Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls
Our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined
in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information required to be disclosed by us in
reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s
rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial
officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures,
management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that
the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and
instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.
Management’s Report on Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control
over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. All internal control systems, no matter
how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance
with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
As of December 31, 2023, under the supervision
and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted
an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control Integrated Framework 2013. Based on this assessment, our management concluded that, as
of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on such criteria.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control
over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During our last fiscal quarter ended December
31, 2023, none of our directors or executive officers adopted, modified or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”
or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as such terms are defined under Item 408 of Regulation S K.
On March 27, 2024, the Company entered into a
warrant inducement agreement (the “Warrant Inducement Agreement”) with the holder of certain common stock purchase warrants
issued pursuant to a securities purchase agreement dated December 29, 2022 by and between the Company and holder. Pursuant to the Warrant
Inducement Agreement, the holder has agreed to immediately exercise in cash all 2,500,000 of the common stock purchase warrants at a reduced
exercise price of $1.6675 per share (reduced from $5.00 per share) for gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.2 million. As
an inducement to such exercise, the Company has agreed to issue to the Holder unregistered warrants to purchase up to 3,750,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. Each new warrant will be immediately exercisable upon issuance
and expire on July 3, 2028.
The offering is expected to close on or about April 1, 2024, subject
to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general working capital
needs.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS
THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
49
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth the name, age and positions of our executive
officers and directors as of March 26, 2024.
NAME
AGE
POSITION
Robb Knie
55
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
David Briones
47
Chief Financial Officer
Wayne Linsley
67
Director
David B. Sarnoff
56
Director
Graig Springer
44
Director
Jeff Pavell
57
Director
The business background and certain other information about our directors
and executive officers is set forth below.
Robb Knie
Robb Knie has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer and as a director of the Company since May 2017 and served as our principal financial and accounting officer from June 2018 until
March 2019. From October 2020 to January 2023, Mr. Knie served as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and chairman of
the board of directors of FoxWayne Enterprises Acquisition Corp. (“FoxWayne”), a special purpose acquisition corporation.
Mr. Knie served as the President of Lifeline Industries Inc. since its inception in 1995. From 2002 to 2010 he was a Semiconductor Analyst
for PAW Partners. From 1993 until 1995, Mr. Knie served as Northeast Regional Manager of American Express Financial Advisors. Mr. Knie
has served as a board member for Nasdaq-listed companies. He has been featured on Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine
as an Independent Equity Analyst. Mr. Knie has over 20 years of equity markets experience. Mr. Knie has been a member of the American
Chemical Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, as well as The National Alliance for Youth Sports. We believe that
Mr. Knie is qualified to serve as a director because of his business and leadership experience and experience as a board member of public
companies in the healthcare industry.
David Briones
David Briones has served as Chief Financial Officer
of the Company since March 2019 and has over 24 years of public accounting and executive level experience. He consults with various public
companies in financial reporting, internal control development and evaluation, budgeting and forecasting. Since September 2021, Mr. Briones
has served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary and a member of the board of directors of Larkspur Healthcare Acquisition
Corp. (Nasdaq: LSPR), a special purpose acquisition corporation. Since October 2010, he has served as the managing member and founder
of Brio Financial Group, LLC, a full-service financial consulting firm that brings experienced finance and accounting expertise to both
public and private companies. Since 2010, Mr. Briones has served over 75 companies as well as numerous banks, hedge funds, venture capital
funds and private equity firms. In addition, from May 2018 until its dissolution in April 2021, Mr. Briones served as Executive Chair
of Zovis Pharmaceuticals, and from August 2013 to January 2020, Mr. Briones served as Chief Financial Officer of Petro River Oil Corp.
(“PTRC”), an independent energy company focused on the exploration and development of conventional oil and gas assets. Mr.
Briones also served as interim Chief Financial Officer of AdiTx Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADTX), a pre-clinical stage, life sciences
company with a mission to prolong life and enhance life quality of transplanted patients from January 2018 to July 2020 (until the company’s
initial public offering). From October 2017 to May 2018, Mr. Briones served as the Chief Financial Officer of Bitzumi, Inc., a Bitcoin
exchange and marketplace. Prior to founding Brio Financial Group, LLC, Mr. Briones was an auditor with Bartolomei Pucciarelli, LLC in
Lawrenceville, New Jersey and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in New York, New York. Since May 2020, Mr. Briones has served as a member of
the board of directors of Unique Logistics International Inc (OTC Pink: UNQL). Mr. Briones received a bachelors of science degree in accounting
from Fairfield University.
