Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements Use of Estimates The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP and include certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements (including goodwill), and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period, including contingencies. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates. Reverse Stock Split On December 18, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every twenty shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share. On January 18, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every seven shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share. On August 26, 2022, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every thirty shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock splits referenced above. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. All cash and cash equivalent balances were highly liquid at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company has classified approximately $0.02 million as restricted cash. Concentrations of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash. The Company primarily maintains its cash balances with financial institutions in federally insured accounts in the U.S. The Company may from time to time have cash in banks in excess of FDIC insurance limits. At March 31, 2024 the Company had approximately $3.4 million in one account in the U.S. which was in excess of these limits. The Company has not experienced any losses to date resulting from this practice. The Company mitigates its risk by maintaining the majority of its cash and equivalents with high quality financial institutions. Fair Value Measurements The Company follows Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier fair value hierarchy has been established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions, which reflect those that a market participant would use. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument. The Company recognizes transfers between levels as if the transfers occurred on the last day of the reporting period. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the fair value of amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate impairment may be present. Any excess in carrying value over the estimated fair value is charged to results of operations. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges through March 31, 2024 related to goodwill. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets for potential impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). Potential impairment is assessed when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. Recoverability of these assets is assessed based on undiscounted expected future cash flows from the assets, considering a number of factors, including past operating results, budgets and economic projections, market trends and product development cycles. If impairments are identified, assets are written down to their estimated fair value. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges through March 31, 2024. Income Taxes Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The Company determines its deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. At March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company does not have any significant uncertain tax positions. Leases Leases are recorded on the balance sheet as right of use assets and lease obligations. Research and Development Research and development costs are charged to operations when incurred and are included in operating expense, except for goodwill related to patents. Research and development costs consist principally of compensation of employees and consultants that perform the Company’s research activities, payments to third parties for preclinical and non-clinical activities, expenses with clinical research organizations (“CROs”), investigative sites, consultants and contractors that conduct or provide other services relating to clinical trials, costs to acquire drug product, drug supply and clinical trial materials from contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMOs”) and third-party contractors relating to chemistry, manufacturing and controls (“CMC”) efforts, the fees paid for and to maintain the Company’s licenses and research and development costs related to adrulipase and niclosamide. Depending upon the timing of payments to the service providers, the Company recognizes prepaid expenses or accrued expenses related to these costs. These accrued or prepaid expenses are based on management’s estimates of the work performed under service agreements, milestones achieved and experience with similar contracts. The Company monitors each of these factors and adjusts estimates accordingly. Research and Development – Intellectual Property Acquired The Company records intellectual property acquired in business acquisitions that has not reached technological feasibility and which has no alternative future use, as In-Process R&D (“IPR&D”) at the acquisition date. On March 13, 2024, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement with IMGX which included the intellectual property and patents for Latiglutenase and CypCel, which was accounted for as a business acquisition (see Note 3). Intangible assets related to IPR&D are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets and are assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. If the associated research and development effort is abandoned, the related assets will be written-off, and the Company will record a noncash impairment loss on its Consolidated Statements of Operations. For those compounds that reach commercialization, the IPR&D assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives. The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets is a one-step test that compares the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. For tax purposes, intangible assets related to IPR&D are considered definite-lived intangible assets. Stock-Based Compensation The Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) and stockholders have adopted and approved the Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) which took effect on May 12, 2014, and the 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, which took effect on September 11, 2020 (the “2020 Plan”). From the effective date of the 2020 Plan, no new awards have been or will be made under the 2014 Plan. On March 13, 2024, in connection with the IMGX acquisition, the Company assumed IMGX’s 2021 Stock Option Plan (the “IMGX Plan”), including all IMGX stock options immediately outstanding prior to the IMGX acquisition, with each becoming an option to purchase Common Stock, subject to adjustment. The IMGX Plan was adopted and approved by the board of directors and stockholders of IMGX in 2021. Following the assumption of the IMGX Plan by the Company, no new awards have been or will be made under the IMGX Plan. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards to employees, consultants, and Board members in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, consultants, and Board members, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statements of operations by measuring the fair value of the award on the date of grant and recognizing this fair value as stock-based compensation using a straight-line method over the requisite service period, generally the vesting period. For awards with performance conditions that affect their vesting, such as the occurrence of certain transactions or the achievement of certain operating or financial milestones, recognition of fair value of the award occurs when vesting becomes probable. The Company estimates the grant date fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the Common Stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the Common Stock. Recent Accounting Pronouncements The Company has evaluated recently issued accounting pronouncements and has concluded that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with GAAP and include certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements (including goodwill), and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period, including contingencies. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates.

Reverse Stock Split

On December 18, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every twenty shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share.

On January 18, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every seven shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share.

On August 26, 2022, the Company effected a reverse stock split, whereby every thirty shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock was converted automatically into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, but without any change in the number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share.

All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock splits referenced above.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. All cash and cash equivalent balances were highly liquid at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company has classified approximately $0.02 million as restricted cash.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash. The Company primarily maintains its cash balances with financial institutions in federally insured accounts in the U.S. The Company may from time to time have cash in banks in excess of FDIC insurance limits. At March 31, 2024 the Company had approximately $3.4 million in one account in the U.S. which was in excess of these limits. The Company has not experienced any losses to date resulting from this practice. The Company mitigates its risk by maintaining the majority of its cash and equivalents with high quality financial institutions.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company follows Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier fair value hierarchy has been established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions, which reflect those that a market participant would use.

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument.

The Company recognizes transfers between levels as if the transfers occurred on the last day of the reporting period.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the fair value of amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate impairment may be present. Any excess in carrying value over the estimated fair value is charged to results of operations. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges through March 31, 2024 related to goodwill.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets for potential impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). Potential impairment is assessed when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. Recoverability of these assets is assessed based on undiscounted expected future cash flows from the assets, considering a number of factors, including past operating results, budgets and economic projections, market trends and product development cycles. If impairments are identified, assets are written down to their estimated fair value. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges through March 31, 2024.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The Company determines its deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. At March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company does not have any significant uncertain tax positions.

Leases

Leases are recorded on the balance sheet as right of use assets and lease obligations.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to operations when incurred and are included in operating expense, except for goodwill related to patents. Research and development costs consist principally of compensation of employees and consultants that perform the Company’s research activities, payments to third parties for preclinical and non-clinical activities, expenses with clinical research organizations (“CROs”), investigative sites, consultants and contractors that conduct or provide other services relating to clinical trials, costs to acquire drug product, drug supply and clinical trial materials from contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMOs”) and third-party contractors relating to chemistry, manufacturing and controls (“CMC”) efforts, the fees paid for and to maintain the Company’s licenses and research and development costs related to adrulipase and niclosamide. Depending upon the timing of payments to the service providers, the Company recognizes prepaid expenses or accrued expenses related to these costs. These accrued or prepaid expenses are based on management’s estimates of the work performed under service agreements, milestones achieved and experience with similar contracts. The Company monitors each of these factors and adjusts estimates accordingly.

Research and Development – Intellectual Property Acquired

The Company records intellectual property acquired in business acquisitions that has not reached technological feasibility and which has no alternative future use, as In-Process R&D (“IPR&D”) at the acquisition date. On March 13, 2024, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement with IMGX which included the intellectual property and patents for Latiglutenase and CypCel, which was accounted for as a business acquisition (see Note 3).

Intangible assets related to IPR&D are considered indefinite-lived intangible assets and are assessed for impairment annually or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. If the associated research and development effort is abandoned, the related assets will be written-off, and the Company will record a noncash impairment loss on its Consolidated Statements of Operations. For those compounds that reach commercialization, the IPR&D assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives. The impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets is a one-step test that compares the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.

For tax purposes, intangible assets related to IPR&D are considered definite-lived intangible assets.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) and stockholders have adopted and approved the Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) which took effect on May 12, 2014, and the 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, which took effect on September 11, 2020 (the “2020 Plan”). From the effective date of the 2020 Plan, no new awards have been or will be made under the 2014 Plan. On March 13, 2024, in connection with the IMGX acquisition, the Company assumed IMGX’s 2021 Stock Option Plan (the “IMGX Plan”), including all IMGX stock options immediately outstanding prior to the IMGX acquisition, with each becoming an option to purchase Common Stock, subject to adjustment. The IMGX Plan was adopted and approved by the board of directors and stockholders of IMGX in 2021. Following the assumption of the IMGX Plan by the Company, no new awards have been or will be made under the IMGX Plan. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards to employees, consultants, and Board members in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, consultants, and Board members, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statements of operations by measuring the fair value of the award on the date of grant and recognizing this fair value as stock-based compensation using a straight-line method over the requisite service period, generally the vesting period.

For awards with performance conditions that affect their vesting, such as the occurrence of certain transactions or the achievement of certain operating or financial milestones, recognition of fair value of the award occurs when vesting becomes probable.

The Company estimates the grant date fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the Common Stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the Common Stock.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has evaluated recently issued accounting pronouncements and has concluded that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations upon adoption.