Rocket One Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC. All amounts in this report are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new generation therapies for unmet medical needs. We are focused on developing (i) a topical formulation for treating side effects from drugs used for the treatment of cancer (HT-001); (ii) a treatment for mast-cell derived cancers and anaphylaxis (HT-KIT); (iii) a treatment for traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke (HT-TBI); and (iv) a treatment and/or prevention for Alzheimer’s or other neuroinflammatory diseases (HT-ALZ). We also have assets being developed for (i) atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) (BioLexa); (ii) a treatment for asthma and allergies using inhalational administration (HT-004); and (iii) a treatment for acne as well as inflammatory bowel diseases (HT-003). Furthermore, we have interests in certain other assets being developed by third parties including a treatment for patients with lupus that is being developed by Zylö Therapeutics, Inc. and potential product candidates being developed pursuant to our agreement with Voltron Therapeutics, Inc. for the prevention of COVID-19.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023

Operating Costs and Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, research and development expenses were approximately $0.4 million, of which approximately $3,000 was related to licenses acquired and approximately $0.5 million was related to other research and development expenses. Specifically, during the quarter ended March 31, 2024, our research and development costs consisted primarily of the following costs for each of our key research and development projects: (i) HT-001, approximately $281,000 related to manufacturing, preclinical and clinical activities; (ii) HT-ALZ, approximately $16,000 related to preclinical studies; (iii) HT-KIT, approximately $77,000 related to manufacturing and preclinical activities; and (iv) HT-004, approximately $51,000 in sponsored research activities. In addition to the foregoing, we also incurred fees of approximately $37,000 payable to members of our scientific advisory board for services.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, research and development expenses were approximately $0.9 million, of which approximately $48,000 was related to licenses acquired and approximately $0.9 million was related to other research and development expenses. Specifically, during the quarter ended March 31, 2023, our research and development costs consisted primarily of the following costs for each of our key research and development projects: (i) BioLexa, approximately $13,000 related to manufacturing costs; (ii) HT-001, approximately $0.6 million related to manufacturing, preclinical and clinical activities; and (iii) HT-KIT, approximately $0.2 million related to manufacturing and preclinical activities. In addition to the foregoing, we also incurred fees of approximately $57,000 payable to members of our scientific advisory board for services.

We expect our research and development activities to increase as we develop our existing product candidates and potentially acquire new product candidates, reflecting increasing costs associated with the following:

• employee-related expenses, which include salaries and benefits, and rent expenses;
• fees related to in-licensed products and technology;
• expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, investigative sites and consultants that conduct our clinical trials and a substantial portion of our pre-clinical activities;
• the cost of acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and
• costs associated with non-clinical activities and regulatory approvals.

Compensation, Professional Fees, Rent and Other (“General and Administrative Expenses”)

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we incurred General and Administrative Expenses of approximately $1.6 million as compared to approximately $1.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, an increase of approximately $300,000. The increase was primarily attributed to an increase in stock-based compensation of approximately $500,000 related to the issuance stock options to executives and board of director members, offset by a decrease in other compensation and related expenses of approximately $100,000, a decrease in professional fees of approximately $60,000, and a reduction in other general and administrative expenses.

We anticipate that our General and Administrative Expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting continued and increasing costs associated with:

• support of our research and development activities;
• stock compensation granted to key employees and non-employees;
• support of business development activities; and
• increased professional fees and other costs associated with regulatory requirements.

Net Loss

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred a net loss of approximately $2.0 million, or $0.46 per common share (basic and diluted), and $2.2 million, or $0.88 per common share (basic and diluted), respectively, a decrease of approximately $0.1 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

To date we have funded our operations primarily through the sale of equity and debt securities. As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately $7.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, working capital of approximately $7.8 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $55.0 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $1.7 million and $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We incurred net losses of approximately $2.0 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We have incurred substantial operating losses since inception and expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future as we continue our pre-clinical and clinical development of our product candidates. We have not yet commercialized any products and have never generated any revenue from product sales. We believe that our existing cash as of March 31, 2024 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least 12 months from the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

On April 1, 2024, in connection with a March 27, 2024 inducement offer agreement with a holder (the “Holder”) of certain of its existing warrants (“January 2023 Existing Warrants”) to immediately exercise for cash an aggregate 2,500,000 January 2023 Existing Warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a reduced exercise price of $1.6775 per share, we were to issue up to 2,500,000 shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of our common stock upon the exercise of the 2,500,000 January 2023 Existing Warrants for net proceeds of approximately $3.8 million, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of approximately $0.4 million. In accordance with the terms of the inducement offer agreement, we shall only issue such number of Warrant Shares to the Holder that would not cause the Holder to exceed the maximum number of Warrant Shares permitted thereunder, as directed by the Holder, with the balance of the Warrant Shares to be held in abeyance until notice from the Holder that the balance (or portion thereof) may be issued in compliance with the limitations set forth in the inducement offer agreement, which abeyance shall be evidenced through the January 2023 Existing Warrants which shall be deemed prepaid thereafter (including the cash payment in full of the exercise price), and exercised pursuant to a Notice of Exercise in the January 2023 Existing Warrants (provided no additional exercise price shall be due and payable). As of April 1, 2024, the Company issued 485,000 common shares to the Holder and 2,015,000 shares are held in abeyance for future issuance.

As an inducement to such exercise, the Company issued new unregistered warrants to the warrant holder to purchase up to 3,750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and will expire on July 3, 2028. Additionally, in connection with this exercise, the Company issued 125,000 placement agent warrants at an exercise price of $2.0969 per share. The placement agent warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance and will expire on July 3, 2028.

We have entered into certain license, sublicense, sponsored research and option agreements with third parties. Pursuant to such agreements, we may be required to make certain: (i) license maintenance fee payments; (ii) out-of-pocket expense payments, including, but not limited to, payments related to intellectual property and research related expenses; (iii) development and commercialization expense payments; (iv) annual and quarterly minimum payments; (v) diligence expense payments; and (vi) revenue interest payments. In addition, subject to the achievement of certain development and/or commercialization events, we may also be required to make certain: (i) minimum royalty payments, ranging from middle to high five figures, (ii) sales-based royalties and running royalties, ranging from low single digits to low double digits; and (iii) milestone payments, of up to approximately $12 million (if all milestones in all of our current agreements are achieved).

Additional funding will be necessary to fund our future clinical and pre-clinical activities. We may obtain additional financing through sales of our equity and debt securities or entering into strategic partnership arrangements, or a combination of the foregoing. There are no assurances that we will be successful in obtaining an adequate level of financing as and when needed to finance our operations on terms acceptable to us or at all, particularly in light of the economic downturn. If we are unable to secure adequate additional funding as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash used in operations was approximately $1.7 million, which primarily resulted from a net loss of approximately $2.0 million, adjusted for the add back of stock-based compensation of approximately $0.5 million, and changes in operating assets and liabilities consisting of an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of approximately $158,000 and a net decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $39,000.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash used in operations was approximately $2.3 million, which primarily resulted from a net loss of approximately $2.2 million.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, there was no net cash provided by investing activities.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we had no financing activities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $8.9 million, which primarily resulted from net proceeds from the issuance of common stock and warrants.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:

• it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made; and
• changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have material impact in our results of operations or financial condition.

While we base our estimates and judgments on our experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could differ from those estimates and the differences could be material.

See Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.

Stock-based compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based payment awards exchanged for services at the estimated grant date fair value of the award. Stock options issued under the Company’s long-term incentive plans are granted with an exercise price equal to no less than the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant and expire up to ten years from the date of grant. Options are generally issued fully vested. The Company accounts for forfeited awards as they occur.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.

Expected Term - The expected term of options represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding based on the simplified method, which is the half-life from vesting to the end of its contractual term.

Expected Volatility - The Company computes stock price volatility over expected terms based on its historical common stock trading prices.

Risk-Free Interest Rate - The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term.

Expected Dividend - The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common shares and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, uses an expected dividend yield of zero in its valuation models.

The Company grants restricted stock awards under its equity incentive plan. Restricted stock awards are granted to employees and non-employees. The restricted stock awards are measured based on the grant-date fair value. In general, the restricted stock awards vest over a service period of zero to three years. Stock-based compensation expense is generally recognized based on the straight-line basis over the requisite service period and forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.

The Company has issued warrants to non-employees. The warrants are measured based on the grant-date fair value. In general, the warrants vest over a term of zero to ten years. Stock-based compensation expense is generally recognized based on the straight-line basis over the vesting term.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Effective or Adopted

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material impact on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

JOBS Act

On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.

We have chosen to take advantage of the extended transition periods available to emerging growth companies under the JOBS Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies provided under the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with public company effective dates for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, as an “emerging growth company,” we intend to rely on certain of these exemptions, including, without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of our initial public offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC.

The Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item as it is a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” as of March 31, 2024, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to a company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control

There have been no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting other than the changes to address the remediation of the material weakness as discussed above.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

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. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Risk factors that affect our business and financial results are discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024 (“Annual Report”). There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in our Annual Report. You should carefully consider the risks described in our Annual Report which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and/or operating results. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, and/or results of operations could be negatively affected.