UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Endedquarterly period ended March 31, 20202021

 

OROr

 

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

 

For the Transition Periodtransition period from _____________ to _____________

 

Commission File Number: 001-37428

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrantregistrant as specified in its Charter)charter)

 

Delaware 001-3742826-3474527

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)No.)

 

1880 Century Park East, Suite 1000

Los Angeles, CA 900672042 Corte Del Nogal, Carlsbad, California 92011

(Address and zip code of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(760) 918-9165

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:(310) 203-1000telephone number, including area code)

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Securities Registered Pursuantregistered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of Each Classeach class Trading Symbol Name of Each Exchangeeach exchange on Which Registeredwhich registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001$.001 per

share

 RTTRQLGN 

The Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq

Stock Market LLC

 

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 [X] NoYes [  ] 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 [X] NoYes [  ] 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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Fileraccelerated filer[  ]Accelerated Filerfiler[  ]
Non-Accelerated FilerNon-accelerated filer[X]Smaller Reporting Companyreporting company[X]
  Emerging Growth Companygrowth company[X]  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrantregistrant 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 [  ] Yes [X] No [X]

 

As of April 27, 2020,May 7, 2021, there were 46,152,95928,833,059 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
PART I.Financial Information1
   
Item 1.Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)1
 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 (unaudited)2021 and December 31, 201920201
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20202021 and 2019 (unaudited)20202
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months endedEnded March 31, 20202021 and 2019 (Unaudited)20203
 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 20202021 and 2019 (unaudited)20204
 Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements5
   
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations1624
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk2331
Item 4.Controls and Procedures2431
   
PART II.Other InformationOther Information2432
   
Item 1.Legal Proceedings2432
Item 1A.Risk Factors2432
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds2432
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities33
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures33
Item 5.Other Information33
Item 6.Exhibits2533

 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS(Unaudited)

 

 March 31, 2020  December 31, 2019 
 (unaudited)    March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 
ASSETS                
Current assets                
Cash and cash equivalents $5,952,893  $1,699,971  $21,947,912  $23,976,570 
Accrued interest receivable     771 
Accounts receivable, net  862,235   615,757 
Inventory, net  885,855   953,458 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  176,735   509,519   1,219,759   2,678,894 
Total current assets  6,129,628   2,210,261   24,915,761   28,224,679 
Right-of-use assets  376,616   430,795 
Property and equipment, net  224,932   247,323 
Equipment held for lease, net  10,687   17,947 
Intangible assets, net  189,294   187,694 
Other assets          18,334   18,334 
Right-of-use assets  65,646   93,032 
Other assets  478,075   478,075 
Total other assets  543,721   571,107 
Property and equipment, net  14,192   15,656 
Total Assets $6,687,541  $2,797,024  $25,735,624  $29,126,772 
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities                
Accounts payable $1,290,108  $1,417,317  $485,551  $500,768 
Accrued expenses  311,441   179,258 
Lease liabilities  70,854   100,471 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  1,869,424   746,738 
Notes payable, current portion  10,683   131,766 
Deferred revenue, current portion  381,366   486,031 
Lease liability, current portion  262,601   254,739 
Warrant liabilities  6,187,200   8,310,100 
Total current liabilities  1,672,403   1,697,046   9,196,825   10,430,142 
Notes payable, net of current portion  4,923   6,973 
Lease liability, net of current portion  168,254   236,826 
Deferred revenue, net of current portion  135,235   158,271 
Total liabilities  9,505,237   10,832,212 
                
Stockholders’ equity                
Series B preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 6,000 shares authorized; 0 and 1,850 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively     1,288,956 
Series C preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 1,880 shares authorized; 240 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019  240,000   240,000 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 225,000,000 shares authorized, 45,713,863 and 19,108,331 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively  45,714   19,108 
Series Alpha convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 7,000 shares authorized; 180 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020  1   1 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 225,000,000 shares authorized; 28,833,059 shares and 27,296,061 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020  28,833   27,296 
Additional paid-in capital  86,729,960   79,885,078   86,721,672   85,114,755 
Accumulated deficit  (82,000,536)  (80,333,164)  (70,520,119)  (66,847,492)
Total stockholders’ equity  5,015,138   1,099,978   16,230,387   18,294,560 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $6,687,541  $2,797,024  $25,735,624  $29,126,772 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1

 

 

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS,QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Unaudited)

 

  For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2020  2019 
Operating costs and expenses:        
Research and development $1,820  $3,574,855 
Patent costs  3,791   48,625 
General and administrative  2,209,468   1,153,577 
Total operating costs and expenses  2,215,079   4,777,057 
         
Operating loss  (2,215,079)  (4,777,057)
         
Other income:        
Interest income  12,620   71,291 
Settlement of accounts payable  535,087    
Total other income  547,707   71,291 
Net loss $(1,667,372) $(4,705,766)
         
Other comprehensive gain:        
Unrealized gain on debt securities     1,511 
Comprehensive loss  (1,667,372)  (4,704,255)
         
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted $(0.05) $(0.58)
         
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted  34,910,882   8,055,921 
  For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2021  2020 
REVENUES        
Net product sales $1,420,842  $1,411,755 
License revenue  

478,654

   

 
Collaborative research revenue  

   45,000 
Total revenues  1,899,496   1,456,755 
         
EXPENSES        
Cost of product sales  1,202,479   991,651 
General and administrative  2,873,939   918,379 
Research and development  3,499,373   238,059 
Sales and marketing  136,587   92,262 
Total expenses  7,712,378   2,240,351 
         
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS  (5,812,882)  (783,596)
         
OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET        
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities  (2,122,900)   
Interest (income) expense, net  (17,343)  90,757 
Other income, net  (542)  (1,158)
Total other (income) expense, net  (2,140,785)  89,599 
         
LOSS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  (3,672,097)  (873,195)
         
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  530   (619)
         
NET LOSS  (3,672,627)  (872,576)
         
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted $(0.13) $(0.16)
Weighted—average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted  28,165,796   5,602,214 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

 

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS,QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

 

  

Series A

Preferred Stock

  

Series B

Preferred Stock

  

Series C

Preferred Stock

  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in  Accumulated  

Other

Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit  Loss  Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2019    $   1,850  $1,288,956   240  $240,000   19,108,331  $19,108  $79,885,078  $(80,333,164) $  $  1,099,978 
Stock-based compensation                          56,079         56,079 
Conversion of Series B preferred shares into common stock        (1,850)  (1,288,956)   ―    ―   1,423,076   1,423   1,287,533    ―    ―    ― 
Issuance of common shares from ATM Agreement                    16,822,062   16,822   4,492,466         4,509,288 
Stock issuance costs of ATM Agreement                          (156,880)        (156,880
Issuance of common shares from exercises of warrants                    6,049,714   6,050   608,301         614,351 
Proceeds from issuance of shares for Aspire equity line                    1,800,000   1,800   448,200         450,000 
Issuance of shares for settlement of accounts payable                    510,680   511   109,183         109,694 
Net loss                             (1,667,372)     (1,667,372)
Balance at March 31, 2020    $     $   240  $240,000   45,713,863  $45,714  $86,729,960  $(82,000,536) $  $5,015,138 
  Series Alpha Convertible                
  Preferred Stock  Common Stock  Additional       
  Shares  Amount
$
  Shares  Amount
$
  Paid-In Capital  Accumulated Deficit  Total 
Balance at December 31, 2020  180  $1��  27,296,061  $27,296  $85,114,755  $(66,847,492) $(18,294,560)
Stock issued upon cash-exercise of warrants        1,319,625   1,320   243,261      244,581 
Stock issued upon net-exercise of warrants        192,373   192   (192)      
Stock issued for professional services        25,000   25   101,725      101,750 
Stock-based compensation              1,262,123      1,262,123 
Net Loss                 (3,672,627)  (3,672,627)
Balance at March 31, 2021  180  $1   28,833,059  $28,833  $86,721,672  $(70,520,119) $16,230,387 

 

  

Series A

Preferred Stock

  

Series B

Preferred Stock

  

Series C

Preferred Stock

  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in  Accumulated  

Other

Comprehensive

  

Total

Stockholders’

 
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Deficit  Income/(Loss)  Equity 
Balance at December 31, 2018  4,080  $2,289,324   5,608  $3,906,931   1,880  $1,880,000   6,036,562  $6,037  $71,505,160  $(70,200,145) $(923) $  9,386,384 
Stock-based compensation                          146,491         146,491 
Conversion of Series B preferred shares into common stock        (2,608)  (1,816,732)   ―    ―   2,005,770   2,005   1,814,727    ―    ―    ― 
Conversion of Series C preferred shares into common stock              (1,640)  (1,640,000)  1,000,000   1,000   1,639,000          ― 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment in marketable securities                             (923)  2,434   1,511 
Net loss                             (4,705,766)     (4,705,766)
Balance at March 31, 2019  4,080  $2,289,324   3,000  $2,090,199   240  $240,000   9,042,332  $9,042  $75,105,378  $(74,906,834) $1,511  $4,828,620 

  Series A Convertible  Series B Convertible  Series C Convertible  Series D Convertible  Series D-1 Convertible  Series Alpha Convertible                
  Preferred Stock  Preferred Stock  Preferred Stock  Preferred Stock  Preferred Stock  Preferred Stock  Common Stock  Additional       
  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Shares  Amount $  Paid-In Capital  Accumulated Deficit  Total 
Balance at December 31, 2019  2,412,887  $24,129   7,707,736  $77,077   3,300,715  $33,007   1,508,305  $15,083   643,511  $6,435     $   5,602,214  $56,026  $45,153,733  $(46,428,550) $(1,063,060)
Stock-based compensation                                            7,866      7,866 
Net Loss                                               (872,576)  (872,576)
Balance at March 31, 2020  2,412,887  $24,129   7,707,736  $77,077   3,300,715  $33,007   1,508,305  $15,083   643,511  $6,435     $   5,602,214  $56,026  $45,161,599  $(47,301,126) $(1,927,770)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS,QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

  For the Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2020  2019 
Cash flows from operating activities        
Net loss $(1,667,372) $(4,705,766)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:        
Depreciation  1,464   1,363 
Amortization of right-of-use assets  27,386   25,704 
Stock-based compensation  56,079   146,491 
Settlement of accounts payable  (535,087)   
Amortization of discount on available-for-sale debt securities     (26,665)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities     1,511 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accrued interest receivable  771   37,063 
Prepaid expenses  332,784   (20,686)
Other assets     (4,534)
Accounts payable  517,572   (2,378,930)
Accrued expenses  132,183   406,523 
Lease liabilities  (29,617)  (13,675)
Other liabilities     (13,359)
Net cash used in operating activities  (1,163,837)  (6,544,960)
         
Cash flows provided by investing activities        
Sale of investments in marketable debt securities     4,249,449 
Net cash flows provided by investing activities     4,249,449 
         
Cash flows from financing activities        
Proceeds from the issuance of shares from ATM Agreement  4,509,288    
Stock issuance costs of ATM Agreement  (156,880)   
Proceeds from exercises of warrants  614,351    
Proceeds from issuance of shares for Aspire equity line  450,000    
Net cash provided by financing activities  5,416,759    
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  4,252,922   (2,295,511)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period $1,699,971  $7,812,259 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $5,952,893  $5,516,748 
         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow activities:        
Cash paid for taxes $14,520   185,980 
         
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:        
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock $1,288,956  $3,453,726 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities $  $(198,319)
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets $  $184,644 
Issuance of shares for settlement of accounts payable $

109,694

  $

 
  For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2021  2020 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net loss $(3,672,627) $(872,576)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  27,453   50,269 
Amortization of right-of-use assets  54,179    
Accounts receivable reserves and allowances  8,490   7,329 
Inventory reserves  29,615   25,960 
Common stock issued for professional services  

101,750

   

 
Stock-based compensation  1,262,123   7,866 
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities  (2,122,900)   
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (254,968)  441,369
Inventory and equipment held for lease  107,588   (28,430)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  1,459,135   4,136 
Accounts payable  (15,217)  175,922 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  1,122,686   618,597 
Lease liability  (60,710)   
Deferred revenue  (127,701)  (22,728)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities  (2,081,104)  407,714 
         
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Purchases of property and equipment  (62,265)  (1,729)
Payments for patents and licenses  (6,737)  (93,732)
Net cash used in investing activities  (69,002)  (95,461)
         
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Net proceeds from the issuance of notes payable     290,198 
Proceeds from warrant exercises  244,581    
Principal payments on notes payable  (123,133)  (578,026)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  121,448   (287,828)
         
Net change in cash and cash equivalents  (2,028,658)  24,425 
         
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – beginning of period  23,976,570   128,696 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – end of period $21,947,912  $153,121 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid for:        
Interest $831  $19,473 
Taxes $100  $500 
NONCASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Net transfers to inventory from equipment held for lease $  $5,439 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIESSUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Organization

Qualigen, Inc., now a subsidiary of Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., was incorporated in Minnesota in 1996 to design, develop, manufacture and sell point-of-care quantitative immunoassay diagnostic products for use in physician offices and other point-of-care settings worldwide, and was reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) operates in one business segment. In May 2020, Qualigen, Inc. completed a reverse recapitalization transaction with Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ritter” or the “Company”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The Companyand Ritter was formedrenamed Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., recognized as a Nevada limited liability companyreverse recapitalization. All shares of Qualigen, Inc.’s capital stock were exchanged for Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc.’s capital stock in March 2004,the merger. Ritter/Qualigen Therapeutics common stock, which was previously traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the name Ritter Natural Sciences, LLC, and converted intoticker symbol “RTTR,” commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market, on a Delaware corporation in September 2008.post-reverse-stock-split adjusted basis, under the trading symbol “QLGN” on May 26, 2020.

 

Since its inception, Ritter has focused on the development of therapeutic products that modulate the gut microbiome to treat gastrointestinal diseases. The Company’s only product candidate, RP-G28, is an orally administered, high purity galacto-oligosaccharide (“GOS”), for the treatment of lactose intolerance (“LI”), a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. RP-G28 is designed to selectively stimulate the growth of lactose-metabolizing bacteria in the colon, thereby effectively adapting the gut microbiome to assist in digesting lactose (the sugar found in milk) that reaches the large intestine.

On October 7, 2019, after previously announcing that its Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28 for LI failed to demonstrate statistical significance in its pre-specified primary and secondary endpoints, the Company announced publicly that it had engaged Alliance Global Partners/A.G.P (“AGP”) as a financial advisor to explore and evaluate potential strategic alternatives, as it continued to analyze the results of the trial to better understand the data and clinical outcome to assess a path forward for RP-G28. All further development efforts for RP-G28 have been suspended, until such time as the Company determines a path forward. The Company is continuing to explore monetization opportunities for RP-G28 for the treatment of lactose intolerance, including exploring a variety of commercial routes.

On January 15, 2020, Ritter entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Qualigen, Inc. (“Qualigen”), pursuantwas determined to whichbe the accounting acquirer in a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company will merge with and into Qualigen, with Qualigen surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

If the merger is consummated, the combined company does not intend to continue the clinical development of RP-G28. Pursuant toreverse recapitalization based upon the terms of the Merger Agreement, atmerger and other factors. All references to financial figures of the Effective Time (as definedCompany presented in the Merger Agreement), the Company and John Beck, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, acting as the initial contingent value right (“CVR”) holders’ representativeaccompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and in his capacity as a consultantthese Notes through May 22, 2020 are to Ritter, will enter into a Contingent Value Rights Agreement (the “CVR Agreement”), pursuantthose of Qualigen, Inc. All references to which, each stockholderfinancial figures after May 22, 2020 are to those of record as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (after giving effect to the exercise of any outstanding stock options or warrantsQualigen Therapeutics, Inc. and the conversion of any outstanding preferred stock, but not to be adjusted for any reverse stock split to be effected in connection with the merger) will receive one CVR for each share of common stock held by such stockholder, entitling the holder to receive the net proceeds, if any, from any sale, license, transfer, spin-off or other monetizing event of all or any part of the Company’s RP-G28 intellectual property or technology (a “Legacy Monetization”) that is entered into during the period beginning on the date the Merger Agreement was signed and ending on the third anniversary of the closing date of the merger. Under the CVR Agreement, the combined company agreed to commit up to $350,000 (subject to reduction pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement) for certain expenses to be incurred by the Company in pursuing and closing any Legacy Monetization. The CVRs will not be transferable by the holders of CVRs (“CVR Holders”), except in certain limited circumstances, will not be certificated or evidenced by any instrument, will not accrue interest and will not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or listed for trading on any exchange. The CVRs will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Time (the “CVR Termination Date”). No payments with respect to the CVRs will be payable in respect of any Legacy Monetization proceeds actually received after the CVR Termination Date by the Company. From and after the CVR Termination Date, any further proceeds received by the Company arising from any Legacy Monetization will be retained by Ritter and will not be distributed to the CVR Holders.

The Company may not be successful in completing the merger. If the merger is not completed, Ritter may seek to pursue the development and commercialization of RP-G28 as either a prescription drug, OTC product or dietary supplement for the consumer healthcare industry, which would, in any case, require significant additional funding. If Ritter is unable to obtain funding for the development of RP-G28, whether through potential collaborative, partnering or other strategic arrangements or otherwise, it will likely be required to cease operations

5

The Company currently operates in one business segment focusing on the potential future development and commercialization of RP-G28. The Company is not organized by market and is managed and operated as one business. A single management team reports to the chief operating decision maker, the Chief Executive Officer. The Company does not currently operate any separate lines of business or separate business entities.Qualigen, Inc.

 

NOTE 2 - BASIS OF PRESENTATIONBasis of Presentation

 

The accompanying interim period unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and applicablethe rules and regulations of the SEC regardingSecurities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include allreports of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary forcompanies filing as a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations have been included and management believes the disclosures that are made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

The condensed balance sheet at December 31, 2019 has been derived from the auditedsmaller reporting company. These financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020 and amended on April 24, 2020 (as amended, the “2019 Annual Report”), but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

The results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or any other period. The accompanying interim period unaudited condensed financial statements and related financial information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto includedcontained in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report.

All common share amounts and per share amountsTransition Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements include all adjustments necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other future period. Certain notes to the financial statements that would substantially duplicate the disclosures contained in the audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year as reported in the Company’s Transition Report on Form 10-K have been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split ofomitted. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2021 has been derived from the Company’s common stock effected on March 23, 2018.audited balance sheet at December 31, 2020 contained in such Form 10-K.

 

Going Concern and LiquidityPrinciples of Consolidation

 

The accompanyingCompany’s unaudited interim condensed interim period unauditedconsolidated financial statements have been prepared assuminginclude the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

The Company has not generated any product revenue and has not achieved profitable operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company had a net loss of approximately $1.7 million and had net cash used in operating activities of approximately $1.2 million. At March 31, 2020, the Company had net working capital of approximately $4.5 million, an accumulated deficit of approximately $82.0 million, and cash and cash equivalents of approximately $6.0 million. There is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, potential future development activities, clinical and pre-clinical testing, and commercialization of the Company’s products will require significant financing. If the merger is not consummated, the Company may be forced to cease operations if the Company cannot raise the cash to continue operations. These matters, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Since inception, the operationsaccounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been funded through the saleeliminated in consolidation. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to U.S. GAAP. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment. All long-lived assets of common shares, preferred shares, warrants, warrant exercise proceeds and convertible debt. Management cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. To the extent that the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities,reside in the Company’s stockholders may experience significant dilution. Any debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants that could impact the Company’s ability to conduct business. If the Company is not able to raise additional capital when required or on acceptable terms, the Company may need to (i) significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and/or commercialization of one or more product candidates; (ii) seek collaborators for product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable and on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available; or (iii) relinquish or otherwise dispose of rights to technologies, product candidates or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize.

6

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.US.

 

Risks Related to COVID-19 Pandemic

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has since spread to multiple countries, including the United States and several European countries. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the United States and global economies and may affect the Company’s operations and those of third parties on which the Company relies. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult to assess or predict, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global financial markets may reduce the Company’s ability to access capital, which could negatively impact the Company’s short-term and long-term liquidity and the Company’s and Qualigen’s ability to complete the Plan of Merger on a timely basis or at all. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. The Company does not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on its business, financing or other activities or on healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole. However, these effects could have a material impact on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources, operations and business and those of the third parties on which we rely.

NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There have been no material changes in the Company’s significant accounting policies as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared with the significant accounting policies described in the Company’s 2019 Annual Report.

Use ofAccounting Estimates

The preparation ofManagement uses estimates and assumptions in preparing its condensed consolidated financial statements in conformityaccordance with GAAP requires management to makeU.S. GAAP. Those estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, andthe disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses duringexpenses. The most significant estimates relate to the reporting period.estimated fair value of warrant liabilities, stock-based compensation, write-off of patents and licenses, amortization and depreciation, inventory reserves, allowances for doubtful accounts and returns, and warranty costs. Actual results could differvary from those estimates.the estimates that were used.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash consists of amounts held in financial institutions that are immediately available to the Company. The funds are maintained at stable financial institutions, generally at amounts in excess of federally insured limits. Cash equivalents include money market funds and held-to-maturity securitiesCompany considers all highly liquid investments purchased with aan initial maturity date of 90 days or less. As of March 31, 2020,less and money market funds to be cash equivalents.

The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents consisted ofin bank deposits which at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risks on cash and investments in money market funds.cash equivalents.

5

 

Investments in Marketable SecuritiesInventory, Net

 

InvestmentsInventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. The Company reviews the components of its inventory on a periodic basis for excess or obsolete inventory, and records specific reserves for identified items.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets when there is evidence that events or changes in marketable securities are held incircumstances indicate that assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets. The amount of impairment loss, if any, will generally be measured as the difference between the net book value of the assets and their estimated fair values. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, no such impairment losses have been recorded.

Accounts Receivable, Net

The Company grants credit to domestic physicians, clinics, and distributors. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral. Customers can purchase certain products through a custodial accountfinancing agreement that the Company has with an outside leasing company. Under the agreement, the leasing company evaluates the credit worthiness of the customer. Upon acceptance of the product by the customer, the leasing company remits payment to the Company at a financial institutiondiscount. This financing arrangement is without recourse to the Company.

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts and managedreturns equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts or expected returns. The Company’s estimates are based on historical collections and returns and a review of the current status of trade accounts receivable.

Accounts receivable is comprised of the following at:

  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Accounts Receivable $867,617  $629,630 
Less Allowance  (5,382)  (13,873)
  $862,235  $615,757 

Research and Development

The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound and outbound freight are generally recorded in cost of sales which totaled approximately $30,000 and $31,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Other shipping and handling costs included in general and administrative, research and development, and sales and marketing expenses totaled approximately $1,000 and $2,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Effective April 1, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 (“ASC 606”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material impact on the measurement or on the recognition of revenue of contracts for which all revenue had not been recognized as of April 1, 2020. Therefore, no cumulative adjustment has been made to the opening balance of accumulated deficit at April 1, 2020. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for the periods presented.

6

The core principle of ASC 606 is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. 

Product Sales

The Company generates revenue from selling FastPack System analyzers, accessories and disposable products used with the FastPack System. Disposable products include reagent packs which are diagnostic tests for PSA, testosterone, thyroid disorders, pregnancy, and Vitamin D.

The Company provides disposable products and equipment in exchange for consideration, which occurs when a customer submits a purchase order and the Company provides disposable products and equipment at the agreed upon prices in the invoice. Generally, customers purchase disposable products using separate purchase orders after the equipment (“analyzer”) has been provided to the customer. The initial delivery of the equipment and reagent packs represents a single performance obligation and is completed upon receipt by the customer. The delivery of each subsequent individual reagent pack represents a separate performance obligation because the reagent packs are standardized, are not interrelated in any way, and the customer can benefit from each reagent pack without any other product. There are no significant discounts, rebates, returns or other forms of variable consideration. Customers are generally required to pay within 30 days.

The performance obligation arising from the delivery of the equipment is satisfied upon the delivery of the equipment to the customer. The disposable products are shipped Free on Board (“FOB”) shipping point. For disposable products that are shipped FOB shipping point, the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership and legal title to the assets when the disposable products leave the Company’s shipping facilities, thus the customer obtains control and revenue is recognized at that point in time.

The Company has elected the practical expedient and accounting policy election to account for the shipping and handling as activities to fulfil the promise to transfer the disposable products and not as a separate performance obligation.

The Company’s contracts with customers generally have an expected duration of one year or less, and therefore the Company has elected the practical expedient in ASC 606 to not disclose information about its remaining performance obligations. Any incremental costs to obtain contracts are recorded as selling, general and administrative expense as incurred due to the short duration of the Company’s contracts.

License Revenue

The Company enters into out-license agreements with counterparties to develop and/or commercialize its products in exchange for nonrefundable upfront license fees and/or sales-based royalties.

If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from nonrefundable upfront fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer can benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other performance obligations, management uses judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from nonrefundable upfront fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of progress and related revenue recognition. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized license revenue of $479,000 and $0, respectively.

Collaborative Research Revenue

Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, the Company recognized research revenue over the term of various agreements, as negotiated contracted amounts were earned or reimbursable costs were incurred related to those agreements. Negotiated contracted amounts were earned in relative proportion to the performance required under the applicable contracts. Any amounts received prior to satisfying these revenue recognition criteria were recorded as deferred revenue.

To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the relevant performance obligations.

Collaborative research revenue is recognized as research services are performed over the development periods for each agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized collaborative research revenue of $0 and $45,000, respectively.

Contract Balances

The timing of the Company’s revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment by the Company’s capital advisorscustomers. The Company records a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to payment and there is an unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when payment precedes the provision of the related services, the Company records deferred revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied.

Prior to the adoption of ASC 606 effective April 1, 2020 (using the modified retrospective approach), the Company accounted for its revenue arrangements under ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). Under ASC 605, revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables were evaluated for proper accounting treatment. In these arrangements, the Company recorded revenue as separate units of accounting if the delivered items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered items, and if delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and substantially within the Company’s control.

Under ASC 605, revenues from product sales which included both the analyzer and various immunoassay products (“reagents”) were generally recognized upon shipment, as no significant continuing performance obligations remained post shipment. Cash payments received in advance were classified as deferred revenue and recorded as a liability. The Company was generally not contractually obligated to accept returns, except for defective products. Revenue was recorded net of an allowance for estimated returns.

7

Multiple element arrangements included contracts that combined both the Company’s analyzer and a customer’s future reagent purchases under a single contract. In some sales contracts, the Company provided analyzers at no charge to customers. Title to the analyzer was maintained by the Company and the analyzer was returned by the customer to the Company at the end of the purchase agreement.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, product sales are stated net of an allowance for estimated returns of approximately $0 and $12,000, respectively.

Deferred Revenue

Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, payments received in advance from customers pursuant to certain collaborative research and license agreements, deposits against future product sales, multiple element arrangements and extended warranties are recorded as a current or non-current deferred revenue liability based on the Company’s investment guidelines. All of the Company’s investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale debt securities and are carried at fair value. Interest on these securities, as well as the amortization of discounts and premiums, is included in interest income in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The unrealized gains and losses on these securities are excluded from earnings and reported in other comprehensive income until realized, except when it considers declines in value to be other than temporary. Other than temporary impairment losses related to credit losses are considered to be realized losses. When available-for-sale debt securities are sold, the cost of the securities is specifically identified and is used to determine the realized gain or loss. Securities classified as current assets have maturity dates of less than or equal to one yeartime from the balance sheet date.date to the future date of revenue recognition. The adoption of ASC 606 had no material effect on deferred revenue.

Operating Leases

 

The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at inception. The Company’s material operating lease relates to a single office space. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized atadopted ASC Topic 842, Leases (“Topic 842”) in the lease commencement date. Operatingnine-months transition period ended December 31, 2020. In accordance with the guidance in Topic 842, the Company recognizes lease liabilities representand corresponding right-of-use-assets for all leases with terms of greater than 12 months. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for in a manner similar to the present valueguidance for operating leases prior to the adoption of lease payments not yet paid. Operating lease assets represent the Company’s rightTopic 842. Refer to use an underlying assetRecent Accounting Pronouncements below and Note 9, Leases for more information.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are stated at cost and are based upon the operating lease liabilities adjustedpresented net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided for prepayments or accrued lease payments, initial direct costs, lease incentives, and impairment of operating lease assets. To determine the present value of lease payments not yet paid, the Company estimates incremental secured borrowing rates corresponding to the maturities of the leases. As the Company has no outstanding debt or committed credit facilities, secured or otherwise, the Company estimates this rate based on prevailing financial market conditions, comparable company and credit analysis, and management judgment.

The Company’s leases typically contain rent escalations over the lease term. The Company recognize expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Additionally, tenant incentives used to fund leasehold improvements are recognized when earned and reduceestimated useful lives of the Company’s right-of-use (“ROU”) asset related to the lease. These are amortized through the ROU assetassets as reductions of expense over the lease term. The Company’s lease agreement does not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The Company has no lease agreements with lease and non-lease components.follows:

Machinery and equipment5 years
Computer equipment3 years
Molds and tooling5 years
Office furniture and equipment5 years

78

 

Related

Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful lives. The Company occasionally designs and builds its own machinery. The costs of these projects, which includes the cost of construction and other direct costs attributable to the adoption of Topic 842,construction, are capitalized as construction in progress. No provision for depreciation is made on construction in progress until the relevant assets are completed and placed in service.

The Company’s policy elections were as follows:is to evaluate the remaining lives and recoverability of long-term assets on at least an annual basis or when conditions are present that indicate impairment.

 

Separation of lease and non-lease componentsWhile the Company does not currently have any lease agreement with lease and non-lease components, the Company elected this expedient to account for lease and non-lease components as separate components.
Short-term policyThe Company has elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all applicable classes of underlying assets. Short-term disclosures include only those leases with a term greater than one month and 12 months or less, and expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, that do not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise, are not recorded on the balance sheets.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangibles consist of patent-related costs and costs for in-license agreements. Management reviews the carrying value of intangible assets that are being amortized on an annual basis or sooner when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances may indicate that impairment exists. The Company considers relevant cash flow and profitability information, including estimated future operating results, trends and other available information, in assessing whether the carrying value of intangible assets being amortized can be recovered.

If the Company determines that the carrying value of intangible assets will not be recovered from the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the underlying assets, the Company considers the carrying value of such intangible assets as impaired and reduces them by a charge to operations in the amount of the impairment.

Costs related to acquiring patents and licenses are capitalized and amortized over their estimated useful lives, which is generally 5 to 17 years, using the straight-line method. Amortization of patents and licenses commences once final approval of the patent has been obtained. Patent and licenses costs are charged to operations if it is determined that the patent will not be obtained.

The carrying value of the patents of approximately $172,000 and $169,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, are stated net of accumulated amortization of approximately $307,000 and $303,000, respectively. Amortization of patents charged to operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $3,000 for each period. Total future estimated amortization of patent costs for the five succeeding years is approximately $11,000 for the remaining nine months in the year ending December 31, 2021, approximately $15,000 for each of the years ending December 31, 2022 through 2023, approximately $14,000 for year 2024, approximately $11,000 for year 2025 and approximately $106,000 thereafter.

The carrying value of the in-licenses of approximately $17,000 and $19,000 at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are stated net of accumulated amortization of approximately $402,000 and $400,000, respectively. Amortization of licenses charged to operations for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was approximately $2,000. Total future estimated amortization of license costs is approximately $5,000 for the remaining nine months in the year ending December 31, 2021, approximately $7,000 for the year ending December 31, 2022 and approximately $5,000 for the year ending December 31, 2023.

Equity-linkedDerivative Financial Instruments and Warrant Liabilities

 

The Company classifies outstanding commondoes not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with down-roundchanges in the fair value reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Depending on the features of the derivative financial instrument, the Company uses either the Black-Scholes option-pricing model or a Monte Carlo simulation to value the derivative instruments at inception and subsequent valuation dates. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, ifis re-assessed at the instrument would otherwise be classified in equity absent the down-round feature. The Company will recognize the valueend of a down-round feature when it is triggered and the warrant’s strike price has been adjusted downward, as a deemed dividend and reduction of income available to common stockholders in computing basic earnings per share.each reporting period (see Note 8).

9

 

Net Loss Per ShareFair Value Measurements

 

The Company determines basic loss per sharethe fair value measurements of applicable assets and diluted loss per shareliabilities based on a three-tier fair value hierarchy established by accounting guidance and prioritizes the inputs used in accordance withmeasuring fair value. The Company discloses and recognizes the provisionsfair value of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 260, “Earnings per Share.” Basic net loss per share wasits assets and liabilities using a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3 measurements). The guidance establishes three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:

Level 1 - Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; and
Level 3 - Inputs that are unobservable.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and debt are carried at cost, which management believes approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost for equity awards granted to employees and non-employees is measured at the grant date based on the calculated by dividing net loss byfair value of the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share was calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the periodaward using the treasuryBlack-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized as an expense, under the straight-line method, over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). If the Company determines that other methods are more reasonable, or other methods for calculating these assumptions are prescribed by regulators, the fair value calculated for the Company-issued stock method oroptions could change significantly. Higher volatility and longer expected lives would result in an increase to stock-based compensation expense to employees and non-employees determined at the two-class method, whicheverdate of grant.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax reporting that arise due to net operating loss carry forwards, research and development credit carry forwards and from using different methods and periods to calculate depreciation and amortization, allowance for doubtful accounts, accrued vacation, research and development expenses, and state taxes. A provision has been made for income taxes due on taxable income and for the deferred taxes on the temporary differences. The components of the deferred tax asset and liability are individually classified as current and noncurrent based on their characteristics.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more dilutive. The potentially dilutive stock options issued underlikely than not that some portion or all of the 2015 Plan (describeddeferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in Note 8), Series A, Btax laws and C Convertible Preferred Stock (describedrates on the date of enactment. Realization of the deferred income tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income in Note 6)future years.

Sales and warrantsExcise Taxes

Sales and other taxes collected from customers and subsequently remitted to purchasegovernment authorities are recorded as accounts receivable with corresponding tax payable. These balances are removed from the Company’s common stock (described in Notes 6balance sheet as cash is collected from customers and 7) were not considered inremitted to the computation of diluted net loss per share because they would be anti-dilutive.tax authority.

 

810

 

Warranty Costs

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is defined asThe Company’s warranty policy generally provides for one year of coverage against defects and nonperformance within published specifications for sold analyzers and for the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources.term of the contract for equipment held for lease. The Company is required to record all components of comprehensive income (loss) in the financial statementsaccrues for estimated warranty costs in the period in which theythe revenue is recognized based on historical data and the Company’s best estimates of analyzer failure rates and costs to repair.

Accrued warranty liabilities were approximately $51,000 and $25,000, respectively, at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and are recognized. Net income (loss)included in accrued expenses and other comprehensive income (loss), including foreign currency translation adjustmentscurrent liabilities on the balance sheets. Warranty costs were approximately $25,000 and unrealized gains and losses on investments are reported, net of their related tax effect, to arrive at comprehensive income (loss). There were no investments in available-for-sale debt securities and held-to-maturity debt securities$27,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. For2021 and 2020, respectively, and are included in cost of product sales in the three months ended March 31, 2019, comprehensive income consistedstatements of unrealized gains on investments in available-for-sale debt securities.operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. The ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2019-12 on its financial statements, but does not expect such adoption to have a material impact.

 

Other accounting standard updates effective after March 31, 2020 are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

9

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which supersedes current guidance by requiring recognition of credit losses when it is probable that a loss has been incurred. The new standard requires the establishment of an allowance for estimated credit losses on financial assets including trade and other receivables at each reporting date. The new standard will result in earlier recognition of allowances for losses on trade and other receivables and other contractual rights to receive cash. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Leases (Topic 842), which extends the effective date of Credit LossesTopic 326 for certain companies until fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The new standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023, and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not completed its review of the impact of this standard on Financial Instruments, an amendment that modifiesits consolidated financial statements. However, based on the measurement recognitionCompany’s history of immaterial credit losses from trade receivables, management does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for most financial assetsConvertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2020-06 removes certain other instruments. The amendment updates the guidancesettlement conditions that are required for measuring and recording credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by replacing the “incurred loss” model with an “expected loss” model. Accordingly, these financial assets will be presented at the net amount expectedequity contracts to be collected. The amendment also requires that credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities be recorded as an allowance through net income rather than reducing the carrying amount under the current, other-than-temporary-impairment model. The FASB also issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance: ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-04, and ASU 2019-05 (collectively, “Topic 326”). Topic 326 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. The effective date and transition methodologyqualify for the amendmentsderivative scope exception and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in Topic 326 are the same as incertain areas. ASU 2016-13. The guidance2020-06 is effective for public business entitiesthe Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and adoption must be as of the beginning of the Company’s annual fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“Topic 606”). The guidance in Topic 606 provides that are SEC filers. The amendmentsan entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services provided and establishes the following steps to be applied by an entity: (1) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in ASU No. 2016-13 arethe contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligation. Topic 606 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other public business entities,for the amendmentsCompany, based on the issuance of ASU 2020-05, which provided deferral of the effective date for an additional one year in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years.response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on Januarythe new revenue standard as of April 1, 2020 andusing the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of this guidanceASU 2014-09/Topic 606 did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU No. 2018-07 supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-07 are effective beginning in 2020, with early adoption permitted, but no earlier than a company’s adoption date of Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company elected to adopt ASU 2018-07 as of April 1, 2020. The adoption did not require the Company to restate previously reported results.

 

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements (“Topic 842”), which provides for an alternative transition method by allowing companies to continue to use the legacy guidance in Topic 840, Leases, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year of adoption of the new leases standard and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption rather than the earliest period presented. The Company adopted the standard as of April 1, 2020 and the most significant impact was the recognition of a right-of-use asset and lease liability for the Company’s sole operating lease—the Company had no finance leases. Adoption of Topic 842 did not require the Company to restate previously reported results as it elected to apply a modified retrospective approach at the beginning of the period of adoption rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13,“Fair “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”,Measurement,” an amendment to the accounting guidance on fair value measurements. The guidance modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, including the removal of disclosures of the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance also adds certain disclosure requirements related to Level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13No. 2018-13 on JanuaryApril 1, 2020 and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

Other accounting standard updates are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

11

NOTE 2 — LIQUIDITY

The Company has incurred recurring losses from operations and has an accumulated deficit at March 31, 2021, and the Company expects to continue to incur losses subsequent to the balance sheet date of March 31, 2021. The Company’s reverse recapitalization transaction with Ritter closed in May 2020 together with an associated new equity capital raise of approximately $4.0 million, and approximately $1.9 million in convertible notes payable were converted into shares of the Company’s capital stock. In July, August and December 2020, the Company raised an additional $30.0 million through three Securities Purchase Agreements with a single institutional investor (see Note 11). Based on the Company’s current cash position, currently planned expenditures and level of operations, the Company believes it has sufficient capital to fund operations for the 12-month period subsequent to the issuance of the interim financial information. However, there is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, or if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. Also, beyond such 12-month period, planned research and development activities, capital expenditures, clinical and pre-clinical testing, and commercialization activities of the Company’s products are expected to require significant additional financing. Additional financing may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.

NOTE 3 — INVENTORY, NET

Inventory, net consisted of the following at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Raw materials $614,926  $579,765 
Work in process  182,550   309,826 
Finished goods  88,379   63,867 
  $885,855  $953,458 

 

NOTE 4 -— PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Prepaid insurance $955,019  $1,307,864 
Prepaid manufacturing expenses  57,117   1,181,029 
Prepaid investor relations expenses  

133,501

   150,000 
Other prepaid expenses  

74,122

   40,001 
  $1,219,759  $2,678,894 

NOTE 5 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

Property and equipment, consistsnet consisted of the following:following at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

 

  Estimated Life March 31, 2020  December 31,2019 
Computers and equipment 5 years $17,178  $17,178 
Furniture and fixtures 7 years  19,158   19,158 
Total property and equipment    36,336   36,336 
Accumulated depreciation    (22,144)  (20,680)
Total property and equipment, net   $14,192  $15,656 
  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Machinery and equipment $2,401,470  $2,401,470 
Construction in progress–equipment  89,122   104,400 
Computer equipment  451,808   443,865 
Leasehold improvements  321,033   321,033 
Molds and tooling  260,002   260,002 
Office furniture and equipment  138,699   138,699 
   3,662,134   3,669,469 
Less Accumulated depreciation  (3,437,202)  (3,422,146)
  $224,932  $247,323 

12

 

Depreciation expense ofrelating to property and equipment was approximately $1,500$15,000 and $1,400 was recognized$10,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, respectively, and classified in general and administrative expense in the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss.respectively.

 

NOTE 5 - COMMITMENTS6 — ACCRUED EXPENSES AND CONTINGENCIESOTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Board compensation $15,833  $15,091 
Vacation  248,071   230,457 
Royalties  17,193   491 
Research and development  882,040   237,504 
Professional fees  181,636   58,261 
Warranty costs  51,487   24,871 
Payroll  69,358   4,566 
Patent and license fees     7,204 
Franchise, Sales and use taxes  139,257   30,353 
Income taxes  6,256   3,326 
Interest      
Other  258,293   134,614 
  $1,869,424  $746,738 

Master Services AgreementNOTE 7 — NOTES PAYABLE

Notes payable consisted of the following at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

  March 31, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Insurance Financing Agreement with a finance company, monthly payments of $119,943 including interest of 4.54% per annum; secured by an insurance policy; paid January 2021 $  $119,491 
Equipment Financing Agreement with a bank, monthly payments of $720 including imputed interest at 6.95% per annum; secured by laboratory equipment; due October 2022  12,913   14,826 
Equipment Financing Agreement with a bank, monthly payments of $596 including imputed interest at 6.59% per annum; secured by manufacturing equipment; due July 2021  2.693   4,422 
   15,606   138,739 
Less current portion  (10,683)  (131,766)
Notes Payable, net of current portion $4,923  $6,973 

Future maturities of notes payable are as follows as of March 31, 2021:

Year Ending December 31, Amount 
2021 (nine months) $8,633 
2022  6,973 
Total balance $15,606 

13

NOTE 8 – WARRANT LIABILITIES

 

In May 2018, Ritter entered into an Amended2004, the Company issued warrants to various investors and Restated Master Services Agreement (“Service Agreement”)brokers for the purchase of Series C preferred stock in connection with a clinical research organization (“CRO”private placement (the “Series C Warrants”),. The Series C Warrants were subsequently extended and, upon closing of the reverse recapitalization transaction with Ritter, exchanged for warrants to purchase common stock of the Company, pursuant to which the CRO agreed to perform certain services relatedSeries C Warrant terms as adjusted. The Series C Warrants were classified as liabilities, but had minimal fair value prior to the management and executionmerger with Ritter.

In exchange for the Series C Warrants, upon closing of certain clinical trials involving RP-G28.the merger with Ritter, the holders received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,713,490 shares of the Company’s common stock at $0.72 per share, subject to adjustment. As of March 31, 2021, the warrants received in exchange for the Series C Warrants have remaining terms ranging from 2.7 to 3.2 years. The Services Agreement supersedes the Master Service Agreement, dated August 30, 2016, that Ritter entered into with the CRO. The precise serviceswarrants were determined to be performed byliability-classified pursuant to the CRO underguidance in ASC 480 and ASC 815-40, resulting from inclusion of a leveraged ratchet provision for subsequent dilutive issuances.

The following table summarizes the Services Agreement will be mutually agreedactivity in the warrants received in exchange for the Series C Warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

  

Common Stock Warrants (received in exchange for the

Series C Warrants)

 
  Shares  

Weighted–

Average

Exercise

Price

  

Range of Exercise

Price

  

Weighted–

Average

Remaining
Life (Years)

 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2020  3,378,596  $0.72         
Exercised  (473,608)  0.72         
Forfeited  (36,097)  0.72         
Expired              
Granted              
Total outstanding – March 31, 2021  2,868,891  $0.72         
Exercisable  2,868,891  $0.72  $0.72   2.75 

Of the 473,608 shares issued upon by the parties in writing and set forth in one or more task orders. Ritter is not obligated to purchase any minimum or specific volume or dollar amountexercise of services underwarrants during the Services Agreement.three months ended March 31, 2021, 192,373 shares were issued upon net-exercises rather than upon exercises for cash.

The following table summarizes the Series C Warrants activity for the three months ended March 31, 2020:

  Series C Preferred Stock Warrants 
  Shares  

Weighted–

Average

Exercise

Price

  

Range of Exercise

Price

  

Weighted– Average Remaining

Life (Years)

 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2019  1,441,180  $2.35         
Forfeited              
Expired              
Granted              
Total outstanding – March 31, 2020  1,441,180  $2.35         
Exercisable  1,441,180  $2.35  $2.25 – 2.70   4.85 

 

1014

 

 

The termfollowing table presents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its warrant liabilities (all of the Services Agreement is four years from the effective date of the Service Agreement unless earlier terminated. Ritter may terminate the Services Agreement or any task without cause immediately upon giving the CRO notice of such termination. The CRO may, with advance notice to Ritter, terminate a task order if Ritter has materially defaulted on its obligationswhich arise under the Services Agreement or any task order and has not cured such material default,warrants received in exchange for the Series C Warrants) measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs as described in the Services Agreement. As of March 31, 2020, there2021:

   Quoted             
   Market   Significant         
   Prices for   Other   Significant     
   Identical   Observable   Unobservable     
   Assets   Inputs   Inputs     
Warrant liabilities (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3)  Total 
Balance as of March 31, 2021 $  $  $6,187,200  $6,187,200 

There were no in process task orders with the CRO under the Service Agreement.

Clinical Supply and Cooperation Agreement with Ricerche Sperimentali Montale SpA (“RSM”)

Under the termstransfers of the Supply Agreement with RSM on July 22, 2015, Ritter is required to pay RSM $400,000 within 10 days following FDA approval of an NDA for the first product ownedfinancial assets or controlled by Ritter using Improved GOS as its active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Offer Letter Amendments

On October 15, 2019, Ritter entered into amendments to the respective employment offer letters of Andrew J. Ritter, its Chief Executive Officer, John W. Beck, its Chief Financial Officer, and Ira E. Ritter, its Chief Strategic Officer (the “Offer Letter Amendments”). Pursuant to the terms of the Offer Letter Amendments, each of Ritter’s executive officers agreed to defer a portion of his annual base salary (the “Deferred Amounts”), as set forth below, until such time as the board of directors, in its sole discretion, decides to pay the Deferred Amounts (or any portion of the Deferred Amounts) to the executive officers, if ever.

Name of Executive Officer Annual Deferred Amount 
Andrew J. Ritter $70,200 
John W. Beck $33,000 
Ira E. Ritter $53,820 

Lease Agreement

On July 9, 2015, the Company entered into a lease with a California limited partnership, pursuant to which the Company leased approximately 2,780 square feet of office space in Los Angeles, California for its headquarters. The lease provides for a term of 61 months, commencing on October 1, 2015. The Company paid no rent for the first month of the term and paid base rent of $9,174 per month for months 2 through 13 of the term, with increasing base rent for each twelve-month period thereafter under the term of the lease to a maximum of $10,325 per month for months 50 through 61. The base rent payments do not include the Company’s proportionate share of any operating expenses, including real estate taxes. The Company has the option to extend the term of the lease for one five-year term, provided that the rent would be subject to market adjustment at the beginning of the renewal term.

Other information related to leases was as follows:

  Three Months Ended
March 31, 2020
 
Supplemental Cash Flows Information    
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liability:    
Operating cash flows from operating lease $143,723 
Operating lease asset obtained in exchange for lease obligation:    
Operating lease $198,319 
Remaining lease term    
Operating lease  0.6 years 
Discount rate    
Operating lease  6.00%

11

Future payments under non-cancelable extended operating leases having initial or remaining terms of one year or more are as follows for the remaining fiscal year and thereafter:

Future minimum lease payments year ending December 31,   
2020 (remaining) $72,278 
Total future minimum lease payments, undiscounted  72,278 
Less imputed interest  (1,424)
Present value of lease liabilities $70,854 
     
Operating lease liabilities reported as of March 31, 2020:    
Operating lease liabilities-current $70,854 
Total $70,854 

Rent expense, which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, was approximately $29,000liabilities between category levels for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and is recorded in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss.2021.

 

LegalDuring the three months ended March 31, 2021 the Company experienced $2.1 million in other income because the fair value of the warrant liabilities declined to $6.2 million from $8.3 million at December 31, 2020, primarily due to warrant exercises. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, change in fair value of warrant liabilities was $0 because the fair value was immaterial at both the beginning and the end of the three months ended March 31, 2020.

 

From time to time,The value of the warrant liabilities was based on a valuation received from an independent valuation firm determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation. For volatility, the Company may be partyconsiders comparable public companies as a basis for its expected volatility to legal claimscalculate the fair value of common stock warrants and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, which may relatetransitions to our operations or assets. These may include disputes and lawsuits related to intellectual property, licensing, contract law and employee relations matters. Periodically,its own volatility as the Company reviewsdevelops sufficient appropriate history as a public company. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury notes with a term approximating the statusexpected term of significant matters, if any exist, and assesses its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal claim is considered probable and the amount can be estimated, thecommon stock warrant. The Company accrues a liability for the estimated loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Becauseuses an expected dividend yield of such uncertainties, accruals arezero based on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available,fact that the Company reassesses the potential liability relatedhas never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pending claims and litigation. We do not believe that any individual legal claim or proceeding that is currently pending is material to the Company or that these claims and proceedingspay cash dividends in the aggregateforeseeable future. Any significant changes in the inputs may result in significantly higher or lower fair value measurements.

The following are material to the Company.weighted average and the range of assumptions used in estimating the fair value of warrant liabilities (weighted average calculated based on the number of outstanding warrants on each issuance) as of March 31, 2021:

  March 31, 2021 
  Range  

Weighted

Average

 
Risk-free interest rate  0.28% — 0.42%  0.30%
Expected volatility (peer group)  81.00 — 84.00%  83.52%
Term of warrants (in years)  2.65 — 3.24   2.75 
Expected dividend yield  0.00%  0.00%

 

NOTE 6 - STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY9 — LEASES

 

Authorized SharesThe Company leases its facilities under a long-term operating lease agreement expiring in October 2022. The tables below show the operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and the balances as of March 31, 2021, including the changes during the periods:

 

  Operating lease right-of-use assets 
Net right-of-use assets at December 31, 2020  430,795 
Less amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets  (54,179)
Operating lease right-of-use assets at March 31, 2021 $376,616 

In September 2017, the Company amended its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) to authorize the issuance of up to 225,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, consisting of (i) 9,500 shares that have been designated Series A convertible preferred stock, (ii) 6,000 shares that have been designated as Series B convertible preferred stock, and (iii) 1,880 shares that have been designated as Series C convertible preferred stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation, the board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion right, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders.

 

  Operating lease liabilities 
At December 31, 2020 $491,565 
Less principal payments on operating lease liabilities  (60,710)
Operating lease liabilities at March 31, 2021  430,855 
Less non-current portion  (168,254)
Current portion at March 31, 2021 $262,601 

All common share amounts and per share amounts were retroactively restated to reflect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split that was effective March 23, 2018.

 

1215

 

 

As of March 31, 2021, the Company’s operating leases have a weighted-average remaining lease term of 1.6 years and a weighted-average discount rate of 8.9%.

As of March 31, 2021, future minimum payments during the next five fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:

Year Ending December 31, Amount 
2021 (nine months) $217,156 
2022  246,650 
Total  463,806 
Less present value discount  (32,951)
Operating lease liabilities $430,855 

Total lease expense was approximately $86,000 and $84,000, respectively, for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. Lease expense was recorded in cost of product sales, general and administrative expenses, research and development and sales and marketing expenses.

NOTE 10 — RESEARCH AND LICENSE AGREEMENTS

The University of Louisville Research Foundation

Between June 2018 and September 2020, the Company had 45,713,862 sharesentered into license and sponsored research agreements with the University of common stockLouisville Research Foundation (“ULRF”) for QN-247, a novel aptamer-based compound that has shown promise as an anticancer drug. Under the agreements, the Company will take over development, regulatory approval and 240 sharescommercialization of Series Cthe compound from ULRF and is responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, ULRF received a $50,000 convertible preferred stock issued and outstanding. Each sharepromissory note in payment of an upfront license fee, which was subsequently converted into the Company’s common stock, is entitled to one vote, and all shares rank equally as to voting and other matters. Each share of Series C preferred stock is convertible by the holder at $1.64 per share; subject to customary adjustment in the event of future stock dividends and stock splits. Holders are entitled to receive, and the Company shallagreed to reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses of up to $805,000 and prior patent costs of up to $200,000. In addition, the Company agreed to pay dividendsULRF (i) royalties, on outstanding sharespatent-covered net sales associated with the commercialization of Series C preferred stock, on an as-if-converted-to-common-stock basis, equalanti-nucleolin agent-conjugated nanoparticles, of 4% (on net sales up to anda cumulative $250,000,000) or 5% (on net sales above a cumulative $250,000,000), until expiration of the last to expire of the licensed patents, (ii) 30% to 50% of any non-royalty sublicensee income received (50% for sublicenses granted in the same form as dividendsfirst two years of the ULRF license agreement, 40% for sublicenses granted in the third or fourth years of the ULRF license agreement, and 30% for sublicenses granted in the fifth year of the ULRF license agreement or thereafter), (iii) reimbursements for ongoing costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, incurred prior to June 2018, and (iv) payments ranging from $100,000 to $5,000,000 upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. Milestone payments for the first therapeutic indication would be $100,000 for first dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, $200,000 for first dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial, $350,000 for first dosing in a Phase 3 clinical trial, $500,000 for regulatory marketing approval and $5,000,000 upon achieving a cumulative $500,000,000 of Licensed Product sales; the Company would also pay another $500,000 milestone payment for any additional regulatory marketing approval for each additional therapeutic (or diagnostic) indication. The Company also must pay ULRF shortfall payments if the total amounts actually paid on outstanding common shares when, as and if such dividends are paid on outstanding common shares. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Series C preferred stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Company the same amount that a holder of common stock would receive if the Series C preferred stock were fully converted to common stock, which amounts shall be paid pari passu with all common stockholders. Holders of Series C preferred stock have no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series C preferred stock are outstanding, the Company shall not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series C preferred stock, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series C preferred stock or alter or amend the applicable Certificate of Designation, (b) amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation or other charter documents in any manner that adversely affects any rights of the holders of Series C preferred stock, (c) increase the number of authorized shares of Series C preferred stock, or (d) enter into any agreement with respect to royalties and non-royalty sublicensee income for any year is less than the applicable annual minimum (ranging from $10,000 to $50,000) for such year.

16

There was approximately $62,000 and $0 in sponsored research expenses related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and these amounts are recorded in research and development expenses in the statements of operations. Minimum annual royalties of $0 and $10,000 related to these agreements are included in research and development expenses in the foregoing.statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. License costs were approximately $36,000 and $0 related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are included in research and development expenses in the statements of operations.

 

Aspire Capital Common Stock Purchase Agreement

On May 4, 2017,In March 2019, the Company entered into a common stock purchasesponsored research agreement and an option for a license agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (“Aspire Capital”), which the Company and Aspire Capital amended and restated on March 29, 2019 and on July 23, 2019 (as amended and restated, the “Aspire Purchase Agreement”). The Aspire Purchase Agreement was amended and restated to adjust certain provisions to improve the Company’s access to funding under the agreement. The Company was not required to pay a commitment fee to Aspire Capital to affect the amendment to the Aspire Purchase Agreement. The Aspire Purchase Agreement was entered into to provide access to the CompanyULRF for development of up to an aggregate of $6.5 million in proceeds through the sale of shares of its common stock through March 31, 2021.

Under the Aspire Purchase Agreement, as amended, on any trading day the Company selected, it has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Aspire Capital with a purchase notice (each, a “Purchase Notice”), directing Aspire Capital (as principal) to purchase up to 100,000 shares of its common stock per trading day (which may be increased by as much as an additional 2,000,000 shares per trading day by mutual agreement), up to an aggregate of $6,500,000 of its common stock, at a per share price (the “Purchase Price”) equal to the lesser of: (i) the lowest sale price of the Company’s common stock on the sale date, or (ii) the arithmetic average of the three lowest closing sale prices for the Company’s common stock during the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the sale date. The aggregate purchase price payable by Aspire Capital on any one purchase date may not exceed $500,000, unless otherwise mutually agreed. In addition, on any date on which the Company submits a Purchase Notice to Aspire Capital in an amount of at least 100,000 shares and its stock price is not less than $0.25 per share, the Company may also, in its sole discretion, present Aspire Capital with a volume-weighted average price purchase notice (each, a “VWAP Purchase Notice”) directing Aspire Capital to purchase an amount of its common stock equal to up to 30% of the aggregate shares of the Company’s common stock traded on its principal market on the next trading day (the “VWAP Purchase Date”), as determined by the Company.several small-molecule RAS interaction inhibitor drug candidates. Under the terms of the Aspire Purchase Agreement, the number of shares that may be sold pursuant to the Aspire Purchase Agreement is limited to 1,807,562 (the “Exchange Cap”), which represented 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of March 29, 2019, the date thethis agreement, was first amended and restated, unless stockholder approval or an exception pursuant to the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market is obtained to issue more than 19.99%. This limitation will not apply if, at any time the Exchange Cap is reached and at all times thereafter, the average price paid for all shares issued under the Aspire Purchase Agreement is equal to or greater than $0.86 (the “Minimum Price”), which was the closing price of the Company’s common stock immediately preceding the signing of the agreement. For the three-month period ending March 31, 2020, the Company sold approximately 1.8 million shareswill reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses of common stock underup to $693,000 for this program. In February 2021, the Company extended the term of this agreement resulting in proceeds tofor an additional 18 months (expires July 2022) and increased the amount that the Company ofwill reimburse ULRF for sponsored research expenses from $693,000 to approximately $0.5$1.4 million.

At-the-Market Offering Agreement

On November 6, 2019, In July 2020, the Company entered into an atexclusive license agreement with ULRF for RAS interaction inhibitor drug candidates. Under the marketagreement, the Company will take over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of the candidates from ULRF and is responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, ULRF received approximately $112,000 for an upfront license fee and reimbursement of prior patent costs. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay ULRF (i) royalties, on patent-covered net sales agreement (“ATM Agreement”)associated with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“AGP”), pursuant to which it may offer and sell, from time to time through AGP, sharesthe commercialization, of its common stock (the “Placement Shares”) having an aggregate offering price of4% (on net sales up to $3,673,159 (which was subsequently increased to $8,030,917)a cumulative $250,000,000) or 5% (on net sales above a cumulative $250,000,000), subject to the terms and conditionsuntil expiration of the ATM Agreement. Unless earlier terminated pursuantlicensed patent, and 2.5% (on net sales for any sales not covered by Licensed Patents), (ii) 30% to 50% of any non-royalty sublicensee income received (50% for sublicenses granted in the termsfirst two years of the ATM Agreement,ULRF license agreement, 40% for sublicenses granted in the ATM Agreement will automatically terminatethird or fourth years of the ULRF license agreement, and 30% for sublicenses granted in the fifth year of the ULRF license agreement or thereafter), (iii) reimbursements for ongoing costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, incurred prior to July 2020, and (iv) payments ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 upon the earlierachievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. Milestone payments for the first therapeutic indication would be $50,000 for first dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, $100,000 for first dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial, $150,000 for first dosing in a Phase 3 clinical trial, $300,000 for regulatory marketing approval and $5,000,000 upon achieving a cumulative $500,000,000 of Licensed Product sales. The Company also must pay ULRF shortfall payments if the total amounts actually paid with respect to occurroyalties and non-royalty sublicensee income for any year is less than the applicable annual minimum (ranging from $20,000 to $100,000) for such year.

Sponsored research expenses related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $107,000 and $108,000, respectively, and are recorded in research and development expenses in the statements of (i) issuanceoperations. License costs related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and sale2020 were approximately $46,000 and $0, respectively, and are included in research and development expenses in the statements of all of the Placement Shares to or through AGP and (ii) August 1, 2022. For the three-month period ending March 31,operations.

In June 2020, the Company sold approximately 16.8 million sharesentered into an exclusive license agreement with ULRF for its intellectual property in the use of common stock underQN-165 as a treatment for COVID-19. Under the ATM Agreement resulting net proceeds toagreement, the Company will take over development, regulatory approval and commercialization of the compound (for such use) from ULRF and is responsible for maintenance of the related intellectual property portfolio. In return, ULRF received approximately $4.3 million after commissions$24,000 for an upfront license fee and reimbursement of prior patent costs. In addition, the Company was required to enter into a separate sponsored research agreement with ULRF (for QN-165 as a treatment for COVID-19) for at least $250,000. In November 2020, the Company executed a sponsored research agreement with ULRF (for QN-165 as a treatment for COVID-19) supporting up to approximately $430,000 in research which satisfied this requirement.

In addition, the Company has agreed to pay ULRF (i) royalties, on patent-covered net sales associated with the commercialization of QN-165 as a treatment for COVID-19, of 4% (on net sales up to a cumulative $250,000,000) or 5% (on net sales above a cumulative $250,000,000), until expiration of the licensed patents, and 2.5% (on net sales for any sales not covered by Licensed Patents), (ii) 30% to 50% of any non-royalty sublicensee income received (50% for sublicenses granted in the first two years of the ULRF license agreement, 40% for sublicenses granted in the third or fourth years of the ULRF license agreement, and 30% for sublicenses granted in the fifth year of the ULRF license agreement or thereafter), (iii) reimbursements for ongoing costs associated with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, incurred prior to June 2020, and (iv) payments ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones. Milestone payments would be $50,000 for first dosing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, $100,000 for first dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial, $150,000 for first dosing in a Phase 3 clinical trial, $300,000 for regulatory marketing approval and $5,000,000 upon achieving a cumulative $500,000,000 of Licensed Product sales. The Company also must pay ULRF shortfall payments if the total amounts actually paid with respect to royalties and non-royalty sublicensee income for any year is less than the applicable annual minimum (ranging from $5,000 to $50,000) for such year.

Sponsored research expenses related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were approximately $69,000 and $0, respectively, and are recorded in research and development expenses in the statements of approximately $157,000.operations. License costs related to these agreements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were $0 for each period.

 

1317

 

 

NOTE 7 - WARRANTSAdvanced Cancer Therapeutics

 

WarrantsIn December 2018, the Company entered into a license agreement with Advanced Cancer Therapeutics, LLC (“ACT”), granting the Company exclusive rights to purchasedevelop and commercialize QN-165, an aggregateaptamer-based drug candidate. In return, ACT received a $25,000 convertible promissory note in payment of 2,363,304an upfront license fee, which was subsequently converted into the Company’s common stock. In addition, the Company agreed to pay ACT (i) royalties, on net sales associated with the commercialization of QN-165, of 2% (only if patent-covered and only on net sales above a cumulative $3,000,000) or 1% (if not patent-covered, but only on net sales above a cumulative $3,000,000), until the 15th anniversary of the ACT license agreement and (ii) milestone payments of $100,000 for the Company raising a cumulative total of $2,000,000 in new equity financing after the date of the ACT license agreement, $100,000 upon any first QN-165-based licensed product receiving the CE Mark or similar FDA status, and $500,000 upon cumulative worldwide QN-165-based licensed product net sales reaching $3,000,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, license costs of approximately $2,000 and $0 related to this agreement, respectively, are included in research and development expenses in the statements of operations.

Prediction Biosciences

In November 2015, the Company entered into a long-term development and supply agreement with Prediction Biosciences SAS to develop and manufacture diagnostic tests for use in the stroke point-of-care market. The Company recognizes development revenue and product sales over the performance period of the contract. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, there was $0 and $45,000, respectively, in collaborative research revenue related to this agreement.

Sekisui Diagnostics

During the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company extended a strategic partnership entered into in May 2016 with Sekisui Diagnostics, LLC (“Sekisui”) until May 2022. The Company appointed Sekisui as its diagnostics commercial partner and exclusive worldwide distributor with the exception of certain customer accounts retained by Qualigen. The agreement contains a right of first refusal for Sekisui against any potential acquisition of the Company until May 2022.

There were product sales to Sekisui of approximately $1.0 million for both of the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, related to this agreement.

Yi Xin

In October 2020, the Company entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement with Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd. (“Yi Xin”), of Suzhou, China, for Yi Xin to develop, manufacture and sell new generations of diagnostic test systems based on the Company’s core FastPack technology. In addition, the Technology Transfer Agreement authorized Yi Xin to manufacture and sell the Company’s current generations of FastPack System diagnostic products (1.0, IP and PRO) in China.

Under the Technology Transfer Agreement, the Company received net cash payments of $250,000 in the final quarter of the year ended December 31, 2020, classified as deferred revenue on the December 31, 2020 balance sheet, and a cash payment of $420,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Company will also receive low- to mid-single-digit royalties on any future new-generations and current-generations product sales by Yi Xin. Of these amounts, the Company recognized approximately $38,000 in product sales and $479,000 in license revenue included in the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Company provided technology transfer and patent/know-how license rights to facilitate Yi Xin’s development and commercialization.

18

The Company gave Yi Xin the exclusive rights for China – which is a market the Company has not otherwise entered – both for Yi Xin’s new generations of FastPack-based products and for Yi Xin-manufactured versions of the Company’s existing FastPack product lines. Yi Xin will also have the right to sell its new generations of FastPack-based diagnostic test systems throughout the world (but not to or toward current customers of the Company’s existing generations of FastPack products); any such non-China sales would, until May 1, 2022, need to be through Sekisui. In addition, after May 1, 2022, Yi Xin will have the right to sell Yi Xin-manufactured versions of existing FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines worldwide (other than in the United States and other than to or toward current non-US customers of those products). Also, after May 1, 2022, Yi Xin will have the right to buy Company-manufactured FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO products from the Company at distributor prices for resale in and for the United States (but not to or toward current US customers of those products); the Company did not license Yi Xin to sell in the United States market any Yi Xin-manufactured versions of those legacy FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines, even after May 1, 2022. In the Technology Transfer Agreement, the Company confirmed that it would not, after May 1, 2022, seek new FastPack customers outside the United States.

STA Pharmaceutical

In November 2020, the Company entered into a contract with STA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, for GMP production of QN-165, the Company’s lead drug candidate for the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral diseases, for potential clinical trials in 2021. In connection with this agreement, the Company paid an upfront deposit of approximately $1.1 million which was classified as prepaid expenses on the December 31, 2020 balance sheet date, and all of which was included in research and development expenses in the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

NOTE 11 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had two classes of capital stock: common stock and Series Alpha convertible preferred stock.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock generally vote as a class with the holders of the preferred stock and are entitled to one vote for each share held. Subject to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock to receive preferential dividends, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by the Board of Directors. Following payment of the liquidation preference of the preferred stock, as of March 31, 2021 any remaining assets would be distributed ratably among the holders of the common stock and, on an as-if-converted basis, the holders of Series Alpha convertible preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company. The holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions.

At March 31, 2021, the Company has reserved 13,886,590 shares of authorized but unissued common stock for possible future issuance. At March 31, 2021, shares were reserved in connection with the following:

Exercise of outstanding stock options and future grants of stock options4,033,856
Exercise of outstanding stock warrants9,609,316
Conversion of outstanding Series Alpha preferred stock243,418
Total13,886,590

Series Alpha Preferred Stock

In the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, no shares of Series Alpha convertible preferred stock were converted into shares of the Company’s common stock, and there were 180 shares of Series Alpha preferred stock outstanding at March 31, 2020. These warrants are all vested and exercisable, have exercise prices ranging from $0.15 to $93.00 per share, with a weighted average exercise price of $2.04, and expire at various dates through November 2023. For the three-month period ending March 31,2021.

19

Alpha Securities Purchase Agreements

On July 10, 2020, the Company received proceeds of approximately $614,000 from warrant exercises resulting inclosed a Securities Purchase Agreement (dated July 8, 2020) with a single institutional investor for the issuance of 6.0purchase and sale for $8.0 million commonfor (i) 1,140,570 shares of Company common stock.stock, (ii) 780,198 pre-funded warrants (i.e., warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock, for which the exercise price is almost entirely prepaid) and (iii) 1,920,768 two-year warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock for an exercise price of $5.25 per share. Both sets of warrants included a 9.99% beneficial-ownership blocker provision. The 780,198 pre-funded warrants were then exercised on July 21 and 22, 2020.

 

NOTE 8 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATIONOn August 4, 2020, the Company closed a Securities Purchase Agreement (dated August 2, 2020) with a single institutional investor for the purchase and sale for $10.0 million for (i) 1,717,106 shares of Company common stock, and (ii) 1,287,829 two-year warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock for an exercise price of $6.00 per share. The warrants included a 9.99% beneficial-ownership blocker provision.

 

On December 18, 2020, the Company closed a Securities Purchase Agreement (dated December 16, 2020) with a single institutional investor for the purchase and sale for $12,000,000 of (i) 2,370,786 shares of Company common stock, (ii) 1,000,000 pre-funded warrants (i.e., warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock, for which the exercise price is almost entirely prepaid) (iii) 1,348,314 two-year warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock for an exercise price of $4.07 per share, and (iv) 842,696 warrants (first exercisable 6 months after issuance, and with an expiration date 30 months after issuance) to purchase shares of Company common stock for an exercise price of $4.07 per share. The warrants included a 9.99% beneficial-ownership blocker provision. The 1,000,000 pre-funded warrants were exercised on February 4, 2021.

Equity Incentive Plans

Stock Options and Warrants

 

The Company has issued equity awards pursuant to its 2015 Equityrecognizes all compensatory share-based payments as compensation expense over the service period, which is generally the vesting period.

In April 2020, the Company adopted the 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015“2020 Plan”), 2009 Stock which provides for the granting of incentive or nonstatutory common stock options to qualified employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers. At March 31, 2021 and 2020 there were 3,940,000 and 0 outstanding options respectively under the 2020 Plan and 2008 Stock Plan (collectively the “Plans”). The Plans permit the Company to grant non-statutory stockthere were 117,157 and 0 options incentive stock options and other equity awards to the Company’s employees, outside directors and consultants; however, incentive stock options may only be granted to the Company’s employees. Beginning June 29, 2015, no further awards may be granted under the 2009 Stock Plan or 2008 Stock Plan. However, to the extent awards under the 2008 Plan or 2009 Plan are forfeited or lapse unexercised or are settled in cash, the common stock subject to such awards will be available respectively for future issuance under the 2015 Plan.

On June 2, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the 2015 Plan at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which among other things, increased the number of shares that may be issued pursuant to awards under the 2015 Plan by 83,800 shares of common stock.

On September 15, 2017, the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the 2015 Plan at a special meeting of stockholders, which among other things, increased the number of shares that may be issued pursuant to awards under the 2015 Plan by 2,585,871 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2020, the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan, as amended, was 2,750,000 and 1,121,544 shares were available for issuance.grant.

 

The following represents a summary of the options granted (under the 2020 Plan and otherwise) to employees and non-employeesnon-employee service providers that are outstanding at March 31, 20202021, and changes during the three-month period then ended:

 

  Shares  Weighted– Average
Exercise
Price
  

Range of Exercise

Price

  Weighted– Average Remaining
Life (Years)
 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2020  4,011,356  $7.05  $3.52—1,465.75   9.29 
Granted  27,000   3.29   3.29   9.91 
Expired            
Forfeited  (4,500)  3.68   3.52—4.97   9.78 
Total outstanding – March 31, 2021  4,033,856  $7.03  $3.29—1,465.75   9.04 
Exercisable (vested)  108,856  $81.38  $4.97—1,465.75   2.26 
Non-Exercisable (non-vested)  3,925,000  $4.96  $3.29—5.13   9.23 

  Options  Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
  Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
(in years)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2019  1,164,644  $6.93  $   8.4 
Granted  48,000  $0.23  $1,776   9.8 
Expired/ Forfeited  (4,900) $  $   - 
Outstanding at March 31, 2020  1,207,744  $9.15  $1,776   8.2 
Exercisable at March 31, 2020  560,839  $17.86  $296   7.7 

There was approximately $1.3 million and $0 of compensation costs related to outstanding options for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, there was approximately $11.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.22 years.

No stock options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

20

 

The exercise price for an option issued under the 20152020 Plan is determined by the Board of Directors, but will be (i) in the case of an incentive stock option (A) granted to an employee who, at the time of grant of such option, is a 10% stockholder, no less than 110% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant; or (B) granted to any other employee, no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant; and (ii) in the case of a non-statutory stock option, no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant. The options awarded under the Plans2020 Plan will vest as determined by the Board of Directors but will not exceed a ten-year period. The weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 was $0.23.$3.29.

14

 

Fair Value of Equity Awards

 

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value awards under its Plans. Key valuation assumptions include:

 

Expected dividend yield. The expected dividend is assumed to be zero, as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plans to pay any dividends on the Company’s common stock.
  
Expected stock-price volatility. The Company’s expected volatility is derived from a blend of the historical volatility of the Company’s own common stock and of the average historical volatilities of publicly traded companies within the Company’s industry that the Company considers to be comparable to the Company’s business over a period approximately equal to the expected term.
  
Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term.
  
Expected term. The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The Company’s historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate an expected term because of a lack of sufficient data. Therefore, the Company estimates the expected term by using the simplified method provided by the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the options.

 

The material factors incorporated in the Black-Scholes model in estimating the fair value of the options granted for the periods presented were as follows:

 

  For the three months ended
March 31,
 
  2020  2019 
Expected dividend yield  0.00%  0.00%
Expected stock-price volatility  80.33%   13.52% - 23.39%
Risk-free interest rate  1.60%   2.41% - 2.60%
Expected average term of options  5   7.5 
Stock price $0.23   $0.60 - $0.87 

Stock-Based Compensation

  

For the three months

ended

March 31, 2021

 
Expected dividend yield  0.00%
Expected stock-price volatility  102%
Risk-free interest rate  0.84% — 1.04%
Average expected remaining years of life of options  6.0 
Stock price $3.29 

 

The Company recognized stock-basedrecorded share-based compensation expense for services within general and administrative expenseclassified it in the accompanyingcondensed consolidated statements of operations as follows:

  For the three months ended March 31, 
  2021  2020 
General and administrative $1,092,228  $ 
Research and development  169,895   

 
Total $1,262,123  $

 

21

Equity Classified Compensatory Warrants

In connection with the $4.0 million equity capital raise as part of approximately $56,000the May 2020 reverse recapitalization transaction, the Company issued common stock warrants to an advisor and $146,000its designees for the purchase of 811,431 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.11 per share. The issuance cost of these warrants was charged to additional paid-in capital, and did not result in expense on the Company’s statements of operations.

In addition, various service providers hold equity classified compensatory warrants issued in 2017 and earlier (originally exercisable to purchase Series C convertible preferred stock, and now instead exercisable to purchase common stock) for the purchase of 668,024 shares of Company common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $2.34 per share. These are to be differentiated from the Series C Warrants described in Note 8.

No compensatory warrants were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The following table summarizes the equity classified compensatory warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 20202021:

  Common Stock 
  Shares  

Weighted–

Average

Exercise
Price

  

Range of Exercise

Price

  Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2020  1,294,217  $1.66         
Granted              
Exercised  (38,390)  2.09         
Expired              
Forfeited  (65,179)  2.07         
Total outstanding – March 31, 2021  1,190,648  $1.61         
Exercisable  1,187,052  $1.60  $1.11 —2.54   4.00 
Non-Exercisable  3,596  $2.54  $2.54   5.48 

The following table summarizes the compensatory warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2020:

  Series C Preferred Stock Warrants 
  Shares  

Weighted–

Average

Exercise
Price

  

Range of Exercise

Price

  

Weighted– Average Remaining

Life (Years)

 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2019  754,262  $1.99         
Forfeited              
Expired              
Granted              
Total outstanding – March 31, 2020  754,262  $1.99         
Exercisable  746,142  $1.99  $1.83 – $2.25   4.59 
Non-Exercisable  8,120  $2.25  $2.25   6.48 

There were no compensation costs related to outstanding warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively.approximately $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2021 and 2020, there was approximately $183,000 of totalno unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.25 years.nonvested warrants.

22

Noncompensatory Equity Classified Warrants

 

NoIn May 2020, as a commitment fee, the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to an investor for the purchase of 270,478 shares of Company common stock optionsat an exercise price of $1.11 per share (of which warrants for 200,000 shares were subsequently exercised in December 2020). In July 2020 the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to such investor for the purchase of 780,198 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share (which were subsequently exercised in July 2020), and 1,920,678 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $5.25 per share. In August 2020 the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to such investor for the purchase of 1,287,829 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $6.00 per share. Lastly, in December 2020, the Company issued noncompensatory equity classified warrants to such investor for the purchase of 1,000,000 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (which were exercised in February 2021) and 2,191,010 shares of Company common stock at an exercise price of $4.07 per share. No noncompensatory equity classified warrants were issued during the three months ended March 31, 2020.2021.

 

NOTE 9 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A director ofThe following table summarizes the Company is a managing director of Javelin Venture Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of Javelin Venture Partners GP, L.P., which holds a significant investment in the Company’s common stock and warrants. Two directors of the Company have acted as a managing director of Stonehenge Partners, LLC, which holds an investment in the Company’s common stock.

Other than as described above, the Company has not entered into or been a participant in any transaction in which a related party had or will have a direct or indirect material interestnoncompensatory equity classified warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

  Common Stock 
  Shares  

Weighted–

Average

Exercise
Price

  

Range of Exercise

Price

  Weighted–
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)
 
Total outstanding – December 31, 2020  6,549,777  $4.36         
Exercised  (1,000,000)  0.01         
Granted              
Expired              
Forfeited             
Total outstanding – March 31, 2021  5,549,777  $5.15         
Exercisable  4,707,081  $5.34  $1.11 – 2,325.00   1.47 
Non-Exercisable  842,696  $4.07   4.07   2.72 

NOTE 12 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In October 2017, Sekisui purchased all outstanding shares of the Company’s Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock from Gen-Probe Incorporated. As such, Sekisui became a related party as of October 2017. These Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock shares were converted into 1,980,233 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the reverse recapitalization transaction in May 2020. During the nine months ended December 31, 2020, Sekisui ceased to be a related party as to the Company. In the attached financial statements, information for 2020 periods and dates is presented without distinct “related party” treatment for items pertaining to Sekisui.

NOTE 13 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Management has evaluated subsequent events pursuant to the requirements of ASC Topic 855—Subsequent Events, from the balance sheet date through the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and has determined that there are no material subsequent events that require disclosure in these financial statements.

 

1523

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) and the audited financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the yearnine-months transition period ended December 31, 2019 and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of2020, which are contained in our AnnualTransition Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 31, 2020 and amended on April 24, 2020 (as amended, the “2019 Annual Report”).2021. As used in this Quarterly Report, unless the context suggests otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “Ritter”“Qualigen” refer to Ritter Pharmaceuticals,Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. All common share amounts and per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock on March 23, 2018. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

 

SpecialCautionary Note Regarding Forward-LookingForward Looking Statements and Industry Data

 

This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements by the Company that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Alluncertainties and reflect the Company’s judgment as of the date of this Report. These statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our strategy,generally relate to future operations,events or the Company’s future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended toor operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements although not allbecause they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Such forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements involve knownmay relate to, among other things, potential future development, testing and unknown risks, uncertaintieslaunch of products and other important factors thatproduct candidates. Actual events or results may causediffer from our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.expectations.

 

Some of the factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated or predicted include:

 

 the timing and anticipated completion of our merger with Qualigen, Inc. (“Qualigen”);there can be no assurance that we will successfully develop any drugs or therapeutic devices;
   
 the expected benefitsthere can be no assurance that preclinical or clinical development of and potential value created by the merger for our stockholders;candidate drugs or therapeutic devices will be successful;
   
 our estimates regarding the sufficiency of our cash resources, expenses, including those relatedthere can be no assurance that clinical trials will be approved to the consummation of the merger, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;begin by or will actually begin by or will proceed as contemplated by any projected timeline;
   
 our ability to obtain additional financing to continue the development and commercialization of RP-G28there can be no assurance that clinical trials will complete enrollment as either a prescription drug, over-the-counter (“OTC”) product or dietary supplement for the consumer healthcare industry and to continue as a going concern if the merger is not completed;contemplated by any projected timeline;
   
 our ability to regain and maintain compliance with Nasdaq listing standards in connection with the merger;there can be no assurance that future clinical trial data will be favorable or that such trials will confirm any improvements over other products or lack negative impacts;
   
 the success and timing ofthere can be no assurance that any preclinical studies and clinical trials;drugs or therapeutic devices will receive required regulatory approvals or that they will be commercially successful;
   
 regulatory developments inthere can be no assurance that we will be able to procure or earn sufficient working capital to complete the United Statesdevelopment, testing and other countries;launch of our prospective therapeutic products;
   
 the performance of third-party manufacturers;there can be no assurance that patents will issue on our owned and in-licensed patent applications;
   
 there can be no assurance that such patents, if any, and our ability to developcurrent owned and commercialize any product candidate;in-licensed patents would prevent competition;
   
 our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for any product candidatesthere can be no assurance that we may developwill be able to maintain or expand market demand and/or market share for our diagnostic products generally, particularly in the future;view of COVID-19-related deferral of patients’ physician-office visits and in view of FastPack reimbursement pricing challenges.
   
 the ratethere can be no assurance that adoption and degreeplacement of market acceptance of our products, if approved;
the success of competing products that are or become available in the future;

16

our ability to retain key personnel;
our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;FastPack PRO System analyzers will be widespread; and
   
 effects of the COVID-19 pandemic onthere can be no assurance that we will be able to manufacture our business, operating results and financial condition, the proposed merger with Qualigen, and the global economy generally.
FastPack PRO System analyzers successfully.

24

Our stock price could be harmed if any of the events or trends contemplated by the forward-looking statements fails to occur or is delayed or if any actual future event otherwise differs from expectations. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting our business (including events beyond our control, such as epidemics and resulting changes) can be found in our prior filings with the SEC (including our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the nine-months transition period ended December 31, 2020), available at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement that we make in this Quarterly Report speaks only as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this Quarterly Report, except as required by law. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics, and healthcare, regulatory and scientific developments and depend on the economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, are consistent in some future periods with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in other future periods.

 

AnyFuture filings with the SEC, future press releases and future oral or written statements made by us or with our approval, which are not statements of historical fact, may also contain forward-looking statement that we make in this Quarterly Report speaksstatements. Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report,on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date of this Quarterly Report. You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of our 2019 Amended Annual Report and this Quarterly Report to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements.on which they are made.

 

Overview

 

Since our inception, we haveWe are a biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutic products that modulate the gut microbiome to treat gastrointestinal diseases. Our only product candidate, RP-G28, is an orally administered, high purity GOS,developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of lactose intolerance (“LI”)cancer and infectious diseases, as well as maintaining and expanding our core FDA-approved FastPack® System, which has been used successfully in diagnostics for 20 years. Our cancer therapeutics pipeline includes QN-247, RAS-F and STARS™. QN-247 (formerly referred to as ALAN or AS1411-GNP) is a DNA coated gold nanoparticle cancer drug candidate that has the potential to target various types of cancer with minimal side effects; the nanoparticle coating technology is similar to the core nanoparticle coating technology used in our blood-testing diagnostic products. The foundational aptamer of QN-247, QN-165 (formerly referred to as AS1411), is also a conditiondrug candidate for treating COVID-19 and other viral-based infectious diseases; we currently plan that affects millionsour first clinical trial would be a trial of people worldwide. RP-G28QN-165 against COVID-19. RAS-F is designeda family of RAS oncogene protein-protein interaction inhibitor small molecules for preventing mutated RAS genes’ proteins from binding to selectively stimulate thetheir effector proteins; preventing this binding could stop tumor growth, especially in pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers. STARS is a DNA/RNA-based treatment device candidate for removal from circulating blood of lactose-metabolizing bacteriaprecisely targeted tumor-produced and viral compounds.

Because our therapeutic candidates are still in the colon, thereby effectively adapting the gut microbiome to assist in digesting lactose (the sugar found in milk)development stage, our only products that reaches the large intestine.

We completed enrollment in our Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28 known as “Liberatus” in March 2019 and last patient visit in July 2019. In September 2019, we announced that our Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28 for LI failed to demonstrate statistical significance in its pre-specified primary and secondary endpoints. No further development efforts for RP-G28 are currently ongoing.commercially available are the FastPack System diagnostic instruments and test kits. The FastPack System menu includes rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests for cancer, men’s health, hormone function and vitamin D status. Since inception, our sales of FastPack products have exceeded $100 million. We have always utilized a “razor and blades” pricing strategy, providing analyzers to our customers (physician offices, clinics and small hospitals) at low cost in order to increase sales volumes of higher-margin test kits. Pursuant to a distribution agreement, we are continuingrequired to explore monetization opportunitiesrely on our diagnostics distribution partner Sekisui Diagnostics, LLC (“Sekisui”) for RP-G28most FastPack distribution worldwide until May 2022. We maintain direct distribution for certain house accounts, including selling our total testosterone test kits to Low T Center, Inc. (“Low T”), the largest men’s health group in the US, with 44 locations. We have licensed and technology-transferred our FastPack System technology to Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd., for the treatment of lactose intolerance, including exploring a variety of commercial routes.

We have devoted substantially all of our resources to development efforts relating to RP-G28, including conducting clinical trials of RP-G28, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting our intellectual property. We currently do not have any products approved for sale and we have not generated any revenue from product sales since our inception. We inactivated the Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for RP-G28 on February 21, 2020 as a result of our determination not to proceed with the clinical development of RP-G28 in light of the anticipated merger.

In October 2019, we announced that we had engaged A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“AGP”) as financial advisor to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value, which could include an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, other business combination, sale of assets, licensing or other strategic transaction.

On January 15, 2020, we entered into the Merger Agreement with Qualigen, pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ritter will merge with and into Qualigen, with Qualigen surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ritter.China diagnostics market.

 

1725

 

Financial Overview

Revenue

 

We do not expect to generatebe profitable before products from our therapeutics pipeline are commercialized, because we foresee that research and development expenses on the therapeutics programs will significantly exceed the profits, if any, that we might have from our diagnostics products. To experience losses while therapeutic products are still under development is, of course, typical for biotechnology companies.

Our condensed consolidated financial statements do not separate out our diagnostics-related activities and our therapeutics-related activities. Although to date all our reported revenue from product sales unlessis diagnostics-related, our reported expenses represent the total of our diagnostics-related and untiltherapeutics-related expenses.

Completion of Reverse Recapitalization Transaction with Ritter

On May 22, 2020, we successfully complete developmentcompleted a “reverse recapitalization” transaction with Qualigen, Inc. (not to be confused with the Company); the Company’s merger subsidiary merged with and obtain marketing approval for one or more product candidates,into Qualigen, Inc. with Qualigen, Inc. surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company, which we expect could takehad previously been known as Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc., was renamed Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc., and the former stockholders of Qualigen, Inc. acquired, via the recapitalization, a numbersubstantial majority of yearsthe shares of the Company. Ritter/Qualigen Therapeutics common stock, which was previously traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “RTTR,” commenced trading on Nasdaq, on a post-reverse-stock-split adjusted basis, under the ticker symbol “QLGN” on May 26, 2020.

Because Qualigen, Inc. was the accounting acquirer in the reverse recapitalization transaction, all references to financial figures of “the Company” presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and is subjectNotes are those of Qualigen, Inc.; the corresponding figures of Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have been disregarded. Moreover, references in this Quarterly Report to significant uncertainty. Accordingly, we will need“our” pre-May 22, 2020-merger history, securities and agreements are references to raise additional capital to pursue any future development activities, clinicalthe pre-May 22, 2020-merger history, securities and pre-clinical testing and commercialization activities. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combinationagreements of equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, commercialization, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when neededQualigen, Inc., except where otherwise expressly specified.

We are no longer pursuing the gastrointestinal disease treatment business on favorable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements as and when needed would have a negative impact on its financial condition and its ability to develop product candidates.which Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. had focused before the reverse recapitalization transaction.

 

ResearchDistribution and Development ExpensesAgreement with Sekisui

 

SinceIn May 2016, through our inception,wholly-owned diagnostics subsidiary Qualigen, Inc., we entered into a Distribution and Development Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Sekisui. Under the Distribution Agreement, Sekisui serves as the exclusive worldwide distributor for FastPack products (although we retain certain specific accounts for direct transactions). Sekisui’s exclusive distribution arrangements are effective until May 2022.

Under the Distribution Agreement, we began development of a proposed “FastPack 2.0” product line, which if successfully introduced by us would have been distributed by Sekisui. Between May 2016 and January 2018, Sekisui paid us a total of approximately $5.5 million upon the achievement of specified development milestones.

Under this program, we developed a FastPack 2.0 diagnostic test for a new whole blood vitamin D assay, and we then conducted a clinical trial of it in March 2019. We determined in May 2019 that it was uncertain whether the results of the trial would enable the test to receive FDA approval, and our FastPack 2.0 project with Sekisui was discontinued. Currently no further FastPack 2.0 analyzer or test development is ongoing, and we have focusedlicensed and transferred our resources on our researchFastPack 2.0 technology to Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd. for them to further develop and development activities, including conducting nonclinical studies and clinical trials, manufacturing development efforts and activities related to regulatory filings for RP-G28. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:commercialize.

 

fees paid to consultants and clinical research organizations (“CROs”), including in connection with our nonclinical and clinical trials, and other related clinical trial fees, such as for investigator grants, patient screening, laboratory work, clinical trial database management, clinical trial material management and statistical compilation and analysis;
costs related to acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials;
depreciation of equipment, computers and furniture and fixtures;
costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and
overhead expenses for personnel in research and development functions.

From inception through March 31, 2020, we have incurred approximately $39.6We became obligated to pay Sekisui $0.9 million for $0.5 million in research and development expenses. Researchcosts advanced by Sekisui to us and for the reimbursement of $0.4 million in certain out-of-pocket development and preclinical study expenses have been significantly reduced sinceincurred by Sekisui. We satisfied these amounts (plus interest) by payment in full on July 21, 2020.

Our expectation is that when we regain FastPack distribution rights from Sekisui, we will be able to improve the completionprofitability of our Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28 in early July 2019, our decision to suspend development efforts of RP-G28 in September 2019, and the inactivation of our IND for RP-G28 in February 2020 as a result of our determination not to proceed with the clinical development of RP-G28 in light of the anticipated merger.

We expect that our research and development expenses would increase in connection with any future development activities and clinical and pre-clinical testing.

Patent Costs

Patent costs consist primarily of professional fees for legal services to prosecute patents and maintain patent rights.diagnostics business.

 

1826

 

 

GeneralTechnology Transfer Agreement with Yi Xin

Through our wholly-owned diagnostics subsidiary Qualigen, Inc., we entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement dated as of October 7, 2020 with Yi Xin Zhen Duan Jishu (Suzhou) Ltd. (“Yi Xin”), of Suzhou, China, for Yi Xin to develop, manufacture and Administrative Expensessell new generations of diagnostic test systems based on our core FastPack technology. In addition, the Technology Transfer Agreement authorized Yi Xin to manufacture and sell our current generations of FastPack System diagnostic products (1.0, IP and PRO) in China.

Under the Technology Transfer Agreement, we received net cash payments of $250,000 in the final quarter of calendar 2020, classified as deferred revenue as of the balance sheet date of December 31, 2020, and a cash payment of $420,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2021. In addition, we will receive low- to mid-single-digit royalties on any future new-generations and current-generations product sales by Yi Xin. Of these amounts, we recognized approximately $38,000 in product sales and $479,000 in license revenue included in the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

We provided technology transfer and patent/know-how license rights to facilitate Yi Xin’s development and commercialization.

We gave Yi Xin the exclusive rights for China – which is a market we have not otherwise entered – both for Yi Xin’s new generations of FastPack-based products and for Yi Xin-manufactured versions of our existing FastPack product lines. Yi Xin will also have the right to sell its new generations of FastPack-based diagnostic test systems throughout the world (but not to or toward current customers of our existing generations of FastPack products); any such non-China sales would, until May 1, 2022, need to be through Sekisui. In addition, after May 1, 2022, Yi Xin will have the right to sell Yi Xin-manufactured versions of existing FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO product lines worldwide (other than in the United States and other than to or toward current non-US customers of those products). Also, after May 1, 2022, Yi Xin will have the right to buy Qualigen-manufactured FastPack 1.0, IP and PRO products from us at distributor prices for resale in and for the United States (but not to or toward current US customers of those products); we did not license Yi Xin to sell in the United States market any Yi Xin-manufactured versions of those legacy FastPack product lines, even after May 1, 2022.

In the Technology Transfer Agreement, we confirmed that we would not, after May 1, 2022, seek new FastPack customers outside the United States.

Yi Xin is a newly-formed company and is subject to many risks. There can be no assurance that Yi Xin will successfully commercialize any products or that we will receive any royalties from Yi Xin.

Warrant Liabilities

 

GeneralIn 2004, Qualigen, Inc. issued a series of Series C preferred stock warrants to investors and administrative expenses include facilities costs, salaries, benefits,brokers in connection with a private placement. These warrants were subsequently extended and stock-based compensationsurvived the May 2020 Ritter reverse recapitalization transaction and are now exercisable for employees, professional fees for directors, fees for independent contractors, insuranceQualigen Therapeutics common stock. These warrants were so-called “exploding warrants” – they contained a provision that if Qualigen, Inc. issued shares (except in certain defined scenarios) at a price below the warrants’ exercise price, the exercise price would be re-set to such new price and the number of shares underlying the warrants would be increased in the same proportion as the exercise price decrease. For accounting and legal services.

Ritter expectspurposes, such “exploding warrants” give rise to “warrant liabilities” (even though there is not any “liability” in the sense that its general and administrative expenses will increasewe would be obligated to pay any cash sum to anyone). Although the fair value of the warrants was immaterial at March 31, 2020, the operation of the “double-ratchet” provisions in these “exploding warrants” in connection with the proposed merger. These increases may relatereverse-recapitalization transaction now allow the holders to increased feesexercise for outside consultants, lawyersa significantly higher number of shares than before and accountants, among other expenses.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Interest income consistsat a significantly lower price than the current market price of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in marketable debt securities.

Criticalshares. Accounting Policies and Estimates

This discussion and analysis is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires require us to make estimates and judgments that affectrecognize the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to fair value of financial instruments, researchthese warrants as warrant liabilities on our balance sheets and development costs, accrued expenses and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors we believe 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 from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

A critical accounting policy is one that is both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operation and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting estimates are disclosedreflect period-to-period changes in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of our 2019 Annual Report. There have not been any material changes to such critical accounting estimates since December 31, 2019.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s financial instruments reflectswarrant liabilities on our statements of operations. The size of these warrant liabilities at March 31, 2021 was quite large ($6.2 million) and caused a significant distortion of our balance sheet at March 31, 2021 and our results of operations for the amounts that it estimates itthree months period ended March 31, 2021. Because this fair value will be determined each quarter on a “mark-to-market” basis, this item could result in significant variability in our future quarterly and annual statements of operations and balance sheets based on changes in our public market common stock price. Pursuant to U.S. GAAP, a quarter-to-quarter increase in our stock price would receiveresult in connection with the sale of an asset or paya (possibly quite large) increase in connection with the transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The Company discloses and recognizes the fair value of its assetsthe warrant liabilities and liabilities using a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted pricesquarter-to-quarter decrease in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation (Level 3 measurements). The guidance establishes three levels ofour stock price would result in a (possibly quite large) decrease in the fair value hierarchy as follows:

Level 1 - Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active;

Level 3 - Inputs that are unobservable.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significancewarrant liabilities. Approximately 39% of a particular inputthese “exploding warrants” were exercised or forfeited as of the balance sheet date at March 31, 2021, which will tend to reduce the fair value measurementamplitude of this variability. (There were 2,868,891 and 3,378,596 of these “exploding warrants” outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.) We will continue to encourage the holders of these warrants to exercise them, and if the number of outstanding “exploding warrants” is further reduced the potential amplitude of the changes in its entirety requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.warrant liabilities will correspondingly be further reduced.

 

19

The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers within the hierarchy during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

A summary of the assets and liabilities carried at fair value in accordance with the hierarchy defined above is as follows :

  Fair Value Measurements Using 
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
March 31, 2020                
Assets:                
Moneymarket fund $5,805,061  $  $  $5,805,061 
Total assets $

5,805,061

  $  $  $5,805,061 

  Fair Value Measurements Using 
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total 
March 31, 2019                
Assets:                
Money market fund $5,309,685  $  $  $5,309,685 
Corporate debt securities     1,518,976      1,518,976 
Commercial paper     1,247,020      1,247,020 
Total assets $5,309,685  $2,765,996  $  $8,075,681 

The Company uses a market approach for determining the fair value of all its Level 1 and Level 2 money market funds and marketable securities. To value its money market funds, the Company values the funds at $1 stable net asset value, which is the market pricing convention for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access.

As of March 31, 2019, investments were classified as available-for-sale debt securities and commercial paper. At March 31, 2019, the balance in our accumulated other comprehensive loss comprised primarily of temporary unrealized gains related to our available-for-sale debt securities. There were no realized gains or losses recognized on the sale or maturity of available-for-sale debt securities for the three-month period ended March 31, 2019 and as a result, we did not reclassify any amounts out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the period. We have no available-for-sale debt securities as of March 31, 2020.

Research and Development Costs

We expense the cost of research and development as incurred. Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including clinical study costs, contracted services, and other external costs. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity is performed or when the goods have been received, rather than when payment is made, in accordance with ASC 730,Research and Development.

Accrued Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued expenses. This process involves reviewing quotations and contracts, identifying services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with the service providers and make adjustments if necessary. The significant estimates in our accrued research and development expenses include fees due to service providers.

We base our expenses on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with our service providers that conduct research and development on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the research and development expense. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we adjust the accrual accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost for equity awards granted to employees and nonemployees is measured at the grant date based on the calculated fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized as an expense, under the straight-line method, over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). If we determine that other methods are more reasonable, or other methods for calculating these assumptions are prescribed by regulators, the fair value calculated for our stock options could change significantly. Higher volatility and longer expected lives would result in an increase to stock-based compensation expense to non-employees determined at the date of grant.

In addition to the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, we also estimate a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation for our equity awards. We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the expected volatility, expected terms and forfeiture rates utilized for our stock-based compensation calculations on a prospective basis.

Emerging Growth Company Status

On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”) was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards under Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act. This election allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.

As an “emerging growth company,” we are entitled to rely on certain exemptions and reduced reporting requirements, including without limitation, (i) not having to provide an auditor’s attestation report on its system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) not having to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an emerging growth company until December 31, 2020.

2027

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 20202021 and 20192020

 

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 and 2019, together with the changes in those items in dollars and as a percentage:2020:

 

  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

  Dollar  Percentage 
  2020  2019  Change  Change 
Statements of Operations Data:                
Operating costs and expenses                
Research and development $1,820  $3,574,855  $(3,573,035)  (100)%
Patent costs  3,791   48,625   (44,834)  (92)%
General and administrative  2,209,468   1,153,577   1,055,891   92%
Total operating costs and expenses  2,215,079   4,777,057   (2,561,978)  (54)%
                 
Operating loss  (2,215,079)  (4,777,057)  2,561,978   (54)%
               �� 
Other income:                
Interest income  12,620   71,291   (58,671)  (82)%
Settlement of accounts payable  535,087      535,087   100%
Total other income  547,707   71,291   476,416   668%
Net Loss $(1,667,372) $(4,705,766) $3,038,394   (65)%
  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   2021   2020 
REVENUES        
Net product sales $1,420,842  $1,411,755 
License revenue  

478,654

   

 
Collaborative research revenue  

   45,000 
Total revenues  1,899,496   1,456,755 
         
EXPENSES        
Cost of product sales  1,202,479   991,651 
General and administrative  2,873,939   918,379 
Research and development  3,499,373   238,059 
Sales and marketing  136,587   92,262 
Total expenses  7,712,378   2,240,351 
         
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS  (5,812,882)  (783,596)
         
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME), NET        
Gain on change in fair value of warrant liabilities  (2,122,900)   
Interest (income) expense, net  (17,343)  90,757 
Other income, net  (542)  (1,158)
Total other expense (income), net  (2,140,785)  89,599 
         
LOSS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  (3,672,097)  (873,195)
         
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  530   (619)
         
NET LOSS $(3,672,627) $(872,576)

 

Research and Development ExpensesRevenues

 

Research and development expenses decreased by approximately $3.6Our operating revenues are primarily generated from sales of diagnostic tests. Revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $1.9 million or 100%,compared to $1.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020, as comparedan increase of $0.4 million. This increase was primarily due to recognition of license revenue from Yi Xin under the three monthsTechnology Transfer Agreement, an item which had no counterpart in the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The primary reason for the decrease is the suspension2020.

Net product sales

Net product sales are primarily generated from sales of all further development efforts for RP-G29 after our Phase 3 clinical trial for LI failed to demonstrate statistical significance in its pre-specified primary and secondary endpoints. Research and development expensesdiagnostic tests. Net product sales remained level at approximately $1.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 primarily reflect2021 and 2020, but improved in the continued progressionfirst quarter of Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28 through completion of enrollment in March 2019.2021 compared to the later calendar 2020 quarters which were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Patent CostsLicense revenue

License revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $0.5 million, due to the recognition of revenue from Yi Xin under the Technology Transfer Agreement. There was $0 of license revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Collaborative research revenue

 

Patent costs were approximately $3,800 and $49,000Collaborative research revenue is recognized as research services are performed over the development period for each agreement. Collaborative research revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $0, as compared to less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Collaborative research revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2020 arose from our development work toward a cellular fibronectin assay for Prediction BioSciences SAS.


28

Expenses

Cost of Product Sales

Cost of product sales increased during the three months ended March 31, 2021, to $1.2 million, or 85% of net product sales, versus approximately $1.0 million, or 68% of net product sales, during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase of $0.2 million, and 2019, respectively, representing a decreaseincrease in percentage, were primarily due to higher manufacturing labor costs and higher allocated manufacturing-support costs of approximately $45,000, or (92%). The primary reason for the decrease is the decision to significantly curtail our patent filing strategy after the suspension of all furtherresearch and development efforts for RP-G29 after our Phase 3 clinical trial for LI failed to demonstrate statistical significance in its pre-specified primary and secondary endpoints. Patent costs include maintenance of patent rights, the prosecution of patents, the application for the issuance of patents, as well as the preparation to file national Phase applications in certain foreign countries.personnel.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $1.1sharply from $0.9 million, or 92%, during the three months ended March 31, 2020, as compared to $2.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019,2021. This increase was primarily due to increases of approximately $1.2$1.1 million in legalemployee/director stock-based compensation expense, a $0.3 million increase in insurance expenses, a $0.3 million increase in payroll expenses, and accounting feesa $0.3 million increase in other overhead expenses, all primarily related to our public-company status during the three months ended March 31, 2021 in contrast to our private-company status during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs include diagnostic and therapeutic research and product development costs. We have shifted our focus in this category toward therapeutics. Research and development costs increased from $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Of the $0.2 million of research and development costs for the three months ended March 31, 2020, 35% was attributable to diagnostics and 65% was attributable to therapeutics. Of the $3.5 million of research and development costs for the three months ended March 31, 2021, $0.3 million (or 9%) was attributable to diagnostics and $3.2 million (or 91%) was attributable to therapeutics.

The increase in diagnostic research and development costs was primarily due to increased stock-based compensation expense related to our public-company status, and wind-down costs related to the withdrawn COVID-19 antibody diagnostic test during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in therapeutics research and development costs was primarily due to $2.7 million in expenses related to the potential merger with Qualigen partially offset by decreasesapplication of approximatelyQN-165 to treatment of COVID-19 ($1.8 million in drug compound manufacturing costs, and $0.9 million in other pre-clinical research costs for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020), as well as pre-clinical research and development cost increases of about $0.2 million for QN-247 and about $0.1 million for RAS. Of the $1.8 million in stock-based compensationdrug compound manufacturing costs during the three months ended March 31, 2021, $1.1 million consisted of deposits which had been placed in 2020 with STA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, our manufacturer of QN-165 for our anticipated clinical trials; these deposits were recognized as a 2021 first quarter expense. Approximately $56,000 in stock-based compensation expense was recognized

For the future, we expect our therapeutic research and development costs to continue to increase and to significantly outweigh our diagnostic research and development costs.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2021 increased to approximately $137,000 as compared to $92,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2020 as comparedand are primarily due to approximately $146,000 during the same periodan increase in 2019.payroll and recruiting expenses related to our diagnostics business.

2129

 

Other Expense (Income)

Other IncomeChange in Fair Value of Warrant Liabilities

 

OtherDuring the three months ended March 31, 2021 we experienced $2.1 million in other income increasedbecause the fair value of the warrant liabilities arising from our “exploding warrants” series (containing a “double-ratchet” provision) issued by approximately $0.5Qualigen, Inc. many years ago to brokers and investors in connection with a 2004 private placement declined to $6.2 million or 668%,from $8.3 million at December 31, 2020. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, change in fair value of warrant liabilities was $0 because the fair value was immaterial at both the beginning and the end of the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Because the fair value of the warrant liabilities will be determined each quarter on a “mark-to-market” basis, this item could result in significant variability in our future quarterly and annual statements of operations based on unpredictable changes in our public market common stock price and the number of warrants outstanding at the end of each quarter.

Interest (Income) Expense, Net

There was about $17,000 in net interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to2021 versus net interest expense of approximately $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily due2020. Interest on $1.7 million principal amount of convertible notes payable ceased to accrue when they automatically converted in May 2020 upon the closing of the reverse recapitalization transaction. In addition, between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 we paid off our successful effortsrevolving factoring line of credit facility and repaid approximately $0.9 million to renegotiate our outstanding trade payables after our failed Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28.Sekisui.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since our inception,As of March 31, 2021, we had $21.9 million of cash and cash equivalents. However, we have incurredsuffered recurring losses from operations. Based on our current cash position, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, we believe we have sufficient capital to fund operations for the twelve-month period subsequent to the date of this Quarterly Report. However, we operate in a rapidly evolving and unpredictable business environment that may change the timing or amount of expected future cash receipts and expenditures. If we are unable to obtain funding, we could be required to delay, reduce or eliminate research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or future commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business prospects.

Our balance sheet at March 31, 2021 included $6.2 million of warrant liabilities. We do not consider that the warrant liabilities constrain our liquidity, as a practical matter. Our current liabilities at March 31, 2021 included $0.5 million of accounts payable and $1.9 million of accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

As a development-stage therapeutics biotechnology company, we expect to continue to have net losses and negative cash flowsflow from operations, and, as of March 31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $82.0 million. Substantially all ofwhich over time will challenge our net losses resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development programs, stock-based compensation, and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations.liquidity. There is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, or, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis.

 

At March 31, 2020,In order to fully execute our business plan, including full clinical trials of therapeutic drug candidates, we had net working capital of approximately $4.5 million, and cash and cash equivalents of approximately $6.0 million. We have not generated any product revenues and have not achieved profitable operations.will require additional financing. There can be no assurance that further financing can be obtained on favorable terms, or at all.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table sets forth the significant sources and uses of cash and cash equivalents for the periods set forth below:

 

 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
  

For the Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 2020  2019   2021   2020 
Net cash provided by (used in):                
Operating activities $(1,163,837) $(6,544,960) $(2,081,104) $407,714 
Investing activities     4,249,449   (69,002)  (95,461)
Financing activities  5,416,759      121,448   (287,828)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $4,252,922  $(2,295,511) $(2,028,658) $24,425 

30

Net Cash Used in (Provided by) Operating Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, operating activities used $2.1 million of cash, primarily resulting from a net loss of $3.7 million. Cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 benefitted from the $1.6 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $1.3 million increase in employee/director stock-based compensation expense and a $1.1 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. On the other hand, cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 were disadvantaged by a $2.1 million decrease in fair value of warrant liabilities and a $0.2 million increase in accounts receivable, net. The decrease in prepaid expenses was primarily due to the expensing during the period of $1.1 million of upfront deposits paid to STA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, our manufacturer of QN-165 for our anticipated clinical trials.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, operating activities provided $0.4 million of cash, despite a net loss of $0.9 million. Cash flows from operating activities (as opposed to net loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2020 benefitted from a $0.4 million decrease in accounts receivable and a $0.8 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and accounts payable due to higher payables related to therapeutics research and development. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the warrant liabilities fair value was zero.

 

OperatingNet Cash Used in Investing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was approximately $69,000, primarily related to the purchase of property and equipment.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, net cash used in operatinginvesting activities of approximately $1.2 millionwas $95,000, primarily reflects our net lossrelated to payments for the period of approximately $1.7 million, offset by changes in our working capital accounts of approximately $1.0 million. Changes in working capital accounts include an increase in accounts payable, due to merger-related costs incurred of approximately $0.5 million, an increase in prepaid expense of approximately $0.3 millionpatents and an increase in accrued expenses of approximately $0.1 million.licenses.

 

Investing Activities

No cash was used in or providedNet Cash Provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Net cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was from the sale of investments in marketable securities to finance the Phase 3 clinical trial of RP-G28.

(Used in) Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 was approximately $5.4$0.1 million, including approximately $4.5due to $0.2 million of proceeds from the issuance of shares under our at-the-market sales agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with AGP, approximately $0.6 million ofnet proceeds from exercise of warrants, and approximately $0.5 million in proceeds from our equity line with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (“Aspire Capital”), offset by approximately $0.2a $0.1 million of stock issuance costs under the ATM Agreement. Noprincipal payment on notes payable. Net cash was used in or provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

22

Sources2020 was $0.3 million, primarily due to $0.6 million of Liquidity

Since our inception, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations and, asprincipal payments on notes payable offset by $0.3 million of March 31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $82.0 million. Substantially all of our net losses have resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research and development programs, stock-based compensation, and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations.

At March 31, 2020, we had net working capital of approximately $4.5 million and cash and cash equivalents of approximately $6.0 million. We have not generated any product revenues and have not achieved profitable operations.

Aspire Capital Common Stock Purchase Agreement

On May 4, 2017, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Aspire Capital, which was amended and restated on March 29, 2019 and on July 23, 2019 (as amended and restated, the “Aspire Purchase Agreement”). The Aspire Purchase Agreement provides access to us of up to an aggregate of $6.5 million in proceeds through the sale of shares of our common stock through March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2019, we had not sold any shares of our common stock under this agreement. For the three-month period ending March 31, 2020, we sold approximately 1.8 million shares of common stock under this agreement resulting in proceeds to us of approximately $0.5 million.

November 2018 Private Placement Financing

On November 5, 2018, we closed a private placement (“PIPE financing”) with certain institutional investors, a key vendor and a member of our board of directors. Net proceeds from the PIPE financing were approximately $5.5 million, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. The securities sold by us consistedissuance of 6,000 shares of a newly designated class of our Series B convertible preferred stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share and an initial conversion price per share of $1.30 (subject to customary adjustment for stock dividends and stock splits) and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,307,685 shares of our common stock. Each investor received a warrant to purchase a number of shares of common stock equal to one half the number of shares of common stock into which their Series B convertible preferred stock is initially convertible. The warrants are exercisable immediately for a five-year period and have an exercise price of $1.30 per share (subject to customary adjustment for stock dividends and stock splits but without the down-round protective provisions of previously issued warrants). The proceeds received in the PIPE financing were allocated to each instrument on a relative fair value basis. Total proceeds of $6.0 million were allocated as follows: $1.4 million to warrants issued and $4.6 million to Series B convertible preferred stock.

Certain investors in the PIPE financing who at the time of closing of the PIPE financing owned shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock, exchanged, on a 1 for 1 share basis, their shares of Series A convertible preferred stock for shares of our newly designated class of Series C convertible preferred stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share and convertible into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price per share of $1.64 (subject to customary adjustment for stock dividends and stock splits).

At-the-Market Sales Agreement

On November 6, 2019, we entered into the ATM Agreement with AGP, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time through AGP, shares of our common stock (the “Placement Shares”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $3,673,159 (which was subsequently increased to $8,030,917), subject to the terms and conditions of the ATM Agreement. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the ATM Agreement, the ATM Agreement will automatically terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares to or through AGP and (ii) August 1, 2022.

For the three-month period ending March 31, 2020, we sold approximately 16.8 million shares of common stock under the ATM Agreement resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately $4.3 million after commissions and expenses of approximately $157,000.

Future Funding Requirements

To date, we have not generated any revenue. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenue from product sales. We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain marketing approval for one or more product candidates, which we expect could take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments from those disclosed in our 2019 Annual Report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Through March 31, 2020, we do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by applicable SEC regulations.notes payable.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a “smallerSmaller reporting company” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, wecompanies are not required to provide the information required by Item 3.respond to this Item.

23

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020,2021, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report.

 

Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 20202021 were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We believe that a disclosure controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls system are met, and no evaluation of disclosure controls can provide absolute assurance that all disclosure control issues, and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

31

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changesOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As of December 31, 2020, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, or 2013 Framework. Based on this assessment, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective because of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the lack of accounting department resources and/or policies and procedures to ensure recording and disclosure of items in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. We have taken and are taking steps to remediate the material weakness, including implementing additional procedures and utilizing external consulting resources with experience and expertise in U.S. GAAP and public company accounting and reporting requirements to assist management with its accounting and reporting of complex and/or non-recurring transactions and related disclosures.

We do not believe that during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 there was yet any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or areis reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Notwithstanding the identified material weakness, our management believes that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report fairly represent in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows at and for the periods presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Nonetheless, we also believe that an internal control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the internal control system are met, and no evaluation of internal control can provide absolute assurance that all internal control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company are detected.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company isWe are not currently involved in any legal matters arising in the normal course of business.matters. From time to time, the Companywe could become involved in disputes and various litigation matters that arise in the normal course of business. These may include disputes and lawsuits related to intellectual property, licensing, contract law and employee relations matters.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.FACTORS

 

The risks described in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 2019 Annual Report could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The risk factors discussed in our 2019 Annual Report do not identify all risks that we face because our business operations could also be affected by additional factors thatSmaller reporting companies are not presently knownrequired to us or that we currently considerrespond to be immaterial to our operations. There are no material changes from the disclosure provided in the 2019 Annual Report with respectthis Item.

Please refer to the Risk Factors. Investors should considerFactors section of our Transition Report on Form 10-K for the Risk Factors prior to making an investment decision with respect to our stock.nine-months transition period ended December 31, 2020.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

NoneOn February 10 and 11, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 25,000 shares of our common stock to Atlanta Capital Partners, LLC, and Investor Awareness, Inc. in exchange for services valued at $101,750. No underwriter was involved. These were issuances to only two purchasers and accordingly were exempt, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

32

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

None

 

24

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

   Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No. Description Form File No. Exhibit 

Filing

Date

           
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 8-K 001-37428 3.1 July 1, 2015
           
3.2 Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 8-K 001-37428 3.1 September 15, 2017
           
3.3 Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation 8-K 001-37428 3.1 March 22, 2018
           
3.4 Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series Alpha Preferred Stock of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 20, 2020 8-K   3.1 May 29, 2020
           
3.5 Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020 [reverse stock split] 8-K   3.2 May 29, 2020
           
3.6 Certificate of Merger, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020 8-K   3.3 May 29, 2020
           
3.7 Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 22, 2020 [name change] 8-K   3.4 May 29, 2020
           
3.8 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as of May 22, 2020 8-K   3.5 May 29, 2020
           
10.1 

Novation Agreement among the Company, Qualigen, Inc. and University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. dated January 30, 2021

 

        
10.2 Novation Agreement among the Company, Qualigen, Inc. and University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. dated March 1, 2021        
           
31.1   Certificate of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                          
             
31.2   Certificate of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.        
                   
32.1   Certificate of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.        

Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No.DescriptionFormFile No.Exhibit

Filing

Date

31.1Certificate of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2Certificate of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1Certificate of principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS# XBRL Instance Document.
                     
101.SCH# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
                     
101.CAL# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
                     
101.DEF# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
                     
101.LAB# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
                     
101.PRE# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

# XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed herewith, is not a part of a registration statement or Prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

2533

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

May 1, 202014, 2021RITTER PHARMACEUTICALS,QUALIGEN THERAPEUTICS, INC.
   
 By:/s/ Andrew J. Ritter                 Michael S. Poirier
 Name:Andrew J. RitterMichael S. Poirier
 Title:Chief Executive Officer

 

2634