NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Other Loss Contingencies

The Company records liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties and other sources when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company has no liabilities recorded for loss contingencies as of December 31, 2024. 

Legal Matters

Action Against Former Executive of KBL

On September 1, 2021, the Company initiated legal action in the Chancery Court of Delaware against Dr. Marlene Krauss, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and director (“Dr. Krauss”) and two of her affiliated companies, KBL IV Sponsor, LLC (“KBL Sponsor”) and KBL Healthcare Management, Inc. (collectively, the “KBL Affiliates”) for, among other things, engaging in unauthorized monetary transfers of the Company’s assets, non-disclosure of financial liabilities within the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, issuing shares of stock without proper authorization; and improperly allowing stockholder redemptions to take place. The Company’s complaint alleges multiple causes of action against Dr. Krauss and/or the KBL Affiliates, and seeks compensatory damages in excess of $11,286,570, together with interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its legal action.

On October 5, 2021, Dr. Krauss and the KBL Affiliates filed an Answer, Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint against the Company and twelve individuals who are, or were, directors and/or officers of the Company, i.e., Marc Feldmann, Lawrence Steinman, James N. Woody, Teresa DeLuca, Frank Knuettel II, Pamela Marrone, Lawrence Gold, Donald A. McGovern, Jr., Russell T. Ray, Richard W. Barker, Shoshana Shendelman and Ozan Pamir (collectively, the “Third-Party Defendants”).  On February 24, 2022, Dr. Krauss filed an amended Answer, Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint (the “Amended Counterclaims”), which, among other things, dismissed Teresa DeLuca, Frank Knuettel II, Pamela Marrone, Russell T. Ray, Richard W. Barker and Shoshana Shendelman.  In essence, the Amended Counterclaims allege that the Company and the remaining Third-Party Defendants made alleged misstatements against Dr. Krauss in Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, failed to register her shares in the Company so that they could be traded, and failed to pay to Dr. Krauss the amounts alleged to be owing under a promissory note in the principal amount of $371,178, plus an additional $300,000 under Dr. Krauss’s resignation agreement. On April 19, 2022, Dr. Krauss stipulated to dismiss all of her counterclaims against both Donald A. McGovern, Jr. and Lawrence Gold.

On June 25, 2024, Dr. Krauss filed a Motion for partial summary judgment on her claim that the Company failed to register her shares.

Action Against the Company by Dr. Krauss

On August 19, 2021, Dr. Krauss initiated legal action in the Chancery Court of Delaware against the Company.  The Complaint alleged that the Company is obligated to advance expenses including, attorney’s fees, to Dr. Krauss for the costs of defending against an SEC investigation and Subpoenas, and that the Company is also required to reimburse Dr. Krauss for the costs of bringing this lawsuit against the Company.  On September 3, 2021, Dr. Krauss filed an Amended Complaint which further alleged that Dr. Krauss is also allegedly entitled to advancement by the Company of her expenses, including attorney’s fees, for the costs of defending against the Third-Party Complaint in the Tyche action referenced below, and the costs of defending against the Company’s own Complaint against Dr. Krauss as described above.  On or about September 23, 2021, the Company filed its Answer to the Amended Complaint in which the Company denied each of Dr. Krauss’ claims and raised numerous affirmative defenses.

On November 15, 2021, Dr. Krauss filed a Motion for Summary Adjudication as to certain of the issues in the case, which was opposed by the Company.  On March 7, 2022, the Court issued a decision denying the Motion in part and granting it in part.  The Court then issued an Order implementing such decision on March 29, 2022.  The parties subsequently engaged in proceedings as set forth in that Order, and the Company was required to pay a portion of those fees while objecting to the remaining portion of disputed fees. On October 10, 2022 and January 18, 2023, Dr. Krauss filed applications to compel the Company to pay the full amount of fees requested by Dr. Krauss for May-October 2022, and to modify the Court’s Order. On May 3, 2023, the Court issued an Order granting both of Dr. Krauss’s Applications for payment of attorney’s fees totaling $714,557, which amount was paid in May 2023.

On February 21, 2025, the Company entered into a Mutual Settlement and General Release Agreement with Dr. Krauss, KBL Merger Corp. IV, the Company’s predecessor, and KBL Sponsor (the “Settlement Agreement”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company agreed to (1) pay $50,000 within twenty days from February 21, 2025 (the “Cash Payment”), which has been paid to date, and (2) issue 200,000 shares of restricted common stock within three business days (the “Settlement Shares”), which have been issued to date. The Settlement Shares include piggyback registration rights for a resale registration statement relative to the Settlement Shares for a period of six (6) months.

The Settlement Agreement also required Dr. Krauss to enter into a Voting Agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, which was entered into on February 21, 2025, by Dr. Krauss, the Company, and Blair Jordan, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, solely for the benefit of the Company, Dr. Krauss agreed to vote the Settlement Shares as recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company, at any meeting of stockholders or via any written consent of stockholders, which may occur prior to August 21, 2025. In order to enforce the terms of the Voting Agreement, and solely for the benefit of the Company, Dr. Krauss provided Mr. Jordan (or his assigns) an irrevocable voting proxy to vote the Settlement Shares pursuant to the guidelines set forth above at any meeting of stockholders or via any written consent of stockholders. The Voting Agreement also provides a restriction on Dr. Krauss’s sale or transfer of any of the Settlement Shares until August 21, 2025, and provides for mutual general releases of the parties.

