Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

Share Name	Share Symbol	Market	Type
Exicure Inc	NASDAQ:XCUR	NASDAQ	Common Stock

	Price Change	% Change	Share Price	Bid Price	Offer Price	High Price	Low Price	Open Price	Shares Traded	Last Trade
	0.41	2.26%	18.53	17.50	18.21	18.94	17.12	18.10	86,587	00:50:03

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________________________________

FORM 10-Q

______________________________________

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024

☐ 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: 001-39011

______________________________________

EXICURE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________________________


Delaware						81-5333008
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)						(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2430 N. Halsted St.

Chicago, IL 60614

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (847) 673-1700

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

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

XCUR

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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of November 7, 2024, there were 2,172,323 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding.

EXICURE, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION						5
Item 1. Financial Statements						5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets						5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations						6

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity						7
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows						9
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements						11
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations						26
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk						35
Item 4. Controls and Procedures						35

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION						37
Item 1. Legal Proceedings						37
Item 1A. Risk Factors						39
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds						48
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities						48
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures						48
Item 5. Other Information						48
Item 6. Exhibits						49

Signatures						51

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains express or implied “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”). All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,”, “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “predict,” “seek,” “contemplate,” “project,” “continue,” “potential,” “ongoing” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements also include the assumptions underlying or relating to such statements.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, such expectations or any of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. Our future financial condition and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” below and for the reasons described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements and reasons why results may differ included in this report are made as of the date hereof and we do not intend to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:

•substantial uncertainties regarding our exploration of strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, including whether we are able to identify potential partners and consummate transactions, in a timely manner or at all, whether we would be able to obtain sufficient funding to complete this process and whether any such transactions would generate value for stockholders;

•our ability to raise the substantial additional capital that is needed in the very near term to fund our operations and our pursuit of strategic alternatives, particularly given our current lack of a significant, ongoing revenue source or committed financing and the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern;

•whether we receive any royalties or license fees in the future from our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets, which we sold in September 2024;

•our ability to remain listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), including the ability to maintain minimum stockholders’ equity and stock price, and comply with applicable governance requirements, among other requirements, for continued listing on Nasdaq and demonstrate our ability to maintain long-term compliance to the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) in connection with our pending appeal to the Panel of a delisting determination from the Nasdaq staff;

•our ability to close the investments by HiTron Systems, Inc. in a timely manner, including our ability to obtain stockholder approval of the second $8.7 million investment and to otherwise satisfy all closing conditions with respect thereto;

•any strategic plan or alternative that we may identify and pursue may involve unexpected costs, liabilities and/or delays and may not deliver anticipated benefits to our stockholders;

•our estimates of expenses, use of cash, timing of future cash needs, ongoing losses and capital requirements may prove to be inaccurate;

•uncertainty about reaction from investors and potential business partners to our recent changes of control and board and management composition and the future direction of the Company, and the ability of our controlling stockholders and new board members and management to earn the confidence of investors and potential partners despite limited experience with U.S. public companies, and how these factors may impact our ability to obtain funding and execute any strategic alternatives that we may identify;

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•potential additional turnover of senior management, and any inability to attract and retain qualified management and other key personnel, creates significant continuity risk and could impair our ability to raise capital and execute on our exploration of strategic alternatives;

•our ability to comply with all applicable laws, which may be particularly challenging given the recent turnover in our board and management, significant reductions in force, limited resources and the potential to enter into new business areas with which we have no past experience;

•our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others;

•the impact of macroeconomic conditions, including global inflation, actions taken by central banks to counter inflation, capital market and bank instability, exchange rate fluctuations, supply chain disruptions and energy and fuel prices;

•the impact of government laws and regulations; and

•other factors that may impact our financial results and condition and our ongoing strategic efforts.

These statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Any forward-looking statement in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflects our current view with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our business, results of operations and future growth. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we reference herein and have filed with the SEC as exhibits thereto completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no, and specifically decline any, obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the “Company,” “Exicure,” “we,” “us” and “our” refers to Exicure, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, where appropriate, our subsidiary.

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	343	$	816

Other receivable	1,350		15
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	907		1,193
Total current assets	2,600		2,024
Property and equipment, net	33		54

Right-of-use asset	5,926		6,517
Other noncurrent assets	2,072		2,985
Total assets	$	10,631	$	11,580
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable	1,337		1,631
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	2,318		879

Total current liabilities	3,655		2,510

Lease liability, noncurrent	5,431		6,039

Total liabilities	9,086		8,549

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023	—		—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 2,172,323 issued and outstanding, September 30, 2024; 1,832,988 issued and outstanding, December 31, 2023 *	—		—
Additional paid-in capital	193,628		192,594

Accumulated deficit	(192,083)		(189,563)
Total stockholders’ equity	1,545		3,031
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	10,631	$	11,580

* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenue:
Revenue	$	—	$	—	$	500	$	—
Total revenue	—		—		500		—
Operating expenses:
Research and development expense	—		—		—		1,423
General and administrative expense	1,434		2,397		4,005		11,155
Litigation legal expense	1,138		—		1,138		—
Loss from sale of property and equipment	—		920		—		920
Total operating expenses	2,572		3,317		5,143		13,498
Operating loss	(2,572)		(3,317)		(4,643)		(13,498)
Other income (expense), net:
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable	—		(2,000)		—		(2,000)
Dividend income	—		13		5		45
Interest income	1		4		7		28
Interest expense	(12)		—		(18)		—
Other income (expense), net	1,500		44		2,137		(2)

Total other income (expense), net	1,489		(1,939)		2,131		(1,929)
Net loss before provision for income taxes	(1,083)		(5,256)		(2,512)		(15,427)
Provision for income taxes	(8)		—		(8)		—
Net loss	$	(1,091)	$	(5,256)	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)

Basic and diluted loss per common share *	$	(0.57)	$	(3.04)	$	(1.36)	$	(9.89)

Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding *	1,899,412		1,730,104		1,855,286		1,559,868

* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except shares)


	Common Stock
	Shares *	$		Additional Paid-in- Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at January 1, 2024	1,832,988	$	—	$	192,594	$	(189,563)	$	3,031
Equity-based compensation	—	—		5		—		5

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	40	—		—		—		—

Net loss	—	—		—		(829)		(829)
Balance at March 31, 2024	1,833,028	$	—	$	192,599	$	(190,392)	$	2,207
Equity-based compensation	—	—		6		—		6
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	40	—		—		—		—

Net loss	—	—		—		(600)		(600)
Balance at June 30, 2024	1,833,068	$	—	$	192,605	$	(190,992)	$	1,613
Equity-based compensation	—	—		5		—		5
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	41	—		—		—		—

Issuance of common stock, debt to equity conversion	339,214	—		1,018		—		1,018

Net income	—	—		—		(1,091)		(1,091)
Balance at September 30, 2024	2,172,323	$	—	$	193,628	$	(192,083)	$	1,545

* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except shares)


	Common Stock
	Shares *	$		Additional Paid-in- Capital		Accumulated Deficit		Total Stockholders' Equity
Balance at January 1, 2023	1,096,017	$	—	$	187,571	$	(172,649)	$	14,922
Equity-based compensation	—	—		308		—		308
Reclassification of common stock warrants to liability	—	—		(800)		—		(800)
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	1,112	—		(1)		—		(1)
Issuance of common stock, net	680,000	—		4,597		—		4,597
Net loss	—	—		—		(4,407)		(4,407)
Balance at March 31, 2023	1,777,129	$	—	$	191,675	$	(177,056)	$	14,619
Equity-based compensation	—	—		969		—		969
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	55,369	—		(119)		—		(119)
Net loss	—	—		—		(5,764)		(5,764)
Balance at June 30, 2023	1,832,498	$	—	$	192,525	$	(182,820)	$	9,705
Equity-based compensation	—	—		50		—		50
Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases	442	—		(1)		—		(1)
Net loss	—	—		—		(5,256)		(5,256)
Balance at September 30, 2023	1,832,940	$	—	$	192,574	$	(188,076)	$	4,498

* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21		627
Equity-based compensation	16		1,327

Amortization of right-of-use asset	591		551

Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable	—		2,000
Loss from sale of property and equipment	—		920
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Other receivable	(1,335)		—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	607		124
Other noncurrent assets	—		291
Accounts payable	(293)		504
Accrued expenses	1,457		78
Other liabilities	(609)		(536)
Net cash used in operating activities	(2,065)		(9,541)
Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of available-for-sale securities	—		(2,000)



Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	—		211
Net cash used in investing activities	—		(1,789)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowing	1,000		—

Proceeds from common stock offering	—		5,440

Payment of common stock financing costs	—		(843)

Payment of exercise of common stock warrants	—		(800)
Payments for minimum statutory tax withholding related to net share settlement of equity awards	—		(122)
Net cash provided by provided by financing activities	1,000		3,675

Net (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(1,065)		(7,655)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of period	2,016		9,777
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - end of period	$	951	$	2,122

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

EXICURE, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Non-cash investing activities:
Other receivable from sale of property and equipment	$	—	$	711
Non-cash financing activities:
Equity effect of debt to equity conversion	$	1,018	$	—

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the amounts shown in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents	$	343	$	816
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets	608		1,200
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$	951	$	2,016

See accompanying notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

1. Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern

Description of Business

Exicure, Inc. was historically an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, the Company announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that the Company was exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. The Company is engaging in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. This effort involves exploring growth through transactions with potential partners that see opportunity in joining an existing, publicly-traded organization.

Throughout these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the terms the “Company,” and “Exicure” refer to Exicure, Inc. and where appropriate, its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. Exicure Operating Company holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Exicure, Inc.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, have been presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Exicure and its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

Reverse Stock Split

At the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its shares of common stock, issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance, at a ratio within the range from 1-for-2 to 1-for-15, with such ratio to be determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors. On August 20, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted resolutions to effect as soon as reasonably practicable the reverse split of the issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5.

The Company effected a reverse stock split of its Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5 as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2024. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share received a full share in lieu thereof. An additional 102,837 shares were issued as a result of the fractional shares rounded up. All information presented in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated herein, assumes a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding conversion price or exercise price data set forth herein have been adjusted to give effect to such assumed reverse stock split.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the interim condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the interim condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2024, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 6, 2024.

Going Concern

At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The Company is required to make certain additional disclosures if it concludes substantial doubt exists and it is not alleviated by the Company’s plans or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As of September 30, 2024, the Company expects to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $343. Management believes that, given the Company’s current cash position, operating plans and forecasted negative cash flows from operating activities over the next twelve months, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements are issued. Substantial additional financing will be needed by the Company to fund its operations.

Management believes that the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to continue to fund its operating expenses and additional funding is needed in the very near term. The Company has already engaged in significant cost reductions, so our ability to further cut costs and extend the Company’s operating runway is limited. As a result, substantial additional financing will be needed by the Company in the very near term to pay expenses, fund the ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives and pursue any alternatives that may be identified. There can be no assurance that such additional financing will be available and, if available, can be obtained on acceptable terms.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, which are included in the in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on June 6, 2024. Since the date of those audited consolidated financial statements, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstances and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which will require companies to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The pronouncement is effective for annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company is still in the process of assessing the full impact of adopting this standard on the enhanced disclosure requirements in the notes to the Company’s financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 aims to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 modifies the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose (1) specific categories in the rate reconciliation, (2) the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and (3) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). Update 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state and local jurisdictions, among other changes. Update No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We expect to adopt Update No. 2023-09 prospectively. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Prepaid expenses and other current assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023

Prepaid insurance	$	455	$	508
Prepaid franchise tax	28		259
Lease costs	260		235
Prepaid professional fees	70		95
Prepaid software	46		72
Other	48		24
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	907	$	1,193

Other noncurrent assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Restricted cash	$	608	$	1,200
Prepaid insurance	1,464		1,785


Other noncurrent assets	$	2,072	$	2,985

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Property and equipment, net


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Scientific equipment	$	246	$	246
Computers and software	3		3
Furniture and fixtures	30		30

Property and equipment, gross	279		279
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(246)		(225)
Property and equipment, net	$	33	$	54

Depreciation and amortization expense was $21 and $627 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023


Current lease liability	$	697	$	626
Accrued payroll-related expenses	—		71
Accrued legal expenses	267		34
Accrued litigation legal fee	1,138		—
Accrued other expenses	216		148
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	2,318	$	879

4. Leases

The Company’s lease arrangements at September 30, 2024 consist of (i) a lease for office space at its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois that commenced in July 2020 (the “Chicago Lease”) and (ii) a lease for office equipment (the “Office Equipment Lease”). The Chicago Lease and the Office Equipment Lease are classified as operating leases.

Chicago Lease

The Company has approximately thirty thousand square feet of office space in Chicago, Illinois. The original term (the “Original Term”) of the Chicago Lease is 10 years, commencing on July 1, 2020 (the “Commencement Date”), which is the date the premises were ready for occupancy under the terms of the Chicago Lease. The Company has options to extend the term of the Chicago Lease for two additional successive periods of five years each (the “Extension Periods”) at the then prevailing effective market rental rate.

The initial annual base rent during the Original Term is approximately $1,113 for the first 12-month period of the Original Term, payable in monthly installments beginning on the Commencement Date. Base rent thereafter is subject to annual increases of 3%, for an aggregate amount of $12,761 over the Original Term. The Company must also pay its proportionate share of certain operating expenses and taxes for each calendar year during the term. During the first 12-month period of the Original Term, the base rent and the Company’s proportionate share of operating expenses and taxes were subject to certain abatements.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

The following table summarizes lease costs in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Operating lease costs	$	143	$	52	$	428	$	704
Variable lease costs	119		232		122		545
Short term lease costs	8		—		28		—
Total lease costs	$	270	$	284	$	578	$	1,249

The Company made cash payments for operating leases $716 and $1,379 during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. On June 11, 2024, the Company received a formal notice from its landlord indicating the landlord will draw on the restricted cash account designated for the lease as a result of past due rent for December 2023 through June 2024. The landlord continued to make monthly withdrawals from the restricted cash account and the Company is current on its rent payments. These draws are within the terms and conditions of the lease and the related restricted cash account.

Sublease of Office Space

The Company entered into a sublease agreement with Cyclopure, Inc. (the “Subtenant”) to sublease approximately 57% of its office space pursuant to that certain sublease agreement (the “Sublease Agreement”), dated as of May 4, 2023. The term of the Sublease Agreement began on May 15, 2023 and ends on June 30, 2030, the expiration date of the Chicago Lease. The first three months under the Sublease Agreement are rent free. Beginning August 15, 2023, the Company began charging the Subtenant for 57% of the base rent under the Chicago Lease, and the subtenant is responsible for its pro rata share of operating expenses and taxes payable. In 2024, the Company does not receive payment from the Subtenant as the Subtenant pays the Company’s landlord directly.

Refer to Note 15 Subsequent Events for information about Subtenant’s notice of termination of the Sublease Agreement.

The following table summarizes sublease receipts in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Sublease amounts paid to landlord	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179
Total	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

5. Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable

In May 2023, the Company entered into two subscription agreements to purchase non-guaranteed private placement convertible notes receivable (the “Notes Receivable”) for a subscription amount of $1 million each. The Notes Receivable mature in May 2026 and the yield to maturity is 4.5% per annum. The Company has the option to request that the issuer redeem part or the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable on the first anniversary after the issue date and every three months thereafter before the maturity date. The redemption price will be one hundred percent (100%) of the Notes Receivable’s face value, plus accrued interest. The Company also has the ability to convert the debt into shares based on the number of shares computed by dividing the face value of each security by a calculated conversion price, which is subject to adjustment provisions, determined at the time of issuance. The securities may be converted from May 3, 2024, the first anniversary of the issue date of the first agreement, to April 15, 2026, one month prior to the maturity date to the second agreement. In March 2024, the Company notified the issuer of the Notes Receivable that it was exercising its redemption right with respect to the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable after the first anniversary of their issue dates (May 3 and May 16, 2024, respectively) for an aggregate redemption price of $2.090 million (representing the principal amount plus 4.5% per annum yield to the redemption date). The issuer has taken the position that the Notes Receivable are not redeemable until August 3, 2024 and August 16, 2024, and as a result that redemption notice submitted in March were premature. We have attempted to redeem the $2 million aggregate principal amount of the convertible Notes Receivable in June 2024, but have not received a response to our most recent request.

The Company’s debt securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320 - Investments - Debt Securities. AFS securities are recorded at fair value. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, management does not believe these AFS investments are recoverable and recorded them at a fair value of $0.

6. Debt

On May 3, 2024, the Company executed a promissory note (“Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $300 from an individual investor. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) May 3, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity.

On June 3, 2024, the Company executed another promissory note (“DGP Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $700 from DGP, a related party. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) March 25, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this DGP Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity.

On September 11, 2024, the Company executed two Debt for Equity Exchange Agreements converting the existing debt and related interest described above into shares of its common stock. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the Note into 101,991 of its common stock shares. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the DGP Note into 237,223 shares of its common stock. As this was considered a troubled debt restructuring with a related party, the difference between fair value and book value was recognized within additional paid in capital.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

7. Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 authorized and no shares issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had authorized 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 2,172,323 shares and 1,832,988 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.

The holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the Company’s stockholders and there are no cumulative rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding. The Company’s common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock. The outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

September 2022 PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity)

Securities Purchase Agreement

On September 26, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with CBI USA, Inc. (“CBI USA”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to CBI USA in a private placement an aggregate of 680,000 shares of Common Stock, at a purchase price of $8.00 per share. The private placement closed on February 24, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). The Company received gross proceeds of $5,440 from the September 2022 PIPE (or net proceeds of $4,597 after transaction expenses).

CBI USA funded the acquisition pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement through a loan from its affiliate, DGP Co., Ltd. (“DGP”). On June 23, 2023, DGP exercised its the option pursuant to the loan and acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially acquired by CBI USA pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. DGP subsequently agreed to sell its shares to a third party, with the closing of 10% (68,000 shares) occurring in February 2024 and the remainder to close by or on October 31, 2024. The sale of the remainder did not close on October 31, 2024. However, on October 31, 2024, DGP agreed to sell 612,000 shares to two different third parties, with such sales expected to close by February 2025 subject to satisfaction of certain conditions.

The Securities Purchase Agreement, as confirmed and clarified by that certain letter agreement, dated October 31, 2022, between the Company and CBI USA, provided CBI USA together with its affiliates and any “group” of which it or they are a member with the right to designate directors to the Company’s board of directors in proportion to the ownership of CBI USA and its affiliates and any such group. CBI USA and DGP have announced they expect to exercise such rights as a group. Together, they beneficially own 47% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of September 30, 2024 based on their most recent Schedule 13D amendment.

September 2022 Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with CBI USA (the “Registration Rights Agreement’). CBI USA assigned its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement to DGP when DGP acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially sold to CBI USA. Pursuant

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable, and to keep such registration statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date the shares covered by such registration statement have been sold or may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction, or (ii) the date that is two (2) years following the Closing Date.

In the event the registration statement was not filed within 90 days following the Closing Date, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Company agreed to make payments as liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.5% of the aggregate amount invested in the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement per 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof for each such month during which such event continues, subject to certain caps set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. We have paid $27 to CBI USA and accrued $191 to DGP pursuant to this provision.

Registered Direct Offering

On December 16, 2021, the Company completed a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional purchasers (the “Purchasers”) entered into on December 14, 2021, pursuant to which the Company offered to the Purchasers, in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market consistent with the rules of Nasdaq (the “Registered Direct Offering”), (i) an aggregate of 86,711 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 143,797 shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”), and (iii) warrants to purchase up to 115,253 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). The combined purchase price of each share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant is $49.8900 per share. The combined purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant is $49.7400 (equal to the combined purchase price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant, minus $0.15). The per share exercise price for the Warrants is $40.5155, the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 13, 2021 (and as adjusted for the reverse stock split referenced in Note 1). The Warrants will be exercisable immediately from the closing December 16, 2021, and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, or December 16, 2026. The Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants, which met equity classification, were recognized as a component of permanent stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in-capital together with the net proceeds from the Registered Direct Offering. The gross proceeds to the Company from the Registered Direct Offering (excluding effect of subsequent exercises of pre-funded warrants) were $11,478 and net proceeds after deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses paid or payable by the Company were $10,226. The securities were offered by the Company pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-251555) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 21, 2020, and which was declared effective by the SEC on January 7, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”).

Each Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $40.5155 per share. The Warrants are immediately exercisable as of the date of issuance of December 16, 2021 and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, or December 16, 2026. The Pre-Funded Warrants were offered in lieu of shares of Common Stock to one of the Purchasers whose purchase of shares of Common Stock in the Registered Direct Offering would otherwise result in said Purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the Purchaser, 9.99%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately following the consummation of the Registered Direct Offering. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants are immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full.

A holder (together with its affiliates) of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant may not exercise any portion of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the holder’s option upon issuance, 9.99%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

applicable. In lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon exercise of a Warrant in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Warrants, provided that such cashless exercise shall only be permitted if the Registration Statement is not effective at the time of such exercise or if the prospectus to which the Registration Statement is a part is not available for the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Warrant holder.

In lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon exercise of a Pre-Funded Warrant in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants.

Common Stock Warrants

Warrants to purchase 115,253 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction. The warrants were classified as equity. As a result of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE, a warrant holder elected to exercise their option within 30 days of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE (February 24, 2023) to receive a cash payout for the outstanding warrants in the amount of the Black-Scholes value of each warrant as prescribed in the warrant agreement. The Company paid $800 to this warrant holder on June 23, 2023 and 105,231 were settled as a result. As of September 30, 2024, warrants to purchase 10,022 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share that were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction remain outstanding.

8. Equity-Based Compensation

2017 Equity Incentive Plan

On September 22, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the Exicure, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which became effective on November 15, 2017. The 2017 Plan provides for the issuance of incentive awards of up to 38,950 shares of Exicure common stock, which includes 14,466 shares of Exicure common stock to be issued to officers, employees, consultants and directors, plus a number of shares not to exceed 25,559 that are subject to issued and outstanding awards under the Exicure OpCo 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) and were assumed in the merger transaction on September 26, 2017. Awards that may be awarded under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan include non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, bonus shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and cash-based awards. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan automatically increases on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2020, by the lesser of (i) 30,667 shares, (ii) 5% of the total number of shares of its capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or (iii) a lesser number of shares determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). No future awards will be made under the 2015 Plan upon the effectiveness of the 2017 Plan. On January 1, 2024, pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Plan, the number of awards that are reserved and may be awarded under the 2017 Plan was automatically increased by 30,667 awards.

As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate number of equity awards available for grant under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan was 91,059. Awards granted under the 2017 Plan are contingent on the participants’ continued employment or provision of non-employee services and are subject to forfeiture if employment or continued service terminates for any reason.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) was adopted by the Board in September 2017 and approved by the Company’s stockholders in September 2017. Through the ESPP, eligible employees may authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their compensation to purchase common stock. The maximum number of shares that an employee may purchase on any exercise date in an offer period will be the smaller of (i) 50 shares or (ii) such number of shares as has a fair market value (determined as of the offering date for such offer period) equal to $25,000 within one calendar year minus the fair market value of any other shares of common stock that are attributed to such calendar year. The purchase price per share at each purchase date is equal to 85% of the lower of (i) the closing market price per share of Exicure common stock on the employee’s offering date or (ii) the closing market price per share of Exicure common stock on the exercise date.

The ESPP provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2018 and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2027, by the least of (i) 2,000 shares; (ii) 0.3% of the outstanding shares of common stock on the last day of the immediately preceding calendar year; or (iii) a lesser number of shares determined by the Board. On January 1, 2024, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the ESPP increased by 10,000 shares. As of September 30, 2024, there were 12,394 shares available for issuance under the ESPP.

Equity-based compensation expense is classified in the statements of operations as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Research and development expense	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	154
General and administrative expense	5		50		16		1,173
	$	5	$	50	$	16	$	1,327

Unamortized equity-based compensation expense at September 30, 2024 was $16, which is expected to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 1.1 years.

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of common stock option grants. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The model also requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. No options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The following table presents the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023
Expected term	5.8 to 5.8 years
Risk-free interest rate	3.83% to 3.83%; weighted avg. 3.83%
Expected volatility	100.9% to 100.9%; weighted avg. 100.9%
Forfeiture rate	5	%
Expected dividend yield	—	%

The expected term is based upon the “simplified method” as described in Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 14.D.2. Currently, the Company does not have sufficient experience to provide a reasonable estimate of an expected

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

term of its common stock options. The Company will continue to use the “simplified method” until there is sufficient experience to provide a more reasonable estimate in conformance with ASC 718-10-30-25 through 30-26. The risk-free interest rate assumptions were based on the U.S. Treasury bond rate appropriate for the expected term in effect at the time of grant. For stock options granted after December 31, 2021, the expected volatility is based on the volatility of shares of the Company. For stock options granted prior to January 1, 2022, the expected volatility is based on calculated enterprise value volatilities for publicly traded companies in the same industry and general stage of development. The estimated forfeiture rates were based on historical experience for similar classes of employees. The dividend yield was based on expected dividends at the time of grant.

The fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price for the common stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are summarized in the table below. No options were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.


	Fair Value of Underlying Common Stock	Exercise Price of Common Stock Option

Nine months ended September 30, 2023	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90

The weighted-average grant date fair value of common stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $6.30 per common stock option.

A summary of common stock option activity as of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)
Outstanding - December 31, 2023	2,427	$	21.40	5.4	$	—
Granted	—	—
Exercised	—	—
Forfeited	(84)	27.55

Outstanding - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Exercisable - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Vested and Expected to Vest - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—

A summary of restricted stock unit activity of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Restricted Stock Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance - December 31, 2023	609	$	52.05
Granted	—	—

Vested	(177)	92.89
Forfeited	(84)	17.25
Unvested balance - September 30, 2024	348	$	55.72

The grant date fair value of restricted stock units is based on the Company’s closing stock price at the date of grant. At vesting, each outstanding restricted stock unit will be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock. Restricted stock units generally vest evenly on a quarterly basis over a period of 4 years in exchange for continued service provided by the restricted stock unit recipient during that vesting period.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

9. Income Taxes

The Company incurred a pretax loss in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, which consists entirely of loss in the United States and resulted in no provision for income tax expense during the periods then ended. The effective tax rate is 0% in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 because the Company has generated tax losses and has provided a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

10. Loss Per Common Share

Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is calculated using the treasury share method by giving effect to all potentially dilutive securities that were outstanding. Potentially dilutive options, restricted stock units and warrants to purchase common stock that were outstanding during the periods presented were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation for the periods presented because such shares had an anti-dilutive effect due to the net loss reported in those periods. Therefore, basic and diluted loss per common share is the same for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

The following is the computation of loss per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net loss	$	(1,091)	$	(5,256)	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)

Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding	1,899,412		1,730,104		1,855,286		1,559,868



Loss per share - basic and diluted	$	(0.57)	$	(3.04)	$	(1.36)	$	(9.89)

The outstanding securities presented below were excluded from the calculation of loss per common share, for the periods presented, because such securities would have been anti-dilutive due to the Company’s loss per share during that period:


	As of September 30,
	2024	2023
Options to purchase common stock	2,343	2,423
Restricted stock units	348	676

Warrants to purchase common stock	10,022	10,022

11. Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows: Level 1 Inputs - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date; Level 2 Inputs - other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and Level 3 Inputs - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:


	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—






Total financial assets	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—

The Company uses the market approach and Level 1 and Level 2 inputs to value its cash equivalents and Level 2 inputs to value its short-term investments. The Company uses the market approach and Level 3 inputs to value its liabilities. There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of as of December 31, 2023 nor September 30, 2024.

There were no transfers between Level 1, 2, or 3, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023. Both observable and unobservable in puts were used to determine fair value of the positions that the Company classified within the Level 3 category. Unrealized gains and losses associated within the Level 3 category include changes in fair value that were attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs.

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

On December 13, 2021, Mark Colwell filed a putative securities class action lawsuit against the Company, David A. Giljohann and Brian C. Bock in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, captioned Colwell v. Exicure, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-0663. On February 4, 2021, plaintiff filed an amended putative securities class action complaint. On March 20, 2023, the court entered an order appointing James Mathew as lead plaintiff and Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP as lead counsel in the action pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. On May 26, 2023, lead plaintiff filed a second amended complaint against the Company, Dr. Giljohann, Mr. Bock, and Grant Corbett. The second amended complaint alleges that Dr. Giljohann, Mr. Bock, and Dr. Corbett made materially false and/or misleading statements related to the Company’s clinical programs purportedly causing losses to investors who acquired Company securities between January 7, 2021 and December 10, 2021. The second amended complaint does not quantify any alleged damages but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, lead plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of himself and others who acquired the Company’s stock during the putative class period at allegedly inflated prices and purportedly suffered financial harm as a result. On October 8, the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement in the securities class action and set a schedule for final approval proceedings, including a final approval hearing on January 13, 2025.

The proposed settlement described above will be fully covered by insurance. However, the settlement will include a reservation of rights by the insurers against the Company for the unsatisfied portion of its self insured retainer. As a result, the Company recorded an accrual as of September 30, 2024 for the amount of the unsatisfied retainer of approximately $1.14 million needed to bridge the $2.5 million retainer that the Company is liability for under its self insured retention. The Company is currently negotiating with the insurers to attempt to settle for an amount less than the full retainer amount.

On March 1, 2022, Kapil Puri filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit on behalf of the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, against Dr. Giljohann and Mr. Bock, Jeffrey L. Cleland, Elizabeth Garofalo, Bosun Hau, Bali Muralidhar, Andrew Sassine, Matthias Schroff, James Sulat and Timothy Walbert, captioned Puri v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01083. On March 8, 2022, Yixin Sim filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit in the same court against the same individuals, captioned Sim v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01217. On April 25, 2022, Stourbridge Investments LLC filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit against the same individuals in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, captioned Stourbridge Investments LLC v. Exicure, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-00526. Based on similar factual allegations presented in the Colwell complaint, described above, the Puri, Sim, and Stourbridge complaints (collectively, the

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

“Derivative Complaints”) allege that the defendants caused the Company to issue false and/or misleading statements in the proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders regarding risk oversight, code of conduct, clinical program and compensation matters, among other things, in violation of federal securities law, and committed breaches of fiduciary duties. The Derivative Complaints also assert that Dr. Giljohann and Mr. Bock are liable for contribution under the federal securities laws. The Puri and Stourbridge complaints further assert state law claims for unjust enrichment, and the Puri complaint additionally asserts state law claims for abuse of control, gross mismanagement and corporate waste. The plaintiffs do not quantify any alleged damages in the Derivative Complaints, but seek restitution for damages to the Company, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, as well as an order directing that certain proposals for strengthening board oversight be put to a vote of the Company’s shareholders. This lawsuit is expected to settle after the securities litigation lawsuit.

On March 18, 2022, James McNabb, through counsel, sent a written demand to the Company (the “Demand Letter”) demanding that the Board of Directors investigate certain allegations and commence proceedings on the Company’s behalf against certain of the Company’s officers and directors for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and corporate waste. All of the Derivative Cases have been stayed pending a decision on any motion to dismiss that may be filed in the Colwell case. Further, pursuant to agreement, the Demand Letter is being held in abeyance and any related statute of limitations tolled pending such motion and decision.

On October 3, 2023, a former employee filed a complaint against the Company and its executives related to the former employee’s separation from the Company. The parties proceeded with paper discovery and this matter did not settle at an in-person settlement conference on July 17, 2024. As a result, we are in the discovery phase of this litigation

Leases

Refer to Note 4, Leases, for a discussion of the commitments associated with the Company’s lease agreements.

13. Related-Party Transactions

Pursuant to a Consulting Agreement, effective as of September 25, 2022, between the Company and Alta Companies LTD (“Alta”), the Company paid Alta $218 on February 27, 2023 for a consulting fee earned as a result of the September 2022 PIPE closing. Paul Kang, a director of the Company since February 2023 and the CEO of the Company since August 2023, is the President of Alta.

Also, refer to the Note and the DGP Note in Footnote 6.

14. License and Purchase Agreements

License Agreement

On February 5, 2024, the Company entered into a patent license agreement to develop cavrotolimod for potential treatment for hepatitis with a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, this biopharmaceutical company will receive an exclusive license in the field of hepatitis to all of the Company’s relevant patents. $500 was paid to the Company after the execution of this agreement. This payment was recognized as revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company will also be entitled to modest royalties on future net sales on all licensed technology during the term of the licensed patents. The Company determined that the amount of variable consideration would be constrained until the period the uncertainty related to the consideration is relieved. This patent license agreement was assigned to, and assumed by, the purchaser pursuant to this purchase agreement, but any royalties would be passed through to the Company.

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EXICURE, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Purchase Agreement

On September 27, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the sale of certain assets pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”). The assets sold to the purchaser consist of the Company’s historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets and include the Company’s spherical nucleic acid-related technology, research and development programs, and clinical assets (the “Sold Assets”). The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,500 from the sale of the Sold Assets. The gross proceeds were recognized as other income. The Company will be entitled to royalties and license fees in connection with future sales or licenses derived from the Sold Assets for a period of 10 years as set out in further detail in the purchase agreement. The Company determined that the amount of variable consideration would be constrained until the period the uncertainty related to the consideration is relieved. We received $150 in September and $550 in October. The remaining $800 will be received within 6 months from the date of the Purchase Agreement.

15. Subsequent Events

Termination of Sublease Agreement

On October 21, 2024, the Subtenant provided notice that it is exercising its right to termination under the Sublease, effective as of November 30, 2024. However, the Company sent a formal notice disputing the subtenant’s right to terminate the Sublease as the provisions for termination were not met.

Common Stock Purchase Agreement

In an agreement dated November 6, 2024 and executed on November 12, 2024, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron Systems Inc. (“HiTron”) 433,333 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for $1,300, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The closing of this transaction is expected to occur within 10 days from its execution. After execution, HiTron will be a related party of the Company.

On November 13, 2024, in a subsequent agreement, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for $8,700, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The closing of the investment pursuant to this subsequent agreement is conditioned on stockholder approval, among other customary conditions.

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

The following information should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial information and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on June 6, 2024. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or experience could differ materially from what is indicated by any forward-looking statement due to various important factors, risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors including, but not limited to, those identified in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other SEC filings.

Overview

Historically, we were an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, we announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that we were exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. In February 2024, the Company received an upfront payment of $500 from a licensing agreement for patents related to one of our historical drug candidates, and received a small, one-time payment and an entitlement to only modest royalties on future sales of the licensed technology that we do not believe will be material. In the second quarter, we recognized other income of $637 from the sale of our samples related to the licensed product. In the third quarter, we sold our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets (including the licensing agreement described above) pursuant to the purchase agreement and recognized other income of $1,500. We continue to engage in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. This effort involves exploring growth through transactions with potential partners that see opportunity in joining an existing, publicly-traded organization.

Following the purchase agreement, any value we may generate from our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets will be primarily through royalties and license fees that we may receive in the future under the purchase agreement. However, whether we receive any royalties or licenses fees, and the amounts and timing thereof, are uncertain and out of our control.

Because we currently have no source of significant, ongoing revenue or committed financing, we will require substantial additional funding in the very near term in order to continue to operate and continue our exploration of strategic alternatives and consummate any transactions that we may identify.

Operating, financing, and cash flow considerations

Since our inception in 2011, we have primarily funded our operations through sales of our securities, loans and collaborations. On February 24, 2023, we raised gross proceeds of $5.4 million on the closing of the Private Placement (as defined below) (or net proceeds of approximately $4.6 million after transaction expenses). However, we already used these net proceeds for severance payments, warrant put payments, acquisition of the Notes Receivable, payroll, and general working capital purposes as we pursue strategic alternatives. As of September 30, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents were $0.3 million.

Our current liquidity is not sufficient to continue to fund operations. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial additional financing will be needed in the very near term to fund our operations and exploration of strategic alternatives and pursue any alternatives that we identify. If we are unable to raise capital, the Company may seek bankruptcy protection and/or cease operations in the near term, which may result in the Company’s stockholders receiving no or very little value in respect of their shares of the Company’s common stock.

We expect to seek financing through equity offerings. However, it may be difficult to obtain financing given the Company’s current condition and uncertainty over its future direction. Therefore, we may be unable to raise capital

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at all or on favorable terms. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to continue operations.

Recent Developments

Change of Control

In an agreement dated November 6, 2024 and executed November 12, 2024, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron Systems Inc. (“HiTron”) 433,333 shares of common stock for $1,300. This agreement provides HiTron with director appointment rights and the appointment of a Chief Restructuring Officer upon closing, which is expected to occur within 10 days from its execution. On November 13, 2024, in a subsequent agreement, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of common stock for $8,700. The closing of the investment pursuant to this subsequent agreement is conditioned on stockholder approval, among other customary conditions.

Nasdaq Listing Requirements Deficiency Notice

As previously disclosed, the Company has received numerous deficiency notices with respect to various Nasdaq listing requirements in the past year. These related to:

•Compliance with Nasdaq’s minimum bid price rule due to the Company’s stock trading below $1.00 for a sustained period of time. The Company effected a one-for-thirty reverse stock split on June 29, 2022 in order to attempt to raise the stock price. On September 13, 2023, the Company received a delinquency notification that the closing bid price of the Company’s stock traded below $1.00 for the previous 30 consecutive business days. The Company effected a one-for-five reverse stock split on August 27, 2024 in order to attempt to raise the stock price. On September 13, 2024, the Company received a letter received from Nasdaq noting it met the closing bid price requirement.

•Compliance with Nasdaq’s rule requiring stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 based on the Company’s balance sheet as of June 30, 2024. The Company is not in compliance with this requirement based on its September 30, 2024 balance sheet.

•Compliance with Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements with respect to board and committee composition. The Company has received numerous deficiency notifications with respect to these requirements in the past year. Although the Company believes it is currently in compliance, there can be no assurance it will remain in compliance.

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•Compliance with Nasdaq’s requirement to hold an annual meeting. On January 11, 2024, Nasdaq notified the Company that it did not comply with listing requirements by not holding an annual meeting in 2023. The Company held its combined 2023 and 2024 annual meeting on June 28, 2024.

•On April 17, 2024, the Company received a delinquency notification as it had not filed its Annual Report Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The extended deadline for compliance was established by Nasdaq at May 20, 2024, the same deadline for our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The Annual Report Form 10-K was filed on June 6, 2024.

•Although the Company filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 prior to the extended deadline of May 20, 2024, on May 21, 2024, the Company received a delisting determination from the Nasdaq staff as a result of not filing its Annual Report Form 10-K by the May 20, 2024 deadline and failure to timely file its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (which was subsequently filed on June 17, 2024). The staff’s delisting determination also noted the failure to hold its 2023 annual meeting as another basis of the delisting determination.

•On May 28, 2024, the Company requested an appeal of the delisting determination to Nasdaq’s Hearings Panel (“Panel”), and the hearing took place on July 9, 2024. On July 31, 2024, the Company received formal notice that the Panel determined to continue the Company’s listing subject to the Company evidencing compliance with all applicable criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market by September 16, 2024. The Company received an additional extension to November 14, 2024 to satisfy the terms of the Panel’s decision and to ensure the Company’s continued listing on Nasdaq.

•As the Company will not meet Nasdaq’s listing requirements as of September 30, 2024, the Company has requested another extension by the Panel to demonstrate compliance. We cannot provide assurance that the Panel will determine to continue the Company’s listing at the November 14, 2024 expiration of the current extension or that, if another extension is granted, that we will be able to meet the Panel’s requirements by the deadline.

Even if the Company regains compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements and satisfied the Panel’s requirements, there can be no assurance that the Company will remain in compliance with Nasdaq’s requirements and will not be delisted.

Reverse Stock Split

On August 26, 2024, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Amendment, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect a one-for-five (1-for-5) reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock. The Amendment became effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2024.

The Amendment provided that, at the effective time of the Amendment, every five (5) shares of our issued and outstanding common stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, without any change in par value per share. The reverse stock split effected all shares of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment. As a result of the reverse stock split, proportionate adjustments have been made to the per share exercise price and/or the number of shares issuable upon the exercise or vesting of all stock options, restricted share unit award issued by us and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment, which resulted in a proportionate decrease in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise or vesting of such stock options, restricted share unit award, and, in the case of stock options, a proportionate increase in the exercise price of all such stock options. In addition, the number of shares reserved for issuance under our equity compensation plans immediately prior to the effective time of the Amendment was reduced proportionately.

No fractional shares were issued as a result of the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share received a full share in lieu thereof. The reverse stock split affected all stockholders proportionately and did not affect any stockholder’s percentage ownership of our common stock (except to the extent that the reverse stock split results in any stockholder owning only a fractional share).

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Our common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on a split-adjusted basis when the market opened on August 28, 2024. The new CUSIP number for our common stock following the reverse stock split is 30205M 309.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require our management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected. We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.

We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (1) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (2) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. In addition, there are other items within our financial statements that require estimation, but are not deemed critical as defined above. Changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a material impact on our financial statements. This includes estimates where the nature of the estimate is material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change, and the impact of the estimate on financial condition or operating performance is material.

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Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Three Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)	2024		2023		Change



Operating expenses:

General and administrative expense	1,434		2,397		(963)		(40)	%
Litigation legal expense	1,138		—		1,138		100	%
Loss from sale of property and equipment	—		920		(920)		(100)	%
Total operating expenses	2,572		3,317		(745)		(22)	%
Operating loss	(2,572)		(3,317)		745		(22)	%
Other (expense) income, net:
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable	—		(2,000)		2,000		(100)	%
Dividend income	—		13		(13)		(100)	%
Interest income	1		4		(3)		(75)	%
Interest expense	(12)		—		(12)		(100)	%
Other income	1,500		44		1,456		100	%

Total other/(expense), net	1,489		(1,939)		3,428		(177)	%
Net loss before provision for income taxes	(1,083)		(5,256)		4,173		(79)	%
Provision for income taxes	(8)		—		(8)		—	%
Net loss	$	(1,091)	$	(5,256)	$	4,165	(79)	%

General and administrative expense


	Three Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)	2024		2023		Change
General and administrative expense	$	1,434	$	2,397	(963)	(40)	%
Full time employees	6		6		—

General and administrative expense was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, representing an decrease of $1.0 million or 40%, from $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was mostly due to lower expenses as a result of reduced operations and higher costs in 2023 resulting from the separation costs of former employees.

Litigation legal expense

The increase of $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was due to accruals recorded for the amount of the unsatisfied self insured retainer and legal defense costs related to the securities litigation lawsuit.

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Other income

On September 27, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the sale of certain assets pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with the purchaser. The assets sold to the purchaser include the Company’s historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets and include spherical nucleic acid-related technology, research and development programs, and clinical assets (the “Sold Assets”). The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,500 from the sale of the Sold Assets.

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)	2024		2023		Change
Revenue:
Revenue	$	500	$	—	500		100	%
Total Revenue	500		—		500		100	%
Operating expenses:
Research and development expense	—		1,423		(1,423)		(100)	%
General and administrative expense	4,005		11,155		(7,150)		(64)	%
Litigation legal expense	1,138		—		1,138		100	%
Loss from sale of property and equipment	—		920		(920)		(100)	%
Total operating expenses	5,143		13,498		(8,355)		(62)	%
Operating loss	(4,643)		(13,498)		8,855		(66)	%
Other income, net:
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable	—		(2,000)		2,000		100	%
Dividend income	5		45		(40)		(89)	%
Interest income	7		28		(21)		(75)	%
Interest expense	(18)		—		(18)		(100)	%
Other income	2,137		(2)		2,139		(100)	%

Total other income	2,131		(1,929)		4,060		(210)	%
Net loss before provision for income taxes	(2,512)		(15,427)		12,915		(84)	%
Provision for income taxes	(8)		—		(8)		—	%
Net loss	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)	$	12,907	(84)	%

Revenue

Research and development expense

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses incurred during the periods indicated:

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	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)	2024		2023		Change
Employee-related expense	$	—	$	511	$	(511)	(100)	%
Facilities, depreciation, and other expenses	—		755		(755)		(100)	%
Platform and discovery-related expense	—		93		(93)		(100)	%
Clinical development programs expense	—		64		(64)		(100)	%
Total research and development expense	$	—	$	1,423	$	(1,423)	(100)	%

Research and development expense was $0.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, reflecting a decrease of $1.4 million, or 100% from research and development expense of $1.4 million for nine months ended September 30, 2023. In 2022, the Company suspended its clinical, preclinical, and discovery program activities and reduced headcount as it began exploring strategic alternatives in April 2023. As a result, after the first quarter of 2023, the Company determined it was no longer appropriate to record any research and development expenses.

General and administrative expense


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(dollars in thousands)	2024		2023		Change
General and administrative expense	$	4,005	$	11,155	(7,150)	(64)	%
Full time employees	6		6		—

General and administrative expense was $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, representing an decrease of $7.2 million or 64%, from $11.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was due to higher costs in 2023 from separation pay of former executives and related stock based compensation expense, payroll and related benefits, legal and consulting fees, facility and lease costs, depreciation from assets sold, and the research and development wind down costs that no longer met the criteria to be classified as research and development due to the shift in our historical operations suspending all research and development activities as previous discussed.

Litigation legal expense

The increase of $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was due to accruals recorded for the amount of the unsatisfied self insured retainer and legal defense costs related to the securities litigation lawsuit.

Loss from sale of property and equipment

In the third quarter of 2023, the Company sold the majority of its scientific equipment through a third party auctioneer and incurred a loss on the sale of these assets as a result.

Other Income

The Company sold samples of its clinical products during the second quarter to a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. On September 27, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the sale of certain assets pursuant to the purchase agreement with the Purchaser. The assets sold to Purchaser include the Company’s spherical nucleic acid-related technology, research and development programs, and clinical assets (the “Acquired Assets”) to the Purchaser as described in the purchase agreement. The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,500 from the sale of the Acquired Assets.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. We generated limited revenue from our collaboration agreements, which have since been terminated. We have funded our operations to date with proceeds received from equity financings and payments received in connection with collaboration agreements, which have since been terminated. Currently we are exploring strategic alternatives and generating limited revenue.

As of September 30, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents were $0.3 million as compared to $0.8 million as of December 31, 2023. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds received from equity financings and to a lesser extent, payments received in connection with collaboration agreements, the License Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.

We incurred net losses of approximately $2.5 million and $15.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We expect to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future.

The closing of the initial common stock purchase agreement for $1.3 million with HiTron executed on November 12, 2024 is expected to provide the Company with proceeds to fund operations into 2025. However, our current liquidity is not sufficient to continue to fund operations in the long term. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial additional financing will be needed in the very near term to fund our operations and there is no certainty we will obtain such financing. If we are unable to raise capital, we will be unable to continue operations. We may need to seek bankruptcy protection and/or cease operations in the near term, which may result in our stockholders receiving no or very little value in respect of their shares of our common stock.

The closing of the subsequent $8.7 million investment by HiTron is subject to receipt of stockholder approval, among other customary conditions.

See “Funding Requirements” below for additional information on our future capital needs.

Cash Flows

The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2024		2023
	(unaudited)
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(2,065)	$	(9,541)
Net cash used in investing activities	—		(1,789)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,000		3,675
Net (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	(1,065)	$	(7,655)

Operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $2.1 million and $9.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $7.4 million was due to the reduction of operating activities and lower headcount, and revenue received related to the patent license agreement and the sale of samples of clinical products and the purchase agreement for the Sold Assets.

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Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $0.0 million and $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in cash provided by investing activities of $1.8 million was primarily due to purchase of the convertible Notes Receivable in 2023.

Financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.0 million and $3.7 million for nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $2.7 million is due to the funds received from the Private Placement in February 2023.

Funding Requirements

We will need to obtain substantial additional funding in the very near term to continue operations. If we are unable to raise capital at all or on acceptable terms, we would be unable to continue operations.

Our existing cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses. Our future capital requirements are difficult to forecast and will depend on many factors, including:

•the results of our exploration of strategic alternatives, including any potential transactions;

•the results of any future or pending litigation against the Company;

•the extent to which we encounter increased costs as a result of global and macroeconomic conditions, including rising inflation and interest rates, supply chain disruptions, fluctuating exchange rates, and increases in commodity, energy and fuel prices; and

•unknown legal, administrative, regulatory, accounting, and information technology costs as well as additional costs associated with operating as a public company.

The closing of the initial common stock purchase agreement for $1.3 million with HiTron executed on November 12, 2024 is expected to close in the near term and provide the Company with proceeds to fund operations into 2025. The closing of the subsequent $8.7 million investment by HiTron would provide additional liquidity and reduce our short-term funding needs. However, it is subject to receipt of stockholder approval, among other customary conditions, so we cannot provide assurance as to whether we will satisfy those conditions and close the investment, in a timely manner or at all.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs primarily through equity offerings. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders may be materially diluted, and the terms of such securities could include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specified actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Further, the global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions over the past couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and worsening global macroeconomic conditions, including actions taken by central banks to counter inflation, volatility in the capital markets and related market uncertainty, may impact our ability to obtain additional financing when needed on favorable terms or at all. Any further disruption or slowdown in the global financial markets and economy may negatively affect our ability to raise funding through equity or debt financings on attractive terms or at all, which could in the future negatively affect our operations.

Going Concern

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 205-40, Going Concern, we have evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are

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issued. In the absence of a significant source of recurring revenue, our continued viability is dependent on our ability to continue to raise additional capital to finance our operations. As discussed above, there are substantial uncertainties about our ability to raise such financing.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments from those described in our Annual Report.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

As a smaller reporting company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, we are electing scaled disclosure reporting obligations and therefore are not required to provide the information requested by this Item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

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.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level due to the material weakness described below.

Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Management identified material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting related to the following:

1.The precision of management’s review of the Statement of Operations, resulting in inappropriately classifying certain general and administrative expenses as research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

2.Management’s review of the accounting treatment of non-routine activities.

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3.The Company failed to design and implement controls around all accounting and information technology processes and procedures.

These matters have been reviewed with our Audit Committee.

Remediation Plan

We are evaluating the material weakness and are developing a plan of remediation to strengthen the effectiveness of the design and operation of our internal control environment. The remediation plan will include enhancing our review procedures within our accounting department, implementing additional review procedures with respect to accumulation and evaluation of information that is known or knowable to the Company at the time, and applying that information to the applicable accounting guidance. Subject to our ability to obtain additional financing and the results of our review of strategic alternatives, we will also consider whether additional personnel are necessary.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Other than described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The proposed settlement described above will be fully covered by insurance. However, the settlement will include a reservation of rights by the insurers against the Company for the unsatisfied portion of its self insured retainer. As a result, the Company recorded an accrual as of September 30, 2024 for the amount of the unsatisfied retainer, approximately $1.14 million. The Company is currently negotiating with the insurers to attempt to settle for an amount less than the full retainer amount. On November 12, 2024, the Company successfully negotiated with one of the insurers that will result in a small gain in the fourth quarter.

The Company is currently negotiating with the insurers to settle for an amount that will be less than the full retainer amount. The Company will record a significant gain once this settlement with the insurers is executed.

On March 1, 2022, Kapil Puri filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit on behalf of the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, against Messrs. Giljohann and Bock, Jeffrey L. Cleland, Elizabeth Garofalo, Bosun Hau, Bali Muralidhar, Andrew Sassine, Matthias Schroff, James Sulat and Timothy Walbert, captioned Puri v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01083. On March 8, 2022, Yixin Sim filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit in the same court against the same individuals, captioned Sim v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01217. On April 25, 2022, Stourbridge Investments LLC filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit against the same individuals in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, captioned Stourbridge Investments LLC v. Exicure, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-00526. Based on similar factual allegations presented in the Colwell complaint, described above, the Puri, Sim, and Stourbridge complaints, or collectively, the Derivative Complaints, allege that the defendants caused the Company to issue false and/or misleading statements in its 2021 proxy statement regarding risk oversight, code of conduct, clinical program and compensation matters, among other things, in violation of federal securities law, and committed breaches of fiduciary duties. The Derivative Complaints also assert that Dr. Giljohann and Mr. Bock are liable for contribution under the federal securities laws. The Puri and Stourbridge complaints further assert state law claims for unjust enrichment, and the Puri complaint additionally asserts state law claims for abuse of control, gross mismanagement and corporate waste. The plaintiffs do not quantify any alleged damages in the Derivative Complaints, but seek restitution for damages to the Company, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, as well as an order directing that certain proposals for strengthening board oversight be put to a vote of the Company’s shareholders.

On March 18, 2022, James McNabb, through counsel, sent a written demand to the Company (the “Demand Letter”) demanding that the Board of Directors investigate certain allegations and commence proceedings on the Company’s behalf against certain of the Company’s current officers and directors for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and corporate waste. All of the Derivative Cases have been stayed pending a decision on any motion to dismiss that may be filed in the Colwell case. Further, pursuant to agreement, the Demand Letter is being held in abeyance and any related statute of limitations tolled pending such motion and decision.

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We may also be a party to litigation and subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we currently believe that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

In addition to other information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the following risks should be considered in evaluating our business and future prospects and an investment in our common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develops into actual events, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our exploration of strategic alternatives may not be successful.

Given the Company’s current focus to explore growth through strategic transactions with potential partners, the Company’s ability to execute its current business plan depends on its ability to obtain additional funding via a strategic transaction or a series of strategic transactions, or to obtain funding to support such a transaction. We currently have no source of significant, ongoing revenues or committed financing, and our financial resources are limited to our cash and cash equivalents. Substantial additional funding is needed in the very near term.

The Company plans to continue pursuing strategic alternatives, however, there can be no assurance that the Company will have sufficient resources or obtain additional financing necessary to complete this effort. Even if we can obtain financing, we may not be able to consummate such a transaction in a timely manner or at all or in a manner that would not adversely impact our business. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Strategic transactions are complex and time-consuming to identify, evaluate, negotiate and consummate in compliance with applicable laws and Nasdaq requirements. Our board and management do not have meaningful experience executing this type of endeavor in the U.S. public markets. Even if we are successful in entering into a strategic transaction, the terms and conditions of that transaction may restrict us from entering into future agreements with other potential collaborators. Additionally, such strategic transactions may not be favorable to investors nor deliver any anticipated benefits by the time of business integration.

We need to obtain substantial funding in the very near term in order to continue operations and our exploration of strategic alternatives.

We require significant capital resources in order to continue to operate our business and conduct our exploration of strategic alternatives, and our very limited liquidity could materially and adversely affect our business operations. Because we have no current source of significant, ongoing revenue or committed financing, our current available cash and cash equivalents provide us with very limited liquidity. Our existing cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient for us to continue to fund our business operations. Substantial additional funding is needed in the very near term. Any such required additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all, due to a variety of factors, including uncertainty about the future direction of the Company and investor reaction to our controlling stockholders and board and management composition, as well as broader conditions in the economy and capital markets, including recent volatility caused by inflation and other factors. The Company has already engaged in significant cost reductions, so our ability to further cut costs and extend our operating runway is limited. Without sufficient additional capital funding in the very near term, we may be required, among other things, to seek bankruptcy protection and/or cease operations.

It is uncertain if or when we will recognize any royalties or license payments arising from our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets.

After we announced the wind down of our historical biotechnology activities in September 2022, we undertook an effort to generate value from our historical assets. This resulted in $2.6 million of revenues and other income in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 as we licensed certain assets and then sold our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets (including the licensed assets and licensing agreement) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. However, following the Purchase Agreement, any additional value we may generate from our historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets will be primarily through royalties and license fees that we may receive in the future under the Purchase Agreement. Whether we receive any royalties or licenses fees, and the amounts and timing thereof,

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are uncertain and out of our control. As a result, we cannot provide any assurance that we will ever generate additional revenue from this Purchase Agreement.

We do not expect to be able to redeem the investment in convertible Notes Receivable.

In March 2024, the Company notified the issuer of the investment in convertible Notes Receivable that it was exercising its redemption right with respect to the entire principal amount of the investment in convertible Notes Receivable after the first anniversary of their issue dates (May 3 and May 16, 2024, respectively) for an aggregate redemption price of $2.090 million (representing the principal amount plus 4.5% per annum yield to the redemption date).

In response, the issuer took the position that the investment in convertible Notes Receivable were not redeemable until August 3, 2024 and August 16, 2024.

We again attempted to redeem the entire principal amount of the convertible Notes Receivable in in May, but have not received a response to our most recent request. As a result, management does not believe the Notes Receivable are recoverable and they have been written down to $0 on our balance sheet.

Our controlling stockholders, executive officers and members of our board, have limited experience controlling or governing a public company operating in the United States.

Our controlling stockholders have not previously controlled a U.S. public company. In addition, no members of the board or our chief executive officer or chief financial officer have experience serving as directors or management of a U.S. publicly traded company. This could make it difficult to ensure that the Company complies with all applicable laws and stock exchange requirements, maintains adequate internal and disclosure controls and appropriately assesses and manages risk. This concern is exacerbated by the limited resources the Company has following recent reductions in force, and if there are further reductions in force or members of management leave the Company, it may be very difficult to manage this risk. The transitional state of the Company and ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives also exacerbates the challenging environment in this respect. If the board of directors does not successfully or efficiently manage their roles and responsibilities, including the significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of investors, our prospects may be adversely impacted. In addition, against this backdrop, it may be difficult to earn the confidence of prospective investors or strategic partners, threatening our ability to obtain much needed financing and hindering our exploration of strategic alternatives.

Turnover of our board and senior management, and any inability to attract and retain qualified management and other key personnel, could impair our ability to implement our business plan.

As we continue our exploration of strategic alternatives, and potentially pursue transactions involving new business lines or industries, we may experience additional turnover in our board and senior management. Departures of members of our senior management team and board members have created, and will create if they continue, significant continuity risks and challenges to our ability to operate our business, assess and manage risks and comply with applicable laws. If key members of our senior management team depart, it will be important that we attract and retain qualified managers promptly and develop and implement an effective succession plan. We expect to face significant competition in attracting experienced executives and other key personnel, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so. In addition, there are significant uncertainties as to how our transitional state of operations, financial condition and related matters will impact our ability to attract the necessary personnel and manage these succession risks. Our urgent need to raise capital and engage with potential partners in strategic transactions magnify these risks. If we are unable to adequately address these concerns in the near term, and earn the confidence of potential investors and/or business partners, our prospects and financial condition would be adversely impacted.

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.

Our ability to continue as a going concern will require us to obtain additional funding. Based on our current operating plans and existing working capital at September 30, 2024, our current liquidity is not sufficient to continue to fund operations. As a result, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial additional financing will be needed by us in the very near term to fund our operations and exploration of strategic alternatives. The perception of our ability to continue as a going concern may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations and could result in the loss of confidence by investors and employees. Obtaining additional financing contains risks, including:

•additional equity financing may not be available to us on satisfactory terms and any equity we are able to issue could lead to dilution for current stockholders;

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•loans or other debt instruments may have terms and/or conditions, such as interest rate, restrictive covenants and control or revocation provisions;

•the current environment in capital markets combined with our capital constraints may prevent us from being able to obtain adequate debt financing; and

•if we fail to obtain required additional financing to grow our business we may need to seek bankruptcy protection in the near term.

We currently do not comply with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements and have received a delisting determination notice from the Nasdaq staff. Our common stock may be delisted from Nasdaq which could negatively impact the price of our common stock, liquidity and our ability to access the capital markets.

Our common stock is currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “XCUR.” As previously disclosed, the Company has received numerous deficiency notices with respect to various Nasdaq listing requirements in the past year and recently received a delisting determination from the Nasdaq staff. These related to, or may in the future relate to:

•Compliance with Nasdaq’s rule requiring stockholders’ equity of at least $2,500,000 based on the Company’s balance sheet as of September 30, 2024. The Company is not in compliance with this requirement based on its September 30, 2024 balance sheet.

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We may not be successful in our appeal or be able to regain compliance with Nasdaq’s listing requirements and our failure to do so may result in the delisting of our Common Stock by Nasdaq. Even if the Company is successful in our appeal, there can be no assurance that the Company will remain in compliance with Nasdaq’s requirements and will not be delisted.

If Nasdaq suspends or delists our securities from trading on its exchange for failure to meet the listing standards, we and our stockholders could face significant negative consequences including:

•limited availability of market quotations and liquidity for our securities;

•a determination that the common stock is a “penny stock” which would require brokers trading in the common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for shares of common stock;

•a limited amount of analyst coverage, if any; and

•a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

Suspension or delisting from Nasdaq could also result in other negative consequences, including the potential loss of institutional investor interest and make obtaining new financing much more challenging. In addition, fewer strategic opportunities may be available, particularly from counterparties that are interested in combining with a listed company.

We have a history of losses. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability, which could result in a decline in the market value of our common stock.

Between our inception in June 2011 and the Company’s decision to engage in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives, we devoted our resources to the development of SNA technology, and are currently exploring out-licensing opportunities and strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. We have had significant operating losses since our inception. As of September 30, 2024, we have generated an accumulated deficit of $210.9 million, including $18,837 of additional paid-in capital reclassed to accumulated deficit upon C-corporation conversion. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, our net loss was $2.5 million and $15.4 million, respectively. Substantially all of our losses have resulted from expenses incurred in connection with our research programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations.

Although we have generated a limited amount of revenues from licensing and sales of supplies, we have not generated, and do not expect to generate, any product revenue for the foreseeable future and currently have no source of significant, ongoing revenue or committed financing, and we expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. The amount of future losses is uncertain. Our future financial performance and condition are substantially dependent on the results of our ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives, and we cannot predict whether we will be successful.

We are pursuing asset out-licenses, asset sales and similar strategic transactions with respect to our historical assets. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in executing such a strategic transactions.

Our internal computer systems, or those of contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our business operations.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. Such events could cause interruptions of our operations. For instance, theft or other exposure of data may interfere with our ability to protect our intellectual property, trade secrets, and other information critical to our operations. We can provide no assurances that certain sensitive and proprietary information relating to one or more of our therapeutic candidates has not been, or will not in the future e, compromised. Although we have invested resources to enhance the security of our computer systems, there can be no assurances we will not experience additional unauthorized intrusions into our computer systems, or those of our contractors and consultants, that we will successfully detect future unauthorized intrusions in a timely manner, or that future unauthorized intrusions will not result in material adverse effects on our financial condition, reputation, or business prospects. Payments related to the elimination of ransomware may materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.

To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the development of our therapeutic candidates could be delayed.

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Our information technology systems could face serious disruptions that could adversely affect our business.

Our information technology and other internal infrastructure systems, including corporate firewalls, servers, documents storage systems, backup systems, leased lines and connection to the Internet, face the risk of systemic failure that could disrupt our operations. A significant disruption in the availability of our information technology and other internal infrastructure systems could cause interruptions and delays in our operations.

Our business and operations could suffer in the event of system failures or unauthorized or inappropriate use of or access to our information technology systems.

We are dependent on our information technology systems and infrastructure for our business. We collect, store and transmit sensitive information including intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal information in connection with business operations. The secure maintenance of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Some of this information could be an attractive target of criminal attack or unauthorized access and use by third parties with a wide range of motives and expertise, including organized criminal groups, “hacktivists,” patient groups, disgruntled current or former employees and others. Cyber-attacks are of ever-increasing levels of sophistication, and despite our security measures, our information technology systems and infrastructure may be vulnerable to such attacks or may be breached, including due to employee error or malfeasance.

The pervasiveness of cybersecurity incidents in general and the risks of cyber-crime are complex and continue to evolve. Although we are making significant efforts to maintain the security and integrity of our information systems and are exploring various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, there can be no assurance that our security efforts and measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging. Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our employees, contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage or interruption from computer viruses, unauthorized or inappropriate access or use, natural disasters, pandemics (including COVID-19), terrorism, war, and telecommunication and electrical failures. Such events could cause interruption of our operations. For example, the loss or compromise of preclinical data for our therapeutic candidates could result in delays in our regulatory filings and development efforts, as well as delays in the commercialization of our products, and significantly increase our costs. To the extent that any disruption, security breach or unauthorized or inappropriate use or access to our systems were to result in a loss of or damage to our data, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, including but not limited to patient, employee or vendor information, we could incur notification obligations to affected individuals and government agencies, liability, including potential lawsuits from patients, collaborators, employees, stockholders or other third parties and liability under foreign, federal and state laws that protect the privacy and security of personal information, and the development and potential commercialization of our therapeutic candidates could be delayed. Existing insurance arrangements may not provide protection for the costs that may arise from such loss or damage. Any long-term disruption in our ability to access our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our operations, our business, results of operations and stock price.

Our current operations are concentrated in one location and any events affecting this location may have material adverse consequences.

Our current operations are located in our facilities situated in Chicago, Illinois. Any unplanned event, such as flood, fire, explosion, earthquake, extreme weather condition, medical epidemics, power shortage, telecommunication failure or other natural or man-made accidents or incidents that result in us being unable to fully utilize the facilities, may have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate our business, particularly on a daily basis, and have significant negative consequences on our financial and operating conditions. Loss of access to these facilities may result in increased costs, or interruption of our business operations. As part of our risk management policy, we maintain insurance coverage at levels that we believe are appropriate for our business. However, in the event of an accident or incident at these facilities, we cannot assure you that the amounts of insurance will be sufficient to satisfy any damages and losses. If our facilities are unable to operate because of an accident or incident or for any other reason, even for a short period of time, any or all of our research and development programs may be harmed. Any business interruption may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and prospects.

If we continue to fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls, our ability to produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis could be impaired.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, we are required to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow our management to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, while we

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remain a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm.

During the evaluation and testing process, we identified material weaknesses as described under Part I, Item 4 of this Form 10-Q. If we fail to remediate that material weakness, or if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. Further, we may in the future discover additional weaknesses in our system of internal financial and accounting controls and procedures that could result in additional material misstatement of our financial statements. Moreover, our internal controls over financial reporting will not prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud will be detected. Moreover, we are aware that the remote working arrangements implemented in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic potentially present new areas of risk, and we continue to carefully monitor any impact to our internal controls and procedures.

Our limited resources and recent reductions in force, as well as the turnover in our board of directors and the potential for future management changes, present significant continuity risk and could impact our ability to remediate our material weaknesses and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future.

If we are unable to remedy our material weaknesses and assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

The restatement of our prior quarterly financial statements may affect stockholder and investor confidence in us or harm our reputation, and may subject us to additional risks and uncertainties, including increased costs and the increased possibility of legal proceedings and regulatory inquiries, sanctions or investigations.

Management identified material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and restated its 2023 first quarter and second quarter unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements via Form 10-Q/A’s. As a result of the restatement, we have incurred, and may continue to incur, unanticipated costs for accounting and legal fees in connection with, or related to, such restatement. In addition, such restatement could subject us to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including the increased possibility of legal proceedings and inquiries, sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Any of the foregoing may adversely affect our reputation, the accuracy and timing of our financial reporting, or our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, or cause stockholders, investors, members and customers to lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports or cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

The influence of our significant stockholders could make our Common Stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm the trading price of our Common Stock.

