Canton Strategic Holdings, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2025

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited interim condensed consolidated 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in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC.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.

Throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” or “Tharimmune,” refer to Tharimmune, Inc. (formerly, Hillstream BioPharma, Inc.), individually, or as the context requires, collectively with its subsidiary.

Overview

Tharimmune is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutic candidates in immunology and inflammation with high unmet need. On November 3, 2023, we entered into a patent license agreement (the “Avior License Agreement”) with Avior Inc. d/b/a Avior Bio, LLC (“Avior”) pursuant to which we received an exclusive sublicensable right and license to Licensed Patent Rights and Licensed Technology to, among other things, Develop, have Developed, make, have made, use, sell, import, export and commercialize TH104 and TH103 and to practice the Licensed Technology in connection with the foregoing, throughout the world (each as defined in the Avior License Agreement). In February 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved an investigational new drug (“IND”) application for TH104. TH104 has a dual mechanism of action by affecting multiple receptors, known to suppress chronic, debilitating pruritus or “uncontrollable itching.” With respect to TH104, we originally intended to first seek approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pruritus in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (“PBC”), an orphan rare form of liver disease with no known cure in which more than 70% of patients suffer from debilitating chronic pruritic. We expected to obtain topline data from a Phase 2 trial in TH104 in Q4 2025 and with respect to TH103, we intended to develop the product candidate and potentially file an IND. In parallel to this strategy, we engaged and received positive feedback in March 2025 from the FDA regarding the additional proposed indication of temporary prophylaxis of respiratory and/or nervous system depression in military personnel and chemical incident responders entering an area contaminated with high-potency opioids (“PrHPO”), for which we submitted a Pre-Investigational New Drug Application (“PIND”). With respect to our PIND for this additional proposed indication for TH104, the Company received positive feedback from the FDA regarding a regulatory pathway that will allow the Company to submit a 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (“NDA”) for TH104. The FDA advised that we will need to perform additional nonclinical studies (i.e., in vitro toxicology studies), but the FDA confirmed that it does not believe any additional clinical trials will be required to define the prophylactic dosing window prior to IND or NDA submission for this indication, which will be the lead program for the Company. The Company intends to pursue the pruritus in PBC indication subsequent to the nearer term opportunity of filing an NDA for PrHPO. The Company intends to conduct a capital efficient strategy to file an NDA for PrHPO, which involves actively progressing its Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (“CMC”) plan to meet the stringent requirements for filing an NDA with the FDA. This comprehensive plan encompasses all aspects of the manufacturing process, quality control measures, and product stability to ensure the consistent production of a high-quality buccal film formulation known as TH104.

On September 11, 2024, we entered into a Patent License Agreement (the “Intract Agreement”) with Intract Pharma Limited (“Intract”), pursuant to which, we exclusively licensed INT-023/TH023, an oral anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody infliximab. Infliximab is a purified, recombinant DNA-derived chimeric IgG monoclonal antibody protein that contains both murine and human components that inhibit tumor TNF-α. Under the terms of the Intract Agreement, we licensed global development and commercialization rights (outside of South Korea) to Intract’s Soteria® and Phloral® delivery platform along with an existing supply agreement for infliximab to be used in the oral product development program.

We are also developing an early-stage pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates targeting validated high value immuno-oncology (“IO”) targets including human epidermal growth factor (“EGF”) receptor 2 (“HER2”), human EGF receptor 3 (“HER3”) and programmed cell death protein 1 (“PD-1”). We are developing antibodies including bispecific antibodies, antibody drug conjugates (“ADCs”) and small molecular weight bovine-derived “knob” domains which have the potential to target and bind more tightly to “undruggable” epitopes better than full sized antibodies. We are advancing HS1940, a bispecific biologic against both PD-1 and vascular endothelial growth receptor (“VEGF”) antibody which targets both receptors. In addition, we anticipate that HS3215, a HER2/HER3 bispecific antibody will progress into preclinical studies in 2025.

