Decoy Therapeutics Inc. DCOY US Equity☆

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-K

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(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024

OR

For the Transition Period from to

Commission File Number: 001-36812

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SALARIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite X, Houston, TX77021

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (713) 913-5608

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

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $ 0.0001 SLRX The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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

None.

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

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

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

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

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

Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐

Non-accelerated Filer ☒ Smaller Reporting Company ☒

Emerging Growth Company ☐

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

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

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

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

As of June 28, 2024 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1,500,431 based on the last reported sale price of the registrant's common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 28, 2024.

As of March 17, 2025, there were 1,745,730shares of common stock outstanding.

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SALARIUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

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Page

Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements 4

Summary of Selected Risks associated with our Business 6

PART I. 9

Item 1. Business 9

Item 1A. Risk Factors 20

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 35

Item 1C Cybersecurity 35

Item 2. Properties 36

Item 3. Legal Proceedings 36

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 36

Item 6. Reserved 37

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk 42

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 43

Index to Financial Statements 43

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 44

Consolidated Balance Sheets 46

Consolidated Statements of Operations 47

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 48

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) 49

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 50

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 61

Item 9B. Other Information 62

Part III 62

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 62

Item 11. Executive Compensation 70

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 81

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 82

SIGNATURES 86

On June 14, 2024, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a 1-for-8 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Reverse Stock

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Split”) which became effective as of June 14, 2024. All historical share and per share amounts reflected throughout this report have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Various statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. All statements that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect or believe may occur in the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not statements of historical or current facts. These statements include, among others, statements about:

•our ability to continue as a going concern and support our operations into the later part of the second quarter of 2025;

•our expectations regarding the timing, likelihood, expected benefits of, and potential value created by, the proposed merger (the “Merger”) between us and Decoy Therapeutics Inc. (“Decoy”);

•our expectations regarding the satisfaction of certain conditions to the completion of the Merger, including the conditions related to consummation of financing transactions with aggregate minimum proceeds of at least $6.0 million (the “Qualified Financing”), whether and when the Merger will be consummated and that our common stock remains listed on Nasdaq;

•the potential effects of the Merger on the ownership percentages of Decoy’s stockholders and Salarius’ stockholders in the combined company;

•our expectations regarding our clinical trials and any investigator-initiated clinical trials;

•our expectations as to revenue, cash flow, and expenses;

•our liquidity position, the expected sufficiency of such position for anticipated operating and capital requirements; and

•our expectations regarding our ability to remain listed on Nasdaq;

Forward-looking statements also include statements other than statements of current or historical fact, including, without limitation, all statementsrelated to any expectations of revenues, expenses, cash flows, earnings or losses from operations, cash required to maintain current and planned operations, capital or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any plans or expectations with respect to product research, development and commercialization, including regulatory approvals; any other statements of expectations, plans, intentions or beliefs; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. We often, although not always, identify forward-looking statements by using words or phrases such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “indicate,” “seek,” “should,” “would,”“target”,“potential,” “evaluate,” “proceeding.”

The following are some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in our forward-looking statements:

•the risk that if we do not successfully complete the Merger or obtain additional financing in the near term, the company will need to pursue a dissolution and liquidation of our company;

•the risk that we are delisted from Nasdaq;

•the risk that our stockholders may not realize a benefit from the Merger commensurate with the ownership dilution they will experience in connection with the Merger and the Qualified Financing;

•the Merger consideration may have greater or lesser value at the closing of the Merger than at the time the merger agreement was signed;

•failure to complete the Merger may result in Salarius paying a termination fee or expenses to Decoy and could harm the financial condition and operations of Salarius;

•if the conditions to the Merger are not met, including failure to consummate a Qualified Financing, or failure to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq, the Merger may not occur;

•the timing of the consummation of the Merger is uncertain as is the ability of each of Salarius and Decoy to consummate the Merger;

•the Merger may be completed even though material adverse changes may occur;

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•Salarius may not be able to correctly estimate its operating expenses and its expenses associated with the Merger and may have a significantly lower cash balance on the closing date of the Merger than currently estimated;

•Salarius may not be able to maintain its Nasdaq listing following the Merger Closing;

•as a result of any adjustments in the exchange ratio set forth in the Merger Agreement and Qualified Financing, Salarius’ stockholders may own less of the combined company than is currently anticipated;

•the market price of Salarius’ common stock may decline following the Merger;

•restrictions in the Merger Agreement may prevent Salarius from entering into a business combination with another party at a favorable price;

•certain provisions of the Merger Agreement may discourage third parties from submitting alternative takeover proposals, including proposals that may be superior to the arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

•the risk that the Merger, even if it is consummated, may not enhance stockholder value and may create a distraction or uncertainty that may adversely affect our operating results, business or investor perceptions;

•the combined company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary, and/or on acceptable terms;

•potential adverse impacts regarding our continued implementation of cost-savings measures designed to extend our expected cash runway;

•the risk that the Company’s cost saving initiatives and exploration of strategic alternatives are not successful and do not increase stockholder value;

•unanticipated difficulties with preserving capital;

•unanticipated charges not currently contemplated that may occur as a result of the Company’s cost savings plan;

•uncertainties about the paths of our programs and our ability to evaluate and identify a path forward for those programs, particularly given the constraints we have as a small company with limited financial, personnel and other operating resources;

•the adequacy of our capital to support our future operations;

•fluctuations in our operating results; and

•other factors described in our filings with the SEC.

We cannot guarantee that the results and other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in any forward-looking statement will be realized. The risks set forth under Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K describe major risks to our business, and you should read and interpret any forward-looking statements together with these risks. A variety of factors, including these risks, could cause our actual results and other expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in our forward-looking statements. Should known or unknown risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. You should bear this in mind as you consider any forward-looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes makes it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.

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SUMMARY OF SELECTED RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR BUSINESS

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those discussed at length in the section titled “Risk Factors.” These risks include, among others, the following:

Risks Related to the Merger

•The Merger may be completed even though certain events occur prior to Merger Closing that materially and adversely affect Salarius.

•The Exchange Ratio set forth in the Merger Agreement is adjustable based on the Parent Cash Amount and the Company Cash Amount, each of which will be impacted by, among other things, unexpected expenses that could be experienced by Salarius or Decoy during the pre-Merger Closing period, which could result in Salarius stockholders owning significantly less of the combined company than currently estimated.

•Stockholders of the combined company may not realize a benefit from the Merger commensurate with the ownership dilution they will experience in connection with the Merger and the Qualified Financing.

•During the pendency of the Merger, Salarius may not be able to enter into a business combination with another party at a favorable price because of restrictions in the Merger Agreement, which could adversely affect its business.

•Certain provisions of the Merger Agreement may discourage third parties from submitting alternative takeover proposals, including proposals that may be superior to the arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

•Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Salarius is required to recommend that its stockholders approve the conversion of all outstanding shares of its Series A Preferred Stock into shares of its Common Stock. Salarius cannot guarantee that its stockholders will approve this matter, and if they fail to do so its operations may be materially harmed.

•Because the lack of a public market for Decoy’s capital stock makes it difficult to evaluate the value of Decoy’s capital stock, the stockholders of Decoy may receive shares of Salarius common stock in the Merger that have a value that is greater than, the fair market value of Decoy’s capital stock.

•The combined company may become involved in securities class action litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm the combined company’s business and insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all costs and damages.

•The Merger Agreement between Salarius and Decoy may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Merger may not be completed.

•Salarius may not be able to effect the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and failure to complete the Merger would negatively impact Salarius’ stock price and materially adversely impact the future business and financial results of the Salarius.

•The market price of Salarius’ common stock following the Merger may decline as a result of the Merger.

•Salarius and Decoy securityholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest in, and will exercise less influence over the management of, the combined company following the Merger Closing as compared to their current ownership and voting interest in the respective companies.

•The combined company will need to raise additional capital by issuing securities or debt or through licensing or other strategic arrangements, which may cause dilution to the combined company’s stockholders or restrict the combined company's operations or impact its proprietary rights.

Risks Related to our Financial Position and Capital Needs

•If the Merger is not completed, Salarius may not be able to otherwise source adequate liquidity to fund its operations, meet its obligations, and continue as a going concern. Salarius’ board of directors may decide to pursue a dissolution and liquidation of Salarius. In such an event, there can be no assurances as to the amount or timing of available cash left, if any, to distribute to its stockholders after paying its debts and other obligations and setting aside funds for reserves.

•Salarius’ common stock may be subject to delisting from Nasdaq.

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•Salarius is substantially dependent on its remaining employees and consultants to facilitate the consummation of the Merger.

•The pendency of the Merger could have an adverse effect on the trading price of Salarius’ common stock and its business, financial conditions and prospects.

•Salarius has never generated any revenue from product sales and may never generate revenue or be profitable.

Risks Related to the Development of Salarius' Product Candidates

•The approach Salarius has taken to discovering and developing novel oncology therapeutics using epigenetic enzymes to moderate transcription factors and thereby control abnormal protein expression is unproven and may never lead to marketable products.

•Salarius’ product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial viability of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.

•Product development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier pre-clinical and clinical trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results.

•Difficulty in enrolling patients is a common hurdle faced by early stage biotechnology companies and could, and often does, delay or prevent clinical trials of product candidates.

•Salarius may face potential product liability, and if successful claims are brought against Salarius, Salarius may incur substantial liability and costs which could be greater than Salarius’ insurance coverage or overall resources.

Risks Related to Regulatory Approval of our Product Candidates and Other Legal Compliance Matters

•Even if FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation for one or more of Salarius’ product candidates, the designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and it does not increase the likelihood that Salarius’ product candidates will receive marketing approval, and FDA may rescind the designation if it determines the product candidate no longer meets the qualifying criteria for breakthrough therapy.

•Salarius has received fast track designation for one of Salarius’ product candidates, but such designation may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process. Additionally, FDA may rescind the designation if it determines the product candidate no longer meets the qualifying criteria for fast track.

•Salarius cannot guarantee how long it will take regulatory agencies to review Salarius’ applications for product candidates, and Salarius may fail to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to market Salarius’ product candidates. If Salarius is not able to obtain required regulatory approvals, Salarius will not be able to commercialize Salarius’ product candidates and Salarius’ ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.

•Reliance on government funding for our programs may add uncertainty to our research and commercialization efforts and may impose requirements that limit our ability to take specified actions.

Risks Related to our Intellectual Property

•We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining exclusive or other necessary rights to our targets, product compounds and processes for our development pipeline.

•We may not have sufficient patent term protections for our product candidates to protect our business.

•Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.

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•If we fail to comply with obligations in the agreements under which we license intellectual property and other rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our licensors, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.

•We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

•We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.

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Part I

Item 1. Business

References to “Salarius,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”refer to Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to “Notes” refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein (refer to Item 8).

Overview

Salarius is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that has been focused on developing effective treatments for patients with cancer with high, unmet medical need. Specifically, Salarius has been concentrated on developing treatments for cancers caused by dysregulated gene expression (i.e., genes which are incorrectly turned on or off). Salarius has two classes of drugs that address gene dysregulation: targeted protein inhibitors and targeted protein degraders. Salarius’ technologies have the potential to work in both liquid and solid tumors. Salarius’ current pipeline consists of two small molecule drugs: (1) SP-3164, a targeted protein degrader, and (2) seclidemstat (“SP-2577”), a targeted protein inhibitor.

SP-3164

Salarius’ plan had been to develop SP-3164 in high unmet need hematological indications and solid tumors. Salarius’ goal was to file an investigational new drug (“IND”) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for SP-3164 in the first half of 2023, and begin a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the second half of 2023, however the lack of funding required Salarius to curtail spending necessary to begin the clinical trial program.

SP-2577

On July 19, 2024, Salarius announced that it determined to close its ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating SP-2577 for Ewing sarcoma, including closing the remaining clinical trial sites. Salarius terminated the ongoing clinical trial in an effort to conserve cash. Salarius continues supporting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MDACC”) in MDACC’s sponsored clinical trial evaluating SP-2577 in combination with azacytidine in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. In July 2024, the FDA placed the trial on partial clinical hold following a serious and unexpected grade 4 adverse event, encephalopathy, which was reversible. In February 2025, Salarius announced that MDACC had addressed the FDA’s questions and the partial clinical hold had been lifted, with patient enrollment resuming in the trial. Salarius has received FDA fast track designation for SP-2577 as a potential treatment for a rare pediatric disease in Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Recent Developments

Entry into Merger Agreement with Decoy Therapeutics, Inc. (“Decoy”)

On August 8, 2023, Salarius announced that it retained Canaccord Genuity, LLC to lead a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives focusing on maximizing stockholder value, including but not limited to, an acquisition, merger, reverse merger, divestiture of assets, licensing, or other strategic transactions involving the company. On January 10, 2025, Salarius entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Decoy Therapeutics MergerSub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Salarius (“First Merger Sub”), Decoy Therapeutics MergerSub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Salarius (“Second Merger Sub”), and Decoy. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Salarius will combine with Decoy (the “Merger”) by causing First Merger Sub to be merged with and into Decoy, with Decoy surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Salarius (the “First Merger”). Immediately following the First Merger, Decoy will merge with and into Second Merger Sub, with Second Merger Sub being the surviving entity and continuing under the name “Decoy Therapeutics, LLC” as a wholly owned subsidiary of Salarius.

The Merger is structured as a stock-for-stock transaction pursuant to which all of Decoy’s outstanding equity interests will be exchanged based on an exchange ratio for consideration of a combination of (a) shares of Salarius’ common stock par value $0.0001 (the “Common Stock”) in an amount up to (i) 19.9% of Salarius’ total shares outstanding as of January 10, 2025 minus (ii) any shares of Salarius Common Stock issued in any private placement between January 10, 2025 and the effective time of the First Merger (the “First Effective Time”), and (b) shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which is a newly designated series of preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”) that is

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intended to have economic rights equivalent to the Common Stock, but with only limited voting rights, in addition to the assumption of outstanding and unexercised stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Decoy Therapeutics Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock to be issued at Merger Closing (as defined below) and the number of shares of Common stock underlying the Series A Preferred Stock to be issued at closing of the Merger (the “Merger Closing”) is based on an exchange ratio which assumes a base value of $28.0 million for Decoy and $4.6 million for Salarius, subject in each case to adjustment based on the balance sheet cash available to each of Salarius and Decoy at Merger Closing (excluding any proceeds raised the “Qualified Financing,” as defined below). Based on these relative values, before taking into account the dilutive effects of the Qualified Financing, Salarius’ legacy stockholders would retain approximately 14.1% of Salarius on an as-converted-to-common basis and, after giving effect to the exchange ratio and the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, Decoy stockholders would own approximately 85.9% of Salarius.

The rights of the Series A Preferred Stock will be set forth in a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations that Salarius will file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Designation”). The Certificate of Designation provides that the preferred stock will be convertible into shares of Common Stock on a 1-for-1000 basis, subject to stockholder approval. The Merger was approved by Salarius’ board of directors and the board of directors of Decoy. In addition, following the consummation of the Merger, Salarius has agreed to call a special stockholder meeting to approve (i) the conversion of the preferred stock to be issued at Merger Closing into shares of Common Stock (the “Conversion Proposal”), (ii) a new equity incentive plan in form reasonably agreed to by the parties (the “Equity Plan Proposal”), and (iii) if necessary and advisable, a reverse stock split in a ratio to be approved by Salarius’ board of directors (the “Reverse Stock Split Proposal” and together with the Conversion Proposal and the Equity Plan Proposal, the “Company Stockholder Matters”).

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties by each of Salarius and Decoy, as well as covenants relating to operating each respective business in the ordinary course prior to Merger Closing. The Merger Closing is conditioned upon, among other things, minimum proceeds from future offerings of at least $6.0 million (collectively, the “Qualified Financing”) and the continued listing of Salarius Common Stock on Nasdaq. On January 17, 2025, Nasdaq notified Salarius that the proposed transaction with Decoy constitutes a business combination that will result in a “Change of Control” pursuant to Listing Rule 5110(a) and, accordingly, the post-transaction entity will be required to satisfy all of Nasdaq’s initial listing criteria and to complete Nasdaq’s initial listing process, including the payment of all applicable fees. Salarius intends to commence the process prior to seeking the Company’s stockholder approval for the issuance of 20% or more of the Company’s pre-transaction shares and must complete the process prior to the conversion of the preferred shares issued at the Merger Closing into shares of common stock of the Company.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Salarius entered into stockholder support agreements (the “Salarius Support Agreements”) with certain of its officers and directors, who collectively own an aggregate of approximately 1.38% of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock. The Salarius Support Agreements provide that, among other things, each of the parties thereto has agreed to vote or cause to be voted all of the shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholder in favor of the Company Stockholder Matters at a special or annual meeting of Salarius’ stockholders to be held in connection therewith. In addition, Decoy officers and directors, in their capacities as stockholders of Decoy, entered into stockholder support agreements (the “Decoy Support Agreements”) with Decoy. The Decoy Support Agreements provide that, among other things, each of the parties thereto has agreed to vote or cause to be voted all of the shares of Common Stock owned by such stockholder in favor of the proposed Merger.

Concurrently and in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain Decoy officers and directors, and certain of Salarius’ directors and officers entered into lock-up agreements with Salarius and Decoy, pursuant to which each such stockholder will be subject to a 180-day lockup on the sale or transfer of shares of Common Stock held by each such stockholder at the Merger Closing, including those shares received by Decoy stockholders in the Merger.

Warrant Cancellation Agreement

On January 10, 2025, Salarius entered into a Warrant Cancellation Agreement (the “Warrant Cancellation Agreement”) with an accredited investor. Salarius previously issued to the investor a Series A-1 Common Stock Purchase Warrant to purchase 454,546 shares of its common stock pursuant to the offering described in Salarius’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 16, 2023 (the “Warrant”). Pursuant to the Warrant Cancellation Agreement, on January 10, 2025, Salarius paid the investor an aggregate amount in cash of $350,000 in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of the Warrant.

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Securities ELOC Agreement

On December 12, 2024, Salarius entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “ELOC Agreement”) with C/M Capital Master Fund, LP (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which Salarius, subject to the restrictions and satisfaction of the conditions in the ELOC Agreement, has the right, but not the obligation, to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser is obligated to purchase, up to the lesser of (i) $10 million of newly issued shares (the “Purchase Shares”) of Salarius’ common stock and (ii) the Exchange Cap (as defined in the ELOC Agreement). As consideration for the Purchaser’s execution and delivery of the ELOC Agreement, Salarius has agreed to issue to the Purchaser, simultaneously with the delivery of any and all Purchase Shares purchased under the ELOC Agreement, a number of shares of Salarius common stock equal to one percent (1%) of the number of Purchase Shares actually sold in each sale under the ELOC Agreement.

Between January 13, 2025 and March 7, 2025, Salarius issued and sold 283,933 Purchase Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to the ELOC Agreement at a weighted average exercise price of $2.61 for an aggregate purchase price of $740,500. These issuances and sales were made following written notice delivered by Salarius to Investor, directing Investor to purchase the Purchase Shares. Salarius also issued 2,839 shares of its common stock to the Purchaser as commitment shares pursuant to the terms of the ELOC Agreement.

Program Development

SP-3164 – Targeted Protein Degradation

The field of targeted protein degradation (TPD) is rapidly growing. The two most common types of protein degraders are molecular glues (“MGs”) and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). SP-3164 is a next-generation cereblon-binding MG.

MGs are small molecules that commandeer the body’s normal protein degradation processes by causing proteins to stick to one another thereby inducing selective degradation of cancer-causing proteins. Derived from avadomide, SP-3164 is engineered using deuterium-enabled chiral switching , a process that replaces hydrogen atoms with deuterium to stabilize the molecule’s active enantiomer, resulting in a novel molecular entity with the potential for increased efficacy and improved safety compared to the first generation compound. SP-3164 degrades transcription factors IKZF1 (“Ikaros”) and IKZF3 (“Aiolos”), along with other proteins, resulting in both direct anti-cancer activity and immune-modulating properties.

Salarius’ plan had been to develop SP-3164 in high unmet need hematological indications and solid tumors. Salarius’ goal was to file an investigational new drug (“IND”) application with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for SP-3164 in the first half of 2023, and begin a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the second half of 2023, however the lack of funding required Salarius to curtail spending necessary to begin the clinical trial program.

SP-2577 Ewing Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma is a devastating pediatric and young adult cancer for which there are no approved targeted therapies. The cause of Ewing sarcoma is a chromosomal translocation involving the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 gene and ETS family genes, resulting in expression of a fusion oncoprotein. The resulting oncoprotein has been found to co-localize with LSD1 throughout the genome, making LSD1 an attractive therapeutic target for Ewing sarcoma.

On July 19, 2024, Salarius announced it had determined to close its ongoing Phase 1⁄2 clinical trial evaluating SP-2577 for Ewing sarcoma, including closing the remaining clinical trial sites.

SP-2577 Myelodysplastic Syndromes And Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Salarius intends to continue supporting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MDACC”) in MDACC’s sponsored investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating SP-2577 in combination with azacitidine in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. In July 2024, the FDA placed the trial on partial clinical hold following a serious and unexpected grade 4 adverse event, encephalopathy, which was reversible. In February 2025, Salarius announced that MDACC had addressed the FDA’s questions and the partial

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clinical hold had been lifted, with patient enrollment resuming in the trial. We have received FDA fast track designation for SP-2577 as a potential treatment for a rare pediatric disease in Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Strategic Agreements

Listed below are the strategic agreements that may have an impact on our results of operations:

The University of Utah Research Foundation

On August 3, 2011, Salarius entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with the University of Utah Research Foundation (the “University of Utah”), for the exclusive license with respect to patent rights protecting SP-2577 and related compounds. The patent rights were for a provisional patent. The term of the agreement is until the last-to-expire of the patent rights licensed under the agreement, which is expected to be as late as 2037, unless otherwise terminated by law or by the parties pursuant to the agreement.

In further consideration of the rights granted by the University of Utah, Salarius agreed to pay all past patent expenses incurred in filing and prosecuting the patent application, and pay all future patent expenses incurred including filing, prosecuting, enforcing and maintaining the patent right.

Under the terms of the agreement, Salarius may be obligated to make certain future milestone and royalty payments, including: (i) an earned royalty payment based on a single digit percentage of net sales and a required minimum annual royalty payment commencing with the third full calendar year after the first commercial sale in the United States, Germany, France, Japan or the U.K. ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 per year which minimum payments are fully creditable towards the earned royalty payment with respect to the relevant calendar year, (ii) a sublicensee fee based on a single digit percentage of revenues received by sublicensees, (iii) milestone payments in agreed dollar amounts upon receiving regulatory approvals allowing the marketing and sale of licensed products or licensed methods relating to the patients’ rights in each of the United States, the European Union and Japan not exceeding $150,000 in the aggregate and (iv) a milestone payment in an agreed dollar amount upon the two year anniversary of the first commercial sale of a licensed product not exceeding $1.0 million.

Either party has a right to terminate the agreement for a breach of or default under the agreement following a 60-day cure period. If Salarius ceases to carry on its business with respect to the patent right granted under the agreement, the University of Utah has a right to terminate the agreement upon 60 days’ notice. In addition, Salarius may terminate the agreement at any time upon ninety days’ notice to the University of Utah.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

In June 2016, Salarius entered into a Cancer Research Grant Contract with Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (“CPRIT”). The grant contract was for an amount up to $18.7 million to fund the development of LSD-1 inhibitor. The grant was subsequently amended to remove $2.6 million related to a discontinued prostate cancer program. Salarius received approximately $16 million under the grant. The grant has been closed as of December 31, 2023.

DeuteRx, LLC

On January 12, 2022, Salarius entered into an acquisition and strategic collaboration agreement (the “ASCA”) with DeuteRx, LLC (“DeuteRx”), pursuant to which Salarius acquired targeted protein development portfolio.

The portfolio was purchased for an aggregate purchase price of $1.5 million and the delivery of 5,000 shares of Salarius’ common stock. Salarius agreed to pay to DeuteRx (i) milestone payments upon the occurrence of certain events and (ii) royalty payments. A member of Salarius’ board of directors also serves as a consultant to DeuteRx and is a consultant to an affiliate of DeuteRx.

Simultaneously with Salarius entry into the ASCA, Salarius and DeuteRx entered into the R&D Services Agreement, which sets forth the terms and conditions upon which DeuteRx will provide services to Salarius, including the implementation and performance of a Non-Clinical and Clinical Development Scope of Work. The ASCA remains in place, albeit at lower service levels resulting from company-wide cost cutting measures.

Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing

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The Company currently has no manufacturing facilities, nor does it have a sales and marketing organization because our product candidates are still in preclinical or early-stage clinical development.

Intellectual Property

Salarius’ patent portfolio includes composition of matter and methods of use patents on Salarius’ candidate, SP-2577. In the United States, Salarius has two composition of matter patents and one methods of use patent with respect to SP-2577 and related compounds which will expire in 2032. The patents and patent applications related to SP-2577 are owned by the University of Utah Research Foundation and are exclusively licensed to Salarius.

Salarius also has patents with claims that cover the composition of matter of SP-3164 with a patent term expiration of January 14, 2034.

As of January 14, 2025, the targeted degradation patent portfolio consisted of 6 patent families with 17 granted patents and 4 pending applications acquired in the DeuteRx Transaction

In addition to patent protection, Salarius seeks to rely on trade secret protection, trademark protection and know-how to expand its proprietary position around its chemistry, technology and other discoveries and inventions that Salarius considers important to its business. Salarius also seeks to protect its intellectual property in part by entering into confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants, scientific advisors, clinical investigators and other contractors and by requiring employees, commercial contractors, and certain consultants and investigators, to enter into invention assignment agreements that grant Salarius ownership of any discoveries or inventions made by them. Further, Salarius seeks trademark protection in the United States and internationally where available and when Salarius deems appropriate.

Competition

SP-3164: Targeted Protein Degradation and Competitive Differentiation

The field of TPD is rapidly growing and attracting significant interest from the biggest pharmaceutical companies. The two most common types of protein degraders are molecular glues (“MGs”) and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). SP-3164 is a next-generation CRBN-binding MG. There are several MGs in clinical development and additional compounds in IND-enabling studies.

SP-2577: LSD1 Inhibition and Competitive Differentiation

LSD1 is a widely published epigenetic target and has attracted interest from several large pharmaceutical companies. LSD1 helps drive cancer progression through demethylation of histones and by acting as a scaffolding protein within various activator and repressor complexes.

Salarius believes that SP-2577 is differentiated in its ability to effectively inhibit LSD1’s scaffolding properties in addition to LSD1’s demethylation activity. Compared to irreversible LSD1 inhibitors, Salarius’ molecule has a novel binding mechanism (reversible as opposed to irreversible) and binding location (closer to substrate binding site as opposed to the FAD cofactor of LSD1).

Government Regulation and Product Approvals

United States Government Regulation

In the United States, pharmaceutical products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA’s implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations, govern, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, safety, effectiveness, storage, recordkeeping, approval, labeling, promotion and marketing, distribution, post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling and import and export of pharmaceutical products. We cannot market a drug product candidate in the United States until the drug has received FDA approval.

Drug Development Process

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The process required before a drug may be marketed in the United States generally include the following:

•completion of extensive non-clinical laboratory tests and animal studies in accordance with the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations, applicable requirements for the humane use of laboratory animals, such as the Animal Welfare Act or other applicable regulations;

•submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug (IND) for human clinical testing, which must be deemed effective before human clinical trials may begin;

•approval by an independent institutional review board (IRB) overseeing each clinical site before each trial may be initiated at that site;

•performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP) requirements , and any additional requirements for the protection of human research subjects and their health information, to establish the safety and efficacy of the drug for each proposed indication;

•submission to the FDA of a New Drug Approval (NDA) for marketing approval that includes substantial evidence of safety and effectiveness from results of clinical trials, as well as the results of preclinical testing, detailed information about the chemistry, manufacturing and controls, and proposed labeling and packaging for the product candidate;

•consideration by an FDA Advisory Committee, if applicable;

•satisfactory completion of potential FDA audits of the preclinical study and clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the NDA;

•satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the nonclinical, clinical and/or manufacturing sites or facilities at which the active pharmaceutical ingredient, (API), and finished drug product are produced and tested to assess compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP); and

•FDA review and approval of the NDA prior to any commercial marketing or sale of the drug in the United States, including agreement on post-marketing commitments, if applicable.

Before testing any drugs with potential therapeutic value in humans, the drug enters the preclinical testing stage. Pre-clinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, formulation and toxicity, as well as animal trials to assess the characteristics and potential safety and efficacy of the product. The conduct of the pre-clinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements, including GLP and the Animal Welfare Act.

Before commencing the first clinical trial in humans, an IND must be submitted to the FDA, and the IND must become effective. An IND sponsor must submit the results of pre-clinical testing to the FDA as part of an IND along with other information, including information about product chemistry, manufacturing and controls and a proposed clinical trial protocol. Long term pre-clinical tests, such as animal tests of reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is submitted. A 30-day waiting period after the submission of each IND is required prior to the commencement of clinical testing in humans. If the FDA has neither commented on nor questioned the IND within this 30-day period, the clinical trial proposed in the IND may begin if all other requirements, including IRB review and approval, have been met. If the FDA raises concerns or questions about the conduct of the trial, such as whether human research subjects will be exposed to an unreasonable health risk, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding FDA concerns or questions before clinical trials can proceed. Even after the IND has gone into effect and clinical testing has begun, the FDA may also impose clinical holds on clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance. If the FDA imposes a clinical hold, studies may not recommence without FDA authorization and then only under terms authorized by the FDA.

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational new drug to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with state and federal regulations, including GCP requirements, which include the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent in writing for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated, including stopping rules that assure a clinical trial will be stopped if certain adverse events (AEs) should occur. Each protocol and subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.

The FDA may order the temporary or permanent discontinuation of a clinical trial at any time, or impose other sanctions, if it believes that the clinical trial either is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial patients. The study protocol and informed consent information for

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patients in clinical trials must also be submitted to an IRB, for approval of each site at which the clinical trial will be conducted. An IRB may also require the clinical trial at the site to be halted, either temporarily or permanently, for failure to comply with the IRB’s requirements, or may impose other conditions. Information about certain clinical trials must be submitted within specific timeframes to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for public dissemination on their www.clinicaltrials.gov website.

Clinical trials to support NDAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. In Phase 1, the initial introduction of the drug into healthy human subjects or patients, the drug is tested to assess pharmacological actions, safety and side effects associated with increasing doses and, if possible, early evidence of effectiveness. Phase 2 usually involves trials in a larger but limited patient population to study metabolism of the drug, pharmacokinetics, the effectiveness of the drug for a particular indication, dosage tolerance and optimum dosage, and to identify common adverse effects and safety risks. If a compound demonstrates evidence of effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2 evaluations, Phase 3 clinical trials, also called pivotal trials, are undertaken to obtain the additional information about clinical efficacy and safety in a larger number of patients, typically at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, to permit the FDA to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and to provide adequate information for the labeling of the drug.

Post-approval studies, or Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These studies may be required by the FDA as a condition of approval and are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication. The FDA has express statutory authority to require post-market clinical studies to address safety issues.

During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities, clinical data and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA and the investigators for serious and unexpected AEs, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing and other sources that suggest a significant risk for human subjects, or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven calendar days after the sponsor’s initial receipt of the information. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor may suspend a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the biological product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.

In limited circumstances, the FDA also permits the administration of investigational drug products to patients under its expanded access regulatory authorities. Under the FDA’s expanded access authority, patients who are not able to participate in a clinical trial may be eligible for accessing investigational products, including through individual compassionate or emergency use in concert with their requesting physician.

Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies, develop additional information about the physical characteristics of the biological product candidate and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.

FDA Review and Approval Process

After completion of the required clinical testing, a sponsor may prepare and submit an NDA to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA is required before marketing of the product may begin in the United States. The NDA must include the results of all non-clinical, clinical and other testing and a compilation of data relating to the product’s toxicology, pharmacology, chemistry, manufacture and controls. In addition, under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, as amended, an NDA or supplement to an NDA generally must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers depending on the designated pathway for submission. The cost of preparing and submitting an NDA is substantial. The submission of most NDAs is additionally subject to a substantial application user fee, and the manufacturer and/or sponsor under an approved NDA are also subject to annual product and establishment user fees. These fees are typically increased annually. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a

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small business.Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) performance goals that are currently in effect, the FDA has a goal of ten months from the date of “filing” of a standard NDA for a new molecular entity to review and act on the submission. This review typically takes twelve months from the date the NDA is submitted to FDA, because the FDA has approximately two months to make a “filing” decision.That deadline can be extended under certain circumstances, including by the FDA’s requests for additional information. The targeted action date can also be shortened to 6 months of the “filing” date for products that are granted priority review designation because they are intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs. Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews all NDAs submitted to ensure that they are sufficiently complete for substantive review before it accepts them for filing. The FDA may issue a refuse-to-file letter and request additional information rather than accept an NDA for filing. In this event, the NDA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review. The FDA reviews an NDA to determine, among other things, whether the drug is safe and effective and whether the facility(ies) in which it is manufactured, processed, packaged or held meets standards designed to assure the product’s continued safety, quality and purity. The FDA may also refer applications for novel drug products, or drug products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee-typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts-for consideration, discussion and a vote on specific questions relevant to the approval decision.The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions. Before approving an NDA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCPs. Additionally, the FDA will inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless compliance with cGMP requirements is satisfactory and the NDA contains data that provide substantial evidence that the drug is safe and effective in the indication studied.

During the NDA review process, the FDA also will determine whether a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) is necessary to assure the safe use of the product. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor must submit a proposed REMS; the FDA will not approve the NDA without a REMS, if required.A REMS could include a medication guide, communication plan or elements to assure safe use, such as required healthcare provider or pharmacy certification, a patient registry and other safe use conditions.

After the FDA evaluates the NDA and the manufacturing facilities, it issues either an approval letter or a complete response letter. A complete response letter generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional clinical data , or information, in order to resubmit the application for another cycle ofFDA review. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the NDA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the complete response letter, or withdraw the application. If those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included.

An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. Even if the FDA approves a product, it may limit the approved indications for use of the product, require that contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling, require that post- approval studies, including Phase 4 clinical trials, be conducted to further assess a drug’s safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization, or impose other conditions, including distribution and use restrictions or other risk management mechanisms under a REMS to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. The FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post-marketing studies or surveillance programs. Once granted, product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory standards is not maintained, FDA determines the risk outweighs the benefits of the product or other problems are identified following initial marketing.

Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs. Such supplements are typically reviewed within 10 months of receipt or 6 months of receipt for priority efficacy supplements.

Orphan Drug Status

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Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan drug designation to drug candidates intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United States and for which there is no reasonable expectation that costs of research and development of the drug for the indication can be recovered by sales of the drug in the United States. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an NDA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. Although there may be some increased communication opportunities, orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in or shorten the duration of the regulatory review and approval process.

If a drug candidate that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full NDA, to market the same drug for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as if the second applicant demonstrates the clinical superiority of its product or if FDA finds that the holder of the orphan drug exclusivity has not shown that it can assure the availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan drug to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving a different drug for the same disease or condition, or the same drug for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of orphan drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the NDA application user fee.

As in the United States, designation as an orphan drug for the treatment of a specific indication in the European Union, must be made before the application for marketing authorization is made. Orphan drugs in Europe enjoy economic and marketing benefits, including up to 10 years of market exclusivity for the approved indication unless another applicant can show that its product is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior to the orphan designated product.

The FDA and foreign regulators expect holders of exclusivity for orphan drugs to assure the availability of sufficient quantities of their orphan drugs to meet the needs of patients. Failure to do so could result in the withdrawal of marketing exclusivity for the orphan drug.

Expedited Development and Review Programs

The FDA has a Fast Track program that is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for development and review of new drug products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new drug products are eligible for Fast Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. Fast Track designation applies to the combination of the product and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor of a new drug may request that the FDA designate the drug as a Fast Track product at any time during the clinical development of the product. For a Fast Track-designated product, the FDA may consider for review sections of the marketing application on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the application, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the application and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the application. Fast Tack designation may be rescinded if FDA determines the program no longer meets the qualifying criteria for Fast Track.

Any product submitted to the FDA for marketing, including under a Fast Track program, may be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite development and review, such as priority review and accelerated approval. A product is eligible for priority review if it is intended to treat a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness. The FDA will attempt to direct additional resources to the evaluation of an application for a new drug product designated for priority review in an effort to facilitate the review on a 6 month, rather than the standard 10 month, timeline. We have received FDA designation as a potential treatment for a rare pediatric disease for the use of SP-2577 in Ewing’s Sarcoma. Should SP-2577 prove to be efficacious in this disease with a positive benefit/risk ratio, we expect to receive a Priority Review Voucher. The Priority Review Voucher is transferable and may be sold.

Additionally, a product may be eligible for accelerated approval under subpart H if it treats a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, provides meaningful advantage over existing treatments, and demonstrates an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit or on an intermediate clinical endpoint.If a product qualifies for accelerated approval, the product may be approved based on an effect on a surrogate endpoint or intermediate clinical endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict the drug’s clinical benefit.As a condition of accelerated approval, the FDA will require that a sponsor of a drug product subject to accelerated

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approval perform an adequate and well-controlled post-marketing clinical trial to confirm clinical benefit. If a sponsor fails to conduct any required post-approval trial with “due diligence” FDA may withdraw the drug from the market.In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval that promotional materials be submitted in advance of initial dissemination, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product.

In addition, under the provisions of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA), the FDA established the Breakthrough Therapy Designation which is intended to expedite the development and review of products that treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The designation includes all of the features of Fast Track designation, as well as more intensive FDA interaction and guidance. The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is distinct from both accelerated approval and priority review, but these can also be granted to the same product candidate if the relevant criteria are met. The FDA may take certain actions, such as holding timely meetings and providing advice, intended to expedite the development and review of an application for approval of a breakthrough therapy. Requests for breakthrough therapy designation will be reviewed within 60 days of receipt, and the FDA will either grant or deny the request. Breakthrough Therapy designation may be rescinded if the FDA determines the program no longer meets the qualifying criteria for breakthrough therapy.

Fast Track designation, priority review, accelerated approval and Breakthrough Therapy Designation do not change the standards for approval, but may expedite the development or approval process. Even if we receive Fast Track or Breakthrough designations for its product candidates, the FDA may later decide that its product candidates no longer meet the conditions for qualification. In addition, these designations may not provide us with a material commercial advantage.

Post-Approval Requirements

Once an NDA is approved, a product is subject to extensive continuing post-approval requirements.Any drug products manufactured or distributed by us pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse experiences with the drug, providing the FDA with updated safety and efficacy information, drug sampling and distribution requirements, complying with certain electronic records and signature requirements, and complying with FDA promotion and advertising requirements. For example, as a condition of approval of the NDA , the FDA may require post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the product’s safety or efficacy.

Adverse event reporting and submission of periodic reports is required following FDA approval of an NDA. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, known as Phase 4 testing, REMS or other surveillance to monitor the effects of an approved product, or restrictions on the distribution or use of the product. In addition, quality control, drug manufacture, packaging and labeling procedures must continue to conform to cGMP after approval. Drug manufacturers and certain of their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies. Registration with the FDA subjects’ entities to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA, during which the agency inspects manufacturing facilities to assess compliance with cGMP. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the areas of production and quality-control to maintain compliance with cGMP. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks or imposition of distribution or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:

•restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;

•fines, untitled letters, warning letters or clinical holds on post-approval clinical trials;

•refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications, or suspension or revocation of product approvals; and

•product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

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The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Drugs may be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability.

Foreign Regulation

In order to market any product outside of the United States, we would need to comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of other countries and jurisdictions regarding quality, safety and efficacy and governing, among other things, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales and distribution of our products. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product, we would need to obtain the necessary approvals by the comparable foreign regulatory authorities before we can commence clinical trials or marketing of the product in foreign countries and jurisdictions.

Some countries outside of the United States have a similar process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application (CTA), much like the IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In Europe, for example, a CTA must be submitted to a single EU portal for harmonized assessment at EU level with additional ethics review on each country’s national level, much like the FDA and an IRB, respectively. Once the CTA is approved in accordance with a country’s requirements, a clinical trial may proceed in that country. To obtain regulatory approval to commercialize a new drug under European Union regulatory systems, we must submit a marketing authorization application (MAA). The MAA is similar to the NDA, with the exception of, among other things, country-specific document requirements.

Other Healthcare Laws

Although Salarius currently does not have any products on the market, Salarius’ current and future business operations may be subject to additional healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and by authorities in the states and foreign jurisdictions in which Salarius conducts its business. Such laws include, without limitation, state and federal anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, false claims, privacy and security, price reporting and physician sunshine laws. Some of Salarius pre-commercial activities are subject to some of these laws.

Facilities

Our principal executive offices are in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, under a month-to-month lease. Currently, this facility consists of approximately 300 square feet and accommodates our general and administrative activities. We believe that our leased facility is adequate to meet our current needs.

Employees and Human Capital Resources

As of March 3, 2025, we had 2 full-time employees. We have never had a work stoppage, and none of our employees are represented by a labor organization or under any collective bargaining arrangements. We consider our employee relations to be good.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings the outcome of which we believe, if determined adversely to us, would individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.

Corporate Information and Web Site Access to SEC Filings

The Company was initially incorporated as Flex Pharma, Inc. in Delaware in February 2014. In July 2019, we changed our named to Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 2450 Holcombe Blvd., Suite X, Houston, TX 77021. Our website address is www.salariuspharma.com. Information on this website is not a part of this Form 10-K. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed on behalf of directors and executive officers, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The SEC maintains a website

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(www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The risk factors described below, as well as statements described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations”, or in other SEC filings, describe risks that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations, which could also cause the trading price of our equity securities to decline. These risks are not the only risks that we face. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial to our operations.

Risks Related to the Merger

The Merger may be completed even though certain events occur prior to Merger Closing that materially and adversely affect Salarius.

The Merger Agreement provides that either Salarius or Decoy can refuse to complete the Merger if there is a material adverse change affecting the other party between January 10, 2025, the date of the Merger Agreement, and the Merger Closing. However, certain types of changes do not permit either party to refuse to complete the Merger, even if such change could be said to have a material adverse effect on Salarius or Decoy, including:

•general business or economic conditions affecting the industry in which Salarius or Decoy or their subsidiaries, as applicable, operate;

•acts of war, armed hostilities or terrorism, acts of God or comparable events, epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus) or any worsening of the foregoing, or any declaration of martial law, quarantine or similar directive, policy or guidance or law or other action by any governmental body in response thereto;

•changes in financial, banking or securities markets;

•any change in, or any compliance with or action taken for the purpose of complying with, any law or generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (or interpretations of any law or GAAP);

•changes resulting from the announcement of the Merger Agreement or the pendency of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; or

•changes resulting from the taking of any action required to be taken under the Merger Agreement.

If adverse changes occur and Salarius and Decoy still complete the Merger, the market price of the combined company’s common stock may suffer. This in turn may reduce the value of the Merger to the stockholders of Salarius.

The Exchange Ratio set forth in the Merger Agreement is adjustable based on the Parent Cash Amount and the Company Cash Amount, each of which will be impacted by, among other things, unexpected expenses that could be experienced by Salarius or Decoy during the pre-Merger Closing period, which could result in Salarius stockholders owning significantly less of the combined company than currently estimated.

The Exchange Ratio formula in the Merger Agreement is subject to adjustment based on the Parent Cash Amount and Company Cash Amount on the anticipated Merger Closing Date (each as defined in the Merger Agreement). For example, if the Parent Cash Amount is $0 and the Company Cash Amount is $2.0 million, stockholders of Salarius would own approximately 14.1% of the fully diluted common stock, and stockholders of Decoy would own, or hold rights to acquire, approximately 85.9% of Salarius common stock, in each case calculated on a fully-diluted basis for in-the-money options and warrants (and in each case, prior to taking into account any dilution from the Qualified Financing). The calculation of the Exchange Ratio under the Merger Agreement and post-Merger Closing ownership of Salarius stockholders are subject to adjustment based on an assumed value of Salarius at Merger Closing based on the Parent Cash Amount and Company Cash Amount as of the anticipated Merger Closing Date. To the extent the Parent Cash Amount falls below $0, Salarius’ assumed value would be reduced or increased by

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$100,000 for every $100,000 below the threshold. To the extent the Company Cash Amount falls below $2.0 million, Decoy’s assumed value would be reduced by $100,000 for every $100,000 below the threshold.

Based on Salarius’ current estimates, Salarius anticipates delivering a Parent Cash Amount of approximately $0;however, the final Parent Cash Amount will not be calculated until the anticipated Merger Closing Date, and may vary significantly depending on, among other things, Salarius’ ability to control and correctly estimate its operating expenses, and if the amount is significantly less, Salarius stockholders would experience additional dilution, subject to a floor of 10% of the combined company, regardless of the Parent Cash Amount on the anticipated Merger Closing Date. Further, these ownership percentages do not give effect to the shares of Salarius common stock that will be issued to investors in the Qualified Financing prior to the Merger Closing, and do not account for any additional shares of Salarius common stock that may be issued to investors following the effective time of the Merger. As a result, current stockholders of Salarius will own less of the combined company than currently contemplated.

Stockholders of the combined company may not realize a benefit from the Merger commensurate with the ownership dilution they will experience in connection with the Merger and the Qualified Financing.

If the combined company is unable to realize the full strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Merger, Salarius stockholders and Decoy stockholders will have experienced substantial dilution of their ownership interests in their respective companies. The Qualified Financing will cause substantial dilution to Salarius and Decoy stockholders which may result in such stockholders not receiving any commensurate benefit, or only receiving part of the commensurate benefit to the extent the combined company is able to realize only part of the strategic and financial benefits currently anticipated from the Qualified Financing.

During the pendency of the Merger, Salarius may not be able to enter into a business combination with another party at a favorable price because of restrictions in the Merger Agreement, which could adversely affect its business.

Covenants in the Merger Agreement impede the ability of Salarius and Decoy to make acquisitions, subject to certain exceptions relating to fiduciary duties, as set forth below, or to complete other transactions that are not in the ordinary course of business pending completion of the Merger. As a result, if the Merger is not completed, the parties may be at a disadvantage to their competitors during such period. In addition, while the Merger Agreement is in effect, each party is generally prohibited from soliciting, initiating, encouraging or entering into certain extraordinary transactions, such as a merger, sale of assets, or other business combination outside the ordinary course of business with any third party, subject to certain exceptions relating to fiduciary duties. Any such transactions could be favorable to such party’s stockholders.

Certain provisions of the Merger Agreement may discourage third parties from submitting alternative takeover proposals, including proposals that may be superior to the arrangements contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

The terms of the Merger Agreement prohibit each of Salarius and Decoy from soliciting alternative takeover proposals or cooperating with persons making unsolicited takeover proposals, except in limited circumstances when such party’s board of directors determines in good faith that an unsolicited alternative takeover proposal is or is reasonably likely to lead to a superior takeover proposal and that failure to cooperate with the proponent of the proposal would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the applicable board’s fiduciary duties. Any such transactions could be favorable to such party’s stockholders. In addition, if Salarius terminates the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, including terminating because of a decision of Salarius to enter into definitive agreement with respect to a superior offer, Salarius would be required to pay a termination fee of $300,000 to Decoy. This termination fee described above may discourage third parties from submitting alternative takeover proposals to Salarius stockholders.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Salarius is required to recommend that its stockholders approve the conversion of all outstanding shares of its Series A Preferred Stock into shares of its Common Stock. Salarius cannot guarantee that its stockholders will approve this matter, and if they fail to do so its operations may be materially harmed.

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Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Salarius agreed following the consummation of the Merger to use reasonable best efforts to call and hold a meeting of Salarius stockholders to obtain the requisite approval for the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in the Merger into shares of Salarius Common Stock, as required by the Nasdaq listing rules, as soon as practicable after the Merger Closing of the Merger and, if such approval is not obtained at that meeting, to seek to obtain such approval at an annual or special stockholders meeting to be held at least every four months thereafter until such approval is obtained, which would be time-consuming and costly and could significantly negatively affect Salarius’ projected cash position.

Because the lack of a public market for Decoy’s capital stock makes it difficult to evaluate the value of Decoy’s capital stock, the stockholders of Decoy may receive shares of Salarius common stock in the Merger that have a value that is greater than, the fair market value of Decoy’s capital stock.

The outstanding capital stock of Decoy is privately held and is not traded in any public market. The lack of a public market makes it extremely difficult to determine the fair market value of Decoy. Because the percentage of Salarius common stock to be issued to Decoy’s stockholders was determined based on negotiations between the parties, it is possible that Salarius may pay more than the aggregate fair market value for Decoy.

The combined company may become involved in securities class action litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm the combined company’s business and insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all costs and damages.

In the past, securities class action or shareholder derivative litigation often follows certain significant business transactions, such as the sale of a business division or announcement of a merger. The combined company may become involved in this type of litigation in the future. Litigation is often expensive and diverts management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect the combined organization’s business.

The Merger Agreement between Salarius and Decoy may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Merger may not be completed.

The Merger Agreement is subject to a number of conditions which must be fulfilled in order to complete the Merger. Those conditions include, among other things: (i) the lack of a Material Adverse Effect on the respective businesses of Salarius and Decoy; (ii) the continued listing of Salarius’ Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) through the Merger Closing; (iii) the absence of any order, injunction, decree or other legal restraint preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or making the completion of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement illegal; (iv) completion of the Qualified Financing and (v) the accuracy of the respective parties’ representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement (subject to certain customary qualifications) and compliance by Salarius and Decoy with its respective agreements and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement.

These conditions to the Merger Closing may not be fulfilled in a timely manner or at all, and, accordingly, the Merger may not be completed. In addition, the parties can mutually decide to terminate the Merger Agreement at any time, or Salarius or Decoy may elect to terminate the Merger Agreement in certain other circumstances.

Salarius may not be able to effect the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and failure to complete the Merger would negatively impact Salarius’ stock price and materially adversely impact the future business and financial results of the Salarius.

In connection with the Merger Agreement, Salarius has incurred substantial costs planning and negotiating the transaction. These costs include, but are not limited to, costs associated with employing and retaining third-party advisors who performed the financial, auditing, and legal services required before Salarius was able to enter into the Merger Agreement and which will continue as Salarius seeks to complete the transaction. If, for whatever reason, including those set forth above, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement fail to close, Salarius’ will be responsible for these costs, which could adversely affect Salarius liquidity and financial results. In addition, Salarius’ stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not completed.

The market price of Salarius’ common stock following the Merger may decline as a result of the Merger.

The market price of Salarius’ common stock may decline as a result of the Merger for a number of reasons, including if:

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•investors react negatively to the prospects of the combined company’s product candidates, business and financial condition following the Merger;

•the effect of the Merger on the combined company’s business and prospects is not consistent with the expectations of financial or industry analysts; or

•the combined company does not achieve the perceived benefits of the Merger as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial or industry analysts.

Salarius and Decoy securityholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest in, and will exercise less influence over the management of, the combined company following the Merger Closing as compared to their current ownership and voting interest in the respective companies.

If the proposed Merger is completed, the current securityholders of Salarius and Decoy will own a smaller percentage of the combined company than their ownership in their respective companies prior to the Merger. Accordingly, the issuance of shares of Salarius common stock to Decoy’s stockholders in the Merger will reduce significantly the relative voting power of each share of Salarius common stock held by its current stockholders and will reduce the relative voting power of each share of Decoy common stock held by its current stockholders. Consequently, Salarius’ stockholders as a group and Decoy’s stockholders as a group will have less influence over the management and policies of the combined company after the Merger than prior to the Merger.

Consequently, securityholders of both Salarius and Decoy will be able to exercise less influence over the management and policies of the combined company following the Merger Closing than they currently exercise over the management and policies of their respective companies.

The combined company will need to raise additional capital by issuing securities or debt or through licensing or other strategic arrangements, which may cause dilution to the combined company’s stockholders or restrict the combined company's operations or impact its proprietary rights.

The combined company may be required to raise additional funds sooner than currently planned. If either or both of Salarius or Decoy hold less cash at the time of the Merger Closing than the parties currently expect, the combined company will need to raise additional capital sooner than expected. Additional financing may not be available to the combined company when it needs it or may not be available on favorable terms. To the extent that the combined company raises additional capital by issuing equity securities, such an issuance may cause significant dilution to the combined company’s stockholders’ ownership and the terms of any new equity securities may have preferences over the combined company’s common stock. Any debt financing the combined company enters into may involve covenants that restrict its operations. These restrictive covenants may include limitations on additional borrowing and specific restrictions on the use of the combined company’s assets, as well as prohibitions on its ability to create liens, pay dividends, redeem its stock or make investments. In addition, if the combined company raises additional funds through licensing, partnering or other strategic arrangements, it may be necessary to relinquish rights to some of the combined company’s technologies or product candidates and proprietary rights, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to the combined company.

Furthermore, provisions in the agreements for the Qualified Financing may deter or prevent the combined company from raising additional capital to fund the company as and when needed. Restrictive covenants and other provisions in the Qualified Financing documents could deter or prevent the combined company from raising additional capital as and when needed. The combined company’s failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative effect on its financial condition and its ability to develop and commercialize its pipeline and otherwise pursue the combined company’s business strategy and the combined company may be unable to continue as a going concern.

Risks Related to our Financial Position and Capital Needs

If the Merger is not completed, Salarius may not be able to otherwise source adequate liquidity to fund its operations, meet its obligations, and continue as a going concern. Salarius’ board of directors may decide to pursue a dissolution and liquidation of Salarius. In such an event, there can be no assurances as to the amount or timing of available cash left, if any, to distribute to its stockholders after paying its debts and other obligations and setting aside funds for reserves.

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While Salarius has entered into the Merger Agreement with Decoy, the Merger Closing may be delayed or may not occur at all and there can be no assurance that the Merger will deliver the anticipated benefits Salarius expects or enhance stockholder value. If the Merger is not completed and the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, Salarius may be required to pay Decoy a termination fee of $300,000. Even if a termination fee is not payable in connection with a termination of the Merger Agreement, Salarius will have incurred significant fees and expenses, which must be paid whether or not the Merger is completed.

Salarius does not currently have adequate financial resources to fund its forecasted operating costs for at least twelve months from the filing of this report. As of December 31, 2024, Salarius’ cash and cash equivalents totaled $2.4 million, which were held in bank deposit accounts and a money market account. As of December 31, 2024, Salarius has incurred an accumulated deficit of $81.9 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, Salarius reported net losses of $5.5 million. As of December 31, 2024, Salarius’ cash and cash equivalents totaled $2.4 million, which were held in bank deposit accounts and a money market account. As a result, Salarius believes its existing cash resources are sufficient to meet its anticipated needs into the later part of the second quarter of 2025. If for any reason the Merger does not close, Salarius would need to raise additional capital to continue to fund the further development of its product candidates and its operations thereafter. Salarius has based its cash sufficiency estimates on its current business plan and its assumptions may prove to be wrong. Salarius could utilize its available capital resources sooner than it currently expects, and it could need additional funding sooner than currently anticipated. Additionally, the process of advancing early stage product candidates and testing product candidates in clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress in these clinical trials is uncertain. Even if Salarius raises sufficient funds and decides to continue the development of its product candidates, its ability to successfully transition to profitability will be dependent upon achieving a level of product sales adequate to support its cost structure. Salarius cannot assure you that it will ever be profitable or generate positive cash flow from operating activities.

Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms or the failure of the proposed Merger to be consummated in a timely manner would require Salarius to further delay or abandon any potential future clinical development plans. If, for any reason, the Merger does not close, the Salarius board of directors may elect to, among other things, attempt to complete another strategic transaction like the Merger, attempt to sell or otherwise dispose of the various assets of Salarius, resume its research and development activities and continue to operate the business of Salarius. Any of these alternatives would be costly and time-consuming and would require that Salarius obtain additional funding. Salarius expects that it would be difficult to secure financing in a timely manner, on favorable terms or at all. Salarius can make no assurances that it would be able to obtain additional financing or find a partner and close an alternative transaction on terms that are as favorable or more favorable than the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement or that any such alternatives are possible or would be successful, if pursued. To the extent that Salarius seeks and is able to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, Salarius’ stockholders’ ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect their rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting Salarius’ ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If Salarius raises funds through strategic transactions or marketing, distribution, or licensing arrangements with third parties, Salarius may have to relinquish valuable rights to its technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to it. Even if Salarius is able to pursue such alternatives, the failure to complete the Merger may result in negative publicity and/or a negative impression of Salarius in the investment community, could significantly harm the market price of Salarius common stock and may affect Salarius’ relationship with employees and other partners in the business community.

If the Salarius board of directors were to decide to dissolve and liquidate Salarius’ assets, Salarius would be required to pay all of its debts and contractual obligations, and to set aside certain reserves for potential future claims, and there can be no assurances as to the amount or timing of available cash left, if any, to distribute to stockholders after paying its debts and other obligations and setting aside funds for reserves. In addition, Salarius may be subject to litigation or other claims related to a dissolution and liquidation. If a dissolution and liquidation were pursued, the Salarius board of directors, in consultation with its advisors, would need to evaluate these matters and make a determination about a reasonable amount to reserve. Accordingly, Salarius’ stockholders would likely lose all or a significant portion of their investment in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Salarius.

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Salarius does not believe that its current expenses are indicative of the costs it may incur in the future in connection with the development and commercialization of any product candidate if it consummates the Merger or raises additional capital to continue its operations. Salarius’ future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

•its ability to consummate the Merger with Decoy;

•the scope, rate of progress and cost of its preclinical and clinical trials for any product candidate in its future pipeline and results of future clinical trials;

•the cost and timing of regulatory filings and approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;

•the timing and nature of any strategic transactions that Salarius undertakes, including potential partnerships;

•the effect of competing technological and market developments;

•the cost incurred in responding to actions by activist stockholders; and

•the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing its intellectual property rights.

In addition, the amounts available under Salarius’ shelf registration statement on Form S-3 will be significantly limited as long as Salarius’ public float remains below $75 million, which, given its currently depressed stock price, limits its ability to obtain meaningful funding through a shelf registration statement at this time, although Salarius could still raise funds through a registration statement on Form S-1 or through private placements.

As such, there is uncertainty regarding Salarius’ ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to operate its business effectively, which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Salarius’ common stock may be subject to delisting from Nasdaq, which would seriously harm the liquidity of our stock and our ability to raise capital or complete a strategic transaction.

Salarius’ common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). To maintain its listing on Nasdaq, Salarius is required to maintain: (i) a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share; (ii) a market value of publicly held securities of $1 million; (iii) a certain number of round lot stockholders; and (iv) one of the following: a net income from continuing operations (in the latest fiscal year or two of the three last fiscal years) of at least $500,000, a market value of listed securities of at least $35 million or a stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million (the “Stockholders’ Equity Requirement”). Nasdaq has the authority to delist Salarius’ common stock if Salarius fails to maintain these minimum requirements. In addition, Nasdaq may delist Salarius if, based on Nasdaq’s review of Salarius’ operations and pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5101, Nasdaq believes that Salarius is a “public shell” and that the continued listing of its securities is no longer warranted. Salarius has no current plans to delist its shares of common stock from Nasdaq. However, following the decision to close the clinical development of seclidemstat for Ewing sarcoma, Salarius may be treated as a public shell under Nasdaq rules. Although Nasdaq evaluates whether a listed company is a public shell company based on a facts and circumstances determination, a Nasdaq-listed company with no or nominal operations and either no or nominal assets, assets consisting solely of cash and cash equivalents, or assets consisting of any amount of cash and cash equivalents and nominal other assets is generally considered to be a public shell company. Listed companies determined to be public shell companies by Nasdaq may be subject to delisting proceedings or additional and more stringent listing criteria.

On August 9, 2024, Salarius reported in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that as of June 30, 2024, its stockholders’ equity was approximately $2.3 million. As further disclosed in that Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, subsequent to June 30, 2024, Salarius sold 564,730 shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $1.5 million pursuant to that certain At the Market Offering Agreement, dated as of February 5, 2021, with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (the “ATM Financing Transaction”). On August 13, 2024, Salarius reported via Current Report on Form 8-K that Salarius regained compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement after giving effect to the ATM Financing Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Nasdaq indicated that it would continue to monitor Salarius’ ongoing compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement and, if at the time of a future periodic report Salarius does not evidence compliance, Salarius’ common stock may be subject to delisting.

As of December 31, 2024, we had (i) a total stockholders’ equity of approximately $1.5 million, (ii) we have not had net income in any period during this fiscal year or either of the two last fiscal years and (iii) the market value of our

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listed securities is below $35 million. As a result, Salarius is not in compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement and expects to receive a delisting notice from Nasdaq.

In addition, as of March 19, 2025, the closing price of Salarius’ common stock was $0.8615 per share. If Salarius’ common stock trades for thirty consecutive business days below the $1.00 minimum closing bid price requirement, Nasdaq will send a delisting determination to the company. If the delisting determination is sent within one year of Salarius’ most recent reverse stock split in June 2024, then Salarius will not be eligible for any compliance period to address the minimum bid price deficiency and will be subject to immediate delisting. Under these circumstances, Salarius can appeal the delisting determination to a Hearings Panel, during which time any suspension or delisting action will be stayed.

Salarius is actively monitoring the market value of its publicly held securities, its stockholders’ equity and trading prices and will consider any and all options available to it to maintain compliance. There can be no assurance, however, that Salarius will be able to maintain compliance and meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements.

If Salarius’ common stock is delisted from Nasdaq, whether because Nasdaq determines Salarius is a “public shell” or Salarius fails to maintain compliance with the continued listed requirements, or otherwise, Salarius’ securities may qualify for trading over-the-counter (“OTC”), in the United States on a market colloquially referred to as the “Pink Sheets.” Securities quoted on OTC are generally subject to lesser requirements than securities listed for trading on a U.S. national stock exchange, such as Nasdaq, including reduced corporate governance and public reporting standards. If Nasdaq should delist Salarius’ common stock from trading, a reduction in some or all of the following may occur, each of which could have a material adverse effect on holders of Salarius’ common stock: the liquidity of the common stock; the market price of the common stock; the number of institutional and general investors that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of investors in general that will consider investing in the common stock; the number of market makers in the common stock; the availability of information concerning the trading prices and volume of the common stock; and the number of broker-dealers willing to execute trades in the common stock. In addition to the foregoing, there are certain consequences under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of being a public shell company, including the unavailability of Rule 144 thereunder for the resale of restricted securities and the inability to utilize Form S-8 for the registration of employee benefit plan securities.

In addition, if we cease to be eligible to trade on Nasdaq, we may have to pursue trading on a less recognized or accepted market, such as the over the counter markets, our stock may be traded as a “penny stock” which would make transactions in our stock more difficult and cumbersome, and we may be unable to access capital on favorable terms or at all, as companies trading on alternative markets may be viewed as less attractive investments with higher associated risks, such that existing or prospective institutional investors may be less interested in, or prohibited from, investing in our common stock. This may also cause the market price of our common stock to further decline.

Salarius is substantially dependent on its remaining employees and consultants to facilitate the consummation of the Merger.

As of March 12, 2025, Salarius had only two full-time employees and one consultant acting as Salarius’ Chief Executive Officer. Salarius’ ability to successfully complete the Merger depends in large part on its ability to retain certain remaining personnel. Despite Salarius’ efforts to retain these employees, one or more may terminate their employment or consulting arrangement with Salarius on short notice. The loss of the services of certain employees could potentially harm Salarius’ ability to consummate the Merger, to run its day-to-day business operations, as well as to fulfill its reporting obligations as a public company.

The pendency of the Merger could have an adverse effect on the trading price of Salarius’ common stock and its business, financial condition and prospects.

The pendency of the Merger could disrupt Salarius’ business in many ways, including:

•the attention of its remaining management and employees may be directed toward the completion of the Merger and related matters and may be diverted from Salarius’ day-to-day business operations; and

•third parties may seek to terminate or renegotiate their relationships with Salarius as a result of the Merger, whether pursuant to the terms of their existing agreements with Salarius or otherwise.

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Should they occur, any of these matters could adversely affect the trading price of Salarius’ common stock or harm its business, financial condition and prospects.

Salarius has never generated any revenue from product sales and may never generate revenue or be profitable.

Salarius has no products approved for commercialization and has never generated any revenue. Salarius’ ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on Salarius’ ability, alone or with strategic collaborators, to successfully complete the development of, and obtain the regulatory and marketing approvals necessary to commercialize one or more of its product candidates. Salarius does not anticipate generating revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future. Salarius’ ability to generate future revenue from product sales depends heavily on Salarius’ success in many areas, including but not limited to:

•completing research and development of its product candidates;

•obtaining regulatory and marketing approvals for its product candidates;

•manufacturing product candidates and establishing and maintaining supply and manufacturing relationships with third parties that are commercially feasible, meet regulatory requirements and supply needs in sufficient quantities to meet market demand for Salarius’ product candidates, if approved;

•marketing, launching and commercializing product candidates for which Salarius obtains regulatory and marketing approval, either directly or with a collaborator or distributor;

•gaining market acceptance of Salarius’ product candidates as treatment options;

•addressing any competing products;

•protecting and enforcing Salarius’ intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, and know-how;

•negotiating favorable terms in any collaboration, licensing, or other arrangements into which Salarius may enter;

•obtaining reimbursement or pricing for Salarius’ product candidates that supports profitability; and

•attracting, hiring, and retaining qualified personnel.

Even if one or more of the product candidates that Salarius develops is approved for commercial sale, Salarius would need to incur significant costs associated with commercializing any approved product candidate. Portions of Salarius’ current pipeline of product candidates have been in-licensed from third parties, which make the commercial sale of such in-licensed products potentially subject to additional royalty and milestone payments to such third parties. Salarius will also have to develop, contract for or acquire manufacturing capabilities to continue development and potential commercialization of Salarius’ product candidates. Salarius will need to develop or procure its drug product in a commercially feasible manner in order to successfully commercialize any future approved product, if any. Additionally, if Salarius is not able to generate revenue from the sale of any approved products, Salarius may never become profitable.

Risks Related to the Development of Salarius’ Product Candidates

The approach Salarius has taken to discover and develop novel oncology therapeutics using epigenetic enzymes to moderate transcription factors and thereby control abnormal protein expression is unproven and may never lead to marketable products.

The scientific discoveries that have formed the basis for Salarius’ efforts to discover and develop Salarius’ product candidates are relatively recent. The scientific evidence to support the feasibility of developing drugs based on these discoveries is both preliminary and limited. The successful development of therapeutic products will require solving a number of issues. In addition, any product candidates that Salarius decides to develop further may not demonstrate in patients the chemical and pharmacological properties ascribed to them in laboratory and pre-clinical trials, and they may interact with human biological systems in unforeseen, ineffective or even harmful ways. For instance, Salarius’ clinical and pre-clinical data to date is not validated and Salarius has no way of knowing if after validation Salarius’ clinical trial data will be complete and consistent. If Salarius does not successfully develop and commercialize product candidates based upon this technological approach, Salarius may not become profitable and the value of Salarius’ capital stock may further decline.

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Further, Salarius’ focus on epigenetic enzyme technology for developing product candidates as opposed to multiple, more proven technologies for drug development has increased the risk associated with Salarius’ business. Salarius is not able to identify and successfully implement an alternative product development strategy due to Salarius’ previous investments in current product candidates. In addition, work by other companies pursuing similar technologies may encounter setbacks and difficulties that regulators and investors may attribute to Salarius’ product candidates, whether appropriate or not.

Clinical trials are costly, time consuming and inherently risky, and may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.

Clinical development is expensive, time consuming and involves significant risk. If Salarius decides to move forward with Salarius’ clinical trials, Salarius cannot guarantee that they will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. Salarius currently does not have the funds to advance Salarius’ planned clinical trials. A failure of one or more of these clinical trials can occur at any stage of development.

Salarius’ product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial viability of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.

Undesirable side effects caused by Salarius’ product candidates could cause Salarius, an IRB or ethics committee, or regulatory authorities to continue the clinical hold status, interrupt, delay, or terminate clinical trials or even if approved, result in a restrictive label or delay regulatory approval by the FDA or comparable foreign authorities and potential product liability claims.

Product development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier pre-clinical and clinical trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results.

Clinical testing is expensive and generally takes many years to complete, and the outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of pre-clinical trials and early clinical trials of Salarius’ product candidates may not be predictive of the results of larger, later-stage controlled clinical trials. Product candidates that have shown promising results in early-stage clinical trials may still suffer significant setbacks in subsequent clinical trials. Salarius’ clinical trials to date have been conducted on a small number of patients in limited numbers of clinical sites for a limited number of indications. Moreover, clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses. Salarius cannot assure whether any clinical trials Salarius or The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MDACC”) may conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety with respect to the proposed indication for use sufficient to receive regulatory approval or market Salarius’ drug candidates.

Difficulty in enrolling patients is a common hurdle faced by early stage biotechnology companies and could, and often does, delay or prevent clinical trials of product candidates.

Identifying and qualifying patients to participate in clinical trials of Salarius’ product candidates is essential to Salarius’ existence. The timing of Salarius’ clinical trials depends in part on the rate at which Salarius or investigators can recruit patients to participate in clinical trials of Salarius’ product candidates, and Salarius and Salarius’ investigators may experience delays in Salarius’ clinical trials if Salarius or they encounter difficulties in enrollment.

Salarius may face potential product liability, and, if successful claims are brought against Salarius, Salarius may incur substantial liability and costs which could be greater than Salarius’ insurance coverage or overall resources.

If the use or misuse of Salarius’ product candidates harms patients, or is perceived to harm patients even when such harm is unrelated to Salarius’ product candidates, Salarius’ regulatory approvals, if any, could be revoked or otherwise negatively impacted and Salarius could be subject to costly and damaging product liability claims. If Salarius is unable to obtain adequate insurance or are required to pay for liabilities resulting from a claim excluded from, or beyond the limits of, Salarius’ insurance coverage, a material liability claim could adversely affect Salarius’ financial condition.

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The use or misuse of Salarius’ product candidates in clinical trials and the sale of any products for which Salarius may obtain marketing approval exposes Salarius to the risk of potential product liability claims. Product liability claims might be brought against Salarius by consumers, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling or otherwise coming into contact with Salarius’ product candidates and approved products, if any. There is a risk that Salarius’ product candidates may induce AEs.

Risks Related to Regulatory Approval of Salarius’ Product Candidates and Other Legal Compliance Matters

Even if FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation for one or more of Salarius’ product candidates, the designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and it does not increase the likelihood that Salarius’ product candidates will receive marketing approval, and FDA may rescind the designation if it determines the product candidate no longer meets the qualifying criteria for breakthrough therapy.

Salarius may seek a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for some of Salarius’ product candidates that reach the regulatory review process. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug or biological product that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug or biological product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. For drugs or biological products that have been designated as breakthrough therapies, interaction and communication between the FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens. Drugs designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA could also be eligible for accelerated approval.

Designation as a breakthrough therapy is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if Salarius believes one of Salarius’ product candidates meets the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation.

The receipt of a breakthrough therapy designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to drugs considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if one or more of Salarius’ product candidates qualify and are designated as breakthrough therapies, the FDA may later decide that the drugs or biological products no longer meet the conditions for designation and the designation may be rescinded.

Salarius has received fast track designation for SP-2577 as a potential treatment for a rare pediatric disease in Ewing’s Sarcoma, but such designation may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process. Additionally, FDA may rescind the designation if it determines the product candidate no longer meets the qualifying criteria for fast track.

If a product candidate is intended for the treatment of a serious condition and nonclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical need for this condition, a product sponsor may apply for FDA fast track designation. Salarius received fast track designation for SP-2577 as a potential treatment for a rare pediatric disease in Ewing’s Sarcoma. However, fast track designation does not ensure that Salarius will receive marketing approval or that approval will be granted within any particular time frame. Salarius may not experience a faster development or regulatory review or approval process with fast track designation compared to conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA may withdraw fast track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from Salarius’ clinical development program. Fast track designation alone does not guarantee qualification for the FDA’s priority review procedures.

Salarius cannot guarantee how long it will take regulatory agencies to review Salarius’ applications for product candidates, and Salarius may fail to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to market Salarius’ product candidates. If Salarius is not able to obtain required regulatory approvals, Salarius will not be able to commercialize Salarius’ product candidates and Salarius’ ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.

Salarius’ product candidates and the activities associated with their development and commercialization, including their design, research, testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, recordkeeping, labeling, packaging, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution, are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other

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regulatory agencies in the United States and foreign jurisdictions. Failure to obtain marketing approval for Salarius’ product candidates will prevent Salarius from commercializing them in those markets.

Salarius has not received approval from regulatory authorities to market any product candidate in any jurisdiction, and it is possible that neither Salarius’ current product candidates nor any product candidates that Salarius may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals necessary for Salarius to commence product sales.

Reliance on government funding for Salarius’ programs may add uncertainty to Salarius’ research and commercialization efforts with respect to those programs that are tied to such funding and may impose requirements that limit Salarius’ ability to take specified actions, increase the costs of commercialization and production of product candidates developed under those programs and subject Salarius to potential financial penalties, which could materially and adversely affect Salarius’ business, financial condition and results of operations.

During the course of Salarius’ development of Salarius’ product candidates, Salarius has been funded in part through federal and state grants, including but not limited to the funding Salarius received from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (“CPRIT”). If Salarius does not comply with the terms of the grant, CPRIT may require Salarius to repay some or all of the disbursed grant.

Risks Related to Salarius’ Intellectual Property

Salarius may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to Salarius’ targets, product compounds and processes for Salarius’ development pipeline through acquisitions and in-licenses.

Presently, Salarius has rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patents and patent applications that Salarius owns, to modulate only a subset of the known epigenetic enzyme targets. Because Salarius’ programs may involve a range of targets, including targets that require the use of proprietary rights held by third parties, the growth of Salarius’ business may depend in part on Salarius’ ability to acquire, in-license or use these proprietary rights. In addition, Salarius’ product candidates may require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently and these rights may be held by others. Salarius may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that Salarius identify. The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and a number of more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that Salarius may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over Salarius due to their size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities.

For example, Salarius has previously collaborated with academic institutions worldwide to accelerate Salarius’ pre-clinical and clinical research or development under written agreements with these institutions. Typically, these institutions provide an option to negotiate a license to any of the institution’s rights in technology resulting from the collaboration. Regardless of such right of first negotiation for intellectual property, Salarius may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified time frame or under terms that are acceptable to Salarius. If Salarius is unable to do so, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to other parties, potentially blocking Salarius’ ability to pursue its program.

In addition, companies that perceive Salarius to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to Salarius. Salarius also may be unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow Salarius to make an appropriate return on Salarius’ investment. If Salarius is unable to successfully obtain rights to third-party intellectual property rights, Salarius’ business, financial condition and prospects for growth could suffer.

Salarius intends to rely on patent rights for Salarius’ product candidates and any future product candidates. If Salarius is unable to obtain or maintain exclusivity from the combination of these approaches, Salarius may not be able to compete effectively in Salarius’ markets.

Salarius relies or will rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection, and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property related to Salarius’ technologies and product candidates. Salarius’ success depends in large part on Salarius’ and its licensors’ ability to obtain regulatory exclusivity and maintain patent and other

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intellectual property protection in the United States and in other countries with respect to Salarius’ proprietary technology and products.

Salarius has sought to protect Salarius’ proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and abroad related to Salarius’ product candidates that are important to Salarius’ business. This process is expensive and time consuming, and Salarius may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that Salarius will fail to identify patentable aspects of Salarius’ research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection.

The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions for which legal principles remain unsolved. The patent applications that Salarius owns or in-licenses may fail to result in issued patents with claims that cover Salarius’ product candidates in the United States or in other foreign countries. There is no assurance that all potentially relevant prior art relating to Salarius’ patents and patent applications has been found, which can invalidate a patent or prevent a patent from issuing from a pending patent application. Even if patents do successfully issue, and even if such patents cover Salarius’ product candidates, third parties may challenge their validity, enforceability, or scope, which may result in such patents being narrowed, found unenforceable or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, Salarius’ patents and patent applications may not adequately protect Salarius’ intellectual property, provide exclusivity for Salarius’ product candidates, or prevent others from designing around Salarius’ claims. Any of these outcomes could impair Salarius’ ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on Salarius’ business.

Salarius, independently or together with Salarius’ licensors, have filed several patent applications covering various aspects of Salarius’ product candidates. Salarius cannot offer any assurances about which, if any, patents will issue, the breadth of any such patent or whether any issued patents will be found invalid and unenforceable or will be threatened by third parties. Any successful opposition to these patents or any other patents owned by or licensed to Salarius after patent issuance could deprive Salarius of rights necessary for the successful commercialization of any product candidates that Salarius may develop. Further, if Salarius encounters delays in regulatory approvals, the period of time during which Salarius could market a product candidate under patent protection could be reduced.

If Salarius cannot obtain and maintain effective protection of exclusivity from Salarius’ regulatory efforts and intellectual property rights, including patent protection or data exclusivity, for Salarius’ product candidates, Salarius may not be able to compete effectively and Salarius’ business and results of operations would be harmed.

Salarius may not have sufficient patent term protections for Salarius’ product candidates to effectively protect Salarius’ business.

Patents have a limited term. In the United States, the statutory expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after it is filed. Although various extensions may be available, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering Salarius’ product candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product candidate, Salarius may be open to competition from generic medications. In addition, upon issuance in the United States any patent term can be adjusted based on specified delays caused by the applicant(s) or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”).

Depending on the timing, duration, and conditions of FDA marketing approval of Salarius’ product candidates, one or more of Salarius’ United States patents may be eligible for patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Act. Patent term extensions under the Hatch-Waxman Act in the United States and under supplementary protection certificates in Europe may be available to extend the patent or data exclusivity terms of Salarius’ product candidates. Salarius will likely rely on patent term extensions, and Salarius cannot provide any assurances that any such patent term extensions will be obtained and, if so, for how long. However, Salarius may not receive an extension if Salarius fails to apply within applicable deadlines, fail to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise fail to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the length of the extension could be less than Salarius requests. If Salarius is unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than Salarius requests, the period during which Salarius can enforce Salarius’ patent rights for that product may not extend beyond the current patent expiration dates and competitors may obtain approval to market competing products sooner. As a result, Salarius may not be able to maintain exclusivity for Salarius’ product candidates for an extended period after regulatory approval, if any, which would negatively impact Salarius’ business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If Salarius does not have sufficient patent terms or regulatory

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exclusivity to protect Salarius’ product candidates, Salarius’ business and results of operations will be adversely affected.

Changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing Salarius’ ability to protect Salarius’ products, and recent patent reform legislation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of Salarius’ patent applications and the enforcement or defense of Salarius’ issued patents.

As is the case with other biotechnology companies, Salarius’ success is heavily dependent on patents and the ability to enforce and protect these patients. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biotechnology industry involve both technological and legal complexity, and is therefore costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. In addition, the United States has recently enacted and is currently implementing wide-ranging patent reform legislation. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in specified circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in specified situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to Salarius’ ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken Salarius’ ability to obtain new patents or to enforce Salarius’ existing patents and patents that Salarius might obtain in the future. Some of Salarius’ patent claims may be affected by the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. In Myriad, the Supreme Court held that unmodified isolated fragments of genomic sequences, such as the DNA constituting the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, are not eligible for patent protection because they constitute a product of nature. The exact boundaries of the Supreme Court’s decision remain unclear as the Supreme Court did not address other types of nucleic acids.

If Salarius is unable to maintain effective proprietary rights for Salarius’ product candidates or any future product candidates, Salarius may not be able to compete effectively in Salarius’ proposed markets.

In addition to the protection afforded by patents, Salarius relies on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know-how that is not patentable or that Salarius elects not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of Salarius’ product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. Salarius seek to protect Salarius’ proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with Salarius’ employees, consultants, scientific advisors, and contractors. Salarius also seeks to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of Salarius’ data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of Salarius’ premises and physical and electronic security of Salarius’ information technology systems. While Salarius has confidence in these individuals, organizations and systems, agreements or security measures may be breached, and Salarius may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, Salarius’ trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors.

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay Salarius’ development and commercialization efforts.

Salarius’ commercial success depends in part on Salarius’ ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell Salarius’ product candidates and use Salarius’ proprietary technology without infringing the patent rights of third parties.

Numerous third-party U.S. and non-U.S. issued patents and pending applications exist in the area of epigenetic enzyme inhibitors and related technologies. Salarius is aware of U.S. and foreign patents and pending patent applications owned by third parties that cover therapeutic uses of epigenetic inhibitors. Salarius is currently monitoring these patents and patent applications. Salarius may in the future pursue available proceedings in the U.S. and foreign patent offices to challenge the validity of these patents and patent applications. In addition, or alternatively, Salarius may consider whether to seek to negotiate a license of rights to technology covered by one or more of such patents and patent applications. If any patents or patent applications cover Salarius’ product candidates or technologies, Salarius may not be free to manufacture or market Salarius’ product candidates, as planned, absent such a license, which may not be available to Salarius on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

Salarius may not be successful in meeting Salarius’ obligations under Salarius’ existing license agreements necessary to maintain Salarius’ product candidate licenses in effect. In addition, if required in order to commercialize Salarius’ product candidates, Salarius may be unsuccessful in obtaining or maintaining necessary rights to Salarius’ product candidates through acquisitions and in-licenses.

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Salarius currently has rights to the intellectual property, through licenses from third parties and under patents that Salarius does not own, to develop and commercialize Salarius’ product candidates. Because Salarius’ programs may require the use of proprietary rights held by third parties, the growth of Salarius’ business will likely depend in part on Salarius’ ability to maintain in effect these proprietary rights. Any termination of license agreements with third parties with respect to Salarius’ product candidates would be expected to negatively impact Salarius’ business prospects.

Salarius may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes, or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that Salarius identifies as necessary for Salarius’ product candidates.

If Salarius fails to comply with obligations in the agreements under which Salarius licenses intellectual property and other rights from third parties or otherwise experience disruptions to Salarius’ business relationships with Salarius’ licensors, Salarius could lose license rights that are important to Salarius’ business.

Salarius is a party to intellectual property licenses and supply agreements that are important to Salarius’ business and may enter into additional license agreements in the future. Salarius’ existing agreements impose, and Salarius expects that future license agreements will impose on Salarius, various diligence, milestone payment, royalty, purchasing, and other obligations. If Salarius fails to comply with Salarius’ obligations under these agreements, or Salarius is subject to a bankruptcy, Salarius’ agreements may be subject to termination by the licensor, in which event Salarius would not be able to develop, manufacture, or market products covered by the license or subject to supply commitments.

Salarius may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce Salarius’ patents or the patents of Salarius’ licensors, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.

Competitors may infringe Salarius’ patents or the patents of Salarius’ licensors. If Salarius or one of Salarius’ licensing partners were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of Salarius’ product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering Salarius’ product candidate is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, written description, clarity or non- enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable.

Salarius may not be able to protect Salarius’ intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting, and defending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and Salarius’ intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Competitors may use Salarius’ technologies in jurisdictions where Salarius has not obtained patent protection to develop Salarius’ own products and may also export infringing products to territories where Salarius has patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with Salarius’ products and Salarius’ patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Risks Related to Salarius’ Reliance on Third Parties

Salarius relies on or will rely on third parties to conduct Salarius’ clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully perform and comply with regulatory requirements, Salarius may not be able to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval or eventually commercialize Salarius’ product candidates and Salarius’ business could be substantially harmed.

Salarius has relied upon and plan to continue to rely upon third-parties such as contract research organizations (“CROs”), hospitals and clinical investigators to study Salarius’ product candidates in clinical trials. For example, Salarius has collaborated with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MDACC”) to study SP-2577 in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic

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myelomonocytic leukemia . Salarius relies on these parties for the execution of clinical trials and Salarius only manages and controls some aspects of their activities. With respect to the MDACC sponsored investigator initiated trial, Salarius supplies seclidemstat in quantities required to conduct the clinical trial, but does not have any control over their development activities or the timing thereof. Salarius remains responsible for ensuring that each of Salarius’ trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory, and scientific standards and Salarius’ reliance on these third parties does not relieve Salarius of its regulatory responsibilities. In July 2024, the FDA placed the trial on partial clinical hold following a serious and unexpected grade 4 adverse event encephalopathy, which was reversible. In February 2025, Salarius announced that MDACC had addressed the FDA’s questions and the partial clinical hold had been lifted, with patient enrollment resuming in the trial.

Salarius expects to rely on third parties to manufacture Salarius’ clinical product supplies, and Salarius intends to rely on third parties to produce and process Salarius’ product candidates, if approved, and Salarius’ commercialization of any of Salarius’ product candidates could be stopped, delayed or made less profitable if those third parties fail to obtain approval of government regulators, fail to comply with applicable regulations, fail to provide Salarius with sufficient quantities of drug product, or fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices.

Salarius does not currently have nor does Salarius currently plan to develop the infrastructure or capability internally to manufacture Salarius’ clinical supplies for use in the conduct of Salarius’ clinical trials, and Salarius lacks the resources and the capability to manufacture any of Salarius’ product candidates on a clinical or commercial scale. Salarius currently relies on outside vendors to manufacture the clinical supplies of Salarius’ product candidates. Salarius plans to continue relying on third parties to manufacture Salarius’ product candidates on a commercial scale, if approved.

Salarius does not yet have sufficient information to reliably estimate the cost of the commercial manufacturing of Salarius’ product candidates and Salarius’ current costs to manufacture Salarius’ drug products is not commercially feasible, and the actual cost to manufacture Salarius’ product candidates could materially and adversely affect the commercial viability of Salarius’ product candidates. As a result, Salarius may never be able to develop a commercially viable product.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Future sales of a significant number of our shares of common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our shares of our common stock or cause our stock price to decline.

Sales of a substantial number of our shares of common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, including from the exercise of warrants or sales of common stock issuable thereunder, could cause the market price of our shares of common stock to decline and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the number of these shares that might be sold nor the effect that future sales of our shares of common stock, including shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants, would have on the market price of our shares of common stock.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and any return to investors is expected to come, if at all, only from potential increases in the price of our common stock.

At the present time, we intend to use available funds to finance our operations. Accordingly, while payment of dividends rests within the discretion of our board of directors, we have no intention of paying any such dividends in the foreseeable future. Any return to investors is expected to come, if at all, only from potential increases in the price of our common stock.

General Risk Factors

Failure in our information technology and storage systems could significantly disrupt the operation of our business and/or lead to potential large liabilities.

Our ability to execute our business plan and maintain operations depends on the continued and uninterrupted performance of our information technology systems. Information technology systems are vulnerable to risks and damages from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and

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natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our and our vendors’ servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, including cyber-attacks, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. These events could lead to the unauthorized access, disclosure and use of non-public information which in turn could lead to operational difficulties and liabilities.