5.	COMMITMENTS

Litigation

From time to time, the Company or its subsidiaries may become involved in litigation or proceedings relating to claims arising from the ordinary course of business.

On September 27, 2017, Piper Jaffray & Co. filed a lawsuit against Private Acer, Piper Jaffray & Co. v. Acer Therapeutics Inc., Index No. 656055/2017, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. The complaint alleges that Private Acer breached its obligations to Piper Jaffray & Co. pursuant to an August 30, 2016 engagement letter between the parties and an April 28, 2017 addendum thereto by failing to pay Piper Jaffray & Co. (i) a fee of $1,097,207 in connection with the financing which closed on September 19, 2017 for aggregate consideration of approximately $15.7 million and (ii) $67,496 in reimbursement for expenses incurred by Piper Jaffray & Co. pursuant to the engagement letter. On November 10, 2017, Private Acer filed an answer and counterclaim in the lawsuit, denying Piper Jaffray & Co.’s breach of contract allegation, asserting several defenses, and bringing several counterclaims, including claims for breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Piper Jaffray & Co. filed a reply to the counterclaims denying the essential allegations, and discovery has commenced. The Company has not recorded a liability as of March 31, 2018, because a potential loss is not probable or reasonably estimable given the preliminary nature of the proceedings.

Newton Lease

The Company entered into a Lease Agreement effective March 6, 2018 (the “Newton Lease”) with Commonwealth Development LLC, as trustee of the Gateway Realty Trust (the “Newton Landlord”). Pursuant to the Newton Lease, the Company has leased certain premises consisting of 2,760 square feet of office space located at One Gateway Center, Suite 351, 300 Washington Street, Newton, Massachusetts (the “Newton Premises”) to serve as its corporate headquarters. The term of the Newton Lease commences on October 1, 2018 and expires on September 30, 2021. The Company currently occupies the Newton Premises as a subtenant pursuant to a Sublease, dated October 16, 2017, which expires on September 30, 2018.

The Newton Lease provides for base rent as follows:


Month of Term Under Newton Lease	Monthly Base Rent
1 to 12	$ 8,480
13 to 24	$ 8,710
25 to 36	$ 8,940

The Company’s total commitment for rent under the full term of the Newton Lease is $313,560. In addition, the Company is required to share in certain taxes and operating expenses of the Newton Premises. Upon execution of the Newton Lease, the Company made a security deposit of $17,880 to the Newton Landlord.