The Settlement Agreement required Dr. Krauss to file a dismissal of her court actions within ten days after receipt of the Cash Payment and that the Company, Dr. Krauss and KBL Sponsor have submitted filings with the court to dismiss all of their claims against one another with prejudice.

Action Against Tyche Capital LLC

The Company commenced and filed an action against defendant Tyche Capital LLC (“Tyche”) in the Supreme Court of New York in the County of New York on April 15, 2021.  In its Complaint, the Company alleged claims against Tyche arising out of Tyche’s breach of its written contractual obligations to the Company as set forth in a Guarantee and Commitment Agreement dated July 25, 2019, and a Term Sheet for KBL Business Combination With CannBioRex dated April 10, 2019 (collectively, the “Subject Guarantee”), and claimed that Tyche’s breach of the Subject Guarantee caused the Company damages in the amount of at least $6,776,686.

On or about May 17, 2021, Tyche responded to the Company’s Complaint by filing an Answer and Counterclaims against the Company alleging that it was the Company, rather than Tyche, that had breached the Subject Guarantee.  Tyche also filed a Third-Party Complaint against six third-party defendants, including three members of the Company’s then management, Sir Marc Feldmann, Dr. James Woody, and Ozan Pamir (collectively, the “Individual Company Defendants”), claiming that they allegedly breached fiduciary duties to Tyche with regards to the Subject Guarantee.  

On November 23, 2021, the Court granted the Company’s request to issue an Order of attachment against all of Tyche’s shares of the Company’s stock that had been held in escrow.  In so doing, the Court found that the Company had demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of the case based on the facts alleged in the Company’s Complaint.

On February 18, 2022, Tyche filed an Amended Answer, Counterclaims and Third-Party Complaint.  On August 25, 2022, the Court granted the Company’s Motion to Dismiss each of the Individual Company Defendants, and also three of the four Counterclaims brought against the Company, leaving only Tyche’s declaratory relief claim. On August 26, 2022, Tyche filed a Motion to vacate or modify the Company’s existing attachment Order against Tyche’s shares of the Company’s stock held in escrow, however, the Court summarily denied such Motion on January 3, 2023. Although Tyche subsequently filed a Notice of Appeal as to that denial, on May 4, 2023, the Appellate Court unanimously affirmed the ruling of the lower Court in the Company’s favor.

On January 30, 2023, the Company filed a Notice of Motion for Summary Judgment. In hearings held on September 11 and 19, 2023, the Court granted the Company’s Motion, but referred the question as to the amount of the Company’s damages against Tyche to a special referee. Tyche filed a Notice of Appeal as to the Court’s ruling.

On June 30, 2024, the Company entered into a written Settlement Agreement with Tyche and Ronald Bauer & Samantha Bauer to fully resolve this action with Tyche and the Bauer action referenced below. The Settlement Agreement has been fully signed, and the parties are currently engaged in performing its terms, which include, among other things, transfer to the Company of Tyche’s shares of the Company’s stock in escrow, transfer to the Company of shares of the Company’s stock held by Theseus Capital Ltd. and Astatine Capital Ltd., forgiveness of loans to the Company by the Bauer Defendants, exoneration of the Company’s $50,000 bond in the Tyche action, complete mutual releases of all claims and counterclaims in both actions, and dismissal of both the Tyche action and the Bauer action in their entireties. As a result of forgiveness of loans payable to the Bauer Defendants totaling $81,720, and accrued interest of $25,171, as well as release of the Company’s $50,000 bond, the Company recognized a gain of $156,891 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, included in Gain on Settlement of Liabilities on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Action Against Ronald Bauer & Samantha Bauer

The Company and two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Katexco Pharmaceuticals Corp. and CannBioRex Pharmaceuticals Corp. (collectively, the “Company Plaintiffs”), initiated legal action against Ronald Bauer and Samantha Bauer, as well as two of their companies, Theseus Capital Ltd. and Astatine Capital Ltd. (collectively, the “Bauer Defendants”), in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on February 25, 2022. The Complaint claims that the Bauer Defendants misappropriated funds and stock shares, engaged in unauthorized stock sales, and obtained improper travel expenses. The Bauer Defendants filed a Response denying the Civil Claim Complaint of the Company on May 6, 2022.

On June 30, 2024, the Company Plaintiffs, Tyche and the Bauer Defendants entered into the Settlement Agreement described above, which fully resolves this action.

Declaratory Relief Action Against the Company by AmTrust International

On June 29, 2022, AmTrust International Underwriters DAC (“AmTrust”), which was the premerger directors’ and officers’ insurance policy underwriter for KBL, filed a declaratory relief action against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the “Declaratory Relief Action”) seeking a declaration that AmTrust is not obligated to reimburse the Company for fees advanced by the Company to Dr. Krauss and George Hornig, former officer and directors of the Company, under the directors’ and officers’ insurance policy.

On September 20, 2022, the Company filed its Answer and Counterclaims against AmTrust for bad faith breach of AmTrust’s insurance coverage obligations to the Company under the subject insurance policy, seeking at least $2 million in compensatory damages, and punitive damages. In addition, the Company brought a Third-Party Complaint against its excess insurance carrier, Freedom Specialty Insurance Company (“Freedom”) seeking declaratory relief that Freedom will also be required to honor its policy coverage as soon as the amount of AmTrust’s insurance coverage obligations to the Company has been exhausted. On October 25, 2022, AmTrust filed its Answer to the Company’s Counterclaims and, on October 27, 2022, Freedom filed its Answer to the Third-Party Complaint.

