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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

(7) Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Research & Development

The Company has entered contracts with contract research organizations (CROs) and contract manufacturers (CMOs) related the Company's clinical trials. The contracts require upfront payments, milestone payments, and pass through cost reimbursement, to be made. While the contracts are cancellable with (written) notice, the Company is obligated for payments for services rendered through the termination date of the project with the CRO/CMO.

(b) Leases

The Company leases its office facilities under a month-to-month operating lease. Total rental expense was $66,802 and $51,760 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

(c) License Agreement

The Company previously licensed the rights to certain chemical compounds, know-how and intellectual property rights that may be suitable for the development of human therapeutics from a subsidiary of Horizon Therapeutics, PLC (the “Licensor”). Under the license agreement, the Company paid a minimum annual fee of $46,000 and was required to make milestone payments upon attainment of certain milestone events, royalties based on net sales of products covered by the patent-related rights and a portion of any sublicense income received by the Company. The Licensor also granted the Company a buy-out option which was exercisable at any time during the term of the agreement at increasing amounts based on the achievement of certain milestones. The Company had the right to terminate the agreement at any time by giving 90 days advance notice subject to the payment of any amounts due under the agreement at that time. Expenses related to the license agreement were recognized in general and administrative expense in the statements of operations.

In July 2021, the Company gave notice to the Licensor of its termination of the license agreement and the license agreement was terminated effective October 14, 2021. The Company has paid to the Licensor the prorated annual fees through the termination date. No milestones had been achieved as of the termination date.

(d) Employment Agreements

The Company has agreements with its executive officers that provide for severance payments to the employee upon termination of the agreement by the Company for any reason other than for cause, death or disability or by the employee for good reason. The maximum aggregate severance payments under the agreements were approximately $1,291,900 at December 31, 2022.

(e) Litigation

The Company is subject, from time to time, to claims by third parties under various legal disputes. The defense of such claims, or any adverse outcome relating to any such claims, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition and cash flows.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, two securities class action complaints were filed against the Company and its executive officers following disclosure of interim results from the AD/PD Trials. Both complaints were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice by the plaintiffs.

At December 31, 2022, the Company did not have any pending legal actions.

(f) Risks and Uncertainties

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material impact on the Company’s current or future clinical trials is dependent on the spread of the disease and government and healthcare system responses to such spread, which are presently highly uncertain. Management continues to evaluate the potential impact. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.