UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(Mark
One)
☒
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024
or
☐
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from to
Commission
file number 001-36457
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
90-0031917
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
No.)
800
S. Gay Street , Suite 1610
Knoxville ,
Tennessee
37929
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(Zip
Code)
866 - 594-5999
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Not
Applicable
(Former
name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name
of each exchange on which registered
None
N/A
N/A
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”
“smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated
filer
☐
Non-accelerated
filer
☒
Smaller
reporting company
☒
Emerging
growth company
☐
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
The
number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of May 13, 2024, was 419,522,119 .
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
1
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
7
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
17
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
26
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
26
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
27
Item 1A. Risk Factors
27
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
27
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
27
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
27
Item 5. Other Information
27
Item 6. Exhibits
28
SIGNATURES
29
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. These
statements reflect management’s current knowledge, assumptions, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements also express
management’s current views of future performance, results, and trends and may be identified by their use of terms such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,”
“plan,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” and
other similar terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results
to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Such statements are made as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we undertake no obligation to update such
statements after this date, unless otherwise required by law.
Risks
and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to materially differ from those described in forward-looking statements include
those discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (including those described in
Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023), and:
●
The
uncertainty of generating (i) sales from rose bengal sodium-based drug candidates, PV-10 ® and PH-10 ® ,
and/or any other halogenated xanthene-based drug candidates (if and when approved), (ii) licensing, milestone, royalty, and/or
other payments related to these drug candidates, and/or (iii) payments from the Company’s liquidation, dissolution,
or winding up, or any sale, lease, conveyance, or other disposition of any intellectual property relating to these drug candidates
and/or rose bengal sodium- and other halogenated xanthene-based active pharmaceutical ingredients;
●
The
uncertainty of raising additional capital through the proceeds of private placement transactions of debt and/or equity securities,
the exercise of existing warrants and outstanding stock options, and/or public offerings of debt and/or equity securities;
●
The
disruptions from the widespread outbreak of an illness or communicable/infectious disease, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2, or another public health crisis to our business that could adversely affect our operations and financial condition;
and
1
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash
$ 18,035
$ 76,576
Restricted cash
744,717
950,223
Short-term receivables
98
476
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
245,954
337,522
Total Current Assets
1,008,804
1,364,797
Equipment and furnishings, less accumulated depreciation of $ 113,224 and $ 110,994 , respectively
9,789
12,020
Operating lease right-of-use asset
60,398
72,026
Total Assets
$ 1,078,991
$ 1,448,843
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 1,369,957
$ 1,675,891
Unearned grant revenue
715,176
953,248
Other accrued expenses
3,096,272
3,240,436
Accrued interest
40,660
22,600
Accrued interest - related parties
110,914
123,828
Notes payable
190,910
277,815
Convertible notes payable
953,000
800,000
Convertible notes payable - related parties
1,990,000
1,875,000
Operating lease liability, current portion
49,020
48,077
Total Current Liabilities
8,515,909
9,016,895
Operating lease liability, non-current portion
12,729
25,299
Total Liabilities
8,528,638
9,042,194
Commitments, contingencies, and litigations (Note 12)
-
Stockholders’ Deficit:
Preferred stock; par value $ 0.001 per share; 25,000,000 shares authorized; Series D Convertible Preferred Stock; 12,374,000 shares designated; 12,373,247 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; aggregate liquidation preference of $ 14,164,889 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
12,373
12,373
Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock; 11,241,000 shares designated; 10,587,571 and 10,361,097 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $ 121,205,780 and $ 118,613,136 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
10,587
10,361
Preferred stock, value
10,587
10,361
Common stock; par value $ 0.001 per share; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 419,522,119 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
419,522
419,522
Additional paid-in capital
245,362,902
244,714,967
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
( 60,580 )
( 60,165 )
Accumulated deficit
( 253,194,451 )
( 252,690,409 )
Total Stockholders’ Deficit
( 7,449,647 )
( 7,593,351 )
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
$ 1,078,991
$ 1,448,843
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Grant Revenue
$ 238,072
$ 205,025
Operating Expenses:
Research and development
555,535
548,393
General and administrative
129,802
438,845
Total Operating Expenses
685,337
987,238
Total Operating Loss
( 447,265 )
( 782,213 )
Other Expense:
Interest expense
( 56,777 )
( 45,241 )
Total Other Expense
( 56,777 )
( 45,241 )
Net Loss
$ ( 504,042 )
$ ( 827,454 )
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
$ ( 0.00 )
$ ( 0.00 )
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic and Diluted
419,522,119
419,497,119
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited)
2024
2023
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Net Loss
$ ( 504,042 )
$ ( 827,454 )
Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
( 415 )
191
Total Comprehensive Loss
$ ( 504,457 )
$ ( 827,263 )
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(Unaudited)
FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Loss
Deficit
Total
Preferred
Stock Series D
Preferred
Stock Series D-1
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Accumulated
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Loss
Deficit
Total
Balance at January
1, 2024
12,373,247
$ 12,373
10,361,097
$ 10,361
419,522,119
$ 419,522
$ 244,714,967
$ ( 60,165 )
$ ( 252,690,409 )
$ ( 7,593,351 )
Conversion
of 2022 Note to Series D-1 Preferred Stock
-
-
226,474
226
-
-
647,935
-
-
648,161
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
( 504,042 )
( 504,042 )
Other
comprehensive loss
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
( 415 )
-
( 415 )
Balance
at March 31, 2024
12,373,247
$ 12,373
10,587,571
$ 10,587
419,522,119
$ 419,522
$ 245,362,902
$ ( 60,580 )
$ ( 253,194,451 )
$ ( 7,449,647 )
FOR
THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023
Preferred
Stock Series D
Preferred
Stock Series D-1
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Accumulated
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Capital
Loss
Deficit
Total
Balance at January
1, 2023
12,373,247
$ 12,373
9,746,626
$ 9,747
419,497,119
$ 419,497
$ 242,954,193
$ ( 35,679 )
$ ( 249,588,641 )
$ ( 6,228,510 )
Balance
12,373,247
$ 12,373
9,746,626
$ 9,747
419,497,119
$ 419,497
$ 242,954,193
$ ( 35,679 )
$ ( 249,588,641 )
$ ( 6,228,510 )
Conversion
of 2021 Note to Series D-1 Preferred Stock
-
-
18,872
18
-
-
53,992
-
-
54,010
Conversion
of Note to Series D-1 Preferred Stock
-
-
18,872
18
-
-
53,992
-
-
54,010
Comprehensive
loss:
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
( 827,454 )
( 827,454 )
Other
comprehensive income
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
191
-
191
Balance
at March 31, 2023
12,373,247
$ 12,373
9,765,498
$ 9,765
419,497,119
$ 419,497
$ 243,008,185
$ ( 35,488 )
$ ( 250,416,095 )
$ ( 7,001,763 )
Balance
12,373,247
$ 12,373
9,765,498
$ 9,765
419,497,119
$ 419,497
$ 243,008,185
$ ( 35,488 )
$ ( 250,416,095 )
$ ( 7,001,763 )
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
2024
2023
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ ( 504,042 )
$ ( 827,454 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Non-cash lease expense
11,628
11,069
Depreciation
2,231
2,230
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Short term receivables
365
( 393 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
91,568
195,392
Accounts payable
( 305,736 )
( 186,280 )
Unearned grant revenue
( 238,072 )
( 205,025 )
Other accrued expenses
( 144,118 )
354,252
Operating lease liability
( 11,627 )
( 10,730 )
Accrued interest
53,308
42,829
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
( 1,044,495 )
( 624,110 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable
153,000
-
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable - related parties
815,000
600,000
Repayment of short-term note payable
( 86,905 )
( 84,297 )
Repayment of 2021 convertible note payable - related party
( 100,000 )
-
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
781,095
515,703
Effect of exchange rates on cash and restricted cash
( 647 )
( 1,845 )
Net Decrease In Cash and Restricted Cash
( 264,047 )
( 110,252 )
Cash and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period
1,026,799
1,431,707
Cash and Restricted Cash, End of Period
$ 762,752
$ 1,321,455
Cash and restricted cash consisted of the following:
Cash
$ 18,035
$ 34,153
Restricted cash
744,717
1,287,302
Cash and Restricted Cash,
End of Period
$ 762,752
$ 1,321,455
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest
$ -
$ -
Income taxes
$ -
$ -
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Conversion of 2021 Notes and related accrued interest to Series D-1 Preferred Stock
$ -
$ 54,010
Conversion of 2022 Notes and related accrued interest to Series D-1 Preferred Stock
$ 648,161
$ -
See
accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
PROVECTUS
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1.
Business Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
Provectus
Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “Provectus” or “the Company”),
is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapy medicines for different diseases that are based on a class of synthetic
small molecule immuno-catalysts called halogenated xanthenes (“HXs”). Our lead HX molecule is named rose bengal sodium (“RBS”).
The
Company’s proprietary, patented, pharmaceutical-grade RBS is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the drug candidates of
our current clinical development programs and the preclinical formulations of our current non-clinical early discovery programs.
Importantly, our pharmaceutical-grade RBS displays different therapeutic effects at different concentrations and can be formulated
for delivery by different routes of administration.
The
Company believes that RBS targets disease in a bifunctional manner. First, direct contact may lead to cell death or repair, depending
on the disease being treated and the concentration of the RBS utilized in the treatment. Second, multivariate immune signaling, activation,
and response may follow that may manifest as stimulatory, inhibitory, or both.
The
Company believes that it is the first entity to advance an RBS formulation into clinical trials for the treatment of a disease, such
as those trials reported on the clinical trials registry at ClinicalTrials.gov.
The
Company believes that it is the first and only entity to date to make pharmaceutical-grade RBS successfully, reproducibly, and consistently
at a purity of nearly 100%.
The
Company’s small molecule HX medical science platform comprises several different drug candidates and preclinical targets using
different concentrations delivered by different routes of administration specific to each disease area and/or disease indication.
The Company’s HX medical science platform includes clinical development programs in oncology (intratumoral administration),
dermatology (topical), and ophthalmology (topical); in vivo proof-of-concept programs in oncology (oral), hematology (oral), wound
healing (topical), and canine cancers (intratumoral); and in vitro drug discovery programs in infectious diseases and tissue regeneration and
repair.
Risks
and Uncertainties
The
Company’s activities are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including failing to successfully develop and license
or commercialize the Company’s prescription drug candidates.
7
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information pursuant to Regulation S-X. Accordingly,
they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be reviewed in
conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024
are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024.
2.
Liquidity and Going Concern
To
date, the Company has not generated any revenues or profits from planned principal operations.
The
Company’s cash and restricted cash were $ 762,752 at March 31, 2024 which includes $ 744,717 of restricted cash resulting from a
grant received from the State of Tennessee. The Company’s working capital deficit was $ 7,507,105 and $ 7,652,098 as of March 31,
2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $ 504,042 and $ 827,454 , respectively,
and cash used in operations was $ 1,044,495 and $ 624,110 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively. The
Company continues to incur significant operating losses. Management expects that significant on-going operating expenditures will be
necessary to successfully implement the Company’s business plan and develop and market its products. These circumstances raise
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that these unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. Implementation of the Company’s plans and its ability to continue as a
going concern will depend upon the Company’s ability to develop PV-10, PH-10, and/or any other halogenated xanthene-based drug
products, and to raise additional capital.
The
Company plans to access capital resources through possible public or private equity offerings, including the 2022 financing (see Note
5), exchange offers, debt financings, corporate collaborations, or other means. In addition, the Company continues to explore opportunities
to strategically monetize its lead drug candidates, PV-10 and PH-10, through potential co-development and licensing transactions, although
there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful with such plans. The Company has historically been able to raise capital
through equity offerings, although there can be no assurance that it will continue to be successful in the future. If the Company is
unable to raise sufficient capital, it will not be able to pay its obligations as they become due.
The
primary business objective of management is to build the Company into a commercial-stage biotechnology company; however, there can
be no assurance that it will be successful in co-developing, licensing, and/or commercializing PV-10, PH-10, and/or any other
halogenated xanthene-based drug candidate developed by the Company or entering into any financial transaction. Moreover, even if the
Company is successful in improving its current cash flow position, the Company nonetheless plans to seek additional funds to meet
its long-term requirements in 2024 and beyond. The Company anticipates that these funds will otherwise come from the proceeds of
private placement transactions, the exercise of existing warrants and outstanding stock options, or public offerings of debt or
equity securities. While the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for its expectation that it will be able to raise
additional funds, there can be no assurance that it will be able to obtain funds on commercially acceptable terms, or complete
additional financing in a timely manner. Any such financing may result in significant dilution to stockholders.
These factors
raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments
relating to the recoverability and classification of liabilities that may be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Our consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which contemplate our continuation as a going concern and
the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
presented in the consolidated financial statements do not necessarily purport to represent realizable or settlement values.
8
3.
Significant Accounting Policies
Since
the date the Company’s December 31, 2023 consolidated financial statements were issued in its 2023 Annual Report on March 28, 2024,
there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies.
Principles
of Consolidation
Intercompany
balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”)
requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. The Company’s significant estimates and assumptions include the recoverability and useful lives of long-lived
assets, accrued liabilities, and the valuation allowance related to the Company’s deferred tax assets.
Restricted
Cash
Restricted
cash consists of a grant award received from the State of Tennessee. Restricted cash available as of March 31, 2024 is $ 744,717 . See
Note 10, Grants.
Cash
Concentrations
Cash
and restricted cash are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits of $ 250,000 ,
although the Company seeks to minimize this through treasury management. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these
balances although there can be no assurance that it will not experience any losses in the future. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31,
2023, the Company had cash and restricted cash balances in excess of FDIC insurance limits of $ 512,752 and $ 776,799 , respectively.
9
Basic
and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
Basic
loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of vested common shares outstanding during the
period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other instruments to issue common
stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The following securities are excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive
common shares because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:
Schedule of Securities Excluded from Calculation of Weighted Average Dilutive Common Shares
2024
2023
March 31,
2024
2023
Warrants
412,500
475,000
Options
3,225,000
3,425,000
Convertible preferred stock
118,248,957
110,028,227
2021 unsecured convertible notes
494,041
3,860,043
2022 unsecured convertible notes
10,318,590
4,833,714
Total potentially dilutive shares
132,699,088
122,621,984
Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In November
2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” These amendments
require a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and to provide
in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually.
Public entities with a single reporting segment are required to provide both the new disclosures and all of the existing disclosures required
under ASC 280. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 , and interim periods within fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Since this new ASU addresses only disclosures, the Company does not expect the
adoption of this ASU to have any material effects on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company is currently
evaluating any new disclosures that may be required upon adoption of ASU 2023-07.
In December
2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this update address
investor requests for more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related
to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. This update also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness
of income tax disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted.
Since this new ASU addresses only disclosures, the Company does not expect the adoption to have any material effects on its financial
condition, results of operation or cash flows. The Company is currently evaluating any new disclosures that may be required upon adoption
of ASU 2023-09.
4.
Other Accrued Expenses
The
following table summarizes the other accrued expenses at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Schedule of Other Accrued Expenses
2024
2023
March 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
Accrued payroll and taxes
$ 827,432
$ 719,460
Accrued vacation
100,651
92,985
Accrued directors’ fees
1,976,839
2,330,589
Accrued other expenses
191,350
97,402
Total other accrued expenses
$ 3,096,272
$ 3,240,436
10
5.
Convertible Notes Payable
The following summarizes convertible notes
payable activity during the three months ended March 31, 2024:
2021
Financing
Schedule of Convertible Notes Payable
Non-Related Party Face Amount
Related Party Face Amount
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2024
$ -
$ 200,000
$ 200,000
Repayment
-
( 100,000 )
( 100,000 )
Balance as of March 31, 2024
$ -
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
2022
Financing
Non-Related Party Face Amount
Related Party Face Amount
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2024
$ 800,000
$ 1,675,000
$ 2,475,000
Issued
153,000
815,000
968,000
Conversion
-
( 600,000 )
( 600,000 )
Balance as of March 31, 2024
$ 953,000
$ 1,890,000
$ 2,843,000
For
further details on the terms of the 2021 and 2022 Notes, refer to our Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024.
11
2024
Repayment of 2021 Notes
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the
Company repaid $ 100,000 principal owed on the 2021 Note. As of March 31, 2024, principal and interest in the amount of $ 100,000 and $ 41,394 ,
respectively, remains outstanding on the 2021 Note.
2024
Conversions of 2022 Notes into Preferred Stock
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, principal and interest in the aggregate amount of $ 648,161 , owed in connection with the 2022 Notes
were converted into 226,474 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock at the Conversion Price of $ 2.862 . Any fractional shares issuable pursuant
to the formula were rounded up to the next whole share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock. See Note 8, Stockholders’ Deficit for additional
information on the Series D-1 Preferred Stock.
6.
Notes Payable
The
Company obtained short-term financing from AFCO Insurance Premium Finance for our commercial insurance policies. As of March 31, 2024
and December 31, 2023, the balance of the note payable was $ 190,910 and $ 277,815 , respectively.
7.
Related Party Transactions
During
each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had consulting fees of $ 63,600
to Mr. Bruce Horowitz (Capital Strategists) for services rendered. As of March 25, 2024, Mr. Horowitz resigned as COO and member of the Board. On March 26, 2024, the Company paid Mr. Horowitz $ 250,000 with a balance of $ 258,000 due on or
before June 30, 2024 , after which the amount of the second payment would be increased to $ 500,000 . Mr. Horowitz waived the amount of $ 469,000
due him in director fees.
See
Note 5 for details of other related party transactions.
Director
fees incurred during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were $ 96,250 .
Accrued directors’ fees as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were $ 1,976,839
and $ 2,330,589 ,
respectively.
8.
Stockholders’ Deficit
Preferred
Stock
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company issued 226,474 shares of Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock upon the conversion
of $ 600,000 of principal and $ 48,161 accrued interest outstanding on the 2022 Notes.
Options
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any issuances, grants, or exercises of options.
The
following table summarizes option activities during the three months ended March 31, 2024:
Schedule
of Option Activity
Shares
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Weighted Average Remaining Life in Years
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding and exercisable at January 1, 2024
3,225,000
$ 0.27
$ -
Forfeited
-
-
Outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2024
3,225,000
$ 0.27
1.62
$ -
12
The
following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2024:
Summary
of Stock Options Outstanding
Exercise Price
Outstanding and Exercisable
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
Intrinsic Value
$ 0.12
2,425,000
1.60
$ 152,775
$ 0.29
100,000
1.60
$ -
$ 0.75
550,000
1.70
$ -
$ 0.88
150,000
0.30
$ -
3,225,000
1.62
$ 152,775
Warrants
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not have any issuances, grants, or exercises of warrants.
The
following table summarizes warrant activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2024:
Schedule
of Warrant Activity
Number
of Warrants
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
Weighted
Average Remaining Life in Years
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding and exercisable at
January 1, 2024
412,500
$ 1.07
Forfeited
-
-
Outstanding and exercisable
at March 31, 2024
412,500
$ 1.07
0.13
$ -
The
following table summarizes information about warrants outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2024:
Summary
of Warrants Outstanding
Exercise Price
Outstanding and Exercisable
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Life
Intrinsic Value
$ 0.29
25,000
0.01
$ -
$ 1.00
18,000
0.14
$ -
$ 1.12
366,000
0.14
$ -
$ 2.00
3,500
0.14
$ -
412,500
0.13
$ -
Holders
of the outstanding warrants are not entitled to vote and the exercise prices of such warrants are subject to customary anti-dilution
provisions.
13
9.
Leases
On
June 18, 2022, the Company leased 2,700 square feet of corporate office space in Knoxville, Tennessee through an operating lease agreement
for a term of three years ending on June 30, 2025. The monthly base rent ranges from $ 4,053 to $ 4,278 over the term of the lease.
Total
operating lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $ 12,842 , of which $ 8,561 was included within research and development
and $ 4,281 was included within general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Total operating
lease expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $ 13,507 of which $ 9,005 was included within research and development and
$ 4,502 was included within general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
A
summary of the Company’s right-of-use assets and liabilities is as follows:
Schedule
of Right-of-use Assets and Liabilities
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows used in operating leases
$ 11,627
$ 10,730
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases
$ -
$ -
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
Operating leases
1 year 3 months
2 years 3 months
Weighted Average Discount Rate
Operating leases
5.0 %
5.0 %
- 8.0 %
Future
minimum payments under the Company’s non-cancellable lease obligations as of March 31, 2024 were as follows:
Future
Minimum Payments
Schedule of Future Minimum Payments Under Non-cancellable Lease
Years
Amount
2024
$ 38,166
2025
25,669
Total lease payments
63,835
Less: amount representing imputed interest
( 2,086 )
Present value of lease liability
61,749
Less: current portion
( 49,020 )
Lease liability, non-current portion
$ 12,729
14
10.
Grants
On
October 25, 2021, the Company received a grant award of $ 2,500,000 from the State of Tennessee for the study of animal cancers and dermatological
disorders for the period October 15, 2021 to June 30, 2022 (the “Tennessee Grant” or “Grant”). The Tennessee
Grant was pre-funded; therefore, the funds do not need to be used in full by June 30, 2022. The Tennessee Grant was provided as reimbursement
of research and development expenses related to the development of animal health drug products. The Company has elected gross presentation
of the Tennessee Grant income whereby grant revenue is recognized as qualifying costs are incurred and there is reasonable assurance
that the conditions of the grant have been met. Qualifying costs are presented as research and development expenses included in the Company’s
statement of operations, in the period that such costs are incurred.
As
of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $ 715,176 and $ 953,248 has been recorded as unearned grant revenue liability on the accompanying
condensed consolidated balance sheets, respectively. The Company recorded grant revenue of $ 238,072 during the three months ended March
31, 2024, and $ 205,025 during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
11.
License Transactions
In
the third quarter of 2019, the Company entered into a dialog with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (“BPEI”) regarding collaboration
on BPEI’s ophthalmic photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (“PDAT”) using the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade RBS.
On February 16, 2022, and later amended on May 11, 2022, the Company entered into an option agreement with the University of Miami (“UM”)
for an exclusive worldwide license of intellectual property (“IP”) developed by the Ophthalmic Biophysics Center (“OBC”)
of BPEI that included the use of OBC’s PDAT medical device in combination with formulations of the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade
RBS for the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections of the eye. The Company completed the arrangements of this collaboration
during the third quarter of 2022, whereby the Company paid $5,000 for the option that expires on May 31, 2023; agreed to pay up to $10,000
of new UM patent expenses for this IP during the period of the option and up to $25,000 of past UM patent expenses for this IP; and entered
into a sponsored research agreement with UM on September 16, 2022 to study the combination of OBC’s PDAT and TOP PV-305, a formulation
of the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade RBS, for the treatment of infectious keratitis .
On
March 21, 2024, the Company entered into an exclusive worldwide license for the IP. Details of the license agreement are
reported in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27,
2024.
12.
Commitments, Contingencies and Litigation
The
Company may, from time to time, be involved in litigation arising from the ordinary course of business. The Company is not aware of any
pending or threatened litigation that, if resolved against the Company, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
13.
Subsequent Events
The
Company has evaluated events that have occurred after the balance sheet and through the date the financial statements were issued. Based
upon the evaluation, the Company did not identify any recognized or non-recognized subsequent events that would have required adjustment
or disclosure in the financial statements, except as disclosed below.
Convertible
Notes Payable
Subsequent
to March 31, 2024, the Company entered into 2022 Notes with a related party investor (Executive Officer) in the aggregate principal amount
of $ 95,000 .
Subsequent to March 31, 2024, the Company entered
into 2022 Notes with a non-related party investor in the aggregate principal amount of $ 200,000 .
Series
D-1 Preferred Stock
Subsequent
to March 31, 2024, principal and interest in the aggregate amount of $ 459,189 , owed in connection with 2022 Notes was converted into
160,445 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock at the Conversion Price of $ 2.862 . Any fractional shares issuable pursuant to the formula
were rounded up to the next whole share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock.
15
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The
following discussion is intended to assist in the understanding and assessment of significant changes and trends related to our results
of operations and our financial condition together with our consolidated subsidiaries. This discussion and analysis should be read in
conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024 (“2023 Form 10-K”), which includes additional information about our critical
accounting policies and practices and risk factors. Historical results and percentage relationships set forth in the consolidated statement
of operations, including trends which might appear, are not necessarily indicative of future operations.
Clinical
Development and Drug Discovery
The
Company’s small molecule HX medical science platform, which comprises several different drug candidates and preclinical
formulations made from pharmaceutical-grade RBS using different concentrations and delivered by different routes of administration specific
to each disease area and/or indication, includes:
Clinical
Development Programs
●
Oncology: Intratumoral
(“ITU”) formulation PV-10 ® (“ITU PV-10”) has undergone and is undergoing multiple, monotherapy
and combination therapy, early- to late-stage clinical trials, expanded access programs (“EAPs”) for groups of and individual
patients, and/or quality of life (“QOL”) study at multiple clinical sites in Australia, Europe, and the U.S. for the
treatments of Stage III and IV melanoma and different types of liver cancers. ITU PV-10 has undergone clinical monotherapy and combination
therapy mechanism of action and mechanism of immune response study for melanoma, metastatic uveal melanoma, and metastatic neuroendocrine
tumors at Moffitt Cancer Center (“Moffitt”) in Tampa, Florida, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia, and
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
●
Dermatology:
Topical (“TOP”) formulation PH-10 ® (“TOP PH-10”) has undergone multiple mid-stage, monotherapy
clinical trials for the treatments of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis at different clinical sites in the U.S. TOP PH-10 has undergone
clinical monotherapy mechanism of action and mechanism of immune response study for psoriasis at The Rockefeller University in New
York, New York (“TRU”).
Different
formulations have undergone preclinical combination therapy study for psoriasis and are undergoing preclinical monotherapy study
for skin inflammation at TRU.
●
Ophthalmology: The
Company believes that clinical monotherapy proof-of-concept (“POC”) of TOP administration of non-pharmaceutical grade
rose bengal for the treatment of infectious keratitis has been shown by clinicians and researchers at the University of Miami’s
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (“BPEI”) in Miami, Florida, who are now collaborating with the Company to evaluate the potential
use of our pharmaceutical-grade RBS.
TOP
PV-305 has undergone preclinical monotherapy study for diseases and disorders of the eye, such as infectious keratitis, at
BPEI.
16
Preclinical
In Vivo Proof-of-Concept Programs
●
Oncology: ITU PV-10
has undergone preclinical monotherapy and combination therapy study for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and
human papillomavirus-positive and negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma at Moffitt. ITU PV-10 has undergone preclinical
monotherapy study for the treatment of penile squamous cell carcinoma at an academic medical center. ITU PV-10 has undergone preclinical
monotherapy and combination therapy study for the treatment of relapsed and refractory pediatric solid tumor cancers at the University
of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine in Calgary, Canada (“UCal”). The Company believes that the UCal researchers
have achieved in vivo monotherapy POC of ITU administration.
Oral (“PO”)
formulations are undergoing preclinical monotherapy study for high-risk and refractory adult solid tumor cancers at UCal. The Company
believes that the UCal researchers and the Company have both achieved in vivo monotherapy POC of PO administration, that the
Company has achieved in vivo monotherapy POC of PO administration in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings, and that
the Company has achieved in vivo monotherapy POC of intravenous (“IV”) administration.
●
Hematology: PO formulations
have undergone preclinical monotherapy study for the treatment of refractory and relapsed pediatric and other blood cancers, including
leukemias, at UCal. The Company believes that the UCal researchers have achieved in vivo monotherapy POC of PO administration.
●
Wound Healing: Different
formulations are undergoing preclinical monotherapy study for the healing of full-thickness cutaneous wounds. The Company believes
that in vivo monotherapy POC of TOP administration of non-pharmaceutical grade rose bengal for the treatment of this indication
has been shown by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, who are now collaborating with the Company
to use our pharmaceutical-grade RBS.
●
Animal Health: Different
formulations are undergoing preclinical monotherapy study for the treatment of canine soft tissue sarcomas at the University of Tennessee’s
College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Company believes that it has achieved monotherapy POC of ITU
administration in canines.
Preclinical
In Vitro Drug Discovery Programs
●
Immune vaccine adjuvant:
Different formulations have undergone and are undergoing preclinical study as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance T cell responses
for anti-viral and anti-cancer vaccines.
●
Infectious
Diseases: PO and intranasal (“IN”) formulations have undergone and are undergoing preclinical monotherapy study for
the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 at UCal, another Canadian academic research center, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
(“UTHSC”) in Memphis, Tennessee, and a U.S. contract research organization.
Different
formulations have undergone preclinical monotherapy and combination therapy study for the treatment of gram-positive and gram-negative
bacterial infections (including multi-drug resistant strains) and have undergone preclinical monotherapy study for the treatment
of oral bacterial infections at UTHSC.
Different
formulations have undergone preclinical monotherapy study for the treatment of fungal infections at UTHSC.
●
Tissue Regeneration
and Repair : Different formulations have undergone preclinical monotherapy study for vertebrate development, wound healing, and
tissue regrowth at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.
●
Proprietary :
Different
formulations are undergoing preclinical study for a proprietary disease at an academic medical
center.
17
Business
Strategy
The
Company is selectively continuing ongoing and planning to initiate new monotherapy and combination therapy ITU PV-10 clinical trials
in melanoma and liver cancer indications to generate more and/or new clinical data and appropriately utilizing clinical data from historical
ITU PV-10 trials, EAPs, and/or QOL study of these oncology indications. Our goals are to pursue drug approval pathways and/or co-development
relationships with commercial pharmaceutical companies for ITU PV-10 based on these indications and data.
The
Company is developing a systemically administered formulation of pharmaceutical-grade RBS for the treatment of cancer. Our goals, when
this work is complete, are to file an investigational new drug application (“IND”) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(“FDA”), take an initial systemic drug candidate into an early-stage clinic trial for an initial oncology or hematology
indication, and/or pursue a co-development collaboration or out-license arrangement for this route of administration and disease area.
The
Company is developing different formulations of pharmaceutical-grade RBS using different concentrations and different routes of administration
(e.g., PO, IV, IN) for other disease areas by endeavoring to show preclinical activity and lack of toxicity. Our goals, when each task
of this work is completed, are to file an IND with the FDA, take an initial drug candidate into an early-stage clinic trial for
an initial indication, and/or pursue a co-development collaboration or out-license arrangement for the respective disease area and route
of administration.
The
Company is endeavoring to fully elucidate the traits and characteristics of the RBS molecule using different academic medical centers
under sponsored research and testing agreements. Our goal is to gain and communicate additional knowledge of the RBS molecule’s
targeting, mechanism, signaling, immune response, and other features that are common to and/or different from each disease area and indication
under research.
The
Company is doing rigorous, chemical analytical comparisons of non-pharmaceutical grades of rose bengal from specialty chemical suppliers
against the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade RBS. Our goal is to demonstrate the proprietary nature of the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade
RBS and that our pharmaceutical-grade RBS meets the necessary uniformity and purity requirements for commercial pharmaceutical use.
18
RBS
API and Drug Candidate Manufacturing
Our
pharmaceutical-grade RBS resulted from the Company’s innovation of a proprietary, patented, commercial-scale process to synthesize
and utilize the RBS molecule into a viable active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”) for commercial pharmaceutical use; the
development of unique chemistry, manufacturing, and control (“CMC”) specifications for API and drug candidate
manufacturing processes; the production and multi-year stability testing of multiple API and drug candidate lots;
the comprehensive documentation of lot composition and reproducibility; and the review and acceptance of CMC data from these lots by
seven different national drug regulatory agencies for use in a prior, multi-country, multi-center Phase 3 randomized control trial of
the Company.
The
Company’s API and drug candidate manufacturing processes employ Quality-by-Design principles, current good
manufacturing practice (“cGMP”) regulations, and the guidelines of The International Council for Harmonization (ICH) of
Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. These processes utilize controls that eliminate the formation of
historical impurities and avoid the introduction of potentially hazardous impurities that the Company believes may have been and
could be present in uncontrolled and unreported amounts in non-pharmaceutical grades of rose bengal.
The
Company’s processes of synthesizing the RBS molecule into pharmaceutical-grade RBS and manufacturing RBS API and ITU PV-10
drug candidate, the processes’ CMC specifications, and the CMC data from the production of stability lots of API and drug candidate have been reviewed by multiple national drug regulatory agencies prior to granting clinical trial authorizations
for the Company to commence a historical Phase 3 study of ITU PV-10 for the treatment of locally advanced cutaneous melanoma,
including the U.S. FDA, Germany’s Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM), Australia’s
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under a clinical trial notification, France’s Agence Nationale de
Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé (ANSM), Italy’s Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco
(AIFA), Mexico’s Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS), and Argentina’s
Administración Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnología Médica (ANMAT).
RBS
Nonproprietary Name
The
RBS name for the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade API was selected by and passed the review of the World Health Organization (“WHO”)
Expert Advisory Panel on the International Pharmacopoeia and Pharmaceutical Preparations after the Company applied for the non-proprietary
name in the third quarter of 2020 and reached the status of recommended International Nonproprietary Names (“INN”). INN Recommended
List 88, which includes the RBS name, was published with the No. 3 issue of the WHO Drug Information, Volume 36 in the fourth quarter
of 2022.
19
Non-Pharmaceutical
Grades of Rose Bengal
Commercial-Grade
This
material may be purchased from specialty chemical suppliers in the U.S. and from other parts of the world; however, the Company believes
that the material itself is almost exclusively made in China and India under non-cGMP conditions. Commercial grade rose bengal appears
to have reported purity that may vary between approximately 80% and 95%, and that may contain substantial amounts of unreported impurities
and/or gross contaminants. Commercial grade rose bengal is typically used by researchers unaffiliated with the Company for preclinical
study of the rose bengal molecule for potential biomedical therapeutic applications.
We
believe that commercial grade rose bengal is still manufactured using the historical process (or a variant thereof) that was
developed by the synthetic molecule’s original Swiss creator Rudolph Gnehm in 1881. Some manufacturers may, however, apply
purification techniques that the Company believes still result in materials that may possess questionable purity and contaminants and
may also be subject to substantial lot-to-lot manufacturing variability.
Diagnostic-Grade
The
Company coined this phrase to describe non-approved rose bengal that is used as an ingredient in historical or current ophthalmic solutions
and strips, has been historically or is presently compounded by pharmacists for ophthalmic use, and has been or is in other non-ophthalmic
diagnostic tests such as the rose bengal test in human brucellosis.
We
presume, but have not yet confirmed, that diagnostic-grade rose bengal is derived from commercial-grade rose bengal that may have undergone
a form of purification and/or may have been compounded under cGMP regulations by a pharmacist, academic medical researcher, or commercial
entity. Here too, the Company believes that purification may not sufficiently improve the amounts and accuracy of rose bengal purity
and lot contents and may not adequately reduce or eliminate lot-to-lot manufacturing variability.
Chemical
Analytical Comparison
In
the first quarter of 2022, the Company began work with a U.S. contract development and manufacturing organization to assess rigorously
and methodically three lots of commercial-grade rose bengal, one each from three different specialty chemical suppliers, and compare these non-pharmaceutical grade materials with the Company’s pharmaceutical-grade RBS. This chemical analytical work
was substantially completed by the end of the third quarter of 2022. The Company believes that the preliminary results of these analyses
indicate that all three lots of commercial grade rose bengal had rose bengal purity that was drastically different from what was represented
on their respective certificates of analysis (“CofAs”), and that one of the three lots contained gross contaminants that
were not represented on its CofA.
Potential
Barriers to Entry
The
Company believes that the Company’s proprietary, patented, pharmaceutical-grade RBS possesses several competitive advantages over
non-pharmaceutical-grades of rose bengal that researchers, clinicians, and academic, business, and/or governmental competitors have used,
are using, and/or may attempt to use for potential biomedical applications. The Company believes that non-pharmaceutical-grades of rose
bengal may suffer from the uncontrolled presence of substance-related impurities and/or gross contaminants, substantial lot-to-lot manufacturing
variability, inaccurately reported and/or misrepresented purity and contents, and the lack of reproducible, consistent, and fulsome CMC
specifications and documentation.
The
Company believes that historical and potentially hazardous impurities and other manufacturing and handling issues facing non-pharmaceutical
grades of rose bengal may pose significant scientific, technological, and economic challenges to overcome and validate for compliance
with modern drug regulatory standards.
20
Components
of Operating Results
Grant
Revenue
Grant
revenue is recognized when qualifying costs are incurred and there is reasonable assurance that the conditions of the grant have been
met. Cash received from grants in advance of incurring qualifying costs is recorded as unearned grant revenue and recognized as grant
revenue when qualifying costs are incurred.
Research
and Development Expenses
A
large component of our total operating expenses is the Company’s investment in research and development activities, including the
clinical development of our product candidates. Research and development expenses represent costs incurred to conduct research and undertake
clinical trials to develop our drug candidates. These expenses consist primarily of:
●
Costs of conducting clinical
trials, including amounts paid to clinical centers, clinical research organizations and consultants, among others;
●
Salaries and related expenses
for personnel, including stock-based compensation expense;
●
Other outside service costs
including cost of contract manufacturing;
●
The costs of supplies and
reagents; and,
●
Occupancy and depreciation
charges.
We
expense research and development costs as incurred.
Research
and development activities are central to our business model. We expect our research and development expenses to increase in the future
as we advance our existing product candidates through clinical trials and pursue their regulatory approval. Undertaking clinical development
and pursuing regulatory approval are both costly and time-consuming activities. As a result of known and unknown uncertainties, we are
unable to determine the duration and completion costs of our research and development activities, or if, when, and to what extent we
will generate revenue from any subsequent commercialization and sale of our drug candidates.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expense consists primarily of salaries, stock-based compensation expense and other related costs for personnel in
executive, finance, accounting, business development, legal, information technology and corporate communication functions. Other costs
include facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expense, insurance, and professional fees for legal, patent
and accounting services.
21
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023
Overview
Grant
revenue was $238,072 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, an increase of $33,047 or 16.1% compared to the three months ended March
31, 2023. Total operating expenses were $685,337 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $301,901 or 30.6% compared
to the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was driven primarily by (i) reduced professional fees, (ii) decrease in director
fees due to write-off of Bruce Horowitz accrued fees, partially offset by (iii) higher clinical trial costs related to study closure,
(iv) increased payroll and taxes, (v) higher legal costs related to patents and general corporate counsel, and (vi) higher other general
and administrative cost. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $504,042, a decrease of $323,412 or 39.1% compared to
the three months ended March 31, 2023.
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Increase/(Decrease)
% Change
Grant Revenue
$ 238,072
$ 205,025
$ 33,047
16.1 %
Operating Expenses:
Research and development
555,535
548,393
7,142
1.3 %
General and administrative
129,802
438,845
(309,043 )
-70.4 %
Total Operating Expenses
685,337
987,238
(301,901 )
-30.6 %
Total Operating Loss
(447,265 )
(782,213 )
334,948
42.8 %
Other Expense:
Interest expense, net
(56,777 )
(45,241 )
(11,536 )
-25.5 %
Total Other Expense, Net
(56,777 )
(45,241 )
(11,536 )
-25.5 %
Net Loss
$ (504,042 )
$ (827,454 )
$ 323,412
39.1 %
Grant
Revenue
For
the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, there was $238,072 and $205,025, respectively, of grant revenue recognized
related to qualifying expenses that were incurred and included within research and development expenses on the condensed consolidated
statements of operations.
Research
and Development Expenses
Research
and development expenses were $555,535 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $7,142 or 1.3% compared to $548,393
for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to (i) lower insurance costs, partially offset by (ii)
higher clinical trial costs associated with study closure, and (iii) higher payroll and taxes.
The following table summarizes
research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Increase/(Decrease)
% Change
Research and development:
Clinical trial and research expenses
419,380
406,595
$ 12,785
3.1 %
Depreciation/amortization
1,765
1,487
278
18.7 %
Insurance
57,547
65,300
(7,753 )
-11.9 %
Payroll and taxes
68,282
66,006
2,276
3.4 %
Rent and utilities
8,561
9,005
(444 )
-4.9 %
Total research and development
$ 555,535
$ 548,393
$ 7,142
1.3 %
22
General
and Administrative Expenses
General
and administrative expenses were $129,802 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $309,043 or 70.4% compared to $438,845
for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to (i) lower professional fees, (ii) reversal of director fees
for Mr. Horowitz upon his resignation on March 25, 2024, partially offset by (iii) higher legal fees related to patents and corporate
matters pertaining to the 2024 proxy statement and officer’s resignation, and (iv) higher other general and administrative costs.
The following table summarizes
general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
2024
2023
Increase/(Decrease)
% Change
General and administrative:
Depreciation
$ 466
$ 743
$ (277 )
-37.3 %
Directors fees
(353,750 )
96,250
(450,000 )
-467.5 %
Insurance
45,579
36,623
8,956
24.5 %
Legal and litigation
176,820
60,072
116,748
194.3 %
Other general and administrative cost
14,711
(11,080 )
25,791
232.8 %
Payroll and taxes
64,849
64,839
10
0.0 %
Professional fees
176,130
186,527
(10,397 )
-5.6 %
Rent and utilities
4,851
4,871
(20 )
-0.4 %
Foreign currency translation
146
-
146
100.0 %
Total general and administrative
$ 129,802
$ 438,845
$ (309,043 )
-70.4 %
Other
Expense
Net
interest expense increased by $11,536 or 25.5% from $45,241 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $56,777 for the three
months ended March 31, 2024. The increase was mainly due to the interest expense costs incurred in connection with the higher notes payable
balances.
23
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company’s cash and restricted cash were $762,752 at March 31, 2024 which includes $744,717 of restricted cash resulting from a
grant received from the State of Tennessee, compared to $1,026,799 at December 31, 2023, which included $950,223 of restricted cash.
The Company’s working capital deficit was $7,507,105 and $7,652,098 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The
condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared on a
basis that contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.
We have continuing net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities. In addition, we have an accumulated deficit of $253,194,451
as of March 31, 2024. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period within one
year from the date that the financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are issued. Our financial statements
do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classification of assets and liabilities that may be necessary should we be unable
to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern depends on our ability to obtain additional financing as may
be required to fund current operations.
As
of March 31, 2024, cash required for our current liabilities included approximately $4,515,249 for accounts payable and other accrued
expenses (including operating lease liabilities) and a $190,910 note payable related to our short-term financing of our commercial insurance
policies. Also, if not converted prior to maturity, convertible debt in the amount of $2,943,000 plus accrued interest will mature one
year from the date of the notes. As of March 31, 2024, cash required for our long-term liabilities consists of $12,729 for our operating
lease. The Company intends to meet these cash requirements from its current cash balance and from future financing.
Management’s
plans include selling our equity securities and obtaining other financing, including the issuance of 2022 unsecured convertible notes
(the “2022 Financing”), to fund our capital requirements and on-going operations; however, there can be no assurance that
the Company will be successful in these efforts. Significant funds will be needed to continue and complete our ongoing and planned clinical
trials.
24
Access
to Capital
Management
plans to access capital resources through possible public or private equity offerings, including the 2022 Financing, equity financings,
debt financings, corporate collaborations, or other means. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital, we will not be able to pay our
obligations as they become due.
The
primary business objective of management is to build the Company into a commercial-stage biotechnology company; however, there can
be no assurance that management will be successful in implementing the Company’s business plan of developing, licensing,
and/or commercializing our prescription drug candidates. Moreover, even if we are successful in improving our current cash flow
position, we nonetheless plan to seek additional funds to meet our current and long-term requirements in 2024 and beyond. We
anticipate that these funds will otherwise come from the proceeds of private placement transactions, the exercise of existing
warrants and outstanding stock options, or public offerings of debt or equity securities. While we believe that we have a reasonable
basis for our expectation that we will be able to raise additional funds, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain
funds on commercially acceptable terms, or complete additional financing in a timely manner. In addition, any such financing may
result in significant dilution to stockholders.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
We
prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require our management to make estimates that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as
well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences
between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates
on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations
for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.
We
consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were
highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from
period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact
on our financial condition or results of operations. There are items within our financial statements that require estimation but are
not deemed critical, as defined above.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also
known as special purpose entities (“SPEs”).
Available
Information
Our
website is located at www.provectusbio.com. We make available free of charge through this website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the site and should not be considered
part of this document.
The
SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC as we do. The website is http://www.sec.gov.
The
Company also intends to use press releases, the Company’s website and certain social media accounts as a means of disclosing information
and observations about the Company and its business, and for complying with the Company’s disclosure obligations under Regulation
FD: the Provectus Substack account (provectus.substack.com), the @ProvectusBio X account (twitter.com/provectusbio), and the Company’s
LinkedIn account (linkedin.com/company/provectus-biopharmaceuticals). The information and observations that the Company posts through
these social media channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these social media channels in addition to
following the Company’s press releases, SEC filings, and website. The social media channels that the Company intends to use as
a means of disclosing the information described above may be updated from time to time.
The
contents of the websites provided above are not intended to be incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or our
Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC. Further, our references to the URLs for these websites
are intended to be inactive textual references only.
25
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our
management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, carried out an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer
and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered in this report, our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and
forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer,
as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Inherent
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Even
assuming the effectiveness of our controls and procedures, our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error
or all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the
control system’s objectives will be met. In general, our controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that
our control system’s objective will be met, and our principal executive officer and principal financial officer has concluded that
our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level. The design of a control system must reflect the
fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of
the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error
or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent
limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error
or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management
override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future
events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls in future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
26
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The
information required by this item is incorporated by reference from Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements, Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements, Note 12.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS.
There
have been no material changes to the risk factors that were disclosed in the 2023 Form 10-K.
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
2022
Financing
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company received aggregate proceeds of $968,000 pursuant to certain unsecured convertible
notes (the “2022 Notes”). Through March 31, 2024, the Company had drawn down $4,195,500 under the 2022 Notes.
For
further details on the terms of the 2022 Notes, refer to our Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024.
Preferred
Convertible Stock
During
the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company issued 226,474 shares of restricted Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock upon the
conversion of $600,000 of principal and $48,161 accrued interest outstanding on the 2022 Notes.
The
Company believes that such transactions were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the
“Securities Act”), in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder)
as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering.
ITEM
3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
None.
ITEM
4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not
applicable.
ITEM
5. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
27
ITEM
6. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit
No.
Description
10.1
Independent Contractor and Director Fee Termination Agreement and Release, dated March 25, 2024, between the Company and Bruce Horowitz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2024).
10.2
Independent Contractor Agreement, dated March 25, 2024, between the Company and Dominic Rodrigues (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2024).
10.3
Exclusive License Agreement (with Equity), dated March 21, 2024, by and between the Company and University of Miami (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2024).
10.4
Pershing Employment Agreement, dated April 16, 2024, between the Company and Ed Pershing (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024).
10.5
Rodrigues Employment Agreement, dated April 16, 2024, between the Company and Dominic Rodrigues (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024).
31.1**
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (Section 302 Certification).
31.2**
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (Section 302 Certification).
32***
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 Certification).
101.INS**
Inline XBRL Instance Document
– the 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
Schema 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 and contained in Exhibit 101)
**
Filed herewith.
***
Furnished herewith.
28
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
PROVECTUS BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
May 14, 2024
By:
/s/
Dominic Rodrigues
Dominic Rodrigues
President (Principal Executive Officer)
By:
/s/ Heather
Raines
Heather Raines, CPA
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
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.