On November 22, 2022, the Company filed a Motion for Summary Adjudication against both AmTrust and Freedom.  The Motion was fully briefed and a hearing was held on March 9, 2023. The standard to prevail on a Motion for Summary Adjudication in the Court is high to prevail and requires a judge to find that there are no disputed issues of fact so that they can rule on the issues as a matter of law. In this instance the judge found three major issues could be decided as a matter of law in the Company’s favor and that one issue, the Change in Control exclusion, requires further discovery.

On April 21, 2023, the Court issued an Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part the Company’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment.

Specifically, the Court granted summary adjudication in favor of the Company on the following issues: (a) that the Company is, in fact, an insured under both the AmTrust and Freedom insurance policies; (b) that certain SEC subpoena related expenses for defendants Dr. Marlene Krauss, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and Director, and George Hornig, the former Chairman of the Board, are within the basic scope of coverage under both the AmTrust and Freedom insurance policies; and (c) that the Insured vs. Insured exclusion relied upon by AmTrust and Freedom is not applicable to bar any such coverage.

The Court also found that there were issues of disputed facts as to the Change in Control exclusion contained within the policies, which therefore precluded the Court from granting the remainder of the Company’s requests for summary adjudication as a matter of law. Accordingly, the Court, at that time, denied the Company’s further requests for summary adjudication and deemed that for the time being, the Change in Control issue is to be determined at the time of trial, in order to find that the policies (i) provide coverage for the fees which the Company has advanced and will advance to Dr. Marlene Krauss and George Hornig; (ii) that AmTrust has breached the policy; (iii) that AmTrust must pay such expenses of the Company; and that, once the AmTrust policy has been exhausted, (iv) Freedom will be obligated to pay such expenses of the Company pursuant to its policy.

On August 4, 2023, the Court granted the Company’s request to file a second motion for partial summary judgment in the case, this one being on the issue of whether AmTrust should be required to advance to the Company the defense costs being incurred by Dr. Marlene Krauss and George Hornig during the pendency of the case. The Motion for Partial Summary Judgment was fully briefed by the parties, and a hearing for such Motion was held on January 11, 2024. After the matter was taken under submission, on February 12, 2024, the Court granted the Company’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment against both AmTrust and Freedom, and ordered as follows: (a) AmTrust is obligated under its insurance policy with the Company to advance to the Company all defense costs in excess of the deductible that the Company has advanced, or will advance, to Dr. Krauss and Mr. Hornig in connection with certain SEC Subpoenas, and (b) upon exhaustion of the AmTrust insurance policy, Freedom is obligated to do the same pursuant to its excess liability insurance policy with the Company. This Order applies throughout the interim of the case, but does not constitute a final judgment, and both the Company and the two insurers retain their rights to contest all applicable issues at trial.

On April 16, 2024, AmTrust paid the Company $2.27 million in reimbursement of fees which the Company has advanced to Dr. Marlene Krauss and George Hornig, of which the Company received $1.5 million after the payment of attorney’s fees. On May 9, 2024, AmTrust paid the Company $300,140 in reimbursement of fees which the Company had advanced to Dr. Marlene Krauss and George Hornig, and the Company received $200,093 after the payment of attorney’s fees.

The Company, Freedom and Amtrust held a mediation conference on August 21, 2024, during which, the Company agreed to the terms of a settlement with Freedom, pursuant to which Freedom agreed to pay $125,000 to the Company, of which the Company received approximately $83,333 after the payment of legal fees. On September 23, 2024, Freedom paid the Company a further $125,000 in reimbursement of fees advanced by the Company, of which the Company received $76,639 after the payment of attorney’s fees. On September 5, 2024, the Company and Freedom executed a mutual release agreement. The total of $1,789,443 is included in other income on the Company’s unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

A trial on these matters was scheduled for May 12, 2025. The Company and AmTrust conducted mediation at the end of February 2025 and early March 2025. On March 10, 2025, the court vacated all scheduled dates, and terminated AmTrust’s motion for summary judgment without prejudice. The court also ordered that the parties file a stipulated dismissal or a status report regarding settlement within 60 days, by May 9, 2025. The Company and AmTrust are currently negotiating settlement terms, of which no assurance can be provided that a final agreement can be reached. A final judgment following trial could potentially confirm these obligations of the insurers or, alternatively, reverse and require the Company to repay all or portions of such advance payments, including up to and including the $2.57 million advanced by Freedom. There is no assurance at this time as to what the final judgment may entail. The final outcome of the litigation is unknown at this time and such final outcome could be materially adverse to the Company.

Stanford License Agreement

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded patent and license fees of $0 and $55,526, respectively, related to the Stanford License Agreement, which is included in general and administrative expenses on the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The license agreement with Stanford University covering α7nAChR was terminated effective November 23, 2024. After a careful review of the Company’s intellectual property portfolio as part of the Company’s ongoing strategic review process, the Company decided to move in a different direction and returned the intellectual property to Stanford University.

Oxford University Agreements  

On September 18, 2020, CBR Pharma entered into a 3 year research and development agreement (the “3 Year Oxford Agreement”) with Oxford to research and investigate the mechanisms underlying fibrosis in exchange for aggregate consideration of $1,085,738 (£795,468), of which $109,192 (£80,000) is to be paid 30 days after the project start date and the remaining amount is to be paid in four equal installments of $244,136 (£178,867) on the six month anniversary and each of the annual anniversaries of the project start date. The agreement can be terminated by either party upon written notice or if the Company remains in default on any payments due under this agreement for more than 30 days. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $143,723 (£113,750) and $260,752 (£205,857), respectively, of research and development expenses in connection with the 3 Year Oxford Agreement.

On May 24, 2021, the Company entered into a research agreement with the University of Oxford (“Oxford” and the “Fifth Oxford Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will sponsor work at the University of Oxford to conduct a multi-center, randomized, double blind, parallel group, feasibility study of anti-TNF injection for the treatment of adults with frozen shoulder during the pain-predominant phase. As a consideration, the Company agreed to make the following payments to Oxford:

The Company paid the first milestone of $97,900 (£70,546) on September 3, 2021, which was due upon signing of the Fifth Oxford Agreement, which was recorded to prepaid expenses and will be amortized over the term of the agreement on a straight-line basis. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $0 (£0) and $74,465 (£58,788), respectively, of research and development expenses and has prepaid balances of $0 (£0), related to the Fifth Oxford Agreement.

On November 2, 2021, the Company and Oxford University entered into a twenty-year licensed technology agreement of the HMGB1 molecule, which is related to tissue regeneration, whereby Oxford University agreed to license the technology to the Company for research, development and use of the licensed patents. The Company agreed to pay Oxford University for past patent costs $66,223 (£49,207), an initial License fee of $13,458 (£10,000), future royalties based on sales and milestones, and an annual maintenance fee of $4,037 (£3,000). The Company has the option to terminate the agreement after the third anniversary of the agreement. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $721,362 and $721,362, respectively, of research and development expenses related to this agreement.

Due to the ongoing costs of the HMGB1 research program and the need for the Company to focus its resources on the Company’s primary platform to treat fibrosis using anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor), the Board of Directors of the Company elected to terminate the Company’s HMGB1 license agreement with Oxford on September 22, 2023, and on September 22, 2023, the Company and Oxford entered into a termination letter, formally terminating the License effective September 22, 2023. The termination letter also clarified amounts that we owed after termination of the License, including approximately $20,000 in unbilled fees. No material early termination penalties were incurred by the Company in connection with the termination of the license.

Due to recent financial constraints, the Company has been unable to timely pay amounts due to Oxford, the licensor of the majority of the Company’s licenses and patents and the Company’s research partner. Oxford alleges that an aggregate of approximately £929,030 is owed from the Company and one of its subsidiaries to Oxford under the terms of licenses and agreements with Oxford and related parties. The Company is currently in ongoing discussions with Oxford to reduce that amount and enter into a payment plan with regards to the amounts owed; however, no definitive terms or extensions have been agreed to date. Oxford has also notified the Company that it is not willing to discuss any new projects or arrangements until all outstanding invoices have been paid or a payment plan has been agreed to; has engaged a law firm to seek the collection of the amounts owed, together with interest; and has threatened legal proceedings against us. While we are hopeful that we can come to mutually agreeable terms regarding a settlement, payment plan, and/or extension, with Oxford, we may not have sufficient funds to pay amounts due to Oxford in the near term, if at all, and Oxford may take action against us, including filing legal proceedings against us seeking amounts due and interest, attempting to terminate their relationship with us, and/or filing a wind-up petition against one of the Company’s subsidiaries in the UK. If Oxford were to take legal action against us or terminate their relationship with us, we may be forced to scale back our business plan and/or seek bankruptcy protection. We may be subject to litigation and damages for our failure to pay amounts due to Oxford, and may be forced to pay interest and penalties, which funds we do not currently have.

Kennedy License Agreement

On September 27, 2019, 180 LP entered into a license agreement (the “Kennedy License Agreement”) with the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research (“Kennedy”) exclusively in the U.S., Japan, United Kingdom and countries of the EU, for certain licensed patents (the “Kennedy Licensed Patents”), including the right to grant sublicenses, and the right to research, develop, sell or manufacture any pharmaceutical product (i) whose research, development, manufacture, use, importation or sale would infringe the Kennedy Licensed Patents absent the license granted under the Kennedy License Agreement or (ii) containing an antibody that is a fragment of or derived from an antibody whose research, development, manufacture, use, importation or sale would infringe the Kennedy Licensed Patents absent the license granted under the Kennedy License Agreement, for all human uses, including the diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and conditions.

As a consideration for the grant of the Kennedy Licensed Patents, 180 LP paid Kennedy an upfront fee of GBP £60,000, (USD $74,000) on November 22, 2019, which was recognized as an intangible asset for the purchase of the licensed patents and is being amortized over the remaining life of the patents. 180 LP will also pay Kennedy royalties equal to (i) 1% of the net sales for the first annual GBP £1 million (USD $1,283,400) of net sales, and (ii) 2% of the net sales after the net sales are at or in excess of GBP £1 million, as well as 25% of all sublicense revenue, provided that the amount of such percentage of sublicense revenue based on amounts which constitute royalties shall not be less than 1% on the first cumulative GBP £1 million of net sales of the products sold by such sublicenses or their affiliates, and 2% on that portion of the cumulative net sales of the products sold by such sublicenses or their affiliates in excess of GBP £1 million.

The term of the royalties paid by the Company to Kennedy will expire on the later of (i) the last valid claim of a patent included in the Kennedy Licensed Patents which covers or claims the exploitation of a product in the applicable country; (ii) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for the product in the country; or (iii) 10 years from the first commercial sale of the product in the country. The Kennedy License Agreement may be terminated without cause by providing a 90-day notice. 

Petcanna Sub-License Agreement

On August 20, 2018, CBR Pharma entered into a sub-license agreement (the “Sub-License Agreement”) with its wholly owned subsidiary, Petcanna Pharma Corp. (“Petcanna”), of which the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer is a director. Petcanna is a private company with one common principal with the Company.

Pursuant to the terms of the Sub-license Agreement, the Company has granted a sub-license on the Licensed Patents to pursue development and commercialization for the treatment of all veterinary conditions. In consideration, Petcanna will (a) issue 450,000 common shares of its share capital (the “Petcanna Shares”) 30 days after the effective date; and (b) pay royalties of 1% of net sales. The Company will be issued 85% and Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ltd. (“Yissum”) will be issued 15% of the 450,000 common shares of the Petcanna subsidiary. The Petcanna shares are deemed to be founders shares with no value. The Petcanna shares have not been issued as of December 31, 2024.

Operating Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued an update to the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). The new standard required most leases to be recognized on the balance sheet as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at the present value of amounts expected to be paid over the lease term. Recognition of the costs of these leases on the income statement are disaggregated and recognized as both operating expense (for the amortization of the right-of-use asset) and interest expense (for the portion of the lease payment related to interest). This standard was adopted by the Company upon issuance.

In accordance with ASC 842, the Company can elect (by asset class) not to record on the balance sheet a lease whose term is 12 months or less and does not include a purchase option that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. If elected, the lease would be treated like an operating lease under previous GAAP; payments would be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. When determining whether the lease qualifies for this election, the Company would include renewal options only if they are considered part of the lease term, i.e., those options the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. If the lease term increases to more than 12 months, or if it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise a purchase option, the Company would no longer be able to apply this practical expedient and would apply ASC 842 guidance.

Regarding leases (of which it currently has none), the Company would use the practical expedient for short-term operating leases that are 12 months or less. This practical expedient has been elected as a package and it would be applied consistently to all leases. Additionally, if the Company’s leases are considered operating in nature and therefore not reflected on the balance sheet, the Company will recognize the short-term lease payments as rent/lease expense monthly on the income statement.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had no leases as well as no lease or rent expense as of those dates.

Consulting Agreements

Nanchahal Consulting Agreement

On February 22, 2021, the Company entered into a consultancy agreement (as amended, the “Consulting Agreement”) with a related party, Prof. Jagdeep Nanchahal (the “Consultant”). The Consulting Agreement was effective December 1, 2020.

Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, the Company agreed to pay the Consultant 15,000 British Pounds (GBP) per month (approximately $20,800) during the term of the agreement, increasing to 23,000 GBP per month (approximately $32,000) on the date (a) of publication of the data from the phase 2b clinical trial for Dupuytren’s Contracture (RIDD) and (b) the date that the Company has successfully raised over $15 million in capital. The Company also agreed to pay the Consultant the following bonus amounts: 

The Consulting Agreement had an initial term of three years, and renews thereafter for additional three-year terms, until terminated as provided in the agreement. The Consulting Agreement can be terminated by either party with 12 months prior written notice (provided the Company’s right to terminate the agreement may only be exercised if the Consultant fails to perform his required duties under the Consulting Agreement), or by the Company immediately under certain conditions specified in the Consulting Agreement if (a) the Consultant fails or neglects efficiently and diligently to perform the services required thereunder or is guilty of any breach of its or his obligations under the agreement (including any consent granted under it); (b) the Consultant is guilty of any fraud or dishonesty or acts in a manner (whether in the performance of the services or otherwise) which, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, has brought or is likely to bring the Consultant, the Company or any of its affiliates into disrepute or is convicted of an arrestable offence (other than a road traffic offence for which a non-custodial penalty is imposed); or (c) the Consultant becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors. If the Consulting Agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, the Consultant is entitled to a lump sum payment of 12 months of his fee as of the date of termination.

Effective March 30, 2021, in satisfaction of amounts owed to the Consultant for 50% of Bonus 2, the Company issued 265 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Consultant. Additionally, on April 15, 2021, in satisfaction of amounts owed to the Consultant for an additional 19% of Bonus 2, the Company issued 100 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Consultant.

Effective August 27, 2021, in satisfaction of amounts owed to the Consultant for the remainder of Bonus 2, the Company issued 162 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Consultant since the Company raised $15 million in a financing transaction, as per the agreement. All issuances were made under the Company’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. See Note 11 – Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity.

In December 2021, the Dupuytren’s Contracture clinical trial data was submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and Bonus 1 was paid to the Consultant.

On April 27, 2022, the Company entered into an Amendment to the Consulting Agreement, whereby upon acceptance of the data for the Phase 2b clinical trial for Dupuytren’s Contracture for publication, the Consultant’s monthly fee will increase to £23,000, provided that £4,000 of such increase will be accrued and £19,000 of such fees will be payable monthly per the payroll practices of the Company in cash effective March 1, 2022 and until the earlier of (a) November 1, 2022 or (b) the date upon which the Company has sufficient cash on hand to pay the accrued amount, which the Company expects will not be until it has raised a minimum of $15,000,000 (the “Funding Determination Date”), at which time the accrued amount will be due.

On December 28, 2022, the Company entered into an Amendment to the Consulting Agreement, whereby the Company agreed that the Consultant’s monthly fee increased to £35,000 beginning on January 1, 2023 until the end of the term of the agreement; if the agreement is terminated by the Company for any reason other than cause, the consultant will be entitled to a lump sum payment of 12 months of his monthly fee as of the date of termination. Amounts owed for 2024 have been accrued.

Other Commitments

Amendments to Compensation Agreements

On January 10, 2024, and effective on January 1, 2024, the Company entered into (a) a Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Dr. James Woody, the then CEO and Director of the Company; (b) a Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement with Dr. Jonathan Rothbard, the then Chief Science Officer (CSO) of the Company; (c) a Third Amendment to Consulting Agreement with Dr. Lawrence Steinman, the then Executive Chairman of the Company; and (d) a Second Amendment to Consulting Agreement with Prof. Sir Marc Feldmann, the former Executive Co-Chairman of the Company (collectively, the “Amendments”), which each amended the compensation agreements then in place with such individuals.

Pursuant to the Amendments, each of Dr. Woody and Dr. Rothbard, effective as of January 1, 2024, agreed to a reduction of the base salaries set forth in their respective amended employment agreements, by 50%, to $245,000 per year for Dr. Woody and to $100,000 per year for Dr. Rothbard, with the amount of such salary reductions ($20,416 per month for Dr. Woody and $8,333 per month for Dr. Rothbard) accruing monthly in arrears, to be paid upon the Company raising at least $5,000,000 in funding subsequent to the date of the Amendments (the “Funding Date”), provided that in the event the Funding Date does not occur prior to March 15, 2025, the amounts accrued will be forgiven in their entirety. In May 2024, Dr. Rothbard entered into a Separation and Release Agreement whereby Dr. Rothbard released the Company from any obligation to pay accrued amounts. In May 2024, Dr. Woody entered into a Separation Agreement as discussed below. 

Also pursuant to the Amendments, each of Dr. Steinman and Sir Marc Feldmann, effective as of January 1, 2024, agreed to a reduction of the base salaries set forth in their respective consulting agreements, by 100%, to $0 per year for each of Dr. Steinman and Sir Marc Feldmann, with the amount of such salary reductions ($18,750 per month or $225,000 per year, for Dr. Steinman and £14,167 per month or £170,000 per year, for Sir Marc Feldmann) accruing monthly in arrears, to be paid on the Funding Date, provided that in the event the Funding Date does not occur prior to March 15, 2025, the amounts accrued will be forgiven in their entirety. Sir Marc Feldmann entered into a separation agreement in September 2024 as discussed below and Dr. Steinman entered into fourth amendment to consulting agreement as discussed below.  

Woody Separation Agreement

On May 7, 2024, Dr. James N. Woody resigned as Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer), and as a member of the Board of Directors, of the Company effective the same date, and entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with the Company (the “Woody Separation Agreement”).

Under the Woody Separation Agreement, the Company (a) paid Dr. Woody $50,000 in cash, less all applicable withholdings and required deductions (the “Severance Cash”); (b) issued Dr. Woody 25,000 fully-vested shares of the Company’s common stock; and (c) provided Dr. Woody the right to earn the Future Contingent Payment (as defined below). The amounts above (except for the amounts payable pursuant to (c), which shall be paid by the 15th day following the date such payment is due as discussed below), were required to be paid within 15 days of the date of Dr. Woody’s resignation (the “Payment Date”). We also agreed to pay Dr. Woody a bonus of $50,000 (the “Future Contingent Payment”), [A] if we, within the 24 months following the date of Dr. Woody’s resignation, complete any corporate transaction, including but not limited to any merger, reverse merger, acquisition, disposal, joint-venture and/or investment involving the Company (a “Corporate Transaction”), which results in a Change of Control (a “Change of Control” means any Corporate Transaction pursuant to which the ownership of an aggregate of 50.1% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company is held by one or more parties after completing the Corporate Transaction); or [B] if we raise at least $5 million from any source within 12 months from Dr. Woody’s resignation date. The Future Contingent Payment is to be forfeited from Dr. Woody in the event that we are required to restate any financial statements of the Company for periods prior to Dr. Woody’s resignation date, if Dr. Woody was Chief Executive Officer of the Company during such period(s), or any disclosure made by the Company in any report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is found by the Company to be materially incorrect or misleading, as determined by the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company (each a “Forfeiture Trigger”). In the event a Forfeiture Trigger occurs or is deemed to have occurred, Dr. Woody is also required to promptly repay in full the Severance Cash.

Under the Woody Separation Agreement, Dr. Woody agreed to provide a customary general release to the Company, waived any severance pay that would have been due pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, agreed to the termination of his employment agreement, and also agreed to certain confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, and cooperation covenants in favor of the Company. The 25,000 fully-vested shares of the Company’s common stock due to Dr. Woody were issued under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As a result of the separation, the Company had a total of $237,748 of accrued expenses owed to Dr. Woody waived in full, realizing a gain of $132,498 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is included in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity (deficit) due to the related party nature of the settlement.

On February 5, 2025, the Company entered into a First Amendment to Separation and Release Agreement with Dr. Woody (the “First Amendment”). Pursuant to the First Amendment, Dr. Woody agreed to amend the terms of the Woody Separation Agreement, to terminate the prior requirement of the Company set forth therein to pay Dr. Woody the Future Contingent Payment, [A] if the Company, within the 24 months following the date of Dr. Woody’s resignation, complete any corporate transaction, including but not limited to any merger, reverse merger, acquisition, disposal, joint-venture and/or investment involving the Company, which results in a change of control; or [B] if the Company raises at least $5 million from any source within 12 months from Dr. Woody’s resignation date. Instead, pursuant to the First Amendment, Dr. Woody agreed to accept $60,000 in shares of restricted common stock of the Company (or 43,166 shares of common stock, based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on February 5, 2025, which closing price was $1.39 per share, the “Separation Shares”), in lieu of the Future Contingent Payment which obligation was terminated. The Separation Shares include piggyback registration rights for a resale registration statement relative to the Separation Shares for a period of six (6) months.

