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Organization and Description of Business
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization and Description of Business

1. Organization and Description of Business

 

SenesTech, Inc. (referred to in this report as “SenesTech,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”) was formed in July 2004 and incorporated in the state of Nevada. The Company subsequently reincorporated in the state of Delaware in November 2015. Our corporate headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona. We have developed and are commercializing a global, proprietary technology for managing animal pest populations, initially rat populations, through fertility control.

 

Although there are myriad tools available to control rat populations, most rely on some form of lethal method to achieve effectiveness. Each of these solutions is inherently limited by rat species’ resilience and survival mechanisms as well as their extraordinary rate of reproduction. ContraPest®, our initial product, is unique in the pest control industry in attacking the reproductive systems of both male and female rats, which our field data shows will result in a sustained reduction of the rat population.

 

Rats have plagued humanity throughout history. They pose significant threats to the health and food security of many communities. In addition, rodents cause significant product loss and damage through consumption and contamination. Rats also cause significant damage to critical infrastructure by burrowing beneath foundations and gnawing on electrical wiring, insulation, fire proofing systems, electronics and equipment.

 

The most prevalent solution to rat infestations is the use of increasingly powerful rodenticides. Although these solutions provide short term results, there are growing concerns about secondary exposure and bioaccumulation of rodenticides in the environment, as well as concerns about rodenticides that have no antidotes. The pest management industry and Pest Management Professionals (“PMPs”) are being asked for new solutions that are both effective and less toxic. Our goal is to provide customers with not only a solution to combat their most difficult rat problems, but also offer a non-lethal option to serve customers that are looking to decrease or remove the amount of rodenticide used in their pest control programs.

 

ContraPest is a liquid bait containing the active ingredients 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (“VCD”) and triptolide. ContraPest limits reproduction of male and female rats beginning with the first breeding cycle following consumption. ContraPest is being marketed for use in controlling Norway and roof rat populations.

 

SenesTech began the registration process with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) for ContraPest on August 23, 2015. On August 2, 2016, the EPA granted an unconditional registration for ContraPest as a Restricted Use Product (“RUP”), due to the need for applicator expertise for deployment. On October 18, 2018, the EPA approved the removal of the RUP designation. We believe ContraPest is the first and only non-lethal, fertility control product approved by the EPA for the management of rodent populations.

 

In addition to the EPA registration of ContraPest in the United States, we must obtain registration from the various state regulatory agencies prior to selling in each state. To date, we have received registration for ContraPest in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 48 of which have approved the removal of the Restricted Use designation.

 

In addition to product registration, the EPA also approves all labeling (the container label, instructional inserts, and the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)) of ContraPest. Generally, states accept the EPA approved label as is. ContraPest’s labeling was submitted to states at initial registration and is resubmitted during state scheduled reregistration or for any significant labeling change requiring EPA approval.

We expect to continue to pursue regulatory approvals and amendments to the existing U.S. registration for ContraPest to broaden the marketability and use of ContraPest, and if ContraPest begins to generate sufficient revenue, regulatory approvals for additional jurisdictions beyond the United States. In certain cases, our EPA and state registrations require completion of additional testing and certifications even though we have received approval for the product or its labelling. We continue to seek to comply with these requirements.

 

The Company also continues to research and develop enhancements to ContraPest that align with our target verticals and other potential fertility control options for additional species. 

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

On February 4, 2020, we amended our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to effect a 1-for-20 reverse split of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. The accompanying condensed financial statements and notes thereto give retrospective effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented. All issued and outstanding common stock, options and warrants exercisable for common stock, restricted stock units, preferred stock conversions to common stock and per share amounts contained in our condensed financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted.

  

Going Concern

 

Although our audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were prepared under the assumption that we would continue our operations as a going concern, the report of our independent registered public accounting firm that accompanies our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 contains a going concern qualification in which such firm expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, based on the financial statements at that time. Specifically, as noted above, we have incurred operating losses since our inception, and we expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future. These prior losses and expected future losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our financial condition. If we encounter continued issues or delays in the commercialization of ContraPest, our prior losses and expected future losses could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and negatively impact our ability to fund continued operations, obtain additional financing in the future and continue as a going concern. There are no assurances that such financing, if necessary, will be available to us at all or will be available in sufficient amounts or on reasonable terms. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to generate additional funds in the future through additional financings, sales of our products, licensing fees, royalty payments or from other sources or transactions, we will exhaust our resources and will be unable to continue operations.

 

Need for Additional Capital

 

Since our inception, we have sustained significant operating losses in the course of our research and development and commercialization activities and expect such losses to continue for the near future. We have generated limited revenue to date from product sales, research grants and licensing fees received under our former license agreement with Neogen. We have primarily funded our operations to date through the sale of equity securities, including convertible preferred stock, common stock and warrants to purchase common stock. See Note 9 Common Stock Warrants and Common Stock Warrant Liability for a description of our public equity sales.

 

We have also raised capital through debt financing, consisting primarily of convertible notes and government loan programs, and, to a lesser extent, payments received in connection with product sales, research grants and licensing fees.

 

Through December 31, 2021, we had received net proceeds of $84.3 million from our sales of common stock, preferred stock and warrant exercises and issuance of convertible and other promissory notes, an aggregate of $1.7 million from licensing fees and an aggregate of $1.5 million in net product sales. At December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $112.5 million and cash and cash equivalents of $9.3 million.

 

As discussed in Note 8 - Borrowings on April 15, 2020, we received cash proceeds of $645,700 from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). We used the proceeds from the PPP loan to retain employees, maintain payroll and make lease, interest and utility payments. This loan was fully forgiven, under terms of the PPP, on June 14, 2021.

 

Our ultimate success depends upon the outcome of a combination of factors, including the following: (i) successful commercialization of ContraPest and maintaining and obtaining regulatory approval of our products and product candidates; (ii) market acceptance, commercial viability and profitability of ContraPest and other products; (iii) the ability to market our products and establish an effective sales force and marketing infrastructure to generate significant revenue; (iv) the success of our research and development; (v) the ability to retain and attract key personnel to develop, operate and grow our business; and (vi) our ability to meet our working capital needs.

 

Based upon our current operating plan, we expect that cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2021, in combination with anticipated revenue and any additional sales of our equity securities, will be sufficient to fund our current operations for at least the next 12 months. We have evaluated and will continue to evaluate our operating expenses and will concentrate our resources toward the successful commercialization of ContraPest in the United States. However, if anticipated revenue targets and margin targets are not achieved or expenses are more than we have budgeted, we may need to raise additional financing before that time. If we need more financing, including within the next 12 months, and we are unable to raise necessary capital through the sale of our securities, we may be required to take other measures that could impair our ability to be successful and operate as a going concern. In any event, we may require additional capital in order to fund our operating losses and research and development activities before we become profitable and may opportunistically raise capital. We may never achieve profitability or generate positive cash flows, and unless and until we do, we will continue to need to raise capital through equity or debt financing. If such equity or debt financing is not available at adequate levels or on acceptable terms, we may need to delay, limit or terminate commercialization and development efforts or discontinue operations.

 

Major Customer

 

We did not have any customers that accounted for 10% or more of sales for the year ended December 31, 2021. We did have one major customer that accounted for approximately $44, or 15% of sales, for the year ended December 31, 2020. We expect to maintain the relationships with these customers.