The critical components of our business strategy to achieve our goals include:

• Develop TH104 as a transmucosal buccal film product for temporary prophylaxis of respiratory and/or nervous system depression in military personnel and chemical incident responders entering and area contaminated with high-potency opioids;
• Develop TH104 as a transmucosal buccal film product for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pruritus in PBC and other inflammatory diseases;
• Develop TH023 by obtaining regulatory authorization to initiate a first-in-human bioavailability clinical trial and pursue an IND through the FDA post optimizing its CMC program;
• Create a preclinical and clinical path forward for, HS1940, a unique PD-1 knob-domain antibody fragment as a bispecific biologic against VEGF with unique binding differentiation for IO vulnerable tumors;
• Continue to advance pre-clinical candidate selection activities against HER2/HER3 receptors with various antibody formats, including HS3215 designed for multiple solid tumor types;
• Hasten the discovery of next generation multi-specific (bi- and tri) antibodies with binding capabilities to novel epitopes of combinations of HER2 and HER3 with and without toxin delivery capacity to multiple high unmet need rare cancers and other validated immunology and metabolic targets; and
• Pursue strategic collaboration opportunities including partnering and potential merger and acquisition transactions to maximize the value of our pipeline to bring novel therapies to patients suffering from high unmet need conditions

License Agreements

Applied Biomedical Research Institute Research and Development Collaboration and License Agreement

On July 5, 2023, we entered into the “ABSI Agreement with ABSI pursuant to which ABSI granted us an exclusive royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to the ABSI Patents and a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to the ABSI Know-How to Exploit the ABSI Products for the treatment, diagnosis, prediction, detection or prevention of disease in humans and animals worldwide. Pursuant to the ABSI Agreement, the parties shall form a committee to manage the preclinical, IND-enabling studies and such other activities as shall lead to the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of the ABSI Product. The parties will collaborate on a Target-by-Target basis to identify and evaluate ABSI Products directed against such Target with a view to identifying or generating suitable Products for our Company to Exploit. “Target” means ErB2 (Her2) and ErbB3. Upon completion of the Discovery Timeline for a Target, subject to the terms and conditions of ABSI Agreement, we shall exclusively own any ABSI Products against such Target. In the event the committee determines that the discovery activities are unsuccessful with respect to a Target, we may propose an additional target, which, upon approval by ABSI, shall replace a failed Target, each capitalized term as defined in the ABSI Agreement.

On March 11, 2024, we entered into an addendum to the ABSI Agreement to fund research services with quarterly payments of $50,000 beginning March 18, 2024 with subsequent payments due on the 18th of each calendar quarter.

Avior Patent License Agreement

On November 3, 2023, we entered into the Avior Patent License Agreement with Avior pursuant to which we received an exclusive sublicensable right and license to Licensed Patent Rights and Licensed Technology to, among other things, develop, have developed, make, have made, use, sell, import, export and commercialize TH104 and TH103 and to practice the Licensed Technology in connection with the foregoing, throughout the world. Pursuant to the Avior Patent License Agreement, we paid Avior an up front license fee of $0.4 million and a quarterly license fee of $0.15 million each quarter in 2024. In addition, we shall pay Avior a high single digit percentage of any upfront payments received by us as a result of the grant of any sublicenses with respect to TH104. We shall also pay Avior milestone payments in the aggregate amount of $24.25 million upon the occurrence of various development milestones (the “Development Milestone Payments”). Furthermore, we shall pay Avior certain fees based upon sales milestones. The payments for such sales milestones range from the low seven digits to the low eight digits with higher sales being subject to higher fees. Finally, we shall pay Avior royalties based on net sales. Such royalties range from low single digit percentages to mid-single digit percentages with higher sales being subject to lower percentages. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Avior Patent License Agreement.

Enkefalos License Agreement

On June 17, 2024, we signed a letter of intent (the “Enkefelos LOI”) to enter into the Enkefalos License Agreement with Enkefalos pursuant to which we are licensing the global rights in all fields of use for the products related to the compounds knows as cyclotides to deliver HER2 antibodies across the blood-brain barrier and all associated know-how, technology, intellectual property and related information and constructs, and any associated authorized generic rights and all related assets (collectively, the “Products” referred to in this letter as ENBI-01) from Enkefalos. Pursuant to the Enkefalos License Agreement, we paid Enkefalos an upfront license fee of $150,000 upon signing of the Enkefalos LOI and an additional $150,000 license fee to be paid 6 months after the Enkefalos Effective Date. In addition, we shall pay Enkefalos a $50,000 annual license fee and milestone payments in the aggregate amount of up to $8,500,000 upon the occurrence of various development milestones (the “Enkefalos Development Milestone Payments”). Furthermore, we shall pay Enkefalos royalties based on net sales. Such royalties range from low-single digit percentages to mid-single digit percentages with higher sales being subject to lower percentages. The Enkefalos License Agreement shall expire upon the expiration of the final payment obligation due to Enkefalos as set forth in such agreement. Upon the expiration of the Enkefalos Patent License Agreement, we shall have a fully paid, irrevocable, freely transferable and sublicensable worldwide license to the Licensed Patent Rights and Licensed Technology to Develop, have Developed, make, have made, use, have used sell, offer for sale, have sold, import, have imported, export, have exported, commercialize or have commercialized any and all Licensed Products and to practice the Licensed Technology worldwide.

Intract Patent License Agreement

On September 11, 2024, we entered into the Intract Agreement with Intract, pursuant to which the Company exclusively licensed INT-023/TH023, an oral anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody infliximab. Under the terms of the Intract Agreement, we licensed global development and commercialization rights (outside of South Korea) to Intract’s Soteria® and Phloral® delivery platform along with an existing supply agreement for infliximab to be used in the oral product development program. Pursuant to the Intract Agreement, Intract received a mid-six digit upfront payment eligible to receive additional payments upon an equity financing of the Company and is eligible for future development, regulatory and commercial milestones, as well as mid-single digit royalties based on net product sales. Under the terms of the Intract Agreement, we retain a right of first refusal to continue development and commercialization after a Phase 2 clinical trial and have the option to exercise the license to Intract’s platform for up to four additional targets. The term of the Intract Agreement expires upon the final payment obligation of the Company under the Intract Agreement. In addition, the Intract Agreement may be terminated by us at any time upon 90 days written notice to Intract. Either party may terminate the Intract Agreement if the other party materially breaches any provision of the Intract Agreement and fails to cure such breach within 30 days after the breaching party receives written notice thereof. In addition, either party may terminate the Intract Agreement on written notice in the event that either party declare: (a) becomes insolvent or admits inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; (b) becomes subject, voluntarily or involuntarily, to any proceeding under any domestic or foreign bankruptcy or insolvency law, which is not fully dismissed or vacated within 60 days; (c) is dissolved or liquidated or takes any corporate action for such purpose; (d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (e) has a receiver, trustee, custodian or similar agent appointed by order of any court of competent jurisdiction to take charge of or sell any material portion of its property or business. On March 14, 2025 we amended the Intract Agreement to pay the milestone due upon closing of our December 2024 PIPE Offering in equal installments over the next 12 months, with the first payment beginning in the second quarter of 2025.

Recent Developments

On June 7, 2024, we entered into an at-the-market offering agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with Rodman & Renshaw LLC (the “ATM Sales Manager”) under which we may sell, from time to time through the ATM Sales Manager, shares of common stock in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $1.65 million.

To date, we have sold 200,817 shares pursuant the ATM Agreement for net proceeds of approximately $0.3 million, after deducting commissions of $15,400 and other offering expenses of $33,600. See Note 4 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

On June 10, 2024, we reported positive results from our Phase 1 clinical trial with TH104. Results from healthy subjects demonstrated consistent pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles across buccal and intravenous routes of administration with a comparable safety and tolerability profile between routes of administration. This Phase 1 trial was a single-dose, single-center, open-label, randomized 2-way crossover study comparing 16 mg of TH104 with 1 mg intravenous nalmefene administered under fasting conditions, with a 7-day washout period between doses. Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled to complete both doses of the crossover design. All 20 subjects completed TH104 buccal dosing, while 19 of 20 subjects also completed the intravenous dosing. The primary objective was to evaluate the absolute bioavailability of TH104, as well as to assess safety and tolerability. Findings from the study indicated that the primary endpoint of the study which was absolute bioavailability (F) of TH104, or fraction (or percentage) of the administered dose absorbed into the systemic circulation compared to an equivalent intravenous dose of nalmefene, was 0.459 (45.9%). The median time to maximum concentration (Cmax) of TH104 was 2.0 hours, and mean half-life (T1/2) as measured in the blood of subjects was 14 hours after a single buccal administration of TH104, compared to 9 hours for the 1mg intravenous dose of nalmefene. These data were consistent and within range of previous findings of nalmefene in the literature and the Company believes PK results from this Phase 1 trial show proportional kinetics consistent with published findings of oral and intravenous formulations, suggesting TH104 could be developed for once-daily dosing in a target population of moderate-to-severe chronic pruritus in PBC patients. The Phase 1 trial also demonstrated that a 16mg dose of TH104 had a comparable safety and tolerability profile to the FDA-approved 1mg dose of nalmefene intravenous formulation. Treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in this study were reported in 8 subjects (40.0%) in the TH104 group and 7 subjects (36.8%) in the intravenous group. All reported TEAEs were considered mild in severity. The most frequently reported TEAE for both TH104 and intravenous treatments was dizziness (4 subjects in the TH104 group; 7 subjects in the intravenous group). TEAEs reported in at least 2 subjects in any treatment group were nausea (3 subjects in each group) and somnolence (3 subjects in each group). There were no serious adverse events reported during this study. No subjects discontinued the study due to adverse events. No subjects exhibited abnormal results for the visual examinations of the buccal mucosa pre- or post-dosing with TH104 buccal film.

On June 17, 2024, we reported positive Type C meeting feedback from the FDA for our Phase 2 clinical trial with TH104, confirming our plan to pursue a 505(b)(2) approval pathway, which permits inclusion of data from external studies when the active ingredient is already approved in the United States. The FDA also agreed that the nonclinical studies submitted to the FDA in advance of the meeting appear sufficient to support the proposed Phase 2 clinical trial. In addition, the FDA provided feedback on study design and certain recommendations regarding PBC patient inclusion, the primary endpoint to assess pruritus in these patients, and considerations for monitoring for adverse events in this patient population. We engaged and received positive feedback in March 2025 from the FDA regarding the additional proposed indication of temporary prophylaxis of respiratory and/or nervous system depression in military personnel and chemical incident responders entering an area contaminated with high-potency opioids (“PrHPO”), for which we submitted a PIND. With respect to our PIND for this additional proposed indication for TH104, the Company received positive feedback from the FDA regarding a regulatory pathway that will allow Tharimmune to submit a 505(b)(2) NDA for TH104. The FDA confirmed that no additional clinical trials will be required prior to NDA submission for this indication, which will be the lead program for the Company. Based on this interaction with FDA we plan to delay the Phase 2 trial with TH104 in moderate-to-severe chronic pruritus in PBC patients until after planning and completing a hepatic impairment study. Due to the positive interaction with the FDA allowing for a 505(b)2 NDA application for PrHPO with no further clinical studies, we designated PrHPO as the lead program for the Company.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

We have not recognized revenue since inception or for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses include personnel costs associated with research and development activities, including third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials, and manufacture drug supplies and materials as well as stock-based compensation for our research and development personnel. Research and development expenses are charged to operations as incurred.

We accrue costs incurred by external service providers, including contract research organizations and clinical investigators, based on estimates of service performed and costs incurred. These estimates include the level of services performed by third parties, patient enrollment in clinical trials, administrative costs incurred by third parties, and other indicators of the services completed. Based on the timing of amounts invoiced by service providers, we may also record payments made to those providers as prepaid expenses that will be recognized as expense in future periods as the related services are rendered.

We have incurred research and development expenses related to the development of HSB-1216, which has been deprioritized. We expect that our research and development expenses will increase as we plan for and commence further studies for HS1940 and HS3215.

We cannot determine with certainty the duration and costs of future clinical trials of our product candidates, HS1940 and HS3215, or any other product candidates we may develop or if, when or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. We may never succeed in obtaining marketing approval for any of our product candidates. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our current and future product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including:

• the scope, rate of progress, expense and results of clinical trials of our current product candidates, as well as of any future clinical trials of our future product candidates and other research and development activities that we may conduct;
• uncertainties in clinical trial design and patient enrollment rates;
• the actual probability of success for our product candidates, including their safety and efficacy, early clinical data, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability;
• significant and changing government regulations and regulatory guidance; and
• the timing and receipt of any marketing approvals.

A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of a product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to slower than expected patient enrollment or other reasons, we would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and consulting related expenses, including stock-based compensation for our general and administrative personnel. General and administrative expenses also include professional fees and other corporate expenses, including legal fees relating to corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services; insurance costs; travel expenses and other operating costs that are not specifically attributable to research activities.

We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our personnel headcount to support our continued research activities and development of our product candidates. We also incur expenses associated with being a public company, including expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq, directors and officers insurance expenses, corporate governance expenses, investor relations activities and other administrative and professional services.

Interest Income

Interest income consists of interest income from funds held in our cash accounts.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

The following table sets forth key components of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses decreased by $0.4 million, or 42%, to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in clinical trial expenses of approximately $0.1 million due to completion of our Phase 1 clinical trial and start up costs related to our Phase 2 clinical trial in TH104 and a decrease of $0.3 million in expenses related to preclinical vendors.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by $0.6 million, or 43%, to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The change in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase of $0.3 million in investor relations, an increase of $0.1 million in corporate taxes, and an increase of $0.2 intellectual property expense.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased by $3,771, or 80%, to $8,471 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $4,700 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The increase in interest expense was primarily related to the director and officer insurance premium financing liability as well as the note payable related to the legal fees settlement.

