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OGEN US Equity

Oragenics IncHealth Care · Pharmaceutical Preparations · CIK 1174940 · FY ends Dec 31
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-0.02 (-2.89%)
USD · as of 2026-08-19 · marketstack

OGEN · 10-K · period ended 2023-12-31

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filed 2024-03-29 · EDGAR original ↗

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 26

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 69

ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY 69

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 69

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 69

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 69

PART II

ITEM 6. RESERVED 70

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 83

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 83

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 83

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION 85

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS 85

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 86

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 90

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 106

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 107

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM F-2

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM F-3

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS F-4

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS F-5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY F-6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS F-7

CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-8

FORWARD

LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS

This

report, along with other documents that are publicly disseminated by us, contains or might contain forward-looking statements within

the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements included in this report

and in any subsequent filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) other than statements of

historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management expect, believe or anticipate will or may

occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements represent our reasonable judgment on the future based on various

factors and using numerous assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our

actual results and financial position to differ materially. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements

provided in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.

Examples of forward-looking statements include: (i) projections of revenue, earnings, capital structure and other financial items, (ii)

statements of our plans and objectives, (iii) statements of expected future economic performance, and (iv) assumptions underlying statements

regarding us or our business. Forward-looking statements can be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking language,

such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,”

“could,” “seeks,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “scheduled to”

or the negatives of those terms, or other variations of those terms or comparable language, or by discussions of strategy or other intentions.

Forward-looking

statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially

from those contemplated by the statements. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous

assumptions. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements include

the following risks and other factors discussed under the Item 1A “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These

factors include:

● The timing, progress and results of clinical trials of our product candidates;

● Our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates;

i

● Our ability to identify, recruit and retain key personnel and consultants;

● The safety, efficacy, and benefits of our product candidates;

We

caution investors that actual results or business conditions may differ materially from those projected or suggested in forward-looking

statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to, those described above and in the Risk Factors section of this

report. We cannot assure you that we have identified all the factors that create uncertainties. Moreover, new risks emerge from time

to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all risks on our business or

the extent to which any risk, or combination of risks, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking

statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake

no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after

the date they are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ii

PART

I

ITEM

1. BUSINESS.

This

description contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially

from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain of the risks set forth herein. We assume no obligation

to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

Overview

We

are a development-stage company dedicated to the research and development of nasal delivery pharmaceutical medications in neurology and

fighting infectious diseases. Our lead product ONP-002 is a fully synthetic, non-naturally occurring neurosteroid, is lipophilic, and

can cross the blood-brain barrier to rapidly reduce swelling, oxidative stress and inflammation while restoring proper blood flow through

gene amplification.

Our

ONP-002 Neurology Asset for Brain Related Illness and Injury

Following

our December 2023 acquisition of certain assets from Odyssey Health, Inc. (“Odyssey”) related to the segment of Odyssey’s

business focused on developing medical products that treat brain related illnesses and diseases (the “Neurology Assets”)

our lead product and focus is on the development and commercialization of ONP-002 for the treatment of mild traumatic brain injury (“mTBI”

or “Concussion”).

ONP-002

to date has been shown to be stable up to 104 degrees for 18-months. The drug candidate is spray-dry manufactured into a powder and filled

into the novel intranasal device. The drug is then administered through the nasal passage from the device. The novel intranasal device

is lightweight and easy to use in the field.

We believe the

proprietary powder formulation and intranasal administration allows for rapid and direct accessibility to the brain. The device is breath

propelled and we expect it to allow patients to blow into the device which closes the soft palate in the back of the nasopharynx,

preventing the flow of drug to the lungs or esophagus, minimizes system exposure and side effects, and easily crosses the blood brain

barrier. This mechanism traps ONP-002 in the nasal cavity allowing for more abundant and faster drug availability in the traumatized

brain.

Expected

ONP-002 Product Development Timeline:

Pre-clinical Animal Studies Phase 1 Phase 2a Phase 2b Phase 3

This

product development plan is an estimate and is subject to change based on funding, technical risks and regulatory approvals.

Validation

and Stability of ONP-002

A

Certificate of Analysis (“COA”) was issued by the manufacturer

of the drug, indicating that testing methods were standard and include appearance, identification by 1H NMR, identification by Mass Spectroscopy

(MS), optical purity by HPLC, residual solvent analysis, elemental impurities, percent water, and residue on ignition. The manufacturer

has shown both the specifications and the results, indicating that the material supplied passes all criteria. ONP-002 is supplied in pure

form. As such, no excipients are present. Stability studies were performed by storing samples under carefully controlled conditions with

respect to temperature and humidity. The stability testing protocol included storage at 25 °C± 2 °C at 60% relative humidity

± 5% relative humidity for 24 months and 40 °C± 2 °C at 75% relative humidity ± 5% for 18 months. Samples

were pulled at the scheduled time and analyzed for appearance, purity, assay, optical purity, and water content. No changes in ONP-002

were seen.

Intellectual

Property

Patents

on ONP-002 have been filed and/or issued and a patent has been filed on the nasal delivery device as follows:

● New chemical entity IP filing– USPTO pending, approved Europe and Canada

○ Patent expiration with max patent term extension – 9/17/2040

○ Patent expiration with no patent term extension – 9/17/2035

● Method of intranasal delivery and device components – USPTO pending

ONP-002

Pre-Clinical Trials

The

drug has completed toxicology studies in rats and dogs. Those studies show that ONP-002 has a large safety margin of its predicted efficacious

dose. In preclinical animal studies, the drug demonstrated rapid and broad biodistribution throughout the brain while simultaneously

reducing swelling, inflammation, and oxidative stress, along with an excellent safety profile.

Results

from the preclinical studies suggest that ONP-002 has an equivalent, and potentially superior, neuroprotective effect compared to related

neurosteroids. The animals treated with the drug post-concussion showed positive behavioral outcomes using various testing platforms

including improved memory and sensory-motor performance, and reduced depression/anxiety like behavior.

ONP-002

Induction of PXR

The

induction of the human CYP450 enzymes, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 by ONP-002, as measured by mRNA expression, was tested in human hepatocytes

from 3 donors at 3 concentrations: 1 μM, 10 μM and 100 μM.. Results reflected that ONP-002 through the known PXR-mechanism produced

a modest induction of CYP3A4, up to 17% of the positive control, and a greater induction of CYP2B6, of up to 59% of the positive control,

both at a concentration of 100 μM. Past data reflected that ONP-001 (ent-Progesterone) and Progesterone induce the PXR receptor. Receptor

binding studies have been performed showing neither ONP-001 or -002 activate the classical Progesterone Receptor.

ONP-002

Animal Studies

All

surgical animals (male Sprague-Dawley rats approx. 250 grams) were anesthetized with an initial isoflurane induction for 4 min-the minimum

time necessary to sedate the animal. The scalp was shaved and cleaned with isopropanol and betadine. During the stereotaxic surgery,

anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. A medial incision was made, and the scalp was pulled back over the medial frontal cortex.

A 6-mm diameter craniotomy was performed exposing the brain tissue. An electrically controlled injury device using a 5 mm metal impactor

was positioned over the exposed brain. An impact speed of 1.6 m/s at a 90-degree angle from vertical was used to produce an open head

injury at a depth of 1mm to create a milder TBI. All treatments were given intranasal (IN) as a liquid solution with a micro atomizer.

Vehicle for all administrations was 22.5% Hydroxy-Propyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD).

Molecular

Studies - Brain tissue was taken from the penumbral region of injury.

Cerebral

Edema

In

Figure 2, we show that ONP-002 reduces swelling in rats compared to vehicle-treated at 24-hrs after brain injury by measure of brain

water content through speed-vacuum dehydration and tissue weight comparisons. ONP-002-treated (4mg/kg) and vehicle-treated were compared

to sham which was set at zero. Local edema can occur after mTBI. Severe cerebral edema is associated with poor outcomes including increased

mortality after mTBI with Second Impact Syndrome (2). *Denotes significance at p<0.05, n=6

Figure

2

Inflammation

mTBI

causes vascular and neuronal stress. Microglia and reactive astrocytes infiltrate the areas of injury and release inflammatory mediators,

like TNF-alpha. We show that ONP-002 (4mg/kg) reduces TNF-alpha-mediated neuroinflammation in brain tissue of rats compared to vehicle

at 24-hrs after mTBI (ELISA).

Pharmacokinetics

and Safety of IN ONP-002 in Dog

This

pivotal GLP 14-day study used repeat dosing of ONP-002, 3X a day, approximately 4 hours apart, for 14 consecutive days at concentrations

of 0, 3, 10 or 23 mg/mL at a volume of 1 mL/nostril to beagle dogs (both nostrils had drug administered). The IN treatment was given

as a liquid solution using a micro atomizer using 22.5% HPβCD as the vehicle. IN ONP-002 dosing revealed that ONP-002 was well tolerated

up to the highest dose of 23 mg/ml or 46mg in total per dosing. Clinical observations were limited to increased salivation in dogs which

occurred in a dose-dependent manner. There were no effects on body weight, food consumption, ophthalmic parameters, clinical chemistry,

haematology, or organ weights at any of the doses tested. Microscopic analysis revealed purulent exudates in the nasal turbinate and

evidence of inflammatory infiltrates and fibrin deposition in the lungs. All of these events were classified as mild, reversed during

the recovery period, and did not appear to show any dose dependency. Similar findings were evident in vehicle control treated dogs indicating

the findings were vehicle related. The highest dose of 23 mg/ml was thus determined to be the NOAEL which is equivalent to a ONP-002

dose of 1.5mg/kg and 2.3mg/kg in male and female dogs, respectively. Testing shows the dose-dependent increase in plasma exposure of

ONP-002 in male and female dogs following IN administration. Plasma exposure levels were similar in males and females and there did not

appear to be any evidence of drug accumulation following multiple doses.

Cardiopulmonary

Safety Pharmacology

The

effect of ONP-002 on the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) tail currents was assessed in a non-Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) study

using manual whole-cell patch clamp. ONP-002 tested at a single concentration of 10 μM inhibited hERG tail currents by 42.6% (n=3).

In order to achieve a safety factor of 30-fold between in vitro hERG IC50 and free plasma levels of ONP-002 in clinical studies, Cmax

should not exceed a free drug concentration of 0.33 μM (99 ng/ml). ONP-002 is 97.2% human plasma protein bound and is estimated to

reach a plasma Cmax of 12.5 nM, the highest dose of 0.533 mg/kg to be administered in the planned first in human (FIH) study, which provides

a safety factor of 800-fold. A GLP study is planned at Charles River, Inc. and will be performed prior to IND submission.

ONP-002

Clinical Trials

ONP-002

has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy human subjects showing it is safe and well tolerated.

Safety

studies have established a dosing regimen of 2X/day for fourteen days. The Phase I clinical trial was performed in Melbourne, Australia

with a Contract Research Organization (CRO), Avance Clinical Pty Ltd and Nucleus Network Pty Ltd. The country of Australia provides a

currency exchange advantage and a tax rebate at the end of our fiscal year from the Australian government on all Research and Development

performed in Australia.

The

Phase 1 study was double-blinded, randomized and placebo controlled (3:1, drug:placebo). Phase 1 used a Single Ascending/Multiple Ascending

(SAD/MAD) drug administration design. The SAD component was a 1X treatment (low, medium, or high dose) and the MAD component was a 1X/day

treatment for five consecutive days (low and medium dose). Blood and urine samples were collected at multiple time points for safety

pharmacokinetics. Standard safety monitoring was provided for each body system.

Forty

human subjects (31 males, 9 females) were successfully enrolled in Phase I. The Safety Review Board, made up of medical doctors, has

reviewed the trial data and has determined the drug is safe and well tolerated at all dosing levels.

We

anticipate preparing for Phase 2 clinical trials to further evaluate ONP-002’s safety and efficacy. Based on the Phase I data,

we plan to apply for an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA and conduct a Phase II trial in the United States.

We

anticipate a Phase 2 clinical trial will be performed administering ONP-002 intranasally in concussed patients 2x a day for up to fourteen

days. The Phase 2a feasibility study is expected to be performed in Australia with a target initiation date in the second or third quarter of 2024

to be followed closely by a Phase 2b proof of concept study in the US.

Our

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Product Candidate – NT-CoV2-1

Prior

to the purchase of the Neurology Assets, starting in May 2020 with the acquisition of one hundred percent (100%) of the total issued

and outstanding common stock of Noachis Terra, Inc. (“Noachis Terra”) and through December 31, 2023, we were focused on

the development and commercialization of a vaccine produce candidate to provide long-lasting immunity from SARS-CoV-2, which causes

COVID-19. During that time, we conducted testing in animal models, including SARS-CoV-2 challenge studies in hamsters, using

specific formulations for intramuscular administration and intranasal administration, both based on the NIAID pre-fusion stabilized

spike protein antigens.

In

June of 2021 we initiated an immunogenicity study in mice and on August 30, 2021, we announced the successful completion of the mouse

studies that supported further development using either intramuscular or intranasal routes of administration. In September of 2021 we

initiated a hamster challenge to assess inhibition of viral replication using adjuvants specific for intramuscular and intranasal administration.

In December of 2021, we announced that both formulations generated robust immune responses and reduced the SARS-CoV-2 viral loads to

undetectable levels in the nasal passages and lungs five days following a viral challenge. On June 14, 2022, we announced that the results

of these studies were published in Nature Scientific Reports.

In

March of 2022, following a positive assessment of a rabbit-based pilot study, we initiated a Good Laboratory Practice toxicology study

to evaluate the safety profile and immunogenicity of NT-CoV2-1 in rabbits. This preclinical study was designed to provide data required

to advance our intranasal vaccine candidate into human clinical studies.

Following

the successful results of the animal studies previously referenced and a Type B Pre-IND Meeting with the FDA we determined to focus our

development efforts and financial resources on the intranasal delivery vaccine produce candidate, NT-CoV2-1. As part of this intranasal

development focus, during 2023 we entered into strategic license agreements and announced an award of a grant from CQDM.

However,

due to lack of financial resources our research and development activities for our NT-CoV2-1 vaccine product were suspended as of

December 31, 2023, and are not currently active. We will continue to evaluate opportunities and funding resources for our SARS-CoV-2

and NT-CoV2-1 candidate products in the future of which there can be no assurances. These opportunities and funding resources

could include, without limitation, sublicensing agreements, joint ventures or partnerships, sales or licensing of technology,

government grants and public or private financings, through the sale of debt or equity securities or by securing a line of credit or

other loan. There can be no assurances that we will be able to secure any such opportunity or funding.

Our

Lantibiotic Product Candidate

Members

of our scientific team discovered that a certain bacterial strain of Streptococcus mutans, produces Mutacin 1140 (MU1140), a molecule

belonging to the novel class of antibiotics known as lantibiotics. Lantibiotics, such as MU1140, are highly modified peptide antibiotics

made by a small group of Gram-positive bacterial species. Over 60 lantibiotics have been discovered, to date. We believe lantibiotics

are generally recognized by the scientific community to be potent antibiotic agents.

In

nonclinical testing, MU1140 has shown activity against all Gram-positive bacteria against which it has been tested, including those responsible

for a number of healthcare associated infections, or HAIs. A high percentage of hospital-acquired infections are caused by highly antibiotic-resistant

bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. We believe

the need for novel antibiotics is increasing because of the growing resistance of target pathogens to existing FDA approved antibiotics

on the market.

Lantibiotics

have been difficult to investigate for their clinical usefulness as therapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases due to

a general inability to produce or synthesize sufficient quantities of pure amounts of these molecules. Traditional fermentation methods

can only produce minute amounts of the lantibiotic.

While

lantibiotics are promising, in 2023 we concluded we needed to make several changes to reduce the cash used in operations. In

September of 2023, we terminated our lease for the building where some of the research and development activities for the

lantibiotic program were undertaken. The closing of the laboratory was part of the continued focus on preserving cash resources

while seeking additional funding through various mechanisms.

As

of December 31, 2023, research and development activities related to the lantibiotic program are inactive. We will evaluate opportunities

for the lantibiotic program; however, moving forward our focus is to strengthen our focus and expertise on developing our intranasal

drug delivery platform and drug candidates that treat brain related illnesses and diseases.

Our

Business Development Strategy

Success

in the biopharmaceutical and product development industry relies on the continuous development of novel product candidates. Most product

candidates do not make it past the clinical development stage, which forces companies to look externally for innovation. Accordingly,

we expect, from time to time, to seek strategic opportunities through various forms of business development, which can include strategic

alliances, licensing deals, joint ventures, collaborations, equity or debt-based investments, dispositions, mergers, and acquisitions.

We view these business development activities as a necessary component of our strategies, and we seek to enhance shareholder value by

evaluating business development opportunities both within and complementary to our current business, as well as opportunities that may

be new and separate from the development of our existing product candidates. Consistent therewith, in December 2023 we acquired our Neurology Assets.

Our

ONP-002

Market

Opportunity

Currently,

we are focused on expanding our nasal drug delivery platform to the treatment of neurological brain disorders, illnesses and

injuries, or concussions. We believe concussion is a significant unmet need, and that, currently, there are no therapeutic treatments

available for moderate to severe concussion. We further believe nasal delivery offers many advantages over standard systemic delivery systems, such as

i) its non-invasive character, ii) fast onset of action, and iii) in most cases, reduced side effects due to a more targeted

delivery.

Systemic

approaches often fail to efficiently supply the central nervous system with drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders,

which, we believe, presents a unique opportunity for intranasal drug delivery. The global nasal drug delivery technology market is

projected to grow to $112 billion by 2030.

