Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.22.2.2
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 5 – Commitments and Contingencies

 

Executive Employment Agreements

 

On September 1, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. John Climaco pursuant to which Mr. Climaco agreed to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company commencing on such date for an initial term of three years. On September 1, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Climaco. The amendment extends the term of employment under the Employment Agreement, which was originally for a three-year period, for additional twelve-month periods, unless and until either the Company or Mr. Climaco provides written notice to the other party not less than sixty days before such anniversary date that such party is electing not to extend the term. If the Company provides notice of its election not to extend the term, Mr. Climaco may terminate his employment at any time prior to the expiration of the term by giving written notice to the Company at least thirty days prior to the effective date of termination, and upon the earlier of such effective date of termination or the expiration of the term, Mr. Climaco shall be entitled to receive the same severance benefits as are provided upon a termination of employment by the Company without cause. Pursuant to the Amendment, the severance benefits shall be twelve months of Mr. Climaco’s base salary. Such severance payment shall be made in a single lump sum sixty days following the termination, provided that Mr. Climaco has executed and delivered to the Company and has not revoked a general release of the Company. Pursuant to the employment agreement, the compensation committee of the board of directors reviews the base salary payable to Mr. Climaco annually during the term of the agreement. On February 6, 2021, the compensation committee of the board of directors set Mr. Climaco’s 2021 annual base salary to $525,000.

 

On June 28, 2019, we entered into employment letters with Drs. Silberman and Picker pursuant to which Dr. Silberman agreed to commit 50% of her time to our matters; and Dr. Picker agreed to commit 25% of his time to our matters. On February 6, 2021, the compensation committee of the board of directors set Drs. Silberman and Picker 2021 annual base salaries to $200,000 and $115,000, respectively.

 

On September 14, 2019, the Company, entered into an employment agreement with Christopher Downs to serve as its Chief Financial Officer commencing on the closing date of the Company’s IPO, which occurred on November 13, 2019. The initial term of the Employment Agreement will continue for a period of three years. Pursuant to the employment agreement, the compensation committee of the board of directors reviews the base salary payable to Mr. Downs annually during the term of the agreement. On February 6, 2021, the compensation committee of the board of directors set Mr. Downs’ 2021 annual base salary to $340,000.

 

Scientific Advisory Board

 

On July 15, 2021, our Board approved the following compensation policy for the Scientific Advisory Board members. The Scientific Advisory board consisted of Dr. Waldemar Priebe, a significant shareholder and related party, and Dr. Sigmond Hsu. Each scientific advisory board member shall receive annual cash compensation of $68,600. During the nine month months ended September 30, 2022, the Company paid $76,087 related to the Scientific Advisory Board compensation. As of August 25, 2022, Dr. Waldemar Priebe is no longer a member of the Scientific Advisory Board. As of September 30, 2022, the Company has accrued $82,984 related to Mr. Hsu’s Scientific Advisory Board compensation.

 

WP744 Portfolio (Berubicin)

 

On November 21, 2017, the Company entered into a Collaboration and Asset Purchase Agreement with Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Reata”). Through this agreement, the Company purchased all of Reata’s rights, title, interest and previously conducted research and development results in the chemical compound commonly known as Berubicin. In exchange for these rights, the Company agreed to pay Reata an amount equal to 2.25% of the net sales of Berubicin for a period of 10 years from the Company’s first commercial sale of Berubicin plus $10,000. Reata also agreed to collaborate with the Company on the development of Berubicin, from time to time.

 

On December 28, 2017, the Company entered into a Technology Rights and Development Agreement with Houston Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“HPI”). HPI is affiliated with Dr. Waldemar Priebe, our founder and significant shareholder. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company obtained a worldwide exclusive license to the chemical compound commonly known as WP744. In exchange for these rights, the Company agreed to pay consideration to HPI as follows: (i) a royalty of 2% of net sales of any product utilizing WP744 for a period of ten years after the first commercial sale of such; and (ii) $100,000 upon beginning Phase II clinical trials (paid in 2021); and (iii) $200,000 upon the approval by the FDA of a New Drug Application for any product utilizing WP744; and (iv) a series of quarterly development payments totaling $750,000 beginning immediately after the Company’s raise of $7,000,000 of investment capital. In addition, the Company issued 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $0.045 per share to HPI upon execution of the agreement. On November 13, 2019, the Company closed its IPO, thereby fulfilling all conditions precedent and completing the acquisition of the intellectual property discussed in the HPI agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized $262,500 related to this agreement. Unrelated to this agreement, from time to time, the Company purchases pharmaceutical products from HPI which are necessary for the manufacturing of Berubicin API and drug product in related party transactions which are reviewed and approved by the Company’s audit committee based upon the standards of providing superior pricing and time to delivery than that available from unrelated third parties. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company expensed $41,075 and $385,000 respectively related to the purchase of pharmaceutical products from HPI.

 

On August 30, 2018, we entered into a sublicense agreement with WPD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“WPD”). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted WPD an exclusive sublicense, even as to us, for the patent rights we licensed pursuant to the HPI License within the following countries: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Greece, Austria, and Russia. The sublicense agreement provides that WPD must use commercially reasonable development efforts to attempt to develop and commercialize licensed products in the above-mentioned territories, which means the expenditure of at least $2.0 million on the development, testing, regulatory approval or commercialization of the licensed products during the three year period immediately following the date of the sublicense agreement. In consideration for the rights granted under the sublicense agreement, to the extent we are required to make any payments to HPI pursuant to the HPI License as a result of this sublicense agreement, WPD agreed to advance us such payments, and to pay us a royalty equal to 1% of such payments. WPD is a Polish corporation that is majority-owned by an entity controlled by Dr. Priebe, our founder and largest shareholder.

 

On February 19, 2021, CNS entered into an Investigational Medicinal Product Supply Agreement with WPD, a related party. CNS agreed to sell the Berubicin drug product to WPD at historical cost of manufacturing without markup so that WPD may conduct the clinical trials contemplated by the sublicense agreement. WPD agreed to pay CNS the following payments: (i) an upfront payment of $131,073 upon execution of the agreement, (ii) a payment of $262,145 upon final batch release and certification performed by WPD's subcontractor, and (iii) a final payment of $262,145 upon Clinical Trial Application acceptance by the relevant regulatory authority. All three milestones have been met as of December 31, 2021. In addition, as of December 31, 2021, the drug product with a cost of approximately $655,000 has been delivered to WPD and is being held at a third party depot. As such, the full amount of approximately $655,000 is due from WPD. As of December 31, 2021, CNS has invoiced the three amounts plus pass through cost for a total of $656,938. As of September 30, 2022, the Company has received payments for the first and second amounts due for a total of $393,182 and has entered into a settlement agreement whereby WPD agreed to return 168 vials (approximately 40% of the total) to us in settlement of the final amount owed. On October 24, 2022, the Company received confirmation from our third party depot service provider that the vials had been transferred into our inventory. As such, this matter is now fully resolved.

 

On August 31, 2018, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with Animal Life Sciences, LLC (“ALI”), a related party, pursuant to which we granted ALI an exclusive sublicense, even as to us, for the patent rights we licensed pursuant to the HPI License solely for the treatment of cancer in non-human animals through any type of administration. In consideration for the rights granted under the sublicense agreement, ALI agreed to issue us membership interests in ALI equal to 1.52% of the outstanding ALI membership interests. As additional consideration for the rights granted, to the extent we are required to make any payments to HPI pursuant to the HPI License as a result of this sublicense agreement, ALI agreed to advance us such payments, and to pay us a royalty equal to 1% of such payments. Dr. Waldemar Priebe, our founder and largest shareholder, is also the founder and a shareholder of ALI, holds 38% of the membership interests of ALI.

 

On June 10, 2020, the FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation (“ODD”) for Berubicin for the treatment of malignant gliomas. ODD from the FDA is available for drugs targeting diseases with less than 200,000 cases per year. ODD may enable market exclusivity of 7 years from the date of approval of a New Drug Application (“NDA) in the United States. During that period the FDA generally could not approve another product containing the same drug for the same designated indication. Orphan drug exclusivity will not bar approval of another product under certain circumstances, including if a subsequent product with the same active ingredient for the same indication is shown to be clinically superior to the approved product on the basis of greater efficacy or safety, or providing a major contribution to patient care, or if the company with orphan drug exclusivity is not able to meet market demand. The ODD constitutes our primary intellectual property protections although the Company is exploring if there are other patents that could be filed related to Berubicin to extend additional protections.

 

On July 24, 2021, the Company received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for Berubicin. Fast Track Designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

 

WP1244 Portfolio

 

On January 10, 2020, Company entered into a Patent and Technology License Agreement (“Agreement”) with The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, an agency of the State of Texas, on behalf of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (“UTMDACC”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company obtained a royalty-bearing, worldwide, exclusive license to certain intellectual property rights, including patent rights, related to the Company’s recently announced WP1244 drug technology. In consideration, the Company must make payments to UTMDACC including an up-front license fee, annual maintenance fee, milestone payments and royalty payments (including minimum annual royalties) on sales of licensed products developed under the Agreement. The term of the Agreement expires on the last to occur of: (a) the expiration of all patents subject to the Agreement, or (b) fifteen years after execution; provided that UTMDACC has the right to terminate this Agreement in the event that the Company fails to meet certain commercial diligence milestones. The commercial diligence milestones are as follows (i) initiated PC toxicology to support filing of Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”) or New Drug Application (“NDA”) for the Licensed Product within the eighteen (18) month period following the Effective Date (ii) file and IND for the Licensed Product within three (3) year period following the Effective Date and (iii) Commencement of Phase I Study within the five (5) year period following the Effective Date. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company paid $49,607 and $22,902, respectively.

 

On May 7, 2020, pursuant to the WP1244 Portfolio license agreement described above, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with UTMDACC to perform research relating to novel anticancer agents targeting CNS malignancies. The Company agreed to fund approximately $1,134,000 over a two-year period. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid $334,000 and accrued $400,000 related to this agreement in research and development expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company paid $800,000 to UTMDACC related to this agreement. The Company has no further payment obligations as of September 30, 2022. The principal investigator for this agreement is Dr. Waldemar Priebe, a significant shareholder.

 

Anti-Viral Portfolio

 

On March 20, 2020, the Company entered into a Development Agreement (“Agreement”) with WPD Pharmaceuticals (“WPD”), a company founded by Dr. Waldemar Priebe, the founder and largest shareholder of the Company. Pursuant to the Agreement, WPD agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to develop and commercialize certain products that WPD had previously sublicensed, solely in the field of pharmaceutical drug products for the treatment of any viral infection in humans, with a goal of eventual approval of in certain territories consisting of: Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Greece, Austria, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Iceland.

 

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to pay WPD the following payments: (i) an upfront payment of $225,000 to WPD (paid in April 2020); and (ii) within thirty days of the verified achievement of the Phase II Milestone, (such verification shall be conducted by an independent third party mutually acceptable to the parties hereto), the Company will make a payment of $775,000 to WPD. WPD agreed to pay the Company a development fee of 50% of the net sales for any products in the above territories; provided that Poland shall not be included as a territory after WPD receives marketing approval for a product in one-half of the countries included in the agreed upon territories or upon the payment by WPD to the Company of development fees of $1.0 million. The term of the Agreement will expire on the expiration of the sublicense pursuant to which WPD has originally sublicensed the products.

 

Nasdaq Capital Markets Listing Qualifications

 

On February 18, 2022, the Company received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days the bid price for the Company’s common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion in Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). The deficiency letter does not result in the immediate delisting of the Company’s common stock from Nasdaq.

 

The Company was initially provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until August 17, 2022, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. The Company was granted a second 180 calendar day period, or until February 13, 2023, to regain compliance since it met the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards required by Nasdaq, except for the minimum bid price requirement.

 

On July 7, 2022, the Company filed a Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF 14A for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 27, 2022. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was adjourned on July 27, 2022 until August 3, 2022, then adjourned again until August 16, 2022, and then adjourned again until August 25, 2022. In this Definitive Proxy Statement, the Company included a proposal to authorize an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation to empower the Board of Directors to effect a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, at a split ratio of between 1-for-2 and 1-for-30 as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, prior to the one-year anniversary of this Annual Meeting. This proposal was approved by the Company’s stockholders when the Annual Meeting of Stockholders was reconvened on August 25, 2022. The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its common stock and, if appropriate, effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule in order to avoid being delisted from Nasdaq as well as to provide for additional shares available for issuance to continue to fund the Company’s clinical research programs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain and maintain compliance with the Bid Price Rule if a reverse stock split is effected.