Exhibit 99.1

Corporate Governance

Immuron Limited and its Board of Directors are committed to implementing and achieving an effective corporate governance framework. Our Corporate Governance Statement can be found on our website at www.immuron.com.au.

Content

Chairman’s letter

Dear shareholders,

On behalf of the Immuron Board, I am pleased to present the 2022-2023 annual report.

During FY23, your company continued to pursue opportunities to develop and commercialise our proprietary oral immunotherapeutic products. The company is pleased to report an uplift of sales in Australia and the USA as international travel continues to increase and significant progression of Immuron’s clinical programs.

North America, Travelan® sales were up by 14%, reaching AU $644,020 in FY23, compared to AU $564,400 in FY22. North America, Travelan® sales were up by 147%, reaching AU $1,744,745 in FY23, compared to AU $707,778 in FY22. Global sales of Travelan® and Protectyn® increased by 136% in the 2023 fiscal year to AU $1,804,705, compared to AU $765,193 in FY22. This growth was attributable to increasing sales in both Australian pharmacy and US Passport Health Travel Clinics. Sales numbers in Australia were 90% of the pre-pandemic peak in FY20 while cumulative Australian resident short-term departures during the 12 months to June 2023 were 74% of those during the pre- pandemic 12 months to June 2019.

Immuron’s FY22 decision to focus on the clinical development of our most advanced stage therapeutic drug candidates has yielded positive outcomes with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for both Travelan® and our new Campylobacter ETEC therapeutic developed in collaboration with the US Naval Medical Research Command.

The strength and character of our international relationships, particularly with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and its agencies the Naval Medical Research Centre (NMRC) and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), continue to shine.

Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) human ethics approval, Immuron received approval from the US Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight (OHRO) to proceed with the clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® to prevent infectious diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Immuron appointed clinical research organisation (CRO), Pharmaron to commence screening of candidates for a Phase 2 clinical trial which is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Travelan® compared to placebo in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) in up to 60 healthy participants.

FDA Clinical Hold on the Campylobacter ETEC IND was lifted in May 2023 and the NMRC will launch two controlled human infection model trials in the US. One trial will focus on the ability of the hyperimmune product to prevent infectious diarrhea caused by ETEC and the second trial will focus on protecting volunteers against moderate to severe campylobacteriosis.

USU also reported details of its clinical trial program to evaluate Travelan® in a major field study to assess the products ability to maintain normal gut function during deployment or travel to high-risk destinations for Travelers’ Diarrhea.

The grant of European Patent entitled “Methods and Compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of Clostridium difficile associated disease” extended our commercial and legal safety net in the region. In June 2023, the Immuron Board approved proceeding with IMM-529 cGMP manufacturing and to proceed with FDA pre-IND submission. IMM-529 was developed for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). CDI can cause life- threatening diarrhoea and is one of the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infections in the world.

In addition to the further commercial development of our lead candidates, Immuron remains committed to pursuing in parallel organic and M&A growth strategies focusing on increasing penetration of existing products in existing markets while seeking to increase product offering, market geographies and sales channels to drive revenue growth and ultimately shareholder value. In November 2022, Immuron completed a strategic investment in Ateria Health Limited to advance the company’s objective to enter the broader IBS market with leading products and to strengthen distribution of Immuron’s Travelan® product through B2C online platforms and pharmacy and retail channels (B2B) in target markets.

Our results show a loss for the year of A$3,786,507, increasing 33% on 2021-22 as a result of a 136% increase in sales, a 105% in cost of goods sold, a 171% increase in other income, a 68% increase in total expenses and an increase of A$640,770 in other gains/(losses).

I thank my fellow Directors for their dedication and focus which has helped achieve these positive outcomes.

Sincerely,

Independent Non-Executive Chairman
 

September 28, 2023

Review of operations and activities

Key highlights

Sales up 136%

The company is pleased to report an uplift of sales in Australia and the USA as international travel continued to increase. Australia, Travelan® sales were up by 147%, reaching AU $1,744,745 in FY23, compared to AU $707,778 in FY22. North America, Travelan® sales were up by 14%, reaching AU $644,020 in FY23, compared to AU $564,400 in FY22. Global sales of Travelan® and Protectyn® increased by 136% in the 2023 fiscal year to AU $1,804,705, compared to AU $765,193 in FY22. This growth was attributable to increasing sales in both Australian pharmacy and US Passport Health Travel Clinics. Sales numbers in Australia were 90% of the pre-pandemic peak in FY20 while cumulative Australian resident short-term departures during the 12 months to June 2023 were 8274% in April 2023 compared to April 2019of those during the pre-pandemic 12 months to June 2019.

Immuron Board approves IMM-529 manufacturing and to proceed with FDA pre-IND submission

Immuron reported on June 21, 2023, that it has approved proceeding with IMM-529 cGMP manufacturing and to proceed with FDA pre-IND submission.

IMM-529 was developed for treatment of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) which is an anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive bacillus typically associated with gastrointestinal disease. Transmission of C. difficile occurs by ingestion of spores either through person-to-person contact, animal-to-person contact or environment-to-person contact. C. difficile infection (CDI) can cause life-threatening diarrhoea and is the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world.

European patent awarded to Immuron on drug composition to treat Clostridioides difficile associated disease

Notification of grant of European patent entitled “Methods and Compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of Clostridium difficile associated disease” was received in January 2023 from the European Patent Office (EPO).

Recruitment and Screening Update for Travelan® for use by US military forces

In October 2022, Immuron executed a clinical trial agreement with US-based clinical research organisation, Pharmaron. On December 5, 2022, Immuron submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Travelan®. On December 23, 2022, Immuron received FDA approval for the Travelan® IND. On May 30, 2023, following Institutional Review Board (IRB) human ethics approval, Immuron received approval from the US Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) Office of Human and Animal Research Oversight (OHRO) to proceed with the clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® to prevent infectious diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). On June 22, 2023, Immuron reported that Pharmaron had selected 81 potential candidates for in-person screening visits which were anticipated to commence on June 28, 2023, at Pharmaron’s Clinical Research Facility Inpatient Unit located in Baltimore, Maryland, US. The Phase 2 clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Travelan® compared to placebo in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) in up to 60 healthy participants.

Immuron has funding of AU$6.2 million for a research agreement with the US Department of Defense entitled “Biologics License Application (BLA) of a therapeutic Bovine Immunoglobulin supplement targeting Travelers’ Diarrhea caused by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (ETEC)”.

The company was awarded AU$4.8M (US$3.43M) from the US Department of Defense to test the efficacy of one large daily dose regimen of Travelan® in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) clinical study using the ETEC strain H10407. This dose regime is potentially more amenable for use in military populations. The US Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA was also awarded over AU$1.4M (USD $1M) in a separate grant to provide immunological support for the Immuron clinical program. The company plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The clinical program will enroll up to 60 health volunteers who will be randomly assigned to receive either a once-daily dose of 1200 mg of Travelan® or placebo.

The program is to be based on historic clinical trials with Travelan® and ETEC. These showed the product delivered between 84 per cent and more than 90 per cent protective efficacy against moderate to severe diarrhoea.

FDA Removed Clinical Hold on Campylobacter ETEC Therapeutic

Our collaboration with the US Department of Defense’s Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) has led to an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which was approved in May 2023.

The IND application is for a new oral therapeutic targeting Campylobacter and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). NMRC will launch two controlled human infection model trials in the US. One trial will focus on the ability of the hyperimmune product to prevent infectious diarrhea caused by ETEC and the second trial will focus on protecting volunteers against moderate to severe campylobacteriosis.

Infectious diarrhoea is the most common illness reported by travellers visiting developing countries and among US troops deployed overseas. The morbidity and associated discomfort stemming from diarrhoea decreases daily performance, affects judgment, decreases morale and declines operational readiness. The first line of treatment for infectious diarrhoea is the prescription of antibiotics. Unfortunately, in the last decade, several enteric pathogens have had an increasing resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. In addition, traveller’s diarrhoea is now recognised by the medical community to result in post-infectious sequelae, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and several post-infectious autoimmune diseases. A preventative treatment that protects against enteric diseases is a high priority objective for the US Military.

Update on US Uