommer, M.D.,
Ph.D., published extensively on patterns of acquired mutations in human cancer cells as markers of environmental mutagens and as potential
indicators of breast cancer patient prognosis. Dr. Kovach has published over 100 articles on the pharmacology, toxicity and effectiveness
of anti-cancer treatments and on the molecular epidemiology of breast cancer.
Effective
February 23, 2017, Dr. Kovach retired from his part-time (50%) academic position at SUNY – Stony Brook, as a result of which he
has been devoting 100% of his time to our business activities since that date.
- 73 -
Dr.
James S. Miser
James
S. Miser, M.D., was appointed as Chief Medical Officer effective August 1, 2020. Dr. Miser is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, internationally
recognized as an expert in the study and treatment of childhood cancers. His outstanding career includes leadership positions as Clinical
Director, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center and Associate
Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington; Chairman, Division of Pediatrics, Director, Department of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Medical Officer, all at City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte,
California. Since 2009, he has been a member of the Active Staff, Department of Pediatrics at City of Hope, most recently part-time,
and Chair Professor, College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Dr.
Miser has extensive experience in the clinical development of new anti-cancer drugs for pediatric malignancies, leading many clinical
trials at institutional and national cancer study groups. He is expert in the design and monitoring of clinical cancer trials and was
a member of the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Strategy Group, and Member of the New Agents Executive and Steering Committee, Phase II Coordinator
Children’s Cancer Group and Chairman, Data Monitoring Committee, National Wilms Tumor Society. He has authored more than a 100
peer-reviewed articles dealing primarily with pediatric clinical cancer studies.
Robert
N. Weingarten
Robert
N. Weingarten was appointed as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 12, 2020. Mr. Weingarten is an experienced
business consultant and advisor with a consulting practice focusing on accounting and SEC compliance issues. Since 1979, Mr. Weingarten
has provided such financial consulting and advisory services, has acted as chief financial officer, and has served on the boards of directors
of numerous public companies in various stages of development, operation or reorganization. Mr. Weingarten has experience in a variety
of industries, including the pharmaceutical industry.
Mr.
Weingarten has been a Director of Guardion Health Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq Capital Market: GHSI) since June 2015 and Chairman of its Board
of Directors since July 2020. Previously, Mr. Weingarten served as Lead Director on Guardion’s Board of Directors from January
2017 to March 2020. From July 2017 to June 2018, Mr. Weingarten was the Chief Financial Officer of Alltemp, Inc. From April 2013 to February
2017, Mr. Weingarten served on the Board of Directors of RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and also served as its Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Mr. Weingarten received a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Washington in 1974, a M.B.A. in Finance from the
University of Southern California in 1975, and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the State of California.
Eric
Forman, J.D.
Eric
Forman has led our business development, initially as a consultant, since 2013. Effective October 1, 2020, Mr. Forman was appointed as
our Chief Administrative Officer. In his capacity as a consultant, and in his role as Chief Administrative Officer, his responsibilities
include overseeing all internal operations, the development of science/business collaborations, and the management of our growing intellectual
property portfolio. Prior to his involvement with our Company, he served as Counsel and Senior Project Manager at Shore Group Associates,
managing in-house legal, tax, and regulatory affairs and supervising client relations for financial software and mobile application development
teams.
- 74 -
As
an attorney, Mr. Forman has represented and advised both technology and biotechnology companies, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and start-ups,
with a focus on intellectual property, licensing, corporate structure, and transactions.
Mr.
Forman earned a B.A. Degree Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He has
an active law license and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
Philip
F. Palmedo, Ph.D., is a physicist, entrepreneur and corporate manager. Dr. Palmedo was appointed to our Board of Directors on June 30,
2006. He founded and served as Chairman of the International Resources Group (IRG), an international consultancy in energy, natural resources
and economic development. IRG was acquired by L3 Communications in 2008. Dr. Palmedo designed and was the first President of the Long
Island Research Institute formed by Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and SUNY – Stony Brook to facilitate
the commercialization of technologies. In 1988, Dr. Palmedo joined in the formation of Kepler Financial Management, Ltd., a quantitative
financial research and trading company. He was President and Managing Director until 1991, when Renaissance Technologies Corporation
acquired the company.
Dr.
Palmedo served on the boards of Asset Management Advisors, the Teton Trust Company, EHR Investments and C-Quest Capital, and is currently
a member of the Board of Directors of Gyrodyne LLC. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Williams College and of the Stony Brook
(University) Foundation, where he chaired the Foundation’s Investment Committee.
Dr.
Stephen J. Forman
Stephen
J. Forman, M.D., is an internationally recognized expert in hematologic malignancies and bone marrow transplantation, and is a leader
in pre-clinical and clinical cancer research. Dr. Forman was appointed to our Board of Directors on May 13, 2016. He is co-editor of
Thomas’ Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, a definitive textbook for clinicians, scientists and health care professionals. Dr.
Forman is the Francis and Kathleen McNamara Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at the City of Hope
Comprehensive Cancer Center, a position he has held since 1987.
In
nearly 40 years at City of Hope, Dr. Forman has been instrumental in advancing the survival rates for patients suffering from cancers
of the blood and immune system such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
As
Director of the T Cell Immunotherapy Research Laboratory, his current research is focused on cancer immunotherapy, using the body’s
own immune system to attack cancer. Pharmacological enhancement of patients’ immune responses to their cancers is of special interest
to the Company, as the enzyme target of its lead clinical compound, LB-100, has been reported recently to be critical to immune function.
Much of Dr. Forman’s current work centers on T cells and their cancer-fighting potential.
Dr.
Yun Yen
Yun
Yen, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P., is a physician, scientist, innovator, and philanthropist. Dr. Yen was appointed to our Board of Directors
on August 4, 2018. He is widely regarded as an expert in ribonucleotide reductase, a critical target in cancer therapy and diagnostics.
He is President Emeritus of Taipei Medical University (TMU) and Chair Professor of the Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery.
Prior to TMU, Dr. Yen was the Allen and Lee Chao Endowed Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, Chair of Molecular Pharmacology
Department, Associate Director for Translational Research, and Co-Director of the Developmental Cancer Therapeutics Program at the City
of Hope NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte California. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, holds over
60 patents, and has commercialized multiple methodologies involving nanoparticles, small and large molecule drugs, biomarkers, stem cells,
and medical devices. Dr. Yen also founded philanthropic organizations aimed at serving the global cancer community and holds membership
in numerous professional societies. He serves on the boards of Fulgent Genetics and Tanvex BioPharma Inc.
- 75 -
Gil
N Schwartzberg, JD
Gil
N Schwartzberg, JD, ScD (hon), was appointed to our Board of Directors on April 9, 2021, and has been a consultant to the Company since
its inception. Mr. Schwartzberg was the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the City of Hope National Medical
Center, one of the nation’s leading biomedical research and treatment facilities and a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive
Cancer Center. Following his departure, the Graduate School of Biological Science of The Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope
awarded Mr. Schwartzberg the degree of Doctor of Science, honoring his work in the advancement of science through programmatic development
and the growth of the Graduate School. This was the first ScD. degree awarded by the Beckman Graduate School., which received its full
academic accreditation during Mr. Schwartzberg’s tenure as the school’s president. Mr. Schwartzberg was the only person in
the hundred-plus-year history of City of Hope to have served as both Chairman of the Board of Directors and as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Schwartzberg is now City of Hope Chairman Emeritus for life.
Prior
to his joining the City of Hope, Mr. Schwartzberg was Vice Chairman of the Board of Sterling Bank of Los Angeles, of which he was a founder,
and where he served for many years as the Chairman of the Loan Committee until the bank’s sale. Additionally, he was a founding
shareholder of Skechers USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX). He is currently a consultant to Skechers and both trustee and co-trustee of trusts that
hold the controlling interest in the Skechers USA, Inc.
Mr.
Schwartzberg earned a Juris Doctorate awarded magna cum laude. He practiced law, specializing in business structure and transactions,
and remains a member in good standing of the California Bar Association. He is the author of two books. Warning Toxic Business Mistakes
and How to Avoid Making Them and Jane Austen’s Persuasion Annotated, a Royal Navy Reading Companion .
Regina
Brown, CPA
Regina
Brown was appointed to our Board of Directors effective May 11, 2021. Ms. Brown has been a practicing accountant for over thirty years.
Currently, her practice has a wide range of clients, varying in size, industry and geographic locations. They include large national
corporations listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as Southern California businesses. Other clients consist of professionals,
wholesalers and high net worth individuals. Many of her clients have international and cross-border operations.
As
a consequence of her depth of experience, she regularly assists other professionals with their client’s issues and performs tax
research and analysis in connection with litigation and other matters including marital dissolution, tax and accounting with respect
to mergers and acquisitions, implementation of internal controls, and extensive work in the area of trusts and estates. In addition,
international tax matters and compliance are also a significant part of her practice. Ms. Brown is a member in good standing of the California
Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has appeared as a speaker before both organizations.
- 76 -
SCIENTIFIC
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The
Scientific Advisory Committee was established to advise our management in three areas: human molecular pathology; the clinical management
of human brain tumors; and medicinal chemistry. Our objective is to meet with the committee as a group annually. The committee has been
apprised of our general objectives and several of the specific challenges and leads for developing improved therapies for human brain
tumors. Members of the committee do not serve in any management capacity with us. The committee currently consists of the following member:
Dr.
Daniel D. Von Hoff
Dr.
Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., is currently Physician in Chief, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Clinical Translational Research
Division at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also Chief Scientific Officer for US Oncology and
for Scottsdale Healthcare’s Clinical Research Institute. He holds an appointment as Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale,
Arizona. Dr. Von Hoff is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
Dr.
Von Hoff’s major interest is in the development of new anticancer agents, both in the clinic and in the laboratory. He and his
colleagues were involved in the beginning of the development of many of the agents that are now used routinely, including mitoxantrone,
fludarabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, irinotecan, nelarabine, capecitabine and lapatinib. At present, he and his colleagues
are concentrating on the development of molecularly targeted therapies, particularly for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Dr.
Von Hoff has published more than 620 papers, 137 book chapters and over 1,050 abstracts. Dr. Von Hoff received the 2010 David A. Karnofsky
Memorial Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology for his outstanding contributions to cancer research leading to significant
improvement in patient care.
Dr.
Von Hoff was appointed to President Bush’s National Cancer Advisory Board from 2004 to 2010. Dr. Von Hoff is the past President
of the American Association for Cancer Research (the world’s largest cancer research organization), a Fellow of the American College
of Physicians, and a member and past board member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a founder of ILEX™ Oncology,
Inc. (acquired by Genzyme in 2004 after Ilex had two agents, alemtuzumab and clofarabine, approved by the FDA for patients with leukemia).
Dr. Von Hoff is founder and the Editor Emeritus of Investigational New Drugs – The Journal of New Anticancer Agents; and, Editor-in-Chief
of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. He is a co-founder of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop.
Family
Relationships
Eric
Forman, our Chief Administrative Officer, is the son of board member Dr. Stephen Forman and son-in-law of board member Gil Schwartzberg.
Julie Forman, the wife of Eric Forman and the daughter of Gil Schwartzberg, is Vice President of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, where
the Company’s cash is deposited and the Company maintains a continuing banking relationship.
Director
Independence
Our
Board of Directors undertook a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship with
us that could compromise that director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that director’s responsibilities.
Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Philip Palmedo, Stephen Forman, Yun Yen, Gil Schwartzberg and Regina Brown are
each an “independent director,” as defined under Nasdaq rules.
Committees
of Our Board of Directors
Our
Board of Directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through
meetings of the Board of Directors and its standing committees. We have a standing audit committee and compensation committee. The Board
of Directors serves in place of a nominating and corporate governance committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may
be established under the direction of the Board of Directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Audit
Committee
Our
audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
Approving
and retaining the independent auditors to conduct the annual audit of our financial statements;
●
reviewing
the proposed scope and results of the audit;
- 77 -
●
reviewing
and pre-approving audit and non-audit fees and services;
●
reviewing
accounting and financial controls with the independent auditors and our financial and accounting staff;
●
reviewing
and approving transactions between us and our directors, officers and affiliates;
●
establishing
procedures for complaints received by us regarding accounting matters;
●
overseeing
internal audit functions, if any; and
●
preparing
the report of the audit committee that the rules of the SEC require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement.
Our
audit committee consists of Regina Brown, Dr. Yun Yen, and Dr. Philip Palmedo, with Ms. Brown serving as chair. Our Board of Directors
has affirmatively determined that each of the committee members meet the definition of “independent director” under the Nasdaq
rules, and that they meet the independence standards under Rule 10A-3. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy
requirements of the Nasdaq rules. In addition, our Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Brown qualifies as an “audit committee
financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter
for the audit committee, which is available on our principal corporate website at www.lixte.com .
Compensation
Committee
Our
compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
reviewing
and recommending the compensation arrangements for executive management;
●
establishing
and reviewing general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance
and to achieve our financial goals;
●
administering
our stock incentive plans; and
●
preparing
the report of the compensation committee that the rules of the SEC require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement.
Our
compensation committee consists of Dr. Yun Yen, Dr. Stephen Forman and Dr. Philip Palmedo, with Dr. Yen serving as chair. Our Board of
Directors has determined that all three committee members are independent directors under Nasdaq rules. Our Board of Directors has adopted
a written charter for the compensation committee, which is available on our principal corporate website at www.lixte.com .
Nominating
and Corporate Governance
Although
our Board of Directors serves in place of a nominating and corporate governance committee, our independent directors on the board are
responsible for, among other things:
●
nominating
members of the Board of Directors;
●
developing
a set of corporate governance principles applicable to our company; and
●
overseeing
the evaluation of our Board of Directors.
Our
Board of Directors may adopt resolutions addressing, among other things, the nomination process, as may be necessary in the future.
- 78 -
Code
of Ethics
Our
Board of Directors has adopted a code of ethics covering all of our executive officers and key employees. A copy of our code of ethics
will be furnished without charge to any person upon written request. Requests should be sent to: Secretary, Lixte Biotechnology Holdings,
Inc., 680 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180, Pasadena, California 91101.
Limitations
on Liability and Indemnification Matters
Our
Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that limit the liability of our current and former directors for monetary damages to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for
monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:
●
any
breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
●
any
act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
●
unlawful
payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law; or
●
any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
This
limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable
remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation provides that we are authorized to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted
by Delaware law. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and executive officers to the
fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that, upon satisfaction of certain conditions,
we are required to advance expenses incurred by a director or executive officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or
proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out
of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under the provisions
of Delaware law. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide our Board of Directors with discretion to indemnify our other officers
and employees when determined appropriate by our Board of Directors. We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive
officers and other employees as determined by the Board of Directors. With certain exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification
for related expenses, including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of
these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified
persons as directors and officers. We have obtained customary directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
The
limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws may discourage
stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of
derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders.
Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage
awards against directors and officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, there is no pending litigation or
proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened
litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
- 79 -
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who
own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file various reports with the Securities and Exchange
Commission concerning their holdings of, and transactions in, securities of the Company. Copies of these filings must be furnished to
the Company.
To
the Company’s knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of the Section 16(a) reports furnished to the Company and any
written representations to the Company, that no other reports were required, the Company believes that all individual filing requirements
applicable to a director, officer, or beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Company’s common stock were complied with under
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the year ended December 31, 2021, except as follows: Eric Forman was late in filing one Form
4 and Glenn Krinsky was late in filing one Form 3, each document relating to the change of the trustee from Mr. Forman to Mr. Krinsky
with respect to the John and Barbara Kovach 2015 Trust.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
EXECUTIVE
AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
table set forth below presents the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers for the years ended December
31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
OFFICER
COMPENSATION TABLE
Executive
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards ($)
Option
Awards ($)(1)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
All
Other Compensation ($)
Total
($)
John
S. Kovach (2)
2021
250,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
250,000
2020
107,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
107,500
2019
60,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
60,000
James
S. Miser (3)
2021
166,667
-
-
-
-
-
-
166,667
2020
62,500
-
-
572,650
-
-
-
635,150
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Robert
N. Weingarten (4)
2021
156,667
-
-
-
-
-
-
156,667
2020
46,451
-
-
400,855
-
-
-
447,306
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Eric
J. Forman (5)
2021
156,667
-
-
-
-
-
-
156,667
2020
30,000
-
-
400,855
-
-
-
430,855
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1)
Consists of grant date fair value of option award calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
(2)
John S. Kovach has been the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer since inception and entered into an employment agreement
with the Company effective July 15, 2020.
(3)
James S. Miser has been the Company’s Chief Medical Officer since August 1, 2020. In connection with his employment agreement,
Dr. Miser was awarded an option grant for 83,333 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $6.8718 per share.
(4)
Robert N. Weingarten has been the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 12, 2020. In connection with
his employment agreement, Mr. Weingarten was awarded an option grant for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at
$6.8718 per share.
(5)
Eric J. Forman has been the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer since July 15, 2020. In connection with his employment agreement,
Mr. Forman was awarded an option grant for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $6.8718 per share.
There
were no option exercises during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 or 2021.
- 80 -
Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2021
The
table set forth below presents information regarding outstanding stock options held by our named executive officers as of December 31,
2021. There were no stock options issued and outstanding to our executive officers at December 31, 2019.
NAME
GRANT
DATE
VESTING
COMMENCEMENT
DATE
NUMBER
OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE
(#)
NUMBER
OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
UNEXERCISABLE
(#)
OPTION
EXERCISE
PRICE
($)
OPTION
EXPIRATION
DATE
Dr.
John S. Kovach
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Dr.
James S. Miser
August
1, 2020
August
1, 2020
41,667
41,667
$ 7.14
August
1, 2025
Robert
N. Weingarten
August
12, 2020
August
12, 2020
29,167
29,166
$ 7.14
August
12, 2025
Eric
J. Forman
June
7, 2016
June
7, 2016
16,667
-
$ 0.90
June
7, 2021
October
16, 2017
October
16, 2017
16,667
-
$ 0.90
October
16, 2022
May
22, 2019
May
22, 2019
16,667
-
$ 6.60
May
22, 2024
August
12, 2020
August
12, 2020
29,167
29,166
$ 7.14
August
12, 2025
The
intrinsic value of exercisable but unexercised in-the-money stock options held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2021 was
approximately $9,667, based on a fair market value of $1.19 per share on December 31, 2021.
Employment
Agreements; Compensation
During
July and August 2020, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements with its executive officers, consisting of Dr. John S.
Kovach, Eric J. Forman, Dr. James S. Miser, and Robert N. Weingarten, payable monthly, as described below. The employment agreements
are automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the
end of the applicable one-year period, or by death, or by termination for cause. These employment agreements were automatically renewed
for an additional one-year period in July and August 2021.
Dr.
John Kovach . On July 15, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. John Kovach to continue to act as the Company’s
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, with an annual salary of $250,000, payable monthly. His responsibilities
include the oversight of the Company’s entire operations and strategic planning, and he will act as the primary contact between
the Company’s executive team and the Board of Directors, to whom he shall report. Dr. Kovach shall supervise all scientific endeavors,
providing guidance to the Chief Medical Officer. He shall be the principal spokesperson for the Company. The effective date of the agreement
was October 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) one year from the effective date, automatically renewable for
additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end of the applicable one-year
period, (ii) his death, or (iii) termination for cause.
- 81 -
Eric
Forman. On July 15, 2020, as amended on August 12, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Eric Forman, to act
as the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer reporting directly to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, with an annual
salary of $120,000, payable monthly. Effective May 1, 2021, Mr. Forman’s annual salary was increased to $175,000. Mr. Forman’s
primary function is to oversee the Company’s internal operations, including IT, licensing, legal, personnel, marketing, and corporate
governance. Mr. Forman was also granted stock options to acquire 350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The effective date
of the agreement was October 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) one year from the effective date, automatically
renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end of the applicable
one-year period, (ii) his death, or (iii) termination for cause.
Dr.
James Miser . On August 1, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. James Miser, M.D., pursuant to which Dr.
Miser was appointed as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, with an annual salary of $150,000. Effective May 1, 2021, Dr. Miser’s
annual salary was increased to $175,000. Under the employment agreement, Dr. Miser will play a leadership role in planning, implementation
and oversight of clinical trials. Dr. Miser will be responsible for assisting and developing strategic clinical goals and the implementation
and safety monitoring of investigational studies. Dr. Miser will be the primary medical monitor for all clinical investigational studies
and for the oversight of third party CRO monitors. Dr. Miser will work closely with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on the
development of specific goals needed to ensure the timely implementation of appropriate clinical studies needed for successful registration
of therapeutic products and new drug development. Dr. Miser will be required to devote at least 50% of his business time to the Company’s
activities. Dr. Miser was also granted stock options to acquire 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The effective date
of the agreement was August 1, 2020. The agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) one year from the effective date,
automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end
of the applicable one-year period, (ii) his death, or (iii) termination for cause.
Robert
N. Weingarten . On August 12, 2020, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Robert N. Weingarten pursuant to which Mr.
Weingarten was appointed as the Company’s Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, with an annual salary of $120,000. Effective
May 1, 2021, Mr. Weingarten’s annual salary was increased to $175,000. Mr. Weingarten was also granted stock options to acquire
350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The effective date of the agreement was August 12, 2020. The agreement shall remain
in effect until the earlier of (i) one year from the effective date, automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated
by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end of the applicable one-year period, (ii) his death, or (iii) termination
for cause.
Consulting
Agreements
On
September 12, 2007, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Gil N Schwartzberg for Mr. Schwartzberg to provide financial
advisory and consulting services to the Company with respect to financing matters, capital structure and strategic development, and to
assist management in communications with investors and stockholders. Mr. Schwartzberg is currently a significant stockholder and director
of the Company. Consideration under this consulting agreement, including amendments thereto, has been paid exclusively in the form of
stock options. On August 2, 2018, the Company entered into a third amendment to the consulting agreement to extend it to January 28,
2024, as well as to extend the exercise date of previously issued, fully-vested stock options for 666,667 shares of common stock, exercisable
at $3.00 per share, from January 28, 2019 to January 28, 2024.
Board
of Director Compensation
Effective
May 22, 2019, in recognition of their service as directors over the past year, we granted to Dr. Winson Sze Chun Ho, Dr. Yun Yen, Dr.
Stephen Forman, and Dr. Philip Palmedo, fully-vested stock options to purchase an aggregate of 33,333 shares (8,333 shares each) of our
common stock, exercisable for a period of five years from the vesting date at $6.60 per share, which was the approximate fair market
value of our common stock on such date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model, was determined to be $189,060 ($5.6718 per share) and was charged to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement
of operations on the grant date.
- 82 -
Effective
January 6, 2021, in recognition of their service as directors of the Company over the past year, the Company granted fully-vested stock
options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock to each of Dr. Winson Sze Chun Ho, Dr. Yun Yen, Dr. Stephen Forman, and Dr. Philip
Palmedo (an aggregate of 200,000 shares), exercisable for a period of five years from the grant date at $3.21 per share, which was the
approximate fair market value of the Company’s common stock on such date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated
pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $571,312 ($2.8566 per share) and was charged to general and
administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations on the grant date.
On
April 9, 2021, Winson Sze Chun Ho resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors to focus on clinical and pre-clinical cancer research
in academic medicine. Concurrent with his resignation, the Board of Directors appointed Gil Schwartzberg to fill the vacancy created
by Dr. Ho’s resignation. In connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors, and in accordance with the Company’s
cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors, Mr. Schwartzberg was granted options exercisable for
a period of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.20 per share (the closing
market price on the grant date), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar
quarter-end until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model,
was determined to be $753,611 ($3.0144 per share), of which $376,800 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on April 9, 2021
and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options is being
charged to operations ratably from April 9, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded
charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $500,235 with respect to these stock options.
On
May 11, 2021, the Board of Directors appointed Regina Brown to the Board of Directors. In connection with her appointment to the Board
of Directors, and in accordance with the Company’s cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors,
Ms. Brown was granted options exercisable for a period of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at
an exercise price of $2.80 per share (the closing market price on the grant date), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting
12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated
pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $658,363 ($2.6335 per share), of which $329,188 was attributable
to the stock options fully-vested on May 11, 2021 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion
of the fair value of the stock options is being charged to operations ratably from May 11, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the year
ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations
of $427,944 with respect to these stock options.
On
June 30, 2021, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the Company’s cash and equity compensation package for the independent
members of the Board of Directors, granted to each of the five non-officer directors of the Company stock options exercisable for a period
of five years to purchase 100,000 shares (a total of 500,000 shares) of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.03
per share (the closing market price on the grant date), vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully
vested. The total fair value of the 500,000 stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined
to be $1,421,095 ($2.84225 per share), which is being charged to operations ratably from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the
year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations
of $358,200 with respect to these stock options.
Summary
Compensation Table
The
table set forth below presents the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our named directors for the years ended December 31,
2021, 2020 and 2019.
- 83 -
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
and Principal
Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards ($)
Option
Awards ($)(1)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($)
Non-Qualified
Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)
All
Other Compensation ($)
Total
($)
John
S. Kovach
2021
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Director
(2)
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Philip
F. Palmedo
2021
-
-
-
427,047
-
-
20,458
447,505
Director
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
47,265
-
-
-
47,265
Stephen
J. Forman
2021
-
-
-
427,047
-
-
16,819
443,866
Director
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
47,265
-
-
-
47,265
Winson
Sze Chun Ho
2021
-
-
-
142,828
-
-
-
142,828
Director(3)
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
47,265
-
-
-
47,265
Yun
Yen
2021
-
-
-
427,047
-
-
21,833
448,880
Director
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
47,265
-
-
-
47,265
Gil
Schwartzberg
2021
-
-
-
1,037,830
-
-
14,556
1,052,386
Director(4)
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Regina
Brown
2021
-
-
-
942,582
-
-
19,167
961,749
Director(5)
2020
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2019
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1)
Consists of grant date fair value of option award calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
(2)
Dr. Kovach is also the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer.
(3)
Resigned as a director of the Company effective April 9, 2021.
(4)
Appointed as a director of the Company effective April 9, 2021.
(5)
Appointed as a director of the Company effective May 11, 2021.
- 84 -
Scientific
Advisory Committee Compensation
On
December 24, 2013, wr entered into an agreement with NDA Consulting Corp. for consultation and advice in the field of oncology research
and drug development. As part of the agreement, NDA also agreed to cause its president, Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., to become a member
of our Scientific Advisory Committee. The term of the agreement was for one year and provided for a quarterly cash fee of $4,000. The
agreement has been automatically renewed for additional one-year terms on its anniversary date since 2014. Consulting and advisory fees
charged to operations pursuant to this agreement were $16,000 and $16,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively,
which were included in research and development costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
2020
Stock Incentive Plan
Summary
On
July 14, 2020, our Board of Directors adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which provides for the granting
of equity-based awards, consisting of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based
awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants for up to 2,333,333 shares of common stock, under terms and conditions as determined
by our Board of Directors. Stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of our common stock approved the 2020 Plan pursuant to
an action by written consent dated July 31, 2020. Stockholders were notified of such action by written consent pursuant to an Information
Statement dated August 31, 2020 and mailed to stockholders on or about September 3, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, unexpired stock options
for 1,400,000 shares were issued and outstanding under the 2020 Plan.
Having
an adequate number of shares available for future equity compensation grants is necessary to promote our long-term success and the creation
of stockholder value by:
●
Enabling
us to continue to attract and retain the services of key service providers who would be eligible to receive grants;
●
Aligning
participants’ interests with stockholders’ interests through incentives that are based upon the performance of our common
stock;
●
Motivating
participants, through equity incentive awards, to achieve long-term growth in our business, in addition to short-term financial performance;
and
●
Providing
a long-term equity incentive program that is competitive as compared to other companies with whom we compete for talent.
The
2020 Plan permits the discretionary award of incentive stock options (“ISOs”), non-statutory stock options (“NQSOs”),
restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), other equity awards and/or
cash awards to selected participants. The 2020 Plan will remain in effect until July 14, 2030.
The
2020 Plan provides for the reservation of 2,333,333 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder (the “Share Limit”), and
provides that the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs is 2,333,333 (the “ISO Limit”).
Key
Features of the 2020 Plan
Certain
key features of the 2020 Plan are summarized as follows:
●
If
not terminated earlier by our Board of Directors, the 2020 Plan will terminate on July 14, 2030.
●
Up
to a maximum aggregate of 2,333,333 shares of common stock may be issued under the 2020 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may
be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs is also 2,333,333.
●
The
2020 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent members of our Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors may designate a separate committee to make awards to employees who are not officers subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
- 85 -
●
Employees,
consultants and board members are eligible to receive awards, provided that the Compensation Committee has the discretion to determine
(i) who shall receive any awards, and (ii) the terms and conditions of such awards.
●
Awards
may consist of ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock, RSUs, SARs, other equity awards and/or cash awards.
●
Stock
options and SARs may not be granted at a per share exercise price below the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the
date of grant.
●
Stock
options and SARs may not be repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval.
●
The
maximum exercisable term of stock options and SARs may not exceed ten years.
●
Awards
are subject to recoupment of compensation policies adopted by us.
Eligibility
to Receive Awards . Employees, consultants and members of our Board of Directors are eligible to receive awards under the 2020
Plan. The Compensation Committee determines, in its discretion, the selected participants who will be granted awards under the 2020 Plan.
Shares
Subject to the 2020 Plan . The maximum number of shares of common stock that can be issued under the 2020 Plan is 2,333,333 shares.
The
shares underlying forfeited or terminated awards (without payment of consideration), or unexercised awards become available again for
issuance under the 2020 Plan. No fractional shares may be issued under the 2020 Plan. No shares will be issued with respect to a participant’s
award unless applicable tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the participant.
Administration
of the 2020 Plan . The 2020 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists of independent
board members. With respect to certain awards issued under the 2020 Plan, the members of the Compensation Committee also must be “Non-Employee
Directors” under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. Subject to the terms of the 2020 Plan, the Compensation Committee has the sole
discretion, among other things, to:
●
Select
the individuals who will receive awards;
●
Determine
the terms and conditions of awards (for example, performance conditions, if any, and vesting schedule);
●
Correct
any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the 2020 Plan or any award agreement;
●
Accelerate
the vesting, extend the post-termination exercise term or waive restrictions of any awards at any time and under such terms and conditions
as it deems appropriate, subject to the limitations set forth in the 2020 Plan;
●
Permit
a participant to defer compensation to be provided by an award; and
●
Interpret
the provisions of the 2020 Plan and outstanding awards.
The
Compensation Committee may suspend vesting, settlement, or exercise of awards pending a determination of whether a selected participant’s
service should be terminated for cause (in which case outstanding awards would be forfeited). Awards may be subject to any policy that
the Board of Directors may implement on the recoupment of compensation (referred to as a “clawback” policy). The members
of the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee and their delegates shall be indemnified by us to the maximum extent permitted
by applicable law for actions taken or not taken regarding the 2020 Plan.
- 86 -
Types
of Awards .
Stock
Options . A stock option is the right to acquire shares at a fixed exercise price over a fixed period of time. The Compensation
Committee determines, among other terms and conditions, the number of shares covered by each stock option and the exercise price of the
shares subject to each stock option, but such per share exercise price cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of our common
stock on the date of grant of the stock option. The exercise price of each stock option granted under the 2020 Plan must be paid in full
at the time of exercise, either with cash, or through a broker-assisted “cashless” exercise and sale program, or net exercise,
or through another method approved by the Compensation Committee. Stock options granted under the 2020 Plan may be either ISOs or NQSOs.
In order to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-2(b), the 2020 Plan provides that no more than 2,333,333 shares may be issued
pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.
SARs .
A SAR is the right to receive, upon exercise, an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date
of the SAR’s exercise and the aggregate exercise price of the shares covered by the exercised portion of the SAR. The Compensation
Committee determines the terms of SARs, including the exercise price (provided that such per share exercise price cannot be less than
the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant), the vesting and the term of the SAR. Settlement of a SAR
may be in shares of common stock or in cash, or any combination thereof, as the Compensation Committee may determine. SARs may not be
repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval.
Restricted
Stock . A restricted stock award is the grant of shares of our common stock to a selected participant and such shares may be subject
to a substantial risk of forfeiture until specific conditions or goals are met. The restricted shares may be issued with or without cash
consideration being paid by the selected participant as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also will
determine any other terms and conditions of an award of restricted stock.
RSUs .
RSUs are the right to receive an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares covered by the RSU at some future date after the
grant. The Compensation Committee will determine all of the terms and conditions of an award of RSUs. Payment for vested RSUs may be
in shares of common stock or in cash, or any combination thereof, as the Compensation Committee may determine. RSUs represent an unfunded
and unsecured obligation for us, and a holder of a stock unit has no rights other than those of a general creditor.
Other
Awards . The 2020 Plan also provides that other equity awards, which derive their value from the value of our shares or from increases
in the value of our shares, may be granted. In addition, cash awards may also be issued. Substitute awards may be issued under the 2020
Plan in assumption of or substitution for or exchange for awards previously granted by an entity which we may acquire.
Limited
Transferability of Awards . Awards granted under the 2020 Plan generally are not transferrable other than by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution. However, the Compensation Committee may in its discretion permit the transfer of awards other than ISOs.
Change
in Control . In the event that we are a party to a merger or other reorganization or similar transaction, outstanding 2020 Plan
awards will be subject to the agreement pertaining to such merger or reorganization. Such agreement may provide for (i) the continuation
of the outstanding awards by us if we are a surviving corporation, (ii) the assumption or substitution of the outstanding awards by the
surviving entity or its parent, (iii) full exercisability and/or full vesting of outstanding awards, or (iv) cancellation of outstanding
awards either with or without consideration, in all cases with or without consent of the selected participant. The Compensation Committee
will decide the effect of a change in control of us on outstanding awards.
Amendment
and Termination of the 2020 Plan . The Board of Directors generally may amend or terminate the 2020 Plan at any time and for any
reason, except that it must obtain stockholder approval of material amendments to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations
or rules.
- 87 -
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
table set forth below presents certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock (the only class of our voting equity
securities issued and outstanding) as of March 11, 2022 by (i) each person or entity who is known by us to own beneficially more than
5% of our outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) each of our directors, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a
group. As of March 11, 2022, there were 13,746,593 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. In computing the number and percentage
of shares beneficially owned by a person, shares of common stock that a person has a right to acquire within sixty (60) days of March
11, 2022 pursuant to stock options, warrants, convertible preferred stock or other rights are counted as outstanding, while these shares
are not counted as outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. This table is based upon information supplied
by our directors, officers and principal stockholders and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Name
and Address of Beneficial Owner
Amount
and
Nature
of
Beneficial
Ownership
Percent
of
Class
Officers
and Directors
Dr.
John S. Kovach
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
1,561,284 (1)
11.3 %
Dr.
Philip F. Palmedo
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
432,275 (2)
3.1 %
Dr.
Stephen J. Forman
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
216,690 (3)
1.6 %
Dr.
Yun Yen
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
234,430 (13)
1.7 %
Gil
Schwartzberg
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
2,324,360 (6)
15.6 %
Regina
Brown
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
209,375 (12)
1.5 %
Robert
Weingarten
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
29,166 (14)
0.2 %
Eric
J. Forman
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
104,430 (5)
0.8 %
Dr.
James S. Miser
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
41,667 (15)
0.3 %
All
officers and directors as a group (nine persons)
6,153,677
32.8 %
Other
Stockholders Owning More Than 5%
John
and Barbara Kovach 2015 Trust
Glenn
L. Krinsky, Trustee
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
1,333,333 (4)
9.7 %
Dr.
Debbie Schwartzberg
5500
Military Trail, Suite 22, Box 356
Jupiter,
Florida 33458
1,645,807 (7)
11.4 %
Dr.
Arthur and Jane Riggs
4852
Saint Andres Avenue
La
Verne, California 91750
1,957,500 (8)
13.3 %
Robert
and Susan Greenberg
228
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan
Beach, California 90266
1,380,264 (9)
9.8 %
Lalit
R. Bahl and Kavit K. Kinra
3
Pheasant Run
Setauket,
New York 11733
1,000,000 (16)
7.2 %
Lawrence
J. Goldstein
1865
Palmer Avenue
Larchmont,
New York 10538
666,668 (10)
4.7 %
Hung
Tak Ho
Mayfair
by the Sea II
Tower
T8, 1/F, Unit A
21
Fo Chun Road Pak ShekKok
Taipo
NT, Hong Kong SAR
1,084,210 (11)
7.9 %
Glenn
L. Krinsky
608
East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 180
Pasadena,
California 91101
1,474,988 (17)
10.7 %
- 88 -
(1)
Includes 1,540,184 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 21,100 shares of common stock owned as of record by the John
S. Kovach Trust. Dr. Kovach is a co-trustee of the Trust and has the exclusive right to control the investment of the assets of the Trust.
(2)
Includes 183,333 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 16,667 shares of common stock owned by the Philip Palmedo Partnership,
and 107,056 shares of common stock, stock warrants to purchase 21,053 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 104,166 shares
of common stock owned by Dr. Philip Palmedo. Dr. Palmedo, as the general partner of the Philip Palmedo Partnership, has voting, dispositive
and investment control with respect to the common stock and common stock warrants owned by the partnership. All stock options and common
stock warrants are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
(3)
Includes 58,137 shares of common stock, stock warrants to purchase 21,053 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 104,166
shares of common stock which are immediately exercisable or within 60 days, owned by Dr. Stephen Forman. Also includes 16,667 shares
of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 16,667 shares of common stock owned by the Stephen Forman Living Trust dated 12/16/98.
Stephen Forman is trustee of the trust and holds voting and dispositive power over the common stock and common stock warrants owned by
the trust.
(4)
Includes 1,333,333 shares of common stock transferred by John Kovach and his wife, Barbara C.H. Kovach, as grantors, to the John and
Barbara Kovach 2015 Trust, an irrevocable trust dated July 6, 2015. The primary beneficiaries of the trust are the two adult daughters
of John and Barbara Kovach. Eric J. Forman is the trustee of the John and Barbara Kovach 2015 Trust.
(5)
Includes 38,598 shares of common stock, stock warrants to purchase 3,333 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 62,500
shares of common stock owned by Eric J. Forman. Eric Forman is the husband of Julie (Schwartzberg) Forman, and the son-in-law of Gil
and Debbie Schwartzberg. All stock options and common stock warrants are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
Excludes
the following:
- 186,667
shares of common stock, stock options to purchase 291,666 shares of common stock and common
stock warrants to purchase 83,333 of common stock owned by the Julie Schwartzberg Trust,
as to which Julie (Schwartzberg) Forman is the beneficiary, and as to which Eric Forman disclaims
beneficial ownership or control.
- 33,333
shares of common stock owned by the Julie Forman 2015 Trust, the beneficiary of which is
Cole Forman, the son of Eric and Julie Forman, as to which David Sterling, as trustee, has
voting, dispositive and investment control.
- 16,667
shares of common stock owned by each of the Savannah Sterling Trust, Amanda Sterling Trust,
Daniel Sterling Trust and Charles Sterling Trust, as to which Julie Forman is the trustee.
(6)
Includes 343,926 shares of common stock owned by the Gil & Debbie Schwartzberg Family Trust dated November 19, 2003, Gil Schwartzberg
Separate Property, as to which Gil Schwartzberg, as trustee, has voting, dispositive and investment control, stock warrants to purchase
105,264 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 292,709 shares of common stock owned by Gil Schwartzberg. All stock options
and common stock warrants are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
- 89 -
Also
includes the following:
-
247,775
shares of common stock owned by the Gil Schwartzberg IRA;
-
106,353
shares of common stock owned by Continuum Capital Partners, LP, as to which Gil Schwartzberg has sole voting, dispositive and investment
control;
-
186,667
shares of common stock, stock options to purchase 291,666 shares of common stock and common stock warrants to purchase 83,333 shares
of common stock owned by the Julie Schwartzberg Trust, as to which Gil Schwartzberg is the co-trustee;
-
191,667
shares of common stock, stock options to purchase 291,666 shares of common stock and common stock warrants to purchase 83,333 shares
of common stock owned by the David N. Sterling Trust, as to which Gil Schwartzberg is the co-trustee;
-
16,667
shares of common stock owned by each of the Savannah Sterling Trust, Amanda Sterling Trust, Daniel Sterling Trust and Charles Sterling
Trust, as to which Julie Forman is the trustee;
-
33,333
shares of common stock owned by the Julie Forman 2015 Trust, David Sterling trustee.
Excludes
the following:
-
417,474
shares of common stock owned by the Gil & Debbie Schwartzberg Family Trust dated November 19, 2003, Debbie Schwartzberg Separate
Property, the wife of Gil Schwartzberg, as to which Gil Schwartzberg disclaims beneficial ownership or control.
(7)
Includes 417,474 shares of common stock owned by the Gil & Debbie Schwartzberg Family Trust dated November 19, 2003, Debbie Schwartzberg
Separate Property, as to which Debbie Schwartzberg, as trustee, has voting, dispositive and investment control. All stock options and
common stock warrants are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
Also
includes the following:
-
186,667
shares of common stock, stock options to purchase 291,666 shares of common stock and common stock warrants to purchase 83,333 shares
of common stock owned by the Julie Schwartzberg Trust, as to which Debbie Schwartzberg is the co-trustee;
-
191,667
shares of common stock, stock options to purchase 291,666 shares of common stock and common stock warrants to purchase 83,333 shares
of common stock owned by the David N. Sterling Trust, as to which Debbie Schwartzberg is the co-trustee;
-
16,667
shares of common stock owned by each of the Savannah Sterling Trust, Amanda Sterling Trust, Daniel Sterling Trust and Charles Sterling
Trust, as to which Julie Forman is the trustee;
-
33,333
shares of common stock owned by the Julie Forman 2015 Trust, David Sterling trustee.
Excludes
the following:
-
375,926
shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 292,709 shares of common stock owned by the Gil & Debbie Schwartzberg Family
Trust dated November 19, 2003, Gil Schwartzberg Separate Property, as to which Debbie Schwartzberg, the wife of Gil Schwartzberg,
disclaims beneficial ownership or control;
-
215,775
shares of common stock owned by the Gil Schwartzberg IRA;
-
106,353
shares of common stock owned by Continuum Capital Partners, LP, as to which Gil Schwartzberg has sole voting, dispositive and investment
control.
(8)
Includes 1,018,333 shares of common stock, 729,167 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 350,000 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, and common stock warrants to purchase 210,000 shares of common stock owned by the Arthur and Jane Riggs 1990 Revocable
Trust. Arthur Riggs and his wife, Jane Riggs, are co-trustees of the trust and share voting and dispositive power over the shares of
preferred stock. The shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were acquired on March 17, 2015 and January 15, 2016, are non-voting,
and are immediately convertible into common stock.
(9)
Consists of 994,299 shares of common stock and common stock warrants to purchase 385,965 shares of common stock owned by the Greenberg
Family Trust dated May 3, 1988. The trust is a revocable trust, and Arthur Greenberg and his wife, Susan Greenberg, are co-trustees of
the trust and share voting and dispositive power over the shares of common stock.
(10)
Includes 166,667 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 166,667 shares of common stock owned by Lawrence J. Goldstein.
Also includes 166,667 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 166,667 shares of common stock owned by the Santa Monica
Partners, L.P. Lawrence J. Goldstein is the sole managing member of the general partner, SMP Asset Management LLC.
(11)
Includes 1,042,105 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 42,105 shares of common stock. Excludes stock options to purchase
shares of common stock owned by Dr. Winson Sze Chun Ho, a former director of of the Company, and the son of Hung Tak Ho, as to which
Hung Tak Ho disclaims beneficial ownership or control.
(12)
Includes stock options to purchase 209,375 shares of common stock.
(13)
Includes 52,632 shares of common stock, stock warrants to purchase 52,632 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 129,163
shares of common stock which are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
(14)
Consists of stock options to purchase 26,166 shares of common stock which are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
(15)
Consists of stock options to purchase 41,667 shares of common stock which are immediately exercisable or within 60 days.
(16)
Includes 833,333 shares of common stock and stock warrants to purchase 166,667 shares of common stock.
(17)
Includes 141,655 shares of common stock owned by Glenn L. Krinsky. Also includes 1,333,333 shares of common stock owned by the John and
Barbara Kovach 2015 Trust, as to which Glenn L. Krinsky, as trustee, has voting, dispositive and investment control.
- 90 -
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
(a)
Related Party Transactions
During
the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, there have been no transactions, whether directly or indirectly, between the Company
and any of its officers, directors or affiliates, including their family members, except as described herein or elsewhere in this document.