50
Wayne Linsley
Wayne D. Linsley has served as a director of the
Company since April 2020. Mr. Linsley has been in business management for over 40 years. He possesses a wide and varied skillset including
sales and sales management, finance (for both public and private companies), accounting, audit support and financial reporting. He has
a bachelor’s in business administration from Siena College in Loudonville, NY. From 2009 to September 2021 he worked for a financial
reporting firm that works with publicly traded companies. He has extensive knowledge of financial statements, MD&A, SEC Filings (10-K,
10-Q, 8-K, etc.) Edgar, etc. He often negotiated on behalf of clients in such areas as audit fees, transfer agents, Edgar companies, etc.
He currently serves as an independent director for DatChat Inc. (Nasdaq: DATS), serving as the chair of its audit committee, compensation
committee and nominating and corporate governance committee, and Silo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: SILO) serving as the chair of its audit committee
and compensation committee. We believe Mr. Linsley is qualified to serve as a member of the board because of his business management experience.
David B. Sarnoff
David Sarnoff has served as a director of the
Company since August 2018. Since May 2015, Mr. Sarnoff has served as the founder and Principal of Sarnoff Group, LLC, and since January
2019, he has served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Executive Leadership Coach at Loeb Leadership. In addition, since December
2021, Mr. Sarnoff has served as Adjunct Faculty at iCoach Global (formally known as iCoach New York) with respect to a professional coaching
program affiliated with the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. From October 2003 until May 2015, Mr. Sarnoff served as the
co-founder and Principal of Morandi, Taub & Sarnoff LLC, an executive search firm, and from July 1998 until October 2003 he served
as a Legal Recruiter for Schneider Legal Search, Inc. From August 1994 until July 1998, Mr. Sarnoff served as a litigation associate attorney
at Wachtel Missry LLP (formerly known as Gold & Wachtel LLP). Since July 2018, Mr. Sarnoff has served as a member of the advisory
committee of the New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers. From January 2015 until January 2018, Mr. Sarnoff served as board
President of Fort Lee Board of Education and served as a board member from January 2013 through January 2019. In September of 2020, Mr.
Sarnoff was appointed to a three year term on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and
in September 2022, he was appointed as Co-Chair of that committee. Mr. Sarnoff received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School
of Law and his bachelor of arts from Hofstra University. Mr. Sarnoff is admitted to the New York and New Jersey (retired status) state
bars. We believe that Mr. Sarnoff is qualified to serve as a director because of his legal experience as well as his extensive experience
in executive leadership and business development.
Graig Springer
Graig Springer has served as a director of the
Company since February 2020. Since April 2021, Mr. Springer has served as Vice President for Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions LLC (“Brookfield”)
in their Legal and Regulatory Department, and from August 2020 to April 2021, he served as a consultant to Brookfield Public Securities
Group LLC. From May 2019 to August 2019, Mr. Springer assisted with product development and governance at Invesco U.S., an investment
management company, and from December 2013 to May 2019, he served in various capacities at OppenheimerFunds, Inc., an investment management
company acquired by Invesco U.S., including distribution compliance and product development. In addition, Mr. Springer served on the Sub-Adviser
Oversight Committee at OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Mr. Springer received his bachelor of arts from Columbia University and his Juris Doctor
from Fordham University School of Law. Mr. Springer also holds a Series 7 and a Series 24 license. We believe that Mr. Springer is qualified
to serve as a director because of his fifteen years of experience within the financial services industry overseeing and advising firms’
compliance with federal rules and regulations.
51
Jeff
Pavell
Jeff
Pavell has served as a director of the Company since December 2022. Since January 2017, Dr. Pavell has served as Chief of Rehabilitation
Medicine at Englewood Health, and since November 2021, he has been on the teaching staff at New York-Presbyterian. In addition, since
December 2020 he has been on the teaching staff at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall. Furthermore, since 2010, Dr.
Pavell has served as a partner at Patient Care Associates, an outpatient surgical center, and since 2002, he has served as a Partner
at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, a private medical practice serving patients with spine, sports and occupational injuries.
Dr. Pavell is a Board Certified physician specializing in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Pavell is also certified
in pain medicine and specializes in the most advanced non-operative treatments for spine, sports and interventional pain medicines. Dr.
Pavell received his bachelor of arts from Johns Hopkins University and his D.O. degree with honors from the New York College of Osteopathic
Medicine. From January 2021 to January 2023, Dr. Pavell served as a member of the board of directors as well as chairman of the audit
committee and a member of the compensation committee of FoxWayne, a special purpose acquisition corporation. Furthermore, since September
2022, Dr. Pavell has served as a director of Silo Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: SILO) (“Silo”) as well as a member of the audit committee,
compensation committee and chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. We believe that Dr. Pavell is qualified to
serve as a director due to his extensive experience practicing in the healthcare industry as well as his prior experience serving as
a director for other public companies.
Family
Relationships
There
are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.
Arrangements
between Officers and Directors
Except
as set forth herein, to our knowledge, there is no arrangement or understanding between any of our officers or directors and any other
person pursuant to which the officer or director was selected to serve as an officer or director.
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
We
are not aware of any of our directors or officers being involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to any matters
in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other than traffic and other minor offenses), or being subject to any of the items set
forth under Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Committees
of Our Board of Directors
Our
board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Nevada law, and conducts its business through meetings
of the board of directors and its standing committees. We have a standing audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and
corporate governance committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board
of directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Our
board of directors has determined that all of the members of the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate
governance committee are independent as defined under the applicable rules of Nasdaq, including, in the case of all of the members of
our audit committee, the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In making such determination, the
board of directors considered the relationships that each director has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that the
board of directors deemed relevant in determining director independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each
director.
Audit
Committee
Our
audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
approving and retaining
the independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the annual audit of our consolidated financial statements;
●
reviewing the proposed
scope and results of the audit;
●
reviewing and pre-approval
of audit and non-audit fees and services;
52
●
reviewing accounting and
financial controls with the independent registered public accounting firm and our financial and accounting staff;
●
reviewing and approving
transactions between us and our directors, officers and affiliates;
●
establishing procedures
for complaints received by us regarding accounting matters;
●
overseeing internal audit
functions, if any; and
●
preparing the report of
the audit committee that the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement.
Our
audit committee consists of Wayne Linsley, David Sarnoff and Graig Springer, with Wayne Linsley serving as chair. Each member of our
audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the Nasdaq rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that
Wayne Linsley qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation
S-K.
Our
board of directors adopted a written charter for the audit committee which is available on our website at www.hoththerapeutics.com .
Compensation
Committee
Our
compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
reviewing and recommending
the compensation arrangements for management, including the compensation for our president and chief executive officer;
●
establishing and reviewing
general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance and to achieve
our financial goals;
●
administering our stock
incentive plans; and
●
preparing the report of
the compensation committee that the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require to be included in our annual meeting
proxy statement.
Our
compensation committee currently consists of Wayne Linsley, Graig Springer and Jeff Pavell, with Wayne Linsley serving as chair.
Our
board of directors adopted a written charter for the compensation committee which is available on our website at www.hoththerapeutics.com.
Nominating
and Governance Committee
Our
nominating and governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
●
identifying and nominating
members of the board of directors;
●
developing and recommending
to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to our Company; and
●
overseeing the evaluation
of our board of directors.
53
Our
nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Wayne Linsley, Graig Springer and David Sarnoff, with Graig Springer serving
as chair.
Our
board of directors adopted a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee which is available on our website
at www.hoththerapeutics.com.
Scientific
Advisory Board
In July 2017, the board of directors formed a
Scientific Advisory Board (formerly known as the Technology Advisory Board). As of March 26, 2024, the members of such board are as follows:
(i) Dr. Mario Lacouture, Dr. William Weglicki, and Dr. Adam Friedman as Medical Doctor members and (ii) Dr. Glenn Cruse, Dr. Carla Yuede,
Dr. John Cirrito, and Sergio Traversa as Non-Medical Doctor members.
Code
of Business Code and Ethics Conduct
We
have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.
A copy of the code is posted on our website at www.hoththerapeutics.com. Disclosure regarding any amendments to, or waivers from, provisions
of the code of conduct and ethics that apply to our directors, principal executive and financial officers will be posted on the “Investors-Corporate
Governance” section of our website at www.hoththerapeutics.com or will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we will
file within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver.
Changes
in Nominating Procedures
None.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth the compensation paid or accrued during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 to our principal
executive officer and an additional officer (collectively, the “named executive officers”):
●
Robb Knie, Chief Executive
Officer and President; and
●
Stefanie Johns, former
Chief Scientific Officer.
Name
and Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)(1)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)(2)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings ($)
All
Other
Compensation
($)(3)
Total
($)
Robb
Knie
2023
450,000
200,000
-
103,601
-
-
115,222
868,823
Chief
Executive Officer and President
2022
450,000
300,000
-
216,361
-
-
94,009
1,060,370
Stefanie
Johns
2022
382,443
20,000
108,181
-
-
185,263
695,886
Former
Chief Scientific Officer
(1)
Represents payments of
discretionary bonuses for performance during the applicable years as determined by the board, and as further described below Bonus
Arrangements.
54
(2)
Represents the aggregate
grant date fair value of options granted for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 as determined in accordance
with FASB ASC Topic 718, rather than the amount paid to or realized by Robb Knie and Stefanie Johns. See Note 6, “Stockholders’
Equity” in the notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and
December 31, 2022 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding the Company’s accounting for share-based
compensation plans.
(3)
All other compensation
represents the employer matching contributions to each Robb Knie’s and Stefanie Johns’ 401(k) accounts and the amounts
received for their executive health or supplemental health insurance premiums. Mr. Knie received (i) an employer 401(k) contribution
in the amounts of $19,800 and $18,000 for fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively, and (ii) payments for executive health or supplemental
medical insurance premiums in the amounts of $95,422 and $76,009 for fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively. Ms. Johns received
(A) an employer 401(k) contribution in the amounts of $0 and $18,300 for fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively, and (B) payments
for executive health or supplemental medical insurance premiums in the amounts of $0 and $34,463 for fiscal years 2023 and 2022,
respectively. For 2022, all other compensation for Ms. Johns includes the following in connection with payments received under the
Stefanie Johns Separation Agreement and General Release, dated December 9, 2022, pursuant to which Ms. Johns was entitled to the
following payments for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2022:
Name
Separation
Payment
Total
of All
Other
Compensation
Stefanie Jones
$
132,500
$
132,500
Employment
Agreements
Robb
Knie Employment Agreement
On
March 28, 2023, we entered into an employment agreement (the “2023 Knie Employment Agreement”) with Robb Knie, pursuant to
which Mr. Knie continues to serve as our Chief Executive Officer. The term of the 2023 Knie Employment Agreement will continue for a
period of three years from the date of execution and automatically renews for successive one-year periods at the end of each term until
either party delivers written notice of their intent not to review at least six months prior to the expiration of the then effective
term. Mr. Knie’s base salary is $450,000 per year. Mr. Knie is eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to $350,000 per year at
the discretion of the compensation committee of the Company, based upon the achievement of Company and individual performance targets
established by the compensation committee. Under the 2023 Knie Employment Agreement, Mr. Knie is also entitled to receive equity-based
compensation awards. In addition, the 2023 Knie Employment Agreement contains standard non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.
Mr. Knie is also eligible to receive additional equity-based compensation awards as the Company may grant from time to time. The 2023
Knie Employment Agreement further provides for standard expense reimbursement, vacation time and other standard executive benefits.
Pursuant
to the 2023 Knie Employment Agreement, in the event Mr. Knie’s employment is terminated without Cause (as defined in the 2023 Knie
Employment Agreement), due to a non-renewal by the Company, he voluntarily resigns, or if he resigns for Good Reason (as defined in the
2023 Knie Employment Agreement), Mr. Knie is entitled to (i) a cash payment equal to the sum of (x) 24 months of his base salary
at the then current rate (or 36 months if such termination occurs within 12 months of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2023 Knie
Employment Agreement)) and (y) annual bonus in effect on his last day of employment; (ii) continuation of health benefits for a
period of 24 months (or 36 months if such termination occurs within 12 months of a Change in Control); (iii) a lump sum payment
equal to the amount of any annual bonus earned with respect to a prior fiscal year, but unpaid as of the date of termination; (iv) a
lump sum payment equal to the amount of annual bonus that was accrued through the date of termination for the year in which employment
ends; and (v) subject to Mr. Knie’s compliance with his restrictive covenants, the outstanding and unvested portion of any
equity award will accelerate and immediately vest on the date of Mr. Knie’s termination.
55
In
the event that Mr. Knie’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, he will be entitled to receive (i) a lump
sum payment equal to the amount of any annual bonus earned with respect to a prior fiscal year, but unpaid as of the date of termination;
(ii) a lump sum payment equal to the amount of annual bonus that was accrued for the year in which employment ends; and (iii) the
treatment of any equity awards in accordance with their respective equity award agreements.
In
the event that Mr. Knie’s employment is terminated due to his non-renewal or resignation without Good Reason, he will be entitled
to receive a lump sum payment equal to the amount of any annual bonus earned with respect to a prior fiscal year, but unpaid as of the
date of termination.
Equity
Grant Practices
2018
Equity Incentive Plan
On
May 4, 2018, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 2018 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018
Plan”). The 2018 Plan became effective on May 4, 2018 upon approval of the 2018 Plan by the Company’s shareholders at the
Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. Pursuant to the 2018 Plan, the Company can grant stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, annual or long-term performance awards or other stock-based awards. As
of December 31, 2023, the outstanding option awards under the 2018 Plan total 79,360, as described in the table “Option Awards”
below.
2022
Equity Incentive Plan
On
March 24, 2022, the Company’s board of directors adopted the Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022
Plan”) initially reserving 96,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for issuance thereunder. The 2022 Plan became effective
on June 23, 2022 upon approval of the 2022 Plan by the Company’s shareholders at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders.
On June 2, 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved the Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Equity
Incentive Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2022 Plan”) which was approved by stockholders on August 18, 2023. Pursuant to
the Amended and Restated 2022 Plan, the Company can grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock
units, deferred stock units, annual or long-term performance awards or other stock-based awards. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding
option awards under the Amended and Restated 2022 Plan total 90,000, as described in the table “Option Awards” below.
Bonus
Arrangements
Pursuant
to the terms of the executive employment agreements described above, the Company, through the board, has the discretion to determine
the amounts of the annual incentive bonus payments which executives may receive Based on the review of the Company’s performance
for calendar year 2023, the board, in its sole discretion, determined to pay the bonuses to the named executive officers listed in the
summary compensation table above.
401(k)
Plan
The
Company maintains a defined contribution employee retirement plan, or 401(k) plan, for its employees. The 401(k) plan is intended to
qualify as a tax-qualified plan under Section 401(k) of the Code so that contributions to the 401(k) plan, and income earned on such
contributions, are not taxable to participants until withdrawn or distributed from the 401(k) plan. The Company will match a participant’s
contribution 100% up to 6% of their compensation, subject to statutory limits.
Perquisites
Perquisites
are not a material component of compensation. In general, named executive officers do not receive reimbursements for meals, airlines,
and travel costs, other than those costs allowed for all employees. During 2023, no named executive officers received an allowance from
the Company or any of the above or a reimbursement for any expense incurred for non-business purposes.
56
Outstanding
Equity Awards at December 31, 2023
The
following table provides information regarding option awards held by each of our named executive officers that were outstanding as of
December 31, 2023. There were no stock awards or other equity awards outstanding as of December 31, 2023.
Option Awards
Name
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#) Exercisable
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
Option
Exercise
Price ($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Robb Knie
10,000 (1)
-
$ 131.50
12/24/2029
3,201 (2)
-
$ 76.25
7/21/2030
9,000 (3)
-
$ 52.75
1/29/2031
20,000 (4)
-
$ 14.75
3/16/2032
40,000 (5)
-
$ 2.59
7/17/2033
(1)
Stock options granted to
Robb Knie vested in full immediately upon grant.
(2)
Stock options granted to
Robb Knie vested in full immediately upon grant.
(3)
Stock options granted to
Robb Knie vested in full immediately upon grant.
(4)
Stock options granted to
Robb Knie vested in full immediately upon grant.
(5)
Stock options granted to
Robb Knie vested in full immediately upon grant.
Non-Employee
Director Compensation
The
following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors and received
compensation for such service during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Other than as set forth in the table and described more
fully below, we did not pay any compensation, make any equity awards or non-equity awards to, or pay any other compensation to any of
the non-employee members of our board of directors in 2023.
