Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and as amended by Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

On June 21, 2022, the directors of the Company authorized a reverse share split of the issued and outstanding Common Shares in a ratio of 60:1, effective June 28, 2022 (the “Reverse Share Split”). All information included in these consolidated financial statements has been adjusted, on a retrospective basis, to reflect the Reverse Share Split, unless otherwise stated.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates, judgements and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions made in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the accrual for research and development expenses, the valuation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivative liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.

Segment Information

Segment Information

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company has one operating segment and its Chief Executive Officer serves as the CODM. Substantially all of the Company’s assets are located in Canada.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

Comprehensive loss is defined as a change in equity of a business enterprise during a period, resulting from transactions from non-owner sources. The reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“US$”) and the functional currency of the Company is the Canadian dollar (“C$”). The assets and liabilities of the Company are translated to US$ at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. All income statement accounts are translated at average exchange rates. Resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded directly in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of shareholders’ equity (deficit). Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss when realized and are not material for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021 the Company did not have any material cash equivalents.

Short-term Investments

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments consist of guaranteed certificates of deposit with a maturity greater than 90 days and up to one year at the time of purchase. Accordingly, all short-term investments are classified as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The short-term investment is being held as collateral for the Company’s credit cards.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk consist of cash and short-term investments. Cash is deposited in checking and money market accounts at accredited financial institutions, which at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The short-term investment is deposited in a guaranteed certificate of deposit with an accredited financial institution that guarantees 100% of the original amount invested. Management believes that these financial institutions are financially sound, and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to these high-quality financial institutions. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash or short-term investments.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, (“ASC 820”) defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, as established by ASC 820, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:

Level 1 – Observable inputs, such as unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
Level 2 – Inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices) are either directly or indirectly observable inputs for similar assets or liabilities. These include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.

To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s derivative and warrant liabilities were classified as Level 3 financial instruments for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

The carrying amounts of prepaid and other current assets, short-term investments, accounts payable, and accrued expenses are generally considered to be representative of their fair value based on the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, which consist of property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairments have been identified as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, net are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset. Laboratory and equipment are depreciated over two to five years. Computer equipment is depreciated over two to three years. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and any resulting gain or loss is included in loss from operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Definite-lived intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses. An intangible asset’s carrying amount is assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. The Company’s definite-lived intangible assets consist of acquired rights and patents. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the life of the intangible asset or its estimated useful life, which is 15 years.

Derivative Liability

Derivative Liability

The Company evaluates its convertible debt, warrants or other contracts to determine if those contracts or embedded components of those contracts qualify as derivatives to be separately accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. The result of this accounting treatment is that the fair value of the embedded derivative, if required to be bifurcated, is marked-to-market at each balance sheet date and recorded as a liability. The change in fair value is recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as a component of other income or expense. Upon conversion or exercise of a derivative instrument, the instrument is marked to fair value at the conversion date and then that fair value is reclassified to equity.

Collaboration Arrangements

Collaboration Arrangements

The Company may enter into collaboration arrangements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. The Company analyzes its collaboration arrangements to assess whether they are within the scope of FASB ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, (“ASC 808”), to determine whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by the parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement. ASC 808 does not provide guidance on the recognition of consideration exchanged or accounting for the obligations that may arise between parties. The Company concluded that ASC Topic 730, Research and Development, should be applied by analogy to payments between parties during the development activities of its collaboration arrangements.

General and Administrative

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs including salary, bonus, employee-benefits and share-based compensation, costs incurred in development and protection of intellectual property, professional service fees, and other general overhead and facility costs, including rent, depreciation and amortization, which relate to the Company’s general and administrative functions.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the development and research of the Company’s platform technology, as well as discovery program expenses. The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. These expenses include:

employee-related expenses, including salaries, related benefits and share-based compensation expense, for employees engaged in research and development functions;
external research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations (“CROs”), and consultants;
the cost of acquiring, developing, and manufacturing clinical study materials; and
Costs associated with preclinical and clinical activities and regulatory operations.
Prepaid and Accrued Research and Development Expenses

Prepaid and Accrued Research and Development Expenses

Substantial portions of the Company’s pre-clinical trials are performed by third-party laboratories, medical centers, CROs and other vendors. These vendors generally bill monthly for services performed, or bill based upon milestone achievement. For preclinical studies, the Company accrues expenses based upon estimated percentage of work completed and the remaining contract milestones. At times, the Company is obligated to make upfront payments upon execution of research and development agreements. Upfront payments, including nonrefundable amounts, for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are capitalized as prepaid expenses until such goods are delivered or the related services are performed. The Company estimates the period over which such services will be performed based on the terms of the agreements as well as the level of effort to be expended in each period. Sometimes the actual timing of performance or the level of effort varies from the estimate, and if that does occur, the Company will adjust the amounts recorded accordingly.

Patent Costs

Patent Costs

All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Warrants

Warrants

The Company issues warrants on its common shares in connection with financings as well as for compensation of intermediaries and advisors. The Company accounts for warrants as either equity instruments or as liabilities depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreements in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging and Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. When classified as equity, warrants are recorded within additional paid-in-capital. Warrants identified as meeting the definition of a derivative are recognized as a liability and treated in accordance with the derivative liability accounting policy described above.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs are specifically identifiable costs associated with issuance of a new debt instrument. Debt issuance costs are reported on the consolidated balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of the related debt. Debt issuance costs are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt.

Share-based Compensation

Share-based Compensation

Share-based compensation expense related to share awards granted to employees, directors and non-employees is recognized based on the grant-date estimated fair values of the awards using the Black- Scholes option pricing model (“Black-Scholes”). The value is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term of the award. The Company adjusts the expense for actual forfeitures as they occur. Share based compensation expense is classified in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on the function to which the related services are provided.

Black Scholes requires a number of assumptions, of which the most significant are expected volatility, expected option term (the time from the grant date until the options are exercised or expire) and risk-free rate. Expected volatility is determined using the historical volatility for the Company. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of Canadian government bonds with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the option. Expected dividend yield is zero because the Company has never paid cash dividends on common shares and the Company does not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company is a taxable entity under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the respective income tax bases of assets and liabilities, measured using substantively enacted income tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent it is more likely than not that taxable income will be available against which the deferred tax asset can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company follows the provisions of ASC 740-10, Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“ASC 740-10”). The Company has not recognized a liability as a result of the implementation of ASC 740-10. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits has not been provided since there is no unrecognized benefit since the date of adoption. The Company has not recognized interest expense or penalties as a result of the implementation of ASC 740-10. If there were an unrecognized tax benefit, the Company would recognize interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses.

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share of common shares includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible debt, share options and warrants, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common shares. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of common shares is the same for basic net loss per share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive. For all periods presented, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same, as any additional share equivalents would be anti-dilutive. As the Company has reported a net loss for all periods presented, diluted net loss per common share is the same as basic net loss per common share.

Emerging Growth Company Status

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is an Emerging Growth Company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act, until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“Topic 842”), which requires lessees to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (“Topic 842”) Targeted Improvements, to amend certain aspects of Topic 842. These amendments provide entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt Topic 842. Under this transition method, an entity initially applies the transition requirements in Topic 842 at that Topic’s effective date with the effects of initially applying Topic 842 recognized as a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings (or other components of equity or net assets, as appropriate) in the period of adoption. On April 8, 2020, the FASB changed the effective date of this standard applicable to the Company as an emerging growth company to January 1, 2022. The

Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2022 with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“Topic 740”), as part of its simplification initiative to reduce the cost and complexity in accounting for income taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also amends other aspects of the guidance to help simplify and promote consistent application of GAAP. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. For emerging growth companies, the standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2022 with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 will simplify the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred shares. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (i) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, that meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (ii) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as additional paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact adopting ASU 2020-06 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, and in later clarifying amendments, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The pronouncement changes the impairment model for most financial assets and will require the use of an “expected loss” model for instruments measured at amortized cost. Under this model, entities will be required to estimate the lifetime expected credit loss on such instruments and record an allowance to offset the amortized cost basis of the financial asset, resulting in a net presentation of the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact adopting ASU 2016-13 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.