10-Q

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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, 2025

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

For the transition period from to .

Commission File No. 001-36517

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware		26-0784194
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1500 District Avenue Burlington, MA		01803
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 600-7373

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

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


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share	NERV	The Nasdaq Capital Market

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 Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of shares of Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding as of May 8, 2025 was 6,993,406.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q


		Page
	PART I — Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements (unaudited):	4
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024	6
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024	7
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	16
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	21
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	21

	PART II — Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	23
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	23
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	26
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	27
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	27
Item 5.	Other Information	27
Item 6.	Exhibits	28

SIGNATURES		29

Unless the context suggests otherwise, references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Quarterly Report, to “Minerva,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. and, where appropriate, its subsidiaries.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report may not transpire. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under Part II, Item IA, “Risk Factors” and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 under Part I, Item IA, “Risk Factors.”

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this document. You should read this document with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners.

PART I – Financial Information

Item 1 – Financial Statements

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)


	March 31,			December 31,
	2025			2024
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,290,048		$	21,362,008
Restricted cash		100,000			100,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		534,798			806,895
Total current assets		17,924,846			22,268,903

Equipment, net		4,081			5,442
Goodwill		14,869,399			14,869,399
Total assets	$	32,798,326		$	37,143,744

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	639,946		$	1,607,844
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		1,307,223			1,229,000
Total current liabilities		1,947,169			2,836,844
Liability related to the sale of future royalties		60,000,000			60,000,000
Total liabilities		61,947,169			62,836,844
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

Stockholders’ deficit
Preferred stock; $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—			—
Common stock; $0.0001 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized; 6,993,406 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024		699			699
Additional paid-in capital		369,979,993			369,682,764
Accumulated deficit		(399,129,535	)		(395,376,563	)
Total stockholders’ deficit		(29,148,843	)		(25,693,100	)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit	$	32,798,326		$	37,143,744

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025			2024
Expenses
Research and development	$	1,362,438		$	4,167,287
General and administrative		2,540,446			2,514,676
Total expenses		3,902,884			6,681,963
Loss from operations		(3,902,884	)		(6,681,963	)

Foreign exchange (losses) gains		(8,376	)		5,493
Investment income		158,288			357,908
Non-cash interest expense for the sale of future royalties		—			(2,250,243	)
Net loss	$	(3,752,972	)	$	(8,568,805	)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.50	)	$	(1.13	)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		7,568,981			7,568,981

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit

(Unaudited)


	Common Stock				Additional		Accumulated
	Shares		Amount		Paid-In Capital		Deficit			Total
Balances at January 1, 2024		6,993,406	$	699	$	368,357,239	$	(396,815,428	)	$	(28,457,490	)
Stock-based compensation		—		—		438,849		—			438,849
Net loss		—		—		—		(8,568,805	)		(8,568,805	)
Balances at March 31, 2024		6,993,406	$	699	$	368,796,088	$	(405,384,233	)	$	(36,587,446	)

Balances at January 1, 2025		6,993,406	$	699	$	369,682,764	$	(395,376,563	)	$	(25,693,100	)
Stock-based compensation		—		—		297,229		—			297,229
Net loss		—		—		—		(3,752,972	)		(3,752,972	)
Balances at March 31, 2025		6,993,406	$	699	$	369,979,993	$	(399,129,535	)	$	(29,148,843	)

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025			2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(3,752,972	)	$	(8,568,805	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,361			1,360
Amortization of capitalized software		—			6,385
Stock-based compensation expense		297,229			438,849
Non-cash interest expense associated with the sale of future royalties		—			2,250,243
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		272,097			287,319
Accounts payable		(967,898	)		(369,752	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		78,223			(139,870	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(4,071,960	)		(6,094,271	)

Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash provided by investing activities		—			—

Cash flows from financing activities:
Net cash provided by financing activities		—			—
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(4,071,960	)		(6,094,271	)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period		21,462,008			41,012,575
End of period	$	17,390,048		$	34,918,304
Reconciliation of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,290,048		$	34,818,304
Restricted cash		100,000			100,000
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	17,390,048		$	34,918,304

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

As of March 31, 2025 and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND LIQUIDITY

Nature of Operations

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. (“Minerva” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary product candidates to treat patients suffering from central nervous system (“CNS”) diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate is roluperidone, a compound the Company is developing for the treatment of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The Company previously submitted a New Drug Application (“NDA”) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for roluperidone for the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia in August 2022. On February 26, 2024, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) regarding the NDA for roluperidone. Since receiving the CRL, the Company has continued to have interactions with the FDA with the goal of addressing the questions raised in the CRL.

The Company also has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize MIN-301, a compound for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, Minerva previously co-developed seltorexant with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (“Janssen”) for the treatment of insomnia disorder and adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (“MDD”). During 2020, Minerva exercised its right to opt out of the joint development agreement with Janssen for the future development of seltorexant. As a result, the Company was entitled to collect royalties in the mid-single digits on potential future worldwide sales of seltorexant in certain indications, with no further financial obligations to Janssen. In January 2021, the Company sold its rights to these potential royalties to Royalty Pharma plc (“Royalty Pharma”) for a $60 million up front payment and up to an additional $95 million in potential future milestone payments.

Liquidity

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has limited capital resources and has incurred recurring operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $399.1 million and net cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025. Management expects to continue to incur operating losses and negative cash flows from operations in the future. The Company has financed its operations to date from proceeds from the sale of common stock, warrants, loans, convertible promissory notes, collaboration agreements and royalty sales.

As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $17.4 million, which it believes will be sufficient to meet the Company’s operating commitments for the next 12 months from the date its financial statements are issued. The process of drug development can be costly and the timing and outcomes of clinical trials is uncertain. The assumptions upon which the Company has based its estimates are routinely evaluated and may be subject to change. The actual amount of the Company’s expenditures will vary depending upon many factors, including, but not limited to, the design, timing and duration of future clinical trials, the progress of the Company’s research and development programs, the infrastructure to support a commercial enterprise, and the level of financial resources available. The Company can adjust its operating plan spending levels based on the timing of future clinical trials, which are predicated upon adequate funding to complete the trials. The Company routinely evaluates the status of its clinical development programs as well as potential strategic options.

The Company will need to raise additional capital to continue to fund operations and fully fund any potential later stage clinical development programs. The Company believes that it will be able to obtain additional working capital through equity financings or other arrangements to fund future operations; however, there can be no assurance that such additional financing, if available, can be obtained on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain such additional financing, future operations would need to be scaled back or discontinued.

Further, if the Company does not satisfy The Nasdaq Capital Market continued listing requirements, its common stock may be subject to delisting, which could impact the Company’s ability to complete additional equity financings on terms acceptable to the Company. On March 17, 2025, the Company was formally notified that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) determined that the Company regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(3) (the “Net Income Rule”), which requires listed companies to maintain a minimum of $500,000 of net income from continuing operations. Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(A), the Company will be subject to a discretionary panel monitor for a period of one year from March 17,

2025. If, within that one-year monitoring period, the Company fails to maintain compliance with any Nasdaq continued listing requirement, the Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) of Nasdaq will issue a Delist Determination Letter, and the Company will have an opportunity to request a new hearing with the initial Panel or a newly convened Hearings Panel if the initial Panel is unavailable. Notwithstanding Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(2), the Company will not be permitted to provide the Staff with a plan of compliance with respect to any deficiency that arises during the one-year monitoring period, and the Staff will not be permitted to grant additional time for the Company to regain compliance with respect to any deficiency.

As previously disclosed, on April 10, 2024, the Company received written notice from Nasdaq notifying the Company that for the last 31 consecutive business days, the Company’s minimum Market Value of Listed Securities was below the minimum of $35 million required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(2). In addition, on January 10, 2025, the Company received a notice from Nasdaq indicating that following the Company’s hearing before the Panel on December 10, 2024, the Panel granted the Company’s request for continued listing on Nasdaq through March 31, 2025, subject to the Company’s compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Equity Rule”), among other conditions. While the Company had initially planned to regain compliance with the Equity Rule, upon review of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, the Staff confirmed that the Company demonstrated compliance with the Net Income Rule. Accordingly, the Panel determined to continue the listing of the Company’s securities on Nasdaq and closed the matter.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing standards or that the Company will be able to continue its listing on Nasdaq.

NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim reporting and the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in accordance with Regulation S-X, Rule 8-03. Under those rules, certain notes and financial information that are normally required for annual financial statements can be condensed or omitted. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of items of a normal and recurring nature) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 2025, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 was derived from the audited annual financial statements. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2025.

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Mind-NRG Sarl and Minerva Neurosciences Securities Corporation. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Significant risks and uncertainties

The Company’s operations are subject to a number of factors that can affect its operating results and financial condition. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the results of clinical testing and trial activities of the Company’s products, the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval to market its products, competition from products manufactured and sold or being developed by other companies, the price of, and demand for, Company products, the Company’s ability to negotiate favorable licensing or other manufacturing and marketing agreements for its products, and the Company’s ability to raise capital.

The Company currently has no commercially approved products and there can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully commercialized. Developing and commercializing a product requires significant time and capital and is subject to regulatory review and approval as well as competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change and is dependent upon the continued services of its employees and consultants and obtaining and protecting intellectual property.

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 disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash equivalents include short-term, highly-liquid instruments, consisting of money market accounts and short-term investments with maturities from the date of purchase of 90 days or less. The majority of cash and cash equivalents are maintained with major financial institutions in North America. Deposits with these financial institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. These deposits may be redeemed upon demand which reduces counterparty performance risk.

Restricted cash

Cash accounts with any type of restriction are classified as restricted. The Company maintained restricted cash balances as collateral for corporate credit cards in the amount of $0.1 million at each of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

Segment information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise (business activity from which it earns revenue and incurs expenses) about which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer. The CODM evaluates performance of the segments based on net income (loss). The CODM also reviews operating results and previously forecasted financial information to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance for the entire Company.

The Company’s operations are organized into one operating and one reportable segment focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary product candidates to treat patients suffering from CNS diseases. The one operating segment is managed on a consolidated basis. The operating segment’s revenue would be generated from commercial sales or license agreements of the product candidates. However, none of the Company’s product candidates has been approved for commercialization and it has not received any revenue in connection with the sale or license of its product candidates. Furthermore, except for most of Asia, the Company has global commercialization rights for roluperidone and also owns worldwide rights for MIN-301 and the Sigma Ligands.

The CODM does not evaluate operating segments using asset or liability information and therefore it is not disclosed. The following table summarizes the reportable segment’s financial information:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025			2024
Expenses
Research and development staff related expenses (1)	$	465,991		$	1,025,483
Research and development drug product material expenses and associated costs (2)		43,313			486,305
Research and development stock compensation expenses (non-cash)		99,699			192,385
General and administrative staff related expenses (1)		942,631			882,015
General and administrative stock compensation expenses (non-cash)		197,530			246,464
Total		1,749,164			2,832,652
Other segment expense, net (3)		2,153,720			3,849,311
Total expenses		3,902,884			6,681,963
Loss from operations		(3,902,884	)		(6,681,963	)
Reconciling items:
Foreign exchange (losses) gains		(8,376	)		5,493
Investment income		158,288			357,908
Non-cash interest expense for the sale of future royalties		—			(2,250,243	)
Net loss	$	(3,752,972	)	$	(8,568,805	)

(1) Salary, bonus, and fringe benefits are included in staff related expenses.

(2) Costs associated with the Company’s drug substance validation campaign are included in drug product material expenses.

(3) Insurance, consultant, audit, legal, and the C18 study costs are included in other segment expense, net.

Recent accounting pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date.

NOTE 3 — ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES

Accrued expenses and other liabilities consist of the following:


	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024
Research and development costs and other accrued expenses	$	353,981	$	351,782
Accrued bonus		378,196		363,181
Professional fees		513,847		514,037
Vacation pay		61,199		—
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	1,307,223	$	1,229,000

NOTE 4 — NET LOSS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK

Diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for all periods presented as the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive given the Company’s net loss. Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding, plus potential outstanding common stock for the period. Potential outstanding common stock includes stock options, but only to the extent that their inclusion is dilutive. Performance-based restricted stock units are excluded from the calculation of dilutive potential common shares until the performance conditions have been achieved on the basis of the assumption that the end of the reporting period was the end of the contingency period, if such shares issuable are dilutive.

In June 2023, in connection with the Private Placement (as defined and described in Note 6, Stockholders’ Deficit), the Company issued and sold pre-funded warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 575,575 shares of common stock. The purchase price of the pre-funded warrants was $9.99 per share, which was paid to the Company upon issuance of the pre-funded warrants. The exercise price of the pre-funded warrants is $0.01 per share. The pre-funded warrants are exercisable by the holders at any time and do not expire. As the remaining shares underlying the pre-funded warrants are issuable for nominal consideration of $0.01 per share, 575,575 shares of common stock underlying the unexercised pre-funded warrants were considered outstanding for purposes of the calculation of loss per share as of March 31, 2025.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share for common stockholders:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025			2024
Net loss	$	(3,752,972	)	$	(8,568,805	)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		7,568,981			7,568,981
Net loss per share of common stock – basic and diluted	$	(0.50	)	$	(1.13	)

The following securities outstanding at March 31, 2025 and 2024 have been excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding as their effect on the calculation of loss per share is antidilutive:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025		2024
Common stock options		1,486,297		1,115,357
Performance-based restricted stock units		228,209		228,209
Common stock warrants		5,099		5,099

NOTE 5 — SALE OF FUTURE ROYALTIES

The Company had previously co-developed seltorexant with Janssen for the treatment of insomnia disorder and adjunctive treatment of MDD. During 2020, the Company exercised its right to opt out of the co-development and license agreement (the “Janssen Agreement”) with Janssen for the future development of seltorexant and, as a result, the Company was entitled to collect royalties in the mid-single digits on potential future sales of seltorexant worldwide in certain indications, with no further financial obligations to Janssen.

On January 19, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with Royalty Pharma under which Royalty Pharma acquired the Company’s royalty interest in seltorexant for an upfront payment of $60 million and up to an additional $95 million in potential milestone payments. These milestone payments are contingent upon the achievement of certain clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones for seltorexant by Janssen or any other party in the event that Janssen sells seltorexant. Under the terms of the agreement, Royalty Pharma has recourse against the Company relating to payments due from Janssen and therefore, the Company is deemed to have significant continuing involvement. The Company has applied the debt recognition guidance under ASC 470, Debt, and recorded the upfront payment of $60 million on the balance sheet as a liability related to the sale of future royalties (the “Royalty Obligation”) and will record any amortized interest expense and future milestone payments received from Royalty Pharma as well. No amounts received, including the initial upfront payment, amortized interest expense or potential milestone payments, are repayable to Royalty Pharma if Janssen discontinues the clinical development of seltorexant or ceases to pursue its commercialization at a future date for any reason. In accordance with ASC 470, the Company will account for any royalties received in the future as non-cash royalty revenue.

As royalties are remitted from Janssen to Royalty Pharma, the balance of the Royalty Obligation will be effectively repaid over the expected life of the Janssen Agreement. The $60 million payment received from Royalty Pharma and any potential future milestone payments from Royalty Pharma are recorded as part of the Royalty Obligation. The difference between the total expected royalties receivable from Janssen and the upfront and milestone payments potentially receivable from Royalty Pharma is being amortized as non-cash interest expense over the estimated remaining life of the Janssen Agreement. To determine the amount of non-cash interest to be amortized, the Company is required to make assumptions for the total amount of future royalty payments to be received from Janssen. At execution, the Company’s estimate of this total non-cash interest expense resulted in an effective annual interest rate of approximately 10.5%.

The Company regularly evaluates the assumptions supporting future royalty estimates and, during the third quarter of 2024, noted that Janssen announced on clinicaltrials.gov a further Phase 3 study with seltorexant (42847922MDD3003) that has an estimated study completion date of November 30, 2027, which is significantly different from the assumption the Company used in its original estimates. As a result, the Company has made a significant revision to its estimates for the timing and amount of future royalty payments to be earned over the life of the Janssen Agreement and noted that the estimate of undiscounted royalty payments is now less than the original carrying value of the upfront payment received. Therefore, under the retrospective interest model, during the third quarter of 2024 the Company adjusted the Royalty Obligation to the initial upfront payment received of $60 million and recognized $26.6 million as a component of Other Income, representing the amount of amortized non-cash interest expense through June 30, 2024. In addition, the Company does not expect to recognize non-cash interest expense in the future related to the Royalty Obligation, as the effective annual interest rate is negative.

NOTE 6 — STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Private Placement of Common Stock and Warrants

On June 27, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional accredited investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the Investors in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) (i) an aggregate of 1,425,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per Share, and (ii) in lieu of additional shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 575,575 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $9.99 per pre-funded warrant. The price per pre-funded warrant represents the price of $10.00 per Share sold in the Private Placement, minus the $0.01 per share exercise price of each such pre-funded warrant. The pre-funded warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance and will not expire until exercised in full.

The pre-funded warrants issued in the Private Placement provide that a holder of the pre-funded warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its pre-funded warrants to the extent such holder, together with its affiliates, after giving effect to such exercise, would beneficially own in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation, as elected by such Investor, immediately after giving effect to such exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that each pre-funded warrant holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation by giving 61 days’ notice to the Company, but not to any percentage in excess of 19.99%.

On June 30, 2023, the Private Placement closed and the Company received aggregate gross proceeds from the Private Placement of $20.0 million. The Company incurred approximately $0.4 million in offering expenses during 2023, which were included as a component of additional paid-in capital, resulting in net proceeds of $19.6 million from the Private Placement.

Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-273686), which was declared effective by the SEC on August 9, 2023, covering the resale of the Registrable Securities (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement). The Company has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the effective date of the initial registration statement covering the Registrable Securities; (ii) the date all Shares and all shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants may be sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, without being subject to any volume, manner of sale or publicly available information requirements; or (iii) immediately prior to the closing of a Change of Control (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement).

Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, in connection with the Private Placement, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (“BI”), an Investor in the Private Placement, has the right to designate an observer to attend, subject to certain exceptions, meetings of the Company’s board of directors and its committees, until the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (ii) the date that it and its affiliates collectively hold less than 10% of the Company’s common stock (which shall be calculated by including in the amount of common stock held by such Investor and its affiliates any shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of any portion of the pre-funded warrant issued to such Investor and not yet exercised). BI designated a board observer on August 29, 2023.

At-the-Market Equity Offering Program

In September 2022, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through Jefferies shares of the Company’s common stock, by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, no shares of the Company’s common stock were issued or sold under the Sales Agreement. As of March 31, 2025, an aggregate of $22.6 million was eligible for sale pursuant to the Sales Agreement under the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-267424).

Term Loan Warrants

In connection with the Company’s former Loan and Security Agreement with Oxford Finance LLC and Silicon Valley Bank (the “Lenders”), which provided for term loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount of up to $15 million in two tranches on January 15, 2016, the Company issued the Lenders warrants to purchase 5,099 shares of common stock at a per share exercise price of $44.13. The warrants were immediately exercisable upon issuance, and other than in connection with certain mergers or acquisitions, will expire on the ten-year anniversary of the date of issuance. The term loans were repaid in August 2018. All related warrants were outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2025.

NOTE 7 — STOCK AWARD PLAN AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

In December 2013, the Company adopted the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (as subsequently amended and restated, the “Plan”), which provides for the issuance of options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards and stock units. As of March 31, 2025, the total shares authorized for issuance under the Plan were 2,078,917.

Stock Option Awards

Stock option activity for employees and non-employees for the three months ended March 31, 2025 is as follows:


	Shares Issuable Pursuant to Stock Options			Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Terms (years)		Total Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding January 1, 2025		1,487,234		$	8.34		8.3	$	46

Granted		—		$	—
Exercised		—		$	—
Expired		(937	)	$	34.72
Outstanding March 31, 2025		1,486,297		$	8.33		8.0	$	—
Exercisable March 31, 2025		637,620		$	14.31		6.9	$	—
Available for future grant		33,298

The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options outstanding on March 31, 2025 was $6.16 per share. Total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock options at March 31, 2025 were approximately $2.5 million and are expected to be recognized within future operating results over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years. Generally, stock options are granted using exercise prices equal to the market price at the date of grant, vest over four years for employees and one year for directors, and are exercisable over a maximum period of 10 years from their grant dates.

The expected term of the employee-related options was estimated using the “simplified” method as defined by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment. The volatility assumption was determined by examining the historical volatility of the Company and volatilities for industry peer companies. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on the U.S. Treasury instruments, the term of which was consistent with the expected term of the options. The dividend assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts. The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate paying dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Company has assumed no dividend yield for the purposes of estimating the fair value of the options.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted. There were no stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

On August 6, 2021, options to purchase 953,980 shares of the Company’s common stock were exchanged for 476,640 PRSUs. Options surrendered in the one-time stock option exchange program (the “Exchange Program”) were cancelled and shares subject to the cancelled options again became available for issuance under the Plan. The Exchange Program was treated as a Type II modification (Probable-to improbable) under ASC 718.

The Company used the pre-modification stock options for determining the compensation cost related to the PRSUs as the vesting conditions remain uncertain for the outstanding PRSUs. All expense related to the non-vested pre-modification stock options was fully recognized as of December 31, 2023.

On April 28, 2023, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors certified the achievement of a performance condition occurring upon FDA acceptance of the NDA for roluperidone. As a result, 50% of the shares of common stock underlying the Company’s PRSUs vested and the Company recognized approximately $0.2 million in non-cash compensation expense, representing 50% of the incremental cost of the PRSUs granted under the Exchange Program. The incremental cost was measured as the excess of the fair value of each new PRSU, measured as of the date the new PRSUs were granted, over the fair value of the stock options surrendered in exchange for the new PRSU, measured immediately prior to the cancellation. The remaining PRSUs vest upon roluperidone receiving FDA marketing approval, provided that such approval occurs within five years after the August 6, 2021 grant date. As of March 31, 2025, 228,213 PRSUs have vested, 20,218 have been cancelled, and 228,209 remain outstanding.

The following table presents stock-based compensation expense included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations:


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025		2024
Research and development	$	99,699	$	192,385
General and administrative		197,530		246,464
Total	$	297,229	$	438,849

NOTE 8 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of the Company’s business activities. The Company is not aware of any claim or litigation, the outcome of which, if determined adversely to the Company, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Leases

On October 11, 2022, the Company entered into an office lease agreement with Regus to lease approximately 491 rentable square feet of office space located at 1500 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. In January 2025, the Company renewed the month-to-month lease agreement commencing on February 1, 2025, with a monthly payment of $9,106. The Company has elected to not recognize the lease agreement on the balance sheet as the term of the agreement is 12 months or less.

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

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our annual audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2025. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or experience could differ materially from what is indicated by any forward-looking statement due to various important factors, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of proprietary product candidates to treat patients suffering from central nervous system diseases. Leveraging our scientific insights and clinical experience, we have acquired or in-licensed compounds that we believe have innovative mechanisms of actions and therapeutic profiles that potentially address the unmet needs of patients with these diseases.

We are developing roluperidone for the treatment of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and have exclusive rights to develop and commercialize MIN-301 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In addition, we previously co-developed seltorexant with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (“Janssen”), for the treatment of insomnia disorder and adjunctive treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (“MDD”). In June 2020, we exercised our right to opt out of our agreement with Janssen for the Phase 3 development of seltorexant and as a result, we were entitled to collect royalties in the mid-single digits on potential future worldwide sales of seltorexant in certain indications, with no further financial obligations to Janssen. In January 2021, we sold our rights to these potential royalties to Royalty Pharma plc (“Royalty Pharma”) for a $60 million cash payment and up to an additional $95 million in potential future milestone payments, subject to completion of Phase 3 trials by Janssen and regulatory approvals.

In August 2022, we submitted a New Drug Application (“NDA”) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for our lead product candidate, roluperidone, for the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. On February 26, 2024, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) regarding our NDA for roluperidone. Since receiving the CRL, we have continued to have interactions with the FDA with the goal of addressing the questions raised in the CRL.

We have not received any regulatory approvals to commercialize any of our product candidates, and we have not generated any revenue from the sales or license of our product candidates. We routinely evaluate the status of our drug development programs as well as potential strategic options. We have incurred significant operating losses since inception and expect to continue to incur net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities for the foreseeable future in connection with the clinical and regulatory activities associated with advancing our product candidates. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $399.1 million and $395.4 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, we recorded net losses of $3.8 million and $8.6 million, respectively.

Recent Developments

Nasdaq Listing Requirement Compliance Notice

On March 17,

SEC Form 10-Q filed by Minerva Neurosciences Inc