424B3 1 govx20220421b_424b3.htm FORM 424B3 govx20220421b_424b3.htm

 

Prospectus Supplement No. 1

To Prospectus dated March 9, 2022

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration Statement No. 333-262541

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

Up to 6,134,968 Shares of Common Stock

 

We are supplementing the prospectus dated March 9, 2022 covering the sale of up to 6,134,968 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value, that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders named in the prospectus, to add certain information as described below.

 

This prospectus supplement supplements information contained in the prospectus dated March 9, 2022 and should be read in conjunction therewith, including any previous supplements and amendments thereto, which are to be delivered with this prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in connection with, the prospectus dated March 9, 2022, including any previous supplements and amendments thereto.

 

This prospectus supplement is being filed to update and supplement the information in the prospectus dated March 9, 2022 with information contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2022, and with information contained in Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2022. Accordingly, we have attached those filings to this prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in our common stock involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of the prospectus dated March 9, 2022 for a discussion of these risks.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement in truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this Prospectus Supplement is April 27, 2022.

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022
OR  
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  For the transition period from _______ to _______

 

Commission File Number: 001-39563

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 87-0455038
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)  
   
1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380  
Smyrna, Georgia 30080
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(678) 384-7220

(Registrants telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of each Exchange on which Registered

Common Stock $0.001 par value

GOVX

The Nasdaq Capital Market

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock

GOVXW

The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes ☒   No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☒   No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

  Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
  Non-accelerated filer Emerging growth company
  Smaller reporting company    

  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):

Yes ☐   No ☒

 

As of April 27, 2022, 9,449,025 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $.001 par value, were issued and outstanding.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1 Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:  
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 (unaudited) and December 31, 2021 1
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited)

2
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) 3
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (unaudited) 4
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 5
     
Item 2 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 8
     
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 12
     
Item 4 Controls and Procedures 12
     
PART II OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1 Legal Proceedings 13
     
Item 1A Risk Factors 13
     
Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 13
     
Item 3 Defaults Upon Senior Securities 13
     
Item 4 Mine Safety Disclosures 13
     
Item 5 Other Information  13
     
Item 6 Exhibits 14
     
SIGNATURES 15

 

 

 

Part I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1         Financial Statements

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   

March 31

   

December 31,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 
   

(unaudited)

         

ASSETS

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 16,257,716     $ 11,423,870  

Grant funds and other receivables

    99,526       49,006  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    279,648       156,240  

Total current assets

    16,636,890       11,629,116  

Property and equipment, net

    206,855       156,938  

Deposits

    11,010       11,010  
                 

Total assets

  $ 16,854,755     $ 11,797,064  
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 426,103     $ 2,057,534  

Accrued expenses

    3,075,000       3,377,826  

Total current liabilities

    3,501,103       5,435,360  

Accrued expenses - noncurrent

    2,000,000       2,000,000  

Total liabilities

    5,501,103       7,435,360  
                 

Commitments (Note 7)

               
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Common stock, $.001 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 600,000,000 Issued and outstanding shares – 9,449,025 and 6,381,541 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

    9,449       6,382  

Additional paid-in capital

    78,147,616       68,731,220  

Accumulated deficit

    (66,803,413 )     (64,375,898 )

Total stockholders’ equity

    11,353,652       4,361,704  
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 16,854,755     $ 11,797,064  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Grant revenues

  $ 81,526     $ 110,417  
                 

Operating expenses:

               

Research and development

    1,330,544       602,783  

General and administrative

    1,179,024       1,071,710  

Total operating expenses

    2,509,568       1,674,493  
                 

Loss from operations

    (2,428,042 )     (1,564,076 )
                 

Other income (expense):

               

Interest income

    527       2,053  

Interest expense

    -       (755 )

Total other income (expense)

    527       1,298  
                 

Net loss

  $ (2,427,515 )   $ (1,562,778 )
                 

Basic and diluted:

               

Net loss per common share

  $ (0.34 )   $ (0.29 )

Weighted average shares outstanding

    7,109,473       5,332,058  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 
                                                   

Total

 
   

Preferred Stock

   

Common Stock

   

Additional

   

Accumulated

   

Stockholders’

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Paid-in Capital

   

Deficit

   

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

    -     $ -       6,381,541     $ 6,382     $ 68,731,220     $ (64,375,898 )   $ 4,361,704  

Sale of common stock and warrants for cash

    -       -       707,484       707       9,228,541       -       9,229,248  

Issuance of common stock upon warrant exercise

    -       -       2,360,000       2,360       (2,336 )     -       24  

Stock option expense

    -       -       -       -       190,191       -       190,191  

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022

    -       -       -       -       -       (2,427,515 )     (2,427,515 )

Balance at March 31, 2022

    -     $ -       9,449,025     $ 9,449     $ 78,147,616     $ (66,803,413 )   $ 11,353,652  

 

 

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
                                                   

Total

 
   

Preferred Stock

   

Common Stock

   

Additional

   

Accumulated

   

Stockholders’

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Paid-in Capital

   

Deficit

   

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

    100     $ 76,095       3,834,095     $ 3,834     $ 55,294,504     $ (45,805,581 )   $ 9,568,852  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       1,644,000       1,644       9,407,276       -       9,408,920  

Issuance of common stock upon warrant exercise

    -       -       835,900       836       3,173,320       -       3,174,156  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       1,472       1       5,999       -       6,000  

Stock option expense

    -       -       -       -       56,190       -       56,190  

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021

    -       -       -       -       -       (1,562,778 )     (1,562,778 )

Balance at March 31, 2021

    100     $ 76,095       6,315,467     $ 6,315     $ 67,937,289     $ (47,368,359 )   $ 20,651,340  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (2,427,515 )   $ (1,562,778 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Depreciation expense

    12,269       4,517  

Stock-based compensation expense

    205,151       76,790  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

               

Grant funds and other receivables

    (50,520 )     182,663  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (138,368 )     35,659  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (1,934,257 )     (357,878 )

Total adjustments

    (1,905,725 )     (58,249 )

Net cash used in operating activities

    (4,333,240 )     (1,621,027 )
                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    -       -  

Purchase of equipment

    (62,186 )     -  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (62,186 )     -  
                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Net proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants

    9,229,248       9,408,920  

Net proceeds from warrant exercise

    24       3,174,156  

Principal repayment of note payable

    -       (3,063 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

    9,229,272       12,580,013  
                 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

    4,833,846       10,958,986  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    11,423,870       9,883,796  
                 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 16,257,716     $ 20,842,782  

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, 145,866 shares of common stock were issued upon the cashless exercise of 188,668 stock purchase warrants.

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2022

(unaudited)

 

1.         Description of Business

 

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancers using novel vector vaccine platforms. GeoVax’s product pipeline includes ongoing human clinical trials in COVID-19 and head and neck cancer. Additional research and development programs include preventive vaccines against Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa) and malaria, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumors.

 

GeoVax is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and our principal offices are located in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area.

 

2.         Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2022 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, which we believe to be necessary for a fair presentation of the dates and periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We expect our operating results to fluctuate for the foreseeable future; therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.

