Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
Historically, we have been an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, we announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that we were exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. In February 2024, we received an upfront payment of $500,000 from a licensing agreement for patents related to one of our historical drug candidates, and received a small, one-time payment and an entitlement to only modest royalties on future sales of the licensed technology that we do not believe will be material. In the second quarter, we recognized other income of $637,000 from the sale of our samples related to the licensed product. In the third quarter, we sold our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets (including the licensing agreement described above) pursuant to the purchase agreement and recognized other income of $1,500,000. We continue to engage in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. This effort involves exploring growth through transactions with potential partners that see opportunity in joining an existing, publicly-traded organization.
Following the purchase agreement, any value we may generate from our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets will be primarily through royalties and license fees that we may receive in the future under the purchase agreement. However, whether we receive any royalties or licenses fees, and the amounts and timing thereof, are uncertain and out of our control.
While the foregoing efforts are continuing, with respect to our historical assets, we do not expect they will generate significant value for stockholders. Therefore, we are engaging in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. We obtained significant financing late in 2024 in order to continue operations and our exploration of strategic alternatives and consummate any transactions that we may identify.
Operating, financing, and cash flow considerations
Since our inception in 2011, we have primarily funded our operations through sales of our securities, loans and collaborations. Effective as of November 12, 2024, we entered into the Initial Common Stock Purchase Agreement with HiTron, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to HiTron 433,333 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), for an aggregate purchase price of $1.3 million, at a purchase price per share of $3.00. On November 13, 2024, we entered into the Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $8.7 million, at a purchase price per share of $3.00. The issuance of such shares under the Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement closed on December 24, 2024.
On December 9, 2024, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “SangSang Purchase Agreement”) with SangSangIn Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. (“SangSang”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to SangSang 433,332 shares of our Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.0 million, at a purchase price per share of $4.61. The transactions under the SangSang Purchase Agreement closed on December 24, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents cash were approximately $12.5 million. Our current liquidity may not be sufficient to fund operations for the next 12 months. As a result, there is substantial doubt about
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our ability to continue as a going concern. Additional financing will be needed to fund our ongoing operations and exploration of strategic alternatives and pursue any alternatives that we identify. If we are unable to raise capital, the Company could seek bankruptcy protection and/or cease operations, which may result in our stockholders receiving no or very little value in respect of their shares of our common stock.
We expect to seek financing through equity offerings. However, it may be difficult to obtain financing given our current condition and uncertainty over its future direction. Therefore, we may be unable to raise capital at all or on favorable terms. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to continue operations.
Recent Developments
Change of Control
As discussed above, effective as of November 12, 2024, we entered into the Initial Common Stock Purchase Agreement with HiTron, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to HiTron 433,333 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1.3 million, at a purchase price per share of $3.00.
On November 13, 2024, we entered into the Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase price of $8.7 million, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The issuance of such shares under the Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement closed on December 24, 2024.
As of March 12, 2025, HiTron beneficially owns 53% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on information available to the Company.
Nasdaq Listing Requirements Deficiency Notices
As previously disclosed, we have received numerous deficiency notes with respect to various Nasdaq listing requirements in the past year. These related to:
•Compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price rule due to our stock trading below $1.00 for a sustained period of time. We effected a one-for-thirty reverse stock split on June 29, 2022 in order to attempt to raise the stock price. On September 13, 2023, we received a delinquency notification that the closing bid price of our stock traded below $1.00 for the previous 30 consecutive business days. We effected a one-for-five reverse stock split on August 27, 2024 in order to attempt to raise the stock price. On September 13, 2024, we received a letter received from Nasdaq noting it met the closing bid price requirement.
•Compliance with Nasdaq’s rule requiring stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 based on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2024. We were not in compliance with this requirement based on its September 30, 2024 balance sheet. We believes it is in compliance with this requirement based on its December 31, 2024 balance sheet and expects to be in compliance going forward.
•Compliance with Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements with respect to board and committee composition . We has received numerous deficiency notifications with respect to these requirements in the past year. Although we are currently in compliance, there can be no assurance it will remain in compliance.
•Compliance with Nasdaq’s requirement to hold an annual meeting. On January 11, 2024, Nasdaq notified us that it did not comply with listing requirements by not holding an annual meeting in 2023. We held its combined 2023 and 2024 annual meeting on June 28, 2024.
•On April 17, 2024, we received a delinquency notification as it had not filed its Annual Report Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The extended deadline for compliance was established by Nasdaq at May 20, 2024, the same deadline for our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 was filed on June 6, 2024.
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•Although we filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 prior to the extended deadline of May 20, 2024, on May 21, 2024, we received a delisting determination from the Nasdaq staff as a result of not filing its Annual Report Form 10-K by the May 20, 2024 deadline and failure to timely file its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (which was subsequently filed on June 17, 2024). The staff’s delisting determination also noted the failure to hold its 2023 annual meeting as another basis of the delisting determination.
•On May 28, 2024, we requested an appeal of the delisting determination to Nasdaq’s Hearings Panel (“Panel”), and the hearing took place on July 9, 2024. On July 31, 2024, we received formal notice that the Panel determined to continue our listing subject to us evidencing compliance with all applicable criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market by September 16, 2024. We received an additional extension to November 14, 2024 to satisfy the terms of the Panel’s decision and to ensure our continued listing on Nasdaq.
•As we did not meet Nasdaq’s listing requirements as of September 30, 2024, we has requested another extension by the Panel to demonstrate compliance and another extension was granted. We thereafter presented its plan to regain compliance with the Equity Requirement to the Panel, subsequent to which the Panel ultimately granted us extensions through December 17, 2024 to do so.
•On December 20, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq confirming that, as of December 17, 2024, we meet all requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq as required by the Panel’s decision dated November 20, 2024. In accordance with the Panel’s decision, on December 17, 2024, we made public disclosure under cover of a Form 8-K, describing the transactions undertaken by us to achieve compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and stated affirmatively that as of that date, it believes it has stockholders’ equity above the $2.5 million requirement and provided a pro-forma balance sheet as of December 17, 2024. Pursuant to Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(B), we will be subject to a Mandatory Panel Monitor for a period of one year from the date of Nasdaq’s letter. If, within that one-year monitoring period, the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications staff (the “Staff”) finds us again out of compliance with the $2.5 million Equity Rule that was the subject of the exception, notwithstanding Rule 5810(c)(2), we will not be permitted to provide the Staff with a plan of compliance with respect to that deficiency and the Staff will not be permitted to grant additional time for us to regain compliance with respect to that deficiency, nor will we be afforded an applicable cure or compliance period pursuant to Rule 5810(c)(3). Instead, the Staff will issue a Delist Determination Letter and we will have an opportunity to request a new hearing with the initial Panel or a newly convened Panel if the initial Panel is unavailable. We will have the opportunity to respond/present to the Panel as provided by Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(C). Our securities may be at that time delisted from Nasdaq.
Even if we regains compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements and addresses the outstanding deficiency notices to Nasdaq’s satisfaction, there can be no assurance that we will remain in compliance with Nasdaq’s requirements and will not be delisted.
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Reverse Stock Split
On August 26, 2024, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Amendment, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a one-for-five (1-for-5) reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock. The Amendment became effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2024.
The Amendment provided that, at the effective time of the Amendment, every five (5) shares of our issued and outstanding common stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, without any change in par value per share. The reverse stock split effected all shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment. As a result of the reverse stock split, proportionate adjustments have been made to the per share exercise price and/or the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or vesting of all stock options, restricted share unit award issued by us and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment, which resulted in a proportionate decrease in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise or vesting of such stock options, restricted share unit award, and, in the case of stock options, a proportionate increase in the exercise price of all such stock options. In addition, the number of shares reserved for issuance under our equity compensation plans immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment was reduced proportionately.
No fractional shares were issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share received a full share in lieu thereof. The reverse stock split affected all stockholders proportionately and did not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of our common stock (except to the extent that the reverse stock split results in any stockholder owning only a fractional share).
Our common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis when the market opened on August 28, 2024. The new CUSIP number for our common stock following the reverse stock split is 30205M 309.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require our management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.
We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (1) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (2) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. There are items within our financial statements that require estimation but are not deemed critical, as defined above.
Recent adopted accounting pronouncements
In the normal course of business, we evaluate all new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, SEC, or other authoritative accounting bodies to determine the potential impact they may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for additional information about these recently issued accounting standards and their potential impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
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Components of Statements of Operations
Revenue
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s revenue was generated from a patent license agreement to develop cavrotolimod for potential treatment for hepatitis with a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, this biopharmaceutical company received an exclusive license in the field of hepatitis to all of the Company’s relevant patents. We have never generated any commercial product revenue and do not expect to generate any product revenue in the near term.
Research and development expense
Research and development expense consisted of costs associated with our research activities, including basic research on our SNA technology platform, discovery and development of novel SNAs as prospective therapeutic candidates, preclinical and clinical development activities for SNAs we have nominated for clinical development as well as maintaining and protecting our intellectual property. Our research and development expenses in the prior year presented include:
•employee-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and equity-based compensation expense;
•early research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, and consultants;
•preclinical and clinical development expenses with third parties such as contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, and consultants;
•costs of maintaining and protecting our intellectual property portfolio, including legal advisory fees, license fees, sublicense fees, patent maintenance and other similar fees;
•laboratory materials and supplies;
•facilities, depreciation and other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, depreciation of leasehold improvements and equipment and laboratory and other supplies.
We expensed research and development costs as they were incurred. A significant portion of our research and development costs were not tracked by project as they benefit multiple projects or our technology.
As previously announced, we halted all research and development activities in 2022 and no longer incurred research and development expenses after the first quarter of 2023.
General and administrative expense
General and administrative expense consists primarily of salaries and related benefits, including equity-based compensation, related to our executive, finance, legal, business development and support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include travel expenses, professional fees for auditing, tax and legal services and allocated facility-related costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses.
Litigation legal expense
Litigation legal expense consists of expenses from its self-insured retention related to the securities litigation lawsuit.
Right-of-use asset impairment loss
This loss resulted from the impairment analysis of the Company’s right-of-use asset related to its office lease.
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Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable
The changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable relate to the impairment of the convertible notes receivable and reserved their entire $2 million amount.
Dividend income
Dividend income consists of income earned on our money market funds that are recorded as cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheets.
Interest income
Interest income consists of income earned on our available for sale securities that are recorded as short-term investments on our consolidated balance sheets, as well as income earned on our cash balances.
Interest expense
Interest expense includes amounts pursuant to debt agreements executed in 2024 that were later converted to equity.
Gain on settlement of accounts payable
During the year, the Company agreed to settle overdue legal expenses incurred in the prior year at a discounted amount resulting in a gain on this transaction.
Other income
The Company sold samples of its clinical products during the second quarter to a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. In the fourth quarter, the Company sold certain assets pursuant to the purchase agreement with the Purchaser.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2024and2023
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year EndedDecember 31,
Revenue:
Operating expenses:
Research and development expense — 1,423 (1,423) (100) %
Loss from sale of property and equipment — 920 (920) 100 %
Other (expense) income, net:
Interest expense (18) — (18) (100) %
Gain on settlement of accounts payables 407 — 407 100 %
Provision for income taxes 8 — 8 (100) %
Revenue
On February 5, 2024, the Company entered into a patent license agreement to develop cavrotolimod for potential treatment for hepatitis with a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, this biopharmaceutical company received an exclusive license in the field of hepatitis to all of the Company’s relevant patents. $500,000 was paid to the Company after the execution of this agreement.
Our ability to generate revenues in the future is dependent on our ability to successfully explore and execute strategic alternatives. Therefore, there is substantial uncertainty as to how, when or if we might be able to generate revenues in the future.
Research and development expense
Research and development expense was $0 for the year ended December 31, 2024, a $1.4 million decrease from the year ended December 31, 2023. In 2022, the Company suspended its clinical, preclinical, and discovery program activities and reduced headcount as it began exploring strategic alternatives in April 2023. As a result, after
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the first quarter of 2023, the Company determined it was no longer appropriate to record any research and development expenses.
General and administrative expense
Year EndedDecember 31,
Full time employees 7 6 1
General and administrative expense was $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing an decrease of $6.3 million, or 53%, from $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease for the year ended December 31, 2024 was due to higher costs in 2023 from separation pay of former executives and related stock based compensation expense, payroll and related benefits, legal and consulting fees, facility and lease costs, depreciation from assets sold, and the research and development wind down costs that no longer met the criteria to be classified as research and development due to the shift in our historical operations suspending all research and development activities as previous discussed.
Litigation legal expense
The increase of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 was due to accruals recorded for the amount of the unsatisfied self-insured retainer and legal defense costs related to the securities litigation lawsuit.
Right-of-use asset impairment loss
This loss resulted from the impairment analysis of the Company’s right-of-use asset related to its office lease.
Loss from sale of property and equipment
In the third quarter of 2023, the Company sold the majority of its scientific equipment through a third party auctioneer and incurred a loss on the sale of these assets as a result.
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable
Changes in fair value became known and the Company impaired the entire $2 million amount of these convertible notes receivable. As a result, the convertible notes receivable is recognized at a fair value of $0 as of December 31, 2024.
Gain on settlement of accounts payable
During the year, the Company agreed to settle overdue legal expenses incurred in the prior year at a discounted amount resulting in a gain on this transaction.
Other Income
The Company sold samples of its clinical products during the second quarter to a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. On September 27, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the sale of certain assets pursuant to the purchase agreement with the Purchaser. The assets sold to Purchaser include the Company’s spherical nucleic acid-related technology, research and development programs, and clinical assets (the “Acquired Assets”) to the Purchaser as described in the purchase agreement. The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,500 from the sale of the Acquired Assets.
Provision for income taxes
The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 is attributable to the fact that the Company is subject to state income taxes. The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 was (0.1)%
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because the Company generated tax losses and provided a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 of 0% was attributable to the fact the Company was subject to the IRC Section 174 regulations requiring companies to capitalize certain research and experimental expenditures and IRC Section 382 loss limitation rules on our ability to utilize net operating losses to offset the capitalization requirement, with the ownership change being in the fourth quarter of 2022. This resulted in current income tax expense in 2022.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has “discontinued the original business” of Exicure within the meaning of Section 382(c). This change has and will continue to subject our net operating loss carryforwards as of the fourth quarter of 2022 to an annual zero limitation, which will fully restrict our ability to use loss carryforwards and deductions from built in loss assets generated before the ownership change date to offset our taxable income in periods following the ownership change.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. We generated limited revenue from our collaboration agreements, which have since been terminated. We have funded our operations to date with proceeds received from equity financings and payments received in connection with collaboration agreements, which have since been terminated. Currently we are exploring strategic alternatives and generating limited revenue. As of December 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents cash were $12.5 million.
We incurred net losses of approximately $9.7 million and $16.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we have generated an accumulated deficit of $218.1 million, including $18,837 of additional paid-in capital reclassed to accumulated deficit upon C-corporation conversion, since inception and expect to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future.
Our current liquidity is not sufficient to continue to fund existing obligations and operations. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Additional financing will be needed to fund our ongoing operations and exploration of strategic alternatives and pursue any alternatives that we identify. We may need to seek bankruptcy protection and/or cease operations in the near term, which may result in our stockholders receiving no or very little value in respect of their shares of our common stock.
See “Funding Requirements” below for additional information on our future capital needs.
Cash Flows
The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Years EndedDecember 31,
Net cash used in operating activities $ (2,910) $ (10,357)
Net cash used in investing activities — (1,078)
Net cash provided by financing activities 13,402 3,674
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Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $2.9 million and $10.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 of $7.4 million was due to the reduction of operating activities, spending and lower headcount.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $0.0 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in cash used in investing activities of $1.1 million was primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from the maturity, net of purchases, of available-for-sale securities.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities of $13.4 million for year ended December 31, 2024 is primarily due to the stock purchase agreements closed in November and December 2024. Net cash provided by financing activities of $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 is primarily due to the Private Placement closed in February 2023.
Funding Requirements
Our existing cash and cash equivalents may not be sufficient to enable us to fund our existing obligations and ongoing operating expenses for the near term. Our future capital requirements are difficult to forecast and will depend on many factors, including:
•the results of our exploration of strategic alternatives, including any potential transactions;
•the results of any future or pending litigation against the Company;
•the extent to which we encounter increased costs as a result of global and macroeconomic conditions, including rising inflation and interest rates, supply chain disruptions, fluctuating exchange rates, and increases in commodity, energy and fuel prices; and
•unknown legal, administrative, regulatory, accounting, and information technology costs as well as additional costs associated with operating as a public company.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs primarily through equity offerings. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders may be materially diluted, and the terms of such securities could include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specified actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Further, the global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions over the past couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and worsening global macroeconomic conditions, including actions taken by central banks to counter inflation, volatility in the capital markets and related market uncertainty, may impact our ability to obtain additional financing when needed on favorable terms or at all. Any further disruption or slowdown in the global financial markets and economy may negatively affect our ability to raise funding through equity or debt financings on attractive terms or at all, which could in the future negatively affect our operations.
Going Concern
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 205-40, Going Concern, we have evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued. In the absence of a significant source of recurring revenue, our continued viability is dependent on our ability to continue to raise
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additional capital to finance our operations. As discussed above, there are substantial uncertainties about our ability to raise such financing.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Chicago Lease
Refer to Note 5 - Leases to the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide this information required under this item.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
EXICURE, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 39
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 44
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Exicure, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Exicure, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audits, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1 , the Company has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows since inception, and may need to raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
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Critical Audit Matter
Critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
New York, New York
March 18, 2025
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EXICURE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 12,508 $ 816
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 644 1,193
Property and equipment, net 26 54
Right-of-use asset — 6,517
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,040 879
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 15)
Stockholders’ equity:
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 15,056 $ 11,580
* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EXICURE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year EndedDecember 31,
Revenue:
Revenue $ 500 $ —
Total revenue 500 —
Operating expenses:
Research and development expense — 1,423
General and administrative expense 5,449 11,715
Right-of-use asset impairment loss 5,721 —
Loss from sale of property and equipment — 920
Other (expense) income, net:
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable — (2,000)
Dividend income 5 52
Interest income 8 32
Interest expense (18) —
Gain on settlement of accounts payables 407 —
Other income (expense), net 2,137 (2)
Total other income (expense), net 2,539 (1,918)
Net loss before provision for income taxes (9,693) (16,914)
Provision for income taxes 8 —
Basic and diluted loss per common share * $ (4.75) $ (10.55)
* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EXICURE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except shares)
Common Stock
Reclassification of common stock warrants to liability — — (800) — (800)
Equity-based compensation — — 1,348 — 1,348
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases 56,971 — (122) — (122)
Equity-based compensation — — 22 — 22
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases 166 — — — —
Issuance of common stock, debt to equity conversion 339,214 — 1,018 1,018
* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EXICURE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 28 634
Amortization of right-of-use asset 796 741
Equity-based compensation 22 1,348
Right-of-use asset impairment loss 5,721 —
Gain on settlement of accounts payables (407) —
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable — 2,000
Loss from sale of property and equipment — 920
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (506) —
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 977 733
Other noncurrent assets — 38
Net cash used in operating activities (2,910) (10,357)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities — (2,000)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment — 922
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities — (1,078)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from sale of common stock 12,402 5,440
Payment of common stock financing costs — (843)
Proceeds from short term debt 1,000 —
Payment of exercise of common stock warrants — (800)
Net cash provided by financing activities 13,402 3,674
Net (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 10,492 (7,761)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of year 2,016 9,777
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - end of year $ 12,508 $ 2,016
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EXICURE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Non-cash operating activities:
Reclass prepaid expenses from noncurrent to current $ 428 $ —
Non-cash financing activities:
Equity effect of debt to equity conversion $ 1,018 $ —
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:
Year Ended December 31,
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 12,508 $ 816
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets — 1,200
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
1. Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern
Description of Business
Exicure, Inc. has historically been an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, the Company announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that the Company was exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. In the first quarter, the Company entered into a licensing agreement for patents related to one of our historical drug candidates, and received a small, one-time payment and an entitlement to only modest royalties on future sales of the licensed technology that we do not believe will be material. In the second quarter, the Company sold some of our samples related to the licensed product. In the third quarter, the Company entered into a sale agreement to sale our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets pursuant to the purchase agreement. The Company continues to engage in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. This effort involves exploring growth through transactions with potential partners that see opportunity in joining an existing, publicly-traded organization.
On January 19, 2025, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with GPCR Therapeutics Inc, a Korean corporation, (“GPCR”) pursuant to which we acquired from GPCR all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of GPCR Therapeutics USA Inc., a California corporation (“GPCR USA”). In connection with the closing of the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company and GPCR entered into a License and Collaboration Agreement to further develop and commercialize GPCR’s technologies related to certain intellectual property and patents.
GPCR USA has an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial focused on blood cancer patients, particularly those eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Its current clinical trial involves the combined administration of G-CSF, GPC-100 (Burixafor) and propranolol. GPCR USA plans to complete the administration of GPC-100 to 20 patients by the end of April and aims to announce the clinical trial results by September.
Throughout these consolidated financial statements, the terms the “Company,” and “Exicure” refer to Exicure, Inc. and where appropriate, its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. Exicure Operating Company holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Exicure, Inc.
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and are presented in thousands, except number of shares and per share data.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Exicure, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.
Reverse Stock Split
At the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its shares of common stock, issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance, at a ratio within the range from 1-for-2 to 1-for-15, with such ratio to be determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors. On August 20, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted resolutions to effect as soon as reasonably practicable the reverse split of the issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
The Company effected a reverse stock split of its Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5 as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2024. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share received a full share in lieu thereof. An additional 102,837 shares were issued as a result of the fractional shares rounded up. All information presented in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated herein, assumes a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding conversion price or exercise price data set forth herein have been adjusted to give effect to such assumed reverse stock split.
Going Concern
At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The Company is required to make certain additional disclosures if it concludes substantial doubt exists and it is not alleviated by the Company’s plans or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As of December 31, 2024, the Company expects to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $12,508. Management believes that given the Company’s current cash position, operating plans and forecasted negative cash flows from operating activities over the next twelve months, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements are issued. Additional financing will be needed to fund our ongoing operations, support of GPCR USA’s operations, and exploration of strategic alternatives and pursuing any alternatives that we identify.
Management believes that the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to continue to fund its operating expenses and additional funding is needed. There can be no assurance that such additional financing will be available and, if available, can be obtained on acceptable terms.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstances and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification
Certain accounts in the prior period consolidated statement of operations have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the current year consolidated financial statements. These reclassifications had no effect on the previously reported operating results.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2024, cash equivalents represented funds held in a money market account.
Restricted cash
The Company secures a standby letter of credit with a restricted certificate of deposit account as part of its Chicago lease agreement, which was used to pay the lease during 2024. The Company considers the restricted certificate of deposit account in the amount of $109 to be restricted cash because its use to the Company is contractually limited and presents the balance within current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Fair value of financial instruments
The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments. The carrying amounts for cash, cash equivalents, and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to the relatively short-term nature of these instruments. The Company records short-term investments at their estimated fair value based on quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments.
Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable
Securities are classified as current or noncurrent based on the remaining contractual maturities of the securities. Securities are designated by the Company at the point of investment, as either trading, AFS, or held to maturity. Under ASC 825, Financial Instruments, the Company elected the fair value option for all outstanding convertible notes receivable. Management evaluates the performance of the securities on a fair value basis. Under the fair value option, the notes receivable are measured at each reporting period based upon their exit value in an orderly transaction and unrealized gains or losses from changes in fair value are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Investment in convertible notes receivable at fair value totaled $0 as of December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate cost of the investment in convertible notes receivable accounted for under the fair value option was $0, which included principal balances of $2,000 and the change in fair value of $2,000.
Concentrations of credit risk and other risks and uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with reputable financial institutions. The Company’s cash accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 per financial institution in the United States. The Company's cash equivalent securities are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (“SIPC”) up to $500,000 per account, with a limit of $250,000 in cash. The Company has not experienced any credit losses in such accounts. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss.
The Company is currently not profitable and no assurance can be provided that it will ever be profitable. The Company’s research and development activities have required significant investment since inception and operations are expected to continue to require cash investment in excess of its revenues. See also Note 1, Going Concern, for more information.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of property and equipment, which range from three to seven years. Leasehold
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining terms of the respective leases or the estimated lives of the assets. Depreciation begins at the time the asset is placed in service.
Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 resulted from an analysis of the Company’s right-of-use asset related to its office lease. No impairment losses were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Warrants
The Company accounts for freestanding warrants within stockholder’s equity or as liabilities based on the characteristics and provisions of each instrument. The Company evaluates outstanding warrants in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. If none of the criteria in the evaluation in these standards are met, the warrants are classified as a component of stockholders’ equity and initially recorded at their grant date fair value without subsequent remeasurement. Warrants that meet the criteria are classified as liabilities and remeasured to their fair value, estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, at the end of each reporting period with changes in the fair value of the liability recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Revenue recognition
The core principle of ASC Topic 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”) requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company allocates the transaction price to all contractual performance obligations included in the contract. If a contract has more than one performance obligation, we allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation based on standalone selling price, which depicts the amount of consideration we expect to be entitled in exchange for satisfying each performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue when it was satisfied or fulfilled it’s obligation to the customer.
Equity-based compensation
The Company measures the cost of equity-based awards at fair value and records the cost of the awards, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company measures fair value for all common stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of common stock option awards is affected by the valuation assumptions, including the expected volatility based on comparable market participants, expected term of the common stock option, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. For all equity-based awards, the fair value measurement date is the date of grant and the requisite service period is the period over which the recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based awards, which is generally the vesting period.
Segments and geographic information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment. All long-lived assets of the Company are located in the United States.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at contract inception. Operating lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized on the balance sheet at the commencement date of the lease based upon the present value of lease payments over the lease term. When determining the lease term, the Company includes options to extend or to terminate the lease when it is
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company uses the implicit interest rate when readily determinable and uses the Company’s incremental borrowing rate when the implicit rate is not readily determinable based upon the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of the lease payments.
The lease payments used to determine the Company’s operating lease assets may include lease incentives, stated rent increases and escalation clauses linked to rates of inflation when determinable. In addition, the Company’s lease arrangements may contain lease and non-lease components. The Company combines lease and non-lease components, which are accounted for together as a single lease component. Variable lease payments, such as real estate taxes and facility maintenance costs that are allocated by the lessor to the lessee and are not based on an index or a rate, are excluded from the measurement of the lease liability.
Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term leases, defined as leases that have a lease term of twelve months or less at the commencement date, are excluded from this treatment and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Costs for variable lease payments that are not included in the lease liability are recognized as expense as incurred.
Research and development expense
Research and development expenses are charged to expense as incurred in performing research and development activities in accordance with ASC 730, Research and Development. The costs include employee‐related expenses including salaries, benefits, and stock‐based compensation expense, costs of funding research performed by third parties that conduct research and development and preclinical and clinical activities on the Company’s behalf, the cost of purchasing lab supplies and non‐capital equipment used in preclinical and clinical activities and in manufacturing preclinical and clinical study materials, consultant fees, facility costs including rent, depreciation and maintenance expenses, fees for acquiring and maintaining licenses under third party licensing agreements, including any sublicensing or success payments made to the Company’s licensors, and overhead and other expenses directly related to research and development operations. In accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the Company’s estimate, the accrual or prepaid is adjusted accordingly. The Company defers and capitalizes non-refundable advance payments made by the Company for research and development activities until the related goods are received or the related services are performed. In circumstances where amounts have been paid in excess of costs incurred, the Company records a prepaid expense.
Income taxes
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of its assets and liabilities and the expected benefits of net operating loss carryforwards. The impact of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred taxes, if any, is applied during the years in which temporary differences are expected to be settled and is reflected in the financial statements in the period of enactment. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, if, based on weight of the evidence, it is more likely than not that some, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company established a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
Segment Reporting Disclosures
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which will require companies to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The pronouncement is effective for annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company adopted this standard for our fiscal year 2024 annual financial statements and interim financial statements thereafter and have applied this standard retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements. See Note 9 – Segment Reporting for further information.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income -Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses.” The standard requires that public business entities disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements for interim and annual reporting periods. The standard will become effective for us for our fiscal year 2027 annual financial statements and interim financial statements thereafter and may be applied prospectively to periods after the adoption date or retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the financial statements, with early adoption permitted. The Company plans to adopt the standard when it becomes effective in our fiscal year 2027 annual financial statements, and the Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the disclosures included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income Tax Disclosures
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 aims to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 modifies the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose (1) specific categories in the rate reconciliation, (2) the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and (3) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). Update 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state and local jurisdictions, among other changes. Update No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company has not yet adopted this standard for our fiscal year 2024 annual financial statements and is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on the disclosures included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 10 – Income Taxes for further information.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
3. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
December 31,
Prepaid franchise tax — 259
Prepaid professional fees 70 95
Prepaid software 61 72
Prepaid expenses and other current assets $ 644 $ 1,193
Other noncurrent assets
December 31,
Restricted cash $ — $ 1,200
Prepaid insurance, noncurrent 1,357 1,785
Property and equipment, net
December 31,
Scientific equipment $ 246 $ 246
Computers and software 3 3
Furniture and fixtures 30 30
Property and equipment, gross 279 279
Less: accumulated depreciation (253) (225)
Property and equipment, net $ 26 $ 54
Depreciation and amortization expense was $28 and $634, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold scientific equipment with a net book value of $1,834 and recognized a loss of $920 in the accompanying statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. There were no sales in 2024.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
December 31,
Current lease liability $ 722 $ 626
Accrued payroll-related expenses — 71
Accrued litigation legal fee 1,138 —
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities $ 2,040 $ 879
4. Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable
In May 2023, the Company entered into two subscription agreements to purchase non-guaranteed private placement convertible notes receivable (the “Notes Receivable”) for a subscription amount of $1 million each. The Notes Receivable mature in May 2026 and the yield to maturity is 4.5% per annum. The Company has the option to request that the issuer redeem part or the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable on the first anniversary after the issue date and every three months thereafter before the maturity date. The conversion ratio will be one hundred percent (100%) of the Notes Receivable’s face value. The Company also has the ability to convert the debt into shares based on the number of shares computed by dividing the face value of each security by a calculated conversion price, which is subject to adjustment provisions, determined at the time of issuance. The securities may be converted from May 3, 2024, the first anniversary of the issue date of the first agreement, to April 15, 2026, one month prior to the maturity date to the second agreement. In March 2024, the Company notified the issuer of the Notes Receivable that it was exercising its redemption right with respect to the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable after the first anniversary of their issue dates (May 3 and May 16, 2024, respectively) for an aggregate redemption price of $2.090 million (representing the principal amount plus 4.5% per annum yield to the redemption date). The issuer has taken the position that the Notes Receivable are not redeemable until August 3, 2024 and August 16, 2024.
The Company’s debt securities are classified as AFS pursuant to ASC 320 - Investments - Debt Securities. AFS securities are recorded at fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2023, management did not believe these AFS investments are recoverable and booked a change in fair value to record them at a fair value of $0 and believes their fair value is still $0 as of December 31, 2024.
5. Leases
The Company’s lease arrangements at December 31, 2024 consist of (i) a lease for office space at its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois that commenced in July 2020 (the “Chicago Lease”) and (ii) leases for office equipment (the “Office Equipment Leases”). The Chicago Lease and the Office Equipment Leases are classified as operating leases. See the subsequent event footnote for information on the early termination of the Chicago lease that terminated in February 2025.
Chicago Lease
The Company has approximately thirty thousand square feet of office space in Chicago, Illinois (the “Chicago Lease”). The original term (the “Original Term”) of the Chicago Lease is 10 years, commencing on July 1, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”), which is the date the premises were ready for occupancy under the terms of the Chicago Lease. The Company has options to extend the term of the Chicago Lease for two additional successive periods of five years each (the “Extension Periods”) at the then prevailing effective market rental rate.
The initial annual base rent during the Original Term is approximately $1,113 for the first 12-month period of the Original Term, payable in monthly installments beginning on the Commencement Date. Base rent thereafter is subject to annual increases of 3%, for an aggregate amount of $12,761 over the Original Term. The Company must also pay its proportionate share of certain operating expenses and taxes for each calendar year during the term.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
During the first 12-month period of the Original Term, the base rent and the Company's proportionate share of operating expenses and taxes are subject to certain abatements.
Upon execution of the Chicago Lease, the Company paid to the landlord the first installment of base rent and the estimated monthly amount of its pro rata share of taxes and its pro rata share of operating expenses in the aggregate amount of $87 which amount had been adjusted for the abatement as set forth in the lease agreement. The Company also paid the landlord a net amount of $697 toward tenant improvements.
As part of the agreement for the Chicago Lease, the Company is required to maintain a standby letter of credit during the term of the lease, which had a balance of $109 at December 31, 2024, and was secured by a restricted certificate of deposit account and presented within current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2024.
The Company recognized a right of use asset of $8,931 and a lease liability of $8,147 on the Commencement Date. Because the rate implicit in the Chicago Lease is not readily determinable, the Company used its incremental borrowing rate of 8.3% on the Commencement Date to determine the present value of the lease payments over the Original Term. The incremental borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate the Company would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of a lease. The weighted-average discount rate related to the Company’s operating lease asset and related operating lease liabilities was 8.3%. See Footnote 17 - Subsequent Events for details on the early termination of the Chicago Lease.
The following table summarizes lease costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations:
December 31,
Operating lease costs $ 858 $ 789
Short term lease costs 41 —
The Company made cash payments for operating leases of $1,217 and $1,808 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On June 11, 2024, the Company received a formal notice from its landlord indicating the landlord will draw on the restricted cash account designated for the lease as a result of past due rent for December 2023 through June 2024. The landlord continued to make monthly withdrawals from the restricted cash account and the Company is current on its rent payments. These draws are within the terms and conditions of the lease and the related restricted cash account.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Maturities of the Company’s lease liability as of December 31, 2024 were as follows:
Years Ending December 31, Operating Leases
Less: imputed interest (1,439)
Total lease liability $ 5,935
Current operating lease liability $ 722
Noncurrent operating lease liability 5,213
Total lease liability $ 5,935
Sublease of Office Space
The Company entered into a sublease agreement with Cyclopure, Inc. (the “Subtenant”) to sublease approximately 57% of its office space pursuant to that certain sublease agreement (the “Sublease Agreement”), dated as of May 4, 2023. The term of the Sublease Agreement began on May 15, 2023 and ends on June 30, 2030, the expiration date of the Chicago Lease. The first three months under the Sublease Agreement are rent free. Beginning August 15, 2023, the Company began charging the Subtenant for 57% of the base rent under the Chicago Lease, and the subtenant is responsible for its pro rata share of operating expenses and taxes payable.
In 2024, the Company did not receive payments from the Subtenant as the Subtenant paid $584 directly to the Company’s landlord. In 2023, the Subtenant paid the Company $550. On October 21, 2024, the Subtenant provided notice that it is exercising its right to termination under the Sublease, effective as of November 30, 2024. However, the Company sent a formal notice disputing the subtenant’s right to terminate the Sublease as the provisions for termination were not met and has $121 in other receivables related to the Subtenant’s past due rent.
6. Debt
On May 3, 2024, the Company executed a promissory note (“Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $300 from an individual investor. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) May 3, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity.
On June 3, 2024, the Company executed another promissory note (“DGP Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $700 from DGP, a related party. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) March 25, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this DGP Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity.
On September 11, 2024, the Company executed two Debt for Equity Exchange Agreements converting the existing debt and related interest described above into shares of its common stock. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the Note into 101,991 of its common stock shares. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the DGP Note into 237,223 shares of its common stock. As this was considered a troubled debt restructuring with a related party, the difference between fair value and book value was recognized within additional paid in capital.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
7. Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company has 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 authorized and no shares issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The Company has 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001, authorized. As of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 6,026,841 and 1,832,988 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
The holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the Company’s stockholders and there are no cumulative rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by the Board out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding. The Company’s common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock. The outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Common Stock Purchase Agreements
In an agreement dated November 6, 2024 and executed on November 12, 2024, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Initial Common Stock Purchase Agreement”) with HiTron Systems Inc. (“HiTron”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to HiTron 433,333 shares (the “Initial Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), at a purchase price of $3.00 per share (the “Initial Purchase”).
On November 13, 2024, in a subsequent agreement (the “Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement”), the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Subsequent Shares” and together with the Initial Shares, the “Shares”), for $8.7 million, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share (the “Subsequent Purchase”). The Subsequent Common Stock Purchase Agreement provides HiTron with the right to nominate additional members of the Board in proportion to its equity interest, subject to approval by the Board and compliance with SEC and Nasdaq rules.
On December 9, 2024, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with SangSangIn Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. (“SangSang”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to SangSang 433,332 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), at a purchase price of $4.61 per share.
On December 10, 2024, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “MIRTO Purchase Agreement”) with MIRTO Co., LTD. (“MIRTO”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to MIRTO 87,808 shares of our Common Stock, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $0.5 million, at a purchase price per share of $4.61. The transactions under the MIRTO Purchase Agreement closed on December 24, 2024.
Registration Rights Agreements
In connection with the HiTron Common Stock Purchase Agreements and SangSang Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into registration rights agreements (the “Registration Rights Agreements”) with HiTron and SangSang, pursuant to which the Company agreed to register the resale of the Shares. Under these
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Registration Rights Agreements, the Company has agreed to file registration statements covering the resale of the Shares no later than the sixth (60th) day following the applicable closing (the “Filing Deadline”). The Company has agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof but in any event on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in these Registration Rights Agreements), and to keep such registration statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date the Shares covered by such registration statement have been sold or may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction, or (ii) the date that is two (2) years following the applicable closing date. The Company has also agreed, among other things, to pay all reasonable fees and expenses (excluding any underwriters’ discounts and commissions and all fees and expenses of legal counsel, accountants and other advisors for HiTron or SangSang except as specifically provided in these Registration Rights Agreements) incident to the performance of or compliance with these Registration Rights Agreements by the Company.
In the event a registration statement has not been filed within 90 days following the closing date, subject to certain limited exceptions, then the Company has agreed to make pro rata payments to HiTron as liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.5% of the aggregate amount invested by HiTron in the Shares per 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof for each such month during which such event continues, subject to certain caps set forth in the Registration Rights Agreements.
The Filing Deadline has passed for both of these agreements, however, the Company is making its best efforts to file such registration statements as soon as reasonably possible.
September 2022 PIPE
Securities Purchase Agreement
On September 26, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with CBI USA, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to CBI USA in a private placement an aggregate of 680,000 shares of Common Stock, at a purchase price of $8.00 per share. The private placement closed on February 24, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). The Company received gross proceeds of $5,440 from the September 2022 PIPE (or net proceeds of $4,597 after transaction expenses).
CBI USA funded the acquisition pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement through a loan from its affiliate, DGP Co., Ltd. (“DGP”). On June 23, 2023, DGP exercised its the option pursuant to the loan and acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially acquired by CBI USA pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. DGP subsequently agreed to sell its shares to a third party, with the closing of 10% (68,000 shares) occurring in February 2024, and sold 424,611 to another third party on February 24, 2025. CBI USA and DGP, collectively, beneficially own 9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on information available to the Company.
September 2022 Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with CBI USA (the “Registration Rights Agreement’). CBI USA assigned its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement to DGP when DGP acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially sold to CBI USA. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable, and to keep such registration statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date the shares covered by such registration statement have been sold or may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction, or (ii) the date that is two (2) years following the Closing Date.
In the event the registration statement was not filed within 90 days following the Closing Date, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Company agreed to make payments as liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.5% of the aggregate amount invested in the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement per 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof for each such month during which such event
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
continues, subject to certain caps set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company paid $27 to CBI USA and accrued $191 to DGP pursuant to this provision. On February 19, 2025, the Company received a waiver letter from DGP confirming they agreed to waive the outstanding $191 penalty amount owed to DGP. On February 24, 2025, DGP sold 424,611 of their shares to an unaffiliated company.
Common Stock Warrants
Warrants to purchase 115,253 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share that were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction remained outstanding. The warrants are classified as equity. As a result of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE, a warrant holder elected to exercise their option within 30 days of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE (February 24, 2023) to receive a cash payout for the outstanding warrants in the amount of the Black-Scholes value of each warrant as prescribed in the warrant agreement. The Company paid $800 to this warrant holder on June 23, 2023 and 105,231 warrants were settled as a result.
As of December 31, 2024, warrants to purchase 10,022 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share that were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction remain outstanding.
8. Equity-Based Compensation
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
On September 22, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the Exicure, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which became effective on November 15, 2017. The 2017 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive awards of up to 38,950 shares of Exicure common stock, which includes 14,466 shares of Exicure common stock to be issued to officers, employees, consultants and directors, plus a number of shares not to exceed 25,559 that are subject to issued and outstanding awards under the Exicure OpCo 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and were assumed in the merger transaction on September 26, 2017. Awards that may be awarded under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan include non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, bonus shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and cash-based awards. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan automatically increases on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2020, by the lesser of (i) 30,667 shares, (ii) 5% of the total number of shares of its capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or (iii) a lesser number of shares determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). No future awards will be made under the 2015 Plan upon the effectiveness of the 2017 Plan. On January 1, 2024, pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Plan, the number of awards that are reserved and may be awarded under the 2017 Plan was automatically increased by 30,667 awards. As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate number of awards available for grant under the 2017 Plan was 121,700.
Awards granted under the 2017 Plan are contingent on the participants’ continued employment or provision of non-employee services and are subject to forfeiture if employment or continued service terminates for any reason. The initial award granted to an employee or consultant generally vests 25% on the first 12-month anniversary of the grant date and vests 1/48th monthly thereafter until fully vested at the end of 48 months. Subsequent awards granted to employees or consultants generally vest 1/48th monthly until fully vested at the end of 48 months. The initial stock option grant to a non-employee director vests 1/36th monthly until fully vested at the end of 36 months. Subsequent stock option grants to a non-employee director vests 1/12th monthly until fully vested at the end of 12 months. The term of common stock option grants is 10 years unless terminated earlier as described above.
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) was adopted by the Board in September 2017 and approved by the Company’s stockholders in September 2017. Through the ESPP, eligible employees may authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their compensation to purchase common stock. The maximum number of shares that an employee may purchase on any exercise date in an offer period will be the smaller of (i) 50 shares or (ii) such number of shares as has a fair market value (determined as of the offering date for such offer period) equal to $25,000 within one calendar year minus the fair market value of any other shares of common stock that are attributed to such calendar year. The purchase price per share at each purchase date is equal to 85% of the lower of (i) the closing market price per share of Exicure common stock on the employee’s offering date or (ii) the closing market price per share of Exicure common stock on the exercise date. Each offering period is approximately six-months in duration and the first offering period began on November 16, 2020 and ended on May 14, 2021. No shares were issued during 2024 or 2023.
The ESPP provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2018 and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2027, by the least of (i) 2,000 shares; (ii) 0.3% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year; or (iii) a lesser number of shares determined by the Board. As of December 31, 2024, there were 12,394 shares available for issuance under the ESPP. On January 1, 2025, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the ESPP increased by 10,000 shares.
Equity-based compensation expense is classified in the statements of operations as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
Research and development expense $ — $ 154
General and administrative expense 22 1,194
Unamortized equity-based compensation expense at December 31, 2024 was $10, which is expected to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 0.9 years.
The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of common stock option grants. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The model also requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. In addition to an assumption on the expected term of the option grants as discussed below, application of the Black-Scholes model requires additional inputs for which we have assumed the values described in the table below:
Year EndedDecember 31,
Expected term 5.8 to 5.8 years
Risk-free interest rate 3.83% to 3.83%; weighted avg. 3.83%
Forfeiture rate 5 %
Expected dividend yield — %
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
The expected term is based upon the “simplified method” as described in Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 14.D.2. Currently, the Company does not have sufficient experience to provide a reasonable estimate of an expected term of its common stock options. The Company will continue to use the “simplified method” until there is sufficient experience to provide a more reasonable estimate in conformance with ASC 718-10-30-25 through 30-26. The risk-free interest rate assumptions were based on the U.S. Treasury bond rate appropriate for the expected term in effect at the time of grant. For stock options granted after December 31, 2021, the expected volatility is based on the volatility of shares of the Company. For stock options granted prior to January 1, 2022, the expected volatility is based on calculated enterprise value volatilities for publicly traded companies in the same industry and general stage of development. The estimated forfeiture rates were based on historical experience for similar classes of employees. The dividend yield was based on expected dividends at the time of grant.
The fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price for the common stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 is summarized in the table below. No options were granted during 2024.
The weighted-average grant date fair value of common stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2023 was $6.30 per common stock option, respectively.
A summary of common stock option activity as of the periods indicated is as follows:
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EXICURE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
A summary of restricted stock unit activity of the periods indicated is as follows:
Restricted Stock Units Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Granted — —
The grant date fair value of restricted stock units is based on the Company’s closing stock price at the date of grant. At vesting, each outstanding restricted stock unit will be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock. The restricted stock units granted in the past generally vest evenly on a quarterly basis over a period of 4 years in exchange for continued service provided by the restricted stock unit recipient during that vesting period.
A summary of performance-based restricted stock unit activity of the periods indicated is as follows:
Restricted Stock Units Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance - December 31, 2023 — $ —
Unvested balance - December 31, 2024 — $ —
The grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock units is based on the Company’s closing stock price at the date of grant. At vesting, each outstanding restricted stock unit will be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock. Certain performance metrics must be met by the performance measurement date in 2023 in order for the performance-based restricted stock units granted during 2022 to vest as follows: one-third on May 16, 2023, one-third on May 16, 2024, and one-third on May 16, 2025, in exchange for continued service provided by the performance-based restricted stock unit recipient during that vesting period.
Repricing of Outstanding and Unexercised Options
On March 24, 2022, the Board unanimously approved the repricing of all outstanding and unexercised stock options granted under the 2015 Plan and 2017 Plan (the “Plans”) and held by current employees, executive officers, and directors of the Company (the “Eligible Stock Options”). Effective April 1, 2022, the exercise price of the eligible stock options was reduced to $5.51, the closing price of its common stock on April 1, 2022. Except for the modification to the exercise price of the Eligible Stock Options, all other terms and conditions of each of the Eligible Stock Options will remain in full force and effect.
Pursuant to the Plans, the Board, as the administrator of the Plans, has discretionary authority, exercisable on such terms and conditions that it deems appropriate under the circumstances, to reduce the exercise price in effect for outstanding options under the Plans. In approving the repricing, the Board considered the impact of the current exercise prices of outstanding stock options on the incentives provided to employees and directors, the lack of retention value provided by the outstanding stock options to employees and directors, and the impact of such options on the capital structure of the Company. As of March 24, 2022, there were 46,645 stock options outstanding under
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
the Plans, and all of the Company’s outstanding stock options had exercise prices in excess of the current fair market value of the Company’s common stock as of March 24, 2022, which is why the Board made the determination to deem all outstanding and unexercised stock options held by current employees, executive officers, and directors as Eligible Stock Options.
9. Segment Reporting
The Company manages our business activities on a consolidated basis and operate as a single operating segment: Biotechnology. Our revenue this year was solely from one patent license agreement with a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, this biopharmaceutical company will receive an exclusive license in the field of hepatitis to all of the Company’s relevant patents for $500, see Note 16 for further details. The accounting policies of the Biotechnology segment are the same as those described in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
Our CODM is our President and Chief Executive Officer, Andy Yoo. The CODM uses net loss, as reported on our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, in evaluating performance of the Biotechnology segment and determining how to allocate resources of the Company as a whole. The CODM does not review assets in evaluating the results of the Biotechnology segment, and therefore, such information is not presented.
The following table provides the operating financial results of our Biotechnology segment:
Year Ended December 31,
Total revenues $ 500 $ —
Significant segment expenses:
Research and development expense — 1,423
General and administrative expense 5,449 11,715
Right-of-use asset impairment loss 5,721 —
Loss from sale of property and equipment — 920
Interest and dividend income 13 84
Interest expense (18) —
Other income (expense) 2,544 (2)
Total other income (expense) 2,539 (1,918)
10. Income Taxes
Pre-tax loss before income taxes was $9,693 and $16,914 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which consists entirely of losses in the U.S. and resulted in $8 and $0 provision for income tax expense during the years then ended, respectively.
Components for the provision for income taxes consist of the following:
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Current
Federal $ — $ —
State and local 8 —
Total current tax expense $ 8 $ —
Provision for income tax expense $ 8 $ —
The differences between income taxes computed using the U.S. federal income tax rate and the provision for income taxes are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,