Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2024

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Anixa Biosciences, Inc. and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity. The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the two years ended October 31, 2024 (in thousands):

Balance October 31, 2022	$	(847	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(119	)
Balance October 31, 2023		(966	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(144	)
Balance October 31, 2024	$	(1,110	)

Revenue Recognition

Our revenue has been derived solely from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of intellectual property rights and satisfaction of other contractual performance obligations to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive.

Our revenue recognition policy requires us to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue. Such areas may include determining the existence of a contract and identifying each party’s rights and obligations to transfer goods and services, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimating the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, determining whether a promise to grant a license is distinct from other promised goods or services and evaluating whether a license transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time.

Our revenue arrangements provide for the payment, within 30 days of execution of the agreement, of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company. These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation. In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we have no further obligations with respect to the granted intellectual property rights, including no obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. Licensees obtained control of the intellectual property rights they have acquired upon execution of the agreement. Accordingly, the performance obligations from these agreements were satisfied and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon the execution of the agreements.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent legal fees paid to external counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external counsel, licensing and enforcement related research and consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties. These costs are included under the caption “Operating costs and expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, payments to third parties for research and development activities and other direct costs associated with developing our therapeutics and vaccines. We recognize research and development expenses as incurred. Advance payments for future research and development activities are deferred and expensed as the services are performed. We recognize our preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, clinical research organizations (“CROs”), clinical manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other parties that conduct and manage various stages of research and development activities on our behalf. Fees for such services are recognized based on management’s estimates after considering the activities and tasks completed by each service provider in a given period, the time period over which services are expected to be performed, and the level of effort expended in each reporting period.

At each balance sheet date, management estimates prepaid and accrued research and development costs by discussing progress or stage of completion of activities with internal personnel and external service providers, and comparing this information to payments made, invoices received, and the agreed-upon contractual fee to be paid for such services in the applicable contract or statements of work.

In addition, we allocate certain internal compensation costs to research and development expenses based on management’s estimates of each employee’s time and effort expended.

Investment Policy

The Company’s investment policy is designed to optimize returns while managing risk and liquidity. The policy allows for investments in a diversified range of financial instruments, including U.S. government debt securities with fixed maturities and contractual cash flows, as well as alternative investments such as Bitcoin and Bitcoin-based exchange traded funds (collectively, the “Bitcoin Assets”).

The Company acquires U.S. government debt securities that it has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity. These securities are recorded at amortized cost, net of any applicable discount which is amortized to interest income, and are accounted for as held-to-maturity securities. The Company’s Bitcoin Assets are measured at fair value based on quoted prices on active exchanges. The Company recognizes changes in the fair value of Bitcoin Assets as gains or losses in the statement of operations during the period in which they occur. The Company has no Bitcoin Assets as of October 31, 2024 and 2023.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In accordance with ASC 820, we have categorized our financial assets and liabilities, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as set forth below. If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1 – Financial instruments whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 – Financial instruments whose values are based on quoted market prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets.

Level 3 – Financial instruments whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the instrument.

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2024 (in thousands):

SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Money market funds:
Cash equivalents	$	1,170	$	-	$	-	$	1,170
U.S. treasury bills:
Short term investments		-		18,653		-		18,653
Total financial assets	$	1,170	$	18,653	$	-	$	19,823

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2023 (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Money market funds:
Cash equivalents	$	778	$	-	$	-	$	778
Certificates of deposit:
Short term investments		-		720		-		720
U.S. treasury bills:
Short term investments		-		22,209		-		22,209
Total financial assets	$	778	$	22,929	$	-	$	23,707

Our non-financial assets that are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis are property and equipment and other assets which are measured using fair value techniques whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a condition of impairment exists. The estimated fair value of prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their individual carrying amounts due to the short-term nature of these measurements. Cash equivalents are stated at carrying value which approximates fair value.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid, short-term investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Short-term Investments

At October 31, 2024 and 2023, we had certificates of deposit and United States treasury bills with maturities greater than 90 days and less than 12 months when acquired of approximately $18,653,000 and $22,929,000, respectively, that were classified as short-term investments.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain equity incentive plans under which we may grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards, or stock units to employees, directors and consultants.

Stock Option Compensation Expense

We account for stock options granted to employees, directors and consultants using the accounting guidance in ASC 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). We estimate the fair value of service-based stock options on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes pricing model, and recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period of the grant.

We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to service-based stock options granted to employees and directors, of approximately $4,420,000 and $4,422,000, during the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Included in stock-based compensation cost for service-based options granted to employees and directors during the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $3,187,000 and $3,023,000, respectively, related to the amortization of compensation cost for stock options granted in prior periods but not yet vested. As of October 31, 2024, there was unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested service-based stock options granted to employees and directors of approximately $4,843,000, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

We recorded consulting expense, related to service-based stock options granted to consultants, during the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023 of approximately $125,000 and $221,000, respectively. Included in stock-based consulting expense for the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $120,000 and $209,000, respectively, related to compensation cost for stock options granted in prior periods but not yet vested. As of October 31, 2024, there was unrecognized consulting expense related to non-vested service-based stock options granted to consultants of approximately $180,000, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.

Fair Value Determination

We use the Black-Scholes pricing model in estimating the fair value of stock options granted to employees, directors and consultants which vest over a specific period of time. The stock options we granted during each of the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of awards with 5-year and 10-year terms that vest over 12 to 36 months.

The following weighted average assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023:

	For the Year Ended October 31,
	2024			2023
Weighted average fair value at grant date	$	2.94		$	3.29
Valuation assumptions:
Expected life (years)		5.71			5.47
Expected volatility		76.48	%		100.27	%
Risk-free interest rate		3.87	%		3.87	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%

The expected term of stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. For employees and directors, we use the simplified method, which is a weighted average of the vesting term and contractual term, to determine expected term. The simplified method was adopted since we do not believe that historical experience is representative of future performance because of the impact of the changes in our operations and the change in terms from historical operations. For consultants, we use the contract term for expected term. Under the Black-Scholes pricing model, we estimated the expected volatility of our shares of common stock based upon the historical volatility of our share price over a period of time equal to the expected term of the options. We estimated the risk-free interest rate based on the implied yield available on the applicable grant date of a U.S. Treasury note with a term equal to the expected term of the underlying grants. We made the dividend yield assumption based on our history of not paying cash dividends and our expectation not to pay dividends in the future.

Under ASC 718, the amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, if deemed necessary, we reduce the fair value of the stock option awards for expected forfeitures, which are forfeitures of the unvested portion of surrendered options. Based on our historical experience and future expectations, we have not reduced the amount of stock-based compensation expenses for anticipated forfeitures.

We will reconsider use of the Black-Scholes pricing model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate. If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under ASC 718 may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock

In accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, basic net loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities then outstanding. Diluted EPS for all years presented is the same as Basic EPS, as the inclusion of the effect of common share equivalents then outstanding would be anti-dilutive. For this reason, excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS for the years ended October 31, 2024 and 2023 were options to purchase 12,158,062 shares and 11,430,000 shares, respectively, and warrants to purchase 300,000 shares and 300,000 shares, respectively.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to, determining stock-based compensation, asset impairment evaluations, tax assets and liabilities, license fee revenue, research and development expense accruals, the allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation lives and other contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Effect of Recently Issued Pronouncements

In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, to require that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. At the acquisition date, an acquirer should account for the related revenue contracts in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to provide more disaggregated expense information about a public entity’s reportable segments. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We began a detailed assessment of the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and our analysis is currently ongoing.

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, to require disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively, with an option to apply them retrospectively, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 for public entities. We began a detailed assessment of the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and our analysis is currently ongoing.

In March 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, to improve the disclosures about a public business entity’s expenses and to provide more detailed information about the types of expenses in commonly presented expense captions. The amendments in this update should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively, and are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. We began a detailed assessment of the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and our analysis is currently ongoing.

Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk are cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. Cash equivalents are primarily highly rated money market funds. Short-term investments are U.S. treasury bills. Where applicable, management reviews our accounts receivable and other receivables for potential doubtful accounts and maintains an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. Our policy is to write-off uncollectable amounts at the time it is determined that collection will not occur. One licensee accounted for 100% of revenues from patent licensing activities during fiscal year 2023. We recorded no revenue in fiscal year 2024.