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Celcuity Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 June (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023

 

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to             

 

Commission File No. 001-38207

 

 

 

CELCUITY INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   No. 82-2863566

(State of incorporation)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

16305 36th Avenue North; Suite 100

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55446

 

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (763) 392-0767

 

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share   CELC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ☒ NO ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). YES ☒ NO ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   Smaller reporting company  
      Emerging growth company  

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ NO

 

On August 4, 2023 there were 22,090,143 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Celcuity Inc.

Table of Contents

 

  PAGE
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) 3
Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 3
Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 4
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2023 5
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2022 6
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 7
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements 8
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 14
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 23
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures 23
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings 23
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors 23
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 23
ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 23
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 23
ITEM 5. Other Information 23
ITEM 6. Exhibits 24
Signatures 25

 

As used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Celcuity,” and the “Company” mean Celcuity Inc., unless the context indicates another meaning.

 

 2 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

 

Celcuity Inc.

Condensed Balance Sheets

 

           
   June 30, 2023   December 31, 2022 
   (unaudited)     
Assets          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $32,238,702   $24,571,557 
Investments   114,005,385    144,015,954 
Deposits   22,009    22,009 
Deferred transaction costs   79,088    33,195 
Payroll tax receivable   -    203,665 
Prepaid assets   6,461,156    6,344,157 
Total current assets   152,806,340    175,190,537 
Property and equipment, net   210,858    260,294 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   499,993    246,266 
Total Assets  $153,517,191   $175,697,097 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:          
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $3,019,282   $2,627,076 
Finance lease liabilities   -    2,449 
Operating lease liabilities   191,333    191,749 
Accrued expenses   3,871,135    4,060,280 
Total current liabilities   7,081,750    6,881,554 
Operating lease liabilities   317,120    61,002 
Note payable, non-current   35,985,980    34,983,074 
Total Liabilities   43,384,850    41,925,630 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)

   -      

Stockholders’ Equity:

          
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: 2,500,000 shares authorized; 1,085,873 and 1,120,873 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022   1,086    1,121 
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 65,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; 22,081,893 and 21,667,250 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively   22,082    21,667 
Additional paid-in capital   232,932,164    230,045,566 
Accumulated deficit   (122,822,991)   (96,296,887)
Total Stockholders’ Equity   110,132,341    133,771,467 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity  $153,517,191   $175,697,097 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements

 

 3 

 

 

Celcuity Inc.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

                     
   Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
                 
Operating expenses:                    
                     
Research and development  $13,746,082   $8,367,687   $25,024,575   $15,064,000 
General and administrative   1,309,403    1,233,040    2,578,447    2,044,332 
Total operating expenses   15,055,485    9,600,727    27,603,022    17,108,332 
Loss from operations   (15,055,485)   (9,600,727)   (27,603,022)   (17,108,332)
                     
Other income (expense)                    
Interest expense   (1,314,996)   (455,445)   (2,557,008)   (890,446)
Interest income   1,782,794    95,646    3,633,926    103,805 
Other income (expense), net   467,798    (359,799)   1,076,918    (786,641)
Net loss before income taxes   (14,587,687)   (9,960,526)   (26,526,104)   (17,894,973)
Income tax benefits   -    -    -    - 
Net loss  $(14,587,687)  $(9,960,526)  $(26,526,104)  $(17,894,973)
                     
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(0.66)  $(0.67)  $(1.22)  $(1.20)
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted   21,957,140    14,930,538    21,819,772    14,923,900 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements

 

 4 

 

 

Celcuity Inc.

Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2023

 

                                    
   Common Stock   Preferred Stock   Additional Paid-In    Accumulated     
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Total 
Balance at December 31, 2022   21,667,250   $21,667    1,120,873   $1,121   $230,045,566   $(96,296,887)  $133,771,467 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    1,273,282    -    1,273,282 
Exercise of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price   24,122    24    -    -    127,898    -    127,922 
Conversion of preferred to common stock   250,000    250    (25,000)   (25)   (225)        - 
Issuance costs associated with private placement offering   -    -    -    -    (7,486)   -    (7,486)
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (11,938,417)   (11,938,417)
Balance at March 31, 2023 (unaudited)   21,941,372   $21,941    1,095,873   $1,096   $231,439,035   $(108,235,304)  $123,226,768 
Stock-based compensation   1,958    2    -    -    1,276,980    -    1,276,982 
Employee stock purchases   17,477    17              102,621         102,638 
Conversion of preferred to common stock   100,000    100    (10,000)   (10)   (90)   -    - 
Exercise of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price   21,086    22    -    -    113,618    -    113,640 
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    (14,587,687)   (14,587,687)
Balance at June 30, 2023 (unaudited)   22,081,893   $22,082    1,085,873   $1,086   $232,932,164   $(122,822,991)  $110,132,341 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements

 

 5 

 

 

Celcuity Inc.

Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

 

                          
   Common Stock   Additional Paid-In   Accumulated     
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Deficit   Total 
Balance at December 31, 2021   14,918,887   $14,919   $124,622,405   $(55,926,847)  $68,710,477 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    756,271    -    756,271 
Exercise of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price   1,415    1    7,413    -    7,414 
Net loss   -    -    -    (7,934,447)   (7,934,447)
Balance at March 31, 2022 (unaudited)   14,920,302   $14,920   $125,386,089   $(63,861,294)  $61,539,715 
Stock-based compensation   3,273    3    1,519,456    -    1,519,459 
Employee stock purchases   15,888    16    80,525    -    80,541 
Exercise of common stock options, net of shares withheld for exercise price   1,871    2    9,540    -    9,542 
Net loss   -    -    -    (9,960,526)   (9,960,526)
Balance at June 30, 2022 (unaudited)   14,941,334   $14,941   $126,995,610   $(73,821,820)  $53,188,731 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements

 

 6 

 

 

Celcuity Inc.

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

           
   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2023   2022 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(26,526,104)  $(17,894,973)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operations:          
Depreciation   81,269    108,436 
Stock-based compensation   2,550,264    2,275,730 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount   116,218    179,539 
Payment-in-Kind interest   886,688    205,998 
Non-cash operating lease, net   1,975    (1,686)
Change in accrued interest income   41,188    - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Payroll tax receivable   203,665    203,464 
Prepaid assets and deposits   (116,999)   (3,879,197)
Accounts payable   421,091    705,145 
Accrued expenses   (189,145)   875,412 
Net cash used for operating activities   (22,529,890)   (17,222,132)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Proceeds from maturities of investments   143,873,027    - 
Purchases of investments   (113,903,646)   - 
Purchases of property and equipment   (11,841)   (34,621)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities   29,957,540    (34,621)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options   241,562    16,956 
Proceeds from employee stock purchases   102,638    80,541 
Payments for secondary registration statement costs   (99,540)   (213,381)
Payments for debt issuance costs   (2,716)   - 
Payments for finance leases   (2,449)   (2,920)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   239,495    (118,804)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   7,667,145    (17,375,557)
           
Cash and cash equivalents:          
Beginning of period   24,571,557    84,286,381 
End of period  $32,238,702   $66,910,824 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:          
Interest paid  $1,554,103   $504,909 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Offering and registration statement costs included in accounts payable  $2,143   $100,422 
Offering and registration statement costs included in accrued expenses   -    5,000 
Property and equipment included in accounts payable   19,993    - 

 

See accompanying notes to the financial statements

 

 7 

 

 

CELCUITY INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

(For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022)

 

1. Organization

 

Nature of Business

 

Celcuity Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on development of targeted therapies for multiple solid tumor indications. The Company’s lead therapeutic candidate is gedatolisib, a potent pan-PI3K and mTOR inhibitor. Its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic properties are highly differentiated from other currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together. A Phase 3 clinical trial, VIKTORIA-1, evaluating gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant with or without palbociclib in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer is currently enrolling patients. Its CELsignia companion diagnostic platform is uniquely able to analyze live patient tumor cells to identify new groups of cancer patients likely to benefit from already approved targeted therapies. The Company was co-founded in 2012 by Brian F. Sullivan and Dr. Lance G. Laing and is based in Minnesota. The Company has not generated any revenues to date.

 

2. Basis of Presentation, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited financial statements include the accounts of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, as permitted by Article 10, the unaudited financial statements do not include all of the information required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The balance sheet at December 31, 2022 was derived from the audited financial statements at that date and does not include all the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in the financial statements. These unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the related footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected during the remainder of the current year or for any future period.

 

Accounting Estimates

 

Management uses estimates and assumptions in preparing these unaudited condensed financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Those estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates and the difference could be material. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the valuation of stock-based compensation and prepaid or accrued clinical trial costs.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the development stage including, but not limited to, dependency on the clinical and commercial success of its diagnostic tests, ability to obtain regulatory approval of its diagnostic tests, the clinical and commercial success of its initial drug product, gedatolisib, the need for substantial additional financing to achieve its goals, uncertainty of broad adoption of its approved products, if any, by physicians and consumers, and significant competition.

 

 8 

 

 

Clinical Trial Costs

 

The Company records prepaid assets or accrued expenses for prepaid or estimated clinical trial costs conducted by third-party service providers, which includes the conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials. These costs can be a significant component of the Company’s research and development expenses. The Company primarily relies on a compilation of progress reports from third-party service providers, including the respective invoicing, to record actual expenses, along with determining changes to prepaid assets and accrued liabilities. To date, the company believes utilization of third-party reports most accurately reflects expenses incurred. As the current VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial ramps up site activation and patient enrollment, the Company’s estimated expenses in future periods and actual services performed may vary from these estimates, and these estimates may become more significant. Changes in these estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s prepaid assets or accrued expenses could materially affect the Company’s results of operations.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2016 and related amendments, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). This guidance changes the methodology to be used to measure credit losses for certain financial instruments and financial assets. The new methodology requires the recognition of an allowance that reflects the current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the financial asset. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

3. Net Loss Per Common Share

 

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is determined by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. For all periods presented, the common shares underlying the options and warrants have been excluded from the calculation because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, the weighted-average shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted loss per common share is the same.

 

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding were preferred stock on an as-if-converted to common stock basis of 10,858,730 and zero shares of common stock, respectively, options to purchase 2,185,567 and 1,782,782 shares of common stock, respectively, warrants to purchase 7,266,102 and 377,652 shares of common stock, respectively, and 1,958 and 3,273 shares of restricted common stock, respectively.

 

4. Investments

 

Debt securities for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and reported at historical cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Expected credit losses, if any, are recorded through the establishment of an allowance for credit losses. All of the Company’s held-to-maturity investment securities are U.S. Treasury and agencies securities that are guaranteed or otherwise supported by the United States government and have no history of credit losses. Accordingly, the Company does not expect to incur any credit losses on held-to-maturity investment securities and has no allowance for credit losses recorded for these securities.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s held-to-maturity investment securities at amortized cost as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

 

   Amortized Cost, as Adjusted   Gross Unrealized Holding Gains   Gross Unrealized Holding Losses   Estimated Fair Value 
   June 30, 2023 
   Amortized Cost, as Adjusted   Gross Unrealized Holding Gains   Gross Unrealized Holding Losses   Estimated Fair Value 
                 
U.S. Treasury Bills  $114,005,385   $30,500   $     -   $114,035,885 
Total  $114,005,385   $30,500   $-   $114,035,885 

 

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   Amortized Cost, as Adjusted   Gross Unrealized Holding Gains   Gross Unrealized Holding Losses   Estimated Fair Value 
   December 31, 2022 
   Amortized Cost, as Adjusted   Gross Unrealized Holding Gains   Gross Unrealized Holding Losses   Estimated Fair Value 
                 
Governmental Agency Securities  $46,230,893   $29,517   $     -   $46,260,410 
U.S. Treasury Bills   97,785,061    41,639    -    97,826,700 
Total  $144,015,954   $71,156   $-   $144,087,110 

 

The fair value of the Company’s held-to-maturity debt securities is determined based upon inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly and are classified as level 2 fair value instruments.

 

5. Commitments

 

Operating Lease

 

The Company leases its corporate space in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an operating lease in place through April 30, 2026. The lease provides for monthly rent, real estate taxes, and operating expenses. Rent expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In March 2023, the Company signed the fourth amendment to extend this lease through April 30, 2026. This amendment provides for monthly rent, real estate taxes and operating expenses. The Company recorded an incremental $355,578 in the operating right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability pertaining to this amendment.

 

Clinical Research Studies

 

The Company enters into contracts in the normal course of business to conduct research and development programs internally and through third parties that include, among others, arrangements with vendors, consultants, CMO’s, and CRO’s. The Company currently has four Phase 2 clinical trial agreements in place to evaluate targeted therapies selected with one of our CELsignia tests. Timing of milestone payments related to the Phase 2 clinical trials are uncertain and the contracts generally provide for termination following a certain period after notice, therefore the Company believes that non-cancelable obligations under the agreements are not material. The Company also has a license agreement in place with Pfizer to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize gedatolisib. In conjunction with the license agreement, the Company continued a Phase 1b study – B2151009 related to gedatolisib. These patients subsequently transitioned to an Expanded Access study – CELC-G-001. Contracts related to the Expanded Access study, are generally based on time and material. In addition, contracts related to the Company’s Phase 3 clinical study (VIKTORIA-1) are generally cancelable with reasonable notice within 120 days and the Company’s obligations under these contracts are primarily based on services performed through termination dates plus certain cancelation charges, if any, as defined in each of the respective agreements. In addition, these agreements may, from time to time, be subjected to amendments as a result of any change orders executed by the parties. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had only one material non-cancelable contractual commitment with respect to these arrangements, which totaled approximately $2.0 million.

 

6. Stockholders’ Equity

 

Capital Stock

 

At December 31, 2022, the Company’s authorized capital stock consisted of 65,000,000 shares of $.001 par value common stock, of which 21,667,250 shares were outstanding, and 2,500,000 shares of $.001 par value preferred stock, of which 1,120,873 shares were outstanding.

 

On March 31, 2023, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 25,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 250,0000 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis of the shares transferred is $5.75 per share.

 

On June 29, 2023, one of the Company’s preferred shareholders elected to convert 10,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 100,0000 shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2022. The cost basis of the shares transferred is $5.75 per share.

 

At June 30, 2023, the Company’s authorized capital stock consisted of 65,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 22,081,893 shares were outstanding, and 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, including 1,850,000 shares designated as Series A Preferred Stock, of which 1,085,873 shares were outstanding. As of June 30, 2023, no dividends have been declared on the Company’s capital stock.

 

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7. Stock-Based Compensation

 

The following table summarizes the activity for all stock options outstanding for the six months ended June 30:

 

   2023   2022 
   Shares   Weighted Average Exercise Price   Shares   Weighted Average Exercise Price 
Options outstanding at beginning of year   1,976,586   $6.34    1,315,321   $11.97 
Granted   310,798    10.74    550,747    6.52 
Exercised   (45,208)   5.34    (3,286)   5.16 
Forfeited   (56,609)   7.67    (80,000)   13.01 
Balance at June 30   2,185,567   $6.96    1,782,782   $5.75 
                     
Options exercisable at June 30:   1,346,587   $5.97    724,666   $6.02 
                     
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value for options granted during the period:       $7.42        $4.34 

 

The following table summarizes additional information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2023:

 

Options Outstanding  Options Exercisable
Options Outstanding  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life   Weighted Average Exercise Price   Aggregate Intrinsic Value   Options Exercisable  Weighted Average Exercise Price   Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
2,185,567   7.76   $6.96   $9,018,037   1,346,587  $5.97   $6,900,392 

 

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense for stock options of $1,228,284 and $1,460,031 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $2,450,612 and $2,169,540 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In May 2022, the Company modified the exercise price on 776,324 stock option awards to $5.50, the closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on May 17, 2022. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation was $37,690 and $428,343 for the three months ending June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $77,302 and $428,343 for the six months ending June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation over the remaining service period will be approximately $228,000. In December 2021, the Company modified the exercise price on 311,000 stock option awards to $13.44, the closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 15, 2021. No director or officer awards were modified. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation was $16,920 and $25,755 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $33,844 and $53,784 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation over the remaining service period will be approximately $139,000. In May 2020, the Company modified the exercise price on 203,750 stock option awards to $5.10, the closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on May 14, 2020. No director or officer awards were modified. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation was $6,826 and $11,601 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $13,934 and $23,216 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. The effect of this modification on stock-based compensation over the remaining service period will be approximately $6,000.

 

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used to estimate the fair value of equity-based awards with the following weighted-average assumptions for the six months ended June 30:

 

   2023   2022 
Risk-free interest rate   3.41% - 4.14%   1.68% - 3.1%
Expected volatility   78.0 to 79.8%   76.2% - 78.3%
Expected life (years)   5.25 to 6.08   5.29 to 6.08
Expected dividend yield   0%   0%

 

 11 

 

 

The inputs for the Black-Scholes valuation model require management’s significant assumptions. Prior to the Company’s initial public offering, the price per share of common stock was determined by the Company’s board based on recent prices of common stock sold in private offerings. Subsequent to the initial public offering, the price per share of common stock is determined by using the closing market price on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the grant date. The risk-free interest rates are based on the rate for U.S. Treasury securities at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected life at the grant date. The expected life is based on the simplified method in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Nos. 107 and 110. The expected volatility is estimated based on historical volatility information of peer companies that are publicly available in combination with the Company’s calculated volatility since being publicly traded.

 

All assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of non-employee options are generally consistent with the assumptions used for options granted to employees. In the event the Company terminates any of its consulting agreements, the unvested options issued in connection with the agreements would also be cancelled.

 

Restricted stock awards were granted to members of the Company’s board during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. The Company had 1,958 and 3,273 shares of restricted stock outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and 3,273 and 2,964 shares of restricted stock vested during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock of $4,052 and $6,775 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $8,694 and $27,119 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

 

The Company initially reserved a maximum of 750,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2017 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The number of shares reserved for issuance was automatically increased by 102,998, 149,189 and 216,673 shares on January 1, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, and will increase automatically on January 1 of each year from 2024 through 2027 by the number of shares equal to 1.0% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Company common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31, subject to the board’s discretion to reduce the amount of the increase in any particular year. At the Annual Meetings held on May 12, 2021 and May 12, 2022, the stockholders approved a one-time, 500,000 increase each year for a total of 1,000,000 increase, to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 Plan. At the Annual Meeting held on May 11, 2023, the stockholders approved a one-time, 1,500,000 increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2017 plan. The total remaining shares available for grant under the Company’s 2017 Plan as of June 30, 2023 was 1,702,461.

 

Total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options and restricted stock is estimated to be recognized as follows:

 

      
2023  $1,878,430 
2024   2,588,676 
2025   1,602,483 
2026   614,044 
2027   94,968 
Total estimated compensation cost to be recognized  $6,778,601 

 

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to its employee stock purchase plan of $44,646 and $52,653 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $90,958 and $79,071 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company initially reserved a total of 100,000 shares for issuance under the employee stock purchase plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance was automatically increased by 51,499, 74,594 and 108,337 shares on January 1, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, and will increase automatically on each subsequent January 1 by the number of shares equal to 0.5% of the total outstanding number of shares of Company common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31. However, the Company’s board may reduce the amount of the increase in any particular year. The total remaining shares available for issuance under the employee stock purchase plan as of June 30, 2023 was 283,008.

 

The Company recognized total stock-based compensation expense as follows for the three and six months ended June 30:

 

   2023   2022   2023   2022 
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   June 30,   June 30, 
   2023   2022   2023   2022 
Stock-based compensation expense in operating expenses:                    
Research and development  $639,511   $810,664   $1,293,982   $1,261,183 
General and administrative   637,471    708,795    1,256,282    1,014,547 
Total  $1,276,982   $1,519,459   $2,550,264   $2,275,730 

 

 12 

 

 

8. Debt

 

On April 8, 2021, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Innovatus”) in its capacity as Collateral Agent and sole Lender. On August 9, 2022, the Company amended the Loan Agreement. Under the amended Loan Agreement, Innovatus, as Lender, has agreed to loan up to $75 million, a $50 million increase from the original Loan Amount. As of June 30, 2023, term loans totaling $35 million are outstanding under the Loan Agreement, including the initial Term A loan of $15 million which was funded on April 8, 2021, and a $20 million Term B loan which was funded on December 22, 2022.

 

Long-term debt consisted of the following at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

 

   June 30, 2023   December 31, 2022 
Note payable  $35,000,000   $35,000,000 
Add: PIK interest (added to principal)   1,641,763    755,075 
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs   (598,107)   (707,001)
Less: unamortized debt discount   (57,676)   (65,000)
Total long-term debt  $35,985,980   $34,983,074 

 

Future principal payments, including the incurred PIK interest, are as follows:

 

  

Years Ending

December 31,

 
     
2025  $13,740,661 
2026   18,320,882 
2027   4,580,220 
Total  $36,641,763 

 

 

 13 

 

 

ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed financial statements and the related notes appearing under Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”). This Quarterly Report, including the following discussion and analysis, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date of this report. Forward-looking information is included in our discussion of our plans and strategy for our business and expected financial results. You should review the “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023, and the information contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

Celcuity is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of targeted therapies for treatment of multiple solid tumor indications. The Company’s lead therapeutic candidate is gedatolisib, a pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic properties are highly differentiated from other currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together. The Company initiated VIKTORIA-1, a Phase 3 study evaluating gedatolisib in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in 2022 and is currently enrolling patients. Its CELsignia companion diagnostic platform is uniquely able to analyze live patient tumor cells to identify new groups of cancer patients likely to benefit from already approved targeted therapies.

 

Gedatolisib, is a potent, well-tolerated, small molecule reversible dual inhibitor, administered intravenously, that selectively targets all Class I isoforms of PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In April 2021, we obtained exclusive global development and commercialization rights to gedatolisib under a license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. We believe gedatolisib’s unique mechanism of action, differentiated chemical structure, favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and intravenous formulation offer distinct advantages over currently approved and investigational therapies that target PI3K or mTOR alone or together.

 

Overcomes limitations of therapies that only inhibit a single Class I PI3K isoform or only one mTOR kinase complex.

 

Gedatolisib is a pan-class I isoform PI3K inhibitor with low nanomolar potency for the p110α, p110β, p110γ, and p110δ isoforms and mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Each PI3K isoform and mTOR complex is known to preferentially affect different signal transduction events that involve tumor cell survival, depending upon the aberrations associated with the linked pathway. When a therapy only inhibits a single Class 1 isoform (e.g., alpelisib, a PI3K-α inhibitor) or only one mTOR kinase complex (e.g., everolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor), numerous feedforward and feedback loops between the PI3K isoforms and mTOR complexes cross-activate the uninhibited sub-units. This, in turn, induces compensatory resistance that can reduce the efficacy of isoform specific PI3K or single mTOR kinase complex inhibitors. Inhibiting all four PI3K isoforms and both mTOR complexes, as gedatolisib does, thus prevents the confounding effect of isoform interaction that may occur with isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors and the confounding interaction between PI3K isoforms and mTOR.

 

Better tolerated by patients than oral PI3K and mTOR drugs.

 

Gedatolisib is administered intravenously (IV) on a four-week cycle of three weeks-on, one week-off, in contrast to the orally administered pan-PI3K or dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitors that are no longer being clinically developed. Oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors have repeatably been found to induce significant side effects that were not well tolerated by patients. This typically leads to a high proportion of patients requiring dose reductions or treatment discontinuation. The challenging toxicity profile of these drug candidates ultimately played a significant role in the decisions to halt their development, despite showing promising efficacy. By contrast, gedatolisib stabilizes at lower concentration levels in plasma compared to orally administered PI3K inhibitors, resulting in less toxicity, while maintaining concentrations sufficient to inhibit PI3K/mTOR signaling.

 

Isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors administered orally were developed to reduce toxicities in patients. While the range of toxicities associated with isoform-specific inhibitors is narrower than oral pan-PI3K or PI3K/mTOR inhibitors, administering them orally on a continuous basis still leads to challenging toxicities. The experience with an FDA approved oral p110-α specific inhibitor, Piqray, illustrates the challenge. In its Phase 3 pivotal trial Piqray was found to induce a Grade 3 or 4 adverse event (AE) related to hyperglycemia in 39% of patients evaluated. In addition, 26% of patients discontinued alpelisib due to treatment related adverse events. By contrast, in the 103-patient dose expansion portion of the Phase 1b clinical trial with gedatolisib, only 7% of patients experienced Grade 3 or 4 hyperglycemia and less than 10% discontinued treatment.

 

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As of June 30, 2023, 492 patients with solid tumors have received gedatolisib in eight clinical trials sponsored by Pfizer. Of the 492 patients, 129 were treated with gedatolisib as a single agent in three clinical trials. The remaining 363 patients received gedatolisib in combination with other anti-cancer agents in five clinical trials. Additional patients received gedatolisib in combination with other anti-cancer agents in nine investigator sponsored clinical trials.

 

A Phase 1b trial (B2151009) evaluating patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer was initiated in 2016 and subsequently enrolled 138 patients. Seven patients from this study continue to receive study treatment, as of June 30, 2023, each of whom have received study treatment for more than four years. The B2151009 clinical was an open label, multiple arm Phase 1b study that evaluated gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and fulvestrant or letrozole in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Thirty-five patients were enrolled in two dose escalation arms to evaluate the safety and tolerability and to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of gedatolisib when used in combination with the standard doses of palbociclib and endocrine therapy (letrozole or fulvestrant). The MTD was determined to be 180 mg administered intravenously once weekly. A total of 103 patients were subsequently enrolled in one of four expansion arms (A, B, C, D).

 

High objective overall response rates (ORR) were observed in all four expansion arms and were comparable in each arm for PIK3CA WT and PIK3CA MT patients. As of the data cut-off date, March 16, 2023, for treatment- naïve patients in Escalation Arm A and Expansion Arm A (n=41), median progression free survival (mPFS) was 48.6 months, median duration of response (mDOR) was 46.9 months, and ORR was 79%. This data compares favorably to published data for current first-line standard-of-care treatments for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. In patients who received prior hormonal therapy alone or in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (Arms B, C, and D), ORR ranged from 36% to 77%. Each arm achieved its primary endpoint target, which was reporting higher ORR in the study arm than ORR from either the PALOMA-2 (ORR=55%) study that evaluated palbociclib plus letrozole for Arm A or the PALOMA-3 study (ORR=25%) that evaluated palbociclib plus fulvestrant for Arms B, C, and D. For all enrolled patients, a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of ≥79% was observed. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.9 months for patients who received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor and were treated in the study with the Phase 3 dosing schedule (Arm D).

 

Gedatolisib combined with palbociclib and endocrine therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile with manageable toxicity. The majority of treatment emergent adverse events were Grade 1 and 2. The most frequently observed adverse events included stomatitis/mucosal inflammation, the majority of which were Grade 1 and 2. The most common Grade 4 AEs were neutropenia and neutrophil count decrease, which were assessed as related to treatment with palbociclib. No grade 5 events were reported in this study.

 

We are currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3, open-label, randomized clinical trial (VIKTORIA-1) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two regimens in adults with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer whose disease has progressed after prior CDK4/6 therapy in combination with an aromatase inhibitor: 1) gedatolisib in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant; and 2) gedatolisib in combination with fulvestrant. Two hundred clinical sites in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia have been selected to participate in the study. The first clinical site was activated in the third quarter of 2022. The first dosage of a subject in the trial occurred in December 2022.

 

The VIKTORIA-1 clinical trial will enable separate evaluation of subjects according to their PIK3CA status. Subjects who meet eligibility criteria and are PIK3CA WT will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant (Arm A), gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm B), or fulvestrant (Arm C). Subjects who meet eligibility criteria and are PIK3CA MT will be randomly assigned (3:3:1) to receive a regimen of either gedatolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant (Arm D) or alpelisib and fulvestrant (Arm E), or gedatolisib and fulvestrant (Arm F).

 

Our proprietary CELsignia diagnostic platform is the only commercially ready technology we are aware of that uses a patient’s living tumor cells to identify the specific abnormal cellular process driving a patient’s cancer and the targeted therapy that best treats it. This enables us to identify patients whose tumors may respond to a targeted therapy, even though they lack a previously associated molecular mutation. By identifying cancer patients whose tumors lack an associated genetic mutation but have abnormal cellular activity a matching targeted therapeutic is designed to inhibit, CELsignia CDx can expand the markets for a number of already approved targeted therapies. Our current CDx identifies breast and ovarian cancer patients whose tumors have cancer drivers potentially responsive to treatment with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2), mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET), or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) targeted therapeutics. While U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approval or clearance is not currently required for CELsignia tests offered as a stand-alone laboratory developed test, if we are partnered with a drug company to launch a CELsignia test as a companion diagnostic for a new drug indication, we would be required to obtain premarket approval, or PMA, in conjunction with the pharmaceutical company seeking a new drug approval for the matching therapy.

 

We are supporting the advancement of new potential indications for four different targeted therapies, controlled by other pharmaceutical companies, that would rely on a CELsignia CDx to select patients. Four Phase 2 trials are underway to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these therapies in CELsignia selected patients. These patients are not currently eligible to receive these drugs and are not identifiable with a molecular test.

 

 15 

 

 

Supporting the development of a potential first-in-class targeted therapy for breast cancer, like gedatolisib, with our CELsignia platform is a natural extension of our strategy to use our CELsignia CDx to enable new indications for other companies’ targeted therapies. By combining companion diagnostics designed to enable proprietary new drug indications with targeted therapies that treat signaling dysregulation our CDx identifies, we believe we are uniquely positioned to improve the standard-of-care for many early and late-stage breast cancer patients. Our goal is to play a key role in the multiple treatment approaches required to treat breast cancer patients at various stages of their disease. With each program, we are:

 

Leveraging the proprietary insights CELsignia provides into live patient tumor cell function
Using a CELsignia CDx to identify new patients likely to respond to the paired targeted therapy
Developing a new targeted therapeutic option for breast cancer patients
Maximizing the probability of getting regulatory approval to market the targeted therapy indication

 

Under our April 2021 license agreement with Pfizer to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize gedatolisib, we paid a $5.0 million upfront fee and granted to Pfizer $5.0 million shares of Company common stock, which fee and grant were effected and expensed to research & development in full for the quarter in which we signed the license agreement. In addition, we are also required to make milestone payments to Pfizer upon achievement of certain development and commercial milestone events, up to an aggregate of $335.0 million. Additionally, the Company will pay Pfizer tiered royalties on sales of gedatolisib at percentages ranging from the low to mid-teens, which may be subject to deductions for expiration of valid claims, amounts due under third-party licenses and generic competition. Unless earlier terminated, the license agreement will expire upon the expiration of all royalty obligations. The royalty period will expire on a country-by-country basis upon the later of (a) 12 years following the date of first commercial sale of such product in such country, (b) the expiration of all regulatory or data exclusivity in such country for such product or (c) the date upon which the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale or importation of such product in such country would no longer infringe, but for the license granted in the license agreement, on a valid claim of a licensed patent right.

 

The Company has the right to terminate the license agreement for convenience upon 90 days’ prior written notice. Pfizer may not terminate the agreement for convenience. Either the Company or Pfizer may terminate the license agreement if the other party is in material breach and such breach is not cured within the specified cure period. In addition, either the Company or Pfizer may terminate the license agreement in the event of specified insolvency events involving the other party.

 

Recent Developments

 

In May 2023, updated results from a Phase 1b trial evaluating gedatolisib, in combination with palbociclib and the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, were presented at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Breast Cancer Annual Congress, with data updated as of March 16, 2023. For treatment-naïve patients from Escalation Arm A and Expansion Arm A (n=41), mPFS was 48.6 months, mDOR was 46.9 months, and the ORR was 79%. This data compares favorably to published data for current first-line standard-of-care treatments for patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

 

In April 2023, Celcuity presented a poster at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting demonstrating gedatolisib’s superior therapeutic activity relative to the various PI3K, AKT, and mTOR inhibitors, regardless of the cell lines’ PTEN, PI3K, or AKT mutational status in endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancer cell lines.

 

Impact of COVID-19 on our Business

 

Although we have largely returned to normal operations in our facility, the COVID-19 pandemic continues and its effect on our operations and financial condition will depend in large part on future developments which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Future developments include the duration, scope and severity of the pandemic, the emergence of new virus variants that are more contagious or harmful than prior variants, actions taken by governmental authorities, suppliers, clinical trial sites, and other business partners to contain or mitigate the pandemic’s impact, and the potential adverse effects on the suppliers, labor market and general economic activity.

 

As we continue to advance our clinical trial collaborations, we remain in close contact with our current clinical sponsors, and principal investigators, as well as prospective pharmaceutical company and clinical collaborators, to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our trial enrollment timelines and collaboration discussions. We experienced delays in the enrollment of patients in our ongoing clinical trials and now expect interim results from the FACT-1 and FACT-2 trials to be delayed until the first half of 2024 and final results approximately nine months later. We could experience further delays in clinical trials and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and sponsors if new variants emerge or if the spread of COVID-19 once again accelerates. Due to the inherent uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to predict the impact the pandemic may have on our clinical trial work and overall financial condition.

 

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Results of Operations

 

We have not generated any revenue from sales to date, and we continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. As a result, we are not and have never been profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception in 2012. For the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we reported a net loss of approximately $14.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, we reported a net loss of approximately $26.5 million and $17.9 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $122.8 million. As of June 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of approximately $146.2 million.

 

Components of Operating Results

 

Revenue

 

To date, we have not generated any revenue. With the execution of the Pfizer license agreement in April 2021, whereby we acquired exclusive world-wide licensing rights to develop and commercialize gedatolisib, we initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial, VIKTORIA-1, in 2022 to support potential regulatory approval to market gedatolisib. If we obtain regulatory approvals to market gedatolisib, we expect to generate revenue from sales of the drug for the treatment of breast cancer patients. Additionally, we will seek to generate revenue from partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies to provide companion diagnostics for such pharmaceutical partners’ existing or investigational targeted therapies. If a new drug indication is received that requires use of our companion diagnostic to identify eligible patients, we expect to generate revenues from sales of tests to treating physicians.

 

Research and Development

 

Since our inception, we have primarily focused on research and development of gedatolisib, a PI3K/mTOR targeted therapy, and our CELsignia platform and corresponding tests. Research and development expenses primarily include:

 

  employee-related expenses related to our research and development activities, including salaries, benefits, recruiting, travel and stock-based compensation expenses;
  laboratory supplies;
  consulting fees paid to third parties;
  clinical trial costs;
  validation costs for gedatolisib;
  facilities expenses; and
  legal costs associated with patent applications.

 

Internal and external research and development costs are expensed as they are incurred. As we continue development of gedatolisib, manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, and other clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of targeted therapies in cancer patients selected with one of our CELsignia tests, the proportion of research and development expenses allocated to external spending will grow at a faster rate than expenses allocated to internal expenses.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation related to our executive, finance and support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees for auditing, tax, and legal services associated with being a public company, director and officer insurance, investor relations and travel expenses for our general and administrative personnel.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional and consulting fees related to these functions. To date, we have incurred immaterial sales and marketing expenses as we continue to focus primarily on the development of our first drug, gedatolisib, managing the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, and development of our CELsignia platform and corresponding CELsignia tests. We would expect to begin to incur increased sales and marketing expenses in anticipation of the commercialization of our first drug, gedatolisib, and CELsignia tests. These increased expenses are expected to include payroll-related costs as we add employees in the commercial departments, costs related to the initiation and operation of our sales and distribution network and marketing related costs.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense is primarily due to a Loan Agreement.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income consists of interest income earned on our cash equivalents and investment balances.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

 

   Three Months Ended         
   June 30,   Increase (Decrease) 
   2023   2022   $   Percent Change 
Statements of Operations Data:                
Operating expenses:                    
                     
Research and development  $13,746,082   $8,367,687   $5,378,395    64%
General and administrative   1,309,403    1,233,040    76,363    6 
Total operating expenses   15,055,485    9,600,727    5,454,758    57 
Loss from operations   (15,055,485)   (9,600,727)   (5,454,758)   57 
                     
Other income (expense)                    
Interest expense   (1,314,996)   (455,445)   (859,551)   189 
Interest income   1,782,794    95,646    1,687,148    1,764 
                     
Other income (expense), net   467,798    (359,799)   827,597    (230)
Net loss before income taxes   (14,587,687)   (9,960,526)   (4,627,161)   46 
Income tax benefits   -    -    -    - 
Net loss  $(14,587,687)  $(9,960,526)  $(4,627,161)   46%

 

Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

 

   Six Months Ended         
   June 30,   Increase (Decrease) 
   2023   2022   $   Percent Change 
Statements of Operations Data:                
Operating expenses:                    
                     
Research and development  $25,024,575   $15,064,000   $9,960,575    66%
General and administrative   2,578,447    2,044,332    534,115    26 
Total operating expenses   27,603,022    17,108,332    10,494,690    61 
Loss from operations   (27,603,022)   (17,108,332)   (10,494,690)   61 
                     
Other income (expense)                    
Interest expense   (2,557,008)   (890,446)   (1,666,562)   187 
Interest income   3,633,926    103,805    3,530,121    3,401 
                     
Other income (expense), net   1,076,918    (786,641)   1,863,559    (237)
Net loss before income taxes   (26,526,104)   (17,894,973)   (8,631,131)   48 
Income tax benefits   -    -    -    - 
Net loss  $(26,526,104)  $(17,894,973)  $(8,631,131)   48%

 

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Research and Development

 

Our research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $13.7 million, representing an increase of approximately $5.4 million, or 64%, compared to the same period in 2022. Of the $5.4 million increase in research and development expense, $0.5 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $4.9 million increase of research and development costs is primarily related to costs supporting activities for the VIKTORIA-1 pivotal trial.

 

Our research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $25.0 million, representing an increase of approximately $10.0 million, or 66%, compared to the same period in 2022. Of the $10.0 million increase in research and development expenses, $1.3 million was related to increased employee and consulting expenses. The remaining $8.7 million increase of research and development expenses is primarily related to costs supporting activities for the VIKTORIA-1 pivotal trial.

 

Conducting a significant amount of research and development is central to our business model. We plan to increase our research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we seek to develop gedatolisib, manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, discover new cancer sub-types, and develop and validate additional CELsignia tests to diagnose such sub-types. We also expect to incur increased expenses to support companion diagnostic business development activities with pharmaceutical companies as we develop additional CELsignia tests and manage the clinical trial for gedatolisib.

 

General and Administrative

 

Our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $1.3 million, representing an increase of approximately $0.1 million, or 6%, compared to the same period in 2022. The $0.1 million increase resulted from professional fees and other expenses associated with being a public company.

 

Our general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were approximately $2.6 million, representing an increase of approximately $0.5 million, or 26%, compared to the same period in 2022. Employee related expenses accounted for $0.3 million of the $0.5 million increase, including approximately $0.2 million in non-cash stock-based compensation. The remaining $0.2 million of the increase resulted from professional fees and other expenses associated with being a public company.

 

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting both increased costs in connection with the potential future commercialization of gedatolisib and CELsignia tests, an expanding infrastructure, and increased professional fees associated with public company regulatory developments and other compliance matters.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.3 million and represents an increase of $0.9 million, or 189%, compared to the same period in 2022. Interest expense is primarily the result of a Loan Agreement that was executed in April 2021 and amended in August 2022. The increase is due to rising interest rates and the incremental $20 million funding of Term Loan B in December 2022. The $1.3 million of interest expense includes $0.5 million of non-cash interest expense.

 

Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $2.6 million and represents an increase of $1.7 million, or 187%, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase is due to rising interest rates and the incremental $20 million funding of Term Loan B in December 2022. The $2.6 million of interest expense includes $1.0 million of non-cash interest expense.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.8 million and represents an increase of $1.7 million compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily the result of higher market interest rates and the closing of financing activities, leading to higher cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.

 

Interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $3.6 million and represents an increase of $3.5 million compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was due to higher market interest rates and the closing of financing activities, leading to higher cash, cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since our inception, we have incurred losses and cumulative negative cash flows from operations. Through June 30, 2023, we have funded our operations primarily through private placements and registered offerings of our equity securities and unsecured convertible notes, and borrowings under loan agreements. From inception through June 30, 2023, we raised an aggregate of approximately $223.7 million of net proceeds through sales of our securities, and as of June 30, 2023 had $35.0 million of borrowings under loan agreements. As of June 30, 2023, our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately $32.2 million and $114.0 million, respectively, and we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $122.8 million.

 

Private Placement. On December 9, 2022, we issued 6,182,574 shares of common stock, 1,120,873 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants exercisable for 6,956,450 shares of common stock to certain institutional and other accredited investors pursuant to a securities purchase agreement entered into on May 15, 2022. Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, the closing (funding) of the private placement occurred following dosage of the first patient in the Company’s Phase 3 study, VIKTORIA-1. Investors purchased shares of common stock and Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $5.75 per share (on an as converted to common stock basis), with forty percent (40%) warrant coverage (on an as converted to common stock basis) and customary resale registration rights. The warrants have an exercise price of $8.05 per share. The private placement generated gross proceeds of approximately $100 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of $4.3 million.

 

Open Market Sale AgreementSM. On February 4, 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM with Jefferies LLC, as agent, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, through Jefferies, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000. On October 12, 2022, pursuant to this agreement, the Company sold 500,000 shares of common stock in a single transaction at a price of $10.35 per share, generating gross proceeds of $5.2 million ($4.8 million net of commissions and offering expenses). At June 30, 2023, $44.8 million of common stock remains available for sale under the Jefferies agreement.

 

Innovatus Loan Agreement. On April 8, 2021, we entered into a Loan Agreement with Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP (“Innovatus”), under which Innovatus agreed to loan up to $25 million in three tranches consisting of (i) a $15.0 million non-contingent Term A loan that was funded on April 8, 2021, (ii) a $5 million Term B loan with a deadline of March 31, 2022, and (iii) a $5 million Term C loan to be funded upon our request, subject to our ability to achieve certain milestones, no later than March 31, 2023. On August 9, 2022, the Company amended the Loan Agreement with Innovatus to provide for up to $75 million in term loans. As of June 30, 2023, term loans totaling $35 million are outstanding under the Loan Agreement, including the initial Term A loan of $15 million which was funded on April 8, 2021, and a $20 million Term B loan which was funded on December 22, 2022 following the closing of the $100 million private placement described above. Additionally, the Company will be able to draw on two additional tranches of $10 million and one additional tranche of $20 million upon achievement of certain clinical trial milestones and satisfaction of certain financial covenants determined on a pro forma as-funded basis. Funding of these additional tranches is also subject to other customary conditions and limits on when the Company can request funding for such tranches.

 

We expect that our research and development and general and administrative expenses will increase as we continue to develop gedatolisib, manage the VIKTORIA-1 Phase 3 trial, conduct research related to the discovery of new cancer sub-types, conduct clinical trials, and pursue other business development activities. We would also expect to incur sales and marketing expenses as we commercialize gedatolisib and our CELsignia tests. We expect to use cash on hand, which includes funds received under the Securities Purchase Agreement described above, to fund our research and development expenses, clinical trial costs, capital expenditures, working capital, sales and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses.

 

Based on our current business plan, we believe that our current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments together with available borrowings under the Innovatus Loan Agreement will provide sufficient cash to finance our operations and pay obligations when due for at least the next twelve months.

 

Our expectations as to how long our current capital resources will be sufficient to fund our operations are based on assumptions that may not be accurate, and we could use our current capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, we may seek to raise additional capital to finance capital expenditures and operating expenses over the next several years as we launch our integrated therapeutic and companion diagnostic strategy and expand our infrastructure, commercial operations and research and development activities, and to take advantage of financing or other opportunities that we believe to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders. Additional capital may be raised through the sale of common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, entry into debt facilities or other third-party funding arrangements. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and those securities may have rights senior to those of our common shares. Agreements entered into in connection with such capital raising activities could contain covenants that would restrict our operations or require us to relinquish certain rights. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, or not at all.

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for the six months ended June 30:

 

   June 30, 
   2023   2022 
         
Net cash provided by (used in):          
Operating activities  $(22,529,890)  $(17,222,132)
Investing activities   29,957,540    (34,621)
Financing activities   239,495    (118,804)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  $7,667,145   $(17,375,557)

 

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Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and consisted primarily of a net loss of approximately $26.5 million offset by non-cash expense items of approximately $3.7 million and working capital changes of $0.3 million. Non-cash expense items of approximately $3.7 million primarily consisted of $2.6 million of stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense of $1.0 million, and depreciation expense of $0.1 million. The approximately $0.3 million of working capital changes was primarily due to approximately $0.2 million net increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and approximately $0.1 million decrease in other assets.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $17.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and consisted primarily of a net loss of approximately $17.9 million and working capital changes of approximately $2.1 million, offset by non-cash expense items of approximately $2.8 million. The approximately $2.1 million of working capital changes was primarily due to an increase of approximately $3.9 million in prepaid assets, partially offset by increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $0.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Non-cash expense items of approximately $2.8 million primarily consisted of approximately $2.3 million of stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense of approximately $0.4 million and depreciation expense of approximately $0.1 million.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash provided by investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $30.0 million and consisted primarily of net proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in government securities (U.S. Treasury Bills and U.S. government securities) and minimal purchase of property and equipment. Net cash used in investing for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were minimal and consisted of purchases of property and equipment.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was approximately $0.2 million and primarily consisted of proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options and proceeds from employee stock purchases, slightly offset by payments for secondary registration and debt issuance costs. Net cash used in financing activities was $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and consisted of payments for secondary registration costs, offset partially by proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options and proceeds from employee stock purchases.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

From time-to-time new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other standard setting bodies and adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report, we believe that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our unaudited condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses during the reporting periods. These items are monitored and analyzed by us for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances; the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results for the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

 

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report.

 

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Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information is included in this Quarterly Report and in other materials filed or to be filed by us with the SEC (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us). Forward-looking statements include all statements based on future expectations. This Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, (i) our clinical trial plans and the estimated costs for such trials, including the timing of launching a Phase 3 clinical trial for gedatolisib; (ii) our expectations with respect to costs and timelines to develop, validate and launch CELsignia tests and to continue to develop gedatolisib; (iii) our beliefs related to the perceived advantages of our CELsignia tests compared to traditional molecular or other diagnostic tests; (iv) the expected benefits of gedatolisib; (v) our expectations regarding the timeline of patient enrollment and results from clinical trials, including the existing clinical trial for gedatolisib; (vi) the future payments that may be owned to Pfizer under the license agreement; (vii) our expectations regarding partnering with pharmaceutical companies and other third parties; (viii) our expectations regarding revenue from sales of CELsignia tests and revenue from milestone or other payment sources; (ix) our plans with respect to research and development and related expenses for the foreseeable future; (x) our expectations regarding business development activities, including companion diagnostic related activities with pharmaceutical companies, expanding our sales and marketing functions and the costs associated with such activities; (xi) our expectations with respect to the CELsignia tests and the analytical capabilities and potential impact of such tests; (xii) our beliefs regarding the ability of our cash on hand to fund our research and development expenses, capital expenditures, working capital, sales and marketing expenses, and general corporate expenses, as well as the increased costs associated with being a public company; (xiii) our plans with respect to potentially raising capital, and (xiv) our expectations regarding the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic effects will have on our business and results of operations.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on their interpretation of currently available information.

 

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our limited operating history; the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; our initial success being heavily dependent on the success of our CELsignia HER2 Pathway Activity Test; our inability to develop and commercialize gedatolisib; our inability to determine whether our CELsignia tests are currently commercially viable; challenges we may face in developing and maintaining relationships with pharmaceutical company partners; the complexity and timeline for development of CELsignia tests and gedatolisib; the uncertainty and costs associated with clinical trials; the uncertainty regarding market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community, and with the size of market opportunities available to us; the pricing of molecular and other diagnostic products and services that compete with us; uncertainty with insurance coverage and reimbursement for our CELsignia tests; difficulties we may face in managing growth, such as hiring and retaining a qualified sales force and attracting and retaining key personnel; changes in government regulations; tightening credit markets and limitations on access to capital; obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our technology and time and expense associated with defending third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, investigations or litigation threatened or initiated against us. These and additional risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Copies of filings made with the SEC are available through the SEC’s electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.

 

You should read the cautionary statements made in this Quarterly Report as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this Quarterly Report. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. You should read this Quarterly Report completely. Other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future.

 

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ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this item.

 

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, referred to collectively herein as the Certifying Officers, are responsible for establishing and maintaining our disclosure controls and procedures. The Certifying Officers have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of June 30, 2023. Based on that review and evaluation, the Certifying Officers have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, are effective and provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the periodic and current reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended June 30, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time we may be involved in disputes or litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations. We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide disclosure pursuant to this item. However, in addition to other information set forth in this Quarterly Report, including the important information in the section entitled “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act,” you should carefully consider the “Risk Factors” discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial might materially adversely affect our actual business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Recent Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

None

 

ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

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ITEM 6. Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, including the Certifications of Designations of Preferences, Rights, and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 7, 2023).
     
3.2   Bylaws, incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 13, 2017.
     
4.1  

Specimen Certificate representing shares of common stock of Celcuity Inc., (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed September 12, 2017).

     
4.2  

Form of Warrant to Purchase Units of Membership Interest issued by Celcuity LLC to Cedar Point Capital, LLC, as placement agent of membership units and unsecured convertible promissory notes of Celcuity LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on August 23, 2017).

     
4.3   Form of Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock issued by Celcuity Inc. in connection with the conversion of 1.25% Unsecured Convertible Promissory Notes (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2017).
     
4.4  

Representative’s Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 25, 2017).

     
4.5  

First Amendment to Representative’s Warrant, dated September 13, 2022, between Celcuity Inc. and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 14, 2022).

     
4.6  

Form of Warrant issued by Celcuity Inc. to Innovatus Life Sciences Lending Fund I, LP in connection with the Loan and Security Agreement dated April 8, 2021(incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021).

     
4.7  

Equity Grant Agreement, dated April 8, 2021, between the Company and Pfizer, Inc., (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021).

     
4.8   Form of Warrant issued by Celcuity Inc. in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 15, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2022).
     
10.1   Amendment to the Celcuity Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 12, 2023).
   
31.1*   Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.1**   Certification of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.2**   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101*  

Financial statements from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) the Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Statements of Operations, (iii) the Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

     
104*   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 11, 2023   CELCUITY INC.
     
  By /s/ Brian F. Sullivan
    Brian F. Sullivan
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
  By /s/ Vicky Hahne
    Vicky Hahne
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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