Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Operations

There continues to be widespread impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, there has been a trend in many parts of the world of increasing availability and administration of vaccines against COVID-19, as well as an easing of restrictions on social, business, travel and government activities and functions. On the other hand, infection rates and regulations continue to fluctuate in various regions and there are ongoing global impacts resulting from the pandemic, including challenges and increases in costs for logistics and supply chains. The level and nature of the disruption caused by COVID-19 is unpredictable, may be cyclical and long-lasting and may vary from location to location.

In addition, we have experienced and are experiencing varying levels of inflation resulting in part from various supply chain disruptions, increased shipping and transportation costs, increased raw material and labor costs and other disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and general global economic conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant, industry-wide delays in clinical trials. There are multiple causes of these delays, including reluctance of patients to enroll or continue in trials for fear of exposure to COVID-19, local and regional shelter-in-place orders and regulations that discourage, hamper, or prohibit patient visits, healthcare providers and health systems shifting away from clinical trials toward the acute care of COVID-19 patients and the FDA and other regulators making product candidates for the treatment of COVID-19 a priority over product candidates unrelated to the pandemic.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, commencement of enrollment in our clinical trials may be delayed. In addition, after enrollment in these trials, if patients contract COVID-19 during participation in the Company’s trials or are subject to isolation or shelter-in-place restrictions, this may cause them to drop out of the Company’s trials, miss scheduled doses or follow-up visits or otherwise fail to follow trial protocols. If patients are unable to follow the trial protocols or if the Company’s trial results are otherwise affected by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient participation or actions taken to mitigate COVID-19 spread, the integrity of data from the Company’s trials may be compromised or not accepted by the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which could impact or delay a clinical development program. The Company anticipates that the COVID-19 pandemic may also impact manufacturing and distribution of materials necessary for the conductance of its clinical trials.

Although the Company did not experience a material impact on its operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company notes the high level of difficulty in determining the future potential adverse financial impact and other effects of COVID-19 on the Company and its programs, given the rapid and dramatic evolution in the course and impact of the pandemic and the societal and governmental response to it.

Litigation

From time to time, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. When the Company is aware of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company will record a liability for the loss. In addition to the estimated loss, the recorded liability would include probable and estimable legal costs associated with the claim or potential claim. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm the Company’s business.

Lease

On April 18, 2022, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement for office space at its new location in Lexington, Massachusetts (the "Office Lease"). On August 8, 2022, the Company commenced occupancy of the leased space. The lease runs through July 31, 2025.

The Company accounts for the Office Lease under the provisions of ASU No. 2021-09, ASU 2018-10, and ASC 842. We recorded a right-of-use asset and a corresponding operating lease liability on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet upon the accounting commencement date in August 2022. The lease liability was measured at the accounting commencement date utilizing a 12% discount rate. The right-of-use asset had a balance of $353,350 at September 30, 2022. The operating lease obligations totaled $374,068 at September 30, 2022 of which $142,048 is included under current liabilities and $232,020 is included under non-current liabilities. The Company recorded lease expense of $20,818 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Office Lease contains escalating payments during the lease period. Upon execution of the Office Lease, the Company prepaid one month of rent and a security deposit, one of which will be held in escrow and credited at the termination of the lease and the other of which will be applied to the first month’s rent.

As of September 30, 2022, a security deposit of approximately $25,000 was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet related to the Office Lease.

Future minimum lease payments under these leases at September 30, 2022, are presented by calendar year as follows: