Dermata Therapeutics (DRMA) switches from Baker Tilly to CBIZ CPAs as auditor

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. filed an 8-K describing a change in its independent registered public accounting firm. On January 30, 2026, the company dismissed Baker Tilly US, LLP as auditor, effective January 31, 2026, following approval by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

Baker Tilly’s audit reports for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 contained no adverse or disclaimed opinions and were not qualified, other than an explanatory paragraph raising substantial doubt about Dermata’s ability to continue as a going concern. The company states there were no disagreements with Baker Tilly and no reportable events during those periods.

On February 2, 2026, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as Dermata’s new independent registered public accounting firm. CBIZ CPAs had previously served as Dermata’s auditor from 2016 to 2023, and the company reports no consultations with CBIZ CPAs on accounting or audit matters during 2024, 2023, or through January 31, 2026.

Insights

Audit & governance analyst

Dermata switches auditors while affirming no disputes or reportable events.

Dermata replaces Baker Tilly US, LLP with CBIZ CPAs P.C. as its independent auditor after Audit Committee approval. Baker Tilly’s prior reports on the 2023 and 2024 financial statements were clean except for an explanatory paragraph about substantial doubt regarding Dermata’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The company explicitly states there were no disagreements on accounting, disclosure, or audit scope, and no reportable events under Regulation S-K Item 304. CBIZ CPAs previously audited Dermata from 2016 to 2023, and Dermata notes there were no consultations with CBIZ CPAs on accounting or audit opinions during 2023, 2024, or the interim period cited.

This makes the filing primarily an auditor transition and governance disclosure rather than a new financial development. The going concern language reflects existing risk already embedded in prior audit reports, so the overall effect is neutral for the investment thesis based on the information provided.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 30, 2026

DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-40739		86-3218736
(State or other jurisdiction		(Commission		(IRS Employer
of incorporation)		File Number)		Identification No.)

3525 Del Mar Heights Rd., #322 San Diego, CA		92130
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(858) 800-2543

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share		DRMA		The Nasdaq Capital Market
Warrants, exercisable for one share of Common Stock		DRMAW		The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☒

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. ☒

Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

(a) Dismissal of independent registered public accounting firm.

On January 30, 2026, Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) notified Baker Tilly US, LLP (formerly Moss Adams LLP) (“Baker Tilly”) that Baker Tilly would be dismissed as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Company’s Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) approved the decision to dismiss Baker Tilly, which will become effective on January 31, 2026.

The audit reports of Baker Tilly on the Company’s financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that the reports included an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and through January 31, 2026, the Company has not had any disagreement with Baker Tilly on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreement, if not resolved to Baker Tilly’s satisfaction, would have caused Baker Tilly to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in its reports on the Company’s financial statements. In addition, during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and through January 31, 2026, there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

The Company provided Baker Tilly with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and requested that Baker Tilly furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the above statements in Item 4.01(a). A copy of Baker Tilly’s letter, dated February 3, 2026, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(b) Appointment of new independent registered public accounting firm.

On February 2, 2026, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C., (formerly known as Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.) (“CBIZ CPAs”) as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm.

CBIZ CPAs previously served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm from 2016 to 2023. Except for when CBIZ CPAs was previously engaged as the Company’s independent registered accounting firm, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and the subsequent interim period through January 31, 2026, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted CBIZ CPAs on any matter relating to either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or contemplated, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.		Description
16.1		Letter to Securities and Exchange Commission from Baker Tilly US, LLP, dated February 3, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Dated: February 3, 2026	By:	/s/ Gerald T. Proehl
	Name:	Gerald T. Proehl
	Title:	President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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FAQ

What change in auditor did Dermata Therapeutics (DRMA) disclose in this 8-K?

Dermata disclosed that it dismissed Baker Tilly US, LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm, effective January 31, 2026, and appointed CBIZ CPAs P.C. as its new auditor after Audit Committee approval, restoring a prior auditor relationship from 2016 to 2023.

Did Dermata Therapeutics (DRMA) report any disagreements with Baker Tilly as auditor?

Dermata states it had no disagreements with Baker Tilly during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and through January 31, 2026, on accounting principles, financial statement disclosures, or auditing scope that would have required reference in Baker Tilly’s audit reports under SEC rules.

What did Baker Tilly’s prior audit reports say about Dermata’s going concern status?

Baker Tilly’s audit reports on Dermata’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 included an explanatory paragraph indicating substantial doubt about Dermata’s ability to continue as a going concern, while otherwise not issuing adverse, disclaimed, or qualified opinions on the financial statements.

Who is Dermata Therapeutics’ new independent registered public accounting firm?

Dermata’s Audit Committee approved CBIZ CPAs P.C. as the new independent registered public accounting firm on February 2, 2026. CBIZ CPAs had previously served in this role from 2016 to 2023, and Dermata reports no consultations with CBIZ CPAs on accounting or audit matters during 2023, 2024, or the interim period described.

Were there any reportable events under Regulation S-K Item 304 for Dermata and Baker Tilly?

Dermata reports that during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and through January 31, 2026, there were no reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, indicating no significant issues in internal controls or other matters required to be reported.

Did Dermata seek Baker Tilly’s agreement with its description of the auditor change?

Dermata provided Baker Tilly with a copy of the disclosure and requested a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether Baker Tilly agreed with Dermata’s Item 4.01(a) statements. That response letter, dated February 3, 2026, is included as Exhibit 16.1 to the 8-K.