Leases

In accordance with ASC 842, Leases (ASC 842), the Company records a right-of-use (ROU) asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months and classifies them as either operating or finance leases.

At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease based on the unique facts and circumstances present and the classification of the lease including whether the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, whether the Company obtains the right to substantially all the economic benefit from the use of the asset, and whether the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset. Leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the balance sheet as ROU assets, lease liabilities and, if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company has elected not to recognize on the balance sheet leases with terms of one year or less under practical expedient in paragraph ASC 842-20-25-2. For contracts with lease and non-lease components, the Company has elected not to allocate the contract consideration, and to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.

Lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. The implicit rate within our operating leases is generally not determinable and, therefore, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date to determine the present value of lease payments. The determination of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate requires judgment. The Company determines the incremental borrowing rate for each lease using our estimated borrowing rate, adjusted for various factors including level of collateralization, term and currency to align with the terms of the lease. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease prepayments, offset by lease incentives.

An option to extend the lease is considered in connection with determining the ROU asset and lease liability when it is reasonably certain we will exercise that option. An option to terminate is considered unless it is reasonably certain we will not exercise the option.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is to be determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. In determining fair value, the Company used various valuation approaches. A fair value hierarchy has been established for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company.

Unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumption about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels, based on the inputs, as follows:

	●	Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these instruments does not entail a significant degree of judgment.
	●	Level 2— Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for either similar instruments in active markets, identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
	●	Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable. These valuations require significant judgment.

The Company’s Level 1 assets consist of cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds, in the accompanying balance sheets and the value of accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company has two financial liabilities, warrant liabilities for which the fair value is determined based on Level 2 and Level 3 inputs, and convertible debt carried at fair value for which the fair value is determined based on Level 3 input. The Level 2 inputs are valued based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. The level 3 inputs as such inputs are based on unobservable inputs and require significant judgement. As of December 31 2023, the Company has one financial liability, a warrant liability for which the fair value is determined based on Level 2 inputs as such inputs are valued based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. See Note 3 for further information on the Company’s financial liabilities carried at fair value.

Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the research and development of our clinical assets and programs, see Note 10 for further discussion of research and development expense. Conduit holds all licenses to conduct clinical research through a third-party pharmaceutical company. The Company expenses research and development costs and intangible assets acquired that have no alternative future use as incurred. These expenses include:

	●	expenses incurred under agreements with organizations that support the Company’s drug discovery and development activities;
	●	expenses incurred in connection with the preclinical and clinical development of the Company’s clinical assets and programs, including under agreements with contract research organizations, or CROs;
	●	costs related to contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, that are primarily engaged to provide drug substance and product for our clinical trials, research and development programs, as well as investigative sites and consultants that conduct the Company’s clinical trials, nonclinical studies and other scientific development services;
	●	the costs of acquiring and manufacturing nonclinical and clinical trial materials, including manufacturing registration and validation batches;
	●	employee-related expenses, including salaries, related benefits and equity-based compensation expense, for employees engaged in research and development functions;
	●	acquisition costs related to the purchase of licensed intellectual property;
	●	costs related to compliance with quality and regulatory requirements;
	●	payments made under third-party licensing agreements; and
	●	direct and allocated costs related to facilities, information technology, personnel and other overhead.

Advance payments that we make for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. Such amounts are recognized as an expense as the goods are delivered or consumed or the related services are performed, or until it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, sets forth standards for financial presentation and disclosure of income tax liabilities and expense. Interest and penalties recognized have been classified in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) as income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating losses carried forward. 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. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the period that includes the enactment date. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits of which future realization is uncertain.

Warrants

Warrants

The Company determines the accounting classification of Warrants as either liability or equity by first assessing whether the Warrants meet liability classification in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”). Under ASC 480, a financial instrument that embodies an unconditional obligation, or a financial instrument other than an outstanding share that embodies a conditional obligation, that the issuer must or may settle by issuing a variable number of its equity shares must be classified as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances) if, at inception, the monetary value of the obligation is based solely or predominantly on any one of the following: (a) a fixed monetary amount known at inception; (b) variations in something other than the fair value of the issuer’s equity shares; or (c) variations inversely related to changes in the fair value of the issuer’s equity shares.

If financial instruments, such as the Warrants, are not required to be classified as liabilities under ASC 480, the Company assesses whether such instruments are indexed to the Company’s own stock under ASC 815-40. In order for an instrument to be considered indexed to an entity’s own stock, its settlement amount must always equal the difference between the following: (a) the fair value of a fixed number of the Company’s equity shares, and (b) a fixed monetary amount or a fixed amount of a debt instrument issued by the Company. The Company determined that the settlement amount of the Equity Classified Warrants would equal the difference between the fair value of a fixed number of shares and a fixed monetary amount (or a fixed amount of a debt instrument) and must be classified as equity, while the settlement amount of the Liability Classified Warrants would not equal the difference between the fair value of a fixed number of shares and a fixed monetary amount (or a fixed amount of a debt instrument) and must be classified as a liability.

The Equity Classified Warrants are recorded in stockholders’ deficit and the Liability Classified Warrants are recorded as liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Liability Classified Warrants are remeasured each period with changes in fair value recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Emerging Growth Company Status

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that: (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Following the Merger, the Company will remain an emerging growth company, as defined by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups act of 2012, until the earliest of (i) the last day of the combined entity’s first fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of MURF’s initial public offering (the “MURF IPO”), (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which the combined entity has total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which the combined entity is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of the combined entity’s common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the prior December 31st or (iv) the date on which the combined entity has issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three year period.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 modifies the reporting requirements for income tax disclosures related to effective tax rates and cash income taxes paid. Pursuant to ASU 2023-09, public business entities are required to disclose certain categories in the income tax rate reconciliation, as well as additional information for reconciling items that meet a specific quantitative threshold. Additionally, ASU 2023-09 requires annual disclosures of income taxes paid for all entities, including the amount of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign jurisdictions. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-09 on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which is intended to provide more detailed information about specified categories of expenses (purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation and amortization) included in certain expense captions presented on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The guidance in this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments may be applied either (1) prospectively to financial statements issued for periods after the effective date of this ASU or (2) retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the consolidated financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2024-03 will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.