(b)
Director Independence
The
Company considers Dr. Philip Palmedo, Dr. Stephen Forman, Dr. Yun Yen, Gil Schwartzberg and Regina Brown to each be an “independent
director,” as defined under Nasdaq rules and by Rule 10-A-3 of the Exchange Act.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Weinberg
& Company, P.C. acted as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
and for the interim periods in such fiscal years. The following table shows the fees that were incurred by us for audit and other services
provided by Weinberg & Company, P.C for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
Years
Ended December 31,
2020
2021
Audit
Fees (1)
$ 78,567
$ 93,681
Audit-Related
Fees (2)
—
—
Tax
Fees (3)
14,134
28,140
Other
Fees (4)
71,537
25,200
Total
$ 164,238
$ 147,021
(1)
Audit
fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements included in
our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and the review of our interim financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings, excluding those fees included in Other
Fees.
(2)
Audit-related
fees represent fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our
financial statements and not reported above under “Audit Fees.”
(3)
Tax
fees represent fees for professional services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
(4)
Other
fees represent fees incurred with respect to our Registration Statements on Forms S-1, S-3 and S-8 declared effective by the SEC
during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
All
audit and audit-related services, tax services and other services rendered by Weinberg & Company, P.C. during the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2021 were pre-approved by either our Audit Committee or by our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has adopted
a pre-approval policy that provides for the pre-approval of all services performed for us by our independent registered public accounting
firm.
- 91 -
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
List
of documents filed as part of this report:
(1)
Financial
Statements
Reference
is made to the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1, where these documents are listed.
(2)
Financial
Statement Schedules
The
financial statement schedules have been omitted because the required information is not applicable, or not present in amounts sufficient
to require submission of the schedules, or because the information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)
Exhibits
See
(b) below.
(b)
Exhibits:
A
list of exhibits required to be filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is set forth in the Index to Exhibits, which is presented
elsewhere in this document, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM
16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None
- 92 -
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description
of Document
1.1
Form
of Underwriter Agreement 22
2.1
Share
Exchange Agreement dated as of June 8, 2006 among the Company, John S. Kovach and Lixte Biotechnology, Inc. 1
3.1
Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 24, 2005 2
3.2
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation 3
3.3
Certificate
of Designations for the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock 6
3.4
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Designations of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock .8
3.6
Amended
and Restated Bylaws 15
3.7
Certificate
of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation 23
4.1
Form
of Warrant included in Unit 22
4.2
Form
of Warrant Agent Agreement 22
4.3
Description of Registrant’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended 21
10.1
Master
Agreement between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and Theradex Systems, Inc. dated January 12, 2010 4
10.2
Materials
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke dated October 18, 2013 5
10.3
Scientific
Advisory Board Agreement between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and NDA Consulting Corp. dated December 24, 2013 5
10.4
Collaboration
Agreement between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and BioPharmaWorks LLC effective September 14, 2015 7
10.5
Form
of First Warrant to purchase common stock issued to BioPharmaWorks LLC dated September 14, 2015 7
10.6
Form
of Second Warrant to purchase common stock issued to BioPharmaWorks LLC dated September 14, 2015 7
10.7
Clinical
Trial Research Agreement between H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Hospital, Inc. and Lixte Biotechnology Holdings,
Inc. dated and effective as of August 20, 2018 9
10.8
Exclusive
License Agreement between H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Hospital, Inc. and Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.
dated and effective as of August 20, 2018 (certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted based on a request for confidential
treatment filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission that was granted on September 17, 2018) 9
10.9
Form
of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock of Llxte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (issued in connection with common stock unit rights offering
that closed on November 30, 2018) 10
10.10
Collaboration
Agreement for an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and the Spanish Sarcoma Group as
of July 31, 2019 (certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted based on a request for confidential treatment filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission that was granted on September 19, 2019) 11
10.11
Employment
Agreement Between the Company and Dr. James Miser 13+
10.12
Employment
Agreement Between the Company and Robert N. Weingarten 17+
10.13
Employment
Agreement Between the Company and Dr. John Kovach 14+
10.14
Employment
Agreement Between the Company and Eric Forman 15+
10.15
2020
Stock Incentive Plan 16+
10.16
Master
Services Agreement between Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (“FAST”) and Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.
dated as of August 12, 2020 17
10.17
Clinical
Trial Research Agreement between the Company and the City of Hope National Medical Center 18
10.18
Amendment
to Employment Agreement between the Company and Eric Forman 22+
10.19
Development
Collaboration Agreement by and between Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, and Oncode
Institute, Utrecht, entered into on October 8, 2021 (certain portions of this Exhibit have been omitted based on a pending request
for confidential treatment being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission). 23
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant*
23.1
Consent of Weinberg & Company, P.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm*
31.1
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.2
Officer’s Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
101.INS
Inline
XBRL Instance Document (does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Scheme Document
101.CAL
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
104
Cover
Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101.INS)
- 93 -
1
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7,
2006 and incorporated herein by reference.
2
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10-SB, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 3, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.
3
Filed
as Appendix A to the Company’s Information Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20,
2006 and incorporated herein by reference.
4
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15,
2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
5
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21,
2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
6
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18,
2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
7
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September
18, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
8
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28,
2016 and incorporated herein by reference.
9
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 23,
2018 and incorporated herein by reference.
10
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
5, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference.
11
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6,
2019 and incorporated herein by reference.
12
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
13
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
- 94 -
14
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
15
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
16
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 17,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
17
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
18
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January
22, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
19
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 16, 2020.
20
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November
27, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
21
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25,
2020 and incorporated herein by reference.
22
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26,
2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
23
Filed
as an Exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November
10, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
*
Filed
herewith.
+
Indicates
a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
- 95 -
SIGNATURES
In
accordance with Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date:
March 21, 2022
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
(Registrant)
By:
/s/
JOHN S. KOVACH
Name:
John
S. Kovach
Title:
President
and Chief Executive Officer
In
accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
in the capacity and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
JOHN S. KOVACH
President
and Chief Executive Officer
March
21, 2022
John
S. Kovach
/s/
ROBERT N. WEINGARTEN
Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer
March
21, 2022
Robert
N. Weingarten
/s/
PHILIP F. PALMEDO
Director
March
21, 2022
Philip
F. Palmedo
/s/
STEPHEN J. FORMAN
Director
March
21, 2022
Stephen
J. Forman
/s/
GIL N SCHWARTZBERG
Director
March
21, 2022
Gil
N Schwartzberg
/s/
YUN YEN
Director
March
21, 2022
Yun
Yen
/s/
REGINA BROWN
Director
March
21, 2022
Regina
Brown
- 96 -
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(INCLUDING
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM)
Years
Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Page
Number
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID NO. 572 )
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets – December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Operations – Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity – Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-8
F- 1
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Lixte
Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.
Pasadena,
California
Opinion
on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company”)
as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for
the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company
as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its consolidated operations and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended,
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going
Concern
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed
in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has no recurring source of revenue and has experienced negative operating
cash flows since inception. The Company has financed its working capital requirements primarily through the recurring sale of its equity
securities. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s
plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis
for Opinion
These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company
in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company
is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits,
we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion
on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error
or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical
Audit Matter Description
The
critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated
or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial
statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does
not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical
audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
F- 2
As
discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company issues equity awards to certain officers, employees and consultants
as compensation (the “Equity Awards”). The fair values of these Equity Awards were determined as of the grant date using
a Black-Scholes option-pricing model (the “Black-Scholes Model”). The selection of the valuation methodology and assumptions
utilized in the Black-Scholes Model are based, in part, upon assumptions for which management is required to use judgment, particularly
the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
We
identified the valuation of the Equity Awards as a critical audit matter because of the significant judgments made by management to determine
the grant date fair values. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased expenditure of effort when performing audit
procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s valuation methodology and related assumptions, including the risk-free
interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
Our
audit procedures related to the determination of the fair values of the Equity Awards, including the valuation methodology and related
assumptions such as the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield, consisted of the following, among others:
●We
obtained an understanding of management’s process over the valuation of the Equity Awards, including those over the determination
of the valuation methodology and related assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
●We
obtained and read the Equity Award agreements and management’s valuation analyses, including supporting schedules and related narrative
information.
●We
evaluated management’s valuation methodology, including the selection of the model to determine the fair values of the Equity Awards.
●We
evaluated the reasonableness of management’s valuation assumptions and the underlying source information of significant valuation
assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield.
●We
assessed whether management’s calculations of the fair values were applied in accordance with the selected methodology, including
testing the mathematical accuracy of the valuation analyses.
●We
developed independent estimates for the fair values of the Equity Awards based on assumptions utilized by the Company in its calculations.
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.
/s/
Weinberg & Company, P.A .
Los
Angeles, California
March
21, 2022
F- 3
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
2021
2020
December
31,
2021
2020
ASSETS
Current
assets:
Cash
$ 4,823,745
$ 5,069,266
Advances
on research and development contract services
150,241
76,898
Prepaid
insurance
109,029
67,311
Other
prepaid expenses and current assets
10,249
15,000
Total
current assets
5,093,264
5,228,475
Total
assets
$ 5,093,264
$ 5,228,475
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current
liabilities:
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses, including $ 32,500 and $ 0 to related parties at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
$ 225,965
$ 190,292
Accrued
offering costs
—
10,467
Research
and development contract liabilities
76,961
15,765
Total
current liabilities
302,926
216,524
Commitments
and contingencies
-
Stockholders’
equity:
Preferred
Stock, $ 0.0001 par value; authorized – 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 350,000 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, $ 10.00 per share stated value, liquidation preference based on assumed conversion into common shares – 729,167
shares
3,500,000
3,500,000
Common
stock, $ 0.0001 par value; authorized – 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding – 13,746,593 shares and 12,402,157
shares at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
1,374
1,240
Additional
paid-in capital
38,371,128
31,864,479
Accumulated
deficit
( 37,082,164 )
( 30,353,768 )
Total
stockholders’ equity
4,790,338
5,011,951
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 5,093,264
$ 5,228,475
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
2021
2020
Years
Ended December 31,
2021
2020
Revenues
$ —
$ —
Costs
and expenses:
General
and administrative costs:
Compensation
to related parties, including stock-based compensation of $ 2,201,280 and $ 480,634 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
respectively
2,931,280
765,085
Patent
and licensing legal and filing fees and costs
729,171
553,173
Other
1,323,218
724,506
Research
and development costs, including $ 397,642 and $ 670,715 of stock-based compensation costs to a consultant for the years ended December
31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
1,736,776
1,223,676
Total
costs and expenses
6,720,445
3,266,440
Loss
from operations
( 6,720,445 )
( 3,266,440 )
Interest
income
626
4,342
Interest
expense
( 7,414 )
( 3,674 )
Foreign
currency gain (loss)
( 1,163 )
890
Net
loss
$ ( 6,728,396 )
$ ( 3,264,882 )
Net
loss per common share – basic and diluted
$ ( 0.50 )
$ ( 0.29 )
Weighted
average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
13,473,839
11,277,126
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years
Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Shares
Amount
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Series
A Convertible
Preferred Stock
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-in
Accumulated
Total
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Shares
Par
Value
Capital
Deficit
Equity
Balance,
December 31, 2019
350,000
$ 3,500,000
11,174,737
$ 1,117
$ 26,021,904
$ ( 27,088,886 )
$ 2,434,135
Proceeds
from sale of common stock units in public offering, net of offering costs
—
—
1,200,000
120
4,591,229
—
4,591,349
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
Proceeds from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs, shares
Exercise
of warrants
Exercise of warrants, shares
Exercise of options
Exercise of options, shares
Stock-based
compensation expense, including $ 670,715 for extension of stock options
—
—
—
—
1,151,349
—
1,151,349
Common
stock issued for services
—
—
27,420
3
99,997
—
100,000
Net
loss
—
—
—
—
—
( 3,264,882 )
( 3,264,882 )
Balance,
December 31, 2020
350,000
3,500,000
12,402,157
1,240
31,864,479
( 30,353,768 )
5,011,951
Balance
350,000
3,500,000
12,402,157
1,240
31,864,479
( 30,353,768 )
5,011,951
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
—
—
1,133,102
113
3,689,648
—
3,689,761
Exercise
of warrants
3,000
1
17,099
—
17,100
Exercise
of options
—
—
208,334
20
200,980
—
201,000
Stock-based
compensation expense
—
—
—
—
2,598,922
—
2,598,922
Net
loss
—
—
—
—
—
( 6,728,396 )
( 6,728,396 )
Balance,
December 31, 2021
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,746,593
$ 1,374
$ 38,371,128
$ ( 37,082,164 )
$ 4,790,338
Balance
350,000
$ 3,500,000
13,746,593
$ 1,374
$ 38,371,128
$ ( 37,082,164 )
$ 4,790,338
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
2021
2020
Years
Ended December 31,
2021
2020
Cash
flows from operating activities:
Net
loss
$ ( 6,728,396 )
$ ( 3,264,882 )
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based
compensation expense included in -
General
and administrative costs
2,201,280
580,634
Research
and development costs
397,642
670,715
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase)
decrease in -
Advances
on research and development contract services
( 73,343 )
( 76,898 )
Accrued
interest receivable
—
14,367
Prepaid
insurance
( 41,718 )
( 32,803 )
Other
prepaid expenses and current assets
4,751
9,294
Increase
(decrease) in -
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
35,673
46,743
Research
and development contract liabilities
61,196
( 78,584 )
Net
cash used in operating activities
( 4,142,915 )
( 2,131,414 )
Cash
flows from financing activities:
Proceeds
from sale of common stock units in public offering, net of offering costs
—
4,601,816
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in direct equity offering, net of offering costs
3,689,761
—
Exercise
of common stock warrants
17,100
—
Exercise
of common stock options
201,000
—
Payment
of costs incurred in connection with sale of common stock units
( 10,467 )
—
Net
cash provided by financing activities
3,897,394
4,601,816
Cash:
Net
increase (decrease)
( 245,521 )
2,470,402
Balance
at beginning of period
5,069,266
2,598,864
Balance
at end of period
$ 4,823,745
$ 5,069,266
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash
paid for -
Interest
$ 7,414
$ 3,674
Income
taxes
$ —
$ —
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
Accrued
offering costs (paid subsequent to December 31, 2020)
$ —
$ 10,467
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F- 7
LIXTE
BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, INC.
AND
SUBSIDIARY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years
Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
1.
Organization and Basis of Presentation
Lixte
Biotechnology Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), including its wholly-owned Delaware subsidiary, Lixte
Biotechnology, Inc. (“Lixte”) (collectively, the “Company”), is a drug discovery company that uses biomarker
technology to identify enzyme targets associated with serious common diseases and then designs novel compounds to attack those targets.
The Company’s product pipeline is primarily focused on inhibitors of protein phosphatases, used alone and in combination with cytotoxic
agents and/or x-ray and immune checkpoint blockers, and encompasses two major categories of compounds at various stages of pre-clinical
and clinical development that the Company believes have broad therapeutic potential not only for cancer but also for other debilitating
and life-threatening diseases. The Company has developed two classes of drugs for the treatment of cancer, consisting of protein phosphatase
inhibitors (PTase-i), designated by us as the LB-100 series of compounds, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), designated by us
as the LB-200 series of compounds.
The
Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the need for additional capital. The Company
has not yet commenced any revenue-generating operations, does not have positive cash flows from operations, relies on stock-based compensation
for a substantial portion of employee and consultant compensation, and is dependent on periodic infusions of equity capital to fund its
operating requirements.
The
Company’s common stock and the warrants issued in the public offering (see Note 3) are traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under
the symbols “LIXT” and. “LIXTW”, respectively.
Going
Concern
At
December 31, 2021, the Company had cash of $ 4,823,745 available to fund its operations. Because the Company is currently engaged in Phase
2 clinical trials, it is expected that it will take a significant amount of time and resources to develop any product or intellectual
property capable of generating sustainable revenues. Accordingly, the Company’s business is unlikely to generate any sustainable
operating revenues in the next several years and may never do so. Even if the Company is able to generate revenues through licensing
its technologies or through product sales, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve positive earnings and operating
cash flows.
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements have been presented on the basis that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has no recurring source of revenue
and has experienced negative operating cash flows since inception. The Company has financed its working capital requirements primarily
through the recurring sale of its equity securities.
As
a result, management has concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, in its report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2021, has also expressed substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
The
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional equity capital to fund its research
and development activities and to ultimately achieve sustainable operating revenues and profitability. The amount and timing of future
cash requirements depends on the pace and design of the Company’s clinical trial program, which, in turn, depends on the availability
of operating capital to fund such activities.
F- 8
Based
on current operating plans, the Company estimates that it will need to raise additional capital to fund its operations, including its
various clinical trial commitments, during the quarter ending September 30, 2022. In addition, the Company’s operating plans may
change as a result of many factors which are currently unknown to the Company, including possible additional clinical trials, and the
Company may need additional funds sooner than currently planned.
As
market conditions present uncertainty as to the Company’s ability to secure additional funds, there can be no assurances that the
Company will be able to secure additional financing on acceptable terms, as and when necessary, to continue to conduct operations. There
is also significant uncertainty as to the effect that the coronavirus pandemic may have on the Company’s clinical trial schedule
and the amount and type of financing available to the Company in the future.
If
cash resources are insufficient to satisfy the Company’s ongoing cash requirements, the Company would be required to scale back
or discontinue its clinical trial program, as well as its licensing and patent prosecution efforts and its technology and product development
efforts, or obtain funds, if available, through strategic alliances or joint ventures that could require the Company to relinquish rights
to and/or control of LB-100, or to discontinue operations entirely.
Reverse
Stock Split
On
November 18, 2020, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse split of its outstanding shares of common stock. No fractional shares were
issued in connection with the reverse split, with any fractional shares resulting from the reverse split being rounded up to the nearest
whole share.
All
share and per share amounts and information presented herein has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split for all
periods presented.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles
of Consolidation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the financial statements of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiary, Lixte. Intercompany
balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex, and therefore, actual results could differ materially from those estimates under
different assumptions or conditions. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed
to be reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole 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. Management
regularly evaluates the key factors and assumptions used to develop the estimates utilizing currently available information, changes
in facts and circumstances, historical experience and reasonable assumptions. After such evaluations, if deemed appropriate, those estimates
are adjusted accordingly. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include those related to assumptions
used in accruals for potential liabilities, valuing equity instruments issued for services, and the realization of deferred tax assets.
Cash
Cash
is primarily held in a cash bank deposit program maintained by a major financial institution. The Company’s policy is to maintain
its cash balances with financial institutions with high credit ratings and in accounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(the “FDIC”) and/or by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (the “SIPC”). The Company may periodically
have cash balances in financial institutions in excess of the FDIC and SIPC insurance limits of $ 250,000 and $ 500,000 , respectively.
The financial institution that currently holds the Company’s cash balances also maintains supplemental insurance coverage for its
customers’ cash balances. The Company has not experienced any losses to date resulting from this practice.
F- 9
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs consist primarily of fees paid to consultants and contractors, and other expenses relating to the acquisition,
design, development and clinical trials with respect to the Company’s compounds and product candidates. Research and development
costs also include the costs to produce the compounds used in research and clinical trials, which are charged to operations as incurred.
Research
and development costs are generally charged to operations ratably over the life of the underlying contracts, unless the achievement of
milestones, the completion of contracted work, the termination of an agreement, or other information indicates that a different expensing
schedule is more appropriate. However, payments for research and development costs that are contractually defined as non-refundable are
charged to operations as incurred.
Obligations
incurred with respect to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements with milestone provisions are recognized as charges to
research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations based on the achievement of such milestones,
as specified in the agreement. Obligations incurred with respect to mandatory scheduled payments under research agreements without milestone
provisions are accounted for when due, are recognized ratably over the appropriate period, as specified in the agreement, and are recorded
as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the
Company’s consolidated statement of operations.
Payments
made pursuant to research and development contracts are initially recorded as advances on research and development contract services
in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and are then charged to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated
statement of operations as those contract services are performed. Expenses incurred under research and development contracts in excess
of amounts advanced are recorded as research and development contract liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet,
with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The Company
reviews the status of its research and development contracts on a quarterly basis.
Prepaid
Insurance
Prepaid
insurance represents the premiums paid for directors and officers insurance coverage and for general liability insurance coverage in
excess of the amortization of the total policy premium charged to operations at each balance sheet date. Such amortization is determined
by amortizing the total policy premium charged on a straight-line basis over the respective policy periods. As the policy premiums incurred
are amortizable in the ensuing twelve-month period, they are recorded as a current asset in the Company’s consolidated balance
sheet at each reporting date and amortized to the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for each reporting period.
Patent
and Licensing Legal and Filing Fees and Costs
Due
to the significant uncertainty associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on the Company’s
research efforts and related patent applications, all patent and licensing legal and filing fees and costs related to the development
and protection of its intellectual property are charged to operations as incurred. Patent and licensing legal and filing fees and costs
were $ 729,171 and $ 553,173 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Patent and licensing legal and filing fees and
costs are included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
Concentration
of Risk
The
Company periodically contracts with vendors and consultants to provide services related to the Company’s operations. Charges incurred
for these services can be for a specific time period (typically one year) or for a specific project or task. Costs and expenses incurred
that represented 10 % or more of general and administrative costs or research and development costs for the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2020 are described as follows.
F- 10
General
and administrative costs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 include combined charges from two legal firms for general licensing
and patent prosecution costs relating to the Company’s intellectual properties representing 14.6 % and 27.1 %, respectively, of total
general and administrative costs. General and administrative costs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 also included charges
for the fair value of stock options granted to directors and corporate officers representing 44.2 % and 23.5 %, respectively, of total
general and administrative costs for those periods.
Research
and development costs for the year ended December 31, 2021 include charges from three vendors and consultants representing 30.3 %, 21.8 %,
and 14.4 %, respectively, of total research and development costs for that period. Research and development costs for the year ended December
31, 2020 include charges from a consultant, and the value associated with extending stock options previously granted to that consultant,
representing 65.6 % of total research and development costs, and charges from a vendor representing 13.7 % of total research and development
costs.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Accordingly,
the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and
the tax basis of assets and liabilities.
The
Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In
the event the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its recorded
amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be credited to operations in the period such determination was made. Should the
Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred
tax assets would be charged to operations in the period such determination was made.
The
Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and income taxes of various state tax jurisdictions. As the Company’s net operating
losses have yet to be utilized, all previous tax years remain open to examination by Federal authorities and other jurisdictions in which
the Company currently operates or has operated in the past. The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 or 2020
and does not anticipate any material amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the 12 months subsequent to December 31, 2021.
The
Company accounts for uncertainties in income tax law under a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement,
presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns as prescribed by GAAP. The
tax effects of a position are recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority as
of the reporting date. If the tax position is not considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, then no benefits of
the position are recognized. The Company had not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2021 or 2020.
Subsequent to December 31, 2021, any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions will be recognized as a component of income
tax expense.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company periodically issues common stock and stock options to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members,
contractors and consultants for services rendered. Options vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date of each
grant. Stock grants, which are generally time vested, are measured at the grant date fair value and charged to operations ratably over
the vesting period.
The
Company accounts for stock-based payments to officers, directors, employees, Scientific Advisory Committee members contractors and consultants
by measuring the cost of services received in exchange for equity awards utilizing the grant date fair value of the awards, with the
cost recognized as compensation expense on the straight-line basis in the Company’s financial statements over the vesting period
of the awards.
The
fair value of stock options granted as stock-based compensation is determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is
affected by several variables, the most significant of which are the expected life of the stock option, the exercise price of the stock
option as compared to the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date, and the estimated volatility of the common stock.
Unless sufficient historical exercise data is available, the expected life of the stock option is calculated as the mid-point between
the vesting period and the contractual term (the “simplified method”). The estimated volatility is based on the historical
volatility of the Company’s common stock, calculated utilizing a look-back period approximately equal to the contractual life of
the stock option being granted. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
The fair market value of the common stock is determined by reference to the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on
the grant date. The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s expectation of dividend payouts and is assumed to be zero.
The
Company recognizes the fair value of stock-based compensation awards in general and administrative costs and in research and development
costs, as appropriate, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company issues new shares of common stock to
satisfy stock option exercises.
F- 11
Earnings
(Loss) Per Share
The
Company’s computation of earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) includes basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as
the income (loss) attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted
EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g., preferred shares,
warrants and stock options) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential
common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded
from the calculation of diluted EPS.
Loss
per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the respective
periods. Basic and diluted loss per common share was the same for all periods presented because all preferred shares, warrants and stock
options outstanding were anti-dilutive.
At
December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company excluded the outstanding securities summarized below, which entitle the holders thereof to acquire
shares of common stock, from its calculation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
Schedule of Anti-dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
2021
2020
December
31,
2021
2020
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
729,167
729,167
Common
stock warrants
3,110,310
3,000,000
Common
stock options, including options issued in the form of warrants
2,666,667
1,475,000
Total
6,506,144
5,204,167
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
authoritative guidance with respect to fair value established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques
used to measure fair value into three levels and requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed
in one of three categories, as presented below. Disclosure as to transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2, and activity in Level 3 fair
value measurements, is also required.
Level
1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability that the Company has the ability to
access as of the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include active-exchange traded securities
and exchange-based derivatives.
Level
2. Inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable
through corroboration with observable market data. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include fixed income securities,
non-exchange-based derivatives, mutual funds, and fair-value hedges.
F- 12
Level
3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data for the asset or liability which requires the reporting entity to develop
its own assumptions. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include infrequently traded non-exchange-based derivatives
and commingled investment funds and are measured using present value pricing models.
The
Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement falls in its entirety, based on the
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company
performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities at each reporting period end.
The
carrying value of financial instruments (consisting of accounts payable and accrued expenses) is considered to be representative of their
respective fair values due to the short-term nature of those instruments.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the
accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance
in ASC 740. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have any impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In
August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts
in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity
(“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible debt by eliminating the beneficial conversion and
cash conversion accounting models. Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06, convertible debt proceeds, unless issued with a substantial premium
or an embedded conversion feature that is not clearly and closely related to the host contract, will no longer be allocated between debt
and equity components. This modification will reduce the issue discount and result in less non-cash interest expense in financial statements.
ASU 2020-06 also updates the earnings per share calculation and requires entities to assume share settlement when the convertible debt
can be settled in cash or shares. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, the type of contracts primarily affected by ASU 2020-06
are freestanding and embedded features that are accounted for as derivatives under the current guidance due to a failure to meet the
settlement assessment by removing the requirements to (i) consider whether the contract would be settled in registered shares, (ii) consider
whether collateral is required to be posted, and (iii) assess shareholder rights. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and only if
adopted as of the beginning of such fiscal year. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06
did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In
May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt — Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50),
Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic
815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (“ASU
2021-04”). ASU 2021-04 provides guidance as to how an issuer should account for a modification of the terms or conditions or an
exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option (i.e., a warrant) that remains classified after modification or exchange
as an exchange of the original instrument for a new instrument. An issuer should measure the effect of a modification or exchange as
the difference between the fair value of the modified or exchanged warrant and the fair value of that warrant immediately before modification
or exchange and then apply a recognition model that comprises four categories of transactions and the corresponding accounting treatment
for each category (equity issuance, debt origination, debt modification, and modifications unrelated to equity issuance and debt origination
or modification). ASU 2021-04 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods
within those fiscal years. An entity should apply the guidance provided in ASU 2021-04 prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring
on or after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity elects
to early adopt ASU 2021-04 in an interim period, the guidance should be applied as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes
that interim period. The adoption of ASU 2021-04 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement
presentation or disclosures.
Management
does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, authoritative guidance, if currently adopted, would have a material
impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.
F- 13
3.
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue a total of 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share. On March 17, 2015, the Company
filed a Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with the Delaware
Secretary of State to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation. The Company has designated a total of 350,000 shares as
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, which are non-voting and are not subject to increase without the written consent of a majority
of the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or as otherwise set forth in the Preferences, Rights and Limitations. The
holders of each tranche of 175,000 shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a per share dividend equal
to 1 % of the annual net revenue of the Company divided by 175,000 , until converted or redeemed. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 9,650,000
shares of preferred stock were undesignated and may be issued with such rights and powers as the Board of Directors may designate.
Each
share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted, at the option of the holder, into 2.0833 shares of common stock (subject
to customary anti-dilution provisions) and the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is subject to mandatory conversion at the conversion
rate in the event of a merger or sale transaction resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of at least $ 21,875,000 . The Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference based on its assumed conversion into shares of common stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock does not have a cash liquidation preference.
If
fully converted, the 350,000 outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock would convert into 729,167 shares of common stock
at December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Company had the right to redeem the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock up to the fifth anniversary
of their respective closing dates (March 17, 2015 and January 21, 2016) at a price per share equal to $ 50.00 . Accordingly, as of December
31, 2020, the Company had the right to redeem the 175,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that were issued on January
21, 2016; however, that right expired on January 21, 2021. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has no right to cash, except with
respect to the payment of the aforementioned dividend based on the generation of revenues by the Company. The shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock do not have any registration rights.
Based
on the attributes of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as previously described, the Company has accounted for the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock as a permanent component of stockholders’ equity.
Common
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue a total of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2021 and
2020, the Company had 13,746,593 shares and 12,402,157 shares, respectively, of common stock issued, issuable and outstanding.
Effective
November 30, 2020, the Company raised gross proceeds of $ 5,700,000 through a public offering of 1,200,000 units at a sale price of $ 4.75
per unit. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock exercisable for five
years at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share. Additionally, on December 7, 2020, the Company received an additional $ 1,800 from the
sale of 180,000 warrants as part of the overallotment option granted to the underwriters in the public offering. The warrants sold are
exercisable for five years and represent the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share. The
total cash costs of the public offering were $ 1,110,451 , resulting in net cash proceeds of $ 4,591,349 . Pursuant to the underwriting agreement,
the Company also granted warrants to the underwriters to purchase up to 120,000 shares of common stock commencing on May 24, 2021 and
expiring on November 24, 2025, at an exercise price of $ 5.70 per share.
F- 14
Effective
December 21, 2020, the Company entered into a one-year services agreement with IRTH Communications, LLC for investor/public relations,
financial communications, and strategic consulting services. The services agreement provided for the issuance of restricted shares of
common stock, fully vested upon issuance, with a grant date fair value of $ 100,000 , which resulted in the issuance of 27,420 shares of
common stock with a per share value of $ 3.65 per share.
During
February and March 2021, the Company issued 3,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of 3,000 warrants at $ 5.70 per share and received
cash proceeds of $ 17,100 .
Effective
March 2, 2021, the Company completed the sale of 1,133,102 shares of common stock at a price of $ 3.70 per share in a registered direct
equity offering, generating gross proceeds of $ 4,192,478 . The total cash costs of this offering were $ 502,717 , resulting in net cash
proceeds of $ 3,689,761 . Pursuant to the placement agents’ agreement, the Company granted warrants to the placement agents to purchase
up to 113,310 shares of common stock commencing on March 2, 2021 and expiring on March 2, 2026, at an exercise price of $ 3.70 per share.
Effective
April 22, 2021, stock options held by an officer and two of the Company’s directors for 125,001 shares of common stock were exercised.
Such stock options consisted of 75,000 options at $ 0.72 per share, 16,667 options at $ 0.90 per share, and 33,334 options at $ 0.96 per
share. The exercise of these stock options generated total cash proceeds of $ 101,000 and resulted in the issuance of 125,001 shares of
common stock.
Effective
July 14, 2021, a stock option held by a consultant of the Company for 83,333 shares of common stock were exercised at $ 1.20 per share.
The exercise of this stock option generated total cash proceeds of $ 100,000 and resulted in the issuance of 83,333 shares of common stock.
Common
Stock Warrants
A
summary of common stock warrant activity, including warrants to purchase common stock that were issued in conjunction with the Company’s
public offering, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented below.
Schedule of Warrants Outstanding
Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)
Warrants
outstanding at December 31, 2019
1,500,000
$ 6.000
Issued
1,500,000
5.700
Exercised
—
—
Expired
—
—
Warrants
outstanding at December 31, 2020
3,000,000
$ 5.850
Issued
113,310
3.700
Exercised
( 3,000 )
5.700
Expired
—
—
Warrants
outstanding at December 31, 2021
3,110,310
$ 5.772
2.48
Warrants
exercisable at December 31, 2020
3,000,000
$ 5.850
Warrants
exercisable at December 31, 2021
3,110,310
$ 5.772
2.48
F- 15
At
December 31, 2021, the outstanding warrants are exercisable at the following prices per common share:
Schedule of Warrants Outstanding and Exercisable
Exercise
Prices
Warrants
Outstanding
(Shares)
$ 3.700
113,310
$ 5.700
1,497,000
$ 6.000
1,500,000
3,110,310
Based
on a fair market value of $ 1.19 per share on December 31, 2021, there was no intrinsic value attributed to exercisable but unexercised
common stock warrants at December 31, 2021.
Information
with respect to the issuance of common stock in connection with various stock-based compensation arrangements is provided at Note 5.
4.
Related Party Transactions
Related
party transactions include transactions with the Company’s officers, directors and affiliates.
Gil
N Schwartzberg
On
September 12, 2007, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Gil N Schwartzberg for Mr. Schwartzberg to provide financial
advisory and consulting services to the Company with respect to financing matters, capital structure and strategic development, and to
assist management in communications with investors and stockholders. Mr. Schwartzberg is currently a significant stockholder and director
of the Company. Consideration under this consulting agreement, including amendments thereto, has been paid exclusively in the form of
stock options. On August 2, 2018, the Company entered into a third amendment to the consulting agreement to extend it to January 28,
2024, as well as to extend the exercise date of previously issued, fully-vested stock options for 666,667 shares of common stock, exercisable
at $ 3.00 per share, from January 28, 2019 to January 28, 2024.
Employment
Agreements with Officers
During
July and August 2020, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements with its executive officers, consisting of Dr. John S.
Kovach, Eric J. Forman, Dr. James S. Miser, and Robert N. Weingarten, payable monthly, as described below. The employment agreements
are automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice prior to the
end of the applicable one-year period, or by death, or by termination for cause. These employment agreements were automatically renewed
for an additional one-year period in July and August 2021.
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Kovach dated July 15, 2020, effective October 1, 2020, for Dr. Kovach to continue
to act as the Company’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer with an annual salary of $ 250,000 . During
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company paid $ 250,000 and $ 62,500 , respectively, to Dr. Kovach under this employment
agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid Dr. Kovach a salary of $ 45,000 for services rendered as President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer prior to the effectiveness of the employment agreement. These amounts were included
in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for such periods.
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. James S. Miser, M.D., effective August 1, 2020 to act as the Company’s Chief
Medical Officer with an annual salary of $ 150,000 . Effective May 1, 2021, Dr. Miser’s annual salary was increased to $ 175,000 .
Dr. Miser is required to devote at least 50% of his business time to the Company’s activities. During the years ended December
31, 2021 and 2020, the Company paid $ 166,667 and $ 62,500 , respectively, to Dr. Miser under this employment agreement, which were included
in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for such periods.
F- 16
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Eric J. Forman effective July 15, 2020, as amended on August 12, 2020, to act as the
Company’s Chief Administrative Officer with an annual salary of $ 120,000 . Eric Forman is the son-in-law of Gil Schwartzberg, a
member of the Company’s Board of Directors, and a significant stockholder of and consultant to the Company, and is the son of Dr.
Stephen Forman, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. Julie Forman, the wife of Eric Forman and the daughter of Gil Schwartzberg,
is Vice President of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, at which firm the Company’s cash is on deposit and the Company maintains
a continuing banking relationship. Effective May 1, 2021, Mr. Forman’s annual salary was increased to $ 175,000 . During the years
ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company paid $ 156,667 and $ 30,000 , respectively, to Mr. Forman under this employment agreement.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid legal and consulting fees to the Eric Forman Law Office of $ 38,000 for services
rendered prior to Mr. Forman’s appointment as Chief Administrative Officer. These amounts were included in general and administrative
costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for such periods.
The
Company entered into an employment agreement with Robert N. Weingarten effective August 12, 2020 to act as the Company’s Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer with an annual salary of $ 120,000 . Effective May 1, 2021, Mr. Weingarten’s annual salary was increased
to $ 175,000 . During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company paid $ 156,667 and $ 46,451 , respectively, to Mr. Weingarten
under this employment agreement. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid $ 79,995 to Mr. Weingarten for accounting and
financial consulting services rendered prior to Mr. Weingarten’s appointment as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. These
amounts were included in general and administrative costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for such periods.
Compensatory
Arrangements for Board of Directors
Effective
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors approved a comprehensive cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors
and committee members.
The
Board of Directors approved the following cash compensation for non-officer independent directors, payable quarterly:
Base
director compensation - $ 20,000 per year
Chairman
of audit committee - additional $ 10,000 per year
Chairman
of any other committees - additional $ 5,000 per year
Member
of audit committee - additional $ 5,000 per year
Member
of any other committees - additional $ 2,500 per year
Total
cash compensation paid to independent directors was $ 92,833 for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Stock-based
compensation arrangements involving members of the Company’s Board of Directors. officers and affiliates are described at Note
5.
A
summary of related party costs, including compensation under employment and consulting agreements and fees paid to non-officer directors
for their services on the Board of Directors, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is presented below. This summary includes
the above-described payments to Mr. Forman in 2020 prior to his appointment as Chief Administrative Officer and excludes the payments
to Mr. Weingarten in 2020 prior to his appointment as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Summary of Related Party Costs
2021
2020
Years
Ended
December
31,
2021
2020
Related
party costs:
Cash-based
$ 822,834
$ 284,451
Stock-based
2,201,280
480,634
Total
$ 3,024,114
$ 765,085
F- 17
5.
Stock-Based Compensation
The
Company issues common stock and stock options as incentive compensation to directors and as compensation for the services of employees,
contractors, and consultants of the Company.
On
July 14, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which provides
for the granting of equity-based awards, consisting of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights,
and other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates for up to 2,333,333
shares of the Company’s common stock, under terms and conditions as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Stockholders
holding a majority of the voting power of the common stock of the Company approved the 2020 Plan pursuant to an action by written consent
dated July 31, 2020. Stockholders of the Company were notified of such action by written consent pursuant to an Information Statement
dated August 31, 2020 and mailed to stockholders on or about September 3, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, unexpired stock options for
1,400,000 shares were issued and outstanding under the 2020 Plan and 933,333 shares were available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.
Effective
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors approved a comprehensive cash and equity compensation package for the members of the Board of Directors
and committee members. Cash-based features of the compensation package are described at Notes 4 and 7.
Stock-based
features of the compensation package consisted of the annual granting of stock options to each non-officer director to purchase 100,000
shares of common stock at the closing market price on the earlier of the date of the annual meeting of shareholders or the last business
day of the month ending June 30, vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested , and the granting
of stock options to a new director to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at the closing market price on the grant date
for a period of five years, vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar
quarter-end until fully vested.
The
fair value of a stock option award is calculated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free interest
rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect as of the grant date. The expected dividend yield assumption is based on the
Company’s expectation of dividend payouts and is assumed to be zero. The estimated volatility is based on the historical volatility
of the Company’s common stock, calculated utilizing a look-back period approximately equal to the contractual life of the stock
option being granted. Unless sufficient historical exercise data is available, the expected life of the stock option is calculated as
the mid-point between the vesting period and the contractual term (the “simplified method”). The fair market value of the
common stock is determined by reference to the quoted market price of the common stock on the grant date.
For
stock options requiring an assessment of value during the year ended December 31, 2021, the fair value of each stock option award was
estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Schedule of Fair Value of Each Option Award Estimated Assumption
Risk-free
interest rate
0.89 %
to 1.13 %
Expected
dividend yield
0 %
Expected
volatility
187.7 %
to 198.8 %
Expected
life
3.5
to 5 years
For
stock options requiring an assessment of value during the year ended December 31, 2020, the fair value of each stock option award was
estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Risk-free
interest rate
0.23 %
to 0.31 %
Expected
dividend yield
0 %
Expected
volatility
207.7 %
Expected
life
4
to 5 years
Effective
September 14, 2015, in connection with the Collaboration Agreement with BioPharmaWorks LLC (“BioPharmaWorks”) as described
at Note 7, the Company issued to BioPharmaWorks two stock options, in the form of warrants, to purchase 166,667 shares ( 83,333.5 shares
per warrant) of the Company’s common stock. The first warrant vested on September 14, 2016 and was exercisable for a period of
five years from the grant date at $ 6.00 per share. The second warrant vested on September 14, 2017 and was exercisable for a period of
five years from the grant date at $ 12.00 per share. On July 3, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an extension of
the term of the outstanding warrants to acquire an aggregate of 166,667 shares of the Company’s common stock from September 14,
2020 to September 14, 2025 . The Company’s closing stock price on July 2, 2020 was $ 5.40 per share. The fair value of the extension
of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was measured for accounting purposes as the
difference in the fair value of the stock options immediately before and immediately after the extension date and was determined to be
$ 670,715 ($ 4.0242 per share), which was reflected as a charge to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations
on that date.
F- 18
On
July 15, 2020, as amended on August 12, 2020, in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Eric J. Forman, Mr. Forman
was granted options for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options
have a term of five years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing market price of the Company’s
common stock on the grant date. The options vested as to 25% on August 12, 2020 and August 12, 2021, and will vest 25% on each of the
second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 400,855 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 100,214 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested
on August 12, 2020 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock
options is being charged to operations ratably from August 12, 2020 through August 12, 2023. During the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2020, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 100,213 and
$ 138,926 , respectively, with respect to these stock options.
On
August 1, 2020, in connection with an employment agreement entered into with Dr. James S. Miser, M.D., Dr. Miser was granted options
for 83,334 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options have a term of five
years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the
effective date of the employment agreement. The options vested as to 25% on August 1, 2020 and August 1, 2021, and will vest 25% on each
of the second and third anniversaries of the effective date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 572,650 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 143,163 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested
on August 1, 2020 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock
options is being charged to operations ratably from August 1, 2020 through August 1, 2023. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and
2020, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 143,163 and $ 202,782 ,
respectively, with respect to these stock options.
On
August 12, 2020, in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Robert N. Weingarten, Mr. Weingarten was granted options
for 58,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. The options can be exercised on a cashless basis. The options have a term of five
years and an exercise price of $ 7.14 per share, which was equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the
grant date. The options vested as to 25% on August 12, 2020 and August 12, 2021, and will vest 25% on each of the second and third anniversaries
of the grant date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined
to be $ 400,855 ($ 6.8718 per share), of which $ 100,214 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on August 12, 2020 and was therefore
charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options is being charged to operations
ratably from August 12, 2020 through August 12, 2023. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded charges
to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 100,213 and $ 138,926 , respectively, with respect
to these stock options.
Effective
January 6, 2021, in recognition of their service as directors of the Company over the past year, the Company granted fully-vested stock
options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock to each of Dr. Winson Sze Chun Ho, Dr. Yun Yen, Dr. Stephen Forman, and Dr. Philip
Palmedo (an aggregate of 200,000 shares), exercisable for a period of five years from the grant date at $ 3.21 per share, which was the
approximate fair market value of the Company’s common stock on such date. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated
pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 571,312 ($ 2.8566 per share) and was charged to general and
administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations on the grant date.
F- 19
On
April 9, 2021, Winson Sze Chun Ho resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors to focus on clinical and pre-clinical cancer research
in academic medicine. Concurrent with his resignation, the Board of Directors appointed Gil Schwartzberg to fill the vacancy created
by Dr. Ho’s resignation. In connection with his appointment to the Board of Directors, and in accordance with the Company’s
cash and equity compensation package for members of the Board of Directors, Mr. Schwartzberg was granted options exercisable for a period
of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 3.20 per share (the closing market
price on the grant date), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end
until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined
to be $ 753,611 ($ 3.0144 per share), of which $ 376,800 was attributable to the stock options fully-vested on April 9, 2021 and was therefore
charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion of the fair value of the stock options is being charged to operations
ratably from April 9, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges to general and
administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations of $ 500,235 with respect to these stock options.
On
May 11, 2021, the Board of Directors appointed Regina Brown to the Board of Directors. In connection with her appointment to the Board
of Directors, and in accordance with the Company’s cash and equity compensation package for members of the Board of Directors,
Ms. Brown was granted options exercisable for a period of five years to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at
an exercise price of $ 2.80 per share (the closing market price on the grant date), vesting 50% on the grant date and the remainder vesting
12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested. The fair value of these stock options, as calculated
pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to be $ 658,363 ($ 2.6335 per share), of which $ 329,188 was attributable
to the stock options fully-vested on May 11, 2021 and was therefore charged to operations on that date. The remaining unvested portion
of the fair value of the stock options is being charged to operations ratably from May 11, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the year
ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations
of $ 427,944 with respect to these stock options.
On
June 30, 2021, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the recently adopted cash and equity compensation package for the members of
the Board of Directors, granted to each of the five non-officer directors of the Company stock options exercisable for a period of five
years to purchase 100,000 shares (a total of 500,000 shares) of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 3.03 per share
(the closing market price on the grant date), vesting 12.5% on the last day of each subsequent calendar quarter-end until fully vested.
The total fair value of the 500,000 stock options, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, was determined to
be $ 1,421,095 ($ 2.84225 per share), which is being charged to operations ratably from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. During the
year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of operations
of $ 358,200 with respect to these stock options.
On
November 8, 2021, the Company issued to BioPharmaWorks a stock option, in the form of a warrant, to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock. The warrant is exercisable for a period of five years from the issue date at $ 2.06 per share (the closing market price
on the issue date). The fair value of the fully-vested stock warrant, as calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model,
was determined to be $ 397,642 ($ 1.9882 per share) and was charged to general and administrative costs in the consolidated statement of
operations on that date.
A
summary of stock-based compensation costs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
Summary of Stock-based Compensation Costs
2021
2020
Years
Ended
December
31,
2021
2020
Related
parties
$ 2,201,280
$ 480,634
Non-related
parties
397,642
770,715
Total
stock-based compensation costs
$ 2,598,922
$ 1,251,349
F- 20
A
summary of stock option activity, including options issued in the form of warrants, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
is presented below.
Summary of Stock Option Activity Including Options Form of Warrants
Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life (in Years)
Stock
options outstanding at December 31, 2019
1,308,333
$ 3.648
Granted
200,000
7.140
Exercised
—
—
Expired
( 33,333 )
3.000
Rounding
adjustment attributable to reverse stock split
Weighted average exercise price, reverse stock split
Stock
options outstanding at December 31, 2020
1,475,000
4.136
Granted
1,400,000
2.906
Exercised
( 208,334 )
0.965
Expired
—
—
Rounding
adjustment attributable to reverse stock split
1
—
Stock
options outstanding at December 31, 2021
2,666,667
$ 3.738
3.42
Stock
options exercisable at December 31, 2020
1,325,000
$ 3.796
Stock
options exercisable at December 31, 2021
2,004,167
$ 3.770
3.13
Total
deferred compensation expense for the outstanding value of unvested stock options was approximately $ 2,097,000 at December 31, 2021,
which will be recognized subsequent to December 31, 2021 over a weighted-average period of approximately 18 months.
The
exercise prices of common stock options outstanding and exercisable, including options issued in the form of warrants, at December 31,
2021 are as follows:
Schedule of Exercise Prices of Common Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable Including Options Form of Warrants
Exercise
Prices
Options
Outstanding
(Shares)
Options
Exercisable
(Shares)
$ 0.900
33,333
33,333
$ 1.680
66,667
66,667
$ 2.060
200,000
200,000
$ 2.800
250,000
156,250
$ 3.000
666,667
666,667
$ 3.030
500,000
125,000
$ 3.200
250,000
156,250
$ 3.210
200,000
200,000
$ 6.000
166,667
166,667
$ 6.600
50,000
50,000
$ 7.140
200,000
100,000
$ 12.000
83,333
83,333
2,666,667
2,004,167
The
intrinsic value of exercisable but unexercised in-the-money stock options at December 31, 2021 was approximately $ 10,000 , based on a
fair market value of $ 1.19 per share on December 31, 2021.
Outstanding
stock options to acquire 662,500 shares of the Company’s common stock had not vested at December 31, 2021.
The
Company expects to satisfy such stock obligations through the issuance of authorized but unissued shares of common stock.
F- 21
6.
Income Taxes
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as
of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are summarized below.
Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets
2021
2020
December
31,
2021
2020
Start-up
and organization costs
$ —
$ 5,000
Research
credits
451,000
390,000
Stock-based
compensation
1,821,000
1,107,000
Net
operating loss carryforwards
6,723,000
5,477,000
Total
deferred tax assets
8,995,000
6,979,000
Valuation
allowance
( 8,995,000 )
( 6,979,000 )
Net
deferred tax assets
$ —
$ —
In
assessing the potential realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion
or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company attaining
future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, management
was unable to determine if it is more likely than not that the Company’s deferred tax assets will be realized and has therefore
recorded an appropriate valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at such dates.
No
federal tax provision has been provided for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 due to the losses incurred during such periods.
The reconciliation below presents the difference between the income tax rate computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory rate and
the effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate
2021
2020
Years
Ended
December
31,
2021
2020
U.
S. federal statutory tax rate
( 21.0 )%
( 21.0 )%
State
income taxes, net of federal tax benefit
( 6.0 )%
( 6.0 )%
Expirations
related to stock-based compensation
0.6 %
0.5 %
Adjustment
to deferred tax asset
( 0.4 )%
( 0.8 )%
Change
in valuation allowance
26.8 %
27.3 %
Effective
tax rate
0.0 %
0.0 %
At
December 31, 2021, the Company has available net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately
$ 23,173,000 and $ 23,287,000 , respectively. Federal net operating losses, if not utilized earlier, expire through 2041 . The state net
operating loss carryovers include approximately $ 19,141,000 that was incurred in the State of New York. New York tax law requires New
York net operating loss carryovers from years prior to 2015 to be converted, by applying a formula, into a Prior Net Operating Loss Conversion
(PNOLC) subtraction pool. The Company may utilize up to 1/10 of the PNOLC subtraction pool, or $ 928,313 , each year. Unutilized PNOLC
amounts carry forward to succeeding years until they expire in 2035. In addition, the full New York net operating losses incurred in
post-2015 tax years may be utilized in future tax years. Post-2015 New York net operating losses expire through 2040 . The state net operating
loss carryovers also include approximately $ 4,146,000 that was incurred in the State of California. As the Company’s net operating
losses have yet to be utilized, all previous tax years since 2006 remain subject to adjustment by Federal authorities and other jurisdictions
in which the Company currently operates or has operated in the past.
F- 22
7.
Commitments and Contingencies
Legal
Claims
The
Company may be subject to legal claims and actions from time to time as part of its business activities. As of December 31, 2021, the
Company was not subject to any pending or threatened legal claims or actions.
Principal
Commitments
Clinical
Trial Agreements
At
December 31, 2021, the Company’s contractual commitments pursuant to clinical trial agreements, clinical trial monitoring agreements,
and agreements for the production of LB-100 for clinical use, as described below, aggregated $ 8,646,000 , which are currently scheduled
to be incurred through December 31, 2025. The Company’s ability to conduct and fund these contractual commitments is subject to
the timely availability of sufficient capital to fund such expenditures, as well as any changes in the allocation or reallocation of
such funds to the Company’s current or future clinical trial programs. The Company expects that the full amount of these expenditures
will be incurred only if such clinical trial programs are conducted as originally designed and their respective enrollments and duration
are not modified or reduced. Clinical trial programs, such as the types that the Company is engaged in, can be highly variable and can
frequently involve a series of changes and modifications over time as clinical data is obtained and analyzed, and are frequently modified,
suspended or terminated before the clinical trial endpoint. Accordingly, such contractual commitments as discussed herein should be considered
as estimates only based on current clinical assumptions and conditions, and are typically subject to significant revisions over time.
Moffitt.
Effective August 20, 2018, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial Research Agreement with the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute Hospital Inc., Tampa, Florida, effective for a term of five years, unless terminated earlier by the Company pursuant to 30
days written notice. Pursuant to the Clinical Trial Research Agreement, Moffitt agreed to conduct and manage a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial
to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of the Company’s lead anti-cancer clinical compound LB-100 to be administered intravenously
in patients with low or intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
In
November 2018, the Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Investigational New Drug Application
(“IND”) to conduct a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of LB-100 in patients with low and intermediate-1
risk MDS who have failed or are intolerant of standard treatment. Patients with MDS, although usually older, are generally well except
for severe anemia requiring frequent blood transfusions. This Phase 1b/2 clinical trial utilizes LB-100 as a single agent in the treatment
of patients with low and intermediate-1 risk MDS, including patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome (del5qMDS) failing first line
therapy. The bone marrow cells of patients with del5qMDS are deficient in PP2A by virtue of an acquired mutation and are especially vulnerable
to further inhibition of PP2A by LB-100. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into
the clinical trial in July 2019. A total enrollment of 41 patients is planned. An interim analysis will be done after the first 21 patients
are entered. If there are 3 or more responders but fewer than 7, an additional 20 patients will be entered. If at any point there are
7 or more responders, this will be sufficient evidence to support continued development of LB-100 for the treatment of low and intermediate-1
risk MDS. Recruitment has been slow and the Covid-19 pandemic has further reduced recruitment of patients into the protocol. At the current
rate of accrual, the clinical trial is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025. However, with additional funds, the Company would consider
adding two additional MDS centers to the Phase 2 portion of the study to accelerate patient accrual.
During
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 18,443 and $ 41,142 , respectively, pursuant to this agreement,
which have been included in research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As of December
31, 2021, total costs of $ 104,677 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement. The Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to
this agreement, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 601,000 as of December 31, 2021, which is expected to be
incurred through December 31, 2025 .
GEIS.
Effective July 31, 2019, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement for an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial with the
Spanish Sarcoma Group (Grupo Español de Investigación en Sarcomas or “GEIS”), Madrid, Spain, to carry out a
study entitled “Randomized phase I/II trial of LB-100 plus doxorubicin vs. doxorubicin alone in first line of advanced soft tissue
sarcoma”. The purpose of this clinical trial is to obtain information with respect to the efficacy and safety of LB-100 combined
with doxorubicin in soft tissue sarcomas. Doxorubicin is the global standard for initial treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas (“ASTS”).
Doxorubicin alone has been the mainstay of first line treatment of ASTS for over 40 years, with little therapeutic gain from adding cytotoxic
compounds to or substituting other cytotoxic compounds for doxorubicin. In animal models, LB-100 consistently enhances the anti-tumor
activity of doxorubicin without apparent increases in toxicity.
F- 23
GEIS
has a network of referral centers in Spain and across Europe that have an impressive track record of efficiently conducting innovative
studies in ASTS. The Company agreed to provide GEIS with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this clinical trial, as
well as to provide funding for the clinical trial. The goal was to enter approximately 150 patients in this clinical trial over a period
of two years. As advanced sarcoma is a very aggressive disease, the design of the study assumes a median progression free survival (PFS,
no evidence of disease progression or death from any cause) of 4.5 months in the doxorubicin arm and an alternative median PFS of 7.5
months in the doxorubicin plus LB-100 arm to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in relative risk of progression or death
by adding LB-100. There is a planned interim analysis of the primary endpoint when approximately 50% of the 102 events required for final
analysis is reached.
The
Company had previously expected that this clinical trial would commence during the quarter ended June 30, 2020. However, during July
2020, the Spanish regulatory authority advised the Company that although it had approved the scientific and ethical basis of the protocol,
it required that the Company manufacture new inventory of LB-100 under current Spanish pharmaceutical manufacturing standards. These
standards were adopted subsequent to the production of the Company’s existing LB-100 inventory.
A
new batch of LB 100 has been prepared and is now undergoing the multitude of analytical studies of the formulated product necessary to
gain approval for use in the European Union. Regulatory reviews by the European Union have been delayed, as a result of which the final
review of the clinical product by Spanish regulatory authorities will also be delayed. Accordingly, the clinical trial is now estimated
to begin during the quarter ending June 30, 2022 and be completed by June 30, 2025.
The
interim analysis of this clinical trial could indicate either inferiority or superiority of LB-100 plus doxorubicin as compared to doxorubicin
alone. A positive study would have the potential to change the standard therapy for this disease after four decades of failure to improve
the marginal benefit of doxorubicin alone.
The
Company’s agreement with GEIS provides for various payments based on achieving specific milestones over the term of the agreement.
Through December 31, 2021, the Company has paid GEIS an aggregate of $ 67,582 towards the second milestone payment for current work being
done under this agreement.
During
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 24,171 and $ 43,411 , respectively, pursuant to this agreement,
which have been included in research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. As of December
31, 2021, total costs of $ 155,053 have been incurred pursuant to this agreement. The Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to
this agreement, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 4,250,000 as of December 31, 2021, which is expected to
be incurred through December 31, 2025 .
In
order to manufacture a new inventory supply of LB-100 for the GEIS clinical trial, the Company has engaged a number of vendors to carry
out the multiple tasks needed to make and gain approval of a new clinical product for investigational study in Spain. These tasks include
the synthesis under good manufacturing practices (GMP) of the active pharmacologic ingredient (API), with documentation of each of the
steps involved by an independent auditor. The API is then transferred to a vendor that prepares the clinical drug product, also under
GMP conditions documented by an independent auditor. The clinical drug product is then sent to a vendor to test for purity and sterility,
provide appropriate labels, store the drug, and distribute the drug to the clinical centers for use in the clinical trials. A formal
application documenting all steps taken to prepare the clinical drug product for clinical use must be submitted to the appropriate regulatory
authorities for review and approval before being used in a clinical trial.
On
November 2, 2021, the Company entered into a Development Agreement with Famar Health Care Services Madrid SA (“Famar”) to
prepare a new batch of clinical LB-100 for use in clinical trials to be conducted in the European Union. During the year ended December
31, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $ 119,860 , pursuant to this agreement, which has been included in research and development costs
in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to this agreement, less
amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 180,000 as of December 31, 2021, which is expected to be incurred through June
30, 2024.
F- 24
As
of December 31, 2021, the Company estimates that this program to provide new inventory of the clinical drug product for the Spanish sarcoma
study, and potentially for subsequent multiple trials within the European Union, including the costs incurred and to be incurred with
Famar as described above, will cost approximately $ 1,076,000 . The Company’s aggregate commitments under this program, less amounts
previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 318,000 as of December 31, 2021, which are expected to be incurred through December 31,
2024. As the production of the new inventory of the clinical drug product is being conducted in Europe and is paid for in Euros, final
costs are subject to foreign currency fluctuations between the United States Dollar and the Euro.
City
of Hope. Effective January 18, 2021, the Company executed a Clinical Research Support Agreement with the City of Hope National Medical
Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, and City of Hope Medical Foundation (collectively, “City of Hope”),
to carry out a Phase 1b clinical trial of LB-100, the Company’s first-in-class protein phosphatase inhibitor, combined with a standard
regimen for treatment of untreated extensive- stage disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). LB-100 will be given in combination with
carboplatin, etoposide and atezolizumab, an FDA-approved but marginally effective regimen, to previously untreated ED-SCLC patients.
The dose of LB-100 will be escalated with the standard fixed doses of the 3-drug regimen to reach a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).
Patient entry will be expanded so that a total of 12 patients will be evaluable at the RP2D to confirm the safety of the LB-100 combination
and to look for potential therapeutic activity as assessed by objective response rate, duration of overall response, progression-free-survival
and overall survival.
The
clinical trial was initiated on March 9, 2021, with patient accrual expected to take approximately two years to complete. If LB-100 does
potentiate the benefit of the standard regimen, some evidence could be noted at 12 months into the clinical trial, but an assessment
of potential increased activity is likely to require at least 24 months. The Company is currently seeking to add two additional centers
to increase the rate of accrual. The Company expects this clinical trial to be completed by June 30, 2024.
During
the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred costs, and total costs, of $ 378,511 , pursuant to this agreement. The Company’s
aggregate commitment pursuant to this agreement, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 2,433,000 as of December
31, 2021, which is expected to be incurred through December 31, 2024, based upon a target of 42 enrollees. If a significant number of
patients fail during the dose-escalation process, an increase of up to 12 patients would likely be necessary, at an estimated additional
cost of approximately $ 800,000 . The Company currently expects that enrollment in this clinical trial will range from approximately 18
to 30 enrollees, with 24 enrollees as the most likely number. Should fewer than 42 enrollees be required, the Company has agreed to compensate
City of Hope on a per enrollee basis.
National
Cancer Institute Pharmacologic Clinical Trial. In May 2019, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiated a glioblastoma (GBM) pharmacologic
clinical trial. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the NCI enrolled the first two patients of a planned eight patient pharmacologic study
of the ability of LB-100 to enter the brain and penetrate recurrent brain tumors in patients where surgical removal of the cancers is
indicated (clinical trials registry NCT03027388). This study is being conducted and funded by the NCI under a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement, with the Company being required to provide the LB-100 clinical compound.
Primary
malignant brain tumors (gliomas) are very challenging to treat. Radiation combined with the chemotherapeutic drug temozolomide has been
the mainstay of therapy of the most aggressive gliomas (glioblastoma multiforme or GBM) for decades, with some further benefit gained
by the addition of one or more anti-cancer drugs, but without major advances in overall survival for the majority of patients. In animal
models of GBM, the Company’s novel protein phosphatase inhibitor, LB-100, has been found to enhance the effectiveness of radiation,
temozolomide chemotherapy treatments and immunotherapy, raising the possibility that LB-100 may improve outcomes of standard GBM treatment
in the clinic. Although LB-100 has proven safe in patients at doses associated with apparent anti-tumor activity against several human
cancers arising outside the brain, the ability of LB-100 to penetrate tumor tissue arising in the brain is not known. Unfortunately,
many drugs potentially useful for GBM treatment do not enter the brain in amounts necessary for anti-cancer action.
F- 25
The
NCI study is designed to determine the extent to which LB-100 enters recurrent malignant gliomas. Patients having surgery to remove one
or more tumors will receive one dose of LB-100 prior to surgery and have blood and tumor tissue analyzed to determine the amount of LB-100
present and to determine whether the cells in the tumors show the biochemical changes expected to be present if LB-100 reaches its molecular
target. The goal is to obtain data in up to eight patients. As a result of the innovative design of the NCI study, data from so few patients
should be sufficient to provide a sound rationale for conducting a larger clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of adding LB-100
to the standard treatment regimen for GBMs.
The
neurosurgical unit at the NCI, which had been closed due to the Covid-19 epidemic, has reopened, and patient accrual has resumed. Patient
entry remains at two, with the goal to enter eight patients before analyzing results. There is an urgent need to improve therapy for
this type of aggressive brain tumor. If the NCI study shows that LB-100 does penetrate the brain, a clinical study of LB-100 in combination
with standard therapy for GBM, the drug temozolomide and radiation, both of which have been well documented in pre-clinical studies to
be significantly enhanced by LB-100, would be of significant interest to neuro-oncologists frustrated by decades of limited advances
in therapy for this common brain tumor in adults.
Clinical
Trial Monitoring Agreements
Moffitt.
On September 12, 2018, the Company finalized a work order agreement with Theradex Systems, Inc. (“Theradex”), an international
contract research organization (“CRO”), to monitor the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being managed and conducted by Moffitt.
The clinical trial began in April 2019 and the first patient was entered into the clinical trial in July 2019. At the current rate of
accrual, the clinical trial is expected to be completed by June 30, 2025.
Costs
under this work order agreement are estimated to be approximately $ 954,000 , with such payments expected to be divided approximately 94%
to Theradex for services and approximately 6% for payments for pass-through costs. The costs of the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial being paid
to or through Theradex are being recorded and charged to operations based on the periodic documentation provided by the CRO. During the
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company incurred costs of $ 9,750 and $ 18,663 , respectively, pursuant to this work order.
As of December 31, 2021, total costs of $ 91,885 have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement. The Company’s aggregate
commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring agreement, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 868,000
as of December 31, 2021, which is expected to be incurred through June 30, 2025.
City
of Hope. On February 5, 2021, the Company signed a new work order agreement with Theradex to monitor the City of Hope investigator-initiated
clinical trial in small cell lung cancer in accordance with FDA requirements for oversight by the sponsoring party. During the year ended
December 31, 2021, the Company incurred costs of $ 24,626 , pursuant to this work order. As of December 31, 2021, total costs of $ 24,626
have been incurred pursuant to this work order agreement. The Company’s aggregate commitment pursuant to this clinical trial monitoring
agreement, less amounts previously paid to date, totaled approximately $ 314,000 as of December 31, 2021, which is expected to be incurred
through June 30, 2025.
Patent
and License Agreements
On
March 22, 2018, the Company entered into a Patent Assignment and Exploitation Agreement with INSERM TRANSFERT SA, acting as delegatee
of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, for the assignment to the Company of INSERM’S interest in United
States Patent No. 9,833,450 entitled “Oxabicyloheptanes and Oxabicycloheptenes for the Treatment of Depressive and Stress Disorders”,
which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the name of INSERM and the Company as co-owners on February 19,
2015 and granted on May 12, 2017, and related patent applications and filings. INSERM is a French public institution dedicated to research
in the field of health and medicine that had previously entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with the Company to allow INSERM to
conduct research on the Company’s proprietary compound LB-100 and/or its analogs for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders
in humans. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company has agreed to make certain milestone payments to INSERM aggregating up to $ 1,750,000
upon achievement of development milestones and up to $ 6,500,000 upon achievement of commercial milestones. The Company also agreed to
pay INSERM certain commercial royalties on net sales of products attributed to the Agreement. The Company’s initial plan was to
complete the validation process to evaluate LB-100 for the treatment of depressive or stress disorders in humans within three years;
however, the exploitation of this patent for the treatment of depressive and stress disorders in humans will require substantial additional
capital and/or a joint venture or other type of business arrangement with a pharmaceutical company with substantially greater capital
and business resources than those available to the Company. As there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to obtain the
capital or business resources necessary to focus on the exploitation of this patent, it is uncertain as to when, if at all, the Company
may reach any of the development or commercialization milestones under the Agreement. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, no amounts were
due under this agreement.
F- 26
Effective
August 20, 2018, the Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with Moffitt. Pursuant to the License Agreement, Moffitt granted
the Company an exclusive license under certain patents owned by Moffitt (the “Licensed Patents”) relating to the treatment
of MDS and a non-exclusive license under inventions, concepts, processes, information, data, know-how, research results, clinical data,
and the like (other than the Licensed Patents) necessary or useful for the practice of any claim under the Licensed Patents or the use,
development, manufacture or sale of any product for the treatment of MDS which would otherwise infringe a valid claim under the Licensed
Patents. The Company was obligated to pay Moffitt a non-refundable license issue fee of $ 25,000 after the first patient is entered into
a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to be managed and conducted by Moffitt. The clinical trial began at a single site in April 2019 and the first
patient was entered into the clinical trial in July 2019. The Company is also obligated to pay Moffitt an annual license maintenance
fee of $ 25,000 commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and every anniversary thereafter until the Company commences
payment of minimum royalty payments. The Company has also agreed to pay non-refundable milestone payments to Moffitt, which cannot be
credited against earned royalties payable by the Company, based on reaching various clinical and commercial milestones aggregating $ 1,897,000 ,
subject to reduction by 40% under certain circumstances relating to the status of Valid Claims, as such term is defined in the License
Agreement. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded charges to operations of $ 24,999 and $ 25,001 , respectively,
in connection with its obligations under the License Agreement. As of December 31, 2021, no milestones had yet been attained.
The
Company will be obligated to pay Moffitt earned royalties of 4% on worldwide cumulative net sales of royalty-bearing products, subject
to reduction to 2% under certain circumstances, on a quarterly basis, with a minimum royalty payment of $ 50,000 in the first four years
after sales commence, and $ 100,000 in year five and each year thereafter, subject to reduction by 40% under certain circumstances relating
to the status of Valid Claims, as such term is defined in the License Agreement. The Company’s obligation to pay earned royalties
under the License Agreement commences on the date of the first sale of a royalty-bearing product, and shall automatically expire on a
country-by-country basis on the date on which the last valid claim of the Licensed Patents expires, lapses or is declared invalid, and
the obligation to pay any earned royalties under the License Agreement shall terminate on the date on which the last valid claim of the
Licensed Patents expires, lapses, or is declared to be invalid in all countries.
Employment
Agreements with Officers
During
July and August 2020, the Company entered into one-year employment agreements with its executive officers, consisting of Dr. John S.
Kovach, Eric J. Forman, Dr. James S. Miser, and Robert N. Weingarten, which provided for aggregate annual compensation of $ 640,000 , payable
monthly (see Note 4). The employment agreements are automatically renewable for additional one-year periods unless terminated by either
party upon 60 days written notice prior to the end of the applicable one-year period , or by death, or by termination for cause. These
employment agreements were automatically renewed for an additional one-year period in July and August 2021.
On
April 9, 2021, the Board of Directors increased the annual compensation of Eric J. Forman, the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer,
Dr. James S. Miser, the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, and Robert N. Weingarten, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer,
under the employment agreements such that the total aggregate annual compensation of all officers increased to $ 775,000 , effective May
1, 2021.
F- 27
Other
Significant Agreements and Contracts
On
December 24, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with NDA Consulting Corp. for consultation and advice in the field of oncology
research and drug development. As part of the agreement, NDA also agreed to cause its president, Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., to become
a member of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Committee. The term of the agreement was for one year and provided for a quarterly
cash fee of $ 4,000 . The agreement has been automatically renewed for additional one-year terms on its anniversary date since 2014. Consulting
and advisory fees charged to operations pursuant to this agreement were $ 16,000 and $ 16,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and
2020, respectively, which were included in research and development costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
Effective
September 14, 2015, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with BioPharmaWorks, pursuant to which the Company engaged BioPharmaWorks
to perform certain services for the Company. Those services included, among other things: (a) assisting the Company to (i) commercialize
its products and strengthen its patent portfolio, (ii) identify large pharmaceutical companies with potential interest in the Company’s
product pipeline, and (iii) prepare and deliver presentations concerning the Company’s products; (b) at the request of the Board
of Directors, serving as backup management for up to three months should the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and scientific leader
be temporarily unable to carry out his duties; (c) being available for consultation in drug discovery and development; and (d) identifying
providers and overseeing tasks relating to clinical use and commercialization of new compounds.
BioPharmaWorks
was founded in 2015 by former Pfizer scientists with extensive multi-disciplinary research and development and drug development experience.
The Collaboration Agreement was for an initial term of two years and automatically renews for subsequent annual periods unless terminated
by a party not less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the applicable period. In connection with the Collaboration Agreement, the
Company agreed to pay BioPharmaWorks a monthly fee of $ 10,000 , subject to the right of the Company to pay a negotiated hourly rate in
lieu of the monthly payment and agreed to issue to BioPharmaWorks certain equity-based compensation. The Company recorded charges to
operations pursuant to this Collaboration Agreement of $ 120,000 and $ 120,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively,
which were included in research and development costs in the consolidated statements of operations.
Effective
August 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Master Service Agreement with the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapy (FAST) to collaborate
in supporting pre-clinical studies of the potential benefit of LB-100 in a mouse model of Angelman Syndrome (AS) as reported in The Proceedings
of The National Academy of Science (Wang et al, June 3, 2019). The pre-clinical studies will be conducted at The University of California
- Davis under the direction of Dr. David Segal, an internationally recognized leader in AS research. If the pre-clinical studies confirm
that LB-100 reduces AS signs in rodent models, the Company has agreed to enter into discussions with FAST with respect to possible collaborations
to most efficiently assess the benefit of LB-100 in patients with AS, which is a rare disease affecting an estimated one out of 12,000
to one out of 20,000 persons in the United States. The genetic cause of AS, reduced function of a specific maternal gene called Ube3,
has been understood for some time, but the molecular abnormality resulting from the genetic lesion has now been shown to be increased
concentrations of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a molecular target of the Company’s investigational compound, LB-100. The Company
has agreed to provide FAST with a supply of LB-100 to be utilized in the conduct of this study, which is initially expected to be completed
within three years. Conditioned on FAST’s completion of this study, the Company has agreed to pay FAST five percent ( 5 %) of all
proceeds, as defined in the Master Service Agreement, received by the Company, up to a maximum of $ 250,000 from the exploitation of the
study results.
The
research team at the University of California, Davis recently completed their pre-clinical study of the potential benefit of LB-100 in
a mouse model of AS, and the results are currently under review by FAST. The preliminary analysis indicates that the positive results
previously reported by Chinese investigators were not confirmed in the US model. The Company is awaiting input from FAST as to whether
it intends to continue to pursue pre-clinical studies of LB 100.
On
October 8, 2021, the Company entered into a Development Collaboration Agreement with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam (NKI),
one of the world’s leading comprehensive cancer centers, and Oncode Institute, Utrecht, a major independent cancer research center,
to identify the most promising drugs to be combined with LB-100, and potentially LB-100 analogues, to be used to treat a range of cancers,
as well as to identify the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the identified combinations. The Company has agreed to fund the study
and provide a sufficient supply of LB-100 to conduct the study. The study is expected to take approximately two years to conduct. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred charges in the amount of $ 55,248 , with respect to this agreement, which amount
is included in research and development0 costs in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
F- 28
Impact
of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) on the Company’s Business Activities
The
global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has led to disruptions in general economic activities worldwide, as businesses and
governments have taken broad actions to mitigate this public health crisis. In
light of the uncertain and continually evolving situation relating to the spread of Covid-19, this pandemic could pose a risk to the
Company. The extent to which the coronavirus may impact the Company’s business activities will depend on future developments, which
are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time. The Company intends to continue to monitor the situation and may adjust its
current business plans as more information and guidance become available.
The
coronavirus pandemic presents a challenge to medical facilities worldwide. As the Company’s clinical trials are conducted on an
outpatient basis, it is not currently possible to predict the full impact of this developing health crisis on such clinical trials, which
could include delays in and increased costs of such clinical trials. Current indications from the clinical research organizations conducting
the clinical trials for the Company are that such clinical trials are being delayed or extended for several months or more as a result
of the coronavirus pandemic.
Over
the near term, there is also significant and continuing uncertainty as to the effect that the coronavirus may have on the capital markets
in general and on the amount and type of financing available to the Company in particular.
The
Company is continuing to monitor the situation and will adjust its current business and financing plans as more information and guidance
become available.
8.
Subsequent Events
The
Company performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date of filing of these consolidated financial statements with the SEC.
There were no material subsequent events which affected, or could affect, the amounts or disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.
F- 29
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.