Name
Fees earned
or paid in
cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)(1)(2)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
($)
All
Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Jeff
Pavell
50,000
-
15,210
-
-
-
65,210
David
Sarnoff
50,000
-
15,210
-
-
-
65,210
Graig
Springer
50,000
-
15,210
-
-
-
65,210
Wayne
Linsley
50,000
-
15,210
-
-
-
65,210
(1)
Amounts reported represent
the aggregate grant date fair value for option awards granted in each respective year in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding
the effect of forfeitures. See Note 6, “Stockholders’ Equity” in the notes to the Company’s consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended 2023 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 2023 for more
information regarding the Company’s accounting for share-based compensation plans.
(2)
On July 17, 2023, Jeff
Pavell was granted ten-year options to purchase up to 7,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.59,
which options vested in full upon grant.
On July 17, 2023, David
Sarnoff was granted ten-year options to purchase up to 7,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.59,
which options vested in full upon grant.
57
On July 17, 2023, Graig
Springer was granted ten-year options to purchase up to 7,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of
$2.59, which options vested in full upon grant.
On July 17, 2023, Wayne
Linsley was granted ten-year options to purchase up to 7,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $2.59,
which options vested in full upon grant.
Non-Employee
Director Compensation Policy
Our
directors receive $50,000 cash compensation per year for their service on the board of directors, as well as reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses with respect to such directors’ attendance at meetings of the board of directors of the Company.
Committee
chairs receive an additional one-time $6,000 cash compensation upon appointment for their added services in such roles.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information
regarding beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of March 26, 2024 by (i) each person known to beneficially own more than
5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of our named executive officers and (iv) all of our directors
and named executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws, where applicable.
Beneficial
Owner (1)
Shares
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Percentage (2)
Directors
and Named Executive Officers:
Robb
Knie
340,331 (3)
7.22 %
Wayne
Linsley
36,154 (4)
*
David
Sarnoff
38,420 (5)
*
Graig
Springer
177,067 (6)
3.87 %
Jeff
Pavell
35,882 (7)
*
All
Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (5 persons)
629,545
12.61 %
5%
or Greater Shareholders:
Armistice
Capital, LLC (8)
510 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10022
228,278 (9)
5.18 %
*
Represents beneficial ownership
of less than 1%.
(1)
The address of each person
is c/o Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., 590 Madison Ave, 21 st Floor, New York, New York 10022 unless otherwise indicated herein.
(2)
The calculation in this column is based upon 4,403,804 shares of common stock outstanding on March 26, 2024. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to the subject securities. Shares of common stock that are currently exercisable or convertible within 60 days of March 26, 2024 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the purpose of computing the percentage beneficial ownership of such person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage beneficial ownership of any other person.
(3)
Includes options to purchase
up to 307,200 shares of the Company’s common stock.
(4)
Includes options to purchase
up to 36,020 shares of the Company’s common stock.
(5)
Includes options to purchase
up to 37,4204 shares of the Company’s common stock.
58
(6)
Includes (i) 134 shares
of the Company’s common stock held by Graig Springer, (ii) options to purchase up to 36,020 shares of the Company’s common
stock held by Graig Springer, (iii) 1,113 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Mr. Springer’s spouse and (iv)
options to purchase up to 139,800 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Mr. Springer’s spouse. Mr. Springer’s
spouse is an employee of the Company.
(7)
Excludes 1,693 shares of
the Company’s common stock that are subject to vesting.
(8)
Armistice Capital, LLC (“Armistice Capital”) is the investment
manager of Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (the “Master Fund”), and shares voting and investment power with respect to
these shares in this capacity. As manager of Armistice Capital, Steven Boyd also shares voting and investment power on behalf of Master
Fund. Each of Armistice Capital and Mr. Boyd disclaims beneficial ownership over the securities listed except to the extent of their pecuniary
interest therein. Amount of shares beneficially owned by Master Fund prior to the offering is based upon the Schedule 13G/A filed by the
Master Fund on February 14, 2024.
(9)
Includes warrants to purchase 228,278 shares of the Company’s
common stock. The warrants are subject to a beneficial ownership limitation of 4.99%, which such limitation restricts the holder from
exercising that portion of the warrants that would result in the holder and its affiliates owning, after exercise, a number of shares
of common stock in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation. Amount of shares beneficially owned by Master Fund prior to the offering
is based upon the Schedule 13G/A filed by the Master Fund on February 14, 2024.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2023.
Plan
Category
Number
of
securities
to be issued
upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights (a)
Weighted
average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
Number
of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
Equity compensation
plans approved by security holders
181,205
$ 25.03
586,990
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
181,205
586,990
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The
following includes a summary of transactions during our fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 to which we have been
a party, including transactions in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of
our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or, to our
knowledge, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons
had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than equity and other compensation, termination, change in control and
other arrangements, which are described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We are not otherwise a party to a current related
party transaction, and no transaction is currently proposed, in which the amount of the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or
1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which a related person had or will have
a direct or indirect material interest.
59
Related
Person Transaction Policy
We
have adopted a formal policy regarding approval of transactions with related parties. For purposes of our policy only, a related person
transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which
we and any related person are, were or will be participants in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of our
total assets at the end of our last completed fiscal year. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee
or director are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director or beneficial owner of more than 5% of
any class of our voting securities, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.
Under
the policy, if a transaction has been identified as a related person transaction, including any transaction that was not a related person
transaction when originally consummated or any transaction that was not initially identified as a related person transaction prior to
consummation, our management must present information regarding the related person transaction to our audit committee, or, if audit committee
approval would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our board of directors, for review, consideration and approval or ratification.
The presentation must include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related
persons, the benefits to us of the transaction and whether the transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to
or from, as the case may be, an unrelated third-party or to or from employees generally. Under the policy, we will collect information
that we deem reasonably necessary from each director, executive officer and, to the extent feasible, significant shareholder to enable
us to identify any existing or potential related-person transactions and to effectuate the terms of the policy. In addition, under our
code of business conduct and ethics, our employees and directors will have an affirmative responsibility to disclose any transaction
or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. In considering related person transactions,
our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances
including, but not limited to:
●
the risks, costs and benefits
to us;
●
the impact on a director’s
independence in the event that the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a
director is affiliated;
●
the availability of other
sources for comparable services or products; and
●
the terms available to
or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally.
The
policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related person transaction, our audit committee, or other
independent body of our board of directors, must consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not
inconsistent with, our best interests and those of our shareholders, as our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of
directors, determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.
Director
Independence
Our
board of directors determined that a majority of the board during the year ended December 31, 2023 consisted of members who were “independent”
as that term is defined under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). The Board considered Wayne Linsley, David Sarnoff, Graig Springer and Jeff
Pavell to be “independent.”
60
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by WithumSmith+Brown, PC as described below:
2023
2022
Audit
Fees
$ 193,758
$ 149,791
Audit
Related Fees
-
-
Tax
Fees
9,800
6,650
All
Other Fees
-
-
Total
$ 203,558
$ 156,441
Audit
Fees: Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services performed by WithumSmith+Brown, PC for the audit of our annual
consolidated financial statements, the review of interim consolidated financial statements, and related services that are normally provided
in connection with registration statements. There were $193,758 and $149,791 of such fees incurred by the Company in the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Audit-Related
Fees: Audit related fees consist of fees billed by an independent registered public accounting firm for assurance and related services
that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our consolidated financial statements. There were no such fees
incurred by the Company in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Tax
Fees: Tax fees consist of fees for professional services, including tax compliance performed by WithumSmith+Brown, PC. There were
$9,800 and $6,650 of such fees incurred by the Company in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
All
Other Fees: There were no such fees incurred by the Company in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Pre-Approval
Policies and Procedures
In
accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley, our audit committee charter requires the audit committee to pre-approve all audit and permitted non-audit
services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including the review and approval in advance of our independent
registered public accounting firm’s annual engagement letter and the proposed fees contained therein. The audit committee has the
ability to delegate the authority to pre-approve non-audit services to one or more designated members of the audit committee. If such
authority is delegated, such delegated members of the audit committee must report to the full audit committee at the next audit committee
meeting all items pre-approved by such delegated members. In the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 all of the services performed
by our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved by the audit committee.
61
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)
Financial Statements:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 100)
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
The
consolidated financial statements required by this Item are included beginning at page F-1.
(1)
Financial Statement Schedules:
All
financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the information required is shown in
the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.
62
(b)
Exhibits
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
3.1
Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
3.2
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
3.3
Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
3.4
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2019)
3.5
Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2019)
3.6
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 22, 2022)
3.7
Certificate of Change dated October 20, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2022)
3.8
Certificate of Designation dated November 2, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 3, 2022)
3.9
Certificate of Amendment (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2022)
4.1
Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of common stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
4.2
Form of Underwriter Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on January 11, 2019)
4.3
Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 25, 2020)
4.4
Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2020)
4.5*
Form of Warrant
4.6
Description
of the Registrant’s Securities (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on
March 31, 2023)
10.1+
Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. and Robb Knie (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 20, 2019)
10.2
Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
10.3+
2018 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on February 4, 2022)
10.4
Renewal
Agreement with Regus dated July 22, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on
March 31, 2023)
63
10.5
Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Form S-1/A filed on December 14, 2018)
10.6+
Employment Agreement between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. and David Briones (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2019)
10.7
Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2019)
10.8
Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2019)
10.9
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2019)
10.10
License Agreement with North Carolina State University dated November 20, 2019 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on March 2, 2020)
10.11
Development and Royalty Agreement by and between the Company and Voltron Therapeutics, Inc. dated March 23, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2020)
10.12#
Exclusive License Agreement between the Company and Virginia Commonwealth University Intellectual Property Foundation dated May 18, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 19, 2020)
10.13#
Sublicense Agreement by and between the Company and Isoprene Pharmaceutics, Inc. dated July 30, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2020)
10.14
License Agreement by and between the University of Cincinnati and Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. dated February 27, 2013 assigned to the Company on May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.15
First Amendment to Exclusive License Agreement by and between the University of Cincinnati and Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. dated April 17, 2013 assigned to the Company on May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.16
Second Amendment to Exclusive License Agreement by and between the University of Cincinnati and Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. dated February 27, 2013 assigned to the Company on May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.17
Assignment and Assumption Agreement by and between the Company and Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. dated May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.18
Royalty Agreement by and between the Company and Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. dated May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.19
Novation Agreement by and among the Company, Chelexa BioSciences, Inc. and the University of Cincinnati dated May 14, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.20
Patent License Agreement by and between the Company and the George Washington University dated August 7, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2020)
10.21+
Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Stefanie Johns dated August 28, 2020 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2020)
64
10.22
Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2021)
10.23
Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2021)
10.24
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2021)
10.25+
First Amendment to the Employment Agreement between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. and Stefanie Johns (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2021)
10.26
Form of Common Stock Warrants (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2021)
10.27
Form of Pre-Funded Warrants (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2021)
10.28
Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2021)
10.29
Form of Placement Agent Warrants (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2021)
10.30+
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Robb Knie dated June 25, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2021)
10.31+
Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement between the Company and Stefanie Johns dated June 25, 2021 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2021)
10.32+
Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022)
10.33+
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between the Company and Stefanie Johns dated November 10, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2022)
10.34+
Separation Agreement and General Release by and between the Company and Stefanie Johns dated December 9, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2022)
10.35+
Employment Agreement by
and between the Company and Robb Knie dated as of March 28, 2023 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC
on March 31, 2023)
10.36*
Form of Warrant Inducement Agreement
21.1*
Subsidiaries of the registrant
23.1*
Consent of WithumSmith+Brown,
PC
24.1*
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto)
31.1*
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
65
32.1*
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) of the Exchange Act and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
97.1*
Clawback Policy
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
Cover Page Interactive
Data File - the cover page of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 is formatted
in Inline XBRL
*
Filed herewith.
+
Indicates a management
contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
#
Pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)
of Regulation S-K, certain confidential portions of this exhibit were omitted by means of marking such portions with an asterisk
because it is both not material and is the type of information that the Company treats as private or confidential.
ITEM
16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not
applicable.
66
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report
on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on this 28 th day of March, 2024.
HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
/s/ Robb Knie
Robb Knie
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ David
Briones
David Briones
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW
ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Robb Knie as his or her
attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
Robb Knie
Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
March
28, 2024
Robb
Knie
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/
David Briones
Chief Financial Officer
March
28, 2024
David Briones
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/
Wayne Linsley
Director
March
28, 2024
Wayne Linsley
/s/
David B. Sarnoff
Director
March
28, 2024
David B. Sarnoff
/s/
Graig Springer
Director
March
28, 2024
Graig Springer
/s/
Jeff Pavell
Director
March
28, 2024
Jeff Pavell
67