The First Amendment also required Dr. Woody to enter into a Voting Agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, which was entered into on February 5, 2025, by Dr. Woody, the Company, and Blair Jordan, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, solely for the benefit of the Company, Dr. Woody agreed to vote the Separation Shares as recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company, at any meeting of stockholders or via any written consent of stockholders, which may occur prior to February 5, 2026; the date after August 5, 2025, that Dr. Woody has sold all of the Separation Shares; or the date that the Company terminates the Voting Agreement. In order to enforce the terms of the Voting Agreement, and solely for the benefit of the Company, Dr. Woody provided Mr. Jordan (or his assigns) an irrevocable voting proxy to vote the Separation Shares pursuant to the guidelines set forth above at any meeting of stockholders or via any written consent of stockholders. The Voting Agreement also provides a restriction on Dr. Woody’s sale or transfer of any of the Separation Shares until August 5, 2025.

Feldmann Separation Agreement

Effective on September 5, 2024, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, CBR Pharma and the Company, entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with Sir Marc Feldmann, the former Co-Executive Chairman of the Company, the former Chief Executive Officer of CBR Pharma, and the former director of CBR Pharma, which was amended to clarify such agreement was effective September 5, 2024 (as amended, the “Feldmann Separation Agreement”).

Under the Feldmann Separation Agreement, the Company agreed to issue Sir Marc Feldmann 57,328 shares of common stock and options to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock with a term of two years and an exercise price of $1.95 per share, the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on September 5, 2024, under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan to satisfy amounts owed to Sir Marc Feldmann in consideration for services previously rendered to CBR Pharma. Under the Feldmann Separation Agreement, Sir Marc Feldmann provided a customary general release to CBR Pharma and the Company, the Company and CBR Pharma provided a release to Sir Marc Feldmann, subject to certain exceptions, and Sir Marc Feldmann also agreed to certain confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, and cooperation covenants in favor of the Company and CBR Pharma. The shares were issued on September 10, 2024, and had a fair value of $101,471. The fair value of the options at issuance was $28,591. The Company valued the options using the Black-Scholes model with the following key assumptions ranging from: Fair value stock price, $1.95, Exercise price, $1.95, Term 2 years, Volatility 153.71%, Discount rate of 3.75% and a Dividend yield of 0%. The Company recognized no gain or loss on the Feldmann Separation Agreement. 

Also effective on September 5, 2024, the Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with Sir Marc Feldmann to provide for indemnification to Sir Marc Feldmann under Delaware law. Among other things, consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, the Indemnification Agreement generally requires that the Company (i) indemnify Sir Marc Feldmann from and against all expenses and liabilities with respect to proceedings to which Sir Marc Feldmann may be subject by reason of Sir Marc Feldmann’s service to the Company and its subsidiaries to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by Delaware law and (ii) advance all expenses incurred by Sir Marc Feldmann in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any proceeding, and in connection with any proceeding to enforce Sir Marc Feldmann’s rights under the Indemnification Agreement.

Rothbard Separation Agreement and Consulting Agreement

On May 7, 2024, Dr. Jonathan Rothbard resigned as Chief Scientific Officer of the Company effective the same date and entered into a Separation and Release Agreement with the Company (the “Rothbard Separation Agreement”).

Under the Rothbard Separation Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Dr. Rothbard $200 in cash, less all applicable withholdings and required deductions. Under the Rothbard Separation Agreement, Dr. Rothbard agreed to provide a customary general release to the Company, waived any severance pay that would have been due pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, agreed to the termination of his employment agreement, and also agreed to certain confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, and cooperation covenants in favor of the Company. As a result of the separation, the Company had a total of $53,365 of accrued expenses owed to Dr. Rothbard waived in full, realizing a gain of $53,165 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is included in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity (deficit) due to the related party nature of the settlement.

Effective on May 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Dr. Rothbard pursuant to which he agreed to provide general consulting services to the Company for a term of six months, for $150 per hour (the “Rothbard Consulting Agreement”). The agreement contains standard and customary confidentiality requirements.

Steinman Fourth Amendment to Consulting Agreement

On May 7, 2024, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment to Consulting Agreement with Dr. Lawrence Steinman, the then Executive Chairman of the Board and current director of the Company (the “Fourth Amendment”). Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment, Dr. Steinman waived and forgave all amounts accrued and owed to him under the Consulting Agreement through such date, and agreed that compensation payable to him under the Consulting Agreement moving forward would be $0, provided that as long as Dr. Steinman remains a member of the Board of Company, he is to receive the same compensation payable to other non-executive members of the Board of Directors. As a result of the Fourth Amendment, the Company had $175,313 in accrued expenses owed to Dr. Steinman waived in full, and realized a gain on the transaction of $175,313, which is included in additional paid-in capital on the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity (deficit) due to the related party nature of the settlement.

Dr. Steinman also agreed to step down as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and to instead serve as a regular member of the Board of Directors, provided that on May 7, 2024, Dr. Steinman was appointed as a member of the then Strategy and Alternatives Committee of the Company. 

Appointment of Interim Chief Executive Officer and Consulting Agreement

Also effective on May 7, 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Blair Jordan, a then member of the Board of Directors of the Company, as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer of the Company, to fill the vacancy left by Dr. Woody’s resignation. Upon such appointment, Mr. Jordan ceased being the Lead Independent director of the Company, and ceased being a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.

On May 7, 2024, the Company entered into an Executive Consulting Agreement with Mr. Jordan and Blair Jordan Strategy and Finance Consulting Inc. (an entity owned by Mr. Jordan) (“Jordan Consulting” and the “Jordan Consulting Agreement”). Pursuant to the Jordan Consulting Agreement, the Company agreed to engage Jordan Consulting to provide the services of Mr. Jordan to the Company as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Jordan Consulting Agreement has a term through April 30, 2025, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement (discussed below) and provides for Mr. Jordan to act as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and to be paid $216,000 per year in consideration for services rendered to the Company, plus a $250,000 bonus in the event that the Company completes a Corporate Transaction which results in a Change of Control. Notwithstanding the above, the Board of Directors, with the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, may grant Mr. Jordan bonuses from time to time in its discretion, in cash or equity. The Jordan Consulting Agreement includes customary confidentiality, non-disclosure and proprietary right requirements of Jordan Consulting and Mr. Jordan, and a prohibition on Jordan Consulting and Mr. Jordan competing against us during the term of the agreement.

The Jordan Consulting Agreement terminates automatically upon the completion of a Corporate Transaction (provided we pay the transaction bonus discussed above). We have the right to terminate the Jordan Consulting Agreement at any time, provided that if we terminate the agreement after 60 days and prior to completion of a Corporate Transaction, then we agreed to pay Jordan Consulting $75,000 in connection with such termination, within 60 days of such termination.

Non-Executive Director Compensation

Effective March 7, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Omar Jimenez and Ryan L. Smith as members of the Board of Directors (“Board”), which Appointments were effective as of the same date.

Effective on May 7, 2024, the Board of Directors set the compensation payable to non-executive members of the Board of Directors for services on the Board of Directors, at (a) $50,000 per year for service on the Board; (b) $15,000 for each Chairperson of a committee of the Board of Directors (provided that only one additional $15,000 payment shall be made even if the Director chairs multiple committees); and $25,000 additional for each member of the Strategy and Alternatives Committee of the Board of Directors, provided that effective October 24, 2024, the Board determined that the members of the Strategy and Alternatives, Risk, Safety and Regulatory Committee (which committee was formed by the combination of the Strategy and Alternatives Committee and the Risk, Safety and Regulatory Committee), would not receive any additional consideration for services on such committee other than their standard compensation for service on the Board.

Effective October 24, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Jay Goodman as a member of the Board of Directors (“Board”), which appointment was effective as of the same date.

In connection with Mr. Goodman’s appointment to the Board, the Company entered into an offer letter with Mr. Goodman (the “Goodman Offer Letter”). The Goodman Offer Letter provides for Mr. Goodman to be paid $50,000 per year as an annual retainer fee for serving on the Board, and $15,000 per year for serving as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. The Company agreed to pay Mr. Goodman amounts due, quarterly in arrears, and pro-rated for partial quarters. Mr. Goodman has the option of receiving half of his compensation in cash and half in stock, or alternatively receiving all in cash. Mr. Goodman is the son of an executive officer and shareholder of Elray Resources, Inc.

Effective on October 24, 2024, Mr. Blair Jordan’s Offer Letter entered into with Mr. Jordan in connection with his appointment to the Board in February 2024, was mutually terminated due to the fact that he is no longer serving as an independent member of the Board and because he is currently serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, party to a Consulting Agreement with the Company providing for compensation payable to him as an officer of the Company.

On December 2, 2024, Mr. Omar Jimenez resigned effective as of December 3, 2024 from the Board. Effective as of the date of his resignation from the Board, the March 4, 2024 Offer Letter between Mr. Jimenez and the Company was terminated. Mr. Jimenez continued to serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company until December 16, 2024 when he tendered his resignation.

On December 3, 2024, immediately upon Mr. Jimenez’s resignation, the Board of the Company appointed Stephen H. Shoemaker as a member of the Board. In connection with Mr. Shoemaker’s appointment to the Board, the Company entered into an offer letter with Mr. Shoemaker (the “Shoemaker Offer Letter”). The Shoemaker Offer Letter provides for Mr. Shoemaker to be paid $50,000 per year as an annual retainer fee for serving on the Board.

On February 4, 2025, the Board of the Company appointed independent director Ryan Smith, as Lead Independent Director of the Company, and agreed to pay Mr. Smith an additional $20,000 per year for his services in such role.

Indemnification Agreements

The Company has entered into Indemnity Agreements (each an “Indemnification Agreement”) with each of its then directors and officers (each an “Indemnitee”), to provide for indemnification to the officers and directors under Delaware law. Among other things, consistent with the Company’s Bylaws, each Indemnification Agreement generally requires that the Company (i) indemnify the Indemnitee from and against all expenses and liabilities with respect to proceedings to which Indemnitee may be subject by reason of the Indemnitee’s service to the Company to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by Delaware law and (ii) advance all expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any proceeding, and in connection with any proceeding to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under the Indemnification Agreement. The Indemnification Agreement also establishes various related procedures and processes and generally requires the Company to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage.