Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2025

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP as defined by the FASB.

Unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed as part of the Company's Annual Report.

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in management’s opinion, include all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods. However, the results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of estimates

The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, grant revenue, expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, including estimates related to money market accounts, clinical trial accruals, stock-based compensation expense, grant revenue, and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly from those estimates or assumptions.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company maintains deposits in financial institutions in excess of government insured limits. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk as the Company’s deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality, and the Company has not experienced any losses on these deposits. Management also believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk as it relates to marketable securities because the Company invests in U.S. government securities, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash equivalents, which consist of amounts invested in money market funds, are stated at fair value. There are de minimis unrealized losses on the money market funds for the period ended September 30, 2025.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable Securities

The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale, which include commercial paper, U.S. government debt securities, and corporate debt securities with original maturities of greater than 90 days from date of purchase. These securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported on the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss and accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income within stockholders’ equity until realized. Purchase discounts are accreted using the effective interest method over the term of the related security and such accretion is included in interest income on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company evaluates its investments in marketable securities for impairment at each reporting period when the fair value is below amortized cost. If the Company intends to sell the security, or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of amortized cost, the entire impairment is included in earnings. The Company did not record any impairment on marketable securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. There was no allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2025 or December 31, 2024.

Deferred Charges, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Equity Issuance Costs

The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with equity financings as deferred offering costs on its consolidated balance sheet. These costs remain capitalized until such financings are consummated, at which time such costs are recorded against the gross proceeds from the applicable financing. With respect to financings conducted on an ongoing basis, such as at-the-market offerings, costs are recognized ratably as funds are received in proportion to the aggregate offering amount. If a financing is abandoned, any remaining deferred offering costs are expensed.

As of September 30, 2025, there were $0.3 million of deferred offering costs related to the Sales Agreement. There were no deferred offering costs as of December 31, 2024, as the Sales Agreement was entered into in May 2025.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:

Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date;

Level 2 – Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities; and

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities that are supported by little or no market data.

Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]

Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases, which requires a lessee to recognize an ROU asset and corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and expense recognition in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as well as the reduction of the ROU asset. The standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company has elected to apply (i) the practical expedient, which allows us to not separate lease and non-lease components, for new leases and (ii) the short-term lease exemption for all leases with an original term of less than 12 months, for purposes of applying the recognition and measurements requirements in the standard.

At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease based on specific facts and circumstances, the existence of an identified asset(s), if any, and the Company’s control over the use of the identified asset(s), if applicable. Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present value of future lease payments over the expected lease term. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

The Company has elected to combine lease and non-lease components as a single component. Operating leases are recognized on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as ROU assets, lease liabilities, current and lease liabilities, non-current. Fixed rent payments are included in the calculation of the lease balances, while variable costs paid for certain operating and pass-through costs are excluded. Lease expense is recognized over the expected term on a straight-line basis.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of new product development. Research and development costs include salaries and benefits, consultants’ fees, process development costs and stock-based compensation, as well as fees paid to third parties that conduct certain research and development activities on the Company’s behalf.

A substantial portion of the Company’s ongoing research and development activities are conducted by third-party service providers. The Company records accrued expenses for estimated preclinical study and clinical trial expenses. Estimates are based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions, CROs in connection with preclinical studies, CROs and clinical investigative sites in connection with clinical trials, vendors in connection with preclinical development activities, and CDMOs in connection with the production of materials for clinical trials. Further, the Company accrues expenses related to preclinical studies and clinical trials based on the level of subject enrollment and activity according to the related agreement. The Company monitors subject enrollment levels and related activity to the extent reasonably possible and makes judgments and estimates in determining the accrued balance in each reporting period. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development.

If the Company underestimates or overestimates the level of services performed or the costs of these services, actual expenses could differ from estimates. To date, the Company has not experienced significant changes in its estimates of preclinical studies and clinical trial costs.

Legal Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Patent Costs

All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation for employee and non-employee awards is measured on the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of stock options to purchase common stock are measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

The fair value of stock options is determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires judgment and estimation by management.

Expected Term—The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The Company uses the “simplified method” to estimate the expected term of stock option grants. Under this approach, the weighted-average expected life is presumed to be the average of the contractual term of ten years and the weighted-average vesting term of the Company stock options, taking into consideration multiple vesting tranches. The Company utilizes this method due to lack of historical data and the plain-vanilla nature of the Company’s stock-based awards.

Expected Volatility—The Company has limited information on the volatility of its common stock as the shares were not actively traded on any public markets until recently. The expected volatility is derived from the historical stock volatility of comparable peer public companies within its industry. These companies are considered to be comparable to the Company’s business over a period equivalent to the expected term of the stock-based awards.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term.

Expected Dividend Rate—The expected dividend is zero as the Company has not paid, nor does it anticipate paying, any dividends on its stock options in the foreseeable future.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Grant Revenue

The Company generates revenue from government contracts that reimburse the Company for certain allowable costs for funded projects.

The Company recognizes funding received from the NIA Grant as grant revenue, rather than as a reduction of research and development expenses, because the Company is the principal in conducting the research and development activities and these contracts are central to its ongoing operations. Revenue is recognized as the qualifying expenses related to the contracts are incurred. Revenue recognized upon incurring qualifying expenses in advance of receipt of funding is recorded in the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheets as grant receivable. Amounts received in advance of services rendered are recorded as deferred grant revenue on the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheets. The related costs incurred by the Company are included in research and development expense in the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to recover or settle. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized on the statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the period that includes the enactment date.

The deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent the Company believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Due to the Company’s historical operating performance and the recorded cumulative net losses in prior fiscal periods, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

The Company records uncertain tax positions using a two-step process. First, the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position. Second, for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits on the interest expense line and other expense line, respectively, in the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Accrued interest and penalties are included on the accrued expenses and other current liabilities line in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities such as common stock warrants and stock options which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock is the same for basic net loss per share due to the fact that, when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.

The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:

	September 30,
	2025		2024
Common stock warrants		2,601,671		2,633,868
Stock options		995,374		533,159
		3,597,045		3,167,027

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Segments

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” This amended guidance applies to all public entities and aims to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses, to enable investors to develop more decision-useful financial analyses. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2024.

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the CODM, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources in assessing performance. CervoMed Inc. has one reportable segment which consists of the development of clinical and preclinical product candidates for treatments for age-related neurologic disorders and other medical indications. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer.

The accounting policies of the Company’s single segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. To date, the Company has not generated any product revenue. The Company expects to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as it advances product candidates through all stages of development and clinical trials and, ultimately, seek regulatory approval. The CODM assesses the financial performance for the Company's segment based on net loss. The CODM also uses internal budget versus forecasted expense and cash forecast models in making certain decisions. Such models are reviewed to assess the entity-wide/single-segment operating results and performance, including how long cash-on-hand is expected to be sufficient. The measure of segment assets is reported on the consolidated balance sheet as total assets. The segment measure of loss is reported on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss as net loss.

The table below summarizes the significant expense categories regularly reviewed by the CODM for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited):

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2025			2024			2025			2024
Grant revenue	$	322,569		$	1,939,751		$	3,997,784		$	7,575,972
Research and development expenses:
Dementia with Lewy bodies		1,680,922			3,317,345			5,866,430			8,753,991
Frontotemporal dementia		313,438			2,581			846,664			2,581
Recovery after stroke		396,635			112,759			952,338			112,759
Other clinical* and preclinical		485,586			541,125			1,505,726			542,932
Personnel costs, excluding stock-based compensation		1,767,086			643,024			4,060,722			1,235,556
Stock-based compensation		133,169			42,224			378,029			146,358
Other research and development expenses, including CMC**		1,263,606			466,039			2,376,956			917,569
Total research and development expenses		6,040,442			5,125,097			15,986,865			11,711,746
General and administrative expenses:
Personnel costs, excluding stock-based compensation		1,087,467			1,168,151			3,797,765			2,968,276
Stock-based compensation		158,548			22,050			771,869			921,653
Professional fees		711,307			707,725			2,053,984			2,049,828
Insurance, taxes and similar fees		258,032			241,123			917,616			709,178
Other general and administrative expenses, including IT, facilities, supplies and similar costs***		110,972			71,878			433,043			201,601
Total general and administrative expenses		2,326,326			2,210,927			7,974,277			6,850,536
Other income		317,560			642,732			1,084,281			1,401,529
Net loss	$	(7,726,639	)	$	(4,753,541	)	$	(18,879,077	)	$	(9,584,781	)

* - Includes early-stage clinical studies that are not indication-specific and related costs.

** - Includes, among other things, CMC-related costs, shipping, packaging and storage costs, certain consulting costs, and other miscellaneous research development expenses.

*** - Includes, among other things, costs related to IT systems, rent and other facilities, office supplies, and similar costs

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recently Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Legislation

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): “Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. ASU 2023-09 is intended to improve income tax disclosure requirements by requiring (1) consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and (2) the disaggregation of income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The guidance makes several other changes to the income tax disclosure requirements as well. The guidance in ASU 2023-09 will be effective for annual reporting periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, "Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses" (ASU 2024-03). ASU 2024-03 requires additional disclosure of specific types of expenses included in the expense captions presented on the face of the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as well as disclosures about selling expenses. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The requirements will be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2024-03 will have on its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

On July 4, 2025, the U.S. government enacted H.R. 1, formerly known as The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 which includes, among other provisions, changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system including the allowance of immediate expensing of qualifying research and development expenses and permanent extensions of certain provisions within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company is still analyzing the effect of H.R. 1 on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

CervoMed Inc. 10-Q