1. Organization and description of business

Description of business

Sonnet BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Prior Sonnet”) was incorporated as a New Jersey corporation on April 6, 2015. Prior Sonnet completed a merger with publicly-held Chanticleer Holdings, Inc. (“Chanticleer”) on April 1, 2020. After the merger, Chanticleer changed its name to Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc. (“Sonnet” or the “Company”). Sonnet is a clinical stage, oncology-focused biotechnology company with a proprietary platform for innovating biologic medicines of single- or bi-specific action. Known as F_HAB™ (Fully Human Albumin Binding), the technology utilizes a fully human single chain antibody fragment (scFv) that binds to and “hitch-hikes” on human serum albumin (“HSA”) for transport to target tissues. Sonnet’s lead proprietary asset, SON-1010, is a fully human version of Interleukin 12 (“IL-12”), covalently linked to the F_HAB construct, for which Sonnet intends to pursue clinical development in solid tumor indications, including non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer. Sonnet has completed a nonhuman primate (“NHP”) GLP toxicity study and has successfully manufactured drug product for clinical use. In March 2022, the FDA cleared Sonnet’s Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application for SON-1010. This allowed the Company to initiate a U.S. clinical trial (SB101) in oncology patients with solid tumors during the second calendar quarter of 2022. In September 2021, the Company created a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, SonnetBio Pty Ltd, for the purpose of conducting certain clinical trials. Sonnet received approval and initiated an Australian clinical study (SB102) of SON-1010 in healthy volunteers during the third calendar quarter of 2022. Initial safety and tolerability data from the SB101 and SB102 studies was presented during the fourth calendar quarter of 2022, and initial pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data from both studies is expected during the second calendar quarter of 2023.

The Company acquired the global development rights to its most advanced compound, SON-080, a fully human version of Interleukin 6 (“IL-6”), in April 2020 through its acquisition of the outstanding shares of Relief Therapeutics SA. Sonnet is advancing SON-080 in target indications of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (“CIPN”) and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (“DPN”). Sonnet received approval to initiate an ex-U.S. Phase 1b/2a study with SON-080 in CIPN. This study could yield initial clinical safety data during the first half of 2023. Pursuant to a license agreement the Company entered with New Life Therapeutics Pte, Ltd. (“New Life”) of Singapore in May 2021, Sonnet and New Life will be jointly responsible for developing SON-080 in DPN. The objective will be to initiate a Phase 2 study in the second half of 2023, once the CIPN safety data is available.

SON-1210 (IL12-F_HAB-IL15), Sonnet’s lead bi-specific construct, combines F_HAB with fully human IL-12 and fully human Interleukin 15 (“IL-15”). This compound is being developed for solid tumor indications, including colorectal cancer. A non-human primate (“NHP”) study is on track to complete in the fourth calendar quarter of 2022, and Sonnet expects to initiate the regulatory authorization process in the first half of 2023. Manufacturing and drug supply are secured with a lyophilized drug product formulation being prepared during the first calendar quarter of 2023, which is expected to be suitable for first-in-human clinical trials.

Cell line development and process development of SON-1410 (IL18-F_HAB-IL12), a bi-specific combination of Interleukin 18 (“IL-18”) and IL-12, is ongoing, with early experimental drug supply suitable for formulation and analytical method development activities, in addition to small quantities for use in early development proof-of-concept in vitro studies. Process development activities will continue through 2023, with the potential to generate drug suitable for initial in vivo mouse studies by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

The Company has completed sequence confirmation for SON-3015 (anti-IL6-F_HAB-anti-TGFβ). Early-stage bi-specific drug has been generated and has been stored for future use in in vivo mice studies.

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Global pandemic - COVID-19

On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the novel COVID-19 virus as a global pandemic. There is significant uncertainty as to the likely effects of this disease which may, among other things, materially impact the Company’s planned clinical trials. This pandemic or outbreak could result in difficulty securing clinical trial site locations, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), and/or trial monitors and other critical vendors and consultants supporting the trial. In addition, outbreaks or the perception of an outbreak near a clinical trial site location could impact the Company’s ability to enroll patients. These situations, or others associated with COVID-19, could cause delays in the Company’s clinical trial plans and could increase expected costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and its financial condition.

Liquidity

The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and it expects to generate losses from operations for the foreseeable future primarily due to research and development costs for its potential product candidates. The Company believes its cash of $3.1 million at September 30, 2022, together with the $4.6 million of net proceeds received from the sale of its common stock pursuant to the 2022 Sales Agreement (as defined below) subsequent to September 30, 2022 through December 15, 2022 will fund the Company’s projected operations into March 2023. Substantial additional financing will be needed by the Company to fund its operations. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

The Company entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement with BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”) on August 15, 2022 (the “2022 Sales Agreement”). Pursuant to the 2022 Sales Agreement, the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through BTIG, as sales agent and/or principal, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $25.0 million, subject to certain limitations on the amount of common stock that may be offered and sold by the Company set forth in the 2022 Sales Agreement. Due to the offering limitations applicable to the Company under General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 and the Company’s public float as of August 15, 2022, and in accordance with the terms of the 2022 Sales Agreement, the Company could offer shares having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $6.1 million pursuant to the prospectus supplement dated August 15, 2022, filed in connection with the 2022 Sales Agreement. As of November 9, 2022, the Company had sold an aggregate of 2,477,287 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $6.1 million, and the Company filed a prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2022 registering the offer and sale of shares of its common stock for an aggregate offering price of up to an additional $1.7 million pursuant to the 2022 Sales Agreement. As of December 14, 2022, the Company has sold an aggregate of 579,239 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $0.7 million under the prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2022. The Company is not obligated to make any sales of shares under the 2022 Sales Agreement and any determination by the Company to do so will be dependent, among other things, on market conditions and the Company’s capital raising needs.

The Company plans to secure additional capital in the future through equity or debt financings, partnerships, collaborations, or other sources to carry out the Company’s planned development activities. If additional capital is not available when required, the Company may need to delay, curtail or cease its operations until such funding is received. Various internal and external factors will affect whether and when the Company’s product candidates become approved for marketing and successful commercialization. The regulatory approval and market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, length of time and cost of developing and commercializing these product candidates and/or failure of them at any stage of the approval process will materially affect the Company’s financial condition and future operations.

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Operations since inception have consisted primarily of organizing the Company, securing financing, developing its technologies through performing research and development and conducting preclinical studies. The Company faces risks associated with companies whose products are in development. These risks include the need for significant additional financing to complete its research and development, achieving its research and development objectives, defending its intellectual property rights, recruiting and retaining skilled personnel, and dependence on key members of management.