Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies Leases On April 16, 2018, the Company executed a space utilization agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System to establish and lease offices at the Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas. On March 23, 2021, the Company was informed by Dell Medical School that the University of Texas desired to use the space and not renew the space utilization agreement. The lease terminated on April 30, 2021, and our employees all currently work virtually while we evaluate future space needs post the COVID-19 pandemic. Commitments MD Anderson Cancer Center The Company entered into a clinical study agreement with MD Anderson, to administer the Company’s Phase 1/2 clinical trial, combining REQORSA and Tarceva in Stage 4 lung cancer patients. The trial was expected to run through the end of 2018 with a projected total cost of approximately $2 million. Payments are due and payable when invoiced throughout the clinical trial period. The agreement may be terminated at any time. In 2020, the Company received Fast Track Designation ("FTD") from the FDA for its Acclaim-1 trial which combines REQORSA plus Tagrisso in patients with stage III or IV NSCLC with EGFR mutations that progressed after treatment with Tagrisso. Given the FTD and with Tagrisso now considered a new standard of care in the U.S. for NSCLC with an EGFR mutation, the Company is no longer enrolling patients in its ONC-002 study and, in June 2021, initiated its Acclaim-1 trial. In July 2018, the Company entered into a two-year sponsored research agreement with MD Anderson to sponsor preclinical studies focused on the combination of REQORSA with an immunotherapy with a projected total cost of approximately $2 million. This agreement was extended beyond the original expiration date. This agreement expired in May 2022. In August 2022, the Company entered into a three-year sponsored research agreement with MD Anderson to sponsor preclinical studies focused on REQORSA and other potential product candidates in oncology to resensitize NSCLC and SCLC to targeted therapies and immunotherapies with a projected total cost of approximately $2.9 million. In 2011, the Company agreed to assume certain contractual and other obligations of IRI in consideration for the sublicense rights, expertise, and assistance associated with certain technologies and intellectual property originally licensed to another party under a 1994 License Agreement with MD Anderson (“Original MD Anderson License Agreement”). These technologies and intellectual property were later sublicensed to IRI (the “IRI Sublicense”). The Company also agreed to pay royalties of 1% on sales of certain licensed products for a period of 21 years following the termination of the later of the Original MD Anderson License Agreement and the IRI Sublicense. The Company assumed patent prosecution costs and an annual minimum royalty of $20,000 payable to the National Institutes of Health. On March 3, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (the “MD License Amendment”) to the Patent and Technology License Agreement dated May 4, 2020, with MD Anderson. The MD License Amendment grants the Company a worldwide, exclusive, sublicensable license to an additional portfolio of six patents and one patent application and related technology for methods for treating cancer by administration of a TUSC2 therapy in conjunction with EGFR inhibitors or other anti-cancer therapies in patients predicted to be responsive to TUSC2 therapy. Pursuant to the MD License Amendment, the Company agreed to (i) pay annual maintenance fees ranging from the mid five figures to the low six figures, (ii) total milestone payments of $6,150,000, (iii) a one-time fee in the mid five figures and (iv) certain patent related expenses. National Institutes of Health Our $191,393 payment obligation to the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) represented a current obligation, of which $15,393 of 2016 patent prosecution costs were paid in the fourth quarter of 2016 and $176,000 was included in accounts payable at December 31, 2016 (consisting of accrued annual royalties of $140,000 and patent costs of $36,000). During the first quarter of 2017, we modified the terms of our accrued royalty obligation to NIH. Under the modified agreement, NIH agreed to extinguish $120,000 of the accrued royalties payable to it in consideration of payment by us of (i) accrued patent costs of $36,000, (ii) a royalty payment of $20,000, and (iii) a contingent payment of $240,000, increasing by $20,000 per year starting in 2018, to be paid upon our receipt of FDA approval. The payments for the patent costs of $36,000 and royalties of $20,000 were paid during the second quarter of 2017. As a result of our modified agreement with the NIH, we have recognized the exchange of the $120,000 fixed obligation for the $240,000 contingent obligation as a $120,000 reduction to intellectual property expense (classified within general and administrative expense) during the first quarter of 2017. The $240,000 contingent obligation, which increases annually by $20,000 and was $340,000 as of September 30, 2022, will be recognized when we obtain regulatory approval (the event that triggers the payment obligation). University of Pittsburgh Pursuant to the Exclusive License Agreement dated February 11, 2020 by and between the Company and the University of Pittsburgh, the Company agreed to pay (i) an initial licensing fee of $25,000, (ii) annual maintenance fees of $25,000 for the first three years and $40,000 for each subsequent year following the first anniversary of the agreement, (iii) royalties ranging from 1.5% to 3% of net sales of licensed technologies, (iv) an annual minimal royalty payment of $250,000 per year beginning in the year of the first commercial sale of licensed technology, (v) a share of non-royalty sublicense income of 20%, and (vi) an aggregate of $3,975,000 in milestone payments. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to its terms, the agreement expires upon the later of (i) 20 years after the first commercial sale of the licensed technology thereunder and (ii) expiration of the last valid claim under the patent rights. Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization The Company entered into a three-year development services agreement in July 2022, with a contract development and manufacturing organization to manufacture GMP grade materials for use in our clinical trials with a projected total cost of approximately $2.5 million. Contingencies From time to time, we may become subject to threatened and/or asserted claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Management is not aware of any matters, either individually or in the aggregate, that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

On April 16, 2018, the Company executed a space utilization agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System to establish and lease offices at the Dell Medical School in Austin, Texas. On March 23, 2021, the Company was informed by Dell Medical School that the University of Texas desired to use the space and not renew the space utilization agreement. The lease terminated on April 30, 2021, and our employees all currently work virtually while we evaluate future space needs post the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commitments

MD Anderson Cancer Center

The Company entered into a clinical study agreement with MD Anderson, to administer the Company’s Phase 1/2 clinical trial, combining REQORSA and Tarceva in Stage 4 lung cancer patients. The trial was expected to run through the end of 2018 with a projected total cost of approximately $2 million. Payments are due and payable when invoiced throughout the clinical trial period. The agreement may be terminated at any time. In 2020, the Company received Fast Track Designation ("FTD") from the FDA for its Acclaim-1 trial which combines REQORSA plus Tagrisso in patients with stage III or IV NSCLC with EGFR mutations that progressed after treatment with Tagrisso. Given the FTD and with Tagrisso now considered a new standard of care in the U.S. for NSCLC with an EGFR mutation, the Company is no longer enrolling patients in its ONC-002 study and, in June 2021, initiated its Acclaim-1 trial.

In July 2018, the Company entered into a two-year sponsored research agreement with MD Anderson to sponsor preclinical studies focused on the combination of REQORSA with an immunotherapy with a projected total cost of approximately $2 million. This agreement was extended beyond the original expiration date. This agreement expired in May 2022. In August 2022, the Company entered into a three-year sponsored research agreement with MD Anderson to sponsor preclinical studies focused on REQORSA and other potential product candidates in oncology to resensitize NSCLC and SCLC to targeted therapies and immunotherapies with a projected total cost of approximately $2.9 million.

In 2011, the Company agreed to assume certain contractual and other obligations of IRI in consideration for the sublicense rights, expertise, and assistance associated with certain technologies and intellectual property originally licensed to another party under a 1994 License Agreement with MD Anderson (“Original MD Anderson License Agreement”). These technologies and intellectual property were later sublicensed to IRI (the “IRI Sublicense”). The Company also agreed to pay royalties of 1% on sales of certain licensed products for a period of 21 years following the termination of the later of the Original MD Anderson License Agreement and the IRI Sublicense. The Company assumed patent prosecution costs and an annual minimum royalty of $20,000 payable to the National Institutes of Health.

On March 3, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (the “MD License Amendment”) to the Patent and Technology License Agreement dated May 4, 2020, with MD Anderson. The MD License Amendment grants the Company a worldwide, exclusive, sublicensable license to an additional portfolio of six patents and one patent application and related technology for methods for treating cancer by administration of a TUSC2 therapy in conjunction with EGFR inhibitors or other anti-cancer therapies in patients predicted to be responsive to TUSC2 therapy. Pursuant to the MD License Amendment, the Company agreed to (i) pay annual maintenance fees ranging from the mid five figures to the low six figures, (ii) total milestone payments of $6,150,000, (iii) a one-time fee in the mid five figures and (iv) certain patent related expenses.

National Institutes of Health

Our $191,393 payment obligation to the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) represented a current obligation, of which $15,393 of 2016 patent prosecution costs were paid in the fourth quarter of 2016 and $176,000 was included in accounts payable at December 31, 2016 (consisting of accrued annual royalties of $140,000 and patent costs of $36,000). During the first quarter of 2017, we modified the terms of our accrued royalty obligation to NIH. Under the modified agreement, NIH agreed to extinguish $120,000 of the accrued royalties payable to it in consideration of payment by us of (i) accrued patent costs of $36,000, (ii) a royalty payment of $20,000, and (iii) a contingent payment of $240,000, increasing by $20,000 per year starting in 2018, to be paid upon our receipt of FDA approval. The payments for the patent costs of $36,000 and royalties of $20,000 were paid during the second quarter of 2017.

As a result of our modified agreement with the NIH, we have recognized the exchange of the $120,000 fixed obligation for the $240,000 contingent obligation as a $120,000 reduction to intellectual property expense (classified within general and administrative expense) during the first quarter of 2017. The $240,000 contingent obligation, which increases annually by $20,000 and was $340,000 as of September 30, 2022, will be recognized when we obtain regulatory approval (the event that triggers the payment obligation).

University of Pittsburgh

Pursuant to the Exclusive License Agreement dated February 11, 2020 by and between the Company and the University of Pittsburgh, the Company agreed to pay (i) an initial licensing fee of $25,000, (ii) annual maintenance fees of $25,000 for the first three years and $40,000 for each subsequent year following the first anniversary of the agreement, (iii) royalties ranging from 1.5% to 3% of net sales of licensed technologies, (iv) an annual minimal royalty payment of $250,000 per year beginning in the year of the first commercial sale of licensed technology, (v) a share of non-royalty sublicense income of 20%, and (vi) an aggregate of $3,975,000 in milestone payments. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to its terms, the agreement expires upon the later of (i) 20 years after the first commercial sale of the licensed technology thereunder and (ii) expiration of the last valid claim under the patent rights.

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization

The Company entered into a three-year development services agreement in July 2022, with a contract development and manufacturing organization to manufacture GMP grade materials for use in our clinical trials with a projected total cost of approximately $2.5 million.

Contingencies

From time to time, we may become subject to threatened and/or asserted claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Management is not aware of any matters, either individually or in the aggregate, that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.