 

Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for at least the twelve-month period following the issue date of these consolidated financial statements. We are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to research and development of our vaccine and immunotherapy candidates. We expect to incur future net losses and require substantial funds as we continue our research and development activities. Our transition to profitability will be dependent upon, among other things, the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We may never achieve profitability or positive cash flows, and unless and until we do, we will continue to need to raise additional funding. We have funded our activities to date from sales of our equity securities, government grants and clinical trial assistance, and corporate and academic collaborations. We intend to fund our future operations through additional private and/or public offerings of debt or equity securities. In addition, we may seek additional capital through government grants, arrangements with strategic partners, or from other sources. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional funds or achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows from operations. 

 

3.         Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

We disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 those accounting policies that we consider significant in determining our results of operations and financial position. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, there have been no material changes to, or in the application of, the accounting policies previously identified and described in the Form 10-K, and there have been no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements which we expect to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

4.         Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share

 

Basic and diluted loss per common share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The Company’s potentially dilutive securities, which include stock options and stock purchase warrants, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be antidilutive. The potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share totaled 6,846,415 and 3,395,635 shares at March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

5

 

 

5.         Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is composed of the following as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

 

   

March 31,

2022

   

December 31,

2021

 

Equipment and furnishings

  $ 653,740     $ 591,554  

Leasehold improvements

    115,605       115,605  

Total property and equipment

    769,345       707,159  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (562,490 )     (550,221 )

Property and equipment, net

  $ 206,855     $ 156,938  

 

6.         Accrued Expenses

 

Accrued expenses as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are composed of the following as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

 

   

March 31,

2022

   

December 31,

2021

 

Accrued license fees – current

  $ 3,000,000     $ 3,000,000  

Accrued license fees – noncurrent

    2,000,000       2,000,000  

Accrued payroll

    -       269,000  

Other accrued expenses

    75,000       108,826  

Total accrued expenses

  $ 5,075,000     $ 5,377,826  

 

7.         Commitments

 

Operating Lease

 

We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space pursuant to an operating lease which expires on December 31, 2022. Rent expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $44,089 and $42,803, respectively. Future minimum lease payments total $132,267 in 2022, although the lease may be terminated at any time by either party with ninety days written notice.

 

License Agreements

 

We have entered into license agreements with City of Hope, PNP Therapeutics, Inc., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Southern Research Institute, Emory University, and with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as represented by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for various technologies and patent rights associated with our product development activities. These agreements may contain provisions for upfront payments, milestone fees due upon the achievement of selected development and regulatory events, minimum annual royalties or other fees, and royalties based on future net sales. Aggregate unrecorded future minimum payments under these agreements (excluding milestone and royalty payments due upon contingent future events) are approximately $149,000 in 2022, $128,000 in 2023, $128,000 in 2024, $28,000 in 2025 and $28,000 in 2026.

 

Other Commitments

 

In the normal course of business, we enter into various firm purchase commitments related to production and testing of our vaccine, conduct of clinical trials and preclinical research studies, and other activities. As of March 31, 2022, there are approximately $2.2 million of unrecorded outstanding purchase commitments to our vendors and subcontractors, all of which we expect will be due in 2022.

 

8.         Stockholders Equity

 

Private Placement On January 19, 2022, we closed a private placement of 707,484 shares of common stock, a pre-funded warrant to purchase 2,360,000 shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrant”), and a warrant to purchase up to 3,067,484 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.26 per share (the “Common Warrant”). Net proceeds after deducting placement agent commissions and other offering expenses were approximately $9.2 million. During March 2022, the Pre-Funded Warrant was exercised in full, for nominal net proceeds. The Common Warrant is currently exercisable and will expire on February 10, 2027.

 

6

 

Stock Options We have a stock-based incentive plan (the “2020 Plan”) pursuant to which our Board of Directors may grant stock options and other stock-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants. A total of 1,500,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2020 Plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, there were no stock option transactions related to the 2020 Plan. As of March 31, 2022, there are 962,300 stock options outstanding, with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.18 per share and a weighted-average remaining term of 9.1 years.

 

Stock Purchase Warrants – As of March 31, 2022, there are 5,884,115 stock purchase warrants outstanding with a weighted-average exercise price of $4.23 per share and a weighted-average remaining term of 4.2 years.

 

9.         Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock option grants was $190,191 and $56,190 during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award and is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense based upon the classification of the individual to whom the award is granted. As of March 31, 2022, there is $1,229,953 of unrecognized compensation expense that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.

 

During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $14,960 and $20,600, respectively, associated with common stock issued for consulting and financial advisory services. As of March 31, 2022, there is $4,987 recorded as a prepaid expense for these arrangements, which will be recognized as expense during 2022 over the term of the related agreement.

 

10.         Income Taxes

 

Because of our historically significant net operating losses, we have not paid income taxes since inception. We maintain deferred tax assets that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. These deferred tax assets are comprised primarily of net operating loss carryforwards and also include amounts relating to nonqualified stock options and research and development credits. The net deferred tax asset has been fully offset by a valuation allowance because of the uncertainty of our future profitability and our ability to utilize the deferred tax assets. Utilization of operating losses and credits will be subject to substantial annual limitations due to ownership change provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.

 

11.         Grant Revenue

 

We receive payments from government entities under grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and from the U.S. Department of Defense in support of our vaccine research and development efforts. We record revenue associated with government grants as the reimbursable costs are incurred. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded $81,526 and $110,417, respectively, of revenue associated with these grants.

 

7

 

 

Item 2         Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations

 

The following Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to help the reader understand our results of operations and financial condition. This MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto and other disclosures included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this Report), and our audited financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2022.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Information included in this Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. All statements in this Report, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, intentions, expectations and objectives could be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We operate in a highly competitive, highly regulated and rapidly changing environment and our business is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is likely that new risks will emerge, and that the nature and elements of existing risks will change, over time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or changes therein, or to assess either the impact of all such risk factors on our business. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Report.

 

Overview

 

GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases and cancers using novel vector vaccine platforms. GeoVax’s product pipeline includes ongoing human clinical trials in COVID-19 and head and neck cancer. Additional research and development programs include preventive vaccines against Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa) and malaria, as well as immunotherapies for solid tumors.

 

Our programs are in various stages of development, the most significant of which are summarized below:

GEO-CM04S1 is currently undergoing a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT04977024), evaluating its safety and efficacy as a preventive COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine, in blood cancer patients who have received a bone marrow transplant or chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR T).

In December 2021, patient enrollment began for the Phase 2 portion of a Phase 1/2 trial (NCT04639466) of GEO-CM04S1, evaluating its use as a universal booster vaccine to current FDA-approved two-shot mRNA vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

Gedeptin® is currently undergoing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03754933) for treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer, which is being conducted with funding support from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) pursuant to its Orphan Products Grants Program.

Our pan coronavirus vaccine (GEO-CM02) has shown promising results in preclinical studies to date and with additional studies planned for 2022 to prepare for IND (Investigational New Drug) filing and subsequent human clinical trials.

Our additional research programs for treatment of solid tumors, and vaccines against Zika virus, malaria and hemorrhagic fever viruses are at various stages of preclinical development.

 

Our corporate goal is to advance, protect and exploit our differentiated vaccine/immunotherapy technologies leading to the successful development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines. Our strategy is to advance products through to human clinical testing, potentially seeking partnership or licensing arrangements for achieving regulatory approval and commercialization. We also leverage third party resources through collaborations and partnerships for preclinical and clinical testing with multiple government, academic and corporate entities.

 

8

 

We have not generated any revenues from the sale of the products we are developing, and we do not expect to generate any such revenues for at least the next several years. Our product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing. All product candidates that we advance to clinical testing will require regulatory approval prior to commercial use and will require significant costs for commercialization. We may not be successful in our research and development efforts, and we may never generate sufficient product revenue to be profitable.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

         
   

2022

   

2021

   

Change

 

Grant revenue

  $ 81,526     $ 110,417     $ (28,891 )

Operating expenses:

                       

Research and development

    1,330,544       602,783       727,761  

General and administrative

    1,179,024       1,071,710       107,314  

Total operating expenses

    2,509,568       1,674,493       835,075  

Loss from operations

    (2,428,042 )     (1,564,076 )     (863,966 )

Total other income (expense)

    527       1,298       (771 )

Net loss

  $ (2,427,515 )   $ (1,562,778 )   $ (864,737 )

 

Grant Revenues

 

Our grant revenues relate to grants and contracts from agencies of the U.S. government in support of our vaccine development activities. We record revenue associated with these grants as the related costs and expenses are incurred. The following table summarizes our grant revenues for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

         
   

2022

   

2021

   

Change

 

Lassa Fever – U.S. Army Grant

  $ 81,526     $ -     $ 81,526  

Covid-19 – NIH SBIR Grant

    -       110,417       (110,417 )

Total grant revenues

    81,526       110,417       (28,891 )

 

Grant revenues decreased by $28,891 (26%) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, attributable to the differing mix of active grants as shown in the table above, as well as the timing of expenditures related to such grants. As of March 31, 2022, all approved grant funds have been utilized.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Our research and development expenses can fluctuate considerably on a period-to-period basis, depending on the timing of expenditures related to our government grants and other research projects, and other factors. We do not disclose our research and development expenses by project, since our employees’ time is spread across multiple programs and our laboratory facility is used for multiple product candidates. We track the direct cost of research and development expenses related to government grant revenue by the percentage of assigned employees’ time spent on each grant and other direct costs associated with each grant. Indirect costs associated with grants are not tracked separately but are applied based on a contracted overhead rate negotiated with the granting agency. Therefore, the recorded revenues associated with government grants approximate the costs incurred.

 

Research and development expenses increased by $727,761 (121%) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 versus the 2021 comparable period. Research and development expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 includes stock-based compensation expense of $54,292 and $21,468, respectively, associated with employee stock options, reflecting an increase of $32,824 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). The remaining increase of $694,937 relates primarily to higher personnel costs (including the use of external consultants), costs of manufacturing materials for use in clinical trials, and a generally higher level of activity.

 

9

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022, general and administrative expenses increased by $107,314 (10%) versus the 2021 comparable period. General and administrative expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 included stock-based compensation expense of $150,859 and $55,322, respectively, reflecting an increase of $95,537 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below).

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

The table below shows the components of stock-based compensation expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Stock option expense

  $ 190,191     $ 56,190  

Stock issued for non-employee services

    14,960       20,600  

Total stock-based compensation expense

  $ 205,151     $ 76,790  

 

Our stock option grants to employees generally vest over a three-year period from the date of grant. For members of our Board of Directors the vesting period is one year, effective with grants made during 2021. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite vesting period for stock option grants or service period for stock awards to consultants. Such expense is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification the employee, consultant or director to whom the stock compensation was granted.

 

Stock option expense increased by $134,001 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 versus the 2021 comparable period. The increase is primarily due to the prorated expense associated with the 2021 year-end stock option grants. As of March 31, 2022, there is $1,229,953 of unrecognized expense related to stock options that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest income for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $527 and $2,053, respectively. Interest expense for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $-0- and $755, respectively.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and adjusts the estimates as necessary. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

For a description of critical accounting policies that require significant judgments and estimates during the preparation of our financial statements, refer to Item 7 in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our 2021 Annual Report.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements is contained in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, included in this Quarterly Report.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

From inception through March 31, 2022, we have accumulated net losses of approximately $66.8 million and we expect to incur operating losses and generate negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. We have funded our operations to date primarily from sales of our equity securities and from government grants and clinical trial assistance.

 

10

 

The following tables summarize our liquidity and capital resources as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and our cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

March 31, 2022

   

December 31, 2021

 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 16,257,716     $ 11,423,870  

Working capital

    13,135,787       6,193,756  

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Cash Flow Data

 

2022

   

2021

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

               

Operating activities

  $ (4,333,240 )   $ (1,621,027 )

Investing activities

    (62,186 )     -  

Financing activities

    9,229,272       12,580,013  

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

  $ 4,833,846     $ 10,958,986  

 

Operating Activities – Net cash used in operating activities of $4,333,240 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was primarily due to our net loss of $2,427,515, offset by non-cash items such as depreciation expense and stock-based compensation expense, and by changes in our working capital accounts. Net cash used in operating activities of $1,621,027 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to our net loss of $1,562,778, offset by non-cash charges such as depreciation and stock-based compensation expense, and by changes in our working capital accounts.

 

Investing Activities – Net cash used in investing activities was $62,186 and $-0- for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and relates to purchases of laboratory equipment.

 

Financing Activities – Net cash provided by financing activities was $9,229,272 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, consisting of net proceeds from a private placement of our common stock and warrants. Net cash provided by financing activities was $12,580,013 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, consisting of (i) net proceeds of $9,408,920 from a public offering of our common stock, (ii) $3,174,156 of net proceeds from the exercise of warrants, and (iii) $3,063 in principal repayments toward a note payable to the Georgia Research Alliance, Inc. (the “GRA Note”); the GRA Note has now been fully repaid.

 

Funding Requirements and Sources of Capital

 

Our primary uses of capital are for personnel costs, costs of conducting clinical trials, manufacturing costs for materials used in clinical trials, third-party research services, laboratory and related supplies, technology license fees, legal and other regulatory expenses, and general overhead costs. We expect these costs will continue to be the primary operating capital requirements for the near future.

 

We expect our research and development costs to increase as we continue development of our various programs and as we move toward later stages of development, especially with regard to clinical trials. We have entered into license agreements with City of Hope, PNP Therapeutics, Inc., University of Alabama at Birmingham, Southern Research Institute, Emory University, and with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as represented by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for various technologies and patent rights associated with our product development activities. These agreements may contain provisions for upfront payments, milestone fees due upon the achievement of selected development and regulatory events, minimum annual royalties or other fees, and royalties based on future net sales. Aggregate unrecorded future minimum payments under these agreements (excluding milestone and royalty payments due upon contingent future events) are approximately $149,000 in 2022, $128,000 in 2023, $128,000 in 2024, $28,000 in 2025 and $28,000 in 2026.

 

Our research and development expenditures during 2022 and beyond will increase significantly as a result of the Gedeptin and GEO-CM04S1 clinical programs. We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research programs due to the many uncertainties associated with biotechnology research and development. Due to these uncertainties, our future expenditures are likely to be highly volatile in future periods depending on the outcomes of the trials and studies. As we obtain data from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, we may elect to discontinue or delay certain development programs to focus our resources on more promising product candidates. Completion of preclinical studies and human clinical trials may take several years or more, but the length of time can vary substantially depending upon several factors. The duration and the cost of future clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of the project because of differences arising during development of the human clinical trial protocols, including the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects, the number of patients that ultimately participate in the clinical trial, the duration of patient follow-up, and the number of clinical sites included in the clinical trials.

 

11

 

Gedeptin is currently undergoing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT03754933) for treatment of patients with advanced head and neck cancer. The initial stage of the study (10 patients) is being funded by the FDA pursuant to its Orphan Products Clinical Trials Grants Program. We may seek additional sources of capital through government and quasi-government grant programs and clinical trial support, although there can be no assurance any such funds will be obtained.

 

We expect that our general and administrative costs may increase during the remainder of 2022 and beyond in support of expanded research and development activities and other general corporate activities.

 

We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirements into the second quarter of 2023. However, our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties and is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong; actual results could vary materially. We may need to obtain additional funds sooner than planned or in greater amounts than we currently anticipate. The actual amount of funds we will need to operate is subject to many factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include the progress of our research activities; the number and scope of our research programs; the progress and success of our pre-clinical and clinical development activities; the progress of the development efforts of parties with whom we have entered into research and development agreements; the costs of manufacturing our product candidates, and the progress of efforts with parties with whom we may enter into commercial manufacturing agreements; our ability to maintain current research and development programs and to establish new research and development and licensing arrangements; the costs involved in prosecuting and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights; the terms and timing of establishing and maintaining collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements; the impact of any natural disasters or public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; the costs associated with any products or technologies that we may in-license or acquire; and the costs and timing of regulatory approvals.

 

We will need to continue to raise additional capital to support our future operating activities, including progression of our development programs, preparation for commercialization, and other operating costs. Financing strategies we may pursue include, but are not limited to, the public or private sale of equity, debt financings or funds from other capital sources, such as government funding, collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties. There can be no assurances additional capital will be available to secure additional financing, or if available, that it will be sufficient to meet our needs on favorable terms. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development of one or more of our product candidates.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that are likely or reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations, other than the operating lease for our office and laboratory space.

 

Item 3         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

 

Item 4         Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

12

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

 

As a result of a material weakness surrounding the Company’s interpretation of a non-routine transaction discovered during management’s assessment of the Company’s internal controls and procedures over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, during the three months ended March 31, 2022, management modified its internal controls procedures to include a more comprehensive review process of non-routine transactions. There were no other significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

 

 

PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1      Legal Proceedings

 

None.

 

Item 1A    Risk Factors

 

For information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity, see the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. See also “Forward-Looking Statements,” included in Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 2      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

There were no sales of unregistered securities during the period covered by this report that have not previously been reported on Form 8-K.

 

Item 3      Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4      Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5      Other Information

 

During the period covered by this report, there was no information required to be disclosed by us in a Current Report on Form 8-K that was not so reported, nor were there any material changes to the procedures by which our security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

 

13

 

 

Item 6         Exhibits

 

Exhibit  
Number Description
4.1 Form of Pre-Funded Warrant Agreement (2)
4.2 Form of Common Warrant (2)
10.1 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated January 14, 2022 (2)
10.2 Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 14, 2022 (2)
10.3 **      Employment Agreement between GeoVax, Inc. and Mark J. Newman, PhD, as Amended and Restated March 9, 2022 (3)
10.4 ** Consulting Agreement by and between GeoVax, Inc. and Kelly T. McKee, MD, dated December 22, 2021 (3)
10.5 Summary of the GeoVax Labs, Inc. Director Compensation Plan (3)
31.1* Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
31.2* Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
32.1* Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2* Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document (1)
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (1)
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (1)
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (1)
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (1)
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (1)
104 Inline XBRL for the cover page of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and included in the Exhibit 101 Inline XBRL Document Set (1)

_____________________

* Filed herewith
** Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
   
(1) These interactive data files shall not be deemed filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under these sections.
(2) Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 20, 2022.
(3) Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 9, 2022.

 

14

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this quarterly report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    GEOVAX LABS, INC.  
    (Registrant)  
       
       
Date:         April 27, 2022 By:  /s/ Mark W. Reynolds  
    Mark W. Reynolds  
    Chief Financial Officer  
    (duly authorized officer and principal  
    financial officer)  

 

15

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

         ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

--12-31FY2021

 

         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File No. 001-39563

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

87-0455038

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

 

1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380

Smyrna, GA

(Address of principal executive offices)

30080

(Zip Code)

 

(678) 384-7220

Registrants telephone number, including area code:

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of each Exchange on which Registered

Common Stock $0.001 par value

GOVX

The Nasdaq Capital Market

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock

GOVXW

The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☑

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☑

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐    Accelerated filer ☐    Non-accelerated filer ☑    Smaller reporting company ☑    Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared its audit report. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

 

The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2021, based on the closing price on that date was $30,365,310.

 

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 27, 2022: 9,449,025

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Explanatory Note

 

ii

     
 

PART III

 
     

Item 10

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

1

Item 11

Executive Compensation

4

Item 12

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

9

Item 13

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence

10

Item 14

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

12

     
 

PART IV

 
     

Item 15

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

13

     

Signatures

 

14

 

i

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (this “Amendment”) amends the Annual Report on Form 10-K of GeoVax Labs, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2022 (the “Original Filing”). We are filing this Amendment to amend Part III of the Original Filing to include the information required by and not included in Part III of the Original Filing because we will not file our definitive proxy statement within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. In connection with the filing of this Amendment and pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are including with this Amendment new certifications by our principal executive and principal financial officers; accordingly, Item 15 of Part IV has also been amended to reflect the filing of these new certifications.

 

Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing. The Original Filing continues to speak as of the date of the Original Filing, and we have not updated the disclosures contained therein to reflect any events which occurred at a date subsequent to the filing of the Original Filing other than as expressly indicated in this Amendment. In this Amendment, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to GeoVax Labs, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Other defined terms used in this Amendment but not defined herein shall have the meaning specified for such terms in the Original Filing.

 

All statements in this Amendment that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “opportunity,” “goals,” or “should,” the negative of these words or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, strategies, intentions, expectations, objectives, goals or prospects are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are or will be, as applicable, based largely on our expectations and projections about future events and future trends affecting our business, and so are or will be, as applicable, subject to risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Original Filing, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements. Our views and the events, conditions and circumstances on which these future forward-looking statements are based, may change.

 

ii

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers as of April 27, 2022:

 

 Name

Age

Current Position

 David A. Dodd

72

Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer

 Mark W. Reynolds, CPA

60

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

 Mark J. Newman, Ph.D.

67

Chief Scientific Officer

 Kelly T. McKee M.D.

72

Chief Medical Officer

 Randal D. Chase, Ph.D. (1)(2)(3)

72

Independent Director

 Dean G. Kollintzas (2)(3)

49

Independent Director

 Robert T. McNally Ph.D. (1)(2)

74

Independent Director

 John N. Spencer, Jr. (1)(3)

81

Independent Director

______________________

(1)

Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

(2)

Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.

(3)

Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

David A. Dodd. Mr. Dodd joined the Board of Directors in March 2010, becoming Chairman of our Board of Directors on January 1, 2011. Effective September 5, 2018, Mr. Dodd became our President and Chief Executive Officer, following Dr. McNally’s retirement. His executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries spans more than 40 years. From September 2017 to April 2018, he served as Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors of Medizone International, Inc. (“Medizone”), a developer and manufacturer of disinfectant systems. On April 20, 2018, Medizone announced that certain of its creditors had commenced an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code against Medizone. The creditors included Medizone’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its former Director of Operations. From April 2013 to July 2017, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors, of Aeterna Zentaris Inc., a drug development company. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aeterna Zentaris, Inc. from May 2014 to May 2016, and continued to serve as a member of its Board of Directors until May 2018. From December 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, Chief Executive officer and Chairman of BioReliance Corporation, a leading provider of biological safety and related testing services. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as non-executive Chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc., where he oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic growth plan, implementation of an experienced executive team, and the sale of the company to Stem Cells, Inc. in April 2009. Before that, Mr. Dodd served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Serologicals Corporation before it was sold to Millipore Corporation in July 2006 for $1.5 billion. For five years prior to his employment by Serologicals Corporation, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Chairman of its subsidiary Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of RiversEdge BioVentures, an investment and advisory firm focused on the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industries, which he founded in 2009. Mr. Dodd holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Georgia State University and completed the Harvard Business School of Advanced Management Program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Dodd should serve on the Board of Directors due to his experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his involvement as an officer and director of the Company, as well as his background in general management, business transformation, corporate partnering, and mergers and acquisitions.

 

Mark W. Reynolds, CPA. Mr. Reynolds joined the Company in October 2006 as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Reynolds served as Chief Financial Officer for HealthWatchSystems, Inc. a privately-held company in the consumer healthcare industry. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Duska Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company. From 1988 to 2002, Mr. Reynolds worked for CytRx Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, where he first served as Controller and then as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Reynolds began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1985 to 1988. He is a certified public accountant and earned a Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Georgia.

 

1

 

Mark J. Newman, Ph.D. Dr. Newman became employed as our Chief Scientific Officer on August 25, 2020. Dr. Newman, who previously served the Company as vice president of research and development from 2010 to 2013, worked for the Company on a half-time basis until March 2022, at which time he became a full-time employee. Prior, he served senior management positions at PaxVax, Pharmexa A/S, Epimmune, Vaxcel, Apollon, and Cambridge Biotech. During his 30-year career he shepherded the development of experimental vaccine and adjuvant products through preclinical research and into Phase 1 & 2 clinical testing. He is widely published in peer review publications and holds 10 U.S. patents. He holds a dual B.Sc/M.Sc. degree in Agriculture and Pre-Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University and earned his Ph.D. in Immunology at the John Curtin School for Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra.

 

Kelly T. McKee, M.D. Dr. McKee was appointed as our Chief Medical Officer effective January 6, 2022 and serves in that role on a part-time basis pursuant to a consulting agreement. Dr. McKee has over 30 years of experience in research and development, with specific expertise in vaccines, emerging diseases, biodefense, and respiratory viral infections. His progressive clinical research experience began in 1981 at Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD., United States, where he held a variety of leadership positions in virology, immunology, preventive medicine, and clinical research and development with the U.S. Army, retiring as a Colonel in 2001. Dr. McKee subsequently served as State Epidemiologist in North Carolina, and as Senior Director of Clinical Research at DynPort Vaccine Company. He then held multiple leadership roles, including Vice President and Managing Director of Public Health and Government Services, and Vice President for Vaccines and Public Health in the Infectious Diseases and Vaccines Center of Excellence, at Quintiles/QuintilesIMS (now IQVIA) for more than 10 years. Since 2017 he has provided contract clinical development and medical advisory services to biopharmaceutical industry in infectious diseases and related areas. Dr. McKee earned an M.D. from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, MD. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

 

Randal D. Chase, Ph.D. Dr. Chase joined the Board of Directors in March 2015. Dr. Chase is an experienced pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive who currently serves as a business advisor and consultant to companies in the life science sector. He also serves as a director for Mirexus Biotechnologies, Inc., a biomaterials company, and as Chairman of the Board for Glysantis, Inc. a biotechnology company. From February 2017 to April 2018, Dr. Chase was President and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Proteome Therapeutics Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company; he served as a member of that company’s board of directors from 2015 to April 2018. He served as Chairman of the Board for Medicago, Inc. until its sale to Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in 2013. From 2006 to 2011, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Immunovaccine, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines against cancer and infectious diseases. Dr. Chase is also a former president of Shire Biologics, North American Vaccine, Pasteur Merieux Connaught, and Quadra Logic Technologies, Inc. His early career was at Bristol Myers and Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Chase attended the Senior Executive Program of the London Business School in the United Kingdom, holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree in biochemistry from Bishop’s University and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Chase completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the McArdle Cancer Institute of the University of Wisconsin. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Chase should serve on the Board of Directors due to his extensive leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and the vaccine industry in particular.

 

Dean G. Kollintzas. Mr. Kollintzas joined the Board of Directors in September 2006. Since 2001 Mr. Kollintzas has been an intellectual property attorney specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, FDA regulation, and corporate/international transactions. He is a member of the Wisconsin and American Bar Associations. Since 2004, Mr. Kollintzas has been in private practice. In 2014, he founded Procare Clinical, LLC, a clinical trial management company headquartered in Naperville, IL. Mr. Kollintzas received a microbiology degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kollintzas should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience with intellectual property matters, biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, and FDA regulation.

 

Robert T. McNally, Ph.D. Dr. McNally joined the Board of Directors in December 2006 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008, a position he held until his retirement in September 2018. From 2000 to March 2008, Dr. McNally served as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics LLC, a cGMP laboratory services company. Previously, Dr. McNally was a co-founder and Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., a pioneering company in transplantable human tissues. He has over 35 years of experience in academic and corporate clinical investigations, management, research, business, quality and regulatory affairs. Dr. McNally is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, served on the advisory boards of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Dupree College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a former Chairman of Georgia Bio, a state trade association. Dr. McNally completed his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. McNally should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of his prior business and scientific experience, including his experience as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics, LLC and as Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., and due to his involvement with the Company as its former President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

2

 

John N. (Jack) Spencer, Jr., CPA. Mr. Spencer joined the Board of Directors in September 2006. Mr. Spencer is a certified public accountant and was a partner of Ernst & Young LLP where he spent more than 38 years until he retired in 2000. Mr. Spencer received a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, and he earned an M.B.A. degree from Babson College. He also attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Spencer should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience at Ernst & Young LLP where he was the partner in charge of that firm’s life sciences practice for the southeastern United States, and his clients included a large number of publicly-owned and privately-held medical technology companies.

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, a copy of which is available on our website at www.geovax.com. The Company will provide a copy of the Code of Ethics upon request to any person without charge. Such requests may be transmitted by regular mail in the care of the Corporate Secretary. We require all officers, directors and employees to adhere to this code in addressing the legal and ethical issues encountered in conducting their work. The code requires that employees avoid conflicts of interest, comply with all laws and other legal requirements, conduct business in an honest and ethical manner, and otherwise act with integrity and in our best interest. Employees are required to report any conduct that they believe in good faith to be an actual or apparent violation of the code. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires certain companies to have procedures to receive, retain and treat complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and to allow for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. We have such procedures in place.

 

The Company will post on its website, www.geovax.com, or will disclose on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC, any amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, and that relate to (i) honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; (ii) full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Company; (iii) compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations; (iv) the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code of Ethics to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; or (v) accountability for adherence to the Code of Ethics. Any waiver granted to an executive officer or a director may only be granted by the Board and will be disclosed, along with the reasons therefor, on a Form 8-K filed with the SEC. No such waivers were granted in 2021.

 

Audit Committee

 

The separately-designated standing Audit Committee of the Board provides assistance to the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: (i) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (ii) the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; (iii) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and (iv) oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm, including its qualifications, independence and performance, appointment, compensation, and retention. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and for monitoring our business risk practices. It has appropriate funding, and the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers. It also prepares the Audit Committee reports that SEC proxy rules require for the Company’s proxy statements. Our Audit Committee is currently comprised of Mr. Spencer (Chairman), Mr. Chase, and Mr. Kollintzas. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the committee is independent in accordance with the criteria of independence set forth in Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and that Mr. Spencer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC’s rules. The Audit Committee has adopted a charter, a current copy of which is available on our website at www.geovax.com.

 

Director Nomination Process

 

Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for making recommendations on nominees for election as directors to the Board of Directors. We do not have specific minimum qualifications that a person must meet in order to serve on our Board of Directors, nor do we have a formal policy about the consideration of any director candidates recommended by stockholders. However, our Nominating and Governance Committee, and our Board of Directors, believe that directors should possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of the Company’s stockholders. Each director must also be able to dedicate the time and resources sufficient to ensure the diligent performance of his or her duties. Further, our Board of Directors is intended to encompass a range of talents, experience, skills, backgrounds, and expertise sufficient to provide sound and prudent guidance with respect to the operations and interests of GeoVax and its stockholders. We do not have a formal policy on Board diversity as it relates to race, gender, or national origin.

 

3

 

GeoVax considers persons for nomination for election to the Board of Directors from any source, including stockholder recommendations. The Nominating and Governance Committee does not evaluate candidates differently based on who has made the recommendation. Consideration of nominee candidates typically involves a series of internal discussions, a review of information concerning candidates, and interviews with selected candidates. To date, no third parties have been engaged to assist us in finding suitable candidates to serve as directors. All of our nominees are directors standing for re-election. The nomination of each director was recommended by the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Board of Directors followed the recommendation.

 

Our Nominating and Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for directors sent to GeoVax Labs, Inc., 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080, Attention: Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Any recommendation from a stockholder should include the name, background and qualifications of such candidate and should be accompanied by evidence of such stockholder’s ownership of GeoVax’s common stock. The Nominating and Governance Committee may ask for additional information.

 

A stockholder making any proposal shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

ITEM 11.          EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth all compensation awarded or earned for employment services during 2021 and 2020 by (i) each person who served as our chief executive officer during 2021, and (ii) our two other most highly compensated executive officers (collectively referred to as the “Named Executive Officers”).

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

All Other

   

 

 

  Name and

    Salary     Bonus     Option    

Compensation

    Total  
  Principal Position  Year     ($)        ($)     

($)

       ($)       ($)   

David A. Dodd

2021

  $ 250,000     $ 125,000     $ 295,610 (3)   $ 6,500  (9)   $ 677,110  

President and CEO

2020

    250,000       162,500       305,760  (6)     8,483  (9)     726,743  

Mark W. Reynolds

2021

    234,392       94,000       138,334  (4)     11,600  (9)     478,326  

Chief Financial Officer

2020

    234,392       117,196       143,360  (7)     5,803  (9)     500,751  

Mark J. Newman, PhD (2)

2021

    125,000       50,000       73,759  (5)     -       248,759  

Chief Scientific Officer

2020

    41,667       18,750       39,200  (8)     -       99,617  

 

(1)

Represents the grant date fair value of the stock options for financial statement reporting purposes. See footnotes 2 and 7 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of the assumptions made and methods used for determining stock compensation values.

(2) Dr. Newman became our Chief Scientific Officer effective August 25, 2020.
(3) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 103,000 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(4) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 48,200 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(5) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 7, 2021 for 25,700 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(6) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 273,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(7) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 128,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(8) Represents the grant date fair value for stock options granted on December 2, 2020 for 35,000 shares with an exercise price of $2.79 per share, vesting over a three-year period.
(9) Represents employer matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan.

 

4

 

Employment Agreements

 

David A. Dodd. Mr. Dodd serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer under an employment agreement dated September 1, 2018. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $250,000 to Mr. Dodd, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd is also eligible for an annual bonus, as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd is eligible for annual grants of additional awards from our equity incentives plans as determined by the Board. Mr. Dodd also is eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees.

 

Our employment agreement with Mr. Dodd provides that we will pay severance compensation to Mr. Dodd in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Dodd with good reason (as defined in the agreement). If we terminate Mr. Dodd’s employment not for cause or he resigns for good reason, then we would pay (a) an amount in cash equal to three times his then base salary and target annual bonus and (b) all stock option grants held by Mr. Dodd will be fully vested. The agreement also addresses his compensation upon termination if there is a change in control (as defined). If we terminate Mr. Dodd’s employment not for cause or he resigns for good reason at any time during the three month period which immediately precedes a change in control (as defined) or during the one year period following a change in control, then we would also pay Mr. Dodd an amount in cash equal to (x) three times the cost to provide 401(k) or other deferred compensation or health and welfare benefits to him, and (y) a tax gross-up payment (if an excise tax is imposed by § 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or any related interest or penalties are incurred by him).

 

Mark W. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds serves as our Chief Financial Officer under an employment agreement dated January 1, 2010 and amended on October 22, 2013. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an initial annual salary of $212,600 to Mr. Reynolds, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for annual grants of additional awards from our equity incentives plans as determined by the Board. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees.

 

Our employment agreement with Mr. Reynolds provides that, if we terminate his employment without cause, we will pay a severance payment in the form of monthly payments of base salary for a period equal to one week for each full year of service. Additionally if we terminate Mr. Reynolds’ employment at any time during the three month period which immediately precedes a change in control (as defined in the amended employment agreement) or during the one year period following a change in control, then we would pay an amount in cash equal to (a) two times his then base salary and target annual bonus, (b) two times the cost to provide 401(k) or other deferred compensation or health and welfare benefits to him, (c) full, complete vesting of all stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity or equity-type grants, and (d) a tax gross-up payment (if an excise tax is imposed by §4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or any related interest or penalties are incurred by him). The change of control provision also provides for full and complete vesting of all stock option grants held by him.

 

Mark J. Newman, PhD. Dr. Newman serves as our Chief Scientific Officer under an employment agreement dated August 25, 2020, which was amended and restated effective March 1, 2022. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement, as amended, provides for an annual salary of $275,000, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. Newman is eligible for grants of awards from our equity incentive plans at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees. Dr. Newman is not eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits due to his part-time employment status. Our employment agreement with Dr. Newman provides that, if we terminate his employment without cause, we will pay a severance payment in the form of monthly payments of base salary for a period equal to one week for each full year of service.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

 

GeoVax has awarded stock options to its senior management and other employees, pursuant to the GeoVax Labs, Inc. 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan was adopted by the Board on June 19, 2020 to provide equity-based and/or incentive awards to selected employees, directors, and independent contractors of the Company or its affiliates. The terms of these awards typically provide for vesting over a defined period of time and the options expire if not exercised within ten years from the date of grant. The Company does not have a formula for determining stock option awards. Awards are generally based on the subjective judgment of the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised options previously awarded to our Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2021. The table also includes warrants, if any, granted to our Named Executive Officers upon payment of deferred compensation.

 

5

 

 

Option Awards

   

Number of Securities

               
   

Underlying Unexercised Options

               

Name

  (#) Exercisable        

(#) Unexercisable

       

Option Exercise

Price ($)

 

Option Expiration

Date

David Dodd

    -           103,000   (1)     $ 3.82  

12/7/1931

      91,000           182,000   (2)       2.79  

12/2/1930

      81,870   (3)       -           5.00  

9/29/2025

Mark Reynolds

    -           48,200   (1)       3.82  

12/7/1931

      42,666           85,334   (2)       2.79  

12/2/1930

      60,184   (3)       -           5.00  

9/29/2025

Mark Newman, PhD

    -           25,700   (1)       3.82  

12/7/1931

      11,666           23,334   (2)       2.79  

12/2/1930

 

(1)

The unexercisable portion of these stock options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on December 7, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  (2) The unexercisable portion of these stock options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on December 2, 2022 and 2023.
  (3) Warrants granted as partial payment of deferred compensation occurring on September 29, 2020.

 

The 2020 Plan contains provisions that could lead to an accelerated vesting of options or other awards. In the event of certain change-in-control transactions described in the 2020 Plan, (i) outstanding options or other awards may be assumed, converted or replaced; (ii) the successor corporation may substitute equivalent options or other awards or provide substantially similar consideration to 2020 Plan participants as were provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the options or other awards); or (iii) the successor corporation may replace options or awards with substantially similar shares or other property. In the event the successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute options or other awards as described (i) the vesting of any or all options or awards granted pursuant to the 2020 Plan will accelerate upon the change-in-control transaction, and (ii) any or all options granted pursuant to the Plans will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Compensation Committee determines. If the options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Compensation Committee. Subject to any greater rights granted to 2020 Plan participants under the 2020 Plan, in the event of the occurrence of a change-in-control transaction any outstanding options or other awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets. If the Company had experienced a change-in-control event as described in the 2020 Plan on December 31, 2021, the value of accelerated options the Named Executive Officers, based on the difference between the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 31, 2021, and, if lower, the exercise price per share of each option for which vesting would be accelerated for each Named Executive Officer, would be an aggregate of $241,254.

 

Director Compensation

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned for service on our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 by each individual who served as a director at any time during the fiscal year.

 

Name  

Fees

Earned or

Paid in

Cash

($)

   

Option

Awards

($) (2)(3)

   

Non-Equity Incentive

Plan Compensation

($)

     

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

($)

   

All

Other Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 

Randal D. Chase

    41,650       71,750                                 113,400  

David A. Dodd (1)

    -       -       -         -       -       -  

Dean G. Kollintzas

    35,975       71,750       -         -       -       107,725  

Robert T. McNally

    27,000       71,750       -         -       -       98,750  

John N. Spencer, Jr.

    47,000       71,750       -         -       -       118,750  

 

 

(1)

As discussed below under “Director Compensation Plan” directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors. As President and CEO, Mr. Dodd therefore receives no compensation for his service as a director; his compensation for service as President and CEO is shown in the “Summary Compensation” table above.

 

(2)

Represents the grant date fair value of stock options granted on December 7, 2021 to each non-employee director for 25,000 shares with an exercise price of $3.82 per share, vesting over a one-year period.

 

(3)

The table below shows the aggregate numbers of warrants and option awards outstanding for each non-employee director as of December 31, 2021. The table includes warrants granted to our directors upon payment of deferred compensation occurring on September 29, 2020.

 

6

 

Name

 

Aggregate Option Awards

Outstanding

as of December 31, 2021

(#)

 

Randal D. Chase

    66,613  

Dean G. Kollintzas

    61,987  

Robert T. McNally

    103,925  

John N. Spencer, Jr.

    71,024  

 

Director Compensation Plan. In December 2020, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee for director compensation, which we refer to as the “Director Compensation Plan.” The Director Compensation Plan applies only to non-employee directors. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors or as members of committees.

 

Cash Fees For 2021, each non-employee director earned an annual retainer (paid quarterly) of $10,000 ($30,000 for a non-employee Chairperson) for service as a member of the Board, $5,000 ($9,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Audit Committee. And $3,300 ($6,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Non-employee directors also earned fees for each Board of Directors or Committee meeting attended as follows: $3,000 for in person Board of Directors meetings ($1,500 for telephonic meetings), $1,000 for in person Committee meeting chaired ($750 for telephonic meetings), and $500 for in person Committee meeting attended as a non-chair member ($400 for telephonic meetings).

 

In December 2021, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee to amend the Director Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2022, such that each non-employee director will receive an annual retainer (paid quarterly) of $25,000 ($50,000 for a non-employee Chairperson) for service as a member of the Board. In the absence of a non-employee Chairperson of the Board, a non-employee director designated as the Lead Director shall receive an annual cash retainer of $35,000. Each non-employee director will also receive an annual retainer of $7,500 ($15,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Audit Committee, $5,000 ($10,000 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Compensation Committee, and $5,000 ($7,500 for the Chairperson) for service as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. No additional fees will be paid for meetings attended.

 

Stock Option Grants –We currently do not have a formula for determining stock option grants to directors (upon their election to the Board of Directors, or otherwise). Such option grants are currently determined by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee based on the Compensation Committee’s annual deliberations and review of the director compensation structure of similar companies. At its meeting in December 2021, upon a recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved an annual stock option grant of 25,000 shares to each of its non-employee members for ongoing service as members of the Board of Directors.

 

Expense Reimbursement All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees.

 

ITEM 12.         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Based solely upon information made available to us, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 22, 2022 by (i) each director; (ii) each of the executive officers named in the summary compensation table; and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. Other than Armistice, we do not know of any person who beneficially owns more than 5% of our common stock as of April 22, 2022. Except as otherwise indicated in footnotes to this table or, where applicable, to the extent authority is shared by spouses under community property laws, to our knowledge, the holders listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.

 

7

 

 

 

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and

Nature of

Beneficial

Ownership

   

Percent of
Class (1)

 

Principal Stockholders

               

Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (2)

    943,958       9.99 %

Directors and Executive Officers: (3)

           

Randal Chase (4)

    41,559    

*

 

David A. Dodd (5)

    254,740       2.6 %

Dean G. Kollintzas (6)

    32,307    

*

 

Robert T. McNally (7)

    116,183       1.2 %

Kelly T. McKee

 

-

   

-

 

Mark J. Newman (8)

    11,666    

*

 

Mark W. Reynolds (9)

    163,034       1.7 %

John N. Spencer, Jr. (10)

    50,381    

*

 

All executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons) (11)

    669,870       6.8 %

______________________

* Less than 1%

(1)

This table is based upon information supplied by officers and directors, and with respect to principal stockholders, any Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Applicable percentage ownership is based on 9,449,025 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 22, 2022. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common Stock subject to options or warrants currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days after April 22, 2022 (subject to specified limits), at any time at the option of the holder, are deemed outstanding.

(2)

The shares are directly held by Armistice may be deemed to be indirectly beneficially owned by: (i) Armistice Capital, LLC (“Armistice Capital”), as the investment manager of Armistice; and (ii) Steven Boyd, as the Managing Member of Armistice Capital. Armistice Capital and Steven Boyd disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein. The number of shares beneficially owned includes 3,067,484 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of common warrants, which are subject to beneficial ownership limitations that prohibit Armistice from exercising any portion of a warrant if such exercise would result in Armistice owning a percentage of our outstanding common stock exceeding the 4.99% ownership limitation after giving effect to the issuance of common stock in connection with Armistice’s exercise of the Common Warrants. The percentage of shares owned assumes the exercise of all warrants held by Armistice, up to the beneficial ownership limitations described above. The address of Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. is c/o Armistice Capital, LLC, 510 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

(3)

Except as otherwise indicated, the business address of each director and executive officer listed is c/o GeoVax Labs, Inc., 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080.

(4)

Includes 16,613 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 24,946 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(5)

Includes 81,870 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 172,870 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(6)

Includes 11,987 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 20,320 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(7)

Includes 53,925 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 62,258 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(8)

Includes stock options to purchase 11,666 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(9)

Includes 60,184 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 102,850 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(10)

Includes 21,024 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 29,357 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

(11)

Includes 245,603 shares of Common Stock and stock options/warrants to purchase 424,267 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days.

 

8

 

 

ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Other than compensation arrangements for our Named Executive Officers and directors, we describe below each transaction since January 1, 2021, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which the amount exceeds $120,000 and in which any “related person” (as defined in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Compensation arrangements for our named executive officers and directors are described above under “Executive Compensation.”

 

Series I Warrants

 

On February 25, 2019, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the Sabby Healthcare Master Fund, Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. (collectively, “Sabby”) providing for the issuance and sale to Sabby of an aggregate of up to 1,000 shares of our Series G Convertible Preferred Stock and related warrants (“Series I Warrants”) for gross proceeds of up to $1.0 million. In January 2021, all of the remaining Series I Warrants were converted into 20,196 shares of our common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise provisions of the warrants.

 

June 2020 Bridge Financing

 

On June 26, 2020, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Cavalry Fund I LP and Cavalry Special Ops Fund, LLC, pursuant to which the Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $1,050,000 in exchange for the issuance of 5% Original Issue Senior Secured Convertible Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $1,200,000 and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,400,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share, subject to adjustment. On September 29, 2020, the June 26, 2020 5% Original Issue Senior Secured Convertible Debentures mandatorily converted into 303,667 conversion units, of which 177,625 include shares of common stock and 126,042 include pre-funded warrants (the “Conversion Units”). The Conversion Units provide substantially the same terms as the Units issued in September 2020. The pre-funded warrants provide the holder the right to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, are immediately exercisable and will not expire until exercised in full. These pre-funded warrants were exercised on January 13, 2021. The Company also issued these investors five-year warrants to acquire an additional 303,668 shares of common stock, in the aggregate, at $5.00 per share.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Chase, Kollintzas, McNally and Spencer are the members of our Board of Directors who are “independent,” as that term is defined by Section 301(3)(B) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Board of Directors has also determined that these individuals meet the definition of “independent director” set forth in Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and that Mr. Spencer is the qualified “financial expert” on the Audit Committee. As independent directors, Messrs. Chase, Kollintzas, McNally and Spencer serve as members of our Audit Committee, our Compensation Committee, and our Nominating and Governance Committee.

 

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

 

Wipfli LLP, (Atlanta, GA, PCAOB ID Number 344) has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 2005. The aggregate fees billed for the services rendered to us by Wipfli LLP for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:

 

   

2021

   

2020

 

Audit Fees (1)

  $ 127,700     $ 170,090  

Audit-Related Fees

    -       -  

Tax Fees

    -       -  

All Other Fees

    -       -  

Total

  $ 127,700     $ 170,090  

______________________

(1)

Audit Fees for 2021 and 2020 consisted principally of fees for professional services in connection with the audits of our consolidated financial statements, review of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, review of our interim financial statements and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and review of registration statements.

 

Audit Committees Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 

The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approving all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent auditors (the “Policy”) prior to the engagement of the independent auditors with respect to such services. Under the Policy, proposed services may be pre-approved on a periodic basis or individual engagements may be separately approved by the Audit Committee prior to the services being performed. In each case, the Audit Committee considers whether the provision of such services would impair the independent auditor’s independence. All services provided by our independent auditors in fiscal 2021 and 2020 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

 

9

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)

Documents filed as part of this report:

 

(1)

Financial Statements. No financial statements are filed with this Amendment. These items were included as part of the Original Filing.

 

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules. Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included in the Original Filing.

 

(3)

Exhibits. The exhibits listed in the Original Filing are required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K. A list of the exhibits filed with this Amendment is provided below.

       

Exhibit

Number

Description

31.3 *

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

31.4 *

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data Files because its XBRL tags are embedded with the Inline XBRL Document)

101.SCH**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

* Filed herewith

** Previously filed

 

10

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

BY: /s/ David A. Dodd         

David A. Dodd

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: April 27, 2022

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been duly signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature / Name   Title  Date
       
/s/ David A. Dodd    Director April 27, 2022
David A. Dodd   President and Chief Executive Officer  
    (Principal Executive Officer)  
       
       
/s/ Mark W. Reynolds    Chief Financial Officer  April 27, 2022
Mark W. Reynolds    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)  
       
       
/s/ Randal D. Chase    Director April 27, 2022
Randal D. Chase      
       
       
/s/ Dean G. Kollintzas   Director April 27, 2022
Dean G. Kollintzas      
       
       
/s/ Robert T. McNally     Director  April 27, 2022
Robert T. McNally      
       
       
/s/ John N. Spencer, Jr.   Director April 27, 2022
John N. Spencer, Jr      

 

 

 

11