UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to               

Commission file number 001-41596

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (904) 300-0701

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ☐   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐  No  ☒

As of May 9, 2023, there were 11,722,754 outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Cadrenal Therapeutics, Inc.

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC. 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CADRENAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and notes thereto included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2022, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed on March 30, 2023 (the “Annual Report”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This discussion, particularly information with respect to our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as described under the heading “Special note regarding forward-looking statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should review the disclosure under Part 1, Item 1A of the Annual Report for a discussion of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “we,” “us,” “our” and similar first-person expressions refer to Cadrenal Therapeutics, Inc. ("Cadrenal").

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this report that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions or variations intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information currently available to management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified under Part 1, Item 1A of the Annual Report. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Company Overview

We are focused on developing tecarfarin, a novel therapy with orphan drug and fast-track designations, designed for the prevention of systemic thromboembolism (blood clots) of cardiac origin in patients with end-stage renal disease(“ESRD”), and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), (“AFib”). We secured the rights to tecarfarin on April 1, 2022 via an asset purchase agreement from HESP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Horizon Technology Finance Corporation. HESP LLC acquired the assets of Espero BioPharma, Inc., or Espero, including tecarfarin, in an assignment for the benefit of creditors in which the creditor, Horizon Technology Finance Corporation and Horizon Credit II LLC (collectively, Horizon), a secured lender of Espero, designated HESP LLC as the assignee of Espero’s assets.

Tecarfarin is an anticoagulant that uses a drug design process which targets a different pathway than the most commonly prescribed drugs used in the treatment of thrombosis and AFib. Tecarfarin has been evaluated in eleven (11) human clinical trials conducted by its previous owners and other third parties in over 1,003 individuals (269 patients were treated for at least six months and 129 patients were treated for one year or more). In Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 2/3 clinical trials, tecarfarin has generally been well-tolerated in both healthy adult subjects and patients with chronic kidney disease, or CKD. In the Phase 2/3 trial, EMBRACE-AC, the largest tecarfarin trial with 607 patients having completed it, only 1.6% of the blinded tecarfarin subjects suffered from major bleeding and there were no thrombotic events. Five patients died during the trial, but only one death due to intracerebral hemorrhage was considered to be possibly related to the tecarfarin.

In 2019, the United States Food and Drug Administration(“FDA”), provided input on the Phase 3 trial design for tecarfarin, which was submitted by Espero, the previous owner of tecarfarin. We intend to submit our Phase 3 trial design to the FDA using the same protocol that was submitted by Espero. Assuming the FDA accepts our Phase 3 trial design, we intend to commence the Phase 3 pivotal trial in the first half of 2024. However, there can be no assurance that the trial design will be accepted by the FDA. We are pursuing regulatory approval of tecarfarin as an individual treatment, although we might evaluate, in consultation with the FDA, other potential uses in the future.

In March 2019, the FDA granted orphan drug designation(“ODD”), for tecarfarin for the prevention of systemic thromboembolism of cardiac origin in patients with ESRD and AFib. The FDA grants ODD status to drugs that are intended for the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of rare diseases or conditions, which are defined as a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. The ODD program provides a drug developer with certain benefits and incentives, including a seven-year period of U.S. marketing exclusivity from the date of marketing authorization, waiver of FDA user fees, and tax credits for clinical research. The granting of an orphan drug designation does not alter the FDA’s regulatory requirements to establish safety and effectiveness of a drug through adequate and well-controlled studies to support approval and commercialization. Furthermore, orphan drug designation does not indicate or guarantee FDA approval of the New Drug Application(“NDA”), and we might not receive exclusivity.

Tecarfarin was developed by researchers using a retrometabolic drug design process which targets a different metabolic pathway than the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of thrombosis and AFib. “Drug metabolism” refers to the process by which a drug is inactivated by the body and rendered easier to eliminate or to be cleared by the body. Most approved drugs, including warfarin, the only FDA-approved Vitamin K antagonists, or VKAs, which is a prescribed drug for the treatment of thrombosis, are metabolized in the liver through a pathway known as the Cytochrome CYP450 system, or CYP450, by the enzymes known as CYP2C9 and CYP3A4. By using a different metabolic pathway, tecarfarin eliminates or minimizes the CYP450 metabolism in the liver. Patients taking multiple medications that interact with CYP2C9, or CYP3A4 or those with impaired kidney function, can experience an overload in the pathway, creating a bottleneck that often leads to insufficient clearance, which results in a toxic build-up of one or more drugs. In some instances, patients taking multiple medications metabolized by the same CYP450 pathway may experience decreased efficacy of one or more of the medications due to rapid metabolism or increased drug effect and/or toxicity due to enzyme induction. Patient-specific genetic differences can also hinder drug clearance in the CYP450 pathway. Our product candidate tecarfarin was designed to follow a metabolic pathway distinct from the CYP450 pathway and is metabolized by both CYP450 and non-CYP450 pathways. We believe this may allow elimination by large capacity and non-saturable tissue esterase pathways that exist throughout the body rather than just in the liver.

Tecarfarin is an orphan designated, vitamin K antagonist, oral, once-daily anticoagulant in the same drug class as warfarin designed for use in patients requiring chronic VKA anticoagulation, to prevent systemic thromboembolism of cardiac origin in patients with ESRD and AFib. The prevailing treatment for thrombosis is with an oral anticoagulant, either a VKA, like warfarin, or non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (“NOAC”). VKAs block the production of vitamin K-dependent blood clotting factors, such that the blood is “thinned,” preventing clots, while NOACs directly block the activity of certain of these clotting factors. Tecarfarin, like warfarin, is a VKA.

Vitamin K epoxide Reductase Complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) is a significant enzyme for effective clotting. VKORC1 reduces vitamin K epoxide to its active form (Vitamin K), which is the rate-limiting step in the physiological process of vitamin K recycling. Vitamin K serves as a cofactor for normal function of several clotting/anticoagulation factors including Factors II, VII, IX and X and Proteins C, S, and Z. VKORC1 genetic deficiencies result in increased sensitivity to VKAs, which results in an increase in the risk of significant hemorrhaging. We believe tecarfarin has similar potency for VKORC1 inhibition as warfarin, but it is an investigational new drug, and we must demonstrate it is safe and effective for its proposed indication.

AFib is the most common arrhythmia, with its incidence and prevalence increasing over the last 20 years. AFib is associated with an approximate five-fold increased risk of stroke. The risk of developing AFib increases in patients with CKD. According to 2021 estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 15% of the U.S. adult population, or 37 million people, have CKD. An estimated 0.4% of people in the U.S. suffer from Stage 4 CKD and 0.1% of people in the U.S. have ESRD.

Patients with ESRD and AFib represent a spectrum of disorders involving both the heart and kidneys (known as cardiorenal syndrome “CRS”) in which acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction in the other organ. These patients have typically been excluded from randomized clinical trials because the approved therapies for AFib have metabolic profiles that may increase drug exposures thereby increasing the known risks and challenges in managing these patients. The presence of either CKD or AFib, increases the risk of serious thromboembolic adverse clinical outcomes, such as stroke and death. Antithrombotic therapy is typically recommended to decrease this risk in AFib patients, but there are no approved treatment options for patients with ESRD and AFib. Warfarin may cause substantial harm in these patients. Low-dose apixaban (Eliquis) was approved by the FDA for use in ESRD patients on hemodialysis based upon limited pharmacokinetic data by 8 subjects, despite that randomized trials to date of apixaban versus warfarin for AFib excluded patients with severe and end-stage kidney disease. The RENAL-AF (Trial to Evaluate Anticoagulation Therapy in Hemodialysis Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) was terminated early in 2019 by its sponsor.

There are more than 809,000 Americans with ESRD, with approximately 70% on dialysis, according to the United States Renal Data System. Approximately 150,000 ESRD patients also have AFib. AFib nearly doubles the anticipated mortality and increases the stroke risk by approximately five-fold in these patients. There is evidence that AFib is an independent risk factor for developing ESRD in CKD patients. Both diseases share common risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, and advancing age. Cardiovascular disease contributes to more than half of all deaths among patients with ESRD. According to the Annual Data Report published by the United States Renal Data System, total Medicare spending for patients with ESRD reached $51 billion in 2019, accounting for approximately 7% of the Medicare paid claims costs.

We have licensed out the rights to tecarfarin for several Asian markets including China, to Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, an integrated research-driven and market-oriented biopharmaceutical publicly listed company based in Hong Kong with over 25 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry in China. Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited is developing tecarfarin as an anti-thrombotic for patients with mechanical heart valves. In 2020 and 2021, Lee’s Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited completed two Phase 1 studies in China and Hong Kong and is currently preparing for its Phase 2 trial.

As more fully set forth in our risk factors, we are a clinical development biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. We have a history of operating losses and expect to continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future. Our cash and the proceeds of our initial public offering will only fund our operations for a limited time. The proceeds from our initial public offering are insufficient to allow us to commence and complete our planned Phase 3 clinical trial and submit our NDA. We will need to raise additional capital for the initiation of enrollment of patients and completion of the planned pivotal Phase 3 trial.

With respect to tecarfarin, we have two issued U.S. patents directed to tecarfarin. While the patents currently expire in 2024, we expect to seek extensions of patent terms. In the United States, the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 permits a patent term extension of up to five years beyond the normal expiration of the patent, which is limited to the approved indication (or any additional indications approved during the period of extension). We also intend to seek exclusivity for our proprietary product candidates through market and data exclusivity granted by regulatory agencies in the United States and other countries. Further, as discussed above, the ODD program provides a drug developer with certain benefits and incentives, including a seven-year period of U.S. marketing exclusivity from the date of marketing authorization.

While we have engaged intellectual property counsel to assist in protecting our patent ownership rights, to date, we have not had intellectual property counsel conduct a freedom to operate analysis regarding our tecarfarin product. As a result, we cannot be certain that we will not be exposed to third party legal claims, liabilities and/or litigation actions when we seek to develop, make and market products using our tecarfarin technology.

Clinical Trials

Tecarfarin has been evaluated in 11 human clinical trials in over 1,003 individuals which includes eight Phase 1 trials, two Phase 2 trials and one Phase 2/3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of tecarfarin.

In a Phase 2/3 randomized and blinded trial sponsored by ARYx Therapeutics, Inc. in 2008, 607 patients with indications for chronic anticoagulation were treated with either tecarfarin or warfarin. The Time in Therapeutic Range, or TTR, with tecarfarin was similar to that with well-managed warfarin and tecarfarin appeared to have a favorable safety profile and be well tolerated with only 1.6% of the blinded tecarfarin subjects suffering from major bleeding and no thrombotic events. When thrombotic and major bleeding events during the blinded period were combined, a numerical imbalance favoring tecarfarin over warfarin was seen (warfarin 11 subjects, 3.6%; tecarfarin 5 subjects, 1.6%). The trial however did not meet its primary endpoint as superiority of tecarfarin over warfarin as measured by TTR was not demonstrated.

In a subsequent Phase 1 study with 23 patients with CKD sponsored by Armetheon, Inc. in 2016, the metabolism of warfarin was inhibited, but not tecarfarin. The safety of repeated dosing of tecarfarin in CKD patients remained unknown. However, if the pharmacokinetic findings of this single-dose study are present with repeated dosing, tecarfarin may lead to dosing that is more predictable than warfarin in CKD patients who require anticoagulation therapy.

Recent Events

Fast Track Designation

On January 13, 2023, the FDA designated as a Fast Track development program the investigation of tecarfarin for the prevention of systemic thromboembolism of cardiac origin in patients with ESRD and AFib. Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

Initial Public Offering

On January 24, 2023, we consummated our initial public offering (the “IPO”) of 1,400,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $7,000,000. Our shares of common stock commenced trading on the Nasdaq on January 20, 2023 under the symbol “CVKD.”

In connection with our initial public offering, on January 19, 2023, we entered into the Underwriting Agreement with the Representative, pursuant to which we issued to the Representative the Representative’s Warrant to purchase an aggregate of 84,000 shares of our common stock, which is equal to six percent (6%) of the shares of common stock sold in the initial public offering. Such Representative’s Warrant has an exercise price of $6.00, which is equal to 120% of the public offering price of the common stock in the initial public offering.

In connection with the closing of the initial public offering, we entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors (we had previously entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers). The indemnification agreements, in addition to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, require us to indemnify our directors, executive officers and certain controlling persons to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. 

Resale Offering

Pursuant to the Resale Prospectus, dated January 19, 2023, 1,704,783 shares of our common stock have been registered for resale by the Selling Shareholders. We did, and will not, receive any proceeds from the sales by the Selling Stockholders of the securities set forth in the Resale Prospectus.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and the period from January 25, 2022 (inception) through March 31, 2022.

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses were $964,732 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. General and administrative expenses included $439,304 of personnel-related expenses, $194,140 of stock-based compensation, $120,305 in professional fees, $49,278 of contract labor, and $161,705 of other expenses.

General and administrative expenses were $152,661 for the period January 25, 2022 (inception) to March 31, 2022. General and administrative expenses for this period included $37,661 of personnel-related expenses and $115,000 in consulting fees.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses were $3,235,317 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This included the issuance of 600,000 shares of common stock (valued at $3.0 million) in January 2023 to HESP LLC, pursuant to the terms of an Amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement. Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 also included $92,256 of stock-based compensation and the remaining expenses related to personnel costs.

Research and development expenses were $17,860 for the period January 25, 2022 (inception) to March 31, 2022. Research and development expenses consisted of $17,860 of transaction costs which were expensed as in-process research and development.

Change in fair value of derivative liabilities

We determined that the redemption features in the convertible notes that we issued in March 2022, June 2022, July 2022, August 2022 and September 2022 in the aggregate principal amount of $1,125,000 contained rights and obligations for conversion contingent upon a potential future financing event or a change in control. Thus, the embedded put options were bifurcated from the face value of the convertible notes and accounted for as derivative liabilities to be remeasured at the end of each reporting period with the change in the fair value included in other expense, in the accompanying statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

Concurrent with the closing of the IPO in January 2023, the note holders converted the debt into common stock, accordingly, the derivative financial liabilities were de-recognized and reclassified to stockholders’ equity (deficit) on January 24, 2023.

The derivative liabilities were considered a level 3 fair value financial instrument and were remeasured up to January 24, 2023 which was the date of derecognition. We recorded a non-cash charge of $216,095 in January 2023. This charge represented the increase in the fair value of the derivative liabilities since the previous measurement date of December 31, 2022.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

We recorded a $740,139 loss on the extinguishment of debt during the three months ended March 31, 2023. This loss represents the unamortized debt discount associated with the convertible notes and the November promissory notes, which were settled concurrent with the IPO.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since inception, we have incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations. To date, we have funded our operations from the proceeds of the sale of convertible notes, and the nonconvertible notes and warrants issued in November 2022 , as well as our recently completed IPO in January 2023. We had a net loss of $5,173,574 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 which included $4,256,475 of non-cash expenses. Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 totaled $1,412,794. As of March 31, 2023, we had cash of approximately $4.0 million and no debt. Our current cash is sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months, however, we expect to require additional funding to commence and complete our planned Phase 3 clinical trial and submit our NDA, the cost of which we anticipate will be approximately $45 million. In order to fund the commencement and completion of our Phase 3 clinical trial, we intend to raise additional funds through equity and debt financings as well as potential partnering relationships. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to complete any additional financings on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If we are unable to raise additional funding to meet our working capital needs in the future, we will be forced to delay or reduce the scope of our research programs and/or limit or cease our operations.

We estimate that we will require a total of $45 million for the completion of our planned pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial and other expenditures that we will need to incur in order to file our NDA. We intend to use approximately $3 million of the proceeds from our IPO to fund CMC preparation, research and development, and other trial preparation expenses necessary for the commencement of our planned pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, therefore, we will require at least $42 million of additional funding to enroll patients and complete our pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial. Additionally, we estimate that we will require $13 million for general and administrative expenses anticipated to be incurred over the next three years.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for the period January 25, 2022 (inception) to March 31, 2022:

Operating activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $1,412,794. Net loss adjusted for the non-cash items as detailed on the statement of cash flows, used $917,099 in cash, and the changes in operating assets and liabilities, as detailed on the statement of cash flows, used $495,695 in cash primarily from a $285,330 decrease in accounts payable and a $604,945 decrease in accrued liabilities partially offset by a $672,295 decrease in deferred equity offering costs.

During the period from January 25, 2022 (inception) to March 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $43,699. Net loss adjusted for the non-cash items, as detailed on the statement of cash flows, used $172,602 in cash, and the changes in operating assets and liabilities, as detailed on the statement of cash flows, provided $128,903 in cash primarily from a $117,083 increase in accrued liabilities.

Financing activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities totaled $5,408,575 as we completed our IPO of 1,400,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $7,000,000 and net proceeds of $5,408,575. We also received $250,000 from the exercise of warrants that we issued in November 2022, which proceeds were used to repay the notes that were issued in November, with accrued interest on the notes being paid in cash.

During the period January 25, 2022 (inception) to March 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $506,490, primarily consisting of the $498,540 of net proceeds from the issuance of a convertible note in March 2022.

Critical Accounting Estimates  

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimated under different assumptions or conditions. While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our financial statements, we believe that the following accounting policies are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgements and estimates.

Acquisitions

We evaluate 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 whether 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 so, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. If not, further determination is required as to whether or not we have 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.

Acquisitions meeting the definition of business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that the purchase price be allocated to the net assets acquired at their respective fair values. In a business combination, any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.

For asset acquisitions, a cost accumulation model is used to determine the cost of an asset acquisition. Direct transaction costs are recognized as part of the cost of an asset acquisition. We also evaluate which elements of a transaction should be accounted for as a part of an asset acquisition and which should be accounted for separately. The cost of an asset acquisition, including transaction costs, is 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. When a transaction accounted for as an asset acquisition includes an in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) asset, the IPR&D asset is only capitalized if it has an alternative future use other than in a particular research and development project. For an IPR&D asset to have an alternative future use: (a) we must reasonably expect that we will use the asset acquired in the alternative manner and anticipate economic benefit from that alternative use, and (b) our use of the asset acquired is not contingent on further development of the asset subsequent to the acquisition date (that is, the asset can be used in the alternative manner in the condition in which it existed at the acquisition date). Otherwise, amounts allocated to IPR&D that have no alternative use are expensed to research and development. Asset acquisitions may include contingent consideration arrangements that encompass obligations to make future payments to sellers contingent upon the achievement of future financial targets. Contingent consideration is not recognized until all contingencies are resolved and the consideration is paid or probable of payment, at which point the consideration is allocated to the assets acquired on a relative fair value basis.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist of fees paid to other entities that conduct certain research and development activities on our behalf. Acquired intangible assets are expensed as research and development costs if, at the time of payment, the technology is under development; is not approved by the FDA or other regulatory agencies for marketing; has not reached technical feasibility; or otherwise has no foreseeable alternative future use. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are capitalized and then expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We evaluate all of our agreements to determine if such instruments have derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives. We account for certain redemption features that are associated with convertible notes as liabilities at fair value and adjust the instruments to their fair value at the end of each reporting period. Derivative financial liabilities are initially recorded at fair value, with gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value recognized in other income (expense) in the accompanying statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each reporting period while such instruments are outstanding. The embedded derivative liability is valued using a probability-weighted expected return model. If we repay the note holders or if, during the next round of financing, the note holders convert the debt into equity, the derivative financial liability will be de-recognized on that date. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure our stock-based awards granted to employees, consultants and directors based on the estimated fair values of the awards and recognize the compensation over the requisite service period. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of our stock option awards. Stock-based compensation is recognized using the straight-line method. As the stock compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced by forfeitures. We account for forfeitures as they occur.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of 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 as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions made in the accompanying financial statements include but are not limited to the fair value of financial instruments, the fair value of common stock prior to our IPO, deferred tax assets and valuation allowance, income tax uncertainties, and certain accruals. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances change. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We did not have during the period presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We have adopted and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, is collected, recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules of the SEC. Our disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2023, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such a date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a 15(f) and 15d 15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Please refer to Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” contained in our Annual Report for a description of certain significant risks and uncertainties to which our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject., There have been no material changes from these risk factors as of the date of filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

We did not sell any equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 in transactions that were not registered under the Securities Act other than as previously disclosed in our filings with the SEC and as described below. We believe that each transaction was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

On March 30, 2023, we issued 10,839 shares of our common stock to a consultant for services rendered.

On March 31, 2023, we issued 77,340 shares of our common stock to a consultant for services to be performed from April through September 2023..

Use of Proceeds

On January 24, 2023, we consummated our IPO of 1,400,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $5.00 per share, generating gross proceeds of $7.0 million which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $5.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $490,000, underwriter non-accountable expenses of $70,000, and offering-related transaction costs of approximately $1.0 million. None of the expenses associated with the IPO were paid to directors, officers, persons owning ten percent or more of any class of equity securities, or to their associates, or to our affiliates. Our shares of common stock commenced trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) on January 20, 2023 under the symbol “CVKD.” The offering has terminated.

In connection with our initial public offering, on January 19, 2023, we entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Boustead Securities, LLC, as representative of the underwriters (the “Representative”), a form of which was previously filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-267562), which was declared effective by the SEC on January 19, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, we agreed to issue to the underwriters a five-year warrant (the “Representative’s Warrant”) to purchase an aggregate of 84,000 shares of our common stock, which is equal to six percent (6%) of the shares of common stock sold in the initial public offering. Such Representative’s Warrant has an exercise price of $6.00, which is equal to 120% of the public offering price of the common stock in the initial public offering.

There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our initial public offering as described in our final prospectus filed with the SEC on January 23, 2023 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4), of $3 million of proceeds to be used for CMC preparation, research and development, and other trial preparation expenses necessary for initiation of our planned Phase 3 pivotal trial and $2.4 million of proceeds to be used for working capital, including payments made to officers in accordance with the terms of their employment agreements and payment to Phamace, LLC, a consulting firm of which Quang Pham, our Chief Executive Officer, is the sole member as described in the Note 7 to the Notes to Financial Statements.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None

Item 6. Exhibits.

The exhibits filed or furnished as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are set forth on the Exhibit Index, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

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