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Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Dec. 31, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

(a)

Leases

In March 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Inc. (“MBI”) whereby the Company has subleased approximately 2,484 square feet of laboratory space with room for minor administrative functions. The Company was also permitted to use shared laboratory equipment at the facility. The monthly rental was $6,521, and the Company paid an additional amount for its allocated share of operating expenses, which in 2022 was $3,105 per month. In 2022, the Company added the right to use cubicle space outside its laboratory area to its sublease for an additional $650 per month, resulting in total monthly rental of $10,276. The sublease terminated as of February 2023.

Operating Lease

In December 2022, the Company signed an agreement to sublease 4,837 square feet of laboratory and office space in Newton, Massachusetts, from another biopharmaceutical company. The Company considers this sublease an operating lease with estimated right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of approximately $0.9 million recorded upon lease commencement on February 1, 2023. The sublease has a term of 24 months, and the Company has the option to extend the sublease for an additional 12 months. The Company does not believe that the exercise of this option is probable so has not included it in determination of the lease amounts. The base monthly rent is $37,285 during the first 12 months of the lease, $38,403 in the second 12 months, and, if the Company exercises the option to extend the lease, $39,559 in the third 12-month period. In addition, the Company is responsible for its share of operating expenses, real estate taxes, and utilities based on the actual costs of these items.

The following table contains a summary of the lease costs recognized under ASC 842 and other information pertaining to the Company’s operating lease for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Prior to February 1, 2023, the Company had no operating leases with maturities greater than one year. The Company does not recognize any variable lease costs or short-term lease costs in connection with the operating lease.


		Nine Months
		Ended
Operating Leases		September 30, 2023
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)		1.33
Weighted average discount rate		3.6	%


Year ending December 31,
2023		$	111,856
2024			459,749
2025			38,291
Total undiscounted lease payments			609,896
Imputed interest			(15,202)
Lease liability		$	594,694

Rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, was $170,582 and $84,637, respectively, and $464,946 and $245,908 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

(b)	License Agreements

In November 2018, the Company licensed the exclusive rights to certain intellectual property to support development of its therapeutic candidates (“License”). The intellectual property licensed by the Company is owned by The General Hospital Corporation, d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital, (“Licensor”). Payments by the Company under the license agreement included a one-time non-refundable fee of $50,000 paid after execution of the License; reimbursement of Licensor’s patent costs which, at execution of the License, were approximately $145,000; a minimum annual license fee of $25,000 payable within 60 days of each anniversary of the effective date of the License prior to the first commercial sale of a product or process covered by the License; 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 Company is responsible for the development and commercialization of the licensed assets and for meeting certain milestones set forth in the License.

The milestone payments the Company shall pay to Licensor shall not exceed $1,550,000 based upon and subject to the attainment of each milestone event indicated below. These payments are generally due within 60 days of achievement of the milestone.

Milestone Event		Amount
Enrollment of first patient in a phase II clinical trial of a therapeutic product or process		$	100,000
Enrollment of first patient in a phase III clinical trial of a therapeutic product or process		$	200,000
First commercial sale of a therapeutic product or process		$	1,000,000
Filing of an application for regulatory approval of a clinical diagnostic product or process		$	100,000
First regulatory approval of a clinical diagnostic product or process		$	150,000

As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, no milestone events had been achieved.

The royalties to be paid to Licensor shall be assessed on net sales of licensed products on a country-by-country basis in an amount equal to 3.0% for therapeutic products or processes, and 6.0% for clinical diagnostic products and processes. The Company shall pay Licensor 30% of any and all sublicense income.

The Company has the right to terminate the License at any time by giving 90 days’ advance notice subject to the payment of any amounts due under the License at that time. The License may also be terminated for cause by either party upon the breach of the material obligations of the other party or the bankruptcy or liquidation of the other party. If the Company does not terminate the License, the term of the License shall continue until the latest of (i) the date on which all issued patents and filed patent applications subject to the License have expired or been abandoned; (ii) expiration of the last to expire regulatory exclusivity covering a covered product or process; or (iii) 10 years after the first commercial sale. The License requires the Company to make royalty payments beyond the term of the License at 1.5%.

In November 2020, the Company and Licensor amended the November 2018 license. Under the amendment, the intellectual property licensed in 2018 was categorized as “Patent Family 1” and a provisional patent filing related to the Company’s nanoparticle technology was added to Patent Family 1. A second patent family (“Patent Family 2”) was created which includes Licensor intellectual property targeting PD-L1.

The minimum annual license fee prior to the first commercial sale of a product or process covered by the License was increased from $25,000 per year to $30,000 per year for Patent Family 1 and a minimum annual license fee of $10,000 per year was added related to Patent Family 2. All other terms of the License including milestone payments, royalties and payment terms related to sublicense income received by the Company remain the same as in the original License.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Option Agreement – Radiolabeled Nanoparticles

The Company signed an Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Radiolabeled Option”) with the Licensor effective April 15, 2022. Under the Radiolabeled Option, the Company has the exclusive right to negotiate a license of technology patented by the Licensor pertaining to Therapeutic, Radiolabeled Nanoparticles and Methods of Use Thereof, described and claimed in Patent Application PCT/US2021/057912. The Radiolabeled Option provides for a one-year term at a cost of $7,500 with a right to extend, upon the mutual agreement of the parties, for an additional six months for an additional payment of $5,000. The Company is also responsible for patent costs related to the subject technology incurred by Licensor during the Radiolabeled Option period. Patent costs incurred by the Licensor prior to the effective date will not be reimbursed.

Accrued License Obligations

At September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company had accrued $61,322 and $57,820, respectively, in license payments under the foregoing arrangements included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

(c)	Collaboration Agreement

On July 29, 2022, the Company signed a five-year strategic collaboration agreement with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (“MD Anderson”). Under the collaboration, the Company anticipates making certain expenditures with respect to Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in part through MD Anderson as a primary investigator site. MD Anderson will also provide preclinical work under the collaboration. The details of clinical and preclinical work are to be mutually agreed by the parties prior to commencing work. The Company has committed to fund up to $10 million over the term of the collaboration. Of this amount, the initial payment schedule called for $500,000 to be paid within the first year. Subsequent payments were scheduled to be $2 million on the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement and $2.5 million on each of the second, third and fourth anniversaries thereof. The Company is currently in negotiations with MD Anderson regarding committed upcoming payments as a result of changes in personnel at MD Anderson and in planned work. There is no assurance regarding the outcome of discussions with MD Anderson. Payments to MD Anderson are initially recorded as Prepaid Expenses. As work under the collaboration is performed by MD Anderson, the Company records research and development costs in its statements of operations. Total expenses incurred under the arrangement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, were $0 in all periods. The arrangement expires on the later of July 29, 2027, or when the last active study is completed.

(d)	Employment Agreements

Prior to the IPO, the Company entered into employment agreements with its executive officers which became effective on completion of the IPO. The employment agreements provide the employee with, among other things, severance payments 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, which arise in the event of termination involving a Change of Control (as defined in the agreements), are approximately $2,483,700.

(e)	Litigation

The Company may from time to time be subject to claims by others 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. At September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company did not know of any claims or actions pending against it or threatened, the ultimate disposition of which could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition except a claim by an investment bank that it is entitled to fees, a claim which the Company rigorously disputes.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

(f)	Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and executive officers that require the Company, among other things, to indemnify the parties against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any costs as a result of payments required by such indemnifications. The Company is not aware of any indemnification arrangements that could have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its financial statements, as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022.

(g)	Risks and Uncertainties

As SARS-CoV-2, or the coronavirus, continues to evolve, the extent to which it affects the Company’s operations directly or through parties on whom the Company depends is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. The outcomes resulting from these events could delay the Company’s plans, increase its operating expenses and have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Leases

In March 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, Inc. (“MBI”) whereby the Company has subleased approximately 2,484 square feet of laboratory space with room for minor administrative functions. The Company was also permitted to use shared laboratory equipment at the facility. The monthly rental was $6,521 and the Company paid an additional amount for its allocated share of operating expenses, which in 2022 was $3,105 per month. In 2022, the Company added the right to use cubicle space outside its laboratory area to its sublease for an additional $650 per month, resulting in total monthly rental of $10,276. This sublease terminated at the end of February 2023.

In December 2022, the Company signed an agreement to sublease 4,837 square feet of laboratory and office space from another biopharmaceutical company. The Company considers this sublease an operating lease with estimated ROU assets and lease liabilities of approximately $0.9 million to be recognized beginning upon anticipated lease commencement in the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The sublease has a term of 24 months, and the Company has the option to extend the sublease for an additional 12 months. The base monthly rent is $92.50 per square foot during the first 12 months of the lease, $95.28 in the second 12 months, and, if the Company exercises the option to extend the lease, $98.14 in the third 12-month period. In addition, the Company is responsible for its share of operating expenses, real estate taxes, and utilities based on the actual costs of these items.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

(b) License Agreements

In November 2018, the Company licensed the exclusive rights to certain intellectual property to support development of its therapeutic candidates (“License”). The intellectual property licensed by the Company is owned by The General Hospital Corporation, d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital, (“Licensor”). Payments by the Company under the license agreement included a one-time non-refundable fee of $50,000 paid after execution of the License; reimbursement of Licensor’s patent costs which, at execution of the License, were approximately $145,000; a minimum annual license fee of $25,000 payable within 60 days of each anniversary of the effective date of the License prior to the first commercial sale of a product or process covered by the License; 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 Company is responsible for the development and commercialization of the licensed assets and for meeting certain milestones set forth in the License.

The milestone payments the Company shall pay to Licensor shall not exceed $1,550,000 based upon and subject to the attainment of each milestone event indicated below. These payments are generally due within 60 days of achievement of the milestone.


Milestone Event		Amount
Enrollment of first patient in a phase II clinical trial of a therapeutic product or process		$	100,000
Enrollment of first patient in a phase III clinical trial of a therapeutic product or process		$	200,000
First commercial sale of a therapeutic product or process		$	1,000,000
Filing of an application for regulatory approval of a clinical diagnostic product or process		$	100,000
First regulatory approval of a clinical diagnostic product or process		$	150,000

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, no milestone events had been achieved.

The royalties to be paid to Licensor shall be assessed on net sales of licensed products on a country-by-country basis in an amount equal to 3.0% for therapeutic products or processes, and 6.0% for clinical diagnostic products and processes. The Company shall pay Licensor 30% of any and all sublicense income.

The Company has the right to terminate the License at any time by giving 90 days’ advance notice subject to the payment of any amounts due under the License at that time. The License may also be terminated for cause by either party upon the breach of the material obligations of the other party or the bankruptcy or liquidation of the other party. If the Company does not terminate the License, the term of the License shall continue until the latest of (i) the date on which all issued patents and filed patent applications subject to the License have expired or been abandoned; (ii) expiration of the last to expire regulatory exclusivity covering a covered product or process; or (iii) 10 years after the first commercial sale. The License requires the Company to make royalty payments beyond the term of the License at 1.5%.

In November 2020, the Company and Licensor amended the November 2018 license. Under the amendment, the intellectual property licensed in 2018 was categorized as “Patent Family 1” and a provisional patent filing related to the Company’s nanoparticle technology was added to Patent Family 1. A second patent family (“Patent Family 2”) was created which includes Licensor intellectual property targeting PD-L1.

The minimum annual license fee prior to the first commercial sale of a product or process covered by the License was increased from $25,000 per year to $30,000 per year for Patent Family 1 and a minimum annual license fee of $10,000 per year was added related to Patent Family 2. All other terms of the License including milestone payments, royalties and payment terms related to sublicense income received by the Company remain the same as in the original License.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Option Agreement - LIN28B

The Company signed an Exclusive Option And Internal Evaluation License Agreement (the “Option”) with the Licensor effective February 15, 2021. Under the Option, the Company has (1) the exclusive right to negotiate a license of a certain technology patented by the Licensor and (2) a non-exclusive internal evaluation license to allow the Company to evaluate the technology. The Option provided for a six-month term at a cost of $5,000 with a right to extend, upon the mutual agreement of the parties, for an additional six months for a second $5,000 payment. In August 2021, the Licensor agreed to extend the initial term of the Option until November 15, 2021, at no cost to the Company. Effective November 8, 2021, the Company and the Licensor agreed to extend the Option through May 22, 2022, at a cost to the Company of $5,000. Effective September 28, 2022, the Company and the Licensor agreed to further extend the Option through June 30, 2023, at a cost to the Company of $10,000. The Company is also responsible for patent costs related to the subject technology incurred by Licensor during the Option period. Patent costs incurred by the Licensor prior to the effective date will not be reimbursed under the Option.

Option Agreement – Radiolabeled Nanoparticles

The Company signed an Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Radiolabeled Option”) with the Licensor effective April 15, 2022. Under the Radiolabeled Option, the Company has the exclusive right to negotiate a license of technology patented by the Licensor pertaining to Therapeutic, Radiolabeled Nanoparticles and Methods of Use Thereof, described and claimed in Patent Application PCT/US2021/057912. The Radiolabeled Option provides for a one-year term at a cost of $7,500 with a right to extend, upon the mutual agreement of the parties, for an additional six months for an additional payment of $5,000. The Company is also responsible for patent costs related to the subject technology incurred by Licensor during the Radiolabeled Option period. Patent costs incurred by the Licensor prior to the effective date will not be reimbursed.

Accrued License Obligations

At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had accrued $57,820 and $20,487, respectively, in license payments under the foregoing arrangements included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

(c) Collaboration Agreement

On July 29, 2022, the Company signed a five-year strategic collaboration agreement with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (“MD Anderson”). Under the collaboration, the Company anticipates making certain expenditures with respect to Phase I and Phase II clinical trials in part through MD Anderson as a primary investigator site. MD Anderson will also provide preclinical work under the collaboration. The details of clinical and preclinical work are to be mutually agreed by the parties prior to commencing work. The Company has committed to fund up to $10 million over the term of the collaboration, with $500,000 payable within the first year. Subsequent payments are $2 million on the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement and $2.5 million on each of the second, third and fourth anniversaries thereof. Payments to MD Anderson are initially recorded as Prepaid Expenses. As work under the collaboration is performed by MD Anderson, the Company records research and development costs in its Statements of Operations. Total expenses incurred under the arrangement for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, were $0 in both years. The arrangement expires on the later of July 29, 2027, or when the last active study is completed.

(d) Employment Agreements

Prior to the IPO, the Company entered into employment agreements with its executive officers which became effective on completion of the IPO. The employment agreements provide the employee with, among other things, severance payments 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, which arise in the event of termination involving a Change of Control (as defined in the agreements), are approximately $2,483,700.

(8) Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

(e) Litigation

The Company may from time to time be subject to claims by others 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. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not know of any claims or actions pending against us or threatened, the ultimate disposition of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

(f) Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and executive officers that require the Company, among other things, to indemnify the parties against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any costs as a result of payments required by such indemnifications. The Company is not aware of any indemnification claims that could have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

(g) Risks and Uncertainties

As SARS-CoV-2, or the coronavirus, continues to evolve, the extent to which it affects the Company’s operations directly or through parties on whom the Company depends is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence. The outcomes resulting from these events could delay the Company’s plans, increase its operating expenses and have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

In July 2021, the Company was subject to what it believes was a sophisticated computer-based phishing attack involving $526,435; of this amount, $45,682 was recovered in five days while the $480,753 balance was recovered on October 15, 2021. Management believes this incident had an immaterial impact on the Company’s financial condition and continues to review its computer-related policies to implement additional defenses.