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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America. In September 2018, the Board of Directors of the Company, pursuant to the bylaws and based upon the recommendation of its Audit Committee, approved a change in the Company's fiscal year end from December 31 to September 30. The Company's fiscal year now begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of each year, starting on October 1, 2018 ("the nine month transition period"). For comparative purposes, the transition period of January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018 is included in the consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Management's Use of Estimates

Management's Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash. The Company's cash is held by one financial institution in the United States. Amounts on deposit may at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits since inception, and management believes that minimal credit risk exists with respect to these financial institutions. As of September 30, 2019, the Company had $11,749 of deposits in excess of federally insured amounts.

Common Stock Valuation

Common Stock Valuation

 

As of September 30, 2019, the Company is utilizing pricing as quoted on the OTC Market as the basis for the fair value of the Company's common stock. Prior to September 30, 2019, the Company utilized methodologies in accordance with the framework of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Technical Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, to estimate the fair value of its common stock (the "AICPA Valuation Framework"). The valuation methodology included estimates and assumptions that required the Company's judgment. These estimates and assumptions included a number of objective and subjective factors, including external market conditions affecting the biotechnology industry sector, and the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an offering or sale. Significant changes to the key assumptions used in the valuations would result in different fair values of common stock at each of those valuation dates.

 

Prior to September 30, 2019, the Company estimated its enterprise value on a continuing operations basis, using the market approach, with certain adjustments relating to the thinly traded status of the Company. The traded price of the Company was deemed not to be an entirely reliable indication of fair market value given the lack of trading liquidity. Therefore, in addition to applying partial weighting to the traded price, the Company relied on forward revenue multiples from guideline public companies ("GPC") for calendar years 2019 through 2021 and on the sales price of the Company's common stock in recent private placement transactions (see Note 10 – Stockholders' Deficit). The resulting equity value from the GPC method portion was allocated to common stock using the option pricing method, and a discount for lack of marketability was applied. Based on the above methodology and weightings, the Company derived a valuation conclusion that ranged from $2.05 to $2.52 per common share for the periods presented through June 30, 2019, the last date for which an evaluation was performed under the AICPA Valuation Framework.

 

The fair value the Company's common stock is used as an input into the fair value determination of the warrants, stock option or other equity awards that the Company has issued or are outstanding liabilities at a reporting date.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company's accounting for fair value measurements of assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring or nonrecurring basis adheres to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the Company at the measurement date.
   
Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
   
Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the fair values of cash, prepaids and other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and the unsecured loans, while outstanding, approximated their carrying values because of the short-term nature of these assets or liabilities. The estimated fair value of the convertible promissory notes of the Company, while outstanding, was based on amortized cost which was deemed to approximate fair value. The fair value of the warrant liability and the premium conversion derivatives associated with the convertible promissory notes of the Company, while outstanding, were based on both the estimated fair value of our common stock of $2.29 and $2.30 per share as of their conversion on February 28, 2019 and as of September 30, 2018, respectively, and cash flow models discounted at current implied market rates evidenced in recent arms-length transactions representing expected returns by market participants for similar instruments and are based on Level 3 inputs. There were no transfers between fair value hierarchy levels during the year ended September 30, 2019 and the nine month transition period ended September 30, 2018.

 

The fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis is as follows: 

 

   As of September 30, 2018 
Description  Total   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Liabilities:                
Warrant liability  $817,155   $   $   $817,155 
Premium conversion derivatives   308,395            308,395 
Total liabilities at fair value  $1,125,550   $   $   $1,125,550 

  

The following table provides a roll-forward of the warrant liability and premium debt conversion derivatives measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable level 3 inputs for the year ended September 30, 2019 and the nine month transition period ended September 30, 2018:

 

   2019   2018 
Warrant liability        
Balance as of beginning of period  $817,155   $1,381,465 
Value assigned to warrants in connection with convertible promissory and short-term notes       579,873 
Change in fair value of warrant liability   18,568    35,235 
Reclassification to equity   (835,723)   (1,179,418)
Balance as of end of period  $   $817,155 

 

   2019   2018 
Premium debt conversion derivatives        
Balance as of beginning of period  $308,395   $462,174 
Value assigned to the underlying derivatives in connection with convertible promissory notes       218,052 
Change in fair value of premium debt conversion derivatives   111,195    (371,831)
Reclassification to equity upon conversion of convertible promissory notes   (419,590)    
Balance as of end of period  $   $308,395 
Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

 

The Company has entered into two licensing agreements with major research institutions, which allows for access to certain patented technology and know-how. Payments under those agreements are capitalized and amortized to general and administrative expense over the expected useful life of the acquired technology.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is recorded at cost and reduced by accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. The estimated useful life for equipment ranges from three to five years and three years for software. Tangible assets acquired for research and development activities and have alternative use are capitalized over the useful life of the acquired asset. Estimated useful lives are periodically reviewed, and when appropriate, changes are made prospectively. Software purchased for internal use consists primarily of amounts paid for perpetual licenses to third-party software providers and installation costs. When certain events or changes in operating conditions occur, asset lives may be adjusted and an impairment assessment may be performed on the recoverability of the carrying amounts. Maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, which consist of licensed intellectual property and property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets by determining whether or not the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through undiscounted expected future cash flows. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset. The Company determined that no impairment triggers existed during the periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt Issuance Costs

 

Debt issuance costs are recorded as a reduction of the convertible promissory notes and short-term notes when applicable. Amortization of debt issuance costs is calculated using the straight-line method over the term of the convertible promissory notes, which approximates the effective interest method, and is recorded in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs

 

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development expenses may comprise of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including clinical trial costs, manufacturing costs for both clinical and pre-clinical materials as well as other contracted services, license fees, and other external costs. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity is performed or when the goods have been received, rather than when payment is made, in accordance with ASC 730, Research and Development. Lastly, de minimis income from the sale of prototype products and related materials are offset against research and development expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

   

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (ASC 718). Accordingly, compensation costs related to equity instruments granted are recognized at the grant-date fair value. The Company records forfeitures when they occur. Stock-based compensation arrangements to non-employees are accounted for in accordance with the applicable provisions of ASC 718 and ASC 505, Equity, using a fair value approach.

Warrant Liability

Warrant Liability

 

The Company issued warrants to purchase equity securities in connection with the issuance of convertible promissory notes (See Note 7– Short-Term Promissory Notes and Unsecured Loans and Note 8 – Convertible Promissory Notes and Warrant Agreements). The Company accounts for these warrants as a liability at fair value when the number of shares is not fixed and determinable in cases where warrant pricing protections in future equity financings are not available to other common stockholders. Additionally, issuance costs associated with the warrant liability are expensed as incurred and reflected as interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company adjusts the liability for changes in fair value until the earlier of the exercise or expiration of the warrants for any period when pricing protections in future equity financings remain in place, or until such time, if any, as the number of shares to be exercised becomes fixed, at which point the warrants will be classified in stockholders' (deficit) equity provided that there are sufficient authorized and unissued shares of common stock to settle the warrants and redeem any other contracts that may require settlement in shares of common stock. Any future change in fair value of the warrant liability, when outstanding, is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

Premium Debt Conversion Derivatives

Premium Debt Conversion Derivatives

 

The Company evaluates all conversion and redemption features contained in a debt instrument to determine if there are any embedded derivatives that require separation from the host debt instrument. An embedded derivative that requires separation is bifurcated from its host debt instrument and a corresponding discount to the host debt instrument is recorded. The discount is amortized and recorded to interest expense over the term of the host debt instrument using the straight-line method which approximates the effective interest method.  The separated embedded derivatives are accounted for separately on a fair value basis. The Company records the fair value changes of separated embedded derivatives at each reporting period in the consolidated statements of operations (See Note 7– Short-Term Promissory Notes and Unsecured Loans and Note 8 – Convertible Promissory Notes and Warrant Agreements). The Company determined that the redemption features under the convertible promissory notes qualified as embedded derivatives and therefore separated from the debt host with regard to the convertible promissory notes.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

 

For the Company, income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax base and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion of all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Net Loss Per Share

Net Loss Per Share

 

For the Company, basic loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.

