Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Stockholders' Equity

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Stockholders' Equity
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Stockholders' Equity  
Stockholders' Equity

Note 6 - Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

At the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 13, 2024, its stockholders approved an amendment to its certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock available to issue by 95,000,000 to 175,000,000 with a par value of $0.0001 per share, of which 700,000 shares are designated as “Class A common stock.” The amendment was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 13, 2024.

As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there were 700,000 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding to Fortress. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share of common stock held. The Class A common stockholders are entitled to a number of votes per share equal to 1.1 times a fraction, the numerator of which is the sum of the shares of outstanding common stock and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Class A common stock. Accordingly, the holder of shares of Class A common stock will be able to control or significantly influence all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. Each share of Class A common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, into one (1) fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock subject to adjustment for stock splits and combinations.

Registered Direct Offerings

In March 2023, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “March 2023 Form S-3”), which was declared effective May 5, 2023 (File No. 333-270843). Under the March 2023 Form S-3, the Company may sell up to a total of $150 million of its securities.

In January 2024, the Company closed on the January 2024 Registered Direct Offering for the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 1,275,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $1.805 per share of common stock. In addition, the offering includes 6,481,233 shares of common stock in the form of pre-funded warrants at a price of $1.8049. The pre-funded warrants were funded in full at closing except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001, are exercisable commencing on the closing date, and will terminate when such pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. In a concurrent private placement, the Company issued and sold common warrants to purchase up to 7,756,233 shares of common stock (the “January 2024 Common Stock Warrants”). The January 2024 Common Stock Warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance with an exercise price of $1.68 per share and expire five years following the issuance date. The Company also issued the placement agent warrants to purchase up to 465,374 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.2563 per share. The total gross proceeds from the January 2024 Registered Direct Offering were approximately $14.0 million with net proceeds of approximately $12.6 million after deducting approximately $1.4 million in commissions and other transaction costs. The shares of common stock and the shares underlying the pre-funded warrants were registered for sale under the March 2023 S-3. In March 2024, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the January 2024 Common Stock Warrants and placement agent warrants, which was declared effective April 5, 2024 (File No. 333-278397). In July 2024, the pre-funded warrants from the January 2024 Registered Direct Offering were fully exercised. The January 2024 Common Stock Warrants and placement agent warrants met the criteria for equity classification.

In July 2024, the Company closed on the July 2024 Registered Direct Offering for the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 1,230,000 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $2.05 per share of common stock. In addition, the offering includes 4,623,659 shares of common stock in the form of pre-funded warrants at a price of $2.0499. The pre-funded warrants were funded in full at closing except for a nominal exercise price of $0.0001, are exercisable commencing on the closing date, and will terminate when such pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. In a concurrent private placement, the Company issued and sold common warrants to purchase up to 5,853,659 shares of common stock (the “July 2024 Common Stock Warrants”). The July 2024 Common Stock Warrants have an exercise price of $2.05 per share, will be exercisable after requisite approval of our stockholders is received, and have a term of exercise of five years from the issuance date. The Company also issued the placement agent warrants to purchase up to 351,220 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.5625 per share. The total gross proceeds from the July 2024 Registered Direct Offering were approximately $12.0 million with net proceeds of approximately $11.0 million after deducting approximately $1.0 million in commissions and other transaction costs. The shares of common stock and the shares underlying the pre-funded warrants were registered for sale under the March 2023 S-3. In August 2024, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the July 2024 Common Stock Warrants and placement agent warrants, which was declared effective August 30, 2024 (File No. 333-281650). In November 2024, the pre-funded warrants from the July 2024 Registered Direct Offering were fully exercised. The July 2024 Common Stock Warrants and placement agent warrants met the criteria for equity classification.

As of March 31, 2025, approximately $65.7 million of securities remain available for sale under the March 2023 Form S-3.

The Company may offer the securities under the Form S-3’s from time to time in response to market conditions or other circumstances if it believes such a plan of financing is in the best interests of its stockholders.

Warrant Exercises

In November 2024, the Company received approximately $9.2 million from the exercise of warrants for the issuance of 3,256,269 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.821 per share. Due to the beneficial ownership limitation provisions in the securities purchase agreement, the shares were initially unissued and held in abeyance for the benefit of the holder until notice from the holder that the shares may be issued in compliance with the agreement. The final remaining 1,437,000 shares held in abeyance were issued to the holder in February 2025.

In January 2025, the Company received approximately $2.1 million from the exercise of warrants for the issuance of 740,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $2.84 per share.

In March 2025, the Company received approximately $36.0 million from the exercise of warrants for the issuance of 21,691,003 shares of common stock with an average exercise price of $1.66 per share.