CBI USA and DGP collectively own approximately 47% of outstanding Common Stock as of September 30, 2024 and exercised significant influence over us. We previously had been a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules for Nasdaq-listed companies. Members of our board and management are directly affiliated with CBI USA and DGP and will be affiliated with HiTron after the closing of its investments. HiTron will be a significant investor after the closing of its initial investment of $1.3 million, which is expected to occur within 10 days after November 12, 2024 and will be the largest stockholder in the Company after the closing of its subsequent investment of $8.7 million, which is subject to stockholder approval, among other conditions. Investors may be hesitant to invest in the Company given the influence of CBI, DGP, and HiTron and potential influence of other significant investors if DGP’s agreement to sell 612,000 shares to third parties is completed. In addition, should the interest or interests of our controlling stockholders differ from those of other stockholders, the other stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance rules for Nasdaq-listed companies.

Additionally, it is possible we could pursue strategic or financing transactions with our controlling stockholders or their affiliates. The interests of the controlling stockholders and other stockholders would diverge in this case, and the lack of an independent board to evaluate such a transaction could adversely impact other stockholders. These conflicts of interest (or the perception that they could occur) might adversely affect our business and prospects for obtaining financing or completing a strategic transaction.

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For so long as CBI USA, DGP, and HiTron own a significant stake, they (and/or their transferees) will have substantial control over the elections of our directors and to approve any other corporate action requiring the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. This could deter investment in the Company and adversely impact our stock price and ability to obtain financing. These impacts may be more pronounced in the near term as investors assess the direction of the Company under the control of HiTron, CBI USA, and DGP and the actions of the new board and management. This could deter investment as it creates uncertainty as to the transferees’ intentions with respect to the Company.

Potential partners considering engaging in a strategic transaction with the Company could have similar concerns. Given our urgent need for additional funding and/or to complete a strategic transaction, it is imperative that our controlling stockholders and our board and management earn the confidence of investors and potential partners in the near term and there is no assurance this will occur.

The market price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, highly volatile, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the price you paid for them.

Our stock price will continue to be volatile. As a result of this volatility, investors may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the price paid for the shares. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the other risks described in this section titled “Risk Factors” and the following:

•our ability or inability to raise additional capital and the terms on which we raise it;

•the development, execution and announcement of any proposed strategic alternative;

•investors may react negatively to our controlled company status and the influence of our controlling stockholder or our reconstituted board and/or our uncertain business strategy;

•strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

•we are unable to achieve the perceived benefits of our Company as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial or industry analysts; and

•changes in general economic, industry, political and market conditions, including, but not limited to, the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that has been often unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market and industry factors, such as those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Israel/Hamas war and retaliatory actions taken by the United States, NATO and others, may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

Raising additional funds by issuing securities may cause dilution to existing stockholders and raising funds through lending and licensing arrangements may restrict our operations or require us to relinquish proprietary rights.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenues, we expect to attempt to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings and debt financings. As discussed elsewhere, it may be very challenging to obtain equity or debt financing given the current transitional state of the Company. However, to the extent that we raise additional capital through the issuance of shares or other securities convertible into shares, our stockholders will be diluted. Future issuances of our common stock or other equity securities, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through future offerings of equity or equity-linked securities.

We cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to us will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We were an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act until December 31, 2023. As such, we took advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including (1) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (2) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (3) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition,

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as an emerging growth company, we were only required to provide two years of audited financial statements. Even though we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company as of 2024, we still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” and a “non-accelerated filer” which allows us to continue to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our share price may be more volatile.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware could make an acquisition of us more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management.

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may delay or prevent an acquisition of us or a change in our management. These provisions include a classified board of directors, a prohibition on actions by written consent of our stockholders, and the ability of the Board of Directors of the Company, or the Board, to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval. In addition, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, which prohibits stockholders owning in excess of 15% of the outstanding combined organization voting stock from merging or combining with the combined organization. Although we believe these provisions collectively will provide for an opportunity to receive higher bids by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board, they would apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove then-current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of the Board, which is responsible for appointing the members of management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any of the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, or any other claims for which a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery has exclusive jurisdiction or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act, creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also provides that any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our common stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

This choice of forum provision may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, employees and agents even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. Stockholders who do bring a claim in the Court of Chancery could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near Delaware. The Court of Chancery may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our stockholders. If a court were to find this exclusive forum provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in any action, we may incur further significant additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

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We have incurred substantial losses during our history and do not expect to be profitable in the near future, if ever. Our net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards generated in tax years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, are only permitted to be carried forward for 20 years under applicable U.S. tax law. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as modified by the CARES Act, our federal NOLs generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal NOLs is be limited to 80% of taxable income. In addition, under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL, and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. We have experienced ownership changes in the past. We completed a review of our changes in ownership through December 31, 2022 and determined that we experienced an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382(g) during the fourth quarter of 2022. This ownership change has and will continue to subject our net operating loss carryforwards to an annual limitation, which will significantly restrict our ability to use them to offset our taxable income in periods following the ownership change.

We determined that at the date of the 2022 ownership change, we had a net unrealized built-in loss (“NUBIL”). The NUBIL was determined based on the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis at the ownership change date. Because of the NUBIL, certain deductions recognized during the five-year period beginning on the date of the IRC Section 382 ownership change (the "recognition period") are subject to the same limitation as the net operating loss carryforwards or certain other deductions.

As of December 31, 2023, we determined that we ceased operations of our historical business enterprise which subjects us to a zero limitation as defined under IRC Section 382(c). Therefore, we are restricted in our ability to use any of the historical net operating losses that occurred before the most recent ownership change in the fourth quarter of 2022.

General Risk Factors

FINRA sales practice requirements may limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock due to our low stock price.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, has adopted rules requiring that, in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative or low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA has indicated its belief that there is a high probability that speculative or low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. If these FINRA requirements are applicable to us or our securities, which we believe they are, they may make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that at least some of their customers buy our common stock, which may limit the ability of our stockholders to buy and sell our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market for and price of our common stock.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. Our research coverage by securities and industry analysts is currently limited. In addition, because we did not become a reporting company by conducting an underwritten initial public offering of our common stock, security analysts of brokerage firms may not provide wider coverage of our Company. In addition, investment banks may be less likely to agree to underwrite secondary offerings on our behalf than they might if we became a public reporting company by means of an underwritten initial public offering, because they may be less familiar with our Company as a result of more limited coverage by analysts and the media, and because we became public at an early stage in our development. The failure to receive wider research coverage or support in the market for our shares will have an adverse effect on our ability to develop a liquid market for our common stock and the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted.

In the event we obtain wider securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our target studies and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

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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 September 30, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “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.

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Item 6. Exhibits

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit

No.

Exhibit Description

Form

Exhibit No.

Filing Date

File No.

2.1***

Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Flashpoint Therapeutics, Inc. and Exicure, Inc. dated as of September 27, 2024.

8-K

10.1

9/30/24

001-39011

3.1

Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 26, 2017.

8-K

3.2

10/02/17

000-55764

3.2

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 15, 2017.

10-K

3.3

3/11/21

001-39011

3.3

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Exicure, Inc., effective June 29, 2022.

8-K

3.1

06/29/22

001-39011

3.4

Amended and Restated Bylaws, as currently in effect.

8-K

3.4

10/02/17

000-55764

3.5

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Exicure, Inc., effective August 27, 2024

8-K

3.1

8/26/24

001-39011

10.1

Debt for Equity Exchange Agreement

8-K

N/A

9/12/24

001-39011

31.1*

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2*

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1**

Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and 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 – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

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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.

** The certification attached as Exhibit 32.1 that accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Exicure, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of such Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

*** Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted exhibits and schedules upon request by the SEC; provided, however, that the Company may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act for any exhibits or schedules so furnished.

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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.

Date: November 14, 2024


EXICURE, INC.

By:			/s/ Paul Kang
			Paul Kang
			Chief Executive Officer

By:			/s/ Jiyoung Hwang
			Jiyoung Hwang
			Chief Financial Officer

By:			/s/ Joshua Miller
			Joshua Miller
			Chief Accounting Officer

DEBT-FOR-EQUITY EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

This DEBT-FOR-EQUITY EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 12, 2024 (the “Effective Date”), is made by and between Exicure, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and DGP Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Korea (“DGP”).

RECITALS

1.The Company and DGP are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act.

2.DGP is the record holder of that certain promissory note, dated May 28, 2024, payable by the Company in the principal amount of $700,000 at an interest rate of 6.0% per annum, a copy attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Note”).

3.The Company desires to issue shares of its common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to DGP in exchange for satisfaction in full of the obligations (including the principal and not yet paid interest thereon accrued through the date hereof) under the Note equal to $711,666.67 (the “Discharged Debt”).

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and DGP agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

EXCHANGE

1.1.Exchange Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), (a) the Company will issue to DGP the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Discharged Debt divided by the higher of: (i) the Nasdaq official closing price (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) of the Common Stock immediately preceding the signing of this Agreement, or (ii) $3.00 (the “Acquired Shares”), and, in exchange,

(b) DGP will release the Company from any obligations with respect to the Discharged Debt evidencing payment and satisfaction in full of the Discharged Debt for the receipt of the Acquired Shares. The actions described in subparts (a) and (b), collectively, are referred to as the “Exchange”.

1.2.Effect of Exchange. Upon the Closing, the Discharged Debt will represent solely the right to receive the Acquired Shares. Except for obligations created under this Agreement, by accepting this Agreement, DGP forever releases relieves and discharges the Company and the Company’s past, present and future affiliates, subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, assigns, attorneys, employees, directors, officers, stockholders, agents, and representatives, from any and

all claims, demands, actions, cause or causes of action, suits, debts, sums of money, controversies, damages, obligations, breaches and liabilities of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in law, equity or otherwise, that have existed or may exist as of the date of this Agreement relating to the Discharged Debt and all matters and agreements in connection therewith and related thereto.

1.3.Closing. The completion of the Exchange (the “Closing”) will take place at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on September 12, 2024 or as soon as practicable thereafter (the “Closing Date”). The Closing will take place remotely via the delivery and exchange of documents and signatures.

ARTICLE 2

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to DGP as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing Date as follows:

2.1Organization. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

2.2Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to issue the Acquired Shares in accordance with the terms hereof; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation the issuance and delivery of the Acquired Shares) have been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its board of directors or its stockholders is required.

2.3Issuance of Acquired Shares. The Acquired Shares will, upon issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be free from any liens or encumbrances created by the Company (except as provided in this Agreement with respect to federal and applicable state securities laws). Based in part upon the representations of DGP in ARTICLE 3 of this Agreement, the Acquired Shares, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will be issued in compliance with federal and all applicable state securities laws. Subject in part to the truth and accuracy of DGP’s representations set forth in ARTICLE 3 of this Agreement, the offer, sale and issuance of the Acquired Shares as contemplated by this Agreement are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and neither the Company nor any authorized agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action hereafter that would cause the loss of such exemption.

2.4No Conflicts; No Violation.

(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Acquired Shares) do not conflict with or result in a violation of any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws.

(b) Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement and as required under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or any listing agreement with any securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of (other than those obtained on or prior to the date hereof), or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or any regulatory or self- regulatory agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof, or to issue the Acquired Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.

ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DGP

DGP hereby represents and warrants to the Company as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing Date as follows:

3.1 Complete Ownership. DGP is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Discharged Debt, free and clear of any and all liens.

3.2 Organization. DGP is a company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Republic of Korea and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

3.3 Authorization; Enforcement. DGP has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to tender the Discharged Debt and acquire the Acquired Shares in accordance with the terms hereof; the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by DGP and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all required parties and no further consent or authorization of DGP, its officers or its shareholders is required; and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by DGP.

3.4 Investment Purpose. DGP is acquiring the Acquired Shares for its own account for investment purposes only and without any view to, or for resale in connection with, any “distribution” thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act.

3.5 Disclosure of Information. DGP believes that it has received all the information it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to acquire the Acquired Shares hereunder. DGP further represents that it has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding its business and prospects. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of the Company in ARTICLE 2 of this Agreement or the right of DGP to rely thereon.

3.6 No Registration. DGP understands that the Acquired Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws, and will be issued in reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

3.7 Sophisticated Investor. DGP has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits, risks and benefits of the investment in the Acquired Shares and has been granted the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive satisfactory answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and the terms and conditions of the investment in the Acquired Shares and has had the opportunity to obtain and has obtained any additional information which it deems necessary regarding such purchase. DGP is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined within Regulation D.

3.8 High Risk. DGP is aware that an investment in the Acquired Shares is highly speculative and subject to substantial risks because, among other things, (a) the Acquired Shares are subject to transfer restrictions and have not been registered under the Securities Act and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available and (b) it may suffer a loss of a portion or all of its investment in the Acquired Shares. DGP has no need for liquidity in this investment, and it is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Acquired Shares for an indefinite period of time and can afford a complete loss of its investment in the Acquired Shares.

3.9 Restrictions on Transfer. DGP is fully informed and aware of the circumstances under which the Acquired Shares must be held and the restrictions upon the resale of the Acquired Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. In this connection, DGP understands that the Acquired Shares may not be resold unless they are registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or unless an exemption from such registration is available, that the availability of an exemption may depend on factors over which the Company has no control, and that unless so registered or exempt from registration the Acquired Shares may be required to be held for an indefinite period.

3.10 Limitations on Disposition. Without in any way limiting the representations set forth above, DGP further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any portion of the Acquired Shares being purchased hereunder except in compliance with applicable state securities laws and unless:

(a) there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement;

(b) such disposition involves: (i) a transfer not involving a change in beneficial ownership; (ii) a transfer in compliance with Rule 144, so long as the Company is furnished with satisfactory evidence of compliance with such Rule; (iii) transfers by any holder who is an individual to a trust for the benefit of such holder or his family; or (iv) transfers by gift, will or intestate succession to the spouse, lineal descendants or ancestors of any holder or spouse of a holder; or

(c) DGP shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and, if requested by the Company, DGP shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the

Company, that such disposition will not require registration under the Securities Act and will be in compliance with applicable state securities laws.

3.11 Legends. DGP understands that the certificates (or electronic equivalent) or notice or notices of issuance related to uncertificated securities representing the Acquired Shares will contain a legend set out in Exhibit B or one substantially similar thereto, and neither the Company nor its transfer agent or registrar is required to recognize any transfer of the Acquired Shares if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such transfer would result in a violation of any federal or state law regarding the offer and sale of securities.

3.12 Legal Proceedings. There are no legal proceedings pending or, to DGP’s knowledge, threatened in writing, against or affecting DGP or DGP’s respective assets, at law or in equity, by or before any governmental authority, or by or on behalf of any third party, which, if adversely determined, would impair DGP’s ability to enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.13 Governmental Review. DGP understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Acquired Shares or an investment therein.

3.14 Cancellation of Discharged Debt. Upon execution of this Agreement, DGP acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Discharged Debt owing by the Company under the Note is satisfied in full and (ii) the Company has no further obligation or liability further with respect to the Discharged Debt under the Note.

ARTICLE 4

MISCELLANEOUS

4.1 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflict of laws. The parties hereto hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States federal and state courts located in the State of Delaware with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement, the agreements entered into in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

4.2 Counterparts; Signatures by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which are considered one and the same agreement and will become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other parties. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other parties hereto by electronic (PDF) transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

4.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision will be deemed modified in order to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof that may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.

4.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

4.5 Consents; Waivers and Amendments. The provisions of this Agreement may only be amended, modified, supplemented or waived upon the prior written consent of the Company and DGP.

4.6 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and all of its terms, conditions and covenants are intended to be fully effective and binding, to the extent permitted by law, on the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

4.7 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.

4.8 Survival. Unless otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the representations and warranties of the Company and DGP contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement will survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the closings under this Agreement.

4.9 Further Assurances. Each party will do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and will execute and deliver all other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as another party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

4.10 Equitable Relief. Each party recognizes that, if it fails to perform or discharge any of its obligations under this Agreement, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the other parties. Each of the parties therefore agrees that the other parties are entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

[Signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

EXICURE, INC.

By: /s/ Paul Kang Name: Paul Kang

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

DGP CO., LTD.

By: /s/ Kyungwon Oh Name: Kyungwon Oh

Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Debt-for-Exchange Agreement]

EXHIBIT A

PROMISSORY NOTE

[See attached]

EXICURE, INC.

PROMISSORY NOTE

ISSUE DATE: May 28, 2024

AMOUNT: US$700,000.00 MATURITY DATE: May 28, 2025

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Exicure, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), promises to pay to DGP Co., Ltd. (“Investor”), or its registered assigns, in lawful money of the United States of America the principal sum of US$700,000.00 (Seven Hundred Thousand United States dollars), together with accrued interest, or in all cases such lesser principal and/or interest amount as shall equal the outstanding balance due hereunder after accounting for any amounts that have been paid, converted, or otherwise satisfied.

The following is a statement of the rights of Investor and the conditions to which this Note (this “Note”) is subject, and to which each of the parties, by executing this Note, agrees:

1.Payments.

a.Due Date. All principal and accrued interest hereunder that has not been previously paid, converted, or satisfied shall be due and payable on the earlier of (i) the 1st anniversary of the Issue Date of this Note (the “Maturity Date”), and (ii) when, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such amounts are declared by Investor to be due and payable by Company or made automatically due and payable, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof.

b.Interest Accrual and Payments. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note at 6.0% per annum in simple interest, computed from the date of Company’s receipt of funds based on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and the actual number of calendar days in the relevant calendar year. The accrued interest on this Note shall be due and payable at maturity (to the extent any such interest has not been previously converted or paid).

2.Defaults.

a.Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” under this Note: (i) Company (A) fails to pay any amount due hereunder on the respective due date for such payment or (B) otherwise breaches the terms of this Note and such other breach as described in this subclause (B) is not remedied within five (5) business days following Company’s receipt from Investor of written notice of such failure to pay or breach;

(ii) Company applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian of itself or of all or a substantial part of its property; (iii) Company’s dissolution, termination of existence, liquidation, or ceasing to operate as a going concern; (iv) Company commences a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession of its property by any official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it;

(v) proceedings for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian of Company, or of all or a substantial part of the property thereof, or an involuntary case or other proceedings seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to Company or any of its subsidiaries, if any, or the debts thereof under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect shall be commenced or (vi) default by the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to any loan, mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there is outstanding, or by which there is secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $100,000.00 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such subsidiary, whether such indebtedness exists as of the date of issuance of this Note or is hereafter created, where such default (A) results in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity date or (B) constitutes a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable (after the expiration of all applicable grace periods) at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and in the cases of clauses (A) and (B), such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such failure to pay or default shall not have been cured or waived, or such indebtedness is not paid or discharged, as the case may be, within five (5) business days of such default.

b.Rights of Investor upon Default. At any time during the continuance of an Event of Default described in Section 2(a)(i)(B), Investor may, by written notice to Company, declare and make all amounts payable by Company hereunder to be immediately due and payable without further presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 2(a)(i)(A) and 2(a)(ii) through 2(a)(vi), immediately and without notice, all amounts due and payable by Company hereunder shall automatically become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

3.Rank. All payments due under this Note shall be pari passu with all other senior indebtedness of the Company, and senior to all other indebtedness of the Company that, by the express terms of such indebtedness, is subordinated to this Note.

4.Miscellaneous.

a.Successors and Assigns; Transfer. This Note shall not be transferred or assigned without the written consent of Company and Investor. Subject to these restrictions on transfer, the rights and obligations of Company and Investor shall be binding upon and benefit the successors, assigns, heirs, administrators and transferees of the parties. Transfers of this Note will be effective when they are registered on the books of the Company following provision to Company of identifying information about the transferee, copies of all transfer agreements and documentation, and other transfer documents reasonably requested by Company. Prior to presentation of this Note to Company for registration of a transfer, Company may treat the registered holder hereof as the owner and holder of this Note for the purpose of receiving all payments of principal and interest hereon and for all other purposes whatsoever. Prior to any

permitted transfer, this Note shall be enforceable by Investor solely against Company (and not other party), and by Company solely against Investor (and no other party).

b.Waiver and Amendment. Any provision of this Note may be amended, waived or modified only upon the express written consent of Company and Investor.

c.Severability. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the Company and the Investor as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the Company or the Investor or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the Company or the Investor. The Company and the Investor will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

d.Notices. To be effective, a notice or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by email or courier addressed: (i) if to Investor, to Investor at Investor’s address or electronic mail address as shown in Company’s records, as may be updated in accordance with the provisions hereof; or (ii) if to Company, to Exicure, Inc., Attention: President, 2430 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, Email: pkang@exicuretx.com, with copy (which copy shall not constitute notice to the Company) to Baker & Hostetler LLP, Attention: Margaret Butler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, Email: mibutler@bakerlaw.com. A copy of any notice sent by courier shall also be sent by email. Each such notice or other communication shall for all purposes of this Note be treated as effective or having been given when delivered to recipient, provided that any notice received after 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) or on a weekend or local government or bank holiday shall be effective on the next business day.

e.Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue. This Note and all actions arising out of or in connection with this Note shall be enforced, governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, exclusive of its conflicts of law rules. The parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, then any federal court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) for the purpose of any matter arising out of, based upon, or relating to this Note. The parties waive any objection that any such court constitutes and inconvenient forum.

f.Waiver of Jury Trial; Judicial Reference. BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOTE, INVESTOR HEREBY AGREES AND THE COMPANY HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY RELATED TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS.

[Remainder of the Page Intentionally Left Blank]

Company has caused this Note to be issued as of the date first written above.

EXICURE, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

By: /s/ Paul Kang Name: Paul Kang

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

Acknowledged By:

DGP CO., LTD.,

a Korean corporation

By: /s/ Kyungwon Oh

Name: Kyungwon Oh

Title: Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT B

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING SUCH SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY; (B) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE

U.S. SECURITIES ACT; (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS; OR (D) IN A TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND, IN THE CASE OF PARAGRAPH (C) OR (D), THE SELLER FURNISHES TO THE COMPANY AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OF RECOGNIZED STANDING IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY TO SUCH EFFECT.

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Paul Kang, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Exicure, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 14, 2024



/s/ Paul Kang
Paul Kang
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Jiyoung Hwang, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Exicure, Inc.;

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 14, 2024



/s/ Jiyoung Hwang
Jiyoung Hwang
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATIONS*

Pursuant to the requirement set forth in Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. § 1350), Paul Kang, Chief Executive Officer of Exicure, Inc. (the “Company”), and Jiyoung Hwang, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge:

1. The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, to which this Certification is attached as Exhibit 32.1 (the “Periodic Report”), fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

2. The information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: November 14, 2024

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have set their hands hereto as of the 14th day of November, 2024.

/s/ Paul Kang

/s/ Jiyoung Hwang

Paul Kang

Jiyoung Hwang

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

(Principal Financial Officer)


*			This certification accompanies the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, to which it relates is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Exicure, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.

Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
Cover Page - shares	Sep. 30, 2024	Nov. 07, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2024
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-39011
Entity Registrant Name	EXICURE, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	81-5333008
Entity Address, Address Line One	2430 N. Halsted St.
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60614
City Area Code	(847)
Local Phone Number	673-1700
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	XCUR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		2,172,323
Entity Central Index Key	0001698530
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2024
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Sep. 30, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 343

$ 816

Other receivable

1,350

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

907

1,193

Total current assets

2,600

2,024

Property and equipment, net

Right-of-use asset

5,926

6,517

Other noncurrent assets

2,072

2,985

Total assets

10,631

11,580

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

1,337

1,631

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

2,318

879

Total current liabilities

3,655

2,510

Lease liability, noncurrent

5,431

6,039

Total liabilities

9,086

8,549

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12)

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 2,172,323 issued and outstanding, September 30, 2024; 1,832,988 issued and outstanding, December 31, 2023 *

^[1]

Additional paid-in capital

193,628

192,594

Accumulated deficit

(192,083)

(189,563)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,545

3,031

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 10,631

$ 11,580

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)

Aug. 27, 2024

Aug. 20, 2024

Sep. 30, 2024

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2023

$ / shares

Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]

Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 0.0001

Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)

10,000,000

Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)

Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)

Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

^[1]

$ 0.0001

Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)

^[1]

200,000,000

Common stock, shares issued (in shares)

^[1]

2,172,323

1,832,988

Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

2,172,323

1,832,988

Stock split conversion ratio

0.2

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Sep. 30, 2023

Sep. 30, 2024

Sep. 30, 2023

Revenue:

Revenue

$ 0

$ 500

$ 0

Operating expenses:

Research and development expense

1,423

General and administrative expense

1,434

2,397

4,005

11,155

Litigation legal expense

1,138

Loss from sale of property and equipment

920

Total operating expenses

2,572

3,317

5,143

13,498

Operating loss

(2,572)

(3,317)

(4,643)

(13,498)

Other income (expense), net:

Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable

(2,000)

Dividend income

Interest income

Interest expense

(12)

(18)

Other income (expense), net

1,500

2,137

(2)

Total other income (expense), net

1,489

(1,939)

2,131

(1,929)

Net loss before provision for income taxes

(1,083)

(5,256)

(2,512)

(15,427)

Provision for income taxes

(8)

Net loss

$ (1,091)

$ (5,256)

$ (2,520)

$ (15,427)

Basic income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ (0.57)

$ (3.04)

$ (1.36)

$ (9.89)

Diluted income (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ (0.57)

$ (3.04)

$ (1.36)

$ (9.89)

Weighted-average basic common shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

1,899,412

1,730,104

1,855,286

1,559,868

Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

1,899,412

1,730,104

1,855,286

1,559,868

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

Total

Common Stock

Additional Paid-in- Capital

Accumulated Deficit

Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022

^[1]

1,096,017

Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022

$ 14,922

$ 0

$ 187,571

$ (172,649)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

308

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[1]

1,112

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases

(1)

Reclassification of common stock warrants to liability

(800)

Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)

^[1]

680,000

Issuance of common stock, net

4,597

Net loss (income)

(4,407)

Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023

^[1]

1,777,129

Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2023

14,619

$ 0

191,675

(177,056)

Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022

^[1]

1,096,017

Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022

14,922

$ 0

187,571

(172,649)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Net loss (income)

(15,427)

Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023

^[1]

1,832,940

Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023

4,498

$ 0

192,574

(188,076)

Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023

^[1]

1,777,129

Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2023

14,619

$ 0

191,675

(177,056)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

969

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[1]

55,369

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases

(119)

Net loss (income)

(5,764)

Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2023

^[1]

1,832,498

Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023

9,705

$ 0

192,525

(182,820)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[1]

442

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases

(1)

Net loss (income)

(5,256)

Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2023

^[1]

1,832,940

Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023

$ 4,498

$ 0

192,574

(188,076)

Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023

1,832,988

^[2]

1,832,988

^[3]

Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023

$ 3,031

$ 0

192,594

(189,563)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[3]

Net loss (income)

(829)

Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024

^[3]

1,833,028

Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2024

$ 2,207

$ 0

192,599

(190,392)

Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023

1,832,988

^[2]

1,832,988

^[3]

Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023

$ 3,031

$ 0

192,594

(189,563)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Net loss (income)

$ (2,520)

Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024

2,172,323

^[2]

2,172,323

^[3]

Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024

$ 1,545

$ 0

193,628

(192,083)

Beginning balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024

^[3]

1,833,028

Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2024

2,207

$ 0

192,599

(190,392)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[3]

Net loss (income)

(600)

Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2024

^[3]

1,833,068

Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2024

1,613

$ 0

192,605

(190,992)

Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]

Equity-based compensation

Vesting of restricted stock units and related repurchases (in shares)

^[3]

Issuance of common stock, debt to equity conversion (in shares)

^[3]

339,214

Issuance of common stock, debt to equity conversion

1,018

Net loss (income)

$ (1,091)

(1,091)

Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2024

2,172,323

^[2]

2,172,323

^[3]

Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024

$ 1,545

$ 0

$ 193,628

$ (192,083)

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024
[2]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024
[3]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (2,520)	$ (15,427)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21	627
Equity-based compensation	16	1,327
Amortization of right-of-use asset	591	551
Changes in fair value of investment in convertible notes receivable	0	2,000
Loss from sale of property and equipment	0	920
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other receivable	(1,335)	0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	607	124
Other noncurrent assets	0	291
Accounts payable	(293)	504
Accrued expenses	1,457	78
Other liabilities	(609)	(536)
Net cash used in operating activities	(2,065)	(9,541)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of available-for-sale securities	0	(2,000)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	0	211
Net cash used in investing activities	0	(1,789)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowing	1,000	0
Proceeds from common stock offering	0	5,440
Payment of common stock financing costs	0	(843)
Payment of exercise of common stock warrants	0	(800)
Payments for minimum statutory tax withholding related to net share settlement of equity awards	0	(122)
Net cash provided by provided by financing activities	1,000	3,675
Net (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(1,065)	(7,655)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of period	2,016	9,777
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - end of period	$ 951	$ 2,122

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Non-cash investing activities:
Other receivable from sale of property and equipment	$ 0	$ 711
Non-cash financing activities:
Equity effect of debt to equity conversion	1,018	0
Cash and cash equivalents	343		$ 816
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets	608		1,200
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows	$ 951	$ 2,122	$ 2,016

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Parenthetical)	Aug. 27, 2024	Aug. 20, 2024
Income Statement [Abstract]
Stock split conversion ratio	0.2	0.2

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Parenthetical)	Aug. 27, 2024	Aug. 20, 2024
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stock split conversion ratio	0.2	0.2

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern	Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern Description of Business Exicure, Inc. was historically an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing nucleic acid therapies targeting ribonucleic acid against validated targets. In September 2022, the Company announced a significant reduction in force, suspension of preclinical activities and halting of all research and development, and that the Company was exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. The Company is engaging in a broader exploration of strategic alternatives. This effort involves exploring growth through transactions with potential partners that see opportunity in joining an existing, publicly-traded organization. Throughout these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the terms the “Company,” and “Exicure” refer to Exicure, Inc. and where appropriate, its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. Exicure Operating Company holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Exicure, Inc. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, have been presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Exicure and its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Reverse Stock Split At the Company’s Special Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved a proposal to approve and adopt an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its shares of common stock, issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance, at a ratio within the range from 1-for-2 to 1-for-15, with such ratio to be determined in the discretion of the Board of Directors. On August 20, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted resolutions to effect as soon as reasonably practicable the reverse split of the issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5. The Company effected a reverse stock split of its Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-5 as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 27, 2024. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Stockholders of record who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share received a full share in lieu thereof. An additional 102,837 shares were issued as a result of the fractional shares rounded up. All information presented in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated herein, assumes a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock, and unless otherwise indicated, all such amounts and corresponding conversion price or exercise price data set forth herein have been adjusted to give effect to such assumed reverse stock split. Unaudited Interim Financial Information The accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2024, the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the interim condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the interim condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2024, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 6, 2024. Going Concern At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The Company is required to make certain additional disclosures if it concludes substantial doubt exists and it is not alleviated by the Company’s plans or when its plans alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As of September 30, 2024, the Company expects to incur significant expenses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $343. Management believes that, given the Company’s current cash position, operating plans and forecasted negative cash flows from operating activities over the next twelve months, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these financial statements are issued. Substantial additional financing will be needed by the Company to fund its operations. Management believes that the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents are insufficient to continue to fund its operating expenses and additional funding is needed in the very near term. The Company has already engaged in significant cost reductions, so our ability to further cut costs and extend the Company’s operating runway is limited. As a result, substantial additional financing will be needed by the Company in the very near term to pay expenses, fund the ongoing exploration of strategic alternatives and pursue any alternatives that may be identified. There can be no assurance that such additional financing will be available and, if available, can be obtained on acceptable terms. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies	Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, which are included in the in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on June 6, 2024. Since the date of those audited consolidated financial statements, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies. Use of Estimates The preparation of the 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstances and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which will require companies to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The pronouncement is effective for annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company is still in the process of assessing the full impact of adopting this standard on the enhanced disclosure requirements in the notes to the Company’s financial statements. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 aims to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 modifies the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose (1) specific categories in the rate reconciliation, (2) the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and (3) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). Update 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state and local jurisdictions, among other changes. Update No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We expect to adopt Update No. 2023-09 prospectively. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Prepaid expenses and other current assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023

Prepaid insurance	$	455	$	508
Prepaid franchise tax	28		259
Lease costs	260		235
Prepaid professional fees	70		95
Prepaid software	46		72
Other	48		24
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	907	$	1,193

Other noncurrent assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Restricted cash	$	608	$	1,200
Prepaid insurance	1,464		1,785


Other noncurrent assets	$	2,072	$	2,985

Property and equipment, net


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Scientific equipment	$	246	$	246
Computers and software	3		3
Furniture and fixtures	30		30

Property and equipment, gross	279		279
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(246)		(225)
Property and equipment, net	$	33	$	54

Depreciation and amortization expense was $21 and $627 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023


Current lease liability	$	697	$	626
Accrued payroll-related expenses	—		71
Accrued legal expenses	267		34
Accrued litigation legal fee	1,138		—
Accrued other expenses	216		148
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	2,318	$	879

Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

Chicago Lease

The following table summarizes lease costs in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Operating lease costs	$	143	$	52	$	428	$	704
Variable lease costs	119		232		122		545
Short term lease costs	8		—		28		—
Total lease costs	$	270	$	284	$	578	$	1,249

Sublease of Office Space

Refer to Note 15 Subsequent Events for information about Subtenant’s notice of termination of the Sublease Agreement.

The following table summarizes sublease receipts in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Sublease amounts paid to landlord	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179
Total	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179

Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable	9 Months Ended
Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable	Sep. 30, 2024
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable	Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable In May 2023, the Company entered into two subscription agreements to purchase non-guaranteed private placement convertible notes receivable (the “Notes Receivable”) for a subscription amount of $1 million each. The Notes Receivable mature in May 2026 and the yield to maturity is 4.5% per annum. The Company has the option to request that the issuer redeem part or the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable on the first anniversary after the issue date and every three months thereafter before the maturity date. The redemption price will be one hundred percent (100%) of the Notes Receivable’s face value, plus accrued interest. The Company also has the ability to convert the debt into shares based on the number of shares computed by dividing the face value of each security by a calculated conversion price, which is subject to adjustment provisions, determined at the time of issuance. The securities may be converted from May 3, 2024, the first anniversary of the issue date of the first agreement, to April 15, 2026, one month prior to the maturity date to the second agreement. In March 2024, the Company notified the issuer of the Notes Receivable that it was exercising its redemption right with respect to the entire principal amount of the Notes Receivable after the first anniversary of their issue dates (May 3 and May 16, 2024, respectively) for an aggregate redemption price of $2.090 million (representing the principal amount plus 4.5% per annum yield to the redemption date). The issuer has taken the position that the Notes Receivable are not redeemable until August 3, 2024 and August 16, 2024, and as a result that redemption notice submitted in March were premature. We have attempted to redeem the $2 million aggregate principal amount of the convertible Notes Receivable in June 2024, but have not received a response to our most recent request. The Company’s debt securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320 - Investments - Debt Securities. AFS securities are recorded at fair value. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, management does not believe these AFS investments are recoverable and recorded them at a fair value of $0.

Debt	9 Months Ended
Debt	Sep. 30, 2024
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt On May 3, 2024, the Company executed a promissory note (“Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $300 from an individual investor. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) May 3, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity. On June 3, 2024, the Company executed another promissory note (“DGP Note”) and subsequently received a loan in the amount of $700 from DGP, a related party. All principal and accrued interest were due and payable on the earlier of (i) March 25, 2025 or (ii) upon an event of default, at such time, such amounts declared by the investor would become due and payable by Company. Interest accrued on this DGP Note at 6.0% and was payable at maturity. On September 11, 2024, the Company executed two Debt for Equity Exchange Agreements converting the existing debt and related interest described above into shares of its common stock. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the Note into 101,991 of its common stock shares. The Company exchanged in full satisfaction of the principal and accrued interest obligations on the DGP Note into 237,223 shares of its common stock. As this was considered a troubled debt restructuring with a related party, the difference between fair value and book value was recognized within additional paid in capital.

Stockholders' Equity	9 Months Ended
Stockholders' Equity	Sep. 30, 2024
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Stockholders’ Equity Preferred Stock As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 authorized and no shares issued and outstanding. Common Stock As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had authorized 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 2,172,323 shares and 1,832,988 shares issued and outstanding, respectively. The holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the Company’s stockholders and there are no cumulative rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding. The Company’s common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock. The outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. September 2022 PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) Securities Purchase Agreement On September 26, 2022, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with CBI USA, Inc. (“CBI USA”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to CBI USA in a private placement an aggregate of 680,000 shares of Common Stock, at a purchase price of $8.00 per share. The private placement closed on February 24, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). The Company received gross proceeds of $5,440 from the September 2022 PIPE (or net proceeds of $4,597 after transaction expenses). CBI USA funded the acquisition pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement through a loan from its affiliate, DGP Co., Ltd. (“DGP”). On June 23, 2023, DGP exercised its the option pursuant to the loan and acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially acquired by CBI USA pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. DGP subsequently agreed to sell its shares to a third party, with the closing of 10% (68,000 shares) occurring in February 2024 and the remainder to close by or on October 31, 2024. The sale of the remainder did not close on October 31, 2024. However, on October 31, 2024, DGP agreed to sell 612,000 shares to two different third parties, with such sales expected to close by February 2025 subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. The Securities Purchase Agreement, as confirmed and clarified by that certain letter agreement, dated October 31, 2022, between the Company and CBI USA, provided CBI USA together with its affiliates and any “group” of which it or they are a member with the right to designate directors to the Company’s board of directors in proportion to the ownership of CBI USA and its affiliates and any such group. CBI USA and DGP have announced they expect to exercise such rights as a group. Together, they beneficially own 47% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of September 30, 2024 based on their most recent Schedule 13D amendment. September 2022 Registration Rights Agreement In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with CBI USA (the “Registration Rights Agreement’). CBI USA assigned its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement to DGP when DGP acquired the 680,000 shares of Common Stock initially sold to CBI USA. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable, and to keep such registration statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date the shares covered by such registration statement have been sold or may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction, or (ii) the date that is two (2) years following the Closing Date. In the event the registration statement was not filed within 90 days following the Closing Date, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Company agreed to make payments as liquidated damages in an amount equal to 0.5% of the aggregate amount invested in the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement per 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof for each such month during which such event continues, subject to certain caps set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. We have paid $27 to CBI USA and accrued $191 to DGP pursuant to this provision. Registered Direct Offering On December 16, 2021, the Company completed a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional purchasers (the “Purchasers”) entered into on December 14, 2021, pursuant to which the Company offered to the Purchasers, in a registered direct offering priced at-the-market consistent with the rules of Nasdaq (the “Registered Direct Offering”), (i) an aggregate of 86,711 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 143,797 shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”), and (iii) warrants to purchase up to 115,253 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). The combined purchase price of each share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant is $49.8900 per share. The combined purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant is $49.7400 (equal to the combined purchase price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant, minus $0.15). The per share exercise price for the Warrants is $40.5155, the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 13, 2021 (and as adjusted for the reverse stock split referenced in Note 1). The Warrants will be exercisable immediately from the closing December 16, 2021, and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, or December 16, 2026. The Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants, which met equity classification, were recognized as a component of permanent stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in-capital together with the net proceeds from the Registered Direct Offering. The gross proceeds to the Company from the Registered Direct Offering (excluding effect of subsequent exercises of pre-funded warrants) were $11,478 and net proceeds after deducting the placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses paid or payable by the Company were $10,226. The securities were offered by the Company pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-251555) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 21, 2020, and which was declared effective by the SEC on January 7, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”). Each Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $40.5155 per share. The Warrants are immediately exercisable as of the date of issuance of December 16, 2021 and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the date of issuance, or December 16, 2026. The Pre-Funded Warrants were offered in lieu of shares of Common Stock to one of the Purchasers whose purchase of shares of Common Stock in the Registered Direct Offering would otherwise result in said Purchaser, together with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the Purchaser, 9.99%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately following the consummation of the Registered Direct Offering. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants are immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. A holder (together with its affiliates) of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant may not exercise any portion of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the holder’s option upon issuance, 9.99%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable. In lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon exercise of a Warrant in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Warrants, provided that such cashless exercise shall only be permitted if the Registration Statement is not effective at the time of such exercise or if the prospectus to which the Registration Statement is a part is not available for the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Warrant holder. In lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon exercise of a Pre-Funded Warrant in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of Common Stock determined according to a formula set forth in the Pre-Funded Warrants. Common Stock Warrants Warrants to purchase 115,253 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction. The warrants were classified as equity. As a result of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE, a warrant holder elected to exercise their option within 30 days of the closing of the September 2022 PIPE (February 24, 2023) to receive a cash payout for the outstanding warrants in the amount of the Black-Scholes value of each warrant as prescribed in the warrant agreement. The Company paid $800 to this warrant holder on June 23, 2023 and 105,231 were settled as a result. As of September 30, 2024, warrants to purchase 10,022 shares of common stock at a price of $40.5155 per share that were acquired in the December 2021 registered-direct offering transaction remain outstanding.

Equity-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Equity-Based Compensation

2017 Equity Incentive Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Equity-based compensation expense is classified in the statements of operations as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Research and development expense	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	154
General and administrative expense	5		50		16		1,173
	$	5	$	50	$	16	$	1,327

Unamortized equity-based compensation expense at September 30, 2024 was $16, which is expected to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 1.1 years.


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023
Expected term	5.8 to 5.8 years
Risk-free interest rate	3.83% to 3.83%; weighted avg. 3.83%
Expected volatility	100.9% to 100.9%; weighted avg. 100.9%
Forfeiture rate	5	%
Expected dividend yield	—	%


	Fair Value of Underlying Common Stock	Exercise Price of Common Stock Option

Nine months ended September 30, 2023	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90

The weighted-average grant date fair value of common stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $6.30 per common stock option.

A summary of common stock option activity as of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)
Outstanding - December 31, 2023	2,427	$	21.40	5.4	$	—
Granted	—	—
Exercised	—	—
Forfeited	(84)	27.55

Outstanding - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Exercisable - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Vested and Expected to Vest - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—

A summary of restricted stock unit activity of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Restricted Stock Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance - December 31, 2023	609	$	52.05
Granted	—	—

Vested	(177)	92.89
Forfeited	(84)	17.25
Unvested balance - September 30, 2024	348	$	55.72

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Sep. 30, 2024
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income TaxesThe Company incurred a pretax loss in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, which consists entirely of loss in the United States and resulted in no provision for income tax expense during the periods then ended. The effective tax rate is 0% in each of the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 because the Company has generated tax losses and has provided a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

Loss Per Common Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Loss Per Common Share

The following is the computation of loss per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net loss	$	(1,091)	$	(5,256)	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)

Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding	1,899,412		1,730,104		1,855,286		1,559,868



Loss per share - basic and diluted	$	(0.57)	$	(3.04)	$	(1.36)	$	(9.89)


	As of September 30,
	2024	2023
Options to purchase common stock	2,343	2,423
Restricted stock units	348	676

Warrants to purchase common stock	10,022	10,022

Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:


	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—






Total financial assets	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—

Commitment and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Commitment and Contingencies	Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Legal Proceedings On December 13, 2021, Mark Colwell filed a putative securities class action lawsuit against the Company, David A. Giljohann and Brian C. Bock in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, captioned Colwell v. Exicure, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-0663. On February 4, 2021, plaintiff filed an amended putative securities class action complaint. On March 20, 2023, the court entered an order appointing James Mathew as lead plaintiff and Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP as lead counsel in the action pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. On May 26, 2023, lead plaintiff filed a second amended complaint against the Company, Dr. Giljohann, Mr. Bock, and Grant Corbett. The second amended complaint alleges that Dr. Giljohann, Mr. Bock, and Dr. Corbett made materially false and/or misleading statements related to the Company’s clinical programs purportedly causing losses to investors who acquired Company securities between January 7, 2021 and December 10, 2021. The second amended complaint does not quantify any alleged damages but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, lead plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of himself and others who acquired the Company’s stock during the putative class period at allegedly inflated prices and purportedly suffered financial harm as a result. On October 8, the court granted preliminary approval of the settlement in the securities class action and set a schedule for final approval proceedings, including a final approval hearing on January 13, 2025. The proposed settlement described above will be fully covered by insurance. However, the settlement will include a reservation of rights by the insurers against the Company for the unsatisfied portion of its self insured retainer. As a result, the Company recorded an accrual as of September 30, 2024 for the amount of the unsatisfied retainer of approximately $1.14 million needed to bridge the $2.5 million retainer that the Company is liability for under its self insured retention. The Company is currently negotiating with the insurers to attempt to settle for an amount less than the full retainer amount. On March 1, 2022, Kapil Puri filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit on behalf of the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, against Dr. Giljohann and Mr. Bock, Jeffrey L. Cleland, Elizabeth Garofalo, Bosun Hau, Bali Muralidhar, Andrew Sassine, Matthias Schroff, James Sulat and Timothy Walbert, captioned Puri v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01083. On March 8, 2022, Yixin Sim filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit in the same court against the same individuals, captioned Sim v. Giljohann, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-01217. On April 25, 2022, Stourbridge Investments LLC filed a similar shareholder derivative lawsuit against the same individuals in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, captioned Stourbridge Investments LLC v. Exicure, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-00526. Based on similar factual allegations presented in the Colwell complaint, described above, the Puri, Sim, and Stourbridge complaints (collectively, the “Derivative Complaints”) allege that the defendants caused the Company to issue false and/or misleading statements in the proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders regarding risk oversight, code of conduct, clinical program and compensation matters, among other things, in violation of federal securities law, and committed breaches of fiduciary duties. The Derivative Complaints also assert that Dr. Giljohann and Mr. Bock are liable for contribution under the federal securities laws. The Puri and Stourbridge complaints further assert state law claims for unjust enrichment, and the Puri complaint additionally asserts state law claims for abuse of control, gross mismanagement and corporate waste. The plaintiffs do not quantify any alleged damages in the Derivative Complaints, but seek restitution for damages to the Company, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, as well as an order directing that certain proposals for strengthening board oversight be put to a vote of the Company’s shareholders. This lawsuit is expected to settle after the securities litigation lawsuit. On March 18, 2022, James McNabb, through counsel, sent a written demand to the Company (the “Demand Letter”) demanding that the Board of Directors investigate certain allegations and commence proceedings on the Company’s behalf against certain of the Company’s officers and directors for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and corporate waste. All of the Derivative Cases have been stayed pending a decision on any motion to dismiss that may be filed in the Colwell case. Further, pursuant to agreement, the Demand Letter is being held in abeyance and any related statute of limitations tolled pending such motion and decision. On October 3, 2023, a former employee filed a complaint against the Company and its executives related to the former employee’s separation from the Company. The parties proceeded with paper discovery and this matter did not settle at an in-person settlement conference on July 17, 2024. As a result, we are in the discovery phase of this litigation Leases Refer to Note 4, Leases, for a discussion of the commitments associated with the Company’s lease agreements.

Related-Party Transactions	9 Months Ended
Related-Party Transactions	Sep. 30, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related-Party Transactions	Related-Party Transactions Pursuant to a Consulting Agreement, effective as of September 25, 2022, between the Company and Alta Companies LTD (“Alta”), the Company paid Alta $218 on February 27, 2023 for a consulting fee earned as a result of the September 2022 PIPE closing. Paul Kang, a director of the Company since February 2023 and the CEO of the Company since August 2023, is the President of Alta. Also, refer to the Note and the DGP Note in Footnote 6.

License and Purchase Agreements	9 Months Ended
License and Purchase Agreements	Sep. 30, 2024
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
License and Purchase Agreements	License and Purchase Agreements License Agreement On February 5, 2024, the Company entered into a patent license agreement to develop cavrotolimod for potential treatment for hepatitis with a private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, this biopharmaceutical company will receive an exclusive license in the field of hepatitis to all of the Company’s relevant patents. $500 was paid to the Company after the execution of this agreement. This payment was recognized as revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company will also be entitled to modest royalties on future net sales on all licensed technology during the term of the licensed patents. The Company determined that the amount of variable consideration would be constrained until the period the uncertainty related to the consideration is relieved. This patent license agreement was assigned to, and assumed by, the purchaser pursuant to this purchase agreement, but any royalties would be passed through to the Company. Purchase Agreement On September 27, 2024, the Company entered into and closed the sale of certain assets pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”). The assets sold to the purchaser consist of the Company’s historical biotechnology intellectual property and other assets and include the Company’s spherical nucleic acid-related technology, research and development programs, and clinical assets (the “Sold Assets”). The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1,500 from the sale of the Sold Assets. The gross proceeds were recognized as other income. The Company will be entitled to royalties and license fees in connection with future sales or licenses derived from the Sold Assets for a period of 10 years as set out in further detail in the purchase agreement. The Company determined that the amount of variable consideration would be constrained until the period the uncertainty related to the consideration is relieved. We received $150 in September and $550 in October. The remaining $800 will be received within 6 months from the date of the Purchase Agreement.

Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Sep. 30, 2024
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Termination of Sublease Agreement On October 21, 2024, the Subtenant provided notice that it is exercising its right to termination under the Sublease, effective as of November 30, 2024. However, the Company sent a formal notice disputing the subtenant’s right to terminate the Sublease as the provisions for termination were not met. Common Stock Purchase Agreement In an agreement dated November 6, 2024 and executed on November 12, 2024, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron Systems Inc. (“HiTron”) 433,333 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for $1,300, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The closing of this transaction is expected to occur within 10 days from its execution. After execution, HiTron will be a related party of the Company. On November 13, 2024, in a subsequent agreement, the Company agreed to sell and issue to HiTron 2,900,000 additional shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for $8,700, at a purchase price of $3.00 per share. The closing of the investment pursuant to this subsequent agreement is conditioned on stockholder approval, among other customary c

Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2024	Mar. 31, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Pay vs Performance Disclosure
Net loss	$ (1,091)	$ (600)	$ (829)	$ (5,256)	$ (5,764)	$ (4,407)	$ (2,520)	$ (15,427)

Insider Trading Arrangements	3 Months Ended
Insider Trading Arrangements	Sep. 30, 2024
Trading Arrangements, by Individual
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted	false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated	false

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, have been presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Exicure and its wholly owned subsidiary, Exicure Operating Company. All intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of the 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on certain assumptions which it believes are reasonable in the circumstances and while actual results could differ from those estimates, management does not believe that any change in those assumptions in the near term would have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Actual results in future periods could differ from those estimates.
Loss Per Common Share	Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is calculated using the treasury share method by giving effect to all potentially dilutive securities that were outstanding. Potentially dilutive options, restricted stock units and warrants to purchase common stock that were outstanding during the periods presented were excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation for the periods presented because such shares had an anti-dilutive effect due to the net loss reported in those periods.
Fair Value Measurements	ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value, as follows: Level 1 Inputs - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date; Level 2 Inputs - other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and Level 3 Inputs - unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date. The Company uses the market approach and Level 1 and Level 2 inputs to value its cash equivalents and Level 2 inputs to value its short-term investments. The Company uses the market approach and Level 3 inputs to value its liabilities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which will require companies to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”). The pronouncement is effective for annual filings for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company is still in the process of assessing the full impact of adopting this standard on the enhanced disclosure requirements in the notes to the Company’s financial statements. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 aims to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. Update No. 2023-09 modifies the rules on income tax disclosures to require entities to disclose (1) specific categories in the rate reconciliation, (2) the income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit (separated between domestic and foreign) and (3) income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations (separated by federal, state, and foreign). Update 2023-09 also requires entities to disclose their income tax payments to international, federal, state and local jurisdictions, among other changes. Update No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We expect to adopt Update No. 2023-09 prospectively. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]

Schedule of Prepaid and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023

Prepaid insurance	$	455	$	508
Prepaid franchise tax	28		259
Lease costs	260		235
Prepaid professional fees	70		95
Prepaid software	46		72
Other	48		24
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	907	$	1,193

Schedule of Other Noncurrent Assets

Other noncurrent assets


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Restricted cash	$	608	$	1,200
Prepaid insurance	1,464		1,785


Other noncurrent assets	$	2,072	$	2,985

Schedule of Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Scientific equipment	$	246	$	246
Computers and software	3		3
Furniture and fixtures	30		30

Property and equipment, gross	279		279
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(246)		(225)
Property and equipment, net	$	33	$	54

Schedule of Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023


Current lease liability	$	697	$	626
Accrued payroll-related expenses	—		71
Accrued legal expenses	267		34
Accrued litigation legal fee	1,138		—
Accrued other expenses	216		148
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	2,318	$	879

Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Lease Costs

The following table summarizes lease costs in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Operating lease costs	$	143	$	52	$	428	$	704
Variable lease costs	119		232		122		545
Short term lease costs	8		—		28		—
Total lease costs	$	270	$	284	$	578	$	1,249

The following table summarizes sublease receipts in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Sublease amounts paid to landlord	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179
Total	$	178	$	179	$	524	$	179

Equity-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Schedule of Equity-Based Compensation Expense Classification in Statement of Operations

Equity-based compensation expense is classified in the statements of operations as follows:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Research and development expense	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	154
General and administrative expense	5		50		16		1,173
	$	5	$	50	$	16	$	1,327

Schedule of Assumptions Used to Determine Fair Value of Common Stock Option Grants

The following table presents the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023
Expected term	5.8 to 5.8 years
Risk-free interest rate	3.83% to 3.83%; weighted avg. 3.83%
Expected volatility	100.9% to 100.9%; weighted avg. 100.9%
Forfeiture rate	5	%
Expected dividend yield	—	%


	Fair Value of Underlying Common Stock	Exercise Price of Common Stock Option

Nine months ended September 30, 2023	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90	$7.90; weighted avg. $7.90

Schedule of Common Stock Option Activity

A summary of common stock option activity as of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Options	Weighted-Average Exercise Price		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)
Outstanding - December 31, 2023	2,427	$	21.40	5.4	$	—
Granted	—	—
Exercised	—	—
Forfeited	(84)	27.55

Outstanding - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Exercisable - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—
Vested and Expected to Vest - September 30, 2024	2,343	$	27.55	4.6	$	—

Schedule of Restricted Stock Unit Awards Activity

A summary of restricted stock unit activity of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Restricted Stock Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance - December 31, 2023	609	$	52.05
Granted	—	—

Vested	(177)	92.89
Forfeited	(84)	17.25
Unvested balance - September 30, 2024	348	$	55.72

Loss Per Common Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Computation of Loss per Common Share

The following is the computation of loss per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net loss	$	(1,091)	$	(5,256)	$	(2,520)	$	(15,427)

Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares outstanding	1,899,412		1,730,104		1,855,286		1,559,868



Loss per share - basic and diluted	$	(0.57)	$	(3.04)	$	(1.36)	$	(9.89)

Schedule of Antidilutive Securities


	As of September 30,
	2024	2023
Options to purchase common stock	2,343	2,423
Restricted stock units	348	676

Warrants to purchase common stock	10,022	10,022

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:


	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—






Total financial assets	$	418	$	418	$	—	$	—

Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Going Concern (Details) $ in Thousands	Aug. 27, 2024 shares	Aug. 20, 2024	Aug. 15, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock split conversion ratio	0.2	0.2
Rounding up of fractional shares due to stock split, shares (in shares) \| shares	102,837
Cash and cash equivalents \| $				$ 343	$ 816
Maximum
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock split conversion ratio			0.5
Minimum
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock split conversion ratio			0.0667

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Schedule of Prepaid and Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Prepaid insurance	$ 455	$ 508
Prepaid franchise tax	28	259
Lease costs	260	235
Prepaid professional fees	70	95
Prepaid software	46	72
Other	48	24
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 907	$ 1,193

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Schedule of Other Noncurrent Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Restricted cash	$ 608	$ 1,200
Prepaid insurance	1,464	1,785
Other noncurrent assets	$ 2,072	$ 2,985

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Schedule of Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 279	$ 279
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(246)	(225)
Property and equipment, net	33	54
Scientific equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	246	246
Computers and software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	3	3
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 30	$ 30

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization	$ 21	$ 627

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information - Schedule of Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Abstract]
Current lease liability	$ 697	$ 626
Accrued payroll-related expenses	0	71
Accrued legal expenses	267	34
Accrued litigation legal fee	1,138	0
Accrued other expenses	216	148
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 2,318	$ 879

Leases - Narrative (Details) ft² in Thousands, $ in Thousands			9 Months Ended
	May 04, 2023	Jul. 01, 2020 USD ($) ft² extension_period	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease, cash payments			$ 716	$ 1,379
Chicago
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease area \| ft²		30
Operating lease, contract term		10 years
Operating lease, number of extensions \| extension_period		2
Operating lease, renewal term		5 years
Operating lease, annual rent payment		$ 1,113
Operating lease, base rent annual percentage increase (as a percent)		3.00%
Operating lease, estimated rental payment over lease term		$ 12,761
Sublease percentage of office space subtenant (as a percent)	57.00%
Period of no rental cost	3 months

Leases - Lease Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Leases - Lease Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease costs	$ 143	$ 52	$ 428	$ 704
Variable lease costs	119	232	122	545
Short term lease costs	8	0	28	0
Total lease costs	$ 270	$ 284	$ 578	$ 1,249

Leases - Sublease Receipts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Leases [Abstract]
Sublease amounts paid to landlord	$ 178	$ 179	$ 524	$ 179

Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable (Details)	1 Months Ended
Investment in Convertible Notes Receivable (Details)	Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)	May 31, 2023 USD ($) agreement	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities			$ 0		$ 0
Notes Receivable
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Number of subscription agreements entered into \| agreement		2
Available-for-sale securities				$ 2,000,000
Stated yield	4.50%	4.50%
Period in between reoccurring put option		3 months
Redemption price percentage		100.00%
Proceeds from sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities	$ 2,090,000.00
Notes Receivable, One
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities		$ 1,000,000
Notes Receivable, Two
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities		$ 1,000,000

Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 11, 2024 agreement shares	Jun. 03, 2024 USD ($)	May 03, 2024 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of exchange agreements executed \| agreement	2
Promissory Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount \| $			$ 300
Interest rate			6.00%
Shares issued upon conversion (in shares) \| shares	101,991
Promissory Note \| DGP Co. Ltd \| Related Party
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount \| $		$ 700
Interest rate		6.00%
Shares issued upon conversion (in shares) \| shares	237,223

Stockholders' Equity - Preferred and Common Stock (Details)

Sep. 30, 2024

vote

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2023

$ / shares

Equity [Abstract]

Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)

10,000,000

Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 0.0001

Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)

Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)

Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)

^[1]

200,000,000

Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

^[1]

$ 0.0001

Common stock, shares issued (in shares)

^[1]

2,172,323

1,832,988

Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

2,172,323

1,832,988

Common stock, voting rights for each share | vote

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

Stockholders' Equity - Securities Purchase Agreement (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2024

third_party

Jun. 23, 2023

Feb. 24, 2023

USD ($)

Sep. 26, 2022

$ / shares

Dec. 16, 2021

USD ($)

$ / shares

Feb. 29, 2024

Sep. 30, 2024

USD ($)

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2023

$ / shares

Dec. 31, 2021

$ / shares

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Registration rights agreement, effective period following closing date

2 years

Registration rights agreement, required filing term

90 days

Registration rights agreement, liquidation damages payable as a percent of amount invested, if filed late (as a percent)

0.50%

Registration rights agreement, liquidation damages payable if filed late, measurement term

30 days

Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

^[1]

$ 0.0001

Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 40.5155

Warrant liability, measurement input, term

5 years

Gross proceeds | $

$ 11,478

Net proceeds | $

$ 10,226

Ownership percentage limitation (as a percent)

4.99%

Ownership percentage limitation at election of purchaser (as a percent)

9.99%

DGP Co. Ltd

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Pro rata accrual | $

$ 191

CBI USA, Inc

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Pro rata payment | $

$ 27

Pre-Funded Warrants

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Warrants issued in sale of stock (in shares)

143,797

Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 0.15

Number of shares exercisable for each warrant (in shares)

Warrant

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Warrants issued in sale of stock (in shares)

115,253

Exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 40.5155

Number of shares exercisable for each warrant (in shares)

Common Stock And Accompanying Warrant

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Purchase price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 49.8900

Pre-Funded Warrants And Accompanying Warrant

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Purchase price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 49.7400

Common Stock

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)

86,711

Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 0.0001

Private Placement

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)

680,000

Sales price of shares issued in transaction (in dollars per share) | $ / shares

$ 8.00

Consideration received, gross | $

$ 5,440

Consideration for stock transaction | $

$ 4,597

Private Placement | CBI USA & DGP Co. Ltd

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Percentage of ownership after transaction (as a percent)

47.00%

Third Party Sale of Company Stock | CBI USA, Inc | DGP Co. Ltd

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)

680,000

Third Party Sale of Company Stock | DGP Co. Ltd | Third Party

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)

68,000

Percentage of shares subsequently sold at closing

10.00%

Third Party Sale of Company Stock | DGP Co. Ltd | Two Different Third Parties | Subsequent Event

Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]

Number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)

612,000

Number of different third parties | third_party

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock Warrants (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Jun. 23, 2023	Feb. 24, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2021
Equity [Abstract]
Number of shares called by warrants (in shares)			10,022	115,253
Exercise price (in dollars per share)			$ 40.5155	$ 40.5155
Warrant exercised, period before closing		30 days
Payment for warrant liability	$ 800
Warrants settled (in shares)	105,231

Equity-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2024	Jan. 01, 2020	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 22, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation cost not yet recognized				$ 16
Compensation expense recognition period				1 year 1 month 6 days
Granted (in shares)				0
Weighted-average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)					$ 6.30
Employee Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)				12,394
Maximum ESPP contribution rate as a percentage of compensation (as a percent)			15.00%
Maximum number of shares per employee in purchase period (in shares)			50
Maximum contribution amount			$ 25
ESPP purchase price as a percentage of market price (as a percent)			85.00%
Number of additional shares allowable annually under the plan (in shares)			2,000
Percentage of outstanding shares allowable as annual increase (as a percent)			0.30%
Increase in number of shares available for grant (in shares)	10,000
Restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued for each vested restricted stock unit (in shares)				1
Vesting period				4 years
Exicure, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized (in shares)						38,950
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)				91,059		14,466
Number of additional shares authorized, potential maximum additional shares (in shares)		30,667
Number of additional shares authorized, percentage of common stock outstanding (as a percent)		5.00%
Exicure, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)	30,667
Exicure OpCo 2015 Equity Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant (in shares)						25,559

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Equity-Based Compensation Expense Classification in Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 5	$ 50	$ 16	$ 1,327
Research and development expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	0	0	0	154
General and administrative expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 5	$ 50	$ 16	$ 1,173

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Assumptions Used to Determine Fair Value of Common Stock Option Grants (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	3.83%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum	3.83%
Expected volatility, minimum	100.90%
Expected volatility, maximum	100.90%
Expected volatility	100.90%
Forfeiture rate	5.00%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term	5 years 9 months 18 days
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term	5 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted Average
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate	3.83%

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Fair Value of Underlying Common Stock and Exercise Price of Stock Options (Details)	Sep. 30, 2023 $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of underlying common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 7.90
Exercise price of common stock option (in dollars per share)	7.90
Weighted Average
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Fair value of underlying common stock (in dollars per share)	7.90
Exercise price of common stock option (in dollars per share)	$ 7.90

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Stock Options Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Options
Shares outstanding, beginning period (in shares)	2,427
Granted (in shares)	0
Exercise (in shares)	0
Forfeited (in shares)	(84)
Shares outstanding, ending period (in shares)	2,343	2,427
Exercisable (in shares)	2,343
Vested and expected to vest (in shares)	2,343
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$ 21.40
Granted (in dollars per share)	0
Exercised (in dollars per share)	0
Forfeited (in dollars per share)	27.55
Outstanding ending balance (in dollars per share)	27.55	$ 21.40
Exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	27.55
Vested and expected to vest, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$ 27.55
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)	4 years 7 months 6 days	5 years 4 months 24 days
Exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 7 months 6 days
Vested and expected to vest, weighted average remaining contractual term	4 years 7 months 6 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (thousands)	$ 0	$ 0
Exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value	0
Vested and expected to vest, aggregate intrinsic value	$ 0

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Restricted Stock Unit Awards Activity (Details) - Restricted stock units	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024 $ / shares shares
Restricted Stock Units
Unvested balance - beginning of period (in shares) \| shares	609
Granted (in shares) \| shares	0
Vested (in shares) \| shares	(177)
Forfeited (in shares) \| shares	(84)
Unvested balance - end of period (in shares) \| shares	348
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested balance - beginning of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 52.05
Granted (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	0
Vested (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	92.89
Forfeited (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	17.25
Unvested balance - end of period (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 55.72

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Provision for income taxes	$ 8	$ 0	$ 8	$ 0
Effective tax rate (as a percent)			0.00%	0.00%

Loss Per Common Share - Schedule of Computation of loss per common share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Jun. 30, 2024

Mar. 31, 2024

Sep. 30, 2023

Jun. 30, 2023

Mar. 31, 2023

Sep. 30, 2024

Sep. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net loss

$ (1,091)

$ (600)

$ (829)

$ (5,256)

$ (5,764)

$ (4,407)

$ (2,520)

$ (15,427)

Weighted-average basic common shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

1,899,412

1,730,104

1,855,286

1,559,868

Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)

^[1]

1,899,412

1,730,104

1,855,286

1,559,868

Loss per share - basic (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ (0.57)

$ (3.04)

$ (1.36)

$ (9.89)

Loss per share - diluted (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ (0.57)

$ (3.04)

$ (1.36)

$ (9.89)

[1]	* reflects a one-for-five (1:5) reverse stock split effected on August 27, 2024

Loss Per Common Share - Schedule of Antidilutive Securities (Details) - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
Options to purchase common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from computation of weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	2,343	2,423
Restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from computation of weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	348	676
Warrants to purchase common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from computation of weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding (in shares)	10,022	10,022

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value, Recurring $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Total financial assets	$ 418
Level 1
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Total financial assets	418
Level 2
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Total financial assets	0
Level 3
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Total financial assets	0
Money market funds
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash equivalents:	418
Money market funds \| Level 1
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash equivalents:	418
Money market funds \| Level 2
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash equivalents:	0
Money market funds \| Level 3
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract]
Cash equivalents:	$ 0

Commitment and Contingencies (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Loss contingency accrual	$ 1,140
Self insured retainer amount	$ 2,500

Related-Party Transactions (Details) $ in Thousands	Feb. 27, 2023 USD ($)
Related Party
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Amount of transaction	$ 218

License and Purchase Agreements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				1 Months Ended
	Nov. 12, 2024	Sep. 27, 2024	Feb. 05, 2024	Oct. 31, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Royalties and license fee entitlement period		10 years
Gross proceeds to be received		$ 1,500
Proceeds from sale of productive assets					$ 150
Subsequent Event
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of productive assets				$ 550
Remaining amount to be received	$ 800
Period to receive proceeds	6 months
Biopharmaceutical Company
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds from patent license agreement			$ 500