Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Organization and Description of Business

v3.22.4
Organization and Description of Business
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Organization and Description of Business

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 FHAB™ (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 FHAB 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 (“Subsidiary”), 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 were reported during the calendar fourth quarter of 2022, and additional 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 evaluate the data and potentially initiate a Phase 2 study in the second half of 2023, once the CIPN safety data has been evaluated.

 

SON-1210 (IL12-FHAB-IL15), Sonnet’s lead bi-specific construct, combines FHAB with fully human IL-12 and fully human Interleukin 15 (“IL-15”). This compound is being developed for solid tumor indications, including colorectal cancer. An NHP study was completed 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.

 

SON-1410 (IL18-FHAB-IL12) is a bispecific combination of Interleukins 18 (IL-18) and 12 (IL-12) for solid tumor cancers. Cell line development and process development are 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 a 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-FHAB-anti-TGFβ). Early stage bi-specific drug has been generated and is being stored for future use in in vivo mice studies. Sonnet has elected to place the SON-3015 development program on hold for expense reduction purposes.

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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 $1.7 million at December 31, 2022, together with the $1.0 million gross proceeds received from the 2022 Sales Agreement (as defined below) in January 2023 and an estimated $13.5 million in net proceeds received from an underwritten public offering in February 2023, will fund the Company’s projected operations into February 2024. 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 interim 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 interim consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

On February 10, 2023, the Company closed a public offering of common stock and certain warrants through Chardan Capital Markets, LLC and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments LLC as underwriters, for estimated net proceeds of $13.5 million through the issuance and sale of 11,664,888 shares of its common stock and, to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase 2,224,000 shares of common stock, and accompanying common warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 27,777,776 shares of its common stock (the “February Offering”). Each share of common stock and pre-funded warrant to purchase one share of common stock was sold together with a common warrant to purchase two shares of common stock. The public offering price of each share of common stock and accompanying common warrant was $1.08 and $1.0799 for each pre-funded warrant and accompanying common warrant. The pre-funded warrants are immediately exercisable at a price of $0.0001 per share of common stock. The common warrants are immediately exercisable at a price of $1.08 per share of common stock, expire five years from the date of issuance and contain an alternative cashless exercise provision whereby, subject to certain conditions, a warrant may be exercised in a cashless transaction for shares of common stock at the rate of half a share of common stock per full share otherwise issuable upon a cash exercise.

 

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 31, 2022, the Company has sold an aggregate of 603,737 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $0.7 million under the prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2022. Subsequent to December 31, 2022, the Company sold an additional 590,942 shares of common stock under the prospectus supplement dated November 9, 2022 for gross proceeds of $1.0 million. There are currently no remaining shares registered to be sold under the 2022 Sales Agreement.

 

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 or curtail 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.

 

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 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

 

 

Sonnet BioTherapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements