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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.24.3
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]    
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

a. Basis of presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2024 and its results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements presented herein do not contain all of the required disclosures under U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the annual audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of Sonnet as of and for the year ended September 30, 2023 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full year.

 

b. Consolidation

 

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

c. Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accrual of research and development expenses. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed in-light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

 

d. Incentive tax receivable

 

Subsidiary is eligible to participate in an Australian research and development tax incentive program. As part of this program, Subsidiary is eligible to receive a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office for a percentage of the research and development costs expended by Subsidiary in Australia. The cash refund is available to eligible companies with annual aggregate revenues of less than $20.0 million (Australian) during the reimbursable period. The Company estimates the amount of cash refund it expects to receive related to the Australian research and development tax incentive program and records the incentive when it is probable (i) the Company will comply with relevant conditions of the program and (ii) the incentive will be received. As of June 30, 2024, the Company’s estimate of the amount of cash refund it expects to receive for eligible spending related to the Australian research and development tax incentive program was $0.5 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the expected net cash refund related to the tax incentive program was included as a reduction in research and development expenses. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, $0.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively, for the expected net cash refund related to the tax incentive program was included as a reduction in research and development expenses. In December 2023, the Company received $0.8 million from the Australian government related to eligible research and development expenses for the year ended September 30, 2023.

 

 

e. Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance that do not extend the estimated useful life or improve an asset are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

f. Collaboration revenue

 

Collaboration arrangements may contain multiple components, which may include (i) licenses; (ii) research and development activities; and (iii) the manufacturing and supply of certain materials. Payments pursuant to these arrangements may include non-refundable payments, upfront payments, milestone payments upon the achievement of significant regulatory and development events, sales milestones and royalties on product sales. The amount of variable consideration is constrained until it is probable that the revenue is not at a significant risk of reversal in a future period.

 

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under a collaboration arrangement, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue as the Company satisfies each performance obligation.

 

The Company applies significant judgment when evaluating whether contractual obligations represent distinct performance obligations, allocating transaction price to performance obligations within a contract, determining when performance obligations have been met, and assessing the recognition of variable consideration. When consideration is received prior to the Company completing its performance obligation under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded as deferred income. Deferred income expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date is classified as a current liability. In May 2021, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the “New Life Agreement”) with New Life. See Note 5 for further discussion of the New Life Agreement.

 

g. Research and development expense

 

Research and development expenses include all direct and indirect costs associated with the development of the Company’s biopharmaceutical products. These expenses include personnel costs, consulting fees, and payments to third parties for research, development, and manufacturing services. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

At the end of the reporting period, the Company compares payments made to third-party service providers to the estimated progress toward completion of the related project, based on the measure of progress as defined in the contract. Factors the Company considers in preparing the estimates include costs incurred by the service provider, milestones achieved, and other criteria related to the efforts of its service providers. Such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. Depending on the timing of payment to the service providers and the progress that the Company estimates has been made as a result of the service provided, the Company will record a prepaid expense or accrued liability relating to these costs. Upfront milestone payments made to third parties who perform research and development services on the Company’s behalf are expensed as services are rendered. Contingent development or regulatory milestone payments are recognized upon the related resolution of such contingencies.

 

 

h. Other income

 

The Company has participated in the State of New Jersey’s Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program (the “Program”) sponsored by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The Program enables approved biotechnology companies with unused net operating losses and unused research and development credits to sell these tax benefits for at least 80% of the value of the tax benefits to unaffiliated, profitable corporate taxpayers in the state of New Jersey. The Company received net proceeds of $4.3 million during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 from the sale of New Jersey state net operating losses through the Program, which is included in other income in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations. No such proceeds were received during the three months ended June 30, 2024 or during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2023.

 

i. Reverse stock split

 

On August 31, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which effected a 1-for-22 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. As a result of the reverse stock split, every 22 shares of common stock issued and outstanding was converted into one share of common stock. The reverse stock split affected all stockholders uniformly and did not alter any stockholder’s percentage interest in the Company’s equity. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of common stock were instead entitled to receive a proportional cash payment. The reverse stock split did not change the par value or authorized number of shares of common stock. All common share and per share amounts presented in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

 

j. Net loss per share

 

Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period (and potential shares of common stock that are exercisable for little or no consideration). Included in basic weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2024 are the pre-funded October 2023 warrants to purchase 797,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share and warrants exercised through the June 2024 inducement offer for 1,500,000 shares of common stock that are being held in abeyance as of June 30, 2024 (see Note 6). Included in basic weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the nine months ended June 30, 2023 are the Series B warrants to purchase 137 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $0.0308 per share, which were net share settled in November 2022.

 

Diluted loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities such as common stock warrants and stock options which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock 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.

 

 

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted shares of common stock outstanding as they would be anti-dilutive:

 

 

    2024     2023  
    June 30,  
    2024     2023  
Common stock warrants August 2021     112,429       128,500  
Underwriter warrants August 2021     2,287       2,287  
Chanticleer warrants     57       57  
Series C warrants     18,391       36,778  
Series 3 warrants     12,548       12,548  
Unvested restricted stock units and awards     137,259       7,840  
Common stock warrants February 2023     271,883       271,883  
Underwriter warrants February 2023     15,466       44,190  
Common stock private placement warrants June 2023     227,272       227,272  
Placement agent warrants June 2023     6,818       6,818  
Common stock warrants October 2023     2,840,000        
Underwriter warrants October 2023     85,312        
Placement agent warrants June 2024     113,140        
Common stock warrants June 2024     5,625,000        
 Total anti-dilutive weighted average shares     9,467,862       738,173  

 

k. Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07, which is applicable to entities with a single reportable segment, will primarily require enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and enhanced disclosures in interim periods. The guidance in ASU 2023-07 will be applied retrospectively and is effective for annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2023-07 will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 is intended to improve income tax disclosure requirements by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) the disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance makes several other changes to the income tax disclosure requirements. The guidance in ASU 2023-09 will be effective for annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

a. Basis of presentation

 

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

 

b. Consolidation

 

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

 

c. Use of estimates

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include the accrual of research and development expenses. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed in-light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates.

 

d. Reclassifications

 

Certain amounts from the prior period have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

 

e. Segment information

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one segment.

 

f. Fair value of financial instruments

 

Management believes that the carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including accounts payable, approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments.

 

g. Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance that do not extend the estimated useful life or improve an asset are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

h. Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company reviews long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset 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 undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by that asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. There were no impairment charges recorded during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

 

i. Deferred offering costs

 

Legal and other costs incurred in relation to equity offerings are capitalized as deferred offering costs and charged against the proceeds from equity offerings when received. If a financing is abandoned, deferred offering costs are expensed. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $49,988 in deferred offering costs associated with the October Offering. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $0.1 million in deferred offering costs associated with the 2022 Sales Agreement (see Note 7).

 

j. Incentive tax receivable

 

Subsidiary is eligible to participate in an Australian research and development tax incentive program. As part of this program, Subsidiary is eligible to receive a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office for a percentage of the research and development costs expended by Subsidiary in Australia. The cash refund is available to eligible companies with annual aggregate revenues of less than $20.0 million (Australian) during the reimbursable period. The Company estimates the amount of cash refund it expects to receive related to the Australian research and development tax incentive program and records the incentive when it is probable (i) the Company will comply with relevant conditions of the program and (ii) the incentive will be received. As of both September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s estimate of the amount of cash refund it expects to receive for eligible spending related to the Australian research and development tax incentive program was $0.8 million. For each of the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, $0.8 million for the expected net cash refund related to the tax incentive program was included in research and development expenses. In January 2023, the Company received $1.1 million from the Australian government related to eligible research and development expenses for the year ended September 30, 2022. In April 2023, the Company refunded the Australian government for $0.2 million due to new information on the Company’s clinical trial studies.

 

k. Collaboration revenue

 

Collaboration arrangements may contain multiple components, which may include (i) licenses; (ii) research and development activities; and (iii) the manufacturing and supply of certain materials. Payments pursuant to these arrangements may include non-refundable payments, upfront payments, milestone payments upon the achievement of significant regulatory and development events, sales milestones and royalties on product sales. The amount of variable consideration is constrained until it is probable that the revenue is not at a significant risk of reversal in a future period.

 

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under a collaboration arrangement, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue as the Company satisfies each performance obligation.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company applies significant judgment when evaluating whether contractual obligations represent distinct performance obligations, allocating transaction price to performance obligations within a contract, determining when performance obligations have been met, and assessing the recognition of variable consideration. When consideration is received prior to the Company completing its performance obligation under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded as deferred income. Deferred income expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date is classified as a current liability. In May 2021, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the “New Life Agreement”) with New Life. See Note 6 for further discussion of the New Life Agreement.

 

l. Research and development expense

 

Research and development expenses include all direct and indirect costs associated with the development of the Company’s biopharmaceutical products. These expenses include personnel costs, consulting fees, and payments to third parties for research, development, and manufacturing services. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

At the end of the reporting period, the Company compares payments made to third-party service providers to the estimated progress toward completion of the related project, based on the measure of progress as defined in the contract. Factors the Company considers in preparing the estimates include costs incurred by the service provider, milestones achieved, and other criteria related to the efforts of its service providers. Such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. Depending on the timing of payment to the service providers and the progress that the Company estimates has been made as a result of the service provided, the Company will record a prepaid expense or accrued liability relating to these costs. Upfront milestone payments made to third parties who perform research and development services on the Company’s behalf are expensed as services are rendered. Contingent development or regulatory milestone payments are recognized upon the related resolution of such contingencies.

 

m. Foreign currency

 

Transaction gains and losses resulting from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are included in operations in the period in which the transaction occurs and reported within the foreign exchange loss line item in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

n. Share-based compensation

 

The Company measures equity classified share-based awards granted to employees and nonemployees based on the estimated fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period of the respective award. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. For share-based awards with service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the service period. The Company classifies share-based compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

o. Income taxes

 

The Company uses the asset-and-liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company recognizes the benefit of an uncertain tax position that it has taken or expects to take on its income tax return if such a position is more likely than not to be sustained.

 

p. Reverse stock split

 

On August 31, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which effected a 1-for -22 reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock. As a result of the reverse stock split, every 22 shares of common stock issued and outstanding was converted into one share of common stock. The reverse stock split affected all stockholders uniformly and did not alter any stockholder’s percentage interest in the Company’s equity. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of common stock were instead entitled to receive a proportional cash payment. The reverse stock split did not change the par value or authorized number of shares of common stock. All common share and per share amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split.

 

q. Net loss per share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period (and potential shares of common stock that are exercisable for little or no consideration).

 

Diluted loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities such as common stock warrants and stock options which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock 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.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted shares of common stock outstanding as they would be anti-dilutive:

 

    2023     2022  
    September 30,  
    2023     2022  
Common stock warrants August 2021     128,500       128,500  
Underwriter warrants August 2021     2,287       2,287  
Private warrants           332  
Chanticleer warrants     57       57  
Series C warrants     36,778       36,778  
Series 3 warrants     12,548       12,548  
Unvested restricted stock units and awards     2,326       2,162  
Common stock warrants February 2023     271,883        
Underwriter warrants February 2023     44,190        
Common stock private placement warrants June 2023     227,272        
Placement agent warrants June 2023     6,818        
Total anti-dilutive weighted average shares     732,659       182,664  

 

r. Recent accounting pronouncements

 

Recently adopted

 

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options. The amendments in ASU 2021-04 provide guidance to clarify and reduce diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. The adoption of ASU 2021-04 on October 1, 2022 did not have any impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosure by Business Entities about Government Assistance, or ASU 2021-10, which improves the transparency of government assistance received by most business entities by requiring the disclosure of: (1) the types of government assistance received; (2) the accounting for such assistance; and (3) the effect of the assistance on a business entity’s financial statements. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after 15 December 2021. The adoption of the guidance on October 1, 2022 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements