STOCK TITAN

Estrella Immunopharma (NASDAQ: ESLA) flags going concern risk after Q1 loss

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
10-Q

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. reported a net loss of about $2.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, slightly higher than the prior-year period, driven by ongoing clinical and corporate costs. Research and development expenses were roughly $1.4 million, mainly payments to Eureka for the STARLIGHT-1 trial, while general and administrative expenses were about $0.9 million, including a loss on the True-Up derivative.

The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of roughly $1.9 million and a working capital deficit near $6.8 million, after using about $6.7 million in operating cash, largely to reduce related-party accruals. Management states there is substantial doubt about Estrella’s ability to continue as a going concern without additional financing, despite raising approximately $8.0 million gross in a January 2026 registered direct offering and private placement. Estrella continues advancing its EB103 T-cell therapy, having dosed ten patients in the Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 trial by quarter-end.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • Substantial doubt about going concern: Management concludes the company is unlikely to have sufficient funds to meet working capital needs and debt obligations for one year from the report date without additional financing.
  • Weak liquidity versus obligations: Cash of about $1.9 million and a ~$6.8 million working capital deficit sit against significant Eureka-related accruals and a costly $33.5 million STARLIGHT-1 services commitment.

Insights

Clinical progress continues, but funding risk is elevated.

Estrella Immunopharma remains a pure R&D story, with no revenue and a quarterly net loss of about $2.3 million. The STARLIGHT-1 trial of EB103 is progressing, with ten patients dosed by March 31, 2026, including the first Phase II patient in January 2026. R&D spend of roughly $1.4 million is heavily tied to Eureka under the Statement of Work.

However, the business model is capital intensive. Total potential fees under the STARLIGHT-1 SOW are $33.5 million, and the company has already paid around $9.5 million plus a $1.5 million deposit, while accruing a further $8.3 million to Eureka. With an accumulated deficit of about $39.3 million, long-term value depends on trial outcomes and continued access to capital.

Management explicitly concludes there is substantial doubt about the ability to continue as a going concern, given just $1.9 million of cash and a working capital deficit near $6.8 million. The January 2026 raise delivered gross proceeds of about $8.0 million, but operating cash outflows of roughly $6.7 million this quarter show how quickly funds can be consumed as STARLIGHT-1 scales. Future filings will clarify how enrollment, milestone payments and new financings evolve over the fiscal year.

Balance sheet is strained, with heavy related-party obligations.

As of March 31, 2026, Estrella held about $1.9 million in cash against total assets of $3.7 million and current liabilities of roughly $8.9 million, producing a working capital deficit near $6.8 million. A key component is accrued liability – related party of about $8.3 million owed to Eureka for STARLIGHT-1 milestones.

Operating cash outflow of around $6.7 million this quarter far exceeded the reported net loss, mainly because the company settled prior Eureka invoices, reducing accrued liabilities by over $4.1 million. Although the January 2026 registered direct offering and private placement generated roughly $8.0 million in gross proceeds (about $7.2 million after costs), the net cash position remains thin relative to ongoing clinical commitments.

Management’s going concern disclosure states they do not expect to have sufficient funds to meet working capital needs and debt obligations for one year from issuance of these financials without additional financing. The company also notes outstanding public warrants with an exercise price of $11.50 per share are unlikely to be exercised while the stock trades near $1.26, limiting that potential cash source. Subsequent financings, or restructuring of obligations under the Eureka SOW, appear critical to sustaining operations.

Net loss $2,292,064 For the three months ended March 31, 2026
Research and development expense $1,400,275 Quarter ended March 31, 2026
General and administrative expense $891,789 Quarter ended March 31, 2026
Cash and cash equivalents $1,927,404 As of March 31, 2026
Working capital deficit ≈$6.8 million As of March 31, 2026
Cash used in operating activities $6,698,010 For the three months ended March 31, 2026
Accumulated deficit $39,282,879 As of March 31, 2026
STARLIGHT-1 SOW total potential fees $33.5 million Total non-refundable net fees if all milestones achieved
going concern financial
"management has determined that there is a substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern"
A going concern is a business that is expected to continue its operations and meet its obligations for the foreseeable future, rather than shutting down or selling off assets. This assumption matters to investors because it indicates stability and ongoing profitability, making the business a more reliable investment. Think of it as believing a restaurant will stay open and serve customers, rather than closing down suddenly.
registered direct offering financial
"the Company consummated a registered direct offering and a concurrent private placement on January 6, 2026"
A registered direct offering is a way for a company to sell new shares of its stock directly to select investors with regulatory approval. This method allows the company to raise funds quickly and efficiently without needing a public auction, similar to offering exclusive access to a limited number of buyers. For investors, it often provides an opportunity to purchase shares at a favorable price, while giving the company immediate access to capital.
Pre-Funded Warrants financial
"Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.00001"
Pre-funded warrants are financial instruments that give investors the right to purchase a company's stock at a set price, but with most or all of the purchase price paid upfront. They function like a coupon or gift card for stock, allowing investors to buy shares later at a fixed price, which can be beneficial if they want to avoid future price increases. This makes them important for investors seeking flexibility and certainty in their investment plans.
True-Up Shares financial
"the True-Up Shares embedded within Securities Purchase Agreement do not qualify as equity under ASC 815"
emerging growth company regulatory
"The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.
Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 Clinical Trial medical
"FDA cleared Estrella’s IND application for EB103, allowing Estrella to proceed with the Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 Clinical Trial"
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026

 

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

 

For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

 

Commission File Number 001-40608

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   86-1314502
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

5858 Horton Street, Suite 370
Emeryville, California, 94608

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(510) 318-9098 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(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 Symbols   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   ESLA   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50   ESLAW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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 (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or 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:

 

Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company
  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.

 

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

 

As of May 11, 2026, there were 43,034,228 shares of the issuer’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

    Page
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements ii
     
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1
Item 1. Financial Statements 1
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 1
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 2
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity 3
  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 4
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 5
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 24
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 30
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 30
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 32
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 32
Item 1A. Risk Factors 32
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities 32
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 32
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 32
Item 5. Other Information 32
Item 6. Exhibits 33

 

i

 

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “would” and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

 

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of our management and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date such statements are made. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026.

 

These and other factors could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date hereof. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated or that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations.

 

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

In addition, statements of belief and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date they are made, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

 

ii

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   As of
March 31,
2026
   As of
December 31,
2025
 
   (Unaudited)     
Current Assets        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents  $1,927,404   $1,384,302 
Prepaid expenses and other receivables   229,794    292,673 
Total current assets   2,157,198    1,676,975 
           
Other Assets          
Prepaid expenses, related party, non-current   1,500,000    1,500,000 
           
Total Assets  $3,657,198   $3,176,975 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable - related party  $14,947   $554,781 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   179,082    238,414 
Accrued liability - related party   8,268,333    12,393,333 
Derivative liabilities   465,132    356,505 
Total current liabilities   8,927,494    13,543,033 
           
Total Liabilities   8,927,494    13,543,033 
           
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 4)   
 
    
 
 
           
Preferred Stock          
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025   
-
    
-
 
           
Stockholders’ Deficit:          
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 43,180,509 and 38,486,219 shares issued as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   4,318    3,849 
Additional paid-in capital   34,606,644    27,219,287 
Accumulated deficit   (39,282,879)   (36,990,815)
Treasury stock, at cost 515,281 shares as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025   (598,379)   (598,379)
Total Stockholders’ Deficit   (5,270,296)   (10,366,058)
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit  $3,657,198   $3,176,975 

 

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

 

1

 

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2026
   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2025
 
         
Operating expenses        
Research and development (including $1,375,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, from related party)  $1,400,275   $1,410,188 
General and administrative (including $69,946 and $ 64,433 for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively, from related parties)   891,789    694,110 
Total operating expenses   2,292,064    2,104,298 
           
Loss from Operations   (2,292,064)   (2,104,298)
           
Loss before income tax   (2,292,064)   (2,104,298)
           
Income tax provision   
-
    (13)
           
Net loss  $(2,292,064)  $(2,104,311)
           
Net loss applicable to common stock per share, basic and diluted  $(0.05)  $(0.06)
Weighted average common stock outstanding, basic and diluted   42,121,075    36,188,293 

 

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

 

2

 

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

               Additional       Total 
   Common Stock   Treasury   Paid-in   Accumulated   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Amount   Stock   Capital   Deficit   Equity (Deficit) 
Balance, December 31, 2024   36,680,870   $3,668   $(568,917)  $24,636,283   $(23,927,303)  $143,731 
Stock-based compensation   -    
-
    
-
    159,095    
-
    159,095 
Purchase of treasury stock   -    
-
    (29,462)   
-
    
-
    (29,462)
Net loss   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    (2,104,311)   (2,104,311)
Balance, March 31, 2025 (Unaudited)   36,680,870    3,668   $(598,379)  $24,795,378   $(26,031,614)  $(1,830,947)
                               
Balance, December 31, 2025   38,486,219    3,849   $(598,379)  $27,219,287   $(36,990,815)  $(10,366,058)
Stock-based compensation   -    
-
    
-
    146,714    
-
    146,714 
Issuance of common stock, prefunded warrants and common stock warrants for registered direct offering   4,063,290    406    
-
    7,240,700    
-
    7,241,106 
Exercise of prefunded warrants   631,000    63    
-
    (57)   
-
    6 
Net loss   -    
-
    
-
    
-
    (2,292,064)   (2,292,064)
Balance, March 31, 2026 (Unaudited)   43,180,509   $4,318   $(598,379)  $34,606,644   $(39,282,879)  $(5,270,296)

 

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

 

3

 

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2026
   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2025
 
         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:        
Net loss  $(2,292,064)  $(2,104,311)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Stock-based compensation   146,714    159,095 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   108,627    
-
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Prepaid expenses and other receivables   62,879    201,066 
Accounts payable - related party   (539,834)   9,553 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   (59,332)   (83,916)
Accrued liability - related party   (4,125,000)   1,356,666 
Franchise tax payable   
-
    (4,134)
Net cash used in operating activities   (6,698,010)   (465,981)
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:          
Payments of transactions cost   (758,882)   
-
 
Proceeds received from issuance of common stock, prefunded warrants and common stock warrants for registered direct offering   7,999,988    
-
 
Proceeds received from exercise of prefunded warrants   6    
-
 
Purchase of treasury stock   
-
    (29,462)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   7,241,112    (29,462)
           
Net Change in Cash   543,102    (495,443)
           
Cash at beginning of the period   1,384,302    916,916 
Cash at end of the period  $1,927,404   $421,473 
           
Supplemental Cash Flow Information          
Cash paid for income tax  $
-
   $13 
Cash paid for interest  $
-
   $
-
 

 

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

 

4

 

 

ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

Note 1 – Organization and Business Operations

 

Description of Business

 

Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. (“Estrella”), a Delaware corporation, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing T-cell therapies with the capacity to potentially cure patients with blood cancers and solid tumors.

 

Estrella was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 30, 2022 by Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. (“Eureka”), which was incorporated in California in February 2006 and reincorporated in Delaware in March 2018 and is the predecessor of Estrella.

 

On June 28, 2022, pursuant to a Contribution Agreement between Estrella and Eureka (the “Contribution Agreement”), Eureka contributed certain assets (the “Assets”) related to T-cell therapies targeting CD19 and CD22, proteins expressed on the surface of almost all B-cell leukemias and lymphomas, in exchange for 105,000,000 shares of Estrella’s Series AA Preferred Stock (the “Separation”).

 

As part of the Separation, Estrella entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Eureka and Eureka Therapeutics (Cayman) Ltd. (“Eureka Cayman”), an affiliate of Eureka, and a Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Eureka, and Eureka contributed and assigned the Collaboration Agreement between Eureka and Imugene Limited (“Imugene”) (the “Collaboration Agreement”) to Estrella. The License Agreement grants the Company an exclusive license to develop CD19 and CD22 targeted T-cell therapies using Eureka’s ARTEMIS® platform. Under the Services Agreement, Eureka has agreed to perform certain services for the Company in connection with the development of the Company’s product candidates, EB103 and EB104. EB103, which is a T-cell therapy also called “CD19-Redirected ARTEMIS® T-Cell Therapy,” utilizes Eureka’s ARTEMIS® technology to target CD19. The Company is also developing EB104, a T-cell therapy also called “CD19/22 Dual-Targeting ARTEMIS® T-Cell Therapy.” Like EB103, EB104 utilizes Eureka’s ARTEMIS® technology to target not only CD19, but also CD22. The Collaboration Agreement establishes the partnership between the Company and Imugene related to development of solid tumor treatments using Imugene’s product candidate (“CF33-CD19t”) in conjunction with EB103.

 

On March 2, 2023, the FDA cleared Estrella’s IND application for EB103, allowing Estrella to proceed with the Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 Clinical Trial (“STARLIGHT-1”). On March 4, 2024, the Company, Estrella and Eureka executed Statement of Work No. 001 (“SOW”) relating to clinical trial services to be performed by Eureka in connection with the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial. On May 13, 2024, the Company and Eureka entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Work, effective as of March 4, 2024 (see Note 5).

 

In November 2025, the Company announced the completion of Phase I dosing for the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial. As of March 31, 2026, nine patients have been dosed in Phase I of the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, and one Phase II patient was dosed in January 2026.

 

On September 29, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), Estrella and TradeUP Acquisition Corp. (“UPTD”) consummated the business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 30, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among UPTD, Tradeup Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of UPTD (“Merger Sub”), and the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Estrella, with Estrella surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of UPTD. Upon closing of the Business Combination, UPTD changed its corporate name to Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. (“New Estrella” or the “Company”). Estrella’s fiscal year end was June 30, and the Company’s fiscal year end changed from December 31 to June 30 effective as of the Closing Date.

 

5

 

 

On June 26, 2024, the Company filed a Certificate of Ownership and Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State to effect a merger (the “Merger 1”) with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Estrella BioPharma Inc., pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Merger 1 was approved by resolutions duly adopted by the unanimous written consent of the Company’s board of directors. The Merger 1 became effective at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on June 30, 2024, at which time the separate existence of Estrella BioPharma Inc. ceased, and the Company became the surviving corporation.

 

In November 2024, the Company established Estrella Immunopharma (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd (“Estrella HK”) as a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong. This subsidiary was created to facilitate strategic collaborations and provide a local presence to support the Company’s operations and initiatives in Asia. As of March 31, 2026, Estrella HK had not commenced any operations.

 

On January 7, 2026, the Company received a notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that the Company was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a) because it had not held an annual meeting of shareholders within twelve months of the end of its transition period ended December 31, 2024. On February 27, 2026, Nasdaq notified the Company that it has granted an extension until June 29, 2026 to regain compliance with this requirement. Pursuant to the Company’s plan of compliance submitted to Nasdaq on February 24, 2026, the Company intends to hold a joint 2025/2026 annual meeting of shareholders prior to such deadline.

 

Going Concern

 

In assessing the Company’s liquidity and the substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern, the Company monitors and analyzes cash on hand and operating expenditure commitments. The Company’s liquidity needs are to meet working capital requirements and operating expense obligations.

 

The Company’s management has considered whether there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern based on the following factors: (1) recurring losses from operations of approximately $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026; (2) an accumulated deficit of approximately $39.3 million as of March 31, 2026; (3) net cash used in operating activities of approximately $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The Company has expended substantial funds on its research and development business, has experienced losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and expects losses and negative cash flows from operations to continue until its technology receives regulatory approval and the Company generates sufficient revenue and positive cash flow from operations, which may never occur. The Company’s ability to fund its operations is dependent on the amount of cash on hand and its ability to raise debt or additional equity financing, which may not be successful, available on acceptable terms, or available at all.

 

From May 2025 to September 2025, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with certain investors, pursuant to which the Company issued 1,600,000 shares of common stock and received gross proceeds of approximately $2.4 million. Additionally, the Company consummated a registered direct offering and a concurrent private placement on January 6, 2026, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million. Despite these financing activities, the Company’s management is of the opinion that it will not have sufficient funds to meet the Company’s working capital requirements and debt obligations as they become due starting from one year from the issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements due to the recurring loss. As a result, management has determined that there is a substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate financing or generate significant revenue, it may be required to curtail or cease its operations.

 

Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.

 

6

 

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026. The consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2025, was derived from the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The interim results for the three months ended March 31, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 or for any future interim periods.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary. All transactions and balances among the Company and its subsidiary have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of directors.

 

Emerging Growth Company Status

 

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company difficult because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

 

The Company became an emerging growth company upon the consummation of its initial public offering on July 19, 2021. Accordingly, the Company will remain an emerging growth company until the last day of the fiscal year in which the fifth anniversary of its initial public offering occurs, December 31, 2026, unless other criteria are met sooner.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

 

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include stock-based compensation, the fair value of derivative liabilities, and deferred income tax asset valuation and allowances.

 

7

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company maintains its operating accounts in a single financial institution. The balance is insured by the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) but only up to specified limits. The Company’s cash is maintained in a checking account. Cash equivalents consist of funds held at the third-party broker’s account for stock repurchase purposes; such funds are unrestricted and immediately available for withdrawal and use. The balance held at the third-party broker’s account is insured by the United States Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) but only up to specified limits.

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Receivables

 

Prepaid expenses and other receivables primarily include prepayments for third-party services, such as professional fees, insurance premiums, and other items that will be recognized as expense in future periods as the related services are rendered.

 

Basic and Diluted Loss per Common Stock

 

Basic net loss per Common Stock is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock and dilutive share equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury stock and if-converted methods. Since the Company has had net losses for all periods presented, all potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive.

 

As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had the following potential Common Stock outstanding which were not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per Common Stock because inclusion thereof would be anti-dilutive:

 

   As of
March 31,
2026
   As of
December 31,
2025
 
   (Unaudited)     
Public warrant   2,214,993    2,214,993 
Pre-funded warrant   369,000    
-
 
Common stock warrant   7,594,935    
-
 
Stock options granted   3,600,000    3,600,000 
Total   13,778,928    5,814,993 

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company recognizes compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees and directors as an expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. The fair value of each option granted is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, net of actual forfeitures. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model includes various assumptions, including the fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company, expected life of stock options, the expected volatility and the expected risk-free interest rate, among others. These assumptions reflect the Company’s best estimates, but they involve inherent uncertainties based on market conditions generally outside the control of the Company.

 

As a result, if other assumptions had been used, stock-based compensation expense, as determined in accordance with authoritative guidance, could have been materially impacted. Furthermore, if the Company uses different assumptions on future grants, stock-based compensation expense could be materially affected in future periods.

 

8

 

 

Warrants

 

The Company accounts for warrants as either equity-classified or liability-classified instruments based on an assessment of the warrant’s specific terms and applicable authoritative guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480, meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480, and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own Common Stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require “net cash settlement” in a circumstance outside of the Company’s control, among other conditions for equity classification. This assessment, which requires the use of professional judgment, is conducted at the time of warrant issuance and as of each subsequent quarterly period end date while the warrants are outstanding.

 

For issued or modified warrants that meet all of the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of equity at the time of issuance. Based on the terms of the warrant agreements, the Company concluded that its warrants qualify for equity accounting treatment.

 

Upon completion of the business combination, all of UPTD’s public warrants that remained outstanding were replaced by the Company’s public warrants. The Company treated such warrant replacements as a warrant modification and no incremental fair value was recognized.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of one cash account in a financial institution located in the United States. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts, and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides standard insurance coverage of $250,000 per insured bank for each account ownership category. As of March 31, 2026, the Company had not experienced losses on these accounts. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had deposited approximately $1.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively, with a financial institution in the United States. Of these balances, approximately $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, were not covered by deposit insurance. While management believes that the financial institution is of high credit quality, it also continually monitors its credit-worthiness.

 

The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) provides standard insurance coverage of $500,000 per brokerage account, which includes $250,000 for cash balances. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company maintained approximately $500 in its brokerage account, with the entire balance covered by SIPC insurance.

 

Risks and Uncertainties

 

Management continues to evaluate the impact of inflation rates, the continuing military actions in Ukraine, Israel’s war against Hamas and the armed conflict between the U.S./Israel and Iran on the industry and has concluded that these factors could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position and/or results of its operations. The specific impact of these factors is not readily determinable as of the date of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

 

The Company’s future success depends on the Company and Eureka’s ability to retain key employees, directors, and advisors and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. The Company relies on Eureka to provide certain technical assistance to facilitate the Company’s exploitation of the intellectual property licensed by Eureka, and Eureka will be solely responsible for the manufacture and supply of clinical quantities of the licensed products and final filled and finished (including packaged) drug product form of the licensed products. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, Eureka currently performs or supports the Company’s important research and development activities. The Statement of Work (see Note 5) may be terminated by mutual agreement at any time. Following the termination of, or the expiration of the term of, the Statement of Work, the Company may not be able to replace the research and development-related services that Eureka provides or enter into appropriate third-party arrangements on terms and conditions, including cost, comparable to those that the Company will receive from Eureka. Additionally, after the Statement of Work terminates, the Company may be unable to sustain the research and development-related services at the same levels or obtain the same benefits as when the Company was receiving such services and benefits from Eureka. If the Company is required to operate these research and development functions separately in the future, or is unable to obtain them from other providers, the Company may not be able to operate the Company’s business effectively, which could result in a material adverse effect.

 

9

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature. The Company measures the fair value of certain of its financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis. A fair value hierarchy is used to rank the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value which is not equivalent to cost will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

  Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
     
  Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
     
  Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy our financial asset and liability that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025:

 

   Carrying
Value at
March 31,
2026
   Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2026 
   (Unaudited)   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Derivative liabilities (True-Up Shares, Note 7)  $465,132   $
-
   $
    -
   $465,132 

 

   Carrying
Value at
December 31,
   Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2025 
   2025   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3 
Derivative liabilities (True-Up Shares, Note 7)  $356,505   $
-
   $
     -
   $356,505 

 

The fair value of the derivative liability is a Level 3 measurement estimated using a Monte Carlo Simulation model. As of March 31, 2026, the key unobservable inputs used in the model were as follows: volatility of 98% to 129%, risk-free rate of 3.7%, and spot price of $1.06 per share. The model captured the path-dependent payoff structure of the True-Up obligation and incorporated the terms of the contingent settlement feature, including the $0.99 to $1.08 True-Up Price and the Contractual Floor Price of $0.20 per share.

 

10

 

 

The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the financial liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2025, and for the three months ended March 31, 2026:

 

   Derivative
Liabilities
 
Initial fair value of derivative liabilities attributable to True-Up shares feature embedded in the Private Placement  $318,316 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   38,189 
Ending balance as of December 31, 2025   356,505 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   108,627 
Ending balance as of March 31, 2026 (Unaudited)  $465,132 

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including the True-Up Shares in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreements entered during May 2025 to September 2025 (refer to Note 7), to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is reassessed at the end of each reporting period.

 

The True-Up Shares embedded within Securities Purchase Agreement do not qualify as equity under ASC 815; therefore, the True-Up Shares are required to be bifurcated and classified as a liability and measured at fair value with subsequent changes in fair value recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Income Tax

 

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes is recognized based on a recognition threshold and measurement process for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company may be subject to potential examination by federal and state taxing authorities in the areas of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal and state tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

 

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law in the U.S. The OBBBA includes changes to U.S. federal tax law, including extending and modifying certain key Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provisions, and provisions allowing accelerated tax deductions for qualified property and research expenditures. The Company has completed its assessment and determined that the provisions did not have a material impact on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware and is required to pay franchise taxes to the State of Delaware on an annual basis.

 

11

 

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

The Company charges research and development costs to operations as incurred. The Company accrues costs incurred by related parties and external service providers, including contract research organizations and clinical investigators, based on its estimates of service performed and costs incurred. These estimates include the level of services performed by third parties, patient enrollment in clinical trials when applicable, administrative costs incurred by third parties, and other indicators of the services completed. Based on the timing of amounts invoiced by service providers, the Company may also record payments made to those providers as prepaid expenses that will be recognized as expense in future periods as the related services are rendered. Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 primarily consisted of costs for the conduct of clinical trials, legal and professional fees, and facilities related fees. Refer to Note 5 for the terms of the License Agreement, the Service Agreement, and the Statement of Work.

 

Related Parties

 

Parties, which can be a corporation or individual, are considered to be related if the Company has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Companies are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence.

 

Lease

 

Effective July 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842), and elected the practical expedients that do not require the Company to reassess: (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are, or contain, leases, (2) lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (3) initial direct costs for any expired or existing leases. For lease terms of twelve months or fewer, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election not to recognize lease assets and liabilities.

 

If any of the following criteria are met, the Company classifies the lease as a finance lease:

 

  The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term;

 

  The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise;

 

  The lease term is for a major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset;

 

  The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee, that is not otherwise included in the lease payments substantially exceeds all of the fair value of the underlying asset; or

 

  The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.

 

Leases that do not meet any of the above criteria are accounted for as operating leases.

 

The Company combines lease and non-lease components in its contracts under Topic 842, when permissible.

 

Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability are recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Since the implicit rate for the Company’s leases is not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow, on a collateralized basis, an amount equal to the lease payments, in a similar economic environment and over a similar term.

 

12

 

 

The Company reviews the impairment of its ROU asset consistent with the approach applied for its other long-lived assets when such assets are recognized. The Company reviews the recoverability of its long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances occur that indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. The assessment of possible impairment is based on its ability to recover the carrying value of the asset from the expected undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows of the related operations. When operating ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized, the Company includes the carrying amount of operating lease liability in any tested asset group and the associated operating lease payments in the undiscounted future pre-tax cash flows.

 

In the event of lease modification, the Company follows ASC 842-10-25 through 25-12, “lessee accounting for a modification that is not accounted for as a separate contract,” to remeasure and reallocate the remaining consideration in the lease agreement and reassess the classification of the lease at the effective date of the modification.

 

If, as a result of a lease modification or renewal, the remaining lease term is twelve months or less, the Company elects the short-term lease practical expedient and derecognizes any related operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities. Following such derecognition, lease payments are recognized in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The chief executive officer is identified as the Company’s chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”). The CODM reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, including net income (loss), for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The Company has not generated revenue to date, and the CODM does not receive or review discrete financial information by business line, product, service or geographic area. Based on the management approach and the qualitative and quantitative criteria established by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting”, the Company considers itself to be operating within one operating and reportable segment.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all accounting standards updates (“ASUs”). Management periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued. Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”), the Company meets the definition of an emerging growth company and has elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards, which delays the adoption of these accounting standards until they would apply to private companies.

  

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements — codification amendments in response to SEC’s disclosure Update and Simplification initiative which amends the disclosure or presentation requirements of codification subtopic 230-10 Statement of Cash Flows — Overall, 250-10 Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — Overall, 260-10 Earnings Per Share — Overall, 270-10 Interim Reporting — Overall, 440-10 Commitments — Overall, 470-10 Debt — Overall, 505-10 Equity — Overall, 815-10 Derivatives and Hedging — Overall, 860-30 Transfers and Servicing — Secured Borrowing and Collateral, 932-235 Extractive Activities — Oil and Gas — Notes to Financial Statements, 946-20 Financial Services — Investment Companies — Investment Company Activities, and 974-10 Real Estate — Real Estate Investment Trusts — Overall. The amendments represent changes to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of above subtopics. Many of the amendments allow users to more easily compare entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosures with those entities that were not previously subject to the SEC’s requirements. Also, the amendments align the requirements in the Codification with the SEC’s regulations. For entities subject to existing SEC disclosure requirements or those that must provide financial statements to the SEC for securities purposes without contractual transfer restrictions, the effective date aligns with the date when the SEC removes the related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K. Early adoption is not allowed. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective two years later from the date of the SEC’s removal. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the update on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures

 

On November 4, 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 amends ASC 220, Comprehensive Income to expand income statement expense disclosures and require disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of specified information about certain costs and expenses. ASU 2024-03 is required to be adopted for fiscal years commencing after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its financial position and results of operations.

 

The Company does not believe recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

13

 

 

Note 3 – Other payables and accrued liabilities

 

Other payables and accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

 

   As of
March 31,
2026
   As of
December 31,
2025
 
   (Unaudited)     
Accrued professional fees (i)  $173,464   $162,162 
Salary and payroll taxes payable   4,031    57,501 
Others   1,587    18,751 
Total other payables and accrued liabilities  $179,082   $238,414 

 

(i)The balance of accrued professional fees represented amount due to third party service providers which include, legal and consulting fee related to research and development, and others.

 

Note 4 – Commitments and contingencies

 

Manufacturing Commitment

 

On June 28, 2022, Eureka and the Company entered into the License Agreement under which Eureka granted to the Company a license under certain intellectual property controlled by Eureka for exploitation by the Company in the Company’s territory under the License Agreement (the “Licensed Territory”). Estrella’s supply of clinical quantities of the licensed products and final filled and finished (including packaged) drug product form of the licensed products for development and commercialization purposes, both in the Licensed Territory and elsewhere, are to be manufactured either by Eureka, its affiliate or a third party contract manufacturer. Refer to Note 5.

 

Registration Rights

 

May and June 2025 Securities Purchase Agreements

 

In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreements entered into with the Selling Stockholders on or about May 30, 2025 and June 1, 2025, the Company agreed to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Selling Stockholders (refer to Note 7). The Company also agreed to register the resale of any additional shares of Common Stock, or “True-Up Securities,” that may be issuable pursuant to the true-up mechanism in such agreements. The Company agreed to cause such registration statement to be declared effective, which occurred on January 23, 2026.

 

January 2026 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement

 

In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into on January 5, 2026, the Company agreed to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Common Stock Warrants issued pursuant to such agreement (refer to Note 7). The Company agreed to cause such registration statement to be declared effective, which occurred on January 23, 2026.

 

14

 

 

Contingencies

 

From time to time, the Company is or may be party to certain legal proceedings, as well as certain asserted and un-asserted claims. Amounts accrued, as well as the total amount of reasonably possible losses with respect to such matters, individually and in the aggregate, are not deemed to be material to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In some instances, the Company may be required to indemnify its licensors for the costs associated with any such adversarial proceedings or litigation. Third parties may assert infringement claims against the Company, its licensors, or its strategic collaborators based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future, regardless of their merit. There is a risk that third parties may choose to engage in litigation or other adversarial proceedings with the Company, its licensors, or its strategic collaborators to enforce or otherwise assert their patent rights.

 

Note 5 – Related party transactions

 

License Agreement

 

On June 28, 2022, in connection with the Contribution Agreement, Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. (“Eureka”), Eureka Therapeutics (Cayman) Ltd. (“Eureka Cayman”), and Estrella entered into a License Agreement under which Eureka and Eureka Cayman granted to Estrella a license under certain intellectual property controlled by Eureka for exploitation by Estrella in the Licensed Territory, which primarily includes the United States and the rest of the world, excluding China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

 

Pursuant to the License Agreement, during the term: (1) Eureka will manufacture and supply, either itself or through an affiliate or a third-party contract manufacturer, all of Estrella’s and its related parties’ clinical quantities requirements of the Licensed Products and final filled and finished (including packaged) drug product form of the Licensed Products (“Drug Product”) for development activities; and (2) Eureka will similarly supply all commercial quantities requirements of Drug Product for such development activities. Furthermore, Eureka and Estrella will form a Joint Steering Committee (“JSC”) to oversee the development and commercialization of the Licensed Products.

 

The License Agreement requires Estrella to make certain payments, including (a) an “upfront” payment of $1.0 million, payable in 12 equal monthly installments, (b) “milestone” payments upon the occurrence of certain events related to development and sales, with potential aggregate multi-million dollar payments upon FDA approval, and (c) royalty payments of a single-digit percentage on net sales.

 

As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, Estrella had no remaining balance of accounts payable - related party related to the upfront payment under the License Agreement. As of March 31, 2026, two development milestones Milestone 1 (IND submission of EB103 to the FDA) and Milestone 2 (first patient dosed in the first clinical trial of a licensed product) had been earned by Eureka under the Agreement. Milestone 1 was paid on October 10, 2023, and Milestone 2 ($50,000) was paid on September 3, 2024, both recorded as research and development expense in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Services Agreement

 

On June 28, 2022, Estrella entered into a Services Agreement with Eureka, as subsequently amended by Amendment No. 1 (effective October 1, 2022) and Amendment No. 2 (effective March 1, 2023). Pursuant to the Services Agreement, Eureka performs certain services for Estrella related to technology transfer and technical assistance to facilitate Estrella’s exploitation of the intellectual property licensed from Eureka. Under the Services Agreement, Estrella was to pay Eureka a non-refundable fee of $10.0 million in connection with the Services related to the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EB103 and reimburses Eureka for reasonable pass-through costs. In addition, Estrella will be charged for other services performed by Eureka outside the scope of the Services per the Service Agreement, at a flat rate, by time or materials or as mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing.

 

15

 

 

Services provided by Eureka under the Services Agreement commenced in June 2022 and the IND application for EB103 allowance milestone was achieved in March 2023. Following the consummation of the Business Combination on September 29, 2023, the Company remitted approximately $9.3 million to Eureka on October 10, 2023. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company has settled all amounts owed under the Services Agreement, and there are no outstanding accounts payable or related-party liabilities associated with this agreement.

 

Statement of Work

 

On March 4, 2024, the Company and Eureka entered into Statement of Work No. 001 (“SOW”) relating to the clinical trial services to be performed by Eureka in connection with STARLIGHT-1, the Phase I/II clinical trial of the Company’s product candidate, EB103, a T-cell therapy targeting CD19 using Eureka’s ARTEMIS® T cell technology. The trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, recommended Phase II dose, and preliminary anti-cancer activity of EB103 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (“R/R”) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (“NHL”) patients.

 

The SOW is governed by the terms of the Services Agreement (as amended) and incorporates all of its terms by reference. The scope of work includes study start-up, patient dosing and related activities, study close-out, and reporting, as well as regulatory document development, site activation, patient enrollment and consent management, data collection, and pharmacovigilance.

 

Pursuant to the SOW, Estrella agrees to pay Eureka non-refundable net fees in connection with the achievement of certain milestones set forth in the SOW, with total fees of $33.0 million for achievement of all milestones, excluding additional pass-through costs and expenses incurred by Eureka and payable by Estrella as further described below. Such amount assumes 20 patients to be dosed and one clinical site is activated. An additional $0.5 million would be payable to Eureka if a second site is activated following mutual agreement of Estrella and Eureka. In addition to the milestone payments, Eureka will invoice Estrella quarterly for additional pass-through costs and expenses incurred in connection with its services under the SOW. Pass-through cost details are summarized in the invoice, and supporting documents are provided upon Estrella’s request. Estrella is required to settle invoices within 30 days, with Eureka reserving the right to impose monthly interest charges of 1.5% for undisputed amounts unpaid after 30 days. Estrella will also be responsible for payment of any taxes, fees, duties or charges imposed by any governmental authority in connection with the services provided by Eureka under the SOW, other than any taxes on Eureka’s income.

 

The first invoice payable to Eureka issued upon execution of the SOW was for $3.5 million, covering the fees associated with the initiation of the study, the preparation and activation of the first study site, and the First Patient First Visit (FPFV) milestones. Prior to the commencement of the patient dosing phase, a deposit of $1.5 million is required to be delivered to Eureka to ensure the readiness for patient treatment expenses and will be applied against the final invoice, and any unused portion will be returned to Estrella following collection of all outstanding fees and costs payable to Eureka under the SOW.

 

Additional invoices will be issued in connection with patient dosing milestones, amounting to approximately $1.4 million per patient and a total cost of $27.5 million for 20 patients, excluding any pass-through costs and additional expenses. Lastly, a $2.0 million milestone fee will become due in connection with the study close-out phase. Services provided in connection with this milestone include finalizing patient data, trial data cleaning, statistical analysis, and preparing and submitting the final study report.

 

As of March 31, 2026, the Company has paid $3.5 million to Eureka for fees associated with the study initiation milestones that have been achieved, $5.5 million for patient dosing, $0.5 million for second site activation, and deposited $1.5 million for patient treatment expenses, which will be applied to the final invoice, with any unused portion refunded once all fees are settled. The deposit of $1.5 million was recorded as prepaid expenses, related party, non-current on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, ten and nine patients had been dosed, respectively. The second clinical trial site was activated in April 2025. All costs associated with patient dosing and second site activation were recorded as research and development expenses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

16

 

 

As of March 31, 2026, the Company accrued approximately $8.3 million under accrued liability – related party, related to outstanding dosing milestone payments. As of December 31, 2025, the Company accrued approximately $12.4 million under accrued liability – related party, and recorded $0.5 million as accounts payable – related party, which included amounts related to outstanding dosing milestone payments and second site activation costs.

 

On May 13, 2024, the Company and Eureka entered into Amendment No. 1 to the SOW, effective as of March 4, 2024, to clarify that in the event that Estrella exercises its right to terminate or suspend the engagement with Eureka by providing written notice to Eureka in accordance with the SOW, Estrella will only be obligated to compensate Eureka for (i) services provided by Eureka pursuant to the SOW (“Services”) in connection with milestones that were achieved prior to the date and time of such written notice, (ii) reasonable and documented pass-through costs incurred by Eureka on behalf of Estrella prior to the date and time of such written notice in connection with providing the Services and (iii) amounts payable to third parties pursuant to commitments reasonably entered into by Eureka on behalf of Estrella prior to the date and time of such written notice in connection with providing the Services, provided that Eureka shall make commercially reasonable efforts to cancel or reduce any such amounts.

 

Consulting Agreement

 

On November 1, 2024, the Company entered into a consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) with CoFame Investment Holding LLC (“CoFame”), a related party, as CoFame’s manager, Hong Zhang, is the Chairperson and a director of the Company. Pursuant to the Consulting Agreement, CoFame provides advisory and consulting services to the Company regarding activities in Asia, including investor relations and potential business collaborations, as mutually agreed from time to time.

 

As of March 31, 2026, the Company has accrued $18,333 under accrued liability - related party and has no outstanding balance in accounts payable - related party related to CoFame, as all invoices for the period through February 2026 have been settled. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had accrued $18,333 under accrued liability - related party and $36,666 as accounts payable - related party representing unpaid consulting fees due to CoFame. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company recorded professional fee expense of approximately $55,000, related to CoFame.

 

The following table summarizes research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses incurred by the Company in connection with related party transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, as discussed above.

 

Name of related party  Relationship  Nature  For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2026
   For the
Three Months
Ended
March 31,
2025
 
         (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Eureka  Shareholders of the Company  Research and development expenses  $1,375,000   $1,375,000 
Eureka  Shareholders of the Company  General and administrative expenses   14,947    9,435 
CoFame  Hong Zhang, director of the Company, is the manager of CoFame  General and administrative expenses   54,999    54,998 
Total        $1,444,946   $1,439,433 

 

17

 

 

Series AA Preferred Stock / Eureka Ownership

 

On June 28, 2022, Estrella and Eureka entered into the Contribution Agreement, pursuant to which Eureka agreed to contribute and assign to Estrella all rights, title and interest in and to the Assets in exchange for 105,000,000 shares of Estrella’s Series AA Preferred Stock. The issued shares of Series AA Preferred Stock were converted to Common Stock immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination on September 29, 2023. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, Eureka collectively owned approximately 59.3% and 66.6% of the Company on a fully diluted basis, respectively. The decrease primarily reflects dilution from the January 2026 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement (Note 7).

 

Lease

 

Refer to “Note 9 – Leases” 

 

Note 6 – Preferred stock

 

All previously issued shares of Series AA and Series A preferred stock were converted to common stock immediately prior to the closing of the business combination on September 29, 2023. Upon the closing of the business combination, the specific authorizations for Series AA and Series A preferred stock under the pre-merger certificate of incorporation were cancelled, and the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation now authorizes 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.

 

Note 7 – Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

 

The Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock is 250,000,000 with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there were 43,180,509 and 38,486,219 shares of Common Stock issued, respectively.

 

PIPE Investment Shares

 

In connection with the Merger, on September 14, 2023, UPTD entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with each of Plentiful Limited, a Samoan limited company (“Plentiful Limited”) and Lianhe World Limited (“Lianhe World,” together with Plentiful Limited, collectively, the “PIPE Investors”). Concurrently with the closing of the Business Combination, the Company issued 500,000 shares of Common Stock to each of Plentiful Limited and Lianhe World, respectively, for aggregate proceeds of $10,000,000.

 

Within thirty days following the date of the Closing, each PIPE Investor will also be entitled to receive 704,819 shares of Common Stock. Within five days following the date that is 24 months following the Closing (the “24-Month Date”), if the VWAP of Common Stock for the fifteen trading days prior to the 24-Month Date (the “24-Month Date VWAP”) is less than $8.30, then each of them will be entitled to a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) (A) 8.30 minus (B) the 24-Month Date VWAP multiplied by (ii) (A) the number of Shares held by the Investor on the 24-Month Date minus (B) the number of Shares acquired by the Investor following the Closing divided by 10.00. In accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements, the maximum number of shares to be issued at the 24-Month Date totals to 709,770.

 

18

 

 

On January 22, 2024, the Company completed the issuance of an additional 704,819 shares of Common Stock to each of the two PIPE Investors. The shares were issued as part of the consideration that each PIPE Investor was entitled to receive thirty days following the date of the closing of the Business Combination. In addition, in December 2025, the Company had issued 205,349 additional shares to the PIPE Investors in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements as the Company’s common stock for the fifteen (15) trading days prior to September 29, 2025 was less than $8.30, and based on the VWAP from September 8 to September 26, 2025.

 

Stock purchase agreement shares

 

-2025 Securities Purchase Agreements

 

From May 2025 to September 2025, the Company entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with three accredited investors. Each Securities Purchase Agreement includes a contingent value protection feature pursuant to which the Company may be required to issue additional shares of Common Stock (the “True-Up Shares”) if the market price of the Company’s stock on the 12-month anniversary of the agreement is below $1.50 per share. In 2025, the Company received gross proceeds of $2.4 million in connection with the executed Securities Purchase Agreements and issued 1,600,000 shares of its Common Stock to the investors, and incurred issuance costs of $117,473 related to the transaction. 

 

The True-Up feature was determined to require bifurcation from the host equity contract and is accounted for separately as a derivative liability under ASC 815. The derivative liability is initially measured at fair value on the issuance date and is remeasured at fair value at each subsequent reporting date, with changes in fair value recognized as general and administrative expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. In accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreements executed between May 2025 to September 2025, the maximum number of True-Up Shares totals to 735,857.

 

Change in fair value recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $108,627. The Company did not recognize any changes in fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2025 as no derivative liabilities existed.

 

-January 2026 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement

 

On January 5, 2026, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with a healthcare-focused institutional investor (the “January 2026 SPA”). On January 6, 2026, the Company consummated a registered direct offering (“RDO”) and a concurrent private placement pursuant to the January 2026 SPA, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of approximately $0.8 million.

 

The Company issued 4,063,290 shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.00001 per warrant share. The Company also issued common stock warrants (“Common Stock Warrants”) exercisable for up to 7,594,935 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.39 per warrant share, expiring on January 6, 2031.

 

Warrants

 

-Public Warrants

 

In connection with the reverse recapitalization, the Company has assumed 2,214,993 Public Warrants outstanding. Public Warrants met the criteria for equity classification.

 

19

 

 

Each whole Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one whole share of the Company’s Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Common Stock. This means that only a whole Warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Warrants will trade. The Warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 29, 2028, which is five years after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

 

The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 business days, after the closing of the initial Business Combination, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file, and within 60 business days following its initial Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. No Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the above, if the Company’s Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Warrants who exercise their Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event it so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but it will be required to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

 

Once the Warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the Warrants for redemption:

 

  in whole and not in part;

 

  at a price of $0.01 per Warrant;

 

  upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder; and

 

  if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $16.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third business day before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

 

The Company accounted for the 2,214,993 Public Warrants assumed from the merger as equity instruments in accordance with ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” and ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging: Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, none of the Public Warrants had been exercised.

 

-Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Stock Warrants

 

In connection with the January 2026 SPA, the Company issued Pre-Funded Warrants to the investor to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.00001 per warrant share for a cash consideration of $1,579,990. In addition, the Company also issued common stock warrants (the “Common Stock Warrants”) exercisable for up to 7,594,935 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.39 per warrant share, expiring on January 6, 2031.

 

The Company accounted for the Pre-Funded Warrants and Common Stock Warrants as equity instruments in accordance with ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” and ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging: Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity”.

 

20

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2026, 631,000 Pre-Funded Warrants were exercised, resulting in the issuance of 631,000 shares of Common Stock. As of March 31, 2026, 369,000 Pre-Funded Warrants remained unexercised.

 

As of March 31, 2026, none of the Common Stock Warrants had been exercised.

 

The summary of warrants activity is as follows:

 

   Warrants
outstanding
   Common stock issuable   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
 
December 31, 2024   2,214,993    2,214,993   $11.5    3.67 
Granted   
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
 
Forfeited   
-
    
-
    
-
    - 
Exercised   
-
    
-
    
-
    - 
December 31, 2025   2,214,993    2,214,993   $11.5    2.67 
Granted   8,594,935    8,594,935    1.23    4.75 
Forfeited   
-
    
-
    
-
    - 
Exercised   (631,000)   (631,000)   0.00001    - 
March 31, 2026 (Unaudited)   10,178,928    10,178,928   $3.54    4.22 

 

Stock Repurchase Program

 

On January 30, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing that its board of directors has authorized share repurchases of up to $1.0 million of its common stock. The authorization does not constitute a formal or binding commitment to make any share repurchases and the timing, amount and method of any share repurchases made pursuant to the authorization will be determined at a future date depending on market conditions and other factors.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Common Stock in the open market. During the corresponding three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company repurchased 28,302 shares of its Common Stock in open market transactions for an aggregate purchase price of $29,462, representing a weighted average price of $1.04 per share. As of March 31, 2026, and December 31, 2025, the Company has repurchased a cumulative total of 515,281 shares of its Common Stock, and approximately $0.4 million remained available for future repurchases under the authorization.

 

Note 8 – Stock-based compensation

 

At the special meeting of UPTD stockholders related to the Business Combination held on July 31, 2023, UPTD’s shareholders approved the adoption of the Company’s 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”), which became effective on the Closing Date. Upon the closing of the Business Combination, 3,520,123 shares of common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan.   The share reserve under the 2023 Plan increases automatically on January 1 of each year pursuant to an evergreen provision. Accordingly, the share reserve increased by 1,941,293 shares on January 1, 2024, by 1,920,444 shares on January 1, 2025, and by 2,115,684 shares on January 1, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, a total of 9,497,544 shares were authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan.

 

On October 30, 2024, the Company granted options under the 2023 Plan to purchase 3,600,000 shares of its Common Stock to its employees, board of directors, and other consultants. No additional stock options were granted or exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2026 or the year ended December 31, 2025.

 

The stock-based compensation expense was recorded in the Company’s results of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the stock-based compensation expense was $146,714 and $159,095, respectively.

 

21

 

 

The breakdown of stock-based compensation by categories for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 is summarized below:

 

   For the
Three months
ended
March 31,
2026
  

For the
Three months
ended

March 31,
2025

 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Research and development  $10,275   $10,188 
General and administrative   136,439    148,907 
Total stock-based compensation  $146,714   $159,095 

 

The aggregate grant date fair value of stock options granted under the 2023 Plan was $2,350,018, representing a weighted-average grant date fair value of $0.65 per share. As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there were approximately $1,152,074 and $1,298,788 of unvested compensation costs, respectively, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining employment service period of approximately 2.06 and 2.29 years, respectively.

 

The Company estimated the fair value of the stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of stock options issued was estimated using the following assumptions:

 

  Assumptions used for October 30, 2024 grant 
Exercise price  $0.815 
Stock price  $0.815 
Expected volatility   101.5-101.6%
Expected term (in years)   5.5-6.0 
Risk-free interest rate   4.16-4.17%
Expected dividend   0%

 

The risk-free interest rate was obtained from U.S. Treasury rates for the applicable periods. The Company’s expected volatility was calculated from a blended volatility estimate from the implied volatility of a portfolio of comparable companies and the Company’s trading history since October 2, 2023. Due to a limited history of relevant stock option exercise activity, the expected life of the Company’s options was determined using the simplified method, which is based on the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the options.

 

A summary of information related to stock option activities for the three months ended March 31, 2026 is as follows:

 

  Number of
Shares
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2025

   3,600,000   $0.815    8.84   $2,682,000 
Granted   
-
    
-
           
Exercised   
-
    
-
           
Cancelled   
-
    
-
           
Outstanding at March 31, 2026   3,600,000   $0.815    8.59   $882,000 
Options vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2026   3,600,000   $0.815    8.59   $882,000 
Options exercisable at March 31, 2026   1,837,470   $0.815    8.59   $450,180 

 

22

 

 

Note 9 – Leases

 

The Company has entered into a series of short-term office sublease agreements with Eureka:

 

Lease 3: January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, at $2,000 per month (six months)

 

Lease 4: July 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, at $2,000 per month (six months)

 

Lease 5: January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026, at $2,000 per month (six months)

 

The Company’s office lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The agreements were classified as operating leases.

 

The Company elected not to apply the right-of-use asset and lease liability recognition requirements to the above short-term leases in accordance with ASC 842-20-25-2, as each lease term is less than twelve months. Accordingly, the Company continues to recognize the lease monthly payments in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term period.

 

Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was $6,000.

 

Note 10 – Segment Information

 

The Company conducts its business as a single operating and reportable segment based on its organizational and management structure and the manner in which the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) reviews financial information to allocate resources and access performance, consistent with the Company’s segment reporting policy described in Note 2. The accounting policies of the Company’s single operating segment are the same as those described in Note 2. The key measure of segment profitability used by the CODM to allocate resources and assess performance is net income (loss), as reported on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The following table presents the significant expense categories of the Company’s single operating segment for the periods presented.

 

   For the three months ended
March 31,
 
   2026   2025 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Operating expenses:        
Clinical trial related service fee to related party (Note 5)  $1,375,000   $1,375,000 
Consulting fee   15,000    25,000 
Stock-based compensation (Note 8)   146,714    159,095 
Salary expense   128,764    129,711 
Professional fee   398,133    285,090 
Insurance expense   79,339    81,057 
Other general and administrative fee   149,114    49,345 
Loss before income tax   2,292,064    2,104,298 
           
Income tax expense   
-
    13 
Net loss  $2,292,064   $2,104,311 

 

Note 11 – Subsequent Events

 

Exercise of Pre-Funded Warrants

 

On April 8, 2026, all 369,000 remaining Pre-Funded Warrants issued in connection with the January 6, 2026 Registered Direct Offering at an exercise price of $0.00001 per warrant share were exercised. As a result, the Company issued 369,000 shares of Common Stock to Armistice Capital Master Fund. Following this exercise, no Pre-Funded Warrants from the January 2026 offering remain outstanding.

 

Except as described above, the Company did not identify any other subsequent events that would require recognition or disclosure in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

23

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Estrella Immunopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing T-cell therapies with the capacity to potentially cure patients with blood cancers and solid tumors. Our operations have focused on the development and clinical testing of our lead product candidates, EB103 and EB104, and on the conduct of the STARLIGHT-1 Phase I/II clinical trial.

 

On March 2, 2023, the FDA cleared the IND application for EB103, allowing Estrella to proceed with the Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 Clinical Trial. On March 4, 2024, Estrella and Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. (“Eureka”) entered into Statement of Work No. 001 (“SOW”) relating to the clinical trial services to be performed by Eureka in connection with STARLIGHT-1. Pursuant to the SOW, Estrella agrees to pay Eureka non-refundable net fees in connection with the achievement of certain milestones, with total fees of $33.5 million for achievement of all milestones, including a $0.5 million fee for the activation of the second clinical site. As of March 31, 2026, ten patients have been dosed in the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, and we accrued approximately $8.3 million in accrued liabilities - related party for the outstanding dosing milestone payments. As of March 31, 2026, Estrella has paid $3.5 million to Eureka for fees associated with the study initiation milestones that have been achieved, $5.5 million for patient dosing, and $0.5 million for second site activation.

 

To date, Estrella has funded its operations primarily from: (i) the June 28, 2022 issuance of $5.0 million of our Series A Preferred Stock; (ii) net proceeds of approximately $20.1 million raised from completion of the Business Combination on September 29, 2023; (iii) net proceeds of approximately $2.3 million from Securities Purchase Agreements entered into from May 2025 to September 2025; and (iv) net proceeds of approximately $7.2 million from the Registered Direct Offering consummated on January 6, 2026. We have a limited operating history. Since our inception, our operations have focused on preparing for the Business Combination, regulatory filings (including the INDs), planning preclinical and clinical studies, conducting the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, and building our management team. We do not have any product candidates approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.

 

As of March 31, 2026, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $39.3 million. We have remitted payment of approximately $11.2 million to Eureka under the License Agreement and Services Agreement, paid $9.5 million to Eureka for fees associated with milestones under SOW #001, and made a $1.5 million deposit for patient treatment expenses, which will be applied to the final invoice.

 

We anticipate that our expenses will increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:

 

continue to advance the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial and preclinical programs;

 

seek regulatory approval for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;

 

scale up our clinical and regulatory capabilities;

 

adapt our regulatory compliance efforts to incorporate requirements applicable to marketed products;

 

maintain, expand, and protect our intellectual property portfolio;

 

add operational, financial, and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our product development and planned future commercialization efforts; and

 

incur additional legal, accounting, and other expenses in operating as a public company.

 

24

 

 

Recent Developments

 

STARLIGHT-1 Clinical Trial Progress

 

In November 2025, the Company announced the completion of Phase I dosing in the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial of EB103, our lead product candidate. On January 9, 2026, one Phase II patient was dosed in the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, representing the tenth patient dosed in total. All dosing milestones recognized as of March 31, 2026 have been recorded as research and development expense under the SOW with Eureka. The Company continues to enroll patients and advance the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial.

 

January 2026 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement

 

On January 6, 2026, the Company consummated a Registered Direct Offering (“RDO”) and concurrent Private Placement pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement entered into with a healthcare-focused institutional investor, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses of approximately $0.8 million.

 

The Company issued 4,063,290 shares of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.00001 per warrant share pursuant to its shelf registration statement. The Company also issued Common Stock Warrants exercisable for up to 7,594,935 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.39 per warrant share, expiring on January 6, 2031. On January 16, 2026, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 to register the resale of shares issuable upon exercise of the Common Stock Warrants, which became effective on January 23, 2026.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2026, 631,000 Pre-Funded Warrants were exercised, resulting in the issuance of 631,000 shares of Common Stock. The remaining 369,000 Pre-Funded Warrants were subsequently exercised on April 8, 2026.

 

Business Combination and Corporate History

 

On September 29, 2023, we consummated the Business Combination with TradeUP Acquisition Corp. (“UPTD”) pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. For financial accounting and reporting purposes under GAAP, Estrella was the accounting acquirer, and the Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. The consolidated assets, liabilities, and results of operations of Estrella became the historical consolidated financial statements of the combined company.

 

On June 26, 2024, the Company completed a short-form merger to absorb its wholly-owned subsidiary, Estrella Biopharma Inc., and on November 25, 2024, our Board of Directors approved a change to our fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31. On November 27, 2024, the Company established Estrella Immunopharma (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd. (“Estrella HK”) as a wholly-owned subsidiary to support strategic collaborations and operations in Asia.

 

Nasdaq Listing Compliance

 

On January 7, 2026, we received a written notice from Nasdaq indicating that we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a) due to our failure to hold an annual meeting of shareholders within twelve months of the end of our transition period ended December 31, 2024. On February 27, 2026, Nasdaq granted us an extension until June 29, 2026 to regain compliance. We intend to satisfy this requirement by holding a joint 2025/2026 annual meeting of shareholders.

 

25

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Estrella was formed on March 30, 2022, and has not commenced revenue-producing operations. To date, our operations have consisted of the development and clinical-stage testing of our product candidates, EB103 and EB104, preparation and submission of the IND application for EB103, and conduct of the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial.

 

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 (Unaudited)

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs related to conducting work related to the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, which is principally performed by Eureka under the SOW.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, we incurred approximately $1.4 million of research and development expenses. All research and development expenses incurred for the periods presented were dedicated to the development of ARTEMIS® T-cell therapies targeting CD19 and CD22.

 

The breakdown of research and development expenses by category for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 is summarized below:

 

   For the
three months
ended
March 31,
2026
   For the
three months
ended
March 31,
2025
 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Clinical trial related service fee to related party (Note 5)  $1,375,000   $1,375,000 
Consulting fee   15,000    25,000 
Stock-based compensation   10,275    10,188 
Total research and development  $1,400,275   $1,410,188 

 

Research and development expenses for both three months periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 each included costs associated with one patient dosed under SOW #001. Stock-based compensation allocated to research and development remained consistent at approximately $10,000 per quarter for both periods.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, we incurred approximately $0.9 million and $0.7 million in general and administrative expenses, respectively. The increase of approximately $0.2 million, or 28.5%, was primarily attributable to higher legal and professional fees incurred to support our operations, as well as a loss of $108,627 recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2026 for the change in fair value of derivative liabilities related to the True-Up feature embedded in the Securities Purchase Agreements entered into from May to September 2025.

 

Net Loss

 

We incurred a net loss of approximately $2.3 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. We expect our research and development expenses to continue to increase as we continue to work with Eureka to advance the IND filings, preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates and preclinical programs, seek regulatory approval for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, scale up our clinical and regulatory capabilities, adapt our regulatory compliance efforts to incorporate requirements applicable to marketed products, maintain, expand, and protect our intellectual property portfolio, add operational, financial, and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our product development and planned future commercialization efforts, and incur additional legal, accounting, and other expenses in operating as a public company.

 

26

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of March 31, 2026, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.9 million and a working capital deficit of approximately $6.8 million. Since our inception, we have expended substantial funds on research and development and have experienced significant losses and negative cash flows from operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, we reported a net loss of approximately $2.3 million and net cash used in operating activities of approximately $6.7 million. As of March 31, 2026, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $39.3 million.

 

Going Concern and Management’s Assessment of Liquidity

 

We expect our expenses and operating losses to increase significantly as we continue to advance our product candidates through clinical development, particularly in connection with the Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial of EB103. Our recurring losses from operations, accumulated deficit, and need for additional financing to fund future operations, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

To fund our operations, we completed a private placement between May and September 2025, receiving gross proceeds of approximately $2.4 million. On January 6, 2026, we consummated a registered direct offering and concurrent private placement resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million. Despite these recent financing activities, management is of the opinion that we will not have sufficient funds to meet our working capital requirements and debt obligations as they become due starting from one year from the date of this report. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or generate significant revenue, we may be required to curtail or cease our operations.

 

Material Cash Requirements and Capital Sources

 

Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses, primarily consisting of clinical trial activities and related research and development costs. Pursuant to the SOW with Eureka for the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial, we agreed to pay total non-refundable net fees of $33.5 million for the achievement of all projected milestones, including a $0.5 million fee for the activation of the second clinical site. As of March 31, 2026, we have cumulatively incurred approximately $17.8 million to Eureka for milestones achieved, and we hold an accrued liability to related parties of approximately $8.3 million for the outstanding milestone payments.

 

Our ability to fund our operations is dependent on our cash on hand, our ability to raise debt or additional equity financing, and ultimately our ability to generate sufficient revenue. We plan to raise additional capital in the future; however, there is no assurance that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Furthermore, while we have tradeable warrants outstanding, it is unlikely that holders will exercise these warrants to provide additional liquidity in the near term, as the current market price of our Common Stock ($1.26 per share as of May 11, 2026) is significantly lower than the $11.50 per share exercise price. Additionally, our Common Stock Purchase Agreement with White Lion Capital LLC expired on December 30, 2025, and is no longer available as a source of liquidity.

 

Cash Flows

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and was primarily attributable to (a) a net loss of approximately $2.3 million, (b) approximately $59,000 decrease in other payables and accrued liabilities primarily due to the settlement of various previously accrued expenses, and (c) a decrease of $4.7 million in related party liabilities (accrued liabilities and accounts payable), resulting primarily from the settlement of milestone invoices previously due to Eureka, offset by (i) approximately $0.3 million (net) non-cash items, consisting of change in fair value of derivative liabilities and stock-based compensation under the 2023 Plan, and (ii) approximately $63,000 decrease in prepaid expenses and other receivables primarily due to the utilization of previously recorded prepaid expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2026.  

 

27

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and was primarily attributable to (a) a net loss of approximately $2.1 million, and (b) approximately $84,000 decrease in other payables and accrued liabilities primarily due to the settlement of various previously accrued expenses, offset by (i) approximately $1.4 million increase in accrued liability – related party as additional service charges were incurred from Eureka following the completion of one patient’s dosing milestone (see Note 5 and Commitments and Contingencies section), (ii) approximately $0.2 million non-cash item of stock-based compensation under the 2023 Plan, and (iii) approximately $0.2 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other receivables primarily due to the utilization of previously recorded prepaid expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2025.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and was primarily attributable to net proceeds of approximately $7.2 million received from the Registered Direct Offering and concurrent Private Placement consummated on January 6, 2026, net of placement agent fees and offering expenses.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $29,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, consisting entirely of open market repurchases of our common stock under our stock repurchase program.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, we did not have, nor do we currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, we are subject to loss contingencies, such as legal proceedings and claims arising out of our business, that cover a wide range of matters, including, among others, government investigations and tax matters. In accordance with ASC 450-20, “Loss Contingencies,” we will record accruals for such loss contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.

 

License Agreement

 

Pursuant to the License Agreement with Eureka, we were obligated to make, and may be required to make as applicable: (i) a one-time, non-refundable, non-creditable payment of $1.0 million, payable in twelve equal monthly installments; (ii) certain one-time, non-refundable, non-creditable development “milestone” payments upon the occurrence of certain events related to development and sales, with potential aggregate multi-million dollar payments upon FDA approval; and (iii) royalty payments of a single-digit percentage on net sales.

 

As of March 31, 2026, we have fully paid the $1.0 million license fee to Eureka. Two development milestones - the IND submission of EB103 to the FDA (“Milestone 1”, $50,000, paid October 2023) and the first patient dosed in the first clinical trial of a licensed product (“Milestone 2”, $50,000, paid September 2024) have been earned by Eureka and paid in full. No other development milestones, sales milestones, or royalty payments have been earned or are payable, as we do not have any product candidates approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.

 

Services Agreement

 

Pursuant to the Services Agreement, we agreed to pay Eureka $10.0 million in connection with the services thereunder, payable in twelve equal monthly installments, and to reimburse Eureka on a monthly basis for reasonable pass-through costs. In addition, we will be charged for other services performed by Eureka outside the scope of the services set forth in the Services Agreement, at a flat rate, by time or materials or as mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing. As of March 31, 2026, we have fully settled all amounts owed under the Services Agreement, and there are no outstanding accounts payable or related-party liabilities associated with this agreement.

 

28

 

 

Statement of Work

 

Pursuant to the SOW (and Amendment No. 1), Estrella agreed to pay Eureka total fees of up to $33.5 million in connection with the Phase I/II clinical trial of EB103, including a $0.5 million fee for the activation of the second clinical site. As of March 31, 2026, ten patients have been dosed and two clinical sites are active.

 

Amounts related to the SOW are accrued as earned by Eureka and recorded as research and development expense. As of March 31, 2026, approximately $8.3 million in earned but not yet formally invoiced milestone payments were recorded as accrued liability - related party on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. The $1.5 million deposit for patient treatment expenses continues to be recorded as prepaid expenses - related party, non-current, and will be applied against the final invoice.

 

Office Lease

 

We have entered into a series of short-term office sublease agreements with Eureka for 180 square feet of office space at a monthly fee of $2,000. The current sublease (Lease 5) commenced January 1, 2026 and expires June 30, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, total future minimum payments under Lease 5 are $6,000 (April through June 2026).

 

Equity Financing — 2025 Securities Purchase Agreements

 

From May 2025 to September 2025, we entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with three accredited investors. Each agreement includes a True-Up feature pursuant to which we may be required to issue additional shares of Common Stock (up to a maximum of 735,857 True-Up Shares in aggregate) if our Common Stock price is below $1.50 on the 12-month anniversary of each respective agreement. This True-Up feature is recorded as a derivative liability, measured at fair value through earnings. As of March 31, 2026, the fair value of this derivative liability was $465,132.

 

Equity Financing — January 2026 Registered Direct Offering

 

In connection with the January 6, 2026 RDO, we issued Common Stock Warrants exercisable for up to 7,594,935 shares of Common Stock at $1.39 per share, expiring January 6, 2031. The Common Stock Warrants are equity-classified. We also fulfilled our registration obligation related to the Common Stock Warrants through a Form S-1 that became effective January 23, 2026. As of March 31, 2026, no Common Stock Warrants have been exercised.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

 

We have identified certain accounting estimates that are significant to the preparation of our financial statements. These estimates are important for an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to our financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting the estimate may differ significantly from management’s current judgments. We believe no critical accounting estimate was identified other than the following significant estimates and accounting policies.

 

29

 

 

Derivative Liabilities

 

We evaluate all of our financial instruments, including the True-Up Shares in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is reassessed at the end of each reporting period.

 

As of March 31, 2026, the fair value of the derivative liability related to the True-Up Shares was valued at $465,132 using a Monte Carlo Simulation model. Key inputs included a volatility of 98% to 129%, a risk-free rate of 3.7%, and a spot price of $1.06 per share. The model captured the path-dependent payoff structure of the True-Up obligation and incorporated the terms of the contingent settlement feature, including the $0.99 to $1.08 True-Up Price and the Contractual Floor Price of $0.20 per share.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We recognize compensation costs resulting from the issuance of stock-based awards to employees, non-employees, and directors as an expense in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations over the requisite service period based on a measurement of fair value for each stock-based award. The fair value of each option granted is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, net of actual forfeitures. The fair value is amortized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model includes various assumptions, including the fair market value of Estrella Common Stock, expected life of stock options, the expected volatility, and the expected risk-free interest rate, among others. These assumptions reflect our best estimates, but they involve inherent uncertainties based on market conditions generally outside of our control.

 

As a result, if other assumptions had been used, stock-based compensation expense, as determined in accordance with authoritative guidance, could have been materially impacted. Furthermore, if we use different assumptions on future grants, stock-based compensation expense could be materially affected in future periods.

 

We account for the fair value of equity instruments issued to non-employees using either the fair value of the services received or the fair value of the equity instrument, whichever is considered more reliable. We utilize the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to measure the fair value of options issued to non-employees.

 

We record compensation expense for the awards with graded vesting using the straight-line method. We recognize compensation expense over the requisite service period applicable to each individual award, which generally equals the vesting term. Forfeitures are recognized when realized.

 

Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status

 

As an emerging growth company, we have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards as permitted by the JOBS Act, which allows us to delay the adoption of these standards until they apply to private companies.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

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

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

30

 

 

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our management, with the participation and supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not, in design and operation, effective as of March 31, 2026 at a reasonable assurance level due to the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting described below:

 

Material Weaknesses

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, within the meaning of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard AS 2201, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We had the following material weakness:

 

We did not have qualified full-time personnel with appropriate levels of accounting knowledge and experience to address complex GAAP accounting issues and to prepare and review financial statements and related disclosures under GAAP.

 

In light of this material weakness, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, management believes that the financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly in all material respects our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the period presented.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

The Company has implemented certain changes in its internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) to remediate the material weaknesses identified in fiscal years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. The implementation of the material aspects of this plan took place during 2025 and 2024. The remediation efforts included:

 

Additional qualified personnel with appropriate levels of accounting knowledge and experience to address GAAP accounting issues have been added to prepare and review financial statements and related disclosures under GAAP.

 

Implementing processes whereby non-routine transactions are analyzed by in-house staff and third-party consultants to ensure proper accounting treatment.

 

Establishing narratives and policies for business processes that relate to financial statements have been put in place to establish proper segregation of duties and internal controls.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2026, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. While the Company has continued to remediate certain previously identified material weaknesses, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that as of March 31, 2026, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

 

In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

 

31

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those included in this Quarterly Report are any of the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026. Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026. 

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, no director or officer adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

32

 

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description of Exhibit
31.1*   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15(d)-14(a), as adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**   Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**   Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

 

* Filed herewith.
   
** These certifications are furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

33

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  ESTRELLA IMMUNOPHARMA, INC.
   
Date: May 15, 2026 By: /s/ Cheng Liu
  Name: Cheng Liu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: May 15, 2026 By: /s/ Peter Xu
  Name:  Peter Xu
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)

 

34

 

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FAQ

How much did Estrella Immunopharma (ESLA) lose in the quarter ended March 31, 2026?

Estrella reported a net loss of about $2.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. This compares to roughly $2.1 million in the prior-year period and reflects ongoing R&D spending and higher general and administrative costs, including a derivative fair value loss.

What is Estrella Immunopharma’s cash position and working capital as of March 31, 2026?

As of March 31, 2026, Estrella held approximately $1.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. Current liabilities of about $8.9 million produced a working capital deficit near $6.8 million, highlighting tight liquidity and reliance on future financings to support operations.

What progress has Estrella Immunopharma (ESLA) made in the STARLIGHT-1 clinical trial?

By March 31, 2026, Estrella had dosed ten patients in its Phase I/II STARLIGHT-1 trial of EB103, including the first Phase II patient in January 2026. Phase I dosing was completed in November 2025, and related milestone payments to Eureka are a major component of R&D expenses.

What are Estrella Immunopharma’s key financial commitments to Eureka under the STARLIGHT-1 SOW?

Under the Statement of Work with Eureka, Estrella agreed to pay up to $33.5 million in non-refundable net fees for milestones, including a $0.5 million second-site activation fee. As of March 31, 2026, it had paid about $9.5 million and accrued roughly $8.3 million in related-party liabilities.

Did Estrella Immunopharma raise new capital in early 2026?

Yes. On January 6, 2026, Estrella completed a registered direct offering and private placement, raising about $8.0 million in gross proceeds. After roughly $0.8 million in fees and expenses, net proceeds were approximately $7.2 million, used to support operations and clinical commitments.

Why does Estrella Immunopharma’s 10-Q highlight going concern risk?

The 10-Q states there is substantial doubt about Estrella’s ability to continue as a going concern. Recurring losses, significant cash used in operations, a working capital deficit, and large contractual obligations mean the company will need additional financing or revenue to avoid curtailing or ceasing operations.