Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2023 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation
In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a consistent basis with the Company’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly state the information set forth herein. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosures necessary to present the financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”).
The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, or any future periods. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2022, was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2022, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which includes a broader discussion of the Company’s business and the risks inherent therein.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the amounts in prior periods to conform to the current period’s presentation, primarily the separate classification of prepaid expenses, other current assets, insurance premium loan payable and other current liabilities. Such reclassifications did not have a material impact on the Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements.
Reverse Stock Split
On September 6, 2023, the Company filed a Certificate of Change and Certificate of Correction with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada which effected a reverse stock split at a ratio of one-for-two hundred and fifty (1-for-250) of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 8, 2023. The Company did not issue fractional shares in the reverse stock split and elected to issue one whole share for each fractional share which resulted in the issuance of 26,349 common shares to our existing stockholders. The Company's financial statements have been adjusted on a retrospective basis to reflect the change.
Assets Held for Sale
On November 10, 2022, the Company completed the EHT Acquisition in accordance with the Arrangement Agreement. At the time of the EHT Acquisition there were arrangements in place to sell the acquired assets and liabilities that comprised two of EHT's subsidiaries, Emerald Health Therapeutics Canada, Inc. ("EHTC") and VDL. As a result, EHTC and VDL were considered held for sale since the EHT Acquisition and the Company has classified the associated assets of VDL as held for sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and the period costs related to both EHTC and VDL have been presented as wind-down costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. EHTC was divested on December 28, 2022, and VDL was divested on February 9, 2023 (see Note 3). During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Board approved a plan to pursue the sale of the real estate held by AVI, which is substantially the only asset held by AVI. Assets meeting the held-for-sale criteria are classified as held for sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in subsequent periods until sold.
Assets that meet the held-for-sale criteria are held for sale and reported at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value, less estimated costs to sell. Changes in fair value are recorded as a gain or loss in the results of operations but not to exceed the original carrying value. Due to the asset acquisition accounting on the date of the EHT Acquisition, AVI had no initial carrying value.
Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets
The Company generally accounts for sales of nonfinancial assets that are outside the scope of our ordinary activities under ASC 610-20, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets. Pursuant to ASC 610-20, the Company applies the guidance in ASC 606 to determine if a contract exists, identify the distinct nonfinancial assets, and determine when control transfers and, therefore, when to derecognize the nonfinancial asset. Additionally, the Company applies the measurement principles of ASC 606 to determine the amount of consideration, if any, to include in the calculation of the gain or loss for the sale of the nonfinancial asset. Refer to Note 3 for further information.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2023, include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries Skye Bioscience Pty Ltd (“SKYE Bioscience Australia“), EHT, AVI, BRB, Ruiyi Acquisition Corporation, and Nemus Sub. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of income and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements include estimates and judgements as to the appropriate carrying values of equity instruments, debt with embedded features, estimates related to the Company's estimation of the percentage of completion under its research and development contracts, contingent legal liabilities, fair value of assets acquired, and the valuation of stock based compensation awards, which are not readily apparent from other sources.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the need to obtain immediate funding to continue operations, changes in the general economy, the size and growth of the potential markets for any of the Company’s product candidates, uncertainties related to the current global environment, including economic factors such as inflation, and risks related to the global supply chain disruptions (Note 1), risks related to operating primarily in a virtual environment, results of research and development activities, uncertainties surrounding regulatory developments in the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Australia and the Company’s ability to attract new funding.
As noted above, in January 2023 the Company was subject to an unfavorable outcome in a lawsuit with a former employee which resulted in the recognition of an estimated legal contingency of $6,212,319. The Company intends to vigorously challenge the verdict in the trial court and appeal and pursue reimbursement under its existing insurance policies. However, the outcome of the litigation and the amount recoverable under its existing insurance policies, if any, is inherently uncertain (Note 12).
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying values of those investments approximate their fair value due to their short maturity and liquidity. Cash includes cash on hand and amounts on deposit with financial institutions, which amounts may at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the Company has $0 and $25,842 cash equivalents, respectively.
Restricted cash on the balance sheet collateralizes an irrevocable letter of credit (Note 12) and a certificate of deposit held by the Company’s bank as collateral for the Company’s credit cards.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense is estimated at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, and the fair value is recognized as expense ratably over the vesting period with forfeitures accounted for as they occur.
Upon the exercise of stock option awards, the Company's policy is to issue new shares of its common stock. The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation method for estimating the grant date fair value of stock options using the following assumptions:
•Volatility - Stock price volatility is estimated over the expected term based on a blended weekly rate of industry peers stock volatility.
•Expected term - The expected term is based on a simplified method which defines the life as the weighted average of the contractual term of the options and the vesting period for each award.
•Risk-free rate - The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the average market rate on U.S. Treasury securities in effect during the period in which the awards were granted.
•Dividends - The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of paying no dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company accounts for liability-classified stock option awards (“liability options”) under ASC 718 - Compensation - Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), under which the Company accounts for its awards containing other conditions as liability
classified instruments. Liability options are initially recognized at fair value in stock-compensation expense and subsequently re-measured to their fair values at each reporting date with changes in the fair value recognized in share-based compensation expense or additional paid-in capital upon settlement or cancellation.
Additionally, the Company uses the Monte Carlo Simulation model to evaluate the derived service period and fair value of awards with market conditions, including assumptions of historical volatility and risk-free interest rate commensurate with the vesting term.
Research and Development Expenses and Licensed Technology
Research and development costs are expensed when incurred. These costs may consist of external research and development expenses incurred under agreements with third party contract research organizations and investigative sites; third party manufacturing organizations and consultants; license fees; employee-related expenses, which include salaries and benefits for the personnel involved in the Company’s preclinical; and clinical drug development activities, other expenses and equipment and laboratory supplies.
Costs incurred for the rights to use licensed technologies in the research and development process, including licensing fees and milestone payments, are charged to research and development expense as incurred in situations where the Company has not identified an alternative future use for the acquired rights, and are capitalized in situations where there is an identified alternative future use. None of the costs associated with the use of licensed technologies has been capitalized to date.
Similarly, costs incurred to acquire in-process research and development ("IPR&D") are charged to research and development expense in the situation where the Company has not identified an alternative future use and are capitalized in the situation where there is an alternative future use. All costs associated with the acquisition of IPR&D have been expensed to date.
Loss Per Common Share
The Company applies ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share in calculating its basic and diluted loss per common share. Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share of common stock is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method. For purposes of this calculation, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock subject to vesting, warrants to purchase common stock and common shares underlying convertible debt instruments are considered to be common stock equivalents. In periods with a reported net loss, such common stock equivalents are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share of common stock if their effect is anti-dilutive. For additional information regarding the loss per share (see Note 9)
Asset Acquisitions
The Company evaluates acquisitions of assets and other similar transactions to assess whether or not the transaction should be accounted for as a business combination or asset acquisition by first applying a screen test to determine if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. If the screen is met, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. If the screen is not met, further determination is required as to whether or not the Company has acquired inputs and processes that have the ability to create outputs which would meet the definition of a business. Significant judgment is required in the application of the screen test to determine whether an acquisition is a business combination or an acquisition of assets.
For asset acquisitions, a cost accumulation model is used to determine the cost of an asset acquisition. Common stock, warrants and options issued as consideration in an asset acquisition are generally measured based on the acquisition date fair value of the equity interests issued. The Company refers to ASC 718 and utilizes a Black-Scholes Model to value the options and warrants issued is an asset acquisition and includes the fair value of such awards in the purchase consideration. Direct transaction costs are recognized as part of the cost of an asset acquisition. The Company also evaluates which elements of a transaction should be accounted for as a part of an asset acquisition and which should be accounted for separately. Consideration deposited into escrow accounts are evaluated to determine whether it should be included as part of the cost of an asset acquisition or accounted for as contingent consideration. Amounts held in escrow where we have legal title to such balances but where such accounts are not held in the Company's name, are recorded on a gross basis as an asset with a corresponding liability in our consolidated balance sheet. Unless an acquired asset is expensed at the date of acquisition, in accordance with other applicable GAAP, the cost of an asset acquisition, including transaction costs, are allocated to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on a relative fair value basis. Goodwill is not recognized in an asset acquisition. Any difference between the cost of an asset acquisition and the fair value of the net assets acquired is allocated to the non-monetary identifiable assets based on their relative fair values. However, as of the date of acquisition, if certain assets are carried at fair value under other applicable GAAP the consideration is first allocated to those assets with the remainder allocated to the non-monetary identifiable assets based on a relative fair value basis.
Government Assistance
The Company adopted ASU 2021-10 Government Assistance on January 1, 2022. The Company accounts for the tax rebates received from the Australian Taxation Office ("ATO") under such guidance. The Company accounts for the rebates that it receives under the AusIndustry research and development tax incentive program under the income recognition model of IAS 20. Under this model, when there is reasonable assurance that the rebate will be received, the Company recognizes the income from the tax rebate as an offset to research and development expense during the period which the benefit applies to the research and development costs incurred. The Company received a tax rebate under the AusIndustry incentive program of $170,773 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 related to incentives earned in the prior year and did not receive any tax rebate under the AusIndustry incentive program during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $526,516 and $179,687, respectively, in other current assets in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company follows ASC 440, Commitments and ASC 450, Contingencies, subtopic 450-20 to report accounting for contingencies and commitments respectively. Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.
The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or un-asserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or un-asserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.
If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and the amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability would be accrued in the Company’s financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, and an estimate of the range of possible losses, if determinable and material, would be disclosed. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed. Based upon information available at this time, management believes that the current litigation matter related to the Cunning lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Refer to Note 12 for additional information.
In accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, subtopic 450-20, the Company does not reflect a contingency that may result in a gain until it is realized.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 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. This ASU amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and improves and amends the related EPS guidance for both Subtopics. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted in fiscal periods ending after December 15, 2020. Upon implementation, the Company may use either a modified retrospective or full retrospective method of adoption. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 will, result in expanded disclosures around convertible instruments and remove the requirement to assess and record beneficial conversion features. The Company currently plans to adopt the provisions of this ASU on the effective date using a modified retrospective method of adoption.
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