 

Diluted earnings or loss per share of common stock is computed similarly to basic earnings or loss per share except the weighted average shares outstanding are increased to include additional shares from the assumed exercise of any common stock equivalents, if dilutive. The Company's convertible promissory notes, warrants and stock options and restricted stock units are considered common stock equivalents for this purpose. Diluted earnings is computed utilizing the treasury method for the warrants, restricted stock units and stock options. Diluted earnings with respect to the convertible promissory notes utilizing the if-converted method was not applicable during the year ended September 30, 2019 or the nine month transition period ended September 30, 2018 as no conditions required for conversion had occurred during these periods. No incremental common stock equivalents were included in calculating diluted loss per share because such inclusion would be anti-dilutive given the net loss reported for the year ended September 30, 2019 and the nine month transition period ended September 30, 2018.

 

The following potential common shares were not considered in the computation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the year ended September 30, 2019 and the nine month transition period ended September 30, 2018:

 

   2019   2018 
Warrants   7,265,598    2,927,572(1)
Stock options   845,840    368,216 
Restricted stock units   31,515     

 

(1)As of September 30, 2018, there were additional potential warrants to be included which would be known, if and when a qualified financing event greater than $3 million or a change of control transaction occurs in the future.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

 In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in FASB ASC 605. The new guidance primarily states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. In January 2017 and September 2017, the FASB issued several amendments to ASU 2014-09, including updates stemming from SEC Accounting Staff Announcement in July 2017. The amendments and updates included clarification on accounting for principal versus agent considerations (i.e., reporting gross versus net), licenses of intellectual property and identification of performance obligations. These amendments and updates do not change the core principle of the standard but provide clarity and implementation guidance. The Company has adopted this standard on October 1, 2018 and selected the modified retrospective transition method. The Company modified its accounting policies to reflect the requirements of this standard; however, the adoption did not affect the Company's financial statements and related disclosures for this period as the Company has yet to generate any revenues.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and subsequently amended the guidance relating largely to transition considerations under the standard in January 2017 and July 2018. The objective of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company plans to adopt the standard on October 1, 2019, and will apply the modified retrospective approach to each lease in existence at the adoption date to the extent a lease is subject to this guidance. As such, the Company would not restate comparative periods and would recognize any cumulative adjustment to retained earnings on the date of the adoption. The Company also plans to elect the package of practical expedients provided under the standard. The new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's statements of comprehensive loss or statements of cash flows for agreements in place as of September 30, 2019. The finalization of our assessment may result in significant changes to our estimates.

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and Derivatives and Hedging, which changes the accounting and earnings per share for certain instruments with down round features. The amendments in this ASU should be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the fiscal year or retrospective adjustment to each period presented and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 for public business entities, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this new guidance and has not yet determined its impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2018-07), which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should generally apply the requirements of Topic 718 to nonemployee awards except in circumstances where there is specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost. ASU 2018-07 specifies that Topic 718 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor's own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. The guidance also clarifies that Topic 718 does not apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (1) financing to the issuer or (2) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, but no earlier than an entity's adoption date of ASC 606. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-07 effective October 1, 2018. The guidance did not have an impact to the Company's financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (ASU 2018-13). The new guidance modifies the disclosure requirements in Topic 820 as follows:

 

  Removals: the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; the policy for timing of transfers between levels; and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements.
     
  Modifications: for investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, an entity is required to disclose the timing of liquidation of an investee's assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse only if the investee has communicated the timing to the entity or announced the timing publicly; and the amendments clarify that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date.

 

  Additions: the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period; and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.

 

This guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should all be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of ASU 2018-13 and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its financial statements.