COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Litigation The Company is, from time to time, subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company intends to defend vigorously against any future claims and litigation. On March 5, 2024, a former employee, filed a complaint against us in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County, alleging breach of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”). The complaint specifically alleges that we violated the provisions of the CEPA by allegedly terminating the employee in retaliation for complaining about certain business practices. We dispute these allegations and intend to vigorously defend against them, but there can be no assurance as to the outcome of the litigation. Royalty Agreement The Company is party to various royalty and license agreements that require the payment of royalty fees. Royalty expense amounted to approximately $1.9 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Royalty expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The decrease in royalty fees in 2024 was the result of the expiration of a 4% royalty in August of 2024, net of increases in revenue applicable to royalty agreements. 401 (k) Plan In June 2014, the Company formed the CytoSorbents 401(k) Plan. The plan is a defined contribution plan as described in section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) covering substantially all full-time employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan on the first day of the calendar quarter following three full months of employment. Participants may defer up to 100% of their eligible compensation subject to certain IRC limitations. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company changed its matching contribution to 100% of the participants contribution up to three percent of compensation plus 50% of the participants contribution over three percent of compensation up to a maximum of five percent of compensation. Matching contributions amounted to $472,022 and $405,408 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is, from time to time, subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company intends to defend vigorously against any future claims and litigation.

On March 5, 2024, a former employee, filed a complaint against us in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Mercer County, alleging breach of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (“CEPA”). The complaint specifically alleges that we violated the provisions of the CEPA by allegedly terminating the employee in retaliation for complaining about certain business practices. We dispute these allegations and intend to vigorously defend against them, but there can be no assurance as to the outcome of the litigation.

Royalty Agreement

The Company is party to various royalty and license agreements that require the payment of royalty fees. Royalty expense amounted to approximately $1.9 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Royalty expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The decrease in royalty fees in 2024 was the result of the expiration of a 4% royalty in August of 2024, net of increases in revenue applicable to royalty agreements.

401 (k) Plan

In June 2014, the Company formed the CytoSorbents 401(k) Plan. The plan is a defined contribution plan as described in section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) covering substantially all full-time employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan on the first day of the calendar quarter following three full months of employment. Participants may defer up to 100% of their eligible compensation subject to certain IRC limitations. Effective January 1, 2021, the Company changed its matching contribution to 100% of the participants contribution up to three percent of compensation plus 50% of the participants contribution over three percent of compensation up to a maximum of five percent of compensation. Matching contributions amounted to $472,022 and $405,408 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.