Our

Growth Strategy

If

the FDA clears or approves our product candidates to be marketed commercially, we intend to enter into agreements with industry

partners or qualified distributors throughout the United States. We intend to pursue a similar approach will be pursued if our

product candidates are cleared or approved for marketing outside of the United States. We intend to require such partners or

distributors to pay us an initial license fee, as well as royalties based on gross sales. Retaining exclusivity is expected to be

based on a mutually agreeable semi-annual or quarterly sales minimum. We also anticipate focusing on international growth because,

generally, we believe such international license agreements provide a stronger path to revenue and earnings than purely domestic

products.

Our

objective is to eventually grow revenue through marketing and sales of ONP-002 if it gains regulatory

approvals. Although no assurances can be given, management anticipates company growth from the following areas:

We

currently have no products authorized for commercial distribution in the United States, Europe, or any other country. We have

development programs for devices and pharmaceutical drugs, which are in various stages of development. Currently we are only funding

the development of ONP-002 intended to treat concussion. Due to funding constraints and market conditions, our NT-CoV2-1 vaccine product

and our antibiotic product candidate have been suspended. All of our products require regulatory clearance or approvals, and we cannot

begin marketing and selling our product candidates until we obtain applicable authorizations from the respective regulatory agency.

Our

License Agreements

Our

Inspirevax License Agreement

On

February 23, 2023, we entered into a Commercial License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Inspirevax Inc. (“Inspirevax”)

for our vaccine product candidate. Pursuant to the License Agreement Inspirevax granted us an exclusive worldwide license to use Inspirevax’s

inventions, patents, trade secrets, know-how, copyright, biological material, designs, and/or technical information created by or on

behalf of Inspirevax (the “Inspirevax Technologies”) relating to its novel lipid-protein based intranasal adjuvants, to make,

research, and develop an intra-nasal vaccine in combination with an antigen (“Combination Product”) to be used in an intranasal

vaccine for use against diseases caused by coronaviruses and any genetic variants thereof to be sold by us.

As

consideration for the grant of the license, we paid an upfront signing fee of $50,000. We will be subject to certain milestone payments

as follows: (a) $75,000 upon our decision on an appropriate nasal spray device, (b) $100,000 upon a first patient being dosed in a phase

2a clinical trial, (c) $200,000 upon a first patient being dosed in a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial, (d) $800,000 upon a biologics License

Application being submitted to the FDA, (e) $400,000 upon first filing of marketing authorization outside of the United States, and $200,000

for each such additional filing up to five filings, (f) $2,000,000 upon first commercial sale in the United States, (g) $1,000,000 upon

first commercial sale in Europe, (h) $500,000 upon first commercial sale outside of United States and Europe and $250,000 for each other

country or region up to five. Additionally, during the term we will pay Inspirevax a 7% royalty on net sales subject to certain gross

revenue limitations at which time the royalty will decrease to 4%.

The

Inspirevax License Agreement requires that we use our best efforts to develop a product using the Inspirevax technology including

the following: (a) first subject enrollment in first clinical study by December 31, 2023, (b) the first subject enrolled in a Phase

2a study by September 30, 2024, (c) first subject enrolled in a phase 3 registration trial by December 31, 2026, and (d) first

marketing approval application submitted by June 30, 2028.

Unless

terminated earlier, the License Agreement will terminate the later of (i) twenty (20) years from the first commercial sale of a product,

(ii) the last date a product is covered by a valid patent claim, or (iii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity. We may terminate

the License Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice to Inspirevax. Either party may terminate, if the other party defaults

or is in breach of the License Agreement, provided that if the defaulting party cures the breach within sixty (60) days after the notice

is given, the License Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. The License Agreement contains customary confidentiality obligations.

The

companies formed a Joint Development Committee (JDC) comprising representatives of both companies to oversee the development efforts

collaboratively. Additionally, the agreement provides a certain period of time for the companies to expand their collaboration to pursue

the development of additional intranasal vaccine candidates using Inspirevax’s adjuvants.

We

paid the upfront signing fee. However, none of the additional consideration milestones have been met, as of December 31, 2023, we

have suspended all research and development activity for the COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Government

Regulations

In

the United States, foods (including dietary supplements), drugs (including biological products), medical devices, cosmetics, tobacco

products and radiation-emitting products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The FDC Act and other federal and state statutes

and regulations govern, among other things, the manufacture, distribution and sale of these products. These laws and regulations prescribe

criminal and civil penalties that can be assessed, and violation of these laws and regulations can result in enforcement action by the

FDA and other regulatory agencies.

FDA

Regulation of Drugs-New Drug Approval Process

Pharmaceutical

products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA. The FDC Act, and other federal and state statutes and regulations, govern, among

other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, storage, recordkeeping, approval, labeling, promotion and marketing, distribution,

post-approval monitoring and reporting, sampling, and import and export of pharmaceutical products. Failure to comply with applicable

U.S. requirements may subject a company to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, such as FDA refusal to approve pending

NDAs or Biologics License Applications (“BLA “)s, warning or untitled letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or

partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

Pharmaceutical

product development for a new product or certain changes to an approved product in the United States typically involves the following

steps before a biological product or new drug may be marketed in the United States:

● submission of an NDA or BLA to the FDA for review;

● FDA approval of the NDA or BLA; and

● payment of user and establishment fees, if applicable.

Satisfaction

of FDA pre-market approval requirements typically takes many years and the actual time required may vary substantially based upon the

type, complexity and novelty of the product or disease.

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 good laboratory practices. The results of pre-clinical testing are submitted 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.

Clinical

trials involve the administration of the IND to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision of a qualified investigator. Clinical

trials must be conducted: (i) in compliance with federal regulations; (ii) in compliance with good clinical practice, or GCP, an international

standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators, and monitors;

as well as (iii) under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety, and the effectiveness

criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol involving testing on U.S. patients 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 is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial

patients. The trial protocol and informed consent information for patients in clinical trials must also be submitted to an institutional

review board or IRB for approval. 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.

Clinical

trials to support NDAs or BLAs for marketing approval are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap.

In Phase 1, after the initial introduction of the drug into healthy human subjects or patients, the drug is tested to assess metabolism,

pharmacokinetics, pharmacological actions, side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, early evidence on effectiveness.

Phase 2 usually involves trials in a limited patient population to determine 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 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.

In most cases the FDA requires two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. A single

Phase 3 clinical trial with other confirmatory evidence may be sufficient in rare instances where the trial is a large multicenter trial

demonstrating internal consistency and a statistically very persuasive finding of a clinically meaningful effect on mortality, irreversible

morbidity or prevention of a disease with a potentially serious outcome and confirmation of the result in a second trial would be practically

or ethically impossible.

The

length of time and related costs necessary to complete clinical trials varies significantly and may be difficult to predict. Clinical

trial results are frequently susceptible to varying interpretations that may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approvals. Additional

factors that can cause delay or termination of our clinical trials, or cause the costs of these clinical trials to increase, include:

● delays in approvals from a trial site’s IRB;

● lack of sufficient supplies of the drug candidate for use in clinical trials;

● adverse medical events or side effects in treated patients; and

● lack of effectiveness of the drug candidate being tested.

Any

drug is likely to produce some toxicities or undesirable side effects in animals and in humans when administered at sufficiently high

doses and/or for sufficiently long periods of time. Unacceptable toxicities or side effects may occur at any dose level, and at any time

in the course of animal studies designed to identify unacceptable effects of a drug candidate, known as toxicological studies, or in

clinical trials of our drug candidates. The appearance of any unacceptable toxicity or side effect could cause us or regulatory authorities

to interrupt, limit, delay or abort the development of any of our drug candidates and could ultimately prevent their marketing approval

by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities for any or all targeted indications.

The

FDA’s fast track and breakthrough therapy designation programs are intended to facilitate the development and expedite the review

of drug candidates intended for the treatment of serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate the potential to address

unmet medical needs for these conditions. Under these programs, FDA can, for example, review portions of an NDA or BLA for a drug candidate

before the entire application is complete, thus potentially beginning the review process at an earlier time.

We

cannot guarantee that the FDA will grant any of our requests for fast track or breakthrough therapy designations, that any such designations

would affect the time of review or that the FDA will approve the NDA or BLA submitted for any of our drug candidates, whether or not

these designations are granted. Additionally, FDA approval of a fast track/breakthrough product can include restrictions on the product’s

use or distribution (such as permitting use only for specified medical conditions or limiting distribution to physicians or facilities

with special training or experience). Approval of such designated products can be conditioned on additional clinical trials after approval.

In

addition, the manufacturer of an investigational drug in a Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trial for a serious or life-threatening disease

is required to make available, such as by posting on its website, its policy on evaluating and responding to requests for expanded access.

After

completion of the required clinical testing, an NDA or BLA is prepared and submitted to the FDA. FDA approval of the NDA or BLA is required

before marketing of the product may begin in the U.S. The NDA or the BLA must include the results of all pre-clinical, clinical and other

testing and a compilation of data relating to the product’s pharmacology, chemistry, manufacture and controls. The cost of preparing

and submitting an NDA is substantial.

The

FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA or BLA to determine whether the application will be filed based on the agency’s threshold

determination that it is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. If the NDA or BLA submission is filed, the FDA reviews the

NDA or BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and effective for its intended use. The FDA has agreed

to certain performance goals in the review of NDAs or BLAs. Most such applications for standard review drug products are reviewed within

ten to twelve months; most applications for priority review drugs are reviewed in six to eight months. Priority review can be applied

to drugs that the FDA determines offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. For biologics,

priority review is further limited to drugs intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease relative to the currently approved

products. The review process for both standard and priority review may be extended by the FDA for three additional months to consider

certain late-submitted information, or information intended to clarify information already provided in the submission.

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 review, evaluation and a recommendation

as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally

follows such recommendations. Before approving an NDA or BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance

with GCP. 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 cGMPs is satisfactory and the NDA or BLA contains data that provide substantial evidence that the

drug is safe and effective in the indication studied.

After

the FDA evaluates the NDA or BLA 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 testing, or information,

in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction

in a resubmission of the NDA or BLA, 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. As a condition

of NDA or BLA approval, the FDA may require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, or REMS, to help ensure that the benefits of the

drug outweigh the potential risks. REMS can include medication guides, communication plans for healthcare professionals, and elements

to assure safe use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but is not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing,

dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring and the use of patient registries. The requirement for a REMS can materially

affect the potential market and profitability of the drug. Moreover, product approval may require substantial post-approval testing and

surveillance to monitor the drug’s safety or efficacy. Once granted, product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory

standards is not maintained, or 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 BLA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA or BLA

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 or BLA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs or BLAs.

The

required testing, data collection, analysis and compilation of an IND and a BLA or NDA are labor intensive and costly and may take a

great deal of time. Tests may have to be redone or new tests performed in order to comply with FDA requirements. It can take considerable

time (e.g., 5-10 years) and resources to achieve enrollment sufficient to commence such trials and complete Phase 2 or 3 clinical trials.

Moreover, there is no guarantee a product will be approved.

The

Orphan Drug Act provides incentives to manufacturers to develop and market drugs for rare diseases and conditions affecting fewer than

200,000 persons in the United States at the time of application for orphan drug designation. The first developer to receive FDA marketing

approval for an orphan drug is entitled to a seven-year exclusive marketing period in the United States for the orphan drug indication.

However, a drug that the FDA considers to be clinically superior to, or different from, another approved orphan drug, even though for

the same indication, may also obtain approval in the United States during the seven-year exclusive marketing period.

Under

the FDA Modernization Act of 1997, designation as a Fast-Track product for a new drug or biological product means that the FDA will take

such actions as are appropriate to expedite the development and review of the application for approval of such product.

Legislation

similar to the Orphan Drug Act has been enacted in other countries outside of the United States, including the EU. The orphan legislation

in the EU is available for therapies addressing conditions that affect five or fewer out of 10,000 persons, are life-threatening or chronically

debilitating conditions and for which no satisfactory treatment is authorized. The market exclusivity period is for ten years, although

that period can be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, available evidence establishes that the product does not justify

maintenance of market exclusivity.

Expedited

Development and Review Programs

The

FDA has the authority to facilitate and expedite the development and review of a drug through various programs, such as fast track designation,

breakthrough therapy designation and priority review designation. Each program may be utilized by the FDA in the context of particular

circumstances. For example, fast track designation would generally be used to facilitate the development and review of a drug that addresses

an unmet medical need. Breakthrough therapy designation applies similarly in cases where a drug demonstrates substantial improvement

over existing and available therapies. Priority review designation suggests the FDA will take action on an application within six months

of filing.

Accelerated

approval is also possible in the event a product treats a serious or life-threatening condition and provides a meaningful advantage over

available therapies. Products in this category must also meet a number of additional requirements. While a product may qualify for one

or more of the foregoing programs, the FDA reserves the right to later decide the product no longer qualifies or that the product is

no longer subject to priority regarding its review or approval.

Emergency

Use Authorization

The

FDA also has the authority to grant an Emergency Use Authorization (“EUA”) to allow unapproved medical products to be used

in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions when there are no adequate, approved,

and available alternatives, as designated by the U.S. government. An EUA granted by the FDA would permit a drug candidate to be able

to be distributed under the conditions set forth in the EUA prior to FDA approval. Furthermore, the FDA may revoke an EUA for a variety

of reasons, including where it is determined that the underlying health emergency no longer exists or warrants such authorizations.

Pediatric

Information

Under

the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, NDAs, BLAs or supplements to NDAs or BLAs must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness

of the drug for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric

subpopulation for which the drug is safe and effective. The FDA may grant full or partial waivers, or deferrals, for submission of data.

Unless otherwise required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any drug for an indication for which orphan designation has been granted,

except a product with a new active ingredient that is a molecularly targeted cancer product intended for the treatment of an adult cancer

and directed at a molecular target determined by FDA to be substantially relevant to the growth or progression of a pediatric cancer

that is subject to an NDA submitted on or after August 18, 2020.

The

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, (“BPCA”), provides NDA holders a six-month extension of any exclusivity – patent

or non-patent – for a drug if certain conditions are met. For BLAs, the BPCA provides a six-month extension for non-patent exclusivity

if certain conditions are met. Conditions for exclusivity include the FDA’s determination that information relating to the use

of a new drug in the pediatric population may produce health benefits in that population, the FDA making a written request for pediatric

studies, and the applicant agreeing to perform, and reporting on, the requested studies within the statutory timeframe. Applications

under the BPCA are treated as priority applications, with all of the benefits that designation confers.

Disclosure

of Clinical Trial Information

Sponsors

of clinical trials of FDA-regulated products, including drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information.

Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators, and other aspects of the

clinical trial is then made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to discuss the results of their clinical

trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be delayed in certain circumstances for up to two years after

the date of completion of the trial. Competitors may use this publicly available information to gain knowledge regarding the progress

of development programs.

The

Hatch-Waxman Amendments

Orange

Book Listing

In

seeking approval for a drug through an NDA, applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent with claims covering the applicant’s

product or method of using the product. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug is then published

in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, commonly known as the Orange Book. Drugs listed in

the Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic competitors in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug application,

or ANDA. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product that has the same active ingredients in the same strengths and dosage form

as the listed drug and has been shown to be bioequivalent to the listed drug. Other than the requirement for bioequivalence testing,

ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, pre-clinical or clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness

of their drug product. Drugs approved in this way are commonly referred to as “generic equivalents” to the listed drug and

can often be substituted by pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.

The

ANDA applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the FDA’s Orange Book.

Specifically, the applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired;

(iii) the listed patent has not expired but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv)

the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product. The ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a section viii

statement certifying that its proposed ANDA labeling does not contain (or carves out) any language regarding the patented method-of-use

rather than certify to a listed method-of-use patent. If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA application will

not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product have expired.

A

certification that the new product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents, or that such patents are invalid,

is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must

also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA has been received by the FDA. The NDA

and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing

of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving

the ANDA until the earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit or a decision in the infringement case that

is favorable to the ANDA applicant.

The

ANDA application also will not be approved until any applicable non-patent exclusivity listed in the Orange Book for the referenced product

has expired.

Exclusivity

Exclusivity

provisions under the FDC Act also can delay the submission or the approval of certain applications. The FDC Act provides a five-year

period of non-patent exclusivity within the United States to the first applicant to gain approval of an NDA for a new chemical entity,

or NCE. A drug is entitled to NCE exclusivity if it contains a drug substance with no active moiety of which has been previously approved

by the FDA. During the exclusivity period, the FDA may not accept for review an ANDA or file a 505(b)(2) NDA submitted by another company

for another version of such drug where the applicant does not own or have a legal right of reference to all the data required for approval.

However, an application may be submitted after four years if it contains a Paragraph IV certification. The FDC Act also provides three

years of market exclusivity for an NDA, including a 505(b)(2) NDA, or supplement to an existing NDA if new clinical investigations, other

than bioavailability studies, that were conducted or sponsored by the applicant are deemed by the FDA to be essential to the approval

of the application, for example, for new indications, dosages or strengths of an existing drug. This three-year exclusivity covers only

the conditions for use associated with the new clinical investigations and does not prohibit the FDA from approving ANDAs for drugs for

the original conditions of use, such as the originally approved indication. Five-year and three-year exclusivity will not delay the submission

or approval of a full NDA; however, an applicant submitting a full NDA would be required to conduct or obtain a right of reference to

all the non-clinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials necessary to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

Source: SEC EDGAR (public domain) · 10-K for the period ended 2023-12-31, filed 2024-03-29 · accession 0001493152-24-011979

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