Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The
following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of OS Therapies Incorporated (“OS Therapies,”
the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and notes thereto appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this report. In the following discussions, most percentages and dollar amounts
have been rounded to aid presentation, and, accordingly, all amounts are approximations.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
report contains “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)),
which may include information concerning our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, strategies, anticipations, assumptions,
estimates, intentions, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures and other information that is not historical
information. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control,
and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this report, the words “seek,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “plan,”
“continue,” “intend,” “believe” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended
to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions.
We believe there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, but there can be no assurance that we will realize its expectations
or that its beliefs will prove to be correct.
There
are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
contained in this report. Examples of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical performance
and any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the risks described under the section below titled “Risk Factors”
of our Registration Statements on Form S-1 initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May
30, 2024 and November 12, 2024, as well as any subsequent filings with the SEC.
There
may be other factors of which we are currently unaware or which it currently deems immaterial that may cause its actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply
only as of the date they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report.
Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events
or circumstances occurring after the date they were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.
We
make available through its Internet website, free of charge, its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current
Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports and other filings made by us with the SEC, as soon as practicable after we electronically
file such reports and filings with the SEC. Our website address is www.ostherapies.com. The information contained on our website is not
incorporated by reference into this report.
Overview
We
are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the identification, development and commercialization of treatments for Osteosarcoma
(OS) and other solid tumors. Our mission is to address the significant need for new treatments in cancers of the bone in children and
young adults. Osteosarcoma is an extremely challenging and often aggressive cancer that has particular treatment challenges due to its
location, changing genotypes and high metastases rates. We are currently seeking to answer the call for new treatments that will prevent
metastasis and the recurrence of metastases with our lead core product candidate OST-HER2 (also known as OST31-164), a cancer immunotherapy
product candidate that produces a cellular immune response against the cancer antigen HER2. In 2021, we opened a clinical study to produce
data for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of OST-HER2 in patients after resection
of recurrent Osteosarcoma, which achieved full enrollment of 41 patients in October 2023. We expect topline results from all 41
patients enrolled in the fourth quarter of 2024 and, if successful, intend to seek regulatory approval for OST-HER2 for the prevention
of metastases in Osteosarcoma in 2025. Upon success in gaining regulatory approval from the FDA with OST-HER2 in Osteosarcoma, we intend
to evaluate OST-HER2’s potential use, both alone and in combination with HER2 targeting antibodies such as Herceptin®, in other
solid tumors including breast, esophageal and lung cancers. OST-HER2 has potential uses in both the prevention of metastases in solid
tumors, and therapeutically against HER2-expressing solid tumors treated with HER targeting antibodies.
23
We
also own rights to OST-Tunable Drug Conjugate (OST-tADC) platform, a next generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) silicone dioxide linker
technology. “Tunable” is a term used in drug development that refers to the properties that can be influenced by chemical
modifications, and “antibody-drug conjugate” or ADC is a term used to describe a drug made up of a monoclonal antibody attached
to a cytotoxic payload, or a highly active and toxic pharmaceutical molecule, through chemical linkers. The ADC links an antibody that
can home in on a targeted tumor to deploy the cytotoxic payload or toxic agent against the tumor. Furthering our founding mission, we
intend to investigate clinical indications for OST-tADC in Osteosarcoma and other solid tumors
No
new treatments have been approved by the FDA for human Osteosarcoma for more than 40 years. In humans, Osteosarcoma is an extremely
rare cancer that primarily affects children, teenagers and young adults generally under 40 years of age. We are not aware of any
competing adjuvant therapy for Osteosarcoma to be tested in children that is further along in the development process than OST-HER2.
This disease is difficult to diagnose. The standard of care following first line therapies is simply to screen and wait for possible
recurrence/metastasis, or the development of secondary malignant growths at a distance from a primary site of cancer. Studies published
in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, “Osteosarcoma Relapse After Combined Modality Therapy: An Analysis of Unselected Patients
in the Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group (COSS),” by Kempf-Bielack B., et al. (January 2005), and “Second and Subsequent
Recurrences of Osteosarcoma: Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes of 249 Consecutive Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group Patients,”
by Bielack S., et al. (February 2009), reported that recurrence/metastasis happens in approximately half of all patients within 12
to 18 months following initial remittance. For those patients that experience recurrence, metastasis is typically to the lungs and
brain, with survival rates of approximately 13% over the next year, according to these studies.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our
financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).
The preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements.
We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under
the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that
are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ
from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Critical
accounting policies are those that, in management’s view, are most important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition
and results of operations and most demanding on their calls on judgment, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect
of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in subsequent periods. While our significant accounting policies are described
in more detail in Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report, we believe that the following accounting
policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Debt
Discount and Redemption Premium
We
evaluated the Group A Convertible Notes, the Group B Convertible Notes, the Group C Convertible Notes and the Bridge Notes (collectively,
the “Convertible Notes”) in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”)
and determined that the Convertible Notes are considered share-settled debt and should be recorded as a liability. This conclusion was
determined based on the debt providing the holder with a variable number of shares at settlement with an aggregate fair value equal to
the debt instrument’s outstanding principal. The general measurement guidance in ASC 480 requires obligations that can be
settled in shares with a fixed monetary value at settlement (e.g., share-settled debt) to be carried at fair value unless other accounting
guidance specifies another measurement attribute. It has been determined that the appropriate guidance for share-settled debt is ASC 835.
As a result, the Convertible Notes will be recorded at the amortized cost.
24
The
initial fair value of the redemption value relating to the convertible debt instruments are capitalized and amortized over the term of
the related debt using the straight-line method, which approximates the interest method. If a loan is paid in full, any unamortized financing
costs will be removed from the related accounts and charged to operations. Amortization of debt discount is recorded as a component of
interest expense. In accordance with ASU 2015-03, Interest — Imputation of Interest, the unamortized debt discount
is presented in the accompanying balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt.
The fair value of the redemption
liability is calculated under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and is determined based upon a Probability-Weighted of Expected Returns
Model (“PWERM”). This PWERM was determined to be the most appropriate method of estimating the value of possible redemption
or conversion outcomes over time. The fair value of the redemption liability is calculated using the initial value of the Convertible
Notes less the debt discount rate of 12.5% in Group A, 20% in Groups B and C, and 50% in Groups D, E and F. The redemption liability is
then amortized over the remaining life of the note, utilizing the interest rates of 10% and 6% for the groups, respectively. The life
of each note in Group A is for a set period of three years and is variable in Groups B, C, D, E and F, with a range of 12 months to three
years. We retain the option to negotiate an extended maturity date for Groups B, C, D, E and F. The new embedded redemption values were
$0 and $1,541,250 for the periods ended September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
The
fees associated with the convertible debt raise are legal and investment fees associated with the issuance of the Convertible Notes for
Groups A, B, C, D, E and F. There were no related parties who received these fees. The fees are amortized over the life of the Convertible
Notes utilizing an interest rate of 10% for Group A and 6% for Groups B, C, D, E and F.
Our
convertible debt raises and all associated accounts were closed out to stockholders’ equity on August 2, 2024, which was the date
on which we consummated our initial public offering and all outstanding convertible notes automatically converted into shares of common
stock.
Components
of Our Results of Operations
Revenue.
We did not recognize revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 or the year ended December 31, 2023.
Operating
Expenses. Our operating expenses are comprised primarily of research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses
and licensing costs.
Research
and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities,
including our drug discovery efforts, and the development of our product candidates, which include:
●
personnel-related
costs, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense, for employees engaged in research and development functions;
●
expenses
incurred in connection with our research programs, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contractors
and CROs;
●
the
cost of developing and scaling our manufacturing process and manufacturing drug substance and drug product for use in our research
and preclinical and clinical studies, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contractors and contract
development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs); and
●
the
cost of laboratory supplies and research materials.
25
We
track our direct external research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis. These consist of costs that include fees,
reimbursed materials, and other costs paid to consultants, contractors, CDMOs, and CROs in connection with our preclinical, clinical
and manufacturing activities. We do not allocate employee costs, costs associated with our discovery efforts, and facilities expenses,
including depreciation or other indirect costs, to specific product development programs because these costs are deployed across multiple
programs and, as such, are not separately classified.
We
expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially as we advance OST-HER2 and OST-tADC into clinical development
and expand our discovery, research and preclinical activities in the near term and in the future.
General
and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs, including stock-based
compensation, for personnel in executive, finance and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include professional
fees for legal, patent, consulting, investor and public relations and accounting and audit services.
We
anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued
research activities and development of our product candidates. We also anticipate that we will incur increased accounting, audit, legal,
regulatory, compliance, and director and officer insurance costs as well as investor and public relations expenses associated with operating
as a public company.
Licensing
Costs. Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses and asset purchases are charged to licensing costs if the technology licensed
has not reached technological feasibility which includes manufacturing, clinical, intellectual property and/or regulatory success which
has no alternative future use. The licenses purchased by us require substantial completion of research and development and regulatory
and marketing approval efforts in order to reach technological feasibility.
Interest
Expense. We evaluated the Convertible Notes in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”),
and determined the Convertible Notes are considered share-settled debt and should be recorded as a liability. This conclusion was determined
based on the debt providing the holder with a variable number of shares at settlement with an aggregate fair value equal to the debt
instrument’s outstanding principal. The general measurement guidance in ASC 480 requires obligations that can be settled in
shares with a fixed monetary value at settlement (e.g., share-settled debt) to be carried at fair value unless other accounting guidance
specifies another measurement attribute. It has been determined that the appropriate guidance for share-settled debt is ASC 835.
As a result, the Convertible Notes were recorded at the amortized cost.
Cumulative Series A
Preferred Stock Dividend. The Series A preferred stock dividend requirement represents the coupon dividends on our preferred
stock and is identified as a separate component of our statement of operations to compute net income (loss) available to common shareholders.
The coupon dividends are computed at 5% of the principal per annum and are recorded monthly. The cumulative accrued dividend at September
30, 2024 and 2023 was $375,000 and $312,500, respectively. The Series A preferred stock was converted into common stock on a 1:1 basis
in February 2024, and the last coupon dividend was issued in the quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Income
Taxes. Since our inception, we have not recorded income tax benefits for the net operating losses incurred or the research and
development tax credits generated in each year, due to the uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items.
As
of December 31, 2023, we had U.S. federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $16.3 million, which may be available
to offset future taxable income. The federal net operating loss carry forward indefinitely but may only be used to offset 80% of annual
taxable income. As of December 31, 2023, we also had federal and state general business tax credit carry forwards of $1.4 million
available to offset future tax liabilities and expire at various dates beginning in January 1, 2022. We have R&D credits that
we opted to convert and use toward payroll taxes in amounts equal to $0.3 million as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023,
we also had a federal and state research and development tax credit carry forwards of approximately $0.3 million, which may be available
to offset future tax liabilities and expire at various dates beginning January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2023, respectively.
26
Deferred
Offering Costs. Deferred offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, printing and filing fees that we capitalized, which will
be offset against the gross proceeds from our initial public offering.
Results
of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared
to Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
The following table summarizes
our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
September 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Expenses:
Research and development expenses
$ 1,210,216
$ 454,505
General and administrative
1,227,177
167,703
Total operating expenses
2,437,393
622,208
Loss from operations
(2,437,393 )
(622,208 )
Other income (expenses): Interest Income
-
1
Interest expense
(437,839 )
(1,352,783 )
Total other expenses
(2,875,232 )
(1,974,990 )
Net loss
(2,875,232 )
(1,974,990 )
Cumulative Series A preferred stock dividend requirement
-
(31,250 )
Net loss available to common shareholders
$ (2,875,232 )
$ (2,006,240 )
Research and Development
Expenses. Research and development expenses were approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024
compared to approximately $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease
in vendor expenses associated with our Phase IIb clinical trial and a decrease in vendor expenses associated with out OST-tADC platform
technology. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023:
As of September 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Direct research and development expenses by program:
OST-HER2
$ 1,007
$ 339
OST-tADC
-
15
Unallocated research and development expenses:
Personnel-related
203
101
Total research and development expenses
$ 1,210
$ 455
For the three months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, the direct research and development expenses related to OST-HER2 were primarily lab fees, vendor expenses
and staff payroll fees. In 2024, such expenses were primarily lab fees and related clinical support of approximately $1.0 million attributed
to our Phase IIb clinical trial preparation and CRO costs as we completed IND-enabling studies. OST-tADC related direct research and development
expenses were approximately $0.0 million and $0.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
General and Administrative
Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were approximately $1.2 million
compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. These expenses were primarily attributed to marketing costs
and accounting fees to consultants.
27
Licensing Costs. We
did not have any licensing costs for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Interest Expense. Interest
expense for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $0.4 million compared to $1.4 million for the three
months ended September 30, 2023. The amounts of interest are comprised of accretion of debt discount being amortized in 2024 and 2023
from associated discounts related to convertible notes and placement agent warrants, together with interest expenses from the issuances
of convertible notes.
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2024 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
The
following table summarizes our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
September 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Expenses:
Research and development expenses
$ 1,968,591
$ 2,197,936
General and administrative
1,878,831
987,677
Total operating expenses
3,847,422
3,185,613
Loss from operations
(3,847,422 )
(3,185,613 )
Other income (expenses): Interest Income
1
2
Interest expense
(2,044,283 )
(3,141,405 )
Total other expenses
(2,044,282 )
(3,141,403 )
Net loss
(5,891,704 )
(6,327,016 )
Cumulative Series A preferred stock dividend requirement
(31,250 )
(93,750 )
Net loss available to common shareholders
$ (5,922,954 )
$ (6,420,766 )
Research and Development
Expenses. Research and development expenses were approximately $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024
compared to approximately $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease
in vendor expenses associated with our Phase IIb clinical trial and a decrease in vendor expenses associated with out OST-tADC platform
technology. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023:
As of September 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Direct research and development expenses by program:
OST-HER2
$ 1,551
$ 1,683
OST-tADC
—
214
Unallocated research and development expenses:
Personnel-related
418
301
Total research and development expenses
$ 1,969
$ 2,198
For the nine months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023, the direct research and development expenses related to OST-HER2 were primarily lab fees, vendor expenses
and staff payroll fees. In 2024, such expenses were primarily lab fees and related clinical support of approximately $1.6 million attributed
to our Phase IIb clinical trial preparation and CRO costs as we completed IND-enabling studies. OST-tADC related direct research and development
expenses were approximately $0.0 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
28
General
and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were approximately
$1.9 million compared to $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. These expenses were primarily attributed
to marketing costs and accounting fees to consultants.
Licensing
Costs. We did not have any licensing costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
Interest
Expense. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was approximately $2.0 million compared to $3.1 million
for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The amounts of interest are comprised of accretion of debt discount being amortized in
2024 and 2023 from associated discounts related to convertible notes and placement agent warrants, together with interest expenses from
the issuances of convertible notes.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Operating
Losses
Since our inception, we have
incurred significant operating losses. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily
on the successful development and eventual commercialization of our product candidates. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and
2023, we reported a net loss of approximately $5.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately
$35.4 million and $28.0 million, respectively. We expect to incur significant expenses at an increasing rate and increasing operating
losses for the foreseeable future.
As of September 30, 2024
and 2023, we had cash of approximately $1.9 million and $0.02 million, respectively. We have funded our operations to date primarily from
the sale of our convertible notes in our private placements, which have provided total gross proceeds of $19.2 million as of July 31,
2024. We believe that the net proceeds from our private placements, together with our existing cash, will enable us to fund our operating
expenses and capital expenditure requirements for the next three to nine months.
We
consummated our initial public offering on August 2, 2024, converting all our outstanding Convertible Notes into common stock and raising
$6.4 million in gross proceeds on the sale of 1.6 million shares of our common stock. Net proceeds from our initial public offering were
used to pay off accounts payable and fund continuing losses through September 30, 2024.
Cash
Flows
The
following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:
September 30,
(In thousands)
2024
2023
Cash used in operating activities
$ (4,908 )
$ (2,135 )
Cash provided by investing activities
—
1
Cash provided by financing activities
6,727
1,979
Net increase (decrease) in cash
$ 1,819
$ (155 )
Operating
Activities
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, operating activities used approximately $4.9 million and $2.1 million of cash,
respectively, resulting from our net loss of approximately $5.9 million and $6.3 million, respectively, offset by net non-cash charges
of approximately $1.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively, partially offset by net cash provided by changes in our operating
assets and liabilities of approximately $(0.4) million and $1.6 million, respectively.
Net cash provided by changes
in our operating assets and liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 consisted primarily of an increase (decrease)
in accounts payable of approximately $(0.9) million and $1.1 million, respectively, an increase in accrued interest of approximately
$0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and a change in accrued payroll of approximately $(0.1) million and $(0.1) million,
respectively.
29
Non-cash
charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were primarily the result of the amortization of debt discount on our convertible
debt of approximately $1.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current
liabilities and prepaid expenses and other current assets in all periods were generally due to growth in our business, the advancement
of our research programs and the timing of vendor invoicing and payments.
Investing
Activities
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $0.0 million and $0.0 million,
respectively.
Financing
Activities
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $6.7 million and $2.0 million,
respectively. The net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 consisted of net proceeds
from sales of convertible notes and our initial public offering, reduced by capitalized deferred offering costs.
Convertible
Notes
We
have completed seven separate private financing transactions from July 2018 to April 2024 in which we issued the Convertible Notes
and raised total gross proceeds of $19,186,520 from accredited investors.
Information
with respect to the seven separate private financings of convertible notes — A, B, C, D, E, F and BlinkBio — are
indicated in the table below.
Group
Dates of
issuance
Rate
Maturity
Collateral
Conversion
rate
September 30,
2024
carrying
amount
December 31,
2023 carrying amount
Convertible Note
ceiling range on
note valuation
(in millions)
A
2018 – 2021
10%
10/31/2024
None
80% – 87.5 %
$ —
$ 1.2
$ 5
to 25 – varies per note
B
2020 – 2021
6%
10/31/2024
None
80 %
$ —
$ 5.2
$ 19
C
2021 – 2023
6%
10/31/2024
None
80 %
$ —
$ 3.9
$ 19
or 50 – varies per note
D
2022
– 2023
6%
10/31/2024
None
50 %
$ —
$ 2.0
$ 50
E
2023
6%
10/31/2024
None
50 %
$ —
$ 1.1
$ 50
F
2023
– 2024
6%
10/31/2024
None
50 %
$ —
$ 1.4
$ 50
BlinkBio
2020
10%
3/15/2022
None
100 %
$ —
$ —
$ 19.2
30
The total accrued interest
on the convertible notes listed in the table above was approximately $0.0 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2024 and December
31, 2023, respectively. The carrying amount and face amount of such convertible notes differ because of the unamortized debt issuance
costs and the debt discount (which are amortized over the original term of the instrument) — see accounting policy discussion
below. The material terms of each group of Convertible Notes are described below. The Convertible Notes, including interest accrued thereon,
automatically converted into common stock upon consummation of our initial public offering on August 2, 2024.
Group
A Convertible Notes. From July 2018 through November 2021, we issued convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount
of $1,154,000 (the “Group A Convertible Notes”) to accredited investors, including related parties. Interest on the unpaid
principal balance on the Group A Convertible Notes accrued at a rate of 10% per annum, computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed and a year of 365 days. Unless earlier converted into shares of Equity Securities, the principal and accrued interest on
the Group A Convertible Notes were due and payable by us on demand by the holders of such convertible notes at any time after the earlier
of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the closing of the Next Equity Financing (which was our initial public offering). In general,
the stated Maturity Date varied from the date of issuance of two to four years and was extended in October 2023, under the
same terms, until October 31, 2024.
The
Group A Convertible Notes automatically converted into shares of our common stock upon the consummation of our initial public offering.
The number of shares of our common stock issued upon the automatic conversion was equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the outstanding
principal and unpaid accrued interest due on the Group A Convertible Note on the date of conversion by a percentage between 80% to 87.5%,
as applicable, of the initial public offering price per share in such offering. The Group A Convertible Notes had conversion capitalization
ceilings that ranged from $5 million to $25 million, which limited the price a noteholder must pay in a convertible note-to-common
stock conversion occurrence. The Group A Convertible Notes had a conversion price that ranged from $0.39 to $1.97 per share, depending
on the applicable valuation ceiling of each note (based on the initial public offering price of $4.00 per share).
Group
B Convertible Notes. From April 2020 through June 2021, we issued convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount
of $5,154,000 (the “Group B Convertible Notes”) to accredited investors. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the
Group B Convertible Notes accrued at a rate of 6% per annum, computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year
of 365 days. Unless earlier converted into shares of Equity Securities, the principal and accrued interest were due and payable
by us on demand by the convertible holders of such notes at any time after the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the
closing of the Next Equity Financing (which was our initial public offering). In general, the stated Maturity Date was March 31,
2022 but was extended in October 2023, under the same terms, until October 31, 2024.
The
Group B Convertible Notes automatically converted into shares of our common stock upon the consummation of our initial public offering.
The number of shares of our common stock issued upon the automatic conversion was equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the outstanding
principal and unpaid accrued interest due on the Group B Convertible Note on the date of conversion by 80% of the initial public offering
price per share in such offering. The Group B Convertible Notes had a conversion capitalization ceiling of $19 million, which limited
the price a noteholder must pay in a convertible note-to-common stock conversion occurrence. As a result of the valuation ceiling, the
Group B Convertible Notes had a conversion price of $1.31 per share (based on the initial public offering price of $4.00 per share).
Group
C Convertible Notes. From June 2021 through January 2023, we issued convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of
$3,945,020 (the “Group C Convertible Notes”) to accredited investors. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Group
C Convertible Notes accrued at a rate of 6% per annum, computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of
365 days. Unless earlier converted into shares of Equity Securities, the principal and accrued interest were due and payable by
us on demand by the holders of such convertible notes at any time after the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the closing
of the Next Equity Financing (which was our initial public offering). In general, the stated Maturity Date was May 31, 2024 but
was extended in October 2023, under the same terms, until October 31, 2024.
31
The
Group C Convertible Notes automatically converted into shares of our common stock upon the consummation of our initial public
offering. The number of shares of our common stock issued upon the automatic conversion was equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing the outstanding principal and unpaid accrued interest due on the Group C Convertible Note on the date of conversion by 80%
of the initial public offering price per share in such offering. The Group C Convertible Notes had a conversion capitalization
ceiling of $50 million, except that one note was subject to a valuation ceiling of $19 million, which limited the price a noteholder
must pay in a convertible note-to-common stock conversion occurrence. As a result of the applicable valuation ceiling, the Group C
Convertible Notes had a conversion price of $1.31 or $2.59 per share, as applicable (based on the initial public offering price of
$4.00 per share).
Bridge
Notes (Groups D, E and F). In November 2022, we issued convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000
(the “Group D Convertible Notes”) to accredited investors. From February to June 2023, we issued convertible notes in an
aggregate principal amount of $1,100,000 (the “Group E Convertible Notes”) to accredited investors. From June 2023 to April
2024, we issued convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $3,433,500 (the “Group F Convertible Notes” and,
collectively with the Group D Convertible Notes and Group E Convertible Notes, the “Bridge Notes”) to accredited investors,
of which an aggregate of $750,000 was issued in April 2024. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Bridge Notes accrued at a
rate of 6% per annum, computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 365 days. Unless earlier converted
into shares of Equity Securities, the principal and accrued interest was due and payable by us on demand by the holders of such convertible
notes at any time after the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the closing of the Next Equity Financing (which was our
initial public offering). In general, the stated Maturity Date was October 31, 2024.
The
Bridge Notes automatically converted into shares of our common stock upon the consummation of our initial public offering. The number
of shares of our common stock issued upon the automatic conversion was equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the outstanding principal
and unpaid accrued interest due on a Bridge Note on the date of conversion by 50% of the initial public offering price per share in such
offering. The Bridge Notes had a conversion capitalization ceiling of $50 million, which limited the price a noteholder must pay
in a convertible note-to-common stock conversion occurrence. As a result of the valuation ceiling, the Bridge Notes had a conversion
price of $2.00 per share (based on the initial public offering price of $4.00 per share).
Demand
Notes. On March 6, 2024 and June 28, 2024, we issued demand promissory notes to a lender who was an investor in one of our prior
convertible notes rounds in a principal amount of $100,000 and $150,000, respectively. The demand notes bear interest at a rate of 8%
per annum and the principal plus all accrued interest is payable upon demand by such lender. If such notes are not paid on demand by
us, interest will accrue at a rate of the lesser of 16% per annum and the highest rate of interest allowable under Maryland law.
As
of August 14, 2024, we have repaid the demand notes in full.
BlinkBio.
On August 19, 2020, we issued a convertible note with a principal amount of $2,400,000 (the “BlinkBio Convertible
Note”) to BlinkBio, Inc., which is a related party based on Dr. Goddard being our Chairman and as the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of BlinkBio, in exchange for the entry into the license agreement. On March 15, 2021, the principal and unpaid accrued interest
of $100,000 of the BlinkBio Convertible Note converted into 1,302,082 shares of our Series A preferred stock and then distributed
to BlinkBio stockholders. The BlinkBio Convertible Note had a conversion capitalization ceiling of $19.2 million, which limited
the price a noteholder must pay in a convertible note-to-common stock conversion occurrence. On February 9, 2024, the 1,302,082 shares
of our Series A preferred stock were converted into 651,041 shares of common stock (on a post-split basis).
TEDCO
Grant. In May 2021, we received the first of two tranches from TEDCO’s Rural & Underserved Business Recovery
from Impact of Covid-19 (RUBRIC) Grant in the amount of $50,000. In October 2021, we received the second tranche of $50,000, which
brought the total reimbursable grant amount to $100,000. We are obligated to report on and pay to TEDCO 3% of their quarterly revenues
for a five-year period following the reward date. Income from grants and investments are not considered revenues. Royalties due to TEDCO
are capped at 150% of the amount of the award, or $150,000. We have the option to eliminate the quarterly royalty obligation by making
an advance payment prior to the end of the five-year period, in which case, we will receive a 10% reduction of the royalty cap percentage
for each year prior to the expiration of the five-year reimbursement period that the grant is repaid in full. If we cease to meet eligibility
requirements at any time, the reimbursement obligation will become due to TEDCO immediately; however, the discount for meeting the obligation
will still apply.
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Contractual
Obligations and Other Commitments
We
enter into contracts in the normal course of business with our CDMOs, CROs and other third parties to support preclinical research studies
and testing and other development activities. These contracts are generally cancellable by us. Payments due upon cancellation consist
only of payments for services provided or expenses incurred, including non-cancellable obligations of our service providers, up to the
date of cancellation.
License
Obligations and Research Services
Advaxis.
In November 2020, we entered into an amended and restated development, license and supply agreement with Advaxis, Inc. (now
Ayala Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) (“Advaxis”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization
of proprietary Lm ( Listeria monocytogenes )-LLO (Listeriolysin O) cancer immunotherapies. Pursuant to this agreement, Advaxis
granted a license to us that allows us to utilize Advaxis’ ADXS-HER2 construct patents to develop and commercialize ADXS-HER2,
our lead product candidate (OST-HER2). The agreement was subsequently amended in April 2021 to modify the payment amounts for Milestones
2 and 3 listed in the table below. Under the terms of the amended agreement, we are required to pay to Advaxis (i) a one-time, non-refundable
payment of $1,550,000 (the “License Commencement Payment”) and (ii) certain amounts based on the achievement of the
milestones described in the payment schedule below. As of September 30, 2024, we paid to Advaxis a total of $2,925,000, consisting of
(i) the License Commencement Payment for Milestone 1 and (ii) $1,375,000 for Milestone 2.
Payments
towards the License Commencement Payment have been recorded as licensing expenses in our Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
for the year ended December 31, 2022. We expect to achieve Milestone 3 in March 2025. The payment schedule for milestones and
corresponding payment amounts is set forth below.
Milestone
Milestone
Payment
1. OST has secured funding of at least $2,337,500, in the aggregate (paid)
License
commencement
payment:
$ 1,550,000
2. The earlier to occur of: (A) OST having secured at least $8,000,000, in the aggregate, or (B) completion of the first Clinical Trial (paid)
$ 1,375,000
3. The earlier to occur of: (A) receipt of Regulatory Approval from the FDA for the First Indication of the first Licensed Product or (B) initiation of the first Registrational Trial of the first Licensed Product in the Field
$ 5,000,000
4. Cumulative Net Sales of all Licensed Products in excess of $20,000,000
$ 1,500,000
5. Cumulative Net Sales of all Licensed Products in excess of $50,000,000 Cumulative Net Sales of all Licensed Products in ex
$ 5,000,000
6. Cumulative Net Sales of all Licensed Products in excess of $100,000,000
$ 10,000,000
All
milestone payments are non-creditable and non-refundable and are due and payable upon the achievement of the milestone, regardless of
any failure by us to provide notice to Advaxis of such achievement.
In
addition to the payments upon achievement of the milestones listed in the above payment schedule, we are required to pay to Advaxis (i)
a percentage in the high single digits to low double digits of (a) upfront sublicense fees or (b) clinical or regulatory milestone
payment amounts, paid by a sublicensee to us in consideration of a sublicense grant to such sublicensee, and (ii) a quarterly royalty
of a percentage in the high single digits to low double digits of net sales of our products containing the ADXS-HER2 constructs.
BlinkBio.
In August 2020, we entered into a licensing agreement with BlinkBio, Inc., a privately-held developer of drug conjugate
therapies designed to facilitate the treatment of cancer. Pursuant to this agreement, BlinkBio granted a license to us that allows us
to utilize BlinkBio’s proprietary technology to develop, manufacture and commercialize certain of our products. BlinkBio granted
us an exclusive license for tunable drug conjugates that are directed towards, binds to or modifies the folate receptor alpha and a co-exclusive
license for tunable drug conjugates that are directed towards, binds to or modifies any target other than the folate receptor alpha,
such as HER2.
Under
the terms of the agreement, we are required to pay to BlinkBio (i) an upfront, non-refundable, non-creditable license fee of $300,000
(the “Up-Front Fee”), (ii) a royalty of 6% of net sales of our products that were made using BlinkBio’s proprietary
technology, subject to potential reductions on such royalty, and (iii) certain amounts based on the achievement of the milestones
described in the payment schedule below.
33
As
of September 30, 2024, we had paid the Up-Front Fee. The payment schedule for milestones and corresponding payment amounts is set forth
below.
Milestone Bearing Event
Milestone
Payment
1. License Fee to utilize proprietary technology (paid)
Up-front fee +
$2.4 million
Convertible Note
2. Commencement of a toxicology study commented pursuant to Good Laboratory Practices (under 21 CFR Part 58), such that any resulting positive data would be admissible to applicable Regulatory Authorities to support an IND (commonly referred to as “GLP-Tox”)
$ 375,000
3. Completion of a Phase I Clinical Trial
$ 1,500,000
4. Completion of a Phase IIb Clinical Trial
$ 2,500,000
5. Filing of an NDA, BLA or MAA registration (or the equivalent in any other territory around the world)
$ 6,000,000
6. Regulatory Approval in the first of the United States, within the European Union or within the United Kingdom
$ 12,000,000
We
are required to make the above cash payments to BlinkBio within 30 days of the achievement of each milestone with respect to the
first product to attain each such milestone, except that the first milestone only applies to our first product candidate. The aggregate
amount of payments relating to milestones 2 through 6 payable thereunder cannot exceed $22,375,000.
In
connection with the license agreement, we also agreed to issue the BlinkBio Convertible Note. See “— Convertible Notes”
above for more information on the BlinkBio Convertible Note.
George Clinical. In
June 2020, we entered into a services agreement, as amended, with George Clinical, Inc., a clinical contract research organization.
Pursuant to this agreement, we engaged George Clinical to use its clinical research services for our study entitled “An Open Label,
Phase 2 Study of Maintenance Therapy with OST-HER2 after Resection of Recurrent Osteosarcoma.” Under the terms of the agreement,
we are required to pay to George Clinical certain fees described in the fee schedule below. The total new budget under the agreement is
approximately $2,436,928. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023, we paid $345,836 and $921,300,
respectively, to George Clinical. These payments have been recorded as research and development expenses in our Statement of Operations
and Comprehensive Loss. The fee schedule for certain fees and corresponding payment amounts is set forth below.
George
Clinical Payment Schedule
Payment
Amount
1. Service Fee Advance (paid)
$
49,989
2. Service Fee Advance of $212,335 minus the amount already paid, plus PTC Fee Advance of $31,325 (paid)
$
193,671
3. Statistics Fees – 35% on Electronic Data Capture (EDC) Go Live Date
$
47,740
4. Statistics Fees – 35% on Development of SAP tables
$
47,740
5. Statistics Fees – 30% on Final Analysis
$
40,920
6. Service Fees – Remainder Due
Split monthly
over course
of study
George
Clinical tracks and invoices us for the number of task units completed and pass-through costs are invoiced each month in arrears based
on actual costs without mark-up. The PTC Fee Advance will be used to offset the first few months of invoices payable. As of September
30, 2024, the balance due to George Clinical was $295,082.
34
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules
and regulations of the SEC.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
A
description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations
is disclosed in Note 2 to Notes to the Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
The
JOBS Act
The
JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised
accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected
to avail ourselves of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards.
We
will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of our first fiscal year in which we have total
annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; (ii) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer”
under the rules of the SEC with at least $700.0 million of outstanding equity securities held by non-affiliates; (iii) the
date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the previous three years; or
(iv) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of our initial public offering.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not
applicable.
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.