Interest Income

Interest income decreased by $82,458, or 86%, to $13,436 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from $95,894 for three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to the decrease in cash March 2024 to March 2025.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we incurred operating losses in the amount of approximately $2.5 million, expended approximately $2.7 million of net cash used in operating activities, and had an accumulated deficit of approximately $39.4 million as of March 31, 2025. Through March 31, 2025, we have primarily financed our operations through public and private offerings of our equity securities.

In April 2025, we raised gross proceeds of $0.26 million pursuant to the ATM Agreement from the sale of 160,817 shares of our common stock at an average price of $1.61 per share. The net proceeds from the sales were $0.25 million, after deducting sales agent commissions of $12,900 and other offering fees of $33,300.

Further, on June 17, 2024 and December 9, 2024, we closed private placement offerings (the “June 2024 PIPE Offering” and “December 2024 PIPE Offering”, respectively) with certain accredited investors, consisting of offerings of shares of our common stock and/or pre-funded warrants to acquire shares of our common stock and warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, with combined net proceeds of approximately $3.6 million.

Based on our limited operating history, recurring negative cash flows from operations, current plans and available resources, we will need substantial additional funding to support future operating activities. We have concluded that the prevailing conditions and ongoing liquidity risks faced by us raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year following the date the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are issued. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.

We may seek to raise additional funding through the sale of additional equity or debt securities, enter into strategic partnerships, grants or other arrangements or a combination of the foregoing to support our future operations; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional capital on terms acceptable to us, on a timely basis, or at all. The failure to obtain sufficient additional funding could adversely affect our ability to achieve our business objectives and product development timelines and may result in us delaying or terminating clinical trial activities which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Cash Flow Activities for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods presented.

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Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $2.7 million which consisted of net loss of $2.5 million and net changes in operating assets and liabilities of approximately $0.4 million, partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation of approximately $0.2 million.

Cash used in operating activities for the year ended March 31, 2024 was $2.8 million which consisted of net loss of $2.3 million, increase in prepaid and other current assets of $0.4 million, and decrease in operating liabilities of $0.3 million, partially offset by non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.2 million.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025 was $0.2 million. The net increase in financing activities was due to proceeds from the insurance premium financing liability of $0.3 million, offset by repayments of insurance premium financing liability of $0.1 million and repayments of the note payable of less than $0.1 million.

Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $0.3 million primarily attributable to proceeds from insurance premium financing liability of $0.4 million, offset by repayments of insurance premium financing liability of $0.1 million.

Reverse Stock Split

On May 24, 2024, we effectuated an additional reverse split of shares of our common stock at a ratio of 1-for-15 pursuant to an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and approved by the Company’s board of directors and stockholders. The par value of our common stock was not adjusted as a result of the reverse split. All issued and outstanding common stock share and per share amounts contained in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse split for all periods presented.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes, and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. Estimates are used in the following areas, among others: research and development expense recognition, stock-based compensation, allowances of deferred tax assets, and cash flow assumptions regarding going concern considerations. Although management believes the estimates that have been used are reasonable, actual results could vary from the estimates that were used.

Critical Accounting Policies

Research and development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include personnel costs associated with research and development activities, including third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials and manufacture drug supplies and materials. We accrue for costs incurred by external service providers, including contract research organizations and clinical investigators, based on our estimates of service performed and costs incurred. These estimates include the level of services performed by third parties, patient enrollment in clinical trials, administrative costs incurred by third parties, and other indicators of the services completed.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to our employees, directors, consultants, and affiliates. We measure stock-based compensation costs at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognize the cost over the requisite service period.

We recognize compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors as an expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. The fair value of each option grant to employees, non-employees and directors is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, net of actual forfeitures. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.

The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Prior to January 12, 2022, we were a private company and our common stock has only been publicly traded since that date. As a result, we lack company-specific historical and implied volatility information. Therefore, we have estimated our expected stock price volatility based on the historical volatility of a publicly traded set of peer companies. The expected term of stock options granted was between five and seven years. The risk-free interest rate was determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

See Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

JOBS Act

On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (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 internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and (ii) complying with the requirement adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on financial statements. 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 the completion 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

Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” as of March 31, 2025, 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. 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. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2025, 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 Over Financial Reporting

Except as set forth above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2025 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedure, 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 procedure 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, 2024 as filed with the SEC on March 26, 2025 (“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.