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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2024

 

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 number 001-37492

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   11-2622630
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA
  95118
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(408) 708-9808

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading symbol   Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share   ANIX   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

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, 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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

On June 4, 2024 the registrant had outstanding 32,006,460 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, which is the registrant’s only class of common stock.

 

 

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1
   
Item 1. Financial Statements. 1
   
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023 1
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 2
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) for the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 4
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 5
     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 6
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 16
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. 21
   
Item 4. Controls and Procedures. 21
   
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 22
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings. 22
   
Item 1A. Risk Factors. 22
   
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. 22
   
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. 22
   
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. 22
   
Item 5. Other Information. 22
   
Item 6. Exhibits. 22
   
SIGNATURES 23

 

 ii 
 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   April 30, 2024   October 31, 2023 
         
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $995   $915 
Short-term investments   22,244    22,929 
Receivables   218    270 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   757    1,242 
Total current assets   24,214    25,356 
           
Operating lease right-of-use asset   141    166 
Total assets  $24,355   $25,522 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $215   $206 
Accrued expenses   1,410    1,770 
Operating lease liability   56    52 
Total current liabilities   1,681    2,028 
           
Operating lease liability, non-current   93    123 
Total liabilities   1,774    2,151 
           
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)   -    - 
           
Equity:          
Shareholders’ equity:          
Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding   -    - 
Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding   -    - 
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 32,006,460 and 31,145,219 shares issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023, respectively   320    311 
Additional paid-in capital   257,893    252,222 
Accumulated deficit   (234,590)   (228,196)
Total shareholders’ equity   23,623    24,337 
Noncontrolling interest (Note 2)   (1,042)   (966)
Total equity   22,581    23,371 
           
Total liabilities and equity  $24,355   $25,522 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 1 
 

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

                 
   For the three months ended   For the six months ended 
   April 30,   April 30, 
   2024   2023   2024   2023 
                 
Revenue  $-   $210   $-   $210 
                     
Operating costs and expenses:                    
Inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses   -    161    -    161 
Research and development expenses (including non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $520, $492, $1,009 and $998, respectively)   1,646    998    2,995    2,066 
General and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $740, $735, $1,511 and $1,292, respectively)   1,821    1,611    4,081    3,099 
Total operating costs and expenses   3,467    2,770    7,076    5,326 
                     
Loss from operations   (3,467)   (2,560)   (7,076)   (5,116)
                     
Interest income   287    253    606    455 
                     
Net loss   (3,180)   (2,307)   (6,470)   (4,661)
                     
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (41)   (19)   (76)   (51)
                     
Net loss attributable to common shareholders  $(3,139)  $(2,288)  $(6,394)  $(4,610)
                     
Net loss per common share attributable to common shareholders:                    
Basic and diluted  $(0.10)  $(0.07)  $(0.20)  $(0.15)
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                    
Basic and diluted   31,914    30,930    31,677    30,924 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 2 
 

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2024

 

                             
   Common Stock   Additional       Total    Non-     
   Shares   Par
Value
  

Paid-in

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

   Shareholders’ Equity   controlling
Interest
   Total
Equity
 
                             
Balance, January 31, 2024   31,754,375   $318   $255,738   $(231,451)  $24,605   $(1,001)  $23,604 
Stock option compensation to employees and directors   -    -    1,238    -    1,238    -    1,238 
Stock options issued to consultants   -    -    22    -    22    -    22 
Common stock issued in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses of $26   229,470    2    831    -    833    -    833 
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options
   19,999    -    57    -    57    -    57 
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   2,616    -    7    -    7    -    7 
Net loss   -    -    -    (3,139)   (3,139)   (41)   (3,180)
Balance, April 30, 2024   32,006,460   $320   $257,893   $(234,590)  $23,623   $(1,042)  $22,581 

 

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2023

 

   Common Stock   Additional      Total   Non-    
   Shares   Par
Value
  

Paid-in

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Shareholders’

Equity

  

controlling
Interest

   Total
Equity
 
                             
Balance, January 31, 2023   30,922,830   $309   $248,189   $(220,707)  $27,791   $(879)  $26,912 
Stock option compensation to employees and directors   -    -    1,155    -    1,155    -    1,155 
Stock options issued to consultants   -    -    47    -    47    -    47 
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options   27,818    1    74    -    75    -    75 
Common stock issued to consultants   6,114    -    25    -    25    -    25 
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   1,903    -    6    -    6    -    6 
Net loss   -    -    -    (2,288)   (2,288)   (19)   (2,307)
Balance, April 30, 2023   30,958,665   $310   $249,496   $(222,995)  $26,811   $(898)  $25,913 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 3 
 

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2024

 

   Common Stock   Additional      Total   Non-     
   Shares   Par
Value
   Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
   Shareholders’
Equity
   controlling
Interest
   Total
Equity
 
                             
Balance, October 31, 2023   31,145,219   $311   $252,222   $(228,196)  $24,337   $(966)  $23,371 
Stock option compensation to employees and directors   -    -    2,346    -    2,346    -    2,346 
Stock options issued to consultants   -    -    78    -    78    -    78 
Common stock issued in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses of $94   785,290    8    3,021    -    3,029    -    3,029 
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options   43,999    -    124    -    124    -    124 
Common stock issued to consultants   29,336    1    95    -    96    -    96 
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   2,616    -    7    -    7    -    7 
Net loss   -    -    -    (6,394)   (6,394)   (76)   (6,470)
Balance, April 30, 2024   32,006,460   $320   $257,893   $(234,590)  $23,623   $(1,042)  $22,581 

 

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2023

 

   Common Stock   Additional      Total   Non-     
   Shares   Par Value   Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
   Shareholders’
Equity
   controlling
Interest
   Total
Equity
 
                             
Balance, October 31, 2022   30,913,902   $309   $247,123   $(218,385)  $29,047   $(847)  $28,200 
Stock option compensation to employees and directors   -    -    2,112    -    2,112    -    2,112 
Stock options issued to consultants   -    -    128    -    128    -    128 
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options   29,382    1    77    -    78    -    78 
Common stock issued to consultants   13,478    -    50    -    50    -    50 
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   1,903    -    6    -    6    -    6 
Net loss   -    -    -    (4,610)   (4,610)   (51)   (4,661)
Balance, April 30, 2023   30,958,665   $310   $249,496   $(222,995)  $26,811   $(898)  $25,913 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 4 
 

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

 

         
  

For the six months ended

April 30,

 
   2024   2023 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Net loss  $(6,470)  $(4,661)
Stock option compensation to employees and directors   2,346    2,112 
Stock options issued to consultants   78    128 
Common stock issued to consultants   96    50 
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset   25    23 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:          
Receivables   52    (209)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   485    286 
Accounts payable   9    (69)
Accrued expenses   (360)   (433)
Operating lease liability   (26)   (22)
Net cash used in operating activities   (3,765)   (2,795)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Disbursements to acquire short-term investments   (34,738)   (17,406)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments   35,423    13,377 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   685    (4,029)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from sale of common stock in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses of $94   3,029    - 
Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   7    6 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   124    78 
Net cash provided by financing activities   3,160    84 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   80    (6,740)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   915    12,360 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $995   $5,620 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 5 
 

 

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

1. BUSINESS AND FUNDING

 

Description of Business

 

As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Anixa” means Anixa Biosciences, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated.

 

Anixa Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing vaccines and therapies that are focused on critical unmet needs in oncology. Our vaccine programs include (i) the development of a preventative vaccine against triple negative breast cancer (“TNBC”), the most lethal form of breast cancer, as well other forms of breast cancer and (ii) the development of a preventative vaccine against ovarian cancer. We have also recently launched a discovery program utilizing the same mechanism as our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, to develop additional cancer vaccines to address many intractable cancers, including high incidence malignancies in lung, colon and prostate. Our therapeutics programs include (i) the development of a chimeric endocrine receptor T cell therapy, a novel form of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (“CAR-T”) technology, initially focused on treating ovarian cancer, which is being developed at our subsidiary, Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. (“Certainty”), and (ii) until March 2023, the development of anti-viral drug candidates for the treatment of Covid-19.

 

We hold an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (“Cleveland Clinic”) relating to certain breast cancer vaccine technology developed at Cleveland Clinic. The license agreement requires us to make certain cash payments to Cleveland Clinic upon achievement of specific development milestones. Utilizing this technology, we are working in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to develop a method to vaccinate women against contracting breast cancer, focused initially on TNBC. The focus of this vaccine is a specific protein, α-lactalbumin, that is only expressed during lactation in a healthy woman’s mammary tissue. This protein disappears when the woman is no longer lactating, but reappears in many forms of breast cancer, especially TNBC. Studies have shown that vaccinating against this protein prevents breast cancer in mice.

 

In October 2021, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) authorization to proceed, we commenced dosing patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial of our breast cancer vaccine. This study, which is being funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant to Cleveland Clinic, is a multiple-ascending dose Phase 1 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (“MTD”) of the vaccine in patients with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer as well as monitor immune response. The study is being conducted at Cleveland Clinic. The first segment of the study, Phase 1a, will consist of approximately 24 patients who have completed treatment for early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer within the past three years and are currently tumor-free but at high risk for recurrence. Studies show that 42% of TNBC patients will have a recurrence of their cancer, with most of the recurrences occurring in the first two to three years after standard of care treatment. During the course of the Phase 1a study, participants will receive three vaccinations, each two weeks apart, and will be closely monitored for side effects and immune response. In January 2023, the number of participants in each dose cohort was expanded, and as of August 2023, we had completed vaccinating all patients in these expanded cohorts. In December 2023, we presented the immunological data collected to date at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The data presented show that in the vaccinated women who had been tested to date, various levels of antigen-specific T cell responses were observed at all dose levels. We have begun vaccinating participants in up to three additional dose cohorts at dose levels higher than the currently determined MTD and lower than the highest dose where we observed dose limiting side effects. Further, in November 2023, we commenced vaccination of participants in the second segment of the trial, Phase 1b, that includes participants who have never had cancer, but carry certain mutations in genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2, that indicate a greater risk of developing TNBC in the future, and have elected to have a prophylactic mastectomy. Finally, in January 2024, we commenced vaccination of participants in the third segment of the trial, Phase 1c, that includes post-operative TNBC patients that have residual disease following treatment and are currently undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).

 

 6 
 

 

We hold an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by Cleveland Clinic relating to certain ovarian cancer vaccine technology. The license agreement requires us to make certain cash payments to Cleveland Clinic upon achievement of specific development milestones. This technology pertains to among other things, the use of vaccines for the treatment or prevention of ovarian cancers which express the anti-Mullerian hormone receptor 2 protein containing an extracellular domain (“AMHR2-ED”). In healthy tissue, this protein regulates growth and development of egg-containing follicles in the ovary. While expression of AMHR2-ED naturally and markedly declines during menopause, this protein is expressed at high levels in the ovaries of postmenopausal women with ovarian cancer. Researchers at Cleveland Clinic believe that a vaccine targeting AMHR2-ED could prevent the occurrence of ovarian cancer.

 

In May 2021, Cleveland Clinic was granted acceptance for our ovarian cancer vaccine technology into the National Cancer Institute’s (“NCI”) PREVENT program. The NCI is a part of the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). The PREVENT program is a peer-reviewed agent development program designed to support pre-clinical development of innovative interventions and biomarkers for cancer prevention and interception towards clinical trials. The scientific and financial resources of the PREVENT program are being used for our ovarian cancer vaccine technology to perform virtually all pre-clinical research and development, manufacturing and Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application enabling studies. This work is being performed at NCI facilities, by NCI scientific staff and with NCI financial resources and will require no material financial expenditures by the Company, nor the payment of any future consideration by the Company to NCI.

 

In May 2024, based on the positive clinical results to date in the development of our breast cancer vaccine, we entered into a Joint Development and Option Agreement with Cleveland Clinic to collaborate in efforts to develop additional vaccines for the prevention or treatment of cancers. Working with Cleveland Clinic researchers, we will focus on the same novel scientific mechanism as in our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, and work to discover additional retired proteins that may be associated with other forms of cancer, specifically high incidence malignancies in the lung, colon and prostate.

 

Our subsidiary, Certainty, is developing immuno-therapy drugs against cancer. Certainty holds an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Wistar Institute (“Wistar”), the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute and a leading NCI designated cancer research center, relating to Wistar’s chimeric endocrine receptor targeted therapy technology. We have initially focused on the development of a treatment for ovarian cancer, but we also may pursue applications of the technology for the development of treatments for additional solid tumors. The license agreement requires Certainty to make certain cash and equity payments to Wistar upon achievement of specific development milestones. With respect to Certainty’s equity obligations to Wistar, Certainty issued to Wistar shares of its common stock equal to five percent (5%) of the common stock of Certainty, such equity stake subject to dilution by further funding of Certainty’s activities by the Company. Due to such Company funding, Wistar’s equity stake in Certainty was 4.5% as of April 30, 2024.

 

Certainty, in collaboration with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”), has begun human clinical testing of the CAR-T technology licensed by Certainty from Wistar aimed initially at treating ovarian cancer. After receiving authorization from the FDA, we commenced enrollment of patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial and treated the first patient in August 2022. Further, in May 2023 and August 2023, we treated the second and third patients in the trial, respectively, at the same dose level as the first patient, and the treatment was well-tolerated by the patients. In February 2024 and May 2024, we treated the first two patients, respectively, in the second dose cohort, where the patients were administered a three-times higher dose of cells than the patients in the first cohort. The treatment appears to have been well-tolerated by the patients. This study is a dose-escalation trial with two arms based on route of delivery—intraperitoneal or intravenous—to determine the maximum tolerated dose in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer and to assess persistence, expansion and efficacy of the modified T cells. The study is being conducted at Moffitt and will consist of 24 to 48 patients who have received at least two prior lines of chemotherapy. The study is estimated to be completed in two to four years depending on multiple factors including when maximum tolerated dose is reached, the rate of patient enrollment, and how long we maintain the two different delivery methods.

 

Over the next several quarters, we expect the development of our vaccines and therapeutics to be the primary focus of the Company. As part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities of its various patent portfolios. We do not expect these activities to be a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.

 

 7 
 

 

Over the past several years, our revenue was derived from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including revenue from the settlement of litigation. We have not generated any revenue to date from our vaccine or therapeutics programs. In addition, while we pursue our vaccine and therapeutics programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies. We do not expect to begin generating revenue with respect to any of our current vaccine or therapy programs in the near term. We hope to achieve a profitable outcome by eventually licensing our technologies to large pharmaceutical companies that have the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture, market and sell our technologies as vaccines or therapeutics. The eventual licensing of any of our technologies may take several years, if it is to occur at all, and may depend on positive results from human clinical trials.

 

Funding and Management’s Plans

 

Based on currently available information as of June 4, 2024, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows will be sufficient to fund our activities for at least the next twelve months. We have implemented a business model that conserves funds by collaborating with third parties to develop our technologies. However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we elect to invest in or acquire a company or companies or new technology or technologies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, we raised approximately $3,029,000, net of expenses, through an at-the-market equity offering of 785,290 shares of common stock, under which offering we may issue up to $100 million of common stock. Under our at-the-market equity program, which is currently effective and may remain available for us to use in the future, as of April 30, 2024, we may sell an additional approximately $97 million of common stock. We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2024 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt will result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023. The accompanying October 31, 2023 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of April 30, 2024, and results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods represented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

 

 8 
 

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity. The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the six months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

  

Balance, October 31, 2023  $(966)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (76)
Balance, April 30, 2024  $(1,042)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Our revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive.

 

Our revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time.

 

Our revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation. In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

Cost of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent legal fees paid to external counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external counsel and licensing and enforcement related research, consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties. These costs are included under the caption “Operating costs and expenses” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, payments to third parties for research and development activities and other direct costs associated with developing our therapeutics and vaccines. We recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf. Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended in each reporting period.

 

 9 
 

 

Investment Policy

 

The Company’s investment policy is to acquire U.S. government debt securities with fixed maturities and contractual cash flows that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are recorded at amortized cost, net of any applicable discount which is amortized to interest income, and are accounted for as held-to-maturity securities.

 

3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company maintains stock equity incentive plans under which the Company grants incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards, or stock units to employees, directors and consultants.

 

Stock Option Compensation Expense

 

We account for stock options granted to employees, directors and others using the accounting guidance in ASC 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). We estimate the fair value of service-based stock options on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. We recorded stock-based compensation expense related to service-based stock options granted to employees and directors of approximately $1,238,000 and $1,155,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and approximately $2,346,000 and $2,112,000 during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

The compensation cost for service-based stock options granted to consultants is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (the vesting period of the stock option) which is one to three years. We recorded stock-based consulting expense related to stock options granted to consultants of approximately $22,000 and $47,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and approximately $78,000 and $128,000 during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Stock Option Plans

 

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2024, we had two stock option plans: the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the “2010 Share Plan”) and the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. 2018 Share Incentive Plan (the “2018 Share Plan”), which were adopted by our Board of Directors on July 14, 2010 and January 25, 2018, respectively. The 2018 Share Plan was approved by our shareholders on March 29, 2018.

 

Stock Option Activity

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted options to purchase 15,000 shares and 0 shares of common stock, respectively, and during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted options to purchase 1,350,000 shares and 1,505,000 shares of common stock, respectively, to employees, directors and consultants, with exercise prices ranging from $3.17 to $4.39 per share, pursuant to the 2018 Share Plan. During the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, stock options to purchase 19,999 and 27,818 shares of common stock, respectively, were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $57,000 and $75,000, respectively. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, stock options to purchase 43,999 shares of common stock were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $124,000. During the six months ended April 30, 2023 stock options to purchase 1,111 shares of common stock, of which 808 shares were withheld, were exercised on a cashless basis and stock options to purchase 29,079 shares of common stock were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $78,000

 

 10 
 

 

2010 Share Plan

 

The 2010 Share Plan provided for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to employees, directors and consultants. In accordance with the provisions of the 2010 Share Plan, the plan terminated with respect to the ability to grant future awards on July 14, 2020. Information regarding the 2010 Share Plan for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

  

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   1,189,000   $2.94      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (13,000)  $2.92      
Options outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   1,176,000   $2.94   $643 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2010 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$0.67 - $2.27    366,000    3.1   $1.27 
$2.58 - $3.13    301,000    1.7   $2.91 
$3.46 - $5.30    509,000    4.0   $4.17 

 

2018 Share Plan

 

The 2018 Share Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to employees, directors and consultants. As of April 30, 2024, the 2018 Share Plan had 938,907 shares available for future grants. Information regarding the 2018 Share Plan for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   10,241,000   $3.67      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (30,999)  $2.78      
Expirations   (313,907)  $4.21      
Options outstanding at April 30, 2024   11,246,094   $3.74   $   582 
Options exercisable at April 30, 2024   7,363,587   $3.57   $505 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2018 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

    Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable 

Range of

Exercise Prices

  

Number

Outstanding

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Number

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 
$2.09 - $3.87    5,383,879    6.0   $3.24    4,953,309    5.8   $3.27 
$3.96 - $5.30    5,862,215    7.9   $4.20    2,410,278    7.4   $4.21 

 

 11 
 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Company maintains the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) which permits eligible employees to purchase shares at not less than 85% of the market value of the Company’s common stock on the offering date or the purchase date of the applicable offering period, whichever is lower. The ESPP was adopted by our Board of Directors on August 13, 2018 and approved by our shareholders on September 27, 2018. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, employees purchased 2,616 and 1,903 shares, respectively, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $7,000 and $6,000, respectively.

 

Warrants

 

As of April 30, 2024, we had warrants outstanding to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at $6.56 per share, issued during fiscal year 2021 and expiring on March 22, 2026.

 

Information regarding the Company’s warrants for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

 
Warrants outstanding at October 31, 2023   300,000   $6.56      
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   300,000   $6.56   $      0 

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable warrants as of April 30, 2024:

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$6.56    300,000    1.9   $6.56 

 

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

US GAAP defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. We have categorized our financial assets and liabilities, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as set forth below. If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

 

Level 1 – Financial instruments whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 – Financial instruments whose values are based on quoted market prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets.

 

Level 3 – Financial instruments whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the instrument.

 

 12 
 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $853   $-   $   -   $853 
U.S. treasury bills                    
Short-term investments   -    22,244    -    22,244 
Total financial assets  $853   $22,244   $-   $23,097 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2023 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $778   $-   $   -   $778 
Certificates of deposit:                    
Short term investments   -    720    -    720 
U.S. treasury bills:                    
Short-term investments   -    22,209    -    22,209 
Total financial assets  $778   $22,929   $-   $23,707 

 

Our non-financial assets that are measured on a non-recurring basis are property and equipment and other assets which are measured using fair value techniques whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a condition of impairment exists. The estimated fair value of prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their individual carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these measurements. Cash equivalents are stated at carrying value which approximates fair value.

 

5. ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following as of:

 

   April 30,   October 31, 
   2024   2023 
   (in thousands) 
Payroll and related expenses  $718   $1,114 
Accrued royalty and contingent legal fees   626    626 
Accrued other   66    30 
Accrued expenses  $1,410   $1,770 

 

6. NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

 

Basic net loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities then outstanding. Diluted EPS for all periods presented is the same as Basic EPS, as the inclusion of the effect of common share equivalents then outstanding would be anti-dilutive. For this reason, excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, were stock options to purchase 12,422,094 and 11,643,682 shares, respectively, and warrants to purchase 300,000 and 300,000 shares, respectively.

 

7. EFFECT OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, to require that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. At the acquisition date, an acquirer should account for the related revenue contracts in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to provide more disaggregated expense information about a public entity’s reportable segments. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, to require disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effect tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively, with an option to apply them retrospectively, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 for public entities. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 13 
 

 

8. INCOME TAXES

 

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. We have provided a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset due to our historical pre-tax losses and the uncertainty regarding the realizability of these deferred tax assets.

 

We have substantial net operating loss carryforwards for Federal and California income tax returns. These net operating loss carryforwards could be subject to limitations under Internal Revenue Code section 382, the effects of which have not been determined by the Company. We have no unrecognized income tax benefits as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023 and we account for interest and penalties related to income tax matters, if any, in general and administrative expenses.

 

9. LEASES

 

We lease approximately 2,000 square feet of office space at 3150 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California (our principal executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to an operating lease that, as amended, will expire on September 30, 2024, with an option to extend the lease an additional two years. Our base rent is approximately $5,000 per month and the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating costs. The lease, as amended, resulted in a right-of-use asset and lease liability of approximately $260,000 with a discount rate of 10%. Rent expense was approximately $17,000 and $17,000, respectively, for the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, and approximately $33,000 and $33,000, respectively, for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023.

 

For operating leases, the lease liability is initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments. The remaining 29-month lease term as of April 30, 2024 for the Company’s lease includes the noncancelable period of the lease and the additional two-year option period that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. All right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment when indications of impairment are present.

 

As of April 30, 2024, the annual minimum future lease payments of our operating lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

 

For years Ended October 31,   Operating
Leases
 
2024   $ 34  
2025       70  
2026     65  
Total future minimum lease payments, undiscounted     169  
Less: Imputed interest     (20 )
Present value of future minimum lease payments   $ 149  

 

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10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES

 

Litigation Matters

 

Other than lawsuits related to the enforcement of our patent rights, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings, nor are we aware of any pending litigation or legal proceeding against us that would have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations or financial condition.

 

Research & Development Agreements

 

We have entered into certain research and development agreements with various third-party vendors related to the manufacturing and stability testing of the materials necessary for the development of our breast cancer vaccine and our CAR-T therapeutic. As of April 30, 2024, future payments the Company may make under these agreements, dependent upon, among other things, development of analytical methods, formulation feasibility studies, stability testing, and results of manufacturing processes, may be approximately $3.7 million and such payments may be made over up to a five-year period.

 

11. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

We follow the accounting guidance of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”). Reportable operating segments are determined based on the management approach. The management approach, as defined by ASC 280, is based on the way that the chief operating decision-maker organizes the segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. While our results of operations are primarily reviewed on a consolidated basis, the chief operating decision-maker manages the enterprise in three reportable segments, each with different operating and potential revenue generating characteristics: (i) CAR-T Therapeutics, (ii) Cancer Vaccines and (iii) Other. The following represents selected financial information for our segments for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 and as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023, in thousands:

 

   2024   2023   2024   2023 
   For the Three Months Ended
April 30,
   For the Six Months Ended
April 30,
 
   2024   2023   2024   2023 
Net income/(loss):                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $(1,444)  $(997)  $(2,970)  $(1,908)
Cancer Vaccines   (1,713)   (913)   (3,469)   (1,871)
Other   (23)   (397)   (31)   (882)
Total  $(3,180)  $(2,307)  $(6,470)  $(4,661)
                     
Total operating costs and expenses  $3,467   $2,770   $7,076   $5,326 
Less non-cash stock-based compensation   (1,260)   (1,227)   (2,520)   (2,290)
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation:                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $1,026   $620   $2,154   $1,218 
Cancer Vaccines   1,160    523    2,373    1,111 
Other   21    400    29    707 
Total  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 

 

   April 30,
2024
   October 31,
2023
 
Total assets:          
CAR-T Therapeutics  $11,314   $7,523 
Cancer Vaccines   12,778    17,215 
Other   263    784 
Total  $24,355   $25,522 

 

Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation is the measurement the chief operating decision-maker uses in managing the enterprise.

 

The Company’s consolidated revenue of $210,000 and inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expense of $161,000 for the three and six months ended April 30, 2023 were solely related to our encrypted audio/video conference calling technology, which is included in our Other segment. All our revenue is generated domestically (United States) based on the country in which the licensee is located.

 

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On May 3, 2024, we entered into a Joint Development and Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Cleveland Clinic. Pursuant to the Agreement, the parties agreed on the terms and conditions under which the parties will collaborate in efforts to develop vaccines for the prevention or treatment of cancers using the same mechanism as our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, focusing on high incidence malignancies in lung, colon and prostate. As consideration, the Company paid Cleveland Clinic a non-refundable, option fee in May 2024. The Company will also provide development funding in three tranches, the first payment was paid in May 2024, the second payment will be paid on or before January 31, 2025 and the third payment will be paid on or before January 31, 2026. None of these payments are expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

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

 

Information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 and the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Report. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Report.

 

GENERAL

 

We discuss the description of our business in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Three months ended April 30, 2024 compared with three months ended April 30, 2023

 

Revenue

 

We had no revenue during the three months ended April 30, 2024. For the three months ended April 30, 2023, we recorded revenue of approximately $210,000 from one license agreement. The license agreement provided for a one-time, non-recurring, lump sum payment in exchange for a non-exclusive retroactive and future license, and covenant not to sue. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Accordingly, the performance obligations from this license agreement were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon execution of the license agreement.

 

As discussed in Note 1 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, as part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities which we do not expect to be a significant part of our ongoing operations or revenue, nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.

 

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We have not generated any revenue to date from our therapeutics or vaccine programs. In addition, while we pursue our therapeutics and vaccine programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies. We do not expect to begin generating revenue with respect to any of our current therapy or vaccine programs in the near term. We intend to achieve a profitable outcome by eventually licensing our technologies to large pharmaceutical companies that have the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture, market and sell our technologies as therapeutics or vaccines. The eventual licensing of any of our technologies may take several years, if it is to occur at all, and may depend on positive results from human clinical trials.

 

Inventor Royalties, Contingent Legal Fees, Litigation and Licensing Expenses

 

We had no inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses during the three months ended April 30, 2024. Inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses for the three months ended April 30, 2023 were approximately $161,000. Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are expensed in the period that the related revenues are recognized. Litigation and licensing expenses related to patent assertion, other than contingent legal fees, are expensed in the period incurred.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses are related to the development of our cancer therapeutics and vaccine programs and the expenses incurred in the three months ended April 30, 2024 consisted of approximately $798,000 and $848,000 for CAR-T therapeutics and cancer vaccines, respectively.

 

Research and development expenses increased by approximately $648,000 to approximately $1,646,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $998,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to an increase in outside research and development expenses related to our CAR-T therapeutics program of approximately $266,000, an increase in outside research and development expenses related to our breast cancer vaccine program of approximately $229,000, an increase in employee compensation and related costs, other than stock option compensation expense, of approximately $111,000, and an increase in employee stock option compensation of approximately $62,000.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $210,000 to approximately $1,821,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $1,611,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in investor and public relations expense of approximately $214,000, an increase in consulting fees of approximately $89,000, and an increase in director stock option compensation expense of approximately $48,000, offset by a decrease in employee compensation and related costs, other than stock option compensation expense, of approximately $111,000.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income increased by approximately $34,000 to approximately $287,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $253,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2023, due to an increase in interest rates and the increased average dollar amount held in short-term investments.

 

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

 

The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, representing Wistar’s ownership interest in Certainty’s net loss, increased by approximately $22,000 to approximately $41,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $19,000 in the three months ended April 30, 2023, as Certainty’s net loss increased.

 

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Six months ended April 30, 2024 compared with six months ended April 30, 2023

 

Revenue

 

We had no revenue during the six months ended April 30, 2024. For the six months ended April 30, 2023, we recorded revenue of approximately $210,000 from one license agreement. The license agreement provided for a one-time, non-recurring, lump sum payment in exchange for a non-exclusive retroactive and future license, and covenant not to sue. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Accordingly, the performance obligations from this license agreement were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon execution of the license agreement.

 

As discussed in Note 1 to our condensed consolidated financial statements, as part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities which we do not expect to be a significant part of our ongoing operations or revenue, nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.

 

We have not generated any revenue to date from our therapeutics or vaccine programs. In addition, while we pursue our therapeutics and vaccine programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies. We do not expect to begin generating revenue with respect to any of our current therapy or vaccine programs in the near term. We intend to achieve a profitable outcome by eventually licensing our technologies to large pharmaceutical companies that have the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture, market and sell our technologies as therapeutics or vaccines. The eventual licensing of any of our technologies may take several years, if it is to occur at all, and may depend on positive results from human clinical trials.

 

Inventor Royalties, Contingent Legal Fees, Litigation and Licensing Expenses

 

We had no inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses during the six months ended April 30, 2024. Inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses for the six months ended April 30, 2023 were approximately $161,000. Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are expensed in the period that the related revenues are recognized. Litigation and licensing expenses related to patent assertion, other than contingent legal fees, are expensed in the period incurred.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses are related to the development of our cancer therapeutics and vaccine programs and the expenses incurred in the six months ended April 30, 2024 consisted of approximately $1,427,000 and $1,568,000 for CAR-T therapeutics and cancer vaccines, respectively.

 

Research and development expenses increased by approximately $929,000 to approximately $2,995,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $2,066,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2023. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to an increase in outside research and development expenses related to our CAR-T therapeutics program of approximately $407,000, an increase in outside research and development expenses related to our breast cancer vaccine program of approximately $394,000, an increase in employee compensation and related costs, other than stock option compensation expense, of approximately $195,000, and an increase in employee stock option compensation of approximately $80,000, offset by a decrease in outside research and development expenses related to our ovarian cancer vaccine program of approximately $96,000 and a decrease in consultant stock option expense of approximately $68,000.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $982,000 to approximately $4,081,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $3,099,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2023. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in investor and public relations expense of approximately $579,000, an increase in director stock option compensation expense of approximately $86,000, an increase in consulting fees of approximately $84,000, an increase in employee stock option compensation expense of approximately $68,000, an increase in legal fees of approximately $68,000, and an increase in director fees of approximately $67,000.

 

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Interest Income

 

Interest income increased by approximately $151,000 to approximately $606,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $455,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2023, due to an increase in interest rates and the increased average dollar amount held in short-term investments.

 

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

 

The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, representing Wistar’s ownership interest in Certainty’s net loss, increased by approximately $25,000 to approximately $76,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2024, from approximately $51,000 in the six months ended April 30, 2023, as Certainty’s net loss increased.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

 

Based on currently available information as of June 4, 2024, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows will be sufficient to fund our activities for at least the next twelve months. We have implemented a business model that conserves funds by collaborating with third parties to develop our technologies. However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we elect to invest in or acquire a company or companies or new technology or technologies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, we raised approximately $3,029,000, net of expenses, through an at-the-market equity offering of 785,290 shares of common stock, under which offering we may issue up to $100 million of common stock. Under our at-the-market equity program, which is currently effective and may remain available for us to use in the future, as of April 30, 2024, we may sell an additional approximately $97 million of common stock. We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2024 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt will result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

 

During the six months ended April 30, 2024, cash used in operating activities was approximately $3,765,000. Cash provided by investing activities was approximately $685,000, resulting from the maturities of short-term investments of approximately $35,423,000, offset by purchases of short-term investments totaling approximately $34,738,000. Cash provided by financing activities was approximately $3,160,000, resulting from the sale of 785,290 shares of common stock in an at-the-market equity offering of approximately $3,029,000, net of expenses, proceeds from stock option exercises of approximately $124,000, and proceeds from the sale of common stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan of approximately $7,000. As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at April 30, 2024 decreased approximately $605,000 to approximately $23,239,000 from approximately $23,844,000 at the end of fiscal year 2023.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In preparing these financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on amounts reported in our condensed consolidated financial statements. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On a regular basis, we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates and make changes accordingly.

 

 19 
 

 

We believe that, of the significant accounting policies discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the following accounting policies require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments:

 

  Revenue Recognition,
  Stock-Based Compensation, and
  Research and Development Expenses.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Our revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive.

 

Our revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time.

 

Our revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation. In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The compensation cost for service-based stock options granted to employees, directors and consultants is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (the vesting period of the stock option) which is one to four years. For employee options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeds certain price targets, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied service period.

 

For stock awards granted to employees and directors that vest at date of grant we recognize expense based on the grant date market price of the underlying common stock. For restricted stock awards vesting upon achievement of a price target of our common stock, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied service period (median time to vest).

 

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The Black-Scholes pricing model and the Monte Carlo Simulation we use to estimate fair value requires valuation assumptions of expected term, expected volatility, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yield. The expected term of stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. For employees we use the simplified method, which is a weighted average of the vesting term and contractual term, to determine expected term. The simplified method was adopted since we do not believe that historical experience is representative of future performance because of the impact of the changes in our operations and the change in terms from historical options. For consultants we use the contract term for expected term. Under the Black-Scholes pricing model, we estimated the expected volatility of our shares of common stock based upon the historical volatility of our share price over a period of time equal to the expected term of the grants. We estimated the risk-free interest rate based on the implied yield available on the applicable grant date of a U.S. Treasury note with a term equal to the expected term of the underlying grants. We made the dividend yield assumption based on our history of not paying dividends and our expectation not to pay dividends in the future.

 

We will reconsider use of the Black-Scholes pricing model and the Monte Carlo Simulation if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

We recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf. Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended in each reporting period.

 

At each balance sheet date, management estimates prepaid and accrued research and development costs by discussing progress or stage of completion of activities with internal personnel and external service providers, and comparing this information to payments made, invoices received, and the agreed-upon contractual fee to be paid for such services in the applicable contract or statements of work.

 

In addition, we allocate certain internal compensation costs to research and development expenses based on management’s estimates of each employee’s time and effort expended.

 

EFFECT OF RECENTLY ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

We discuss the effect of recently issued pronouncements in Note 7 of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

As of April 30, 2024, we had investments in short-term, fixed rate and highly liquid instruments that have historically been reinvested when they mature throughout the year. Although our existing instruments are not considered at risk with respect to changes in interest rates or markets for these instruments, our rate of return on these securities could be affected at the time of reinvestment, if any.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13(a)-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report.

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended April 30, 2024, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

Other than lawsuits related to the enforcement of our patent rights, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings, nor are we aware of any pending litigation or legal proceeding against us that would have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations or financial condition.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

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

 

During the six months ended April 30, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of 29,336 shares of our common stock to companies in payment of investor relations services. The common stock was issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as they were issued to recipients, without a view to distribution, and were not issued through any general solicitation or advertisement.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. Not Applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

 

As of April 30, 2024, there were no Rule 10b5-1 plans in place for any of our directors or officers.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

  10.1   Joint Development and Option Agreement, dated May 3, 2024, between the Company and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. (Certain information has been redacted in the marked portions of the exhibit.)
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated June 4, 2024.
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated June 4, 2024.
  32.1   Statement of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated June 4, 2024.
  32.2   Statement of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated June 4, 2024.
  101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance Document
  101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
  101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
  101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
  104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

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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.

 

  ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Dr. Amit Kumar
    Dr. Amit Kumar
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Executive Officer)
     
  By: /s/ Michael J. Catelani
    Michael J. Catelani
    President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 23 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Redactions with respect to certain portions hereof denoted with “***”

 

Joint Development and Option Agreement

 

Preamble

 

This Joint Development and Option Agreement (“JDA’’), effective and binding as of the last date of execution herein (“EFFECTIVE DATE”), is by and between The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (hereinafter referred to along with its AFFILIATEs as “CCF”), an Ohio non-profit corporation with offices located at 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195; and Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “COMPANY”), a Delaware corporation having its principal office at 3150 Almaden Exp., Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95118.

 

Background

 

WHEREAS, the PARTIES have an interest in working together to develop vaccines for the prevention and treatment of different cancer types.

 

WHEREAS, the PARTIES entered the EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENTS (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, the project contemplated hereby is of mutual interest and benefit to CCF and COMPANY and will be consistent with the objectives of both PARTIES in a manner consistent with the status of CCF as a nonprofit institution.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises herein made, CCF and COMPANY agree as follows:

 

Agreement

 

1. Definitions

 

1.1. “AFFILIATE” means any corporation, association or other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the PARTY in question. As used in this definition, the term “control” means direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the voting or equity interest in such corporation or other business entity.

 

1.2. “BACKGROUND IP” means the CCF BACKGROUND IP or the COMPANY BACKGROUND IP, as the case may be.

 

1.3. “COLLABORATION FIELD” means vaccines for the prevention or treatment of cancers, including but not limited to breast, ovary, prostate, lung, colon and other cancers, as well as corresponding adjuvants and any companion diagnostics.

 

1.4. “CCF” is defined in the Preamble.

 

1.5. “CCF BACKGROUND IP” means any IP first conceived, developed, reduced to practice, acquired and/or otherwise controlled by CCF or its AFFILIATES either (i) prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE or (ii) outside of the scope of this JDA and during the TERM of this JDA, including rights arising in the course of prosecution and maintenance of such IP.

 

1.6. “CCF INVENTIONS” is defined in Paragraph 5.2.2.

 

 

 

 

1.7. “CCF PROJECT TEAM” shall mean the following individuals: Thaddeus Stappenbeck, MD, PhD, G. Thomas Budd, MD, Justin Johnson, PhD, and Holly Levengood and others as approved by CCF.

 

1.8. “CLINICAL TRIALS” is defined in Paragraph 2.6.

 

1.9. “COMPANY BACKGROUND IP” means any IP first conceived, developed, reduced to practice, acquired, and/ or otherwise controlled by COMPANY or its AFFILIATES either (i) prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE or (ii) outside of the scope of this JDA and during the TERM of this JDA, including rights arising in the course of prosecution and maintenance of such IP.

 

1.10. “COMPANY INVENTIONS” is defined in Paragraph 5.2.1.

 

1.11. “CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION” means all non-public, confidential or proprietary information of a PARTY, or its AFFILIATES or REPRESENTATIVES, that is disclosed directly or indirectly from or on behalf of the DISCLOSING PARTY to the RECEIVING PARTY, whether in oral, written, electronic or other form or media, whether or not such information is marked, designated or otherwise identified as “confidential” and that, due to the nature of its subject matter or circumstances surrounding its disclosure, would reasonably be understood to be confidential or proprietary, including, without limitation, the terms and existence of this JDA.

 

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION does not include information that the RECEIVING PARTY can demonstrate by documentation or other evidence (i) was already known to the RECEIVING PARTY without restriction on use or disclosure prior to the receipt of such information directly or indirectly from or on behalf of the DISCLOSING PARTY; (ii) was independently developed by the RECEIVING PARTY without use of or reference to the DISCLOSING PARTY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; (iii) is or becomes generally known to the public or otherwise becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this JDA by the RECEIVING PARTY; or (iv) is or was made available to the RECEIVING PARTY on a non-confidential basis by a THIRD PARTY having the lawful right to do so without breaching any obligation of confidentiality to the DISCLOSING PARTY.

 

1.12. “DISPUTE” is defined in Paragraph 9.1.

 

1.13. “EFFECTIVE DATE” is defined in the Preamble.

 

1.14. “EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT” means the Exclusive License Agreement between the PARTIES dated July 8, 2019, as amended.

 

1.15. “EXISTING BREAST CANCER TECHNOLOGY” means the Licensed Technology as defined under the EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT.

 

1.16. “EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENTS” means, collectively, the EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT and the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT.

 

1.17. “EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT” means the Exclusive License Agreement between the PARTIES dated October 20, 2020, as amended.

 

1.18. “EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER TECHNOLOGY” means the Licensed Technology as defined under the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT.

 

 

 

 

1.19. “INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY” is also referred to as “IP” and means any rights in INVENTIONS, patents, trademarks, copyrights or any other proprietary rights relating to intangible property anywhere in the world, and all registrations and applications related to any of the foregoing and analogous rights thereto anywhere in the world.

 

1.20. “INVENTION” means any creative or technical idea, design, development, discovery, drawing, data, analysis, trade secret, technology, process or method, know-how, material composition, article of manufacture, machine, or work result, including business and marketing plans, prototypes, specifications, developed or discovered in performing the PROJECT, whether or not patentable.

 

1.21. “JDA” means this Joint Development and Option Agreement, as amended from time to time.

 

1.22. “JOINT INVENTIONS” is defined in Paragraph 5.2.3.

 

1.23. “LOSSES” means all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers.

 

1.24. “OPTION PERIOD” is defined in Paragraph 6.2.1.

 

1.25. “PARTY” means either CCF or COMPANY, and “PARTIES” means the two collectively.

 

1.26. “PATENT RIGHTS” means foreign and domestic patent and/or design application(s), including continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, reexaminations, extensions and renewals thereof, and patents/ registrations issuing therefrom.

 

1.27. “PRODUCT” means any embodiment of an INVENTION. PRODUCT may take the form of, but shall not be limited to, a formula, description or performance of a process, device, software program, or service.

 

1.28. “PROJECT” is defined in Paragraph 2.1.

 

1.29. “PROSECUTION” means preparing, filing, prosecuting, and/ or maintaining a subject patent application(s) and/or patent(s).

 

1.30. “TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE” is defined in Paragraph 2.3.

 

1.31. “TERM” is defined in Paragraph 8.1.

 

1.32. “THIRD PARTY” or “THIRD PARTIES” means any individual(s), corporation(s), association(s), government agencies, or other entity(ies), which is/are not a PARTY or any of its AFFILIATES.

 

1.33. “WORK PLAN” is defined in Paragraph 2.1.

 

 

 

 

2. Collaborative Project

 

2.1. PROJECT. The PARTIES will collaborate in efforts (undertaken jointly and individually) that are intended to result in the development of one or more products in the COLLABORATION FIELD as set forth in this JDA (such efforts referred to as the “PROJECT”). Particular goals of the PROJECT will be defined generally by the schedule of activities, responsibilities, milestones, and objectives (“WORK PLAN”), which shall be set forth in Schedule A-1 (“SOW 1”) and Schedule A-2 (“SOW 2”), attached hereto and incorporated herein. The PARTIES will review and may update the WORK PLAN by mutual agreement from time to time, provided that any amendment to the WORK PLAN made subsequent to the execution of this JDA shall be signed by both PARTIES in accordance with Paragraph 11.4.

 

2.2. Project Performance. Each PARTY will promptly undertake performance of the PROJECT. During the TERM of the JDA, the PARTIES will endeavor to perform their respective duties and to develop and submit to each other any deliverables identified in the WORK PLAN using reasonable efforts. COMPANY acknowledges and agrees that the PROJECT is a research project and successful completion of the research is not assured. Each PARTY acknowledges and agrees that as long as the other PARTY uses its reasonable efforts to perform its obligations under this JDA, including the WORK PLAN, such other PARTY shall not be in default under this JDA for any failure to achieve any particular result or deliverable. Each PARTY will ensure that its respective employees, contractors, and students who perform the PROJECT (including the CCF PROJECT TEAM) and/ or have access to the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of the other PARTY (a) are bound by written non-disclosure and non-use agreements at least as restrictive as those set forth in Article 4 and (b) are contractually obligated to assign and transfer to such PARTY all right, title and interest to the INVENTIONS and all IP therein.

 

2.3. Technical Representative. Each PARTY will designate two of the PARTY’s employees as the principal technical representatives (“TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE”) for consultation and communications between the PARTIES. A PARTY may change a TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE at any time, upon written notice to the other PARTY.

 

2.4. Reports. The TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES will be reasonably available by telephone, e-mail, or in person to discuss the progress and results, as well as ongoing plans, or changes therein, of the work under the PROJECT.

 

2.5. Funding. Except as specifically provided to the contrary in this JDA, all costs, fees and/ or expenses incurred in connection with this JDA will be paid by the PARTY incurring such costs, fees and/or expenses.

 

2.6. Human Clinical Trials: If the PARTIES identify a need for which COMPANY desires to engage CCF to perform and/or coordinate research with human subjects (“CLINICAL TRIALS”), then the PARTIES will execute a clinical trial agreement to govern the CLINICAL TRIALS prior to proceeding.

 

 

 

 

2.7. Non-Employee Access. COMPANY, and its personnel, employees, or agents (“COMPANY STAFF”) may visit CCF’s facilities and interact with CCF’s employees only if such participation is mutually agreeable to COMPANY and CCF. Such visitations and interactions shall be at mutually agreed upon times, during normal business hours and subject to COMPANY STAFF’s compliance with CCF’s policies and credentialing procedures for non-employee access to its facilities, patients, and/ or records. COMPANY STAFF will at all times be under COMPANY’s direction and control and will not be deemed employees of CCF. COMPANY shall ensure that COMPANY STAFF are covered by general liability, worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance and will discharge all other obligations of an employer as applicable. Use of or access to any CCF facilities, equipment or materials (collectively “CCF Resources”) by COMPANY STAFF shall be at COMPANY’s sole risk and only with the prior written approval of the CCF PROJECT TEAM. COMPANY shall be solely liable for any damages, loss or harm caused by COMPANY STAFF while on CCF property, provided COMPANY shall not be liable to the extent such damage, loss or harm is directly attributable to the negligence or willful misconduct of CCF or CCF’s personnel. Use of or access by COMPANY STAFF cannot conflict with use required by CCF patients or CCF personnel (who shall always have first priority of use). There will be no use of radioactive materials by COMPANY STAFF. Restricted materials may be used or accessed only with the express written agreement of the CCF PROJECT TEAM and only under conditions that fully comply with CCF regulations and licenses, including full disclosure to CCF’s Facility Safety Officials. CCF shall not be liable for failure or interruption of utilities, equipment or other CCF Resources in connection with COMPANY’s access rights under this Paragraph 2.7. No COMPANY STAFF shall have any supervisory right or authority over any employee, agent or student of CCF. While on CCF’s campus and/or using CCF Resources, COMPANY STAFF shall abide by all applicable laws and CCF policies and procedures.

 

3. Confidentiality

 

3.1. Option Fee. COMPANY will pay CCF a non-refundable, option fee totaling $*** payable on or before May 23, 2024 (the “OPTION FEE”).

 

3.2. Development Funding. COMPANY will provide $*** in development funding to support CCF’s research activities outlined in the Work Plan attached hereto as Schedule A (the “DEVELOPMENT FEE”). The DEVELOPMENT FEE is payable in three (3) installments as follows:

 

Installment Payment Amount   Payment Date   Contract Period
$***   May 8, 2024   Contract Period 1: Effective Date – January 31, 2025
$***   January 31, 2025   Contract Period 2: February 1, 2025-January 31, 2026
$***   January 31, 2026   Contract Period 3: February 1, 2026- completion by CCF of its activities under the WORK PLAN

 

As used herein, “CONTRACT PERIOD” means each Contract Period set forth in the table above.

 

3.3. Time is of the essence with respect to this payment. All payments shall be due and payable in U.S. dollars. Any past due amounts shall accrue interest at an annual rate equal to the then prevailing prime rate of Citibank N.A., plus two percent (2%).

 

 

 

 

4. Confidentiality

 

4.1. Confidentiality Obligations. Each PARTY (the “RECEIVING PARTY”) acknowledges that in connection with this JDA it will gain access to CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of the other PARTY (the “DISCLOSING PARTY”). As a condition to being provided with CONFIDENTIAL INFOIUv1ATION, the RECEIVING PARTY shall:

 

4.1.1. not use the DISCLOSING PARTY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION other than as necessary to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under this JDA; and

 

4.1.2. maintain the DISCLOSING PARTY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION in strict confidence and, subject to Paragraph 4.2, not disclose the DISCLOSING PARTY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION without the DISCLOSING PARTY’s prior written consent, provided, however, the RECEIVING PARTY may disclose the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION to its employees, officers, directors, consultants and legal advisors (“REPRESENTATIVES”) who:

 

4.1.2.1. have a need to know the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION for purposes of the RECEIVING PARTY’s performance, or exercise of its rights concerning the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, under this JDA;

 

4.1.2.2. have been apprised of this restriction; and

 

4.1.2.3. are themselves bound by written non-disclosure and non-use agreements at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Paragraph 4.1, provided further that the RECEIVING PARTY shall be responsible for ensuring its REPRESENTATIVES’ compliance with, and shall be liable for any breach by its REPRESENTATIVES of, this Paragraph 4.1.

 

The RECEIVING PARTY shall use reasonable care, at least as protective as the efforts it uses for its own confidential information, to safeguard the DISCLOSING PARTY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION from use or disclosure other than as permitted hereby.

 

4.2. Exceptions. If the RECEIVING PARTY becomes legally compelled to disclose any CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, the RECEIVING PARTY shall:

 

4.2.1. provide prompt written notice to the DISCLOSING PARTY so that the DISCLOSING PARTY may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy or waive its rights pursuant to Paragraph 11.12; and

 

4.2.2. disclose only the portion of CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION that it is legally required to furnish.

 

If a protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or the DISCLOSING PARTY waives compliance in accordance with Paragraphs 11.10 and 11.12, the RECEIVING PARTY shall, at the DISCLOSING PARTY’s expense, use reasonable efforts to obtain assurance that confidential treatment will be afforded the CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

 

4.3. Confidential Terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the PARTIES may disclose the terms and existence of this JDA to potential or actual investors, acquirers, sublicensees, collaboration partners, consultants, advisors and others on a reasonable need to know basis subject to customary confidentiality restrictions, or as required by securities or other applicable laws.

 

 

 

 

4.4. Scientific Publications. COMPANY recognizes and accepts the importance of communicating medical study and scientific data and the necessity of conveying such information in a timely manner, and, therefore, encourages their publication in reputable scientific journals and at seminars or conferences. COMPANY further recognizes and accepts that under CCF’s mission as an academic medical center, CCF and its investigators must have a meaningful right to publish without COMPANY’s approval or editorial control, provided that CCF shall comply with the requirements in this Paragraph 4.4. CCF shall submit to COMPANY for its review a copy of any proposed manuscript *** prior to the estimated date of submission for publication. Within *** of receiving such manuscript (the “REVIEW PERIOD”), if COMPANY reasonably determines that the proposed publication contains patentable subject matter which requires protection for COMPANY, COMPANY may require the delay of publication for a period of time not to exceed *** for the purpose of filing patent applications. Further, CCF and its investigators agree to remove from the proposed publication anything that COMPANY identifies within the REVIEW PERIOD as COMPANY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. If no written response is received from COMPANY within the REVIEW PERIOD, it may be conclusively presumed that publication may proceed without delay. For avoidance of any doubt, CCF and the CCF PROJECT TEAM (while employees of CCF) retain the right to publish any medical study or scientific data arising from the PERMITTED RESEARCH (as defined in Paragraph 6.4), subject to compliance with this Paragraph 4.4.

 

5. INVENTION RIGHTS

 

5.1. BACKGROUND IP. Each PARTY’s BACKGROUND IP will remain the absolute unencumbered property of the respective PARTY. Except for the limited rights explicitly set forth in Paragraph 5.8 (Right to Use BACKGROUND IP & INVENTIONS), this JDA does not confer any rights under the BACKGROUND IP of either PARTY.

 

5.2. INVENTION Rights. INVENTIONS will be owned as follows:

 

5.2.1. COMPANY INVENTIONS. All INVENTIONS made solely by COMPANY employees or contractors in performance of the PROJECT and during the TERM and OPTION PERIOD together with all IP therein will, as between COMPANY and CCF, be owned solely by COMPANY (“COMPANY INVENTIONS”).

 

5.2.2. CCF INVENTIONS. All INVENTIONS made solely by CCF employees, contractors or students in performance of the PROJECT and during the TERM and OPTION PERIOD together with all IP therein will, as between COMPANY and CCF, be owned solely by CCF (“CCF INVENTIONS”).

 

5.2.3. JOINT INVENTIONS. All INVENTIONS made jointly by COMPANY employees or contractors and by CCF employees, contractors or students in performance of the PROJECT and during the TERM and OPTION PERIOD, in each case together with all IP therein, will be jointly owned by COMPANY and CCF (“JOINT INVENTIONS”). Subject to the rights granted under this JDA, with respect to JOINT INVENTIONS, each PARTY hereby confirms that nothing in this JDA shall operate in any way to limit the other PARTY’s indivisible, non-exclusive ownership interest in and to such JOINT INVENTIONS, including the right to use and exploit the JOINT INVENTIONS for all purposes on a worldwide basis, without consent of and without a duty of accounting to the other PARTY.

 

 

 

 

5.2.4. Cooperation in Transferring Title. The PARTIES will cooperate fully with each other and/ or the other PARTY’s attorneys in vesting title as provided in Article 5 (INVENTION Rights), including executing documents as necessary to effectuate the intent of the foregoing.

 

5.3. Notification of INVENTION. Each PARTY will provide the other PARTY with timely notification in writing of each INVENTION developed solely or jointly by such PARTY (“INVENTION DISCLOSURE”).

 

5.4. PROSECUTION of Patent Applications. During the TERM and the applicable OPTION PERIOD, CCF will have the exclusive responsibility to conduct PROSECUTION and enforcement of PATENT RIGHTS within the CCF INVENTIONS and JOINT INVENTIONS at CCF’s sole discretion (but using patent counsel reasonably acceptable to COMPANY), subject to Paragraph 5.6 (Abandonment), and COMPANY will be responsible for all documented, out-of-pocket costs associated with such PROSECUTION. CCF will keep COMPANY informed of such PROSECUTION, consider COMPANY’s comments and suggestions prior to taking material actions for the same, and consider actions reasonably recommended which would expand the scope of rights sought. COMPANY will provide written communication of items of commercial interest and CCF will cooperate to insure that the PROSECUTION of each CCF INVENTION and JOINT INVENTION reflects, and will reflect, to the extent practicable, these items of commercial interest. Final decisions on PROSECUTION of CCF INVENTIONS and JOINT INVENTIONS will be at CCF’s sole discretion, subject to Paragraph 5.6 (Abandonment). If COMPANY does not exercise the OPTION with respect to a particular CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION during the corresponding OPTION PERIOD, then (i) in the case of a CCF INVENTION, COMPANY will thereafter no longer be responsible for any costs associated with PROSECUTION of PATENT RIGHTS within such CCF INVENTION, and (ii) in the case of a JOINT INVENTION, the PARTIES will discuss in good faith and mutually agree in writing as to which PARTY will have responsibility to conduct further PROSECUTION and enforcement of PATENT RIGHTS within such JOINT INVENTION, including the allocation of the costs and any recoveries associated with such PROSECUTION and enforcement.

 

5.5. Review of Patent Applications Prior to Filing. A PARTY will not file any patent application that discloses CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of the other PARTY and/or claims an INVENTION without prior notice to, and review by, the other PARTY. The reviewing PARTY will be given at least *** in which to review and comment on the patent application, unless the reviewing PARTY agrees on a term which is shorter than ***. The reviewing PARTY will have the right to require that any CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of the reviewing PARTY be removed from the patent application, in accordance with Article 4 (Confidentiality); with the limited exception that those portions of CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION that are INVENTIONs owned by either PARTY pursuant to Article 5 (INVENTION Rights) and are required to be disclosed by the filing PARTY in the subject patent application to secure PATENT RIGHTS to which the filing PARTY is entitled under this JDA, may remain in the patent application.

 

5.5.1. Review of OFFICE ACTIONS. CCF will instruct its outside counsel to provide to COMPANY or its designated patent counsel copies of all materially relevant correspondence to and from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and all correspondence related to counterpart foreign patent applications, including correspondence from foreign associates and from government agencies, in connection with CCF’s PROSECUTION of PATENT RIGHTS under this Article 5.

 

 

 

 

5.6. Abandonment. Notwithstanding Paragraph 5.4 (PROSECUTION of Patent Applications), CCF may elect to abandon PROSECUTION at any time, including prior to beginning PROSECUTION. If CCF chooses to abandon or not to begin PROSECUTION, then CCF will provide COMPANY at least *** prior written notice of such intended abandonment and the right to assume PROSECUTION of the PATENT RIGHTS that were to be abandoned. If COMPANY elects to assume PROSECUTION of such PATENT RIGHTS, then COMPANY will be responsible for all subsequent costs associated with the PROSECUTION of the subject PATENT RIGHTS; and CCF will assign the subject PATENT RIGHTS to COMPANY. Following any such assignment, during the TERM and the applicable OPTION PERIOD, to the extent necessary to carry out the PROJECT, COMPANY grants to CCF a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, license, without the right to sublicense, to practice the subject PATENT RIGHTS. CCF will use best efforts not to abandon patents of interest to COMPANY. If, within *** of providing such written notice of intended abandonment, CCF does not receive written notice from COMPANY electing to assume PROSECUTION, CCF may subsequently proceed with abandonment of the subject PATENT RIGHTS at its discretion. Failure to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to enforce PATENT RIGHTS shall be deemed abandonment thereof under this Paragraph.

 

5.7. PROSECUTION in Countries Not Elected by CCF. If COMPANY desires to file a patent application in countries other than those CCF desires to file in, then the subject PATENT RIGHTS (for such country) shall be deemed intended to be abandoned by CCF, and therefore treated as such under Paragraph 5.6 (Abandonment). COMPANY will be free to file such patent applications in the desired other countries at its own expense; and CCF will assign the subject PATENT RIGHTS for such country to COMPANY. Concurrent with CCF’s assignment of the patent application to COMPANY, COMPANY grants CCF during the TERM and OPTION PERIOD, to the extent necessary to carry out the PROJECT, a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, license, without the right to sublicense, to practice the subject PATENT RIGHTS.

 

5.8. Right to Use BACKGROUND IP & INVENTIONS.

 

5.8.1. During the TERM and OPTION PERIOD. The PARTIES shall have the following license rights.

 

5.8.1.1. CCFs Rights. During the TERM and OPTION PERIOD, to the extent necessary to carry out the PROJECT, COMPANY grants CCF a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable, worldwide license without the right to sublicense to practice COMPANY BACKGROUND IP and COMPANY INVENTIONS.

 

5.8.1.2. COMPANY’s Rights. During the TERM and OPTION PERIOD, to the extent necessary to carry out the PROJECT, CCF grants COMPANY a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-transferable, worldwide license without the right to sublicense to practice CCF BACKGROUND IP and CCF INVENTIONS.

 

5.9. No Implied Rights. Except as expressly set forth herein, neither COMPANY nor CCF transfers to the other PARTY, by operation of this JDA, rights to any patent, copyright, trademark, or other IP of any kind.

 

 

 

 

6. Option to License

 

6.1. Option Grant. As consideration for the OPTION FEE, CCF grants COMPANY an exclusive option to take a license under certain IP of CCF in the COLLABORATION FIELD, as follows (“OPTION”):

 

6.1.1. Option for Patent License. CCF grants COMPANY an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, subject to the terms and conditions of: (a) in the case of CCF INVENTIONS and JOINT INVENTIONS which constitutes a modification of or improvement or enhancement to the EXISTING BREAST CANCER TECHNOLOGY, the EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT; (b) in the case of CCF INVENTIONS and JOINT INVENTIONS which constitutes a modification of or improvement or enhancement to the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER TECHNOLOGY, the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT; and (c) in the case of all other CCF INVENTIONS and JOINT INVENTIONS, a definitive agreement to be negotiated in good faith, and with terms generally consistent with the EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENTS (the “License Agreement”), under any PATENT RIGHTS within the applicable CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION.

 

6.1.2. Exercise of OPTION. On a CCF INVENTION-by-CCF INVENTION and JOINT INVENTION-by-JOINT INVENTION basis, COMPANY may exercise the OPTION with respect to the PATENT RIGHTS claiming the applicable INVENTION anytime during the OPTION PERIOD with respect to such INVENTION by providing CCF written notice specifically declaring COMPANY’s intent to exercise the OPTION. Upon providing such notice: (a) in the case of such an INVENTION which constitutes a modification of or improvement or enhancement to the EXISTING BREAST CANCER TECHNOLOGY, the PARTIES shall enter into an amendment to the EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT pursuant to which such INVENTION and all PATENT RIGHTS claiming such INVENTION will be added as Licensed Technology (and, specifically, such PATENT RIGHTS will be added to the list of Licensed Patents) under, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the EXISTING BREAST CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT; (b) in the case of such an INVENTION which constitutes a modification of or improvement or enhancement to the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER TECHNOLOGY, the PARTIES shall enter into an amendment to the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT pursuant to which such INVENTION and all PATENT RIGHTS claiming such INVENTION will be added as Licensed Technology (and, specifically, such PATENT RIGHTS will be added to the list of Licensed Patents) under, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the EXISTING OVARIAN CANCER LICENSE AGREEMENT; and (c) in the case of any other such INVENTION, the PARTIES shall comply with Paragraph 6.3.1. For clarity, in the case of the foregoing clause (a) or (b), the PROSECUTION and enforcement of such PATENT RIGHTS will thereafter be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENT (and no longer by Article 5 of this JDA). For avoidance of doubt, any CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION developed or discovered in performing SOW 2 is deemed to constitute a modification of or improvement or enhancement to the EXISTING BREAST CANCER TECHNOLOGY.

 

6.1.3. Exclusive Option. The OPTION is exclusive in that during the applicable OPTION PERIOD, CCF will neither enter into a transaction nor negotiate with a THIRD PARTY for access to the applicable CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION, or the underlying INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (subject only to a reservation of rights for CCF to practice the subject INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY as described below in Paragraph 6.6).

 

 

 

 

6.1.4. Non-Payment of Fees. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, if COMPANY fails to pay in full the OPTION FEE or any installment in respect of the DEVELOPMENT FEE within *** of such payment becoming due and payable and COMPANY’S receipt of written notice of such past-due payment, then the OPTION shall terminate and the OPTION PERIOD shall be deemed to have expired.

 

6.2. Option Period

 

6.2.1. Initial Option Period. With respect to each CCF INVENTION and JOINT INVENTION, the OPTION will remain in effect from COMPANY’s receipt of the corresponding INVENTION DISCLOSURE until the earlier of *** after the expiration of the TERM of the JDA or until the OPTION is exercised under Paragraph 6.1.2 (Exercise of OPTION) (“OPTION PERIOD”) unless terminated earlier under Paragraph 8.2 (Expiration/Termination of JDA and OPTION).

 

6.2.2. Extending the Option Period. The OPTION PERIOD may be extended by any extension of this JDA or any other agreement between the PARTIES.

 

6.2.3. DILIGENCE. At all times during the applicable OPTION PERIOD, COMPANY will exercise commercially reasonable diligence to determine if COMPANY desires to exercise the applicable OPTION (“DILIGENCE EFFORTS”). At the request of CCF but not more often than biannually, COMPANY agrees to report its DILIGENCE EFFORTS to CCF, and any such report will be deemed to be COMPANY’s CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. If CCF determines that COMPANY is failing to perform reasonable DILIGENCE EFFORTS and notifies COMPANY to such effect in writing, the TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES shall work together to identify and agree upon reasonable development milestones which will thereafter constitute reasonable DILIGENCE EFFORTS. Thereafter, if COMPANY fails to perform such reasonable DILIGENCE EFFORTS during the OPTION PERIOD, CCF may elect to terminate the applicable OPTION upon written notice to COMPANY as CCF’s sole and exclusive remedy for COMPANY’s failure to perform such DILIGENCE EFFORTS.

 

6.3. Negotiation of License.

 

6.3.1. Negotiation Period. Upon exercise of the OPTION pursuant to clause (c) of Paragraph 6.1.2, the PARTIES will negotiate in good faith with the objective of executing a definitive license agreement, such negotiation to be completed within *** from CCF’s receipt of COMPANY’s decision to exercise the OPTION pursuant to Paragraph 6.1.2 (Exercise of OPTION).

 

6.3.2. Good Faith Negotiations. Upon exercise of the OPTION pursuant to clause (c) of Paragraph 6.1.2, the PARTIES will endeavor to agree in good faith on the terms of a license in accord with the OPTION, such terms to be generally consistent with the EXISTING LICENSE AGREEMENTS. Failure to reach such an agreement within *** from the start of negotiations under Paragraph 6.3.1 shall be deemed a DISPUTE under Paragraph 9.1 without the need for further written notice. Upon one PARTY’s written request, once such a DISPUTE regarding license terms has arisen, the PARTIES will first seek agreement by non-binding mediation to be completed within *** after written request by either PARTY, and only thereafter will the PARTIES resort to arbitration pursuant to Article 9 (Arbitration). For such arbitration where the issue is limited to agreement on licensing terms, the arbitration pursuant to Article 9 (Arbitration) will further require that each PARTY submit to the arbitrators, and exchange with the other PARTY in accordance with a procedure to be established by the arbitrators, its best offer with respect to such licensing terms. In resolving the DISPUTE over license terms, the arbitrators will be limited to awarding only one or the other of the two best offers submitted, and COMPANY, at its discretion, shall not be obligated to enter into a license agreement on such terms if CCF’s offer prevails in such arbitration.

 

 

 

 

6.4. Commercial Terms for Inclusion in License Agreement. Upon COMPANY’s written election to exercise the option granted herein pursuant to clause (c) of Paragraph 6.1.2, which must be made during the TERM or the OPTION PERIOD, CCF and COMPANY will negotiate for up to the *** provided in Paragraph 6.3 to prepare and execute the License Agreement on mutually agreeable terms and conditions.

 

6.5. Reservation of Rights for CCF. Upon exercise of the OPTION with respect to any CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION, any and all licenses granted pursuant to the License Agreement under the corresponding Licensed Patent(s) (as defined in the License Agreement) are subject to the right of CCF, on behalf of itself and its investigators, to practice and use such Licensed Patents and the subject matter described and/ or claimed therein, and to permit others at academic, government, and not-for-profit institutions to practice and use such Licensed Patents and the subject matter described and/ or claimed therein, for its and their own research (including without limitation, pre-clinical, non-clinical and clinical research), testing, educational, internal or patient-care purposes. For avoidance of any doubt, any research previously performed, currently being performed, or performed in the future by CCF, at CCF’s facilities or using CCF’s resources, or that CCF or the CCF PROJECT TEAM is in any way related to (whether as Principal Investigator, sponsor or otherwise) is subject to the retained rights in this Paragraph 6.4 (the “PERMITTED RESEARCH”). PERMITTED RESEARCH includes, without limitation, any research activities of CCF or the CCF PROJECT TEAM (while employees of CCF) that are funded in whole or in part by any governmental authorities or any philanthropic or similar sources. For clarity, CCF agrees and acknowledges that this Paragraph 6.3 does not give CCF the right to practice or use the Licensed Technology (as defined in the License Agreement) in connection with the commercial sale of any product or service.

 

6.6. No License Agreement. If this JDA expires without exercise by COMPANY of any OPTION pursuant to Paragraph 6.1.2 and CCF has complied with all of its obligations under Paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2, COMPANY will grant to CCF a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable, royalty-free, worldwide license to practice COMPANY INVENTIONS solely for the purpose of CCF’s own research and, for clarity, not in connection with the commercial sale of any product or service.

 

7. Work with THIRD PARTIES

 

7.1. Work with THIRD PARTIES. Neither COMPANY nor CCF will, during the TERM, subcontract any portion of its responsibilities under this JDA or the WORK PLAN to any THIRD PARTY without the prior written consent of the other PARTY. Either PARTY is otherwise free to enter into other collaborative and/ or service projects with THIRD PARTIES, provided that the confidentiality and invention rights provisions of Articles 4 and 5 hereof are not breached thereby and such arrangements do not otherwise conflict with the terms and conditions of this JDA. Each PARTY is responsible for the acts and omissions of its permitted subcontractors, including any breach of this JDA.

 

 

 

 

8. Term and Termination

 

8.1. Term. This JDA is effective from the EFFECTIVE DATE and terminates upon the later of (i) thirty-six (36) months thereafter and (ii) completion by CCF of its activities under the WORK PLAN, unless terminated earlier under Paragraph 8.2 (Expiration/Termination of JDA and OPTION) (“TERM”).

 

8.2. Expiration / Termination of JDA and OPTION.

 

8.2.1 COMPANY may terminate this JDA, or SOW 1 or SOW 2 (each, an “SOW”), at any time for any reason by giving written notice to CCF at least *** before the last day of the then-current CONTRACT PERIOD; provided, however, that COMPANY shall not have the right to terminate any SOW if CCF has substantially performed all work contemplated by such SOW. CCF may terminate this JDA if circumstances beyond its control preclude continuation of the PROJECT by giving written notice to COMPANY at least *** before such termination becomes effective. COMPANY may terminate any OPTION at any time for any reason by giving written notice to CCF. Termination of this JDA, or SOW 1 or SOW 2, by COMPANY under this Paragraph 8.2.1 shall not relieve COMPANY of its obligation to pay any then due or past-due installment payment amounts of the DEVELOPMENT FEE, nor shall COMPANY be entitled to any refund of any portion of the DEVELOPMENT FEE previously paid. . In the case of termination of SOW 1 or SOW 2 (assuming notice of termination is sent more than *** prior to the payment date of the next installment of the DEVELOPMENT FEE), without termination of this JDA in its entirety, this JDA and the SOW which has not been terminated shall remain in effect (for example, if SOW 1 is terminated then SOW 2 shall remain in effect), except that (i) if SOW 1 or SOW 2 is terminated then the OPTION with respect to such SOW and any rights of COMPANY to CCF INVENTIONS developed or discovered in performing such SOW shall terminate, and (ii) the DEVELOPMENT FEE installment shall be decreased for future years, in accordance with the table below.

 

Type of Termination

  Development Fee
If SOW 1 is terminated more than *** prior to Contract Period 2 (and SOW 2 remains in effect for Contract Period 2)   Development Fee for Contract Period 2 (i.e., for SOW 2 only): $***
If SOW 1 is terminated more than *** prior to Contract Period 3 (and SOW 2 remains in effect for Contract Period 3)   Development Fee for Contract Period 3 (i.e., for SOW 2 only): $***
If SOW 2 is terminated more than *** prior to Contract Period 2 (and SOW 1 remains in effect for Contract Period 2)   Development Fee for Contract Period 2 (i.e., for SOW 1 only): $***
If SOW 2 is terminated more than *** prior to Contract Period 3 (and SOW 1 remains in effect for Contract Period 3)   Development Fee for Contract Period 3 (i.e., for SOW 1 only): $***

 

 

 

 

8.2.2 In the event that either PARTY (“Breach Party”) shall commit any material breach of or default in any of the terms or conditions of this JDA, the other PARTY may provide written notice (“BREACH NOTICE”) of such breach or default to the Breach Party. If the Breach Party fails to remedy said default or breach within *** after receipt of the Breach Notice, the other PARTY may terminate this JDA by sending written notice of termination (“TERMINATION NOTICE”) to the Breach Party to such effect, and such termination shall be effective as of the date of receipt of the Termination Notice.

 

8.2.3 If Dr. Stappenbeck becomes unavailable to oversee and support the performance of the WORK PLAN for any reason, CCF may propose another member of its faculty who is acceptable to COMPANY, in COMPANY’s sole discretion, to oversee the performance of the WORK PLAN. If a substitute faculty member acceptable to COMPANY has not been agreed upon within *** after Dr. Stappenbeck is no longer available to oversee and support the performance of the WORK PLAN, either PARTY may terminate this JDA upon written notice thereof to the other PARTY.

 

8.3. Tax Exempt Status. The PARTIES recognize that CCF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization and agree that this JDA will take into account and be consistent with CCF’s tax-exempt status. If any part or all of this JDA is determined to jeopardize the overall tax-exempt status of CCF and/ or any of its tax exempt AFFILIATES, the PARTIES will negotiate in good faith an amendment of this JDA pursuant to Paragraph 11.13 so as to address such tax consideration while effecting the original intent of the PARTIES as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner. If the PARTIES are unable to amend the JDA to address such tax consideration within *** after COMPANY’s receipt of written notice that the JDA jeopardizes the overall tax-exempt status of CCF, CCF shall have the right to terminate the JDA immediately upon written notice to COMPANY.

 

8.4. Surviving Rights & Obligations. Except as expressly provided for herein, termination or expiration of this JDA will not relieve either PARTY of any obligations accruing prior to such termination or expiration, and the following provisions will survive any expiration or termination of this JDA and remain in effect: Articles 4 (Confidentiality), 5 (INVENTION Rights) (excluding Paragraph 5.8), 9 (Dispute Resolution) and 11 (Miscellaneous) and Paragraphs 8.4 (Surviving Rights & Obligations), 10.5 (Liability), 10.6 (Indemnity), 10.7 (DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES BY CCF), and 10.8 (DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES BY COMPANY). In addition, the OPTION with respect to each CCF INVENTION and JOINT INVENTION will survive any expiration or termination of this JDA for the duration of the applicable OPTION PERIOD, unless so terminated as provided for under Paragraphs 6.2.3 and 8.2.1.

 

9. Dispute Resolution

 

9.1. Exclusive Dispute Resolution Mechanism. The PARTIES shall resolve any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this JDA, or the breach, termination or invalidity hereof (each, a “DISPUTE”), under the provisions of this Article 9. The procedures set forth in this Article 9 shall be the exclusive mechanism for resolving any DISPUTE that may arise from time to time, subject to Paragraph 9.5.

 

9.2. Good Faith Negotiations. If a PARTY believes that a DISPUTE exists, then such PARTY (the “DECLARING PARTY”) shall provide notice of such DISPUTE to the other PARTY (the “NOTICE”), which NOTICE shall specify the nature and cause of the DISPUTE and the action that the DECLARING PARTY deems necessary to resolve such DISPUTE. Following receipt of the NOTICE, the PARTIES shall use good faith efforts to resolve the DISPUTE, including making personnel with appropriate decision-making authority available to the other PARTY to discuss resolution of the DISPUTE. If a DISPUTE is not resolved within *** of the date of the non-DECLARING PARTY’s receipt of the NOTICE, then the DISPUTE shall be submitted to mandatory, final and binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, in accordance with the then-current rules of the American Arbitration Association, as modified herein.

 

 

 

 

9.3. Arbitration. The PARTIES shall use a panel of three arbitrators. The DECLARING PARTY shall select one arbitrator, and the other PARTY shall select a second arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so selected shall select a third arbitrator. The three arbitrators shall hear the DISPUTE. Such arbitrators shall be knowledgeable in intellectual property law and related matters. The arbitrators shall make each determination in a manner that is consistent with this JDA, including the PARTIES’ intent as expressed herein. Without limiting the foregoing, the PARTIES agree that the arbitrators are empowered to make determinations regarding the reasonableness of a PARTY’s acts or omissions. All decisions of the arbitrators shall be binding upon the PARTIES. Each PARTY shall be solely responsible for its own attorneys’ fees and expenses, legal expenses and witness fees and expenses. Any other usual and customary expenses incurred by the arbitrators, or the expense of such arbitration proceeding shall be equally divided between the PARTIES, irrespective of the outcome of such proceeding. The arbitration will be conducted in Cleveland, Ohio. The arbitrators are to apply the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to its conflict of laws’ provisions. The PARTIES agree that any award, order, or judgment pursuant to the arbitration is final and may be entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The PARTIES agree that all aspects of the dispute resolution process, including the arbitration, shall be conducted in confidence. The PARTIES agree that all statements made in connection with informal dispute resolution efforts shall not be considered admissions or statements against interest by any PARTY. The PARTIES further agree that they will not attempt to introduce such statements at any later trial, arbitration or mediation between the PARTIES.

 

9.4. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each PARTY irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to a trial by jury for any legal action arising out of or relating to this JDA or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.5. Equitable Relief. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each PARTY acknowledges that a breach by the other PARTY of this JDA may cause the non-breaching PARTY irreparable harm, for which an award of damages would not be adequate compensation and, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, the non-breaching PARTY shall be entitled to seek equitable relief, including in the form of a restraining order, orders for preliminary or permanent injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from any court, and the PARTIES hereby waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond or the showing of actual monetary damages in connection with such relief. These remedies shall not be deemed to be exclusive but shall be in addition to all other remedies available under this JDA at law or in equity, subject to any express exclusions or limitations in this JDA to the contrary.

 

10. Representations, Warranties, Indemnity, Insurance & Compliance

 

10.1. Authority. Each of the PARTIES represents as of the EFFECTIVE DATE and warrants for the TERM that it has authority to enter into this JDA and to perform its obligations under this JDA and that it has been duly authorized to sign and to deliver this JDA.

 

 

 

 

10.2. Compliance with LAWS. The PARTIES will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to: (i) the federal anti-kickback statute (42 U.S.C. §1320a-7b) and the related safe harbor regulations and (ii) the Limitation on Certain Physician Referrals, also referred to as the “Stark Law” (42 U.S.C. §1395nn); (iii) The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq.); (iv) the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.); (v) the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); (vi) any and all applicable U.S. export control laws and regulations, as well any and all embargoes and/ or other restrictions imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls; and (vii) all comparable state and local laws and regulations relating to the conduct of the PROJECT. No part of any consideration paid hereunder is a prohibited payment for the recommending or arranging for the referral of business or the ordering of items or services, nor are the payments intended to induce illegal referrals of business. In the event that any part of this JDA is determined to violate federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations, the PARTIES agree to negotiate in good faith revisions to the provision or provisions that are in violation. In the event the PARTIES are unable to agree to new or modified terms as required to bring the entire JDA into compliance, either PARTY may terminate this JDA on *** written notice to the other PARTY.

 

10.3. Conflict of Interest. COMPANY acknowledges that CCF maintains and adheres to a Conflict-of-Interest Policy. In that connection, COMPANY represents that, to COMPANY’s knowledge, no CCF employees, officers, or directors are owners, consultants, employees, officers or directors of COMPANY or any of its AFFILIATES or serve on any boards or committees of or in any advisory capacity with COMPANY or any of its AFFILIATES.

 

10.4. Insurance. COMPANY represents and warrants that it has and shall maintain comprehensive general liability insurance coverage on either a self-insured or indemnity basis to protect against liability under this provision in amounts equal to *** and, upon request, COMPANY agrees to furnish to CCF evidence of insurance acceptable to CCF indicating the required coverage. COMPANY agrees to give CCF at least *** prior written notice in the event of any material, adverse change in such insurance.

 

10.5. Liability. Except for damages arising from a breach pf Article 4, fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence, or as may be payable pursuant to a PARTY’s indemnification obligations under Paragraph 10.6, neither PARTY shall be liable to the other PARTY for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, loss of profits, arising in any manner from this JDA regardless of the foreseeability thereof.

 

10.6. Indemnity.

 

10.6.1. COMPANY Indemnification. Subject to Paragraph 10.6.3, COMPANY will indemnify, defend and hold harmless CCF and its respective trustees, directors, officers, medical and professional staff, employees, students, and agents and their respective successors, heirs, and assigns (each a “CCF Indemnitee”), against all LOSSES arising from any THIRD PARTY claim, suit, action or other proceeding (each, an “COVERED CLAIM”) which may be made or instituted against any CCF Indemnitee related to, arising out of or resulting from (a) COMPANY’s material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this JDA, (b) use by COMPANY or any of its transferees of any CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION, (c) any use, sale, transfer or other disposition by COMPANY or its transferees of a PRODUCT or any other products made by use of CCF INVENTION or JOINT INVENTION, except to the extent any such COVERED CLAIM arises from any matter for which CCF is obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to Paragraph

 

 

 

 

10.6.2. CCF Indemnification. Subject to Paragraph 10.6.3, to the extent allowed under applicable laws, CCF will indemnify, defend and hold harmless COMPANY and its respective directors, officers, employees, consultants, and agents and their respective successors, heirs, and assigns (each a “COMPANY Indemnitee”), against all LOSSES arising from any COVERED CLAIM which may be made or instituted against any COMPANY Indemnitee related to, arising out of or resulting from (a) CCF’s material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this JDA, or (b) a CCF Indemnitee’s negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of any applicable law, except to the extent any such COVERED CLAIM arises from any matter for which COMPANY is obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to Paragraph 10.6.1.

 

10.6.3. Indemnification Procedure. An Indemnitee (whether a CCF Indemnitee or a COMPANY Indemnitee) that intends to claim indemnification under this Paragraph 10.6 will give notice to the indemnifying PARTY of any COVERED CLAIM which might be covered by this Paragraph 10.6. The indemnifying PARTY shall immediately take control of the defense and investigation of the COVERED CLAIM, including selection of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, at the indemnifying PARTY’s sole cost and expense; provided, however, that the indemnifying PARTY will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, settle or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to such COVERED CLAIM (a) that does not release the Indemnitee from all liability with respect to such COVERED CLAIM, or (b) that may adversely affect the Indemnitee or under which the Indemnitee would incur any obligation or liability, other than one as to which the indemnifying PARTY has an indemnity obligation hereunder. The Indemnitee agrees to cooperate and provide reasonable assistance to such defense at the indemnifying PARTY’s expense. The Indemnitee at all times reserves the right to select and retain counsel of its own at its own expense to defend its interests, provided that the indemnifying PARTY will remain in control of the defense. The Indemnitee’s failure to perform any obligations under this Paragraph 10.6.3 shall not relieve the indemnifying PARTY of its obligation under Paragraph 10.6 except to the extent that the indemnifying PARTY can demonstrate that it has been materially prejudiced as a result of the failure.

 

10.7. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES BY CCF. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CCF MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE CONDITION OF THE PROJECT (INCLUDING ANY RESULTS THEREFROM) OR ANY IP (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CCF INVENTIONS, JOINT INVENTIONS OR BACKGROUND IP) OR ANY PRODUCT(S), WHETHER TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE, CONCEIVED, DISCOVERED, OR DEVELOPED UNDER THIS JDA; OR THE OWNERSHIP, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT OR ANY IP OR PRODUCT; OR FREEDOM FROM PATENT, TRADEMARK, OR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, INFORMATIONAL CONTENT, INTEGRATION, OR THEFT OF TRADE SECRETS AND DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY HEREUNDER FOR ANY INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT, TRADEMARK, OR COPYRIGHT ARISING FROM THE USE OF INFORMATION, RESULTS OR DELIVERABLES OR RIGHTS GRANTED OR

 

 

 

 

PROVIDED BY IT HEREUNDER. IN ADDITION, NOTHING IN THIS JDA MAY BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY BY CCF AS TO THE VALIDITY OF ANY OF CCF’S PATENT RIGHTS OR THEIR REGISTRABILITY OR OF THE ACCURACY, SAFETY, EFFICACY, OR USEFULNESS, FOR At’-JY PURPOSE, OF ANY IP.

 

10.8. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES BY COMPANY. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE APPLICABLE LAW, COMPANY MAKES NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF COMPANY’S TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL BE SUBJECT TO THIS JDA. IN PARTICULAR, COMPANY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR THAT THE USE OF THE TECHNOLOGIES WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK OR OTHER RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTY. IN ADDITION, NOTHING IN THIS JDA MAY BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY BY COMPANY AS TO THE VALIDITY OF ANY OF COMPANY’S PATENTS OR THEIR REGISTRABILITY OR OF THE ACCURACY, SAFETY, EFFICACY, OR USEFULNESS, FOR ANY PURPOSE, OF THE TECHNOLOGIES.

 

11. Miscellaneous

 

11.1. Agreement Negotiated. The form of this JDA has been negotiated by or on behalf of the respective PARTIES, each of which was represented by attorneys who have carefully negotiated the provisions hereof. Each PARTY acknowledges that it has been advised to, and has had the opportunity to consult with its attorney(s) prior to entering into this JDA. No law or rule relating to the construction or interpretation of contracts against the drafter of any particular clause should be applied with respect to this JDA.

 

11.2. Applicable Law. All matters arising under or relating to this JDA are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to any principle of conflict or choice of laws that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Despite the above, the substantive law of the country of any PATENT RIGHTS governs the validity and enforceability of the subject PATENT RIGHTS.

 

11.3. Counterparts. This JDA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original, but all of which will constitute one and the same instrument. A facsimile or .PDF copy of a signature of a PARTY will have the same effect and validity as an original signature.

 

11.4. Entire Agreement / Amendments. This JDA, including any attached Schedules, constitute the entire understanding between the PARTIES with respect to the subject matter contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements whether oral or written between the PARTIES relating to the subject matter hereof, except as expressly set forth herein. Nothing in this JDA may be changed or modified, nor may anything be added to this JDA, except as may be specifically agreed to in a subsequent writing executed with the same formalities as this JDA.

 

11.5. Force Majeure. No PARTY will be responsible for delays or failures to perform resulting from events beyond its control but will have a responsibility to mitigate any damage which might arise as a result of any such event. Such events will include, but not be limited to: acts of nature, epidemics; fire; government restrictions or other government acts; insurrection; power failures; strike, union disturbance, or other labor problems; riots; terrorism or threats of terrorism; or war (whether or not declared); earthquakes, floods, or other disasters. Upon the occurrence of any event of the type referred to in this Paragraph 11.5, the affected PARTY will give prompt written notice to the other PARTY, together with a description of the event and the duration for which the affected PARTY expects its ability to comply with the provisions of this JDA to be affected. The affected PARTY will devote its commercially reasonable efforts to remedy to the extent possible the condition giving rise to the failure event and to resume performance of its obligations under this JDA as promptly as possible.

 

 

 

 

11.6. Headings. The headings or titles of Articles, Sections, Paragraphs, or Schedules appearing in this JDA are provided for convenience and are not to be used in construing this JDA. All references to Articles, Paragraphs, Sections and/or Schedules will be to Articles, Paragraphs, Sections, and/or Schedules of this JDA, unless specifically noted otherwise. Reference to an “Article,” “Section,” or “Paragraph” includes the referenced Article, Section or Paragraph, and all sub-sections and sub-paragraphs included within the referenced Article, Section or Paragraph.

 

11.7. Joint Research Agreement Statement for US Patent Prosecution. A PARTY desiring to invoke 35 USC §103(c)(2) and post American Invents Act 35 USC §102(c) during the PROSECUTION of PATENT RIGHTS, will be permitted to disclose the existence of this JDA and the names of the PARTIES thereto, and to make the statement required by 37 CFR §1.104(c)(4)(iii) on the record during PROSECUTION. Despite the foregoing, neither PARTY will be obligated to execute documents necessary for invoking 35 USC §103(c)(2) and post American Invents Act 35 USC §102(c).

 

11.8. No Other Rights Granted. Except as may be expressly set forth in this JDA, no PARTY grants, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any assignment, license or other rights in any of its or its AFFILIATES’ IP or CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION to the other PARTY or its AFFILIATES.

 

11.9. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Despite anything in this JDA to the contrary, nothing in this JDA, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person or entity other than the PARTIES or their respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this JDA.

 

11.10. No Waiver. No omission or delay by either PARTY at any time to enforce any right or remedy reserved to it, or to require performance of any of the terms, covenants, or provisions of this JDA by another PARTY at any time designated, will be a waiver of any such right or remedy to which such PARTY is entitled, nor will it in any way affect the right of such PARTY to enforce such provisions thereafter.

 

11.11. Non-assignability. This JDA will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective PARTIES and successors or assigns of all or substantially all of the relevant business or assets of either PARTY to which this JDA relates (whether by merger, consolidation, stock purchase, asset purchase or otherwise), and will otherwise be nontransferable and non-assignable to THIRD PARTIES without the prior express written consent of the other PARTY; provided, however, CCF may assign its reserved rights under Paragraph 6.4 to any academic, government, or not-for-profit institution without COMPANY’s consent.

 

11.12. Notices. All notices under this JDA will be sent to the respective PARTIES at the following addresses (or such other addresses as a PARTY designates to the other PARTY by written notice) by certified or registered mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service; and will be deemed to have been given one day after being sent

 

  If to CCF: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    9500 Euclid Avenue
    Cleveland, OH 44195
    Attn: CCF Innovations (Mail code: GCIC10)
    Email: ccilicense@ccf.org

 

 

 

 

  with a copy to: Law Department - (Mail Code: AC321)
    Attn: Research Contracts (Innovations)
    The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    3050 Science Park Drive Beachwood, OH 44122
    Attn: Chief Legal Counsel, CC Innovations
    Email: legalcontracts@ccf.org

 

  Payments to: ***

 

  If to COMPANY: Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
    3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250 San Jose, CA 95118
    Attention: Amit Kumar, CEO or Mike Catelani, President
    Email: ak@anixa.com, mcatelani@anixa.com

 

11.13. Partial Invalidity. If any covenant, condition or other provision of this JDA is held invalid, void or illegal by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the same will be deemed severable from the remainder of the subject agreement and will in no way affect, impair or invalidate any other covenant, condition or provision, and will be deemed replaced by a provision which comes closest to such unenforceable provision in language and intent, without being invalid, void or illegal.

 

11.14. Use of Name and Press Releases. Neither PARTY shall use the name, logo, likeness, trademarks, or image of the other PARTY for advertising, marketing, endorsement or any other purposes without the specific prior written consent of an authorized representative of the other PARTY as to each such use. Neither PARTY shall make any public announcements, make any public statements, issue any press releases or otherwise communicate with any news media in respect of this JDA, or the transactions contemplated hereby without the specific prior written consent of an authorized representative of the other PARTY. COMPANY shall not be required to attain consent under this Paragraph 11.14 for use that is pursuant to applicable law or regulation, including COMPANY’s obligations under disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). CCF’s specific prior written consent to one use shall apply only to other uses of substantially similar form and content (e.g.: various iterations of investor presentations) but not to any other uses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, CCF shall have the right to withdraw any consent previously provided (e.g., if CCF has previously consented to COMPANY’s use of CCF’s name and logo on COMPANY’s website or in investor presentations). For clarity, this Paragraph 11.14 shall not restrict COMPANY (or its AFFILIATES or sublicensees) from publicly disclosing information regarding the status of the development, or manufacture or commercialization of any PRODUCT, provided that any such disclosure does not use the name, logo, likeness, trademark or image of CCF.

 

11.15. Export Control. It is understood that CCF is subject to United States laws and regulations controlling the export of technical data, computer software, laboratory prototypes, and other commodities and that its obligations hereunder are contingent on compliance with applicable United States export laws and regulations. It is the expectation of CCF that the work done pursuant to this JDA will constitute fundamental research under the applicable export control laws and regulations. CCF does not wish to take receipt of export-controlled information except as may be knowingly and expressly agreed to in writing signed by an authorized representative of CCF and for which CCF has made specific arrangements. COMPANY acknowledges that CCF has foreign nationals on CCF’s campus who may have access to technical data, computer software, laboratory prototypes, and other commodities associated with this JDA. COMPANY agrees that it will not provide or make accessible to CCF any non-EAR 99 materials (including, without limitation, equipment, information and/or data) without first informing CCF of the export controlled nature of the materials and obtaining from CCF’s RESEARCH OFFICE its prior written consent to accept such materials as well as any specific instructions regarding the mechanism pursuant to which such materials should be passed to CCF. COMPANY agrees to comply with any and all applicable U.S. export control laws and regulations, as well any and all embargoes and/or other restrictions imposed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls.

 

11.16. Relationship Between the PARTIES. Both PARTIES are independent contractors under this JDA. This JDA does not constitute making either PARTY the agent or legal representative of the other PARTY, for any purpose whatsoever. Neither PARTY is granted any right or authority to assume or to create any obligation or responsibility, expressed or implied, on behalf of or in the name of the other PARTY or to bind the other PARTY in any manner or thing whatsoever. No employment relationship, agency, joint venture or partnership between the PARTIES is intended nor will be inferred. Neither PARTY’s employees will represent themselves as being representatives of or otherwise employed by the other PARTY.

 

11.17. Mutual Drafting. Each PARTY hereby represents that it has been, or has had the opportunity to be, represented by legal counsel of its choice in connection with the negotiation and execution of this JDA. This JDA shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the PARTIES hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any PARTY by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this JDA.

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the PARTIES, by their authorized representatives, have evidenced their consent to the terms provided herein by signing below.

 

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation   Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
     
/s/ Serpil Erzurum   /s/ Amit Kumar
Signature   Signature
     
Serpil Erzurum, M.D.   Dr. Amit Kumar
Printed Name   Printed Name:
Chief Research and Academic Officer    
Chari, Lerner Research Institute    
Title   Title: CEO
     
5/1/2024   5/3/2024
Date   Date

 

/s/Avery Gottfred  
Avery Gottfred  
Sr. Director, Office of Sponsored  
Research & Programs  

 

 

 

 

Schedule A-1 and Schedule A-2 – WORK PLAN

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event will any work performed by CCF under any SOW involve human subjects. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 2.6 of this Agreement, if the PARTIES identify a need for CCF to perform and/or coordinate research with human subjects in connection with a SOW, then the PARTIES will execute a clinical trial agreement to govern the CLINICAL TRIALS prior to proceeding with the desired work.

 

Schedule A-1

 

  1. Development of new retired protein antigen targets for cancer vaccines
     
    The “retired protein hypothesis,” conceived by the late Dr. Vincent K. Tuohy, asserts that the most ideal cancer vaccine target antigens are those that are organ-specific and normally retired with age but expressed by emerging and established well-to moderately differentiated tumors. This method of vaccine design has proved successful in animal models and is currently being tested in a phase I clinical trial of the alpha-lactalbumin breast cancer vaccine, and pre-clinical studies to support a phase I clinical trial of the AMHR2-ED ovarian cancer vaccine are currently being conducted in collaboration with NCI. Applying Dr. Tuohy’s novel approach, targets for other cancers may be identified and tested. We intend to discover and test new retired protein targets for well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of breast, prostate, lung, colon and ovary. Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of cancer of these 5 organs. We propose a multi-tiered study (Figure 1), with each aim dependent upon success of the previous aim:

 

  a. Aim 1A: Bioinformatics expression screen. In collaboration with our Bioinformatics experts in Inflammation & Immunity, we will use existing databases and algorithms to identify potential vaccine protein targets that meet the criteria of being organ-specific, with expression that is eliminated or reduced to non-immunogenic levels in normal tissues with advancing age, and significant expression of the protein in cancers of the targeted organ.
     
    We will initially focus on an ever-growing number of studies of human tissue transcriptomes at a single cell level. We will utilize studies that include target organs from individuals of various ages. We will focus our analysis on the epithelium in these studies. We will curate lists of genes that show detectable expression in specific epithelial cells of organs in young adults and loss of detection in older adults. We will pay close attention to gender – there are genes in all of these target tissues whose expression are affected by testosterone and estrogen. Single cell transcriptomic analysis does not routinely detect low expression levels for mRNA. Thus, we will carefully evaluate our candidate list below.
     
  b. Aim 1B: Validation of targets. Targets generated in Aim 1A will be validated in the laboratory. Validation of each target will consist of several steps that may be contingent on results from the previous step:

 

  i. RNA in situ expression testing of candidate using RNAScope. This methodology is closest to our screening method and is highly reliable. A successful candidate will show that the mRNA will be detectable in all or a subset of the epithelium of the target organ from young subjects but not in older subjects (defined here as >50 years old based on cancer susceptibility).

 

 

 

 

  ii. We will obtain a panel of monoclonal antibodies for each candidate proteins. We will perform IHC staining for each candidate protein using sections of normal human tissues obtained from individual of various ages. A successful candidate will show that the protein will be detectable in all or a subset of the epithelium of the target organ from young subjects but not in older subjects.
     
  iii. We will perform RNAscope and IHC staining for candidate proteins using reagents from experiments i and ii using tissue sections of well to moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas of the target organ. A successful candidate will show the majority of the cases will show expression of the candidate mRNA and protein in the tumor cells.
     
  iv. IHC staining of various normal human tissues outside the target organ to evaluate potential for off-target inflammation
     
  v. Perform IHC and RNA scope of the candidate protein in mice to test if this model can be used for experiments.
     
  vi. Purchase or production of the protein
     
  vii. In vitro immunogenicity assessment using ELISPOT and ELISA of mice immunized with the antigen
     
  viii. If the biologic function of the target is unknown or uncertain, functional studies will be performed using knockdown/overexpression techniques

 

  c. Aim 1C: Efficacy and toxicity. Targets that are validated in Aim 1B will be further tested for efficacy in the appropriate animal tumor models. Animals will be observed for signs of toxicity, and tissues will be harvested at endpoint for toxicologic analysis by an independent veterinary pathologist.

 

Aim 1: Potential pitfalls and alternative approaches. If we do not find a validated candidate for a given tumor, we will consider evaluation of single cell transcriptomics data sets of cancer stem cells versus stem cells from young and old donors from that organ. A retired antigen expressed in a stem cell that is reactivated in cancer stem cells would be a valuable target.

 

If the single cell smRNA analysis does not yield targets in specific organs, we will also evaluate proteomic datasets where available or data sets from in vitro cultured epithelial cells (normal and tumors). We will also consider differential splicing of mRNA in an age/tumor dependent fashion.

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. Flow chart for development of new retired protein antigen targets. Each of the three aims will be contingent upon the success of the previous aim for each candidate protein. The bioinformatics screen will focus on breast, ovary, prostate, lung, and colon.

 

 

 

 

Schedule A-2

 

  1. HLA typing study of Phase I trial subjects
     
    Based on interim results of the human phase I clinical trial of the alpha-lactalbumin breast cancer vaccine, we have observed that 4 of the 16 subjects tested to date (25%) failed to mount an antigen-specific T cell immune response to the vaccine that met the threshold defined in the clinical protocol (≥ 1/30,000 frequency of IFNγ of IL-17 secreting cells). There is no obvious explanation for this deficiency based on dose level or subject medical history. Therefore, we believe that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types of the subjects, which are extremely polymorphic in the human population, may play a substantial role in determining the magnitude of response to the vaccine in each subject. These data may be critical in predicting an individual’s likelihood of responding to the vaccine, and they may inform future improvements in the design and formulation of the vaccine. We propose to determine the HLA types of all previous, current, and future subjects in Phase I, which will include:

 

  a. Confirm or obtain IRB approval
  b. Consent/re-consent subjects for the study
  c. Perform a single peripheral blood draw from each subject
  d. Process the blood samples and perform NGS sequencing
  e. Analyze the data and determine any correlations with CTL immune response data and/or clinical outcomes

 

  2. Epitope mapping of the human alpha-lactalbumin protein
     
    Based on the same rationale detailed for the HLA study, we propose to also perform epitope mapping for the human alpha-lactalbumin protein to offer additional insight into which T cell epitopes are present that may be widely recognized within the human population. This study will not only provide complementary data to the HLA study, but may also inform future single or pooled peptide-based designs of the vaccine, which could simplify production and save cost. The study will consist of the following steps:

 

  a. Synthesize two sets of overlapping peptide libraries to cover the entire 124 amino acid sequence of the recombinant human alpha-lactalbumin antigen with an offset of 5 residues:

 

  a. MHCI, 24 peptide 9-mer library
  b. MHCII, 23 peptide 15-mer library

 

  b. Verify the functionality of the assay using laboratory mouse model
  c. Identify trial subjects who have a robust immune response and are within six months of the final immunization
  d. Confirm or obtain IRB approval
  e. Consent/re-consent study subjects
  f. Obtain subject HLA type, if not already performed
  g. Perform IFNγ and IL-17 ELISPOT assays to peptide series on subject PBMCs
  h. Identify the most commonly recognized immunogenic epitopes and compare the data to CTL immunologic study data and HLA types

 

  3. In vivo alpha-lactalbumin drug product stability and potency testing for Phase II
     
    The drug product stability and potency testing for the Phase I breast cancer vaccine trial is currently conducted in the laboratory using an in vivo mouse model. Mice are immunized with the drug product a total of three times spaced one week apart, and two weeks after the final immunization, ELISA is used to detect alpha-lactalbumin-specific IgG titers which must conform to an established threshold. The ELISA data is used as a stability/potency indicator for the drug product, and by extension, for the components alpha-lactalbumin and zymosan as well. At each immunization, the drug product is first tested for emulsion stability using the water drop test at T=0, T=4, and T=24 hours. The data acquired to date have demonstrated a stable trend over 12 months and have served as a reliable indicator of drug product potency based on clinical immunologic results. Although somewhat cumbersome, the in vivo testing model currently serves as the gold standard for potency testing of the alpha-lactalbumin vaccine, and thus will be used to monitor potency in Phase II. The stability program will consist of:

 

  a. Initial testing and validation using ELISPOT and ELISA with the Phase II GMP reagents and formulation following the established Phase I protocol
  b. Testing the drug product at regular intervals established by current ICH guidelines appropriate for a Phase II study using the validated protocol

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Dr. Amit Kumar, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
   
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
   
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
   
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
     
  (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
     
  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
     
  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
     
  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

  By: /s/ Dr. Amit Kumar
    Dr. Amit Kumar
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Michael J. Catelani, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Anixa Biosciences, Inc.;
   
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
   
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
   
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
     
  (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
     
  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
     
  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
     
  (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

  By: /s/ Michael J. Catelani
    Michael J. Catelani
    President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Statement of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, the undersigned, Dr. Amit Kumar, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anixa Biosciences, Inc., hereby certifies that:

 

  1. The Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended April 30, 2024 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     
  2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

  By: /s/ Dr. Amit Kumar
    Dr. Amit Kumar
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

Statement of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

 

Pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, the undersigned, Michael J. Catelani, the President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Anixa Biosciences, Inc., hereby certifies that:

 

  1. The Company’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the period ended April 30, 2024 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     
  2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

  By: /s/ Michael J. Catelani
    Michael J. Catelani
    President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
June 4, 2024   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
Cover - shares
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Jun. 04, 2024
Cover [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Transition Report false  
Document Period End Date Apr. 30, 2024  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q2  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2024  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --10-31  
Entity File Number 001-37492  
Entity Registrant Name ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC.  
Entity Central Index Key 0000715446  
Entity Tax Identification Number 11-2622630  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE  
Entity Address, Address Line One 3150 Almaden Expressway  
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 250  
Entity Address, City or Town San Jose  
Entity Address, State or Province CA  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 95118  
City Area Code (408)  
Local Phone Number 708-9808  
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $.01 per share  
Trading Symbol ANIX  
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business true  
Entity Emerging Growth Company false  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   32,006,460
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 995 $ 915
Short-term investments 22,244 22,929
Receivables 218 270
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 757 1,242
Total current assets 24,214 25,356
Operating lease right-of-use asset 141 166
Total assets 24,355 25,522
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable 215 206
Accrued expenses 1,410 1,770
Operating lease liability 56 52
Total current liabilities 1,681 2,028
Operating lease liability, non-current 93 123
Total liabilities 1,774 2,151
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Equity:    
Preferred stock, value
Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 32,006,460 and 31,145,219 shares issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023, respectively 320 311
Additional paid-in capital 257,893 252,222
Accumulated deficit (234,590) (228,196)
Total shareholders’ equity 23,623 24,337
Noncontrolling interest (Note 2) (1,042) (966)
Total equity 22,581 23,371
Total liabilities and equity 24,355 25,522
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]    
Equity:    
Preferred stock, value
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Preferred stock, par value $ 100 $ 100
Preferred stock, shares authorized 19,860 19,860
Preferred stock, shares issued 0 0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding 0 0
Common stock, par value $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized 100,000,000 100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued 32,006,460 31,145,219
Common stock, shares outstanding 32,006,460 31,145,219
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]    
Preferred stock, par value $ 100 $ 100
Preferred stock, shares authorized 140 140
Preferred stock, shares issued 0 0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding 0 0
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]        
Revenue $ 210 $ 210
Operating costs and expenses:        
Inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses 161 161
Research and development expenses (including non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $520, $492, $1,009 and $998, respectively) 1,646 998 2,995 2,066
General and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock-based compensation expenses of $740, $735, $1,511 and $1,292, respectively) 1,821 1,611 4,081 3,099
Total operating costs and expenses 3,467 2,770 7,076 5,326
Loss from operations (3,467) (2,560) (7,076) (5,116)
Interest income 287 253 606 455
Net loss (3,180) (2,307) (6,470) (4,661)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (41) (19) (76) (51)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (3,139) $ (2,288) $ (6,394) $ (4,610)
Net loss per common share attributable to common shareholders:        
Basic $ (0.10) $ (0.07) $ (0.20) $ (0.15)
Diluted $ (0.10) $ (0.07) $ (0.20) $ (0.15)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:        
Basic 31,914 30,930 31,677 30,924
Diluted 31,914 30,930 31,677 30,924
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Research and Development Expense [Member]        
Non-cash share-based compensation expenses $ 520 $ 492 $ 1,009 $ 998
General and Administrative Expense [Member]        
Non-cash share-based compensation expenses $ 740 $ 735 $ 1,511 $ 1,292
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($)
Total
Common Stock [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Retained Earnings [Member]
Parent [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Oct. 31, 2022 $ 28,200,000 $ 309,000 $ 247,123,000 $ (218,385,000) $ 29,047,000 $ (847,000)
Balance, shares at Oct. 31, 2022   30,913,902        
Stock option compensation to employees and directors 2,112,000 2,112,000 2,112,000
Stock options issued to consultants 128,000 128,000 128,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options 78,000 $ 1,000 77,000 78,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options, shares   29,382        
Common stock issued to consultants 50,000 50,000 50,000
Common stock issued to consultants, shares   13,478        
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan 6,000 6,000 6,000
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   1,903        
Net loss (4,661,000) (4,610,000) (4,610,000) (51,000)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2023 25,913,000 $ 310,000 249,496,000 (222,995,000) 26,811,000 (898,000)
Balance, shares at Apr. 30, 2023   30,958,665        
Balance at Jan. 31, 2023 26,912,000 $ 309,000 248,189,000 (220,707,000) 27,791,000 (879,000)
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2023   30,922,830        
Stock option compensation to employees and directors 1,155,000 1,155,000 1,155,000
Stock options issued to consultants 47,000 47,000 47,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options 75,000 $ 1,000 74,000 75,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options, shares   27,818        
Common stock issued to consultants 25,000 25,000 25,000
Common stock issued to consultants, shares   6,114        
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan 6,000 6,000 6,000
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   1,903        
Net loss (2,307,000) (2,288,000) (2,288,000) (19,000)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2023 25,913,000 $ 310,000 249,496,000 (222,995,000) 26,811,000 (898,000)
Balance, shares at Apr. 30, 2023   30,958,665        
Balance at Oct. 31, 2023 23,371,000 $ 311,000 252,222,000 (228,196,000) 24,337,000 (966,000)
Balance, shares at Oct. 31, 2023   31,145,219        
Stock option compensation to employees and directors 2,346,000 2,346,000 2,346,000
Stock options issued to consultants 78,000 78,000 78,000
Common stock issued in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses 3,029,000 $ 8,000 3,021,000 3,029,000
Common stock issued in an at- the market offering, net of offering expenses, shares   785,290        
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options 124,000 124,000 124,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options, shares   43,999        
Common stock issued to consultants 96,000 $ 1,000 95,000 96,000
Common stock issued to consultants, shares   29,336        
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan 7,000 7,000 7,000
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   2,616        
Net loss (6,470,000) (6,394,000) (6,394,000) (76,000)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2024 22,581,000 $ 320,000 257,893,000 (234,590,000) 23,623,000 (1,042,000)
Balance, shares at Apr. 30, 2024   32,006,460        
Balance at Jan. 31, 2024 23,604,000 $ 318,000 255,738,000 (231,451,000) 24,605,000 (1,001,000)
Balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2024   31,754,375        
Stock option compensation to employees and directors 1,238,000 1,238,000 1,238,000
Stock options issued to consultants 22,000 22,000 22,000
Common stock issued in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses 833,000 $ 2,000 831,000 833,000
Common stock issued in an at- the market offering, net of offering expenses, shares   229,470        
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options 57,000 57,000 57,000
Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options, shares   19,999        
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan 7,000 7,000 7,000
Common stock issued pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan   2,616        
Net loss (3,180,000) (3,139,000) (3,139,000) (41,000)
Balance at Apr. 30, 2024 $ 22,581,000 $ 320,000 $ 257,893,000 $ (234,590,000) $ 23,623,000 $ (1,042,000)
Balance, shares at Apr. 30, 2024   32,006,460        
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2024
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]    
Offering costs $ 26 $ 94
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:    
Net loss $ (6,470) $ (4,661)
Stock option compensation to employees and directors 2,346 2,112
Stock options issued to consultants 78 128
Common stock issued to consultants 96 50
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset 25 23
Change in operating assets and liabilities:    
Receivables 52 (209)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 485 286
Accounts payable 9 (69)
Accrued expenses (360) (433)
Operating lease liability (26) (22)
Net cash used in operating activities (3,765) (2,795)
Cash flows from investing activities:    
Disbursements to acquire short-term investments (34,738) (17,406)
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments 35,423 13,377
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 685 (4,029)
Cash flows from financing activities:    
Proceeds from sale of common stock in an at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses 3,029
Proceeds from sale of common stock pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan 7 6
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 124 78
Net cash provided by financing activities 3,160 84
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 80 (6,740)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 915 12,360
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 995 $ 5,620
v3.24.1.1.u2
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2024
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]    
Offering costs $ 26 $ 94
v3.24.1.1.u2
BUSINESS AND FUNDING
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
BUSINESS AND FUNDING

1. BUSINESS AND FUNDING

 

Description of Business

 

As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Anixa” means Anixa Biosciences, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated.

 

Anixa Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing vaccines and therapies that are focused on critical unmet needs in oncology. Our vaccine programs include (i) the development of a preventative vaccine against triple negative breast cancer (“TNBC”), the most lethal form of breast cancer, as well other forms of breast cancer and (ii) the development of a preventative vaccine against ovarian cancer. We have also recently launched a discovery program utilizing the same mechanism as our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, to develop additional cancer vaccines to address many intractable cancers, including high incidence malignancies in lung, colon and prostate. Our therapeutics programs include (i) the development of a chimeric endocrine receptor T cell therapy, a novel form of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (“CAR-T”) technology, initially focused on treating ovarian cancer, which is being developed at our subsidiary, Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. (“Certainty”), and (ii) until March 2023, the development of anti-viral drug candidates for the treatment of Covid-19.

 

We hold an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (“Cleveland Clinic”) relating to certain breast cancer vaccine technology developed at Cleveland Clinic. The license agreement requires us to make certain cash payments to Cleveland Clinic upon achievement of specific development milestones. Utilizing this technology, we are working in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to develop a method to vaccinate women against contracting breast cancer, focused initially on TNBC. The focus of this vaccine is a specific protein, α-lactalbumin, that is only expressed during lactation in a healthy woman’s mammary tissue. This protein disappears when the woman is no longer lactating, but reappears in many forms of breast cancer, especially TNBC. Studies have shown that vaccinating against this protein prevents breast cancer in mice.

 

In October 2021, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) authorization to proceed, we commenced dosing patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial of our breast cancer vaccine. This study, which is being funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant to Cleveland Clinic, is a multiple-ascending dose Phase 1 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (“MTD”) of the vaccine in patients with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer as well as monitor immune response. The study is being conducted at Cleveland Clinic. The first segment of the study, Phase 1a, will consist of approximately 24 patients who have completed treatment for early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer within the past three years and are currently tumor-free but at high risk for recurrence. Studies show that 42% of TNBC patients will have a recurrence of their cancer, with most of the recurrences occurring in the first two to three years after standard of care treatment. During the course of the Phase 1a study, participants will receive three vaccinations, each two weeks apart, and will be closely monitored for side effects and immune response. In January 2023, the number of participants in each dose cohort was expanded, and as of August 2023, we had completed vaccinating all patients in these expanded cohorts. In December 2023, we presented the immunological data collected to date at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The data presented show that in the vaccinated women who had been tested to date, various levels of antigen-specific T cell responses were observed at all dose levels. We have begun vaccinating participants in up to three additional dose cohorts at dose levels higher than the currently determined MTD and lower than the highest dose where we observed dose limiting side effects. Further, in November 2023, we commenced vaccination of participants in the second segment of the trial, Phase 1b, that includes participants who have never had cancer, but carry certain mutations in genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2, that indicate a greater risk of developing TNBC in the future, and have elected to have a prophylactic mastectomy. Finally, in January 2024, we commenced vaccination of participants in the third segment of the trial, Phase 1c, that includes post-operative TNBC patients that have residual disease following treatment and are currently undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).

 

 

We hold an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by Cleveland Clinic relating to certain ovarian cancer vaccine technology. The license agreement requires us to make certain cash payments to Cleveland Clinic upon achievement of specific development milestones. This technology pertains to among other things, the use of vaccines for the treatment or prevention of ovarian cancers which express the anti-Mullerian hormone receptor 2 protein containing an extracellular domain (“AMHR2-ED”). In healthy tissue, this protein regulates growth and development of egg-containing follicles in the ovary. While expression of AMHR2-ED naturally and markedly declines during menopause, this protein is expressed at high levels in the ovaries of postmenopausal women with ovarian cancer. Researchers at Cleveland Clinic believe that a vaccine targeting AMHR2-ED could prevent the occurrence of ovarian cancer.

 

In May 2021, Cleveland Clinic was granted acceptance for our ovarian cancer vaccine technology into the National Cancer Institute’s (“NCI”) PREVENT program. The NCI is a part of the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). The PREVENT program is a peer-reviewed agent development program designed to support pre-clinical development of innovative interventions and biomarkers for cancer prevention and interception towards clinical trials. The scientific and financial resources of the PREVENT program are being used for our ovarian cancer vaccine technology to perform virtually all pre-clinical research and development, manufacturing and Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application enabling studies. This work is being performed at NCI facilities, by NCI scientific staff and with NCI financial resources and will require no material financial expenditures by the Company, nor the payment of any future consideration by the Company to NCI.

 

In May 2024, based on the positive clinical results to date in the development of our breast cancer vaccine, we entered into a Joint Development and Option Agreement with Cleveland Clinic to collaborate in efforts to develop additional vaccines for the prevention or treatment of cancers. Working with Cleveland Clinic researchers, we will focus on the same novel scientific mechanism as in our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, and work to discover additional retired proteins that may be associated with other forms of cancer, specifically high incidence malignancies in the lung, colon and prostate.

 

Our subsidiary, Certainty, is developing immuno-therapy drugs against cancer. Certainty holds an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Wistar Institute (“Wistar”), the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute and a leading NCI designated cancer research center, relating to Wistar’s chimeric endocrine receptor targeted therapy technology. We have initially focused on the development of a treatment for ovarian cancer, but we also may pursue applications of the technology for the development of treatments for additional solid tumors. The license agreement requires Certainty to make certain cash and equity payments to Wistar upon achievement of specific development milestones. With respect to Certainty’s equity obligations to Wistar, Certainty issued to Wistar shares of its common stock equal to five percent (5%) of the common stock of Certainty, such equity stake subject to dilution by further funding of Certainty’s activities by the Company. Due to such Company funding, Wistar’s equity stake in Certainty was 4.5% as of April 30, 2024.

 

Certainty, in collaboration with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”), has begun human clinical testing of the CAR-T technology licensed by Certainty from Wistar aimed initially at treating ovarian cancer. After receiving authorization from the FDA, we commenced enrollment of patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial and treated the first patient in August 2022. Further, in May 2023 and August 2023, we treated the second and third patients in the trial, respectively, at the same dose level as the first patient, and the treatment was well-tolerated by the patients. In February 2024 and May 2024, we treated the first two patients, respectively, in the second dose cohort, where the patients were administered a three-times higher dose of cells than the patients in the first cohort. The treatment appears to have been well-tolerated by the patients. This study is a dose-escalation trial with two arms based on route of delivery—intraperitoneal or intravenous—to determine the maximum tolerated dose in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer and to assess persistence, expansion and efficacy of the modified T cells. The study is being conducted at Moffitt and will consist of 24 to 48 patients who have received at least two prior lines of chemotherapy. The study is estimated to be completed in two to four years depending on multiple factors including when maximum tolerated dose is reached, the rate of patient enrollment, and how long we maintain the two different delivery methods.

 

Over the next several quarters, we expect the development of our vaccines and therapeutics to be the primary focus of the Company. As part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities of its various patent portfolios. We do not expect these activities to be a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.

 

 

Over the past several years, our revenue was derived from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including revenue from the settlement of litigation. We have not generated any revenue to date from our vaccine or therapeutics programs. In addition, while we pursue our vaccine and therapeutics programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies. We do not expect to begin generating revenue with respect to any of our current vaccine or therapy programs in the near term. We hope to achieve a profitable outcome by eventually licensing our technologies to large pharmaceutical companies that have the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture, market and sell our technologies as vaccines or therapeutics. The eventual licensing of any of our technologies may take several years, if it is to occur at all, and may depend on positive results from human clinical trials.

 

Funding and Management’s Plans

 

Based on currently available information as of June 4, 2024, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows will be sufficient to fund our activities for at least the next twelve months. We have implemented a business model that conserves funds by collaborating with third parties to develop our technologies. However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results. If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short-term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we elect to invest in or acquire a company or companies or new technology or technologies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, we raised approximately $3,029,000, net of expenses, through an at-the-market equity offering of 785,290 shares of common stock, under which offering we may issue up to $100 million of common stock. Under our at-the-market equity program, which is currently effective and may remain available for us to use in the future, as of April 30, 2024, we may sell an additional approximately $97 million of common stock. We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2024 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt will result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023. The accompanying October 31, 2023 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of April 30, 2024, and results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods represented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity. The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the six months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

  

Balance, October 31, 2023  $(966)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (76)
Balance, April 30, 2024  $(1,042)

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Our revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive.

 

Our revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time.

 

Our revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation. In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

Cost of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent legal fees paid to external counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external counsel and licensing and enforcement related research, consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties. These costs are included under the caption “Operating costs and expenses” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, payments to third parties for research and development activities and other direct costs associated with developing our therapeutics and vaccines. We recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf. Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended in each reporting period.

 

 

Investment Policy

 

The Company’s investment policy is to acquire U.S. government debt securities with fixed maturities and contractual cash flows that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are recorded at amortized cost, net of any applicable discount which is amortized to interest income, and are accounted for as held-to-maturity securities.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company maintains stock equity incentive plans under which the Company grants incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards, or stock units to employees, directors and consultants.

 

Stock Option Compensation Expense

 

We account for stock options granted to employees, directors and others using the accounting guidance in ASC 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). We estimate the fair value of service-based stock options on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant. We recorded stock-based compensation expense related to service-based stock options granted to employees and directors of approximately $1,238,000 and $1,155,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and approximately $2,346,000 and $2,112,000 during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

The compensation cost for service-based stock options granted to consultants is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and is expensed on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period (the vesting period of the stock option) which is one to three years. We recorded stock-based consulting expense related to stock options granted to consultants of approximately $22,000 and $47,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and approximately $78,000 and $128,000 during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Stock Option Plans

 

During the three and six months ended April 30, 2024, we had two stock option plans: the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the “2010 Share Plan”) and the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. 2018 Share Incentive Plan (the “2018 Share Plan”), which were adopted by our Board of Directors on July 14, 2010 and January 25, 2018, respectively. The 2018 Share Plan was approved by our shareholders on March 29, 2018.

 

Stock Option Activity

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted options to purchase 15,000 shares and 0 shares of common stock, respectively, and during the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, we granted options to purchase 1,350,000 shares and 1,505,000 shares of common stock, respectively, to employees, directors and consultants, with exercise prices ranging from $3.17 to $4.39 per share, pursuant to the 2018 Share Plan. During the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, stock options to purchase 19,999 and 27,818 shares of common stock, respectively, were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $57,000 and $75,000, respectively. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, stock options to purchase 43,999 shares of common stock were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $124,000. During the six months ended April 30, 2023 stock options to purchase 1,111 shares of common stock, of which 808 shares were withheld, were exercised on a cashless basis and stock options to purchase 29,079 shares of common stock were exercised on a cash basis, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $78,000

 

 

2010 Share Plan

 

The 2010 Share Plan provided for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to employees, directors and consultants. In accordance with the provisions of the 2010 Share Plan, the plan terminated with respect to the ability to grant future awards on July 14, 2020. Information regarding the 2010 Share Plan for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

  

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   1,189,000   $2.94      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (13,000)  $2.92      
Options outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   1,176,000   $2.94   $643 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2010 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$0.67 - $2.27    366,000    3.1   $1.27 
$2.58 - $3.13    301,000    1.7   $2.91 
$3.46 - $5.30    509,000    4.0   $4.17 

 

2018 Share Plan

 

The 2018 Share Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to employees, directors and consultants. As of April 30, 2024, the 2018 Share Plan had 938,907 shares available for future grants. Information regarding the 2018 Share Plan for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   10,241,000   $3.67      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (30,999)  $2.78      
Expirations   (313,907)  $4.21      
Options outstanding at April 30, 2024   11,246,094   $3.74   $   582 
Options exercisable at April 30, 2024   7,363,587   $3.57   $505 

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2018 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

    Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable 

Range of

Exercise Prices

  

Number

Outstanding

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Number

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 
$2.09 - $3.87    5,383,879    6.0   $3.24    4,953,309    5.8   $3.27 
$3.96 - $5.30    5,862,215    7.9   $4.20    2,410,278    7.4   $4.21 

 

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

The Company maintains the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) which permits eligible employees to purchase shares at not less than 85% of the market value of the Company’s common stock on the offering date or the purchase date of the applicable offering period, whichever is lower. The ESPP was adopted by our Board of Directors on August 13, 2018 and approved by our shareholders on September 27, 2018. During the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, employees purchased 2,616 and 1,903 shares, respectively, with aggregate proceeds of approximately $7,000 and $6,000, respectively.

 

Warrants

 

As of April 30, 2024, we had warrants outstanding to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at $6.56 per share, issued during fiscal year 2021 and expiring on March 22, 2026.

 

Information regarding the Company’s warrants for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

 
Warrants outstanding at October 31, 2023   300,000   $6.56      
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   300,000   $6.56   $      0 

 

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable warrants as of April 30, 2024:

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$6.56    300,000    1.9   $6.56 

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

US GAAP defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. We have categorized our financial assets and liabilities, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as set forth below. If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

 

Level 1 – Financial instruments whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 – Financial instruments whose values are based on quoted market prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets.

 

Level 3 – Financial instruments whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the instrument.

 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $853   $-   $   -   $853 
U.S. treasury bills                    
Short-term investments   -    22,244    -    22,244 
Total financial assets  $853   $22,244   $-   $23,097 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2023 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $778   $-   $   -   $778 
Certificates of deposit:                    
Short term investments   -    720    -    720 
U.S. treasury bills:                    
Short-term investments   -    22,209    -    22,209 
Total financial assets  $778   $22,929   $-   $23,707 

 

Our non-financial assets that are measured on a non-recurring basis are property and equipment and other assets which are measured using fair value techniques whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a condition of impairment exists. The estimated fair value of prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their individual carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these measurements. Cash equivalents are stated at carrying value which approximates fair value.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
ACCRUED EXPENSES
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]  
ACCRUED EXPENSES

5. ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following as of:

 

   April 30,   October 31, 
   2024   2023 
   (in thousands) 
Payroll and related expenses  $718   $1,114 
Accrued royalty and contingent legal fees   626    626 
Accrued other   66    30 
Accrued expenses  $1,410   $1,770 

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Net loss per common share attributable to common shareholders:  
NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

6. NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

 

Basic net loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities then outstanding. Diluted EPS for all periods presented is the same as Basic EPS, as the inclusion of the effect of common share equivalents then outstanding would be anti-dilutive. For this reason, excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, were stock options to purchase 12,422,094 and 11,643,682 shares, respectively, and warrants to purchase 300,000 and 300,000 shares, respectively.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
EFFECT OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Effect Of Recently Adopted And Issued Pronouncements  
EFFECT OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS

7. EFFECT OF RECENTLY ADOPTED AND ISSUED PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, to require that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. At the acquisition date, an acquirer should account for the related revenue contracts in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to provide more disaggregated expense information about a public entity’s reportable segments. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, to require disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effect tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively, with an option to apply them retrospectively, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 for public entities. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
INCOME TAXES
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES

8. INCOME TAXES

 

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. We have provided a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset due to our historical pre-tax losses and the uncertainty regarding the realizability of these deferred tax assets.

 

We have substantial net operating loss carryforwards for Federal and California income tax returns. These net operating loss carryforwards could be subject to limitations under Internal Revenue Code section 382, the effects of which have not been determined by the Company. We have no unrecognized income tax benefits as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023 and we account for interest and penalties related to income tax matters, if any, in general and administrative expenses.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
LEASES
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Leases  
LEASES

9. LEASES

 

We lease approximately 2,000 square feet of office space at 3150 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California (our principal executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to an operating lease that, as amended, will expire on September 30, 2024, with an option to extend the lease an additional two years. Our base rent is approximately $5,000 per month and the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating costs. The lease, as amended, resulted in a right-of-use asset and lease liability of approximately $260,000 with a discount rate of 10%. Rent expense was approximately $17,000 and $17,000, respectively, for the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, and approximately $33,000 and $33,000, respectively, for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023.

 

For operating leases, the lease liability is initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments. The remaining 29-month lease term as of April 30, 2024 for the Company’s lease includes the noncancelable period of the lease and the additional two-year option period that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. All right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment when indications of impairment are present.

 

As of April 30, 2024, the annual minimum future lease payments of our operating lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

 

For years Ended October 31,   Operating
Leases
 
2024   $ 34  
2025       70  
2026     65  
Total future minimum lease payments, undiscounted     169  
Less: Imputed interest     (20 )
Present value of future minimum lease payments   $ 149  

 

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES

 

Litigation Matters

 

Other than lawsuits related to the enforcement of our patent rights, we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings, nor are we aware of any pending litigation or legal proceeding against us that would have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations or financial condition.

 

Research & Development Agreements

 

We have entered into certain research and development agreements with various third-party vendors related to the manufacturing and stability testing of the materials necessary for the development of our breast cancer vaccine and our CAR-T therapeutic. As of April 30, 2024, future payments the Company may make under these agreements, dependent upon, among other things, development of analytical methods, formulation feasibility studies, stability testing, and results of manufacturing processes, may be approximately $3.7 million and such payments may be made over up to a five-year period.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
SEGMENT INFORMATION
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
SEGMENT INFORMATION

11. SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

We follow the accounting guidance of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”). Reportable operating segments are determined based on the management approach. The management approach, as defined by ASC 280, is based on the way that the chief operating decision-maker organizes the segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance. While our results of operations are primarily reviewed on a consolidated basis, the chief operating decision-maker manages the enterprise in three reportable segments, each with different operating and potential revenue generating characteristics: (i) CAR-T Therapeutics, (ii) Cancer Vaccines and (iii) Other. The following represents selected financial information for our segments for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 and as of April 30, 2024 and October 31, 2023, in thousands:

 

   2024   2023   2024   2023 
   For the Three Months Ended
April 30,
   For the Six Months Ended
April 30,
 
   2024   2023   2024   2023 
Net income/(loss):                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $(1,444)  $(997)  $(2,970)  $(1,908)
Cancer Vaccines   (1,713)   (913)   (3,469)   (1,871)
Other   (23)   (397)   (31)   (882)
Total  $(3,180)  $(2,307)  $(6,470)  $(4,661)
                     
Total operating costs and expenses  $3,467   $2,770   $7,076   $5,326 
Less non-cash stock-based compensation   (1,260)   (1,227)   (2,520)   (2,290)
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation:                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $1,026   $620   $2,154   $1,218 
Cancer Vaccines   1,160    523    2,373    1,111 
Other   21    400    29    707 
Total  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 

 

   April 30,
2024
   October 31,
2023
 
Total assets:          
CAR-T Therapeutics  $11,314   $7,523 
Cancer Vaccines   12,778    17,215 
Other   263    784 
Total  $24,355   $25,522 

 

Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation is the measurement the chief operating decision-maker uses in managing the enterprise.

 

The Company’s consolidated revenue of $210,000 and inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expense of $161,000 for the three and six months ended April 30, 2023 were solely related to our encrypted audio/video conference calling technology, which is included in our Other segment. All our revenue is generated domestically (United States) based on the country in which the licensee is located.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
SUBSEQUENT EVENT

12. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On May 3, 2024, we entered into a Joint Development and Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Cleveland Clinic. Pursuant to the Agreement, the parties agreed on the terms and conditions under which the parties will collaborate in efforts to develop vaccines for the prevention or treatment of cancers using the same mechanism as our breast and ovarian cancer vaccines, focusing on high incidence malignancies in lung, colon and prostate. As consideration, the Company paid Cleveland Clinic a non-refundable, option fee in May 2024. The Company will also provide development funding in three tranches, the first payment was paid in May 2024, the second payment will be paid on or before January 31, 2025 and the third payment will be paid on or before January 31, 2026. None of these payments are expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

v3.24.1.1.u2
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023. The accompanying October 31, 2023 condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by US GAAP. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of April 30, 2024, and results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods represented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling Interest

 

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity. The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the six months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

  

Balance, October 31, 2023  $(966)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (76)
Balance, April 30, 2024  $(1,042)

 

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

 

Our revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive.

 

Our revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time.

 

Our revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation. In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.

 

Cost of Revenues

Cost of Revenues

 

Cost of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent legal fees paid to external counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external counsel and licensing and enforcement related research, consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties. These costs are included under the caption “Operating costs and expenses” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, payments to third parties for research and development activities and other direct costs associated with developing our therapeutics and vaccines. We recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf. Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended in each reporting period.

 

 

Investment Policy

Investment Policy

 

The Company’s investment policy is to acquire U.S. government debt securities with fixed maturities and contractual cash flows that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are recorded at amortized cost, net of any applicable discount which is amortized to interest income, and are accounted for as held-to-maturity securities.

 

v3.24.1.1.u2
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NONCONTROLLING INTEREST

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity. The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the six months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

  

Balance, October 31, 2023  $(966)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (76)
Balance, April 30, 2024  $(1,042)
v3.24.1.1.u2
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Warrant [Member]  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE

The following table summarizes information about the Company’s outstanding and exercisable warrants as of April 30, 2024:

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$6.56    300,000    1.9   $6.56 
SCHEDULE OF WARRANTS ACTIVITY

Information regarding the Company’s warrants for the six months ended April 30, 2024 is as follows:

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

 
Warrants outstanding at October 31, 2023   300,000   $6.56      
Warrants outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   300,000   $6.56   $      0 
2010 Plan [Member]  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
SCHEDULE OF OPTION ACTIVITY

  

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   1,189,000   $2.94      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (13,000)  $2.92      
Options outstanding and exercisable at April 30, 2024   1,176,000   $2.94   $643 
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2010 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

Range of Exercise

Prices

  

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

  

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 
$0.67 - $2.27    366,000    3.1   $1.27 
$2.58 - $3.13    301,000    1.7   $2.91 
$3.46 - $5.30    509,000    4.0   $4.17 
2018 Share Plan [Member]  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
SCHEDULE OF OPTION ACTIVITY

   Shares  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Per Share

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)

 
Options outstanding at October 31, 2023   10,241,000   $3.67      
Granted   1,350,000   $4.38      
Exercised   (30,999)  $2.78      
Expirations   (313,907)  $4.21      
Options outstanding at April 30, 2024   11,246,094   $3.74   $   582 
Options exercisable at April 30, 2024   7,363,587   $3.57   $505 
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2018 Share Plan as of April 30, 2024:

 

    Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable 

Range of

Exercise Prices

  

Number

Outstanding

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

  

Number

Exercisable

  

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Life

(in years)

  

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

 
$2.09 - $3.87    5,383,879    6.0   $3.24    4,953,309    5.8   $3.27 
$3.96 - $5.30    5,862,215    7.9   $4.20    2,410,278    7.4   $4.21 
v3.24.1.1.u2
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 30, 2024 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $853   $-   $   -   $853 
U.S. treasury bills                    
Short-term investments   -    22,244    -    22,244 
Total financial assets  $853   $22,244   $-   $23,097 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2023 (in thousands):

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Money market funds:                    
Cash equivalents  $778   $-   $   -   $778 
Certificates of deposit:                    
Short term investments   -    720    -    720 
U.S. treasury bills:                    
Short-term investments   -    22,209    -    22,209 
Total financial assets  $778   $22,929   $-   $23,707 
v3.24.1.1.u2
ACCRUED EXPENSES (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]  
SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following as of:

 

   April 30,   October 31, 
   2024   2023 
   (in thousands) 
Payroll and related expenses  $718   $1,114 
Accrued royalty and contingent legal fees   626    626 
Accrued other   66    30 
Accrued expenses  $1,410   $1,770 
v3.24.1.1.u2
LEASES (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Leases  
SCHEDULE OF MINIMUM LEASE PAYMENTS

As of April 30, 2024, the annual minimum future lease payments of our operating lease liabilities were as follows (in thousands):

 

For years Ended October 31,   Operating
Leases
 
2024   $ 34  
2025       70  
2026     65  
Total future minimum lease payments, undiscounted     169  
Less: Imputed interest     (20 )
Present value of future minimum lease payments   $ 149  
v3.24.1.1.u2
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Segment Reporting [Abstract]  
SCHEDULE OF SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

   2024   2023   2024   2023 
   For the Three Months Ended
April 30,
   For the Six Months Ended
April 30,
 
   2024   2023   2024   2023 
Net income/(loss):                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $(1,444)  $(997)  $(2,970)  $(1,908)
Cancer Vaccines   (1,713)   (913)   (3,469)   (1,871)
Other   (23)   (397)   (31)   (882)
Total  $(3,180)  $(2,307)  $(6,470)  $(4,661)
                     
Total operating costs and expenses  $3,467   $2,770   $7,076   $5,326 
Less non-cash stock-based compensation   (1,260)   (1,227)   (2,520)   (2,290)
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash stock-based compensation:                    
CAR-T Therapeutics  $1,026   $620   $2,154   $1,218 
Cancer Vaccines   1,160    523    2,373    1,111 
Other   21    400    29    707 
Total  $2,207   $1,543   $4,556   $3,036 

 

   April 30,
2024
   October 31,
2023
 
Total assets:          
CAR-T Therapeutics  $11,314   $7,523 
Cancer Vaccines   12,778    17,215 
Other   263    784 
Total  $24,355   $25,522 
v3.24.1.1.u2
BUSINESS AND FUNDING (Details Narrative) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Capital raised by issuance of shares $ 833,000 $ 3,029,000  
Proceeds from sale of common stock   3,029,000
Maximum [Member]      
Proceeds from sale of common stock   100,000,000  
Common Stock [Member]      
Capital raised by issuance of shares $ 2,000 $ 8,000  
Issuance of shares 229,470 785,290  
Additional proceeds from sale of stock   $ 97,000,000  
The Wistar Institute [Member]      
Percenatge of shares issued for common stock 5.00% 5.00%  
Equity stake percentage 4.50% 4.50%  
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN NONCONTROLLING INTEREST (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]        
Beginning balance     $ (966)  
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest $ (41) $ (19) (76) $ (51)
Ending balance $ (1,042)   $ (1,042)  
v3.24.1.1.u2
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details Narrative)
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Revenue recognition percentage 100.00%
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF OPTION ACTIVITY (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
2010 Plan [Member]  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Shares, options outstanding, beginning balance 1,189,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding Beginning balance $ 2.94
Shares, options, exercised (13,000)
Weighted average exercise price per share, exercised $ 2.92
Shares, options outstanding, ending balance 1,176,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding ending balance $ 2.94
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding and exercisable $ 643
2018 Share Plan [Member]  
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]  
Shares, options outstanding, beginning balance 10,241,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding Beginning balance $ 3.67
Shares, options, granted 1,350,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Granted $ 4.38
Shares, options, exercised (30,999)
Weighted average exercise price per share, exercised $ 2.78
Shares, options outstanding, ending balance 11,246,094
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding ending balance $ 3.74
Shares, options, forfeited/expired (313,907)
Weighted average exercise price per share, forfeited/expired $ 4.21
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding Ending balance $ 582
Shares, Options outstanding, Exercisable 7,363,587
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share, Exercisable $ 3.57
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable $ 505
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE (Details) - $ / shares
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Warrant [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Number outstanding and exercisable 300,000  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 1 year 10 months 24 days  
Weighted average exercise price $ 6.56  
Range of exercise prices $ 6.56  
2010 Plan [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Number outstanding and exercisable 1,176,000 1,189,000
Weighted average exercise price $ 2.94 $ 2.94
2010 Plan [Member] | Range One [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Range of Exercise Prices 0.67  
Range of Exercise Prices $ 2.27  
Number outstanding and exercisable 366,000  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 3 years 1 month 6 days  
Weighted average exercise price $ 1.27  
2010 Plan [Member] | Range Two [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Range of Exercise Prices 2.58  
Range of Exercise Prices $ 3.13  
Number outstanding and exercisable 301,000  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 1 year 8 months 12 days  
Weighted average exercise price $ 2.91  
2010 Plan [Member] | Range Three [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Range of Exercise Prices 3.46  
Range of Exercise Prices $ 5.30  
Number outstanding and exercisable 509,000  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 4 years  
Weighted average exercise price $ 4.17  
2018 Share Plan [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Number outstanding and exercisable 11,246,094 10,241,000
Weighted average exercise price $ 3.74 $ 3.67
Number of Options Outstanding and Exercisable 7,363,587  
Weighted average exercise price, options exercisable $ 3.57  
2018 Share Plan [Member] | Range One [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Range of Exercise Prices 2.09  
Range of Exercise Prices $ 3.87  
Number outstanding and exercisable 5,383,879  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 6 years  
Weighted average exercise price $ 3.24  
Number of Options Outstanding and Exercisable 4,953,309  
Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years), options exercisable 5 years 9 months 18 days  
Weighted average exercise price, options exercisable $ 3.27  
2018 Share Plan [Member] | Range Two [Member]    
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Range of Exercise Prices 3.96  
Range of Exercise Prices $ 5.30  
Number outstanding and exercisable 5,862,215  
Weighted average remaining contractual life 7 years 10 months 24 days  
Weighted average exercise price $ 4.20  
Number of Options Outstanding and Exercisable 2,410,278  
Weighted average remaining contractual life (in years), options exercisable 7 years 4 months 24 days  
Weighted average exercise price, options exercisable $ 4.21  
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF WARRANTS ACTIVITY (Details) - Warrant [Member]
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Warrants outstanding, ending balance | shares 300,000
Weighted average exercise price per share warrants outstanding, ending balance | $ / shares $ 6.56
Warrants outstanding and exercisable, ending balance | shares 300,000
Weighted average exercise price per share warrants outstanding and exercisable, ending balance | $ / shares $ 6.56
Aggregate intrinsic value, Warrants outstanding and exercisable, ending balance | $ $ 0
v3.24.1.1.u2
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details Narrative) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Oct. 31, 2023
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Stock option exercised $ 57,000 $ 75,000 $ 124,000 $ 78,000  
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock purchase plan $ 7,000 $ 6,000 $ 7,000 $ 6,000  
Warrant [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Option to purchase common stock 300,000   300,000    
Warrants outstanding 300,000   300,000    
Warrant per share $ 6.56   $ 6.56    
Expire date Mar. 22, 2026   Mar. 22, 2026    
Stock Option Activity [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Option to purchase common stock 19,999 27,818 43,999 29,079  
Stock option exercised $ 57,000 $ 75,000 $ 124,000 $ 78,000  
Option to purchase common stock   1,111   1,111  
Option to purchase common stock withheld       808  
2018 Share Plan [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Shares options, granted     1,350,000    
Option to purchase common stock 11,246,094   11,246,094   10,241,000
Shares for grant 938,907   938,907    
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Purchase percent     85.00%    
Shares purchased 2,616 1,903 2,616 1,903  
Common stock issued pursuant to employee stock purchase plan $ 7,000 $ 6,000 $ 7,000 $ 6,000  
Employees and Directors [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Stock-based compensation 1,238,000 1,155,000 2,346,000 2,112,000  
Consultants [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Options granted $ 22,000 $ 47,000 $ 78,000 $ 128,000  
Employees and Consultants [Member] | 2018 Share Plan [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Shares options, granted 15,000 0 1,350,000 1,505,000  
Employees and Consultants [Member] | 2018 Share Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share exercise price $ 3.17   $ 3.17    
Employees and Consultants [Member] | 2018 Share Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share exercise price $ 4.39   $ 4.39    
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Total financial assets $ 23,097 $ 23,707
Money Market Funds [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Money market funds Cash equivalents 853 778
Certificates of Deposit [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments 22,244 720
US Treasury Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments   22,209
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Total financial assets 853 778
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Money market funds Cash equivalents 853 778
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments  
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Total financial assets 22,244 22,929
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Money market funds Cash equivalents
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments 22,244 720
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments   22,209
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Total financial assets
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Money Market Funds [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
Money market funds Cash equivalents
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | US Treasury Securities [Member]    
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]    
U.S. treasury bills Short-term investments  
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED EXPENSES (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]    
Payroll and related expenses $ 718 $ 1,114
Accrued royalty and contingent legal fees 626 626
Accrued other 66 30
Accrued expenses $ 1,410 $ 1,770
v3.24.1.1.u2
NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK (Details Narrative) - shares
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]    
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]    
Antidilutive shares 12,422,094 11,643,682
Warrant [Member]    
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]    
Antidilutive shares 300,000 300,000
v3.24.1.1.u2
INCOME TAXES (Details Narrative) - USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2024
Oct. 31, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]    
Unrecognized income tax benefits, penalties $ 0 $ 0
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF MINIMUM LEASE PAYMENTS (Details)
$ in Thousands
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Leases  
2024 $ 34
2025 70
2026 65
Total future minimum lease payments, undiscounted 169
Less: Imputed interest (20)
Present value of future minimum lease payments $ 149
v3.24.1.1.u2
LEASES (Details Narrative) - Almaden Expressway San Jose [Member]
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
ft²
Apr. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
ft²
Apr. 30, 2023
USD ($)
Area of land | ft² 2,000   2,000  
Lease expiration date     Sep. 30, 2024  
Lease extension     an option to extend the lease an additional two years  
Base rent     $ 5,000  
Rent percentage     3.00%  
Right of use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability     $ 260,000  
Operating lease weighted average discount rate percent 10.00%   10.00%  
Payments for rent $ 17,000 $ 17,000 $ 33,000 $ 33,000
Lessee operating lease term of contract 29 months   29 months  
v3.24.1.1.u2
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCES (Details Narrative) - Research And Development Agreements [Member]
$ in Millions
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Collaborative Arrangement and Arrangement Other than Collaborative [Line Items]  
Payments to acquire research and development $ 3.7
Future payments over period 5 years
v3.24.1.1.u2
SCHEDULE OF SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Oct. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net loss $ (3,180) $ (2,307) $ (6,470) $ (4,661)  
Total operating costs and expenses 3,467 2,770 7,076 5,326  
Less non-cash stock-based compensation (1,260) (1,227) (2,520) (2,290)  
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash share based compensation 2,207 1,543 4,556 3,036  
Total assets 24,355   24,355   $ 25,522
CAR-T Therapeutics [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net loss (1,444) (997) (2,970) (1,908)  
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash share based compensation 1,026 620 2,154 1,218  
Total assets 11,314   11,314   7,523
Cancer Vaccines [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net loss (1,713) (913) (3,469) (1,871)  
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash share based compensation 1,160 523 2,373 1,111  
Total assets 12,778   12,778   17,215
Other [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Net loss (23) (397) (31) (882)  
Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash share based compensation 21 $ 400 29 $ 707  
Total assets $ 263   $ 263   $ 784
v3.24.1.1.u2
SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details Narrative) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2023
Apr. 30, 2024
Apr. 30, 2023
Segment Reporting [Abstract]      
Revenues   $ 210,000  
Royalties, legal fees, litigation and licensing expense $ 161,000   $ 161,000

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