Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.24.3
Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies.  
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments with Samsung BioLogics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”)

On April 3, 2024, the Company and Samsung executed a side letter agreement (the “Side Letter”), wherein the parties reached an agreement for an orderly process for winding down services and a restructuring of the amount payable by the Company to Samsung (the “Total Balance”). The Total Balance due to Samsung, as restructured under the Side Letter, is approximately $43.8 million. Except for a single $250,000 payment due on or before December 31, 2024, the entirety of the Total Balance is conditional, and will only be due and payable, upon the Company achieving a qualifying “Revenue” event, as defined in the Side Letter. Under the Side Letter, the Company has agreed to pay 20% of its qualifying Revenue generated in each calendar year, if any, with such payments to be applied to reduce the Total Balance until it is repaid in full. Interest will not accrue on the Total Balance throughout the prospective repayment period. Revenue is defined in the Side Letter as:

“…the gross revenue generated by Client and its Affiliates, less the following items (if not previously deducted from the amount invoiced): (a) reasonable and customary trade, quantity, and cash discounts actually granted and legally permitted wholesaler chargebacks actually paid or credited by Client and its Affiliates to wholesalers of products; (b) reasonable, customary, and legally permitted rebates and retroactive price reductions actually granted; (c) freight charges for the delivery of products; (d) the portion of the administrative fees paid during the relevant time period to group purchasing organizations, pharmaceutical benefit managers and/or government-mandated Medicare or Medicaid Prescription Drug Plans relating specifically to the product; and (e) sales, use or excise taxes imposed and actually paid in connection with the sale of products (but excluding any value added taxes or taxes based on income or gross receipts).”

The $250,000 payment due on or before December 31, 2024, is included in accounts payable, and the remaining balance of approximately $43.6 million is included in other long-term liabilities.

Operating lease commitments

We lease our principal office location in Vancouver, Washington (the “Vancouver Lease”). The Vancouver Lease expires on April 30, 2026. Consistent with the guidance in ASC 842, Leases, we have recorded this lease in our consolidated balance sheet as an operating lease. For the purpose of determining the right of use asset and associated lease liability, we determined that the renewal of the Vancouver lease was not reasonably probable. The lease does not include any restrictions or covenants requiring special treatment under ASC 842, Leases. Operating lease costs for the three months ended August 31, 2024 and 2023 were approximately $32.0 thousand and $42.6 thousand, respectively. Operating lease right-of-use assets are included in other non-current assets and the current portion of operating lease liabilities are included in accrued liabilities and compensation on the consolidated balance sheets. The long-term operating lease liabilities are presented separately as operating lease on the consolidated balance sheets. The following table summarizes the operating lease balances:

(in thousands)

August 31, 2024

May 31, 2024

Assets

Right-of-use asset

$

230

$

264

Liabilities

Current operating lease liability

$

142

$

142

Non-current operating lease liability

 

105

 

141

Total operating lease liability

$

247

$

283

The minimum (base rental) lease payments are expected to be as follows as of August 31, 2024 (in thousands):

Fiscal Year

Amount

2025 - 9 months remaining

$

139

2026

169

Thereafter

Total operating lease payments

308

Less: imputed interest

(61)

Present value of operating lease liabilities

$

247

Supplemental information related to operating leases was as follows:

August 31, 2024

Weighted average remaining lease term

1.7

years

Weighted average discount rate

10.0

%

Distribution and licensing commitments

Refer to Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies, in the 2024 Form 10-K for additional information.

Legal proceedings

As of August 31, 2024, the Company did not record any accruals related to the outcomes of the legal matters described below. It is not possible to determine the outcome of these proceedings, including the defense and other litigation-related costs and expenses that may be incurred by the Company, as the outcomes of legal proceedings are inherently uncertain. Therefore, it is possible that the ultimate outcome of any proceeding, if in excess of a recognized accrual, if any, could be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Securities Class Action Lawsuits

On March 17, 2021, a stockholder filed a putative class-action lawsuit (the “March 17, 2021 lawsuit”) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the Company and certain former officers. The complaint generally alleges the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the viability of leronlimab as a potential treatment for COVID-19. On April 9, 2021, a second stockholder filed a similar putative class action lawsuit in the same court, which the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on July 23, 2021. On August 9, 2021, the court appointed lead plaintiffs for the March 17, 2021 lawsuit. On December 21, 2021, lead plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which is brought on behalf of an alleged class of those who purchased the Company’s common stock between March 27, 2020 and May 17, 2021. The amended complaint generally alleges that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and/or 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by making purportedly false or misleading statements concerning, among other things, the safety and efficacy of leronlimab as a potential treatment for COVID-19, the Company’s CD10 and CD12 clinical trials, and its HIV Biologic License Application (“BLA”). The amended complaint also alleges that the individual defendants violated Section 20A of the Exchange Act by selling shares of the Company’s common stock purportedly while in possession of material nonpublic information. The amended complaint seeks, among other relief, a ruling that the case may proceed as a class action and unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 25, 2022, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On June 24, 2022, lead plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. The second amended complaint is brought on behalf of an alleged class of those who purchased the Company’s common stock between March 27, 2020 and March 30, 2022, makes similar allegations, names the same defendants, asserts the same claims as the prior complaint, adds a claim for alleged violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5(a) and (c) promulgated thereunder, and seeks the same relief as the prior complaint. All defendants have filed motions to dismiss the second amended complaint in whole or in part. The Company and the individual defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing in the complaint and intend to vigorously defend the matter. Since this case is in an early stage where the number of plaintiffs is not known, and the claims do not specify an amount of damages, the Company is unable to predict the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit and cannot reasonably estimate the potential loss or range of loss the Company may incur.

Shareholder Derivative Lawsuits

On June 4, 2021, a stockholder filed a purported derivative lawsuit against certain of the Company’s former officers and directors, and the Company as a nominal defendant, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Two additional shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed against the same defendants in the same court on June 25, 2021 and August 18, 2021, respectively. The court has consolidated these three lawsuits for all purposes (“Consolidated Derivative Suit”). On January 20, 2022, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint. The consolidated complaint generally alleges that the director defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the Company to make false and misleading statements regarding, among other things, the safety and efficacy of leronlimab as a potential treatment for COVID-19, the Company’s CD10 and CD12 clinical trials and its HIV BLA, and by failing to maintain an adequate system of oversight and controls. The consolidated complaint also asserts claims against one or more individual defendants for waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, contribution for alleged violations of the federal securities laws, and for breach of fiduciary duty arising from alleged insider trading. The consolidated complaint seeks declaratory and equitable relief, an unspecified amount of damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

On January 29, 2024, two purported stockholders filed a purported derivative lawsuit against certain of the Company’s former officers, certain current and former directors, and the Company as a nominal defendant, in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The complaint generally makes allegations similar to those set forth in the Consolidated Derivative Suit and asserts that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the Company to make false and misleading statements and by failing to maintain an adequate system of oversight and controls. The complaint also asserts claims against certain individual defendants for breach of fiduciary duty arising from alleged insider trading.

The Company and the individual defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing in the complaints and intend to vigorously defend the litigation. In light of the fact that the suit(s) is/are in an early stage and the claims do not specify an amount of damages, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the matter(s) and cannot reasonably estimate the potential loss or range of loss the Company may incur.

Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice Investigations

The Company has received subpoenas from the SEC and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) requesting documents and information concerning, among other matters, leronlimab, the Company’s public statements regarding the use of leronlimab as a potential treatment for COVID-19, HIV, and triple-negative breast cancer, related communications with the FDA, investors, and others, litigation involving former employees, the Company’s retention of investor relations consultants, and trading in the Company’s securities. Certain former Company executives and directors have received subpoenas concerning similar issues and have been interviewed by the DOJ and SEC, including the Company’s former CEO, Nader Z. Pourhassan.

On January 24, 2022, Mr. Pourhassan was terminated and removed from the Board of Directors and has had no role at the Company since. On December 20, 2022, the DOJ announced the unsealing of a criminal indictment charging both Mr. Pourhassan, and Kazem Kazempour, CEO of Amarex, a subsidiary of NSF International, Inc., and which had formerly served as the Company’s contract research organization (“CRO”). Mr. Pourhassan was charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of securities fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and three counts of insider trading. Mr. Kazempour was charged with one count of conspiracy, three counts of securities fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of making a false statement. That same day, the SEC announced charges against both Mr. Pourhassan and Mr. Kazempour for alleged violations of federal securities laws.

The Company is committed to cooperating fully with the DOJ and SEC and will continue to comply with the requests of each agency. The Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the DOJ or SEC investigations or the cases against Mr. Pourhassan, nor can it predict whether any other governmental authorities will initiate separate investigations or litigation. The investigations and any related legal and administrative proceedings could include a wide variety of outcomes, including the institution of administrative, civil injunctive or criminal proceedings involving the Company and/or former executives and/or former directors in addition to Mr. Pourhassan, the imposition of fines and other penalties, remedies and/or sanctions, modifications to business practices and compliance programs and/or referral

to other governmental agencies for other appropriate actions. It is not possible to accurately predict at this time when matters relating to the investigations will be completed, the final outcome of the investigations, what additional actions, if any, may be taken by the DOJ or SEC or by other governmental agencies, or the effect that such actions may have on our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition, which could be material.

The DOJ and SEC investigations, including any matters identified in the investigations and indictments, could also result in (1) third-party claims against the Company, which may include the assertion of claims for monetary damages, including but not limited to interest, fees, and expenses, (2) damage to the Company's business or reputation, (3) loss of, or adverse effect on, cash flow, assets, results of operations, business, prospects, profits, or business value, including the possibility of certain of the Company's existing contracts being cancelled, (4) adverse consequences on the Company's ability to obtain or continue financing for current or future projects, and/or (5) claims by directors, officers, employees, affiliates, advisors, attorneys, agents, debt holders or other interest holders, or constituents of the Company or its subsidiaries, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition. Further, to the extent that these investigations and any resulting third-party claims yield adverse results over time, such results could jeopardize the Company's operations, exhaust its cash reserves, and could cause stockholders to lose their entire investment.

Settlement of Amarex Dispute

On July 2, 2024, the Company and Amarex, the Company’s former CRO, entered into an agreement settling a lawsuit filed by the Company in October 2021 (the “Settlement Agreement”).

The terms of the Settlement Agreement include: (i) the payment by Amarex of $12,000,000 to the Company, of which $10,000,000 was paid on execution of the Settlement Agreement and the balance will be paid on or before July 2, 2025; (ii) the release of the Company’s surety bond posted in the lawsuit and the return of the Company’s cash collateral in the amount of $6,500,000 provided as security to the surety; (iii) the crediting of all amounts claimed by Amarex as due and payable for its CRO services, totaling approximately $14,000,000, reducing the Company’s outstanding balance to zero, with no funds required to be paid by the Company; and (iv) a mutual release of claims, resolving all legal claims between the parties. The effect of the Settlement Agreement is recorded in research and development expense.