RELATED PARTIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTIES

NOTE 11 – RELATED PARTIES

CellerateRX Sublicense Agreement

The Company had an exclusive, world-wide sublicense to distribute certain hydrolyzed collagen products, including CellerateRX Surgical into the surgical and wound care markets from an affiliate of The Catalyst Group, Inc. (“Catalyst”), CGI Cellerate RX, which licensed the rights to these products from Applied. Sales of CellerateRX Surgical have comprised the substantial majority of the Company’s sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. As amended in January 2021, the term of the Sublicense Agreement was extended through May 2050, with automatic successive one-year renewals so long as annual net sales of the licensed products exceed $1,000,000.

As discussed further in Note 3, on August 1, 2023, the Company purchased certain assets from Applied, including the underlying intellectual property of, as well as the rights to manufacture and sell certain hydrolyzed collagen products, including CellerateRX Surgical. In connection with the Applied Asset Purchase, Applied assigned the License Agreement with CGI Cellerate RX to SMAT, and on October 10, 2024, the License Agreement and Sublicense Agreement were terminated. Ronald T. Nixon, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, is the founder and managing partner of Catalyst.

Product License Agreements

In July 2019, the Company executed a license agreement with Rochal, a related party, whereby the Company acquired an exclusive world-wide license to market, sell and further develop antimicrobial products for the prevention and treatment of microbes on the human body utilizing certain Rochal patents and pending patent applications. Currently, the products covered by the BIAKŌS License Agreement are BIAKŌS Antimicrobial Wound Gel and BIAKŌS Antimicrobial Skin and Wound Cleanser. Both products are 510(k) cleared. Mr. Nixon is a director of Rochal, and indirectly a significant shareholder of Rochal, and through the potential exercise of warrants, a majority shareholder of Rochal. Another one of the Company’s directors is also a director and significant shareholder of Rochal.

In October 2019, the Company executed the ABF License Agreement with Rochal whereby the Company acquired an exclusive world-wide license to market, sell and further develop certain antimicrobial barrier film and skin protectant products for use in the human health care market utilizing certain Rochal patents and pending patent applications. Currently, the products covered by the ABF License Agreement are CuraShield Antimicrobial Barrier Film and a no sting skin protectant product.

In May 2020, the Company executed a product license agreement with Rochal, whereby the Company acquired an exclusive world-wide license to market, sell and further develop a debrider for human medical use to enhance skin condition or treat or relieve skin disorders, excluding uses primarily for beauty, cosmetic, or toiletry purposes.

See Note 9 for more information on these product license agreements.

Consulting Agreement

Concurrent with the Rochal asset purchase, in July 2021, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Ann Beal Salamone pursuant to which Ms. Salamone agreed to provide the Company with consulting services with respect to, among other things, writing new patents, conducting patent intelligence, and participating in certain grant and contract reporting. In consideration for the consulting services to be provided to the Company, Ms. Salamone is entitled to receive an annual consulting fee of $177,697, with payments to be paid once per month. The consulting agreement has an initial term of three years, unless earlier terminated by the Company, and is subject to renewal. Effective July 13, 2024, the consulting agreement with Ms. Salamone was amended to provide that the initial term shall be automatically renewed for successive one-year terms for up to three successive years unless earlier terminated by either party without cause at any time, provided that the terminating party provides 90 days advance written notice of termination. Ms. Salamone is a director of the Company and is a significant shareholder and the current Chair of the board of directors of Rochal.

Catalyst Transaction Advisory Services Agreement

In March 2023, the Company entered into a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (the “Catalyst Services Agreement”) effective March 1, 2023 with Catalyst, a related party. Pursuant to the Catalyst Services Agreement, Catalyst, by and through its directors, officers, employees and affiliates that are not simultaneously serving as directors, officers or employees of the Company (collectively, the “Covered Persons”), agreed to perform certain transaction advisory, business and organizational strategy, finance, marketing, operational and strategic planning, relationship access and corporate development services for the Company in connection with any merger, acquisition, recapitalization, divestiture, financing, refinancing, or other similar transaction in which the Company may be, or may consider becoming, involved, and any such additional services as mutually agreed upon in writing by and between Catalyst and the Company (the “Catalyst Services”).

Pursuant to the Catalyst Services Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse Catalyst for (i) compensation actually paid by Catalyst to any of the Covered Persons at a rate no more than a rate consistent with industry practice for the performance of services similar to the Catalyst Services, as documented in reasonably sufficient detail, and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses payable to unaffiliated third parties, as documented in customary expense reports, as each of (i) and (ii) is incurred in connection with the Catalyst Services rendered under the Catalyst Services Agreement, with all reimbursements being contingent upon the prior approval of the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company incurred costs pursuant to the Catalyst Services Agreement of $49,829 and $44,032 in the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $163,101 and $117,018 in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.