Note 10 – Related Party Transactions
An officer of the Company is a board member of a contract research organization (“CRO”) that provides contract services to the Company. Research and development expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations include the cost of services provided by the CRO to the Company which amounted to $2,096,425 and $1,212,433 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $352,642 and $279,153, respectively, was owed to the CRO and is included in accounts payable or accrued contract research expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Note 11 – Subsequent Events
Initial Public Offering
On August 3, 2021, the Company completed its IPO, pursuant to which it issued and sold 8,625,000 shares of its Class A common stock, inclusive of 1,125,000 shares of its Class A common stock sold pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the IPO were approximately $120,318,750, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting offering costs payable by the Company, which are estimated to be $2,000,000. Upon the closing of the IPO, all of the 8,528,078 shares of the Company’s convertible preferred stock then outstanding automatically converted into 11,939,281 shares of Class A common stock. Upon the conversion of the convertible preferred stock, the Company reclassified the carrying value of the convertible preferred stock to common stock (at par value) and additional paid-in capital.
Increase in Authorized Number of Shares of Common Stock and Changes in Authorized Preferred Stock
On July 23, 2021, in connection with the closing of the IPO, the Company filed a restated certificate of incorporation, which amended and restated the Company’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things: (i) increase the number of authorized shares of common stock to 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) authorize 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock; and (iii) authorize the Board to establish the rights, preferences and restrictions on any unissued series of Preferred Stock.
2021 Incentive Award Plan
On July 23, 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and on July 23, 2021 its stockholders approved, the 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which became effective on July 29, 2021. The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and other stock-based awards. The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is initially equal to 2,590,000 plus an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year, beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on and including January 1, 2031, equal to the lesser of (i) 4% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of shares of Class A common stock as determined by the Board of Directors. No more than 15,350,000 shares of Class A common stock may be issued under the 2021 Plan upon the exercise of incentive stock options. Shares issued under the 2021 Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, shares purchased on the open market or treasury shares. If an award under the 2021 Plan expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for or settled in cash, surrendered, repurchased, cancelled without having been fully exercised/settled or forfeited, any unused shares subject to the award will, as applicable, become or again be available for new grants under the 2021 Plan. In addition, shares subject to stock options issued under the Incentive Plan may become available for issuance under the 2021 Plan to the extent such stock options are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated.
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On July 23, 2021, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and on July 23, 2021 its stockholders approved, the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”), which became effective on July 29, 2021. A total of 250,000