Shares Issued Under the Founders Agreement

Pursuant to the Founders Agreement, the Company issued 1,492,915 shares of common stock to Fortress on May 16, 2024 for the Annual Equity Fee, representing 2.5% of the fully diluted outstanding equity of Checkpoint on January 1, 2024. The Company did not have enough unreserved authorized shares under its certificate of incorporation on January 1, 2024 to issue the shares for the Annual Equity Fee. Therefore, in December 2023, Fortress and Checkpoint mutually agreed to defer the issuance until such time as certificate of incorporation has been amended in order to increase the number of authorized that may be issued thereunder. At the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 13, 2024, its stockholders approved an amendment to its certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock available to issue. Because the number of outstanding shares issuable to Fortress was determinable on January 1, 2024 prior to the issuance of the December 31, 2023 financial statements, the Company recorded approximately $3.4 million in research and development expense and a credit to Common shares issuable-Founders Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Pursuant to the Founders Agreement, the Company issued to Fortress 2.5% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued in the January 2024 Registered Direct Offering. Accordingly, the Company issued 193,905 shares of common stock to Fortress and recorded expense of approximately $396,000 related to these issuances, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Pursuant to the Founders Agreement, the Company issued 2,386,808 shares of common stock to Fortress for the Annual Equity Fee, representing 2.5% of the fully diluted outstanding equity of Checkpoint on January 1, 2025 (see Notes 2 and 4). Because the number of outstanding shares issuable to Fortress was determinable on January 1, 2025 prior to the issuance of the December 31, 2024 financial statements, the Company recorded approximately $7.6 million in research and development expense and a credit to Common shares issuable - Founders Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2024.

Pursuant to the Founders Agreement, the Company issued to Fortress 2.5% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock issued in the January 2025 warrant exercises noted above. Accordingly, the Company issued 18,500 shares of common stock to Fortress and recorded expense of approximately $52,000, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025.Pursuant to the terms of the Support Agreement entered into concurrently with the Merger Agreement, there were no shares issued to Fortress in relation to the warrant exercises in March 2025 noted above.

Equity Incentive Plan

The Company has in effect the Amended and Restated 2015 Incentive Plan (“2015 Incentive Plan”). The 2015 Incentive Plan was adopted in March 2015 by our stockholders. Under the 2015 Incentive Plan, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors is authorized to grant stock-based awards to directors, officers, employees and consultants. At the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 13, 2024, its stockholders approved an amendment to the 2015 Incentive Plan to increase the shares available for issuance to 18,000,000 shares. The plan expires 10 years from the effective date of the amendment and limits the term of each option to no more than 10 years from the date of grant.

On May 24, 2024, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act registering the common stock issued, issuable or reserved for issuance under our 2015 Incentive Plan. The registration statement became effective immediately upon filing, and shares covered by the registration statement are eligible for sale in the public markets, subject to grant of the underlying awards, vesting provisions and Rule 144 imitations applicable to our affiliates.

As of March 31, 2025, 4,860,406 shares are available for issuance under the 2015 Incentive Plan.

Restricted Stock Awards

Certain employees, directors and consultants have been awarded restricted stock. The restricted stock vesting consists of milestone and time-based vesting. The following table summarizes restricted stock award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

Weighted Average

Number of

Grant Date Fair

    

Shares

    

Value  

Non-vested at December 31, 2024

4,887,499

$

2.48

Granted

3,150,000

2.84

Vested

(1,419,301)

2.59

Non-vested at March 31, 2025

6,618,198

$

2.63

As of March 31, 2025, there was $11.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

Restricted Stock Units

All restricted stock units were performance-based with vesting upon the achievement of certain corporate milestones. In December 2024, the Company announced that the FDA granted approval of UNLOXCYT for the treatment of adults with metastatic CSCC or locally advanced CSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation. All outstanding restricted stock units vested upon this achievement and as of March 31, 2025, there were no restricted stock units outstanding.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes stock option award activity for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

Weighted Average 

Remaining

Weighted Average 

 Contractual Life

    

Stock Options 

    

Exercise Price

    

(in years)

Outstanding as of December 31, 2024

127,000

$

8.88

7.60

Outstanding as of March 31, 2025

127,000

$

8.88

7.35

Vested and exercisable as of March 31, 2025

121,000

$

6.63

7.62

Upon the exercise of stock options, the Company will issue new shares of its common stock. The Company used the Black-Scholes Model for determining the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation related to stock options.

Warrants

A summary of warrant activities for the three months ended March 31, 2025 is presented below:

Weighted Average 

Remaining

Weighted Average 

Contractual Life

    

Warrants 

    

Exercise Price 

    

(in years)

Outstanding as of December 31, 2024

39,567,888

$

2.10

3.09

Exercised

(22,431,003)

1.70

Expired

(2,496,248)

2.84

Outstanding as of March 31, 2025

14,640,637

$

2.60

3.67

Upon the exercise of warrants, the Company will issue new shares of its common stock.

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 ($ in thousands):

For the three months ended March 31, 

    

2025

    

2024

Research and development

$

689

$

490

General and administrative

 

1,267

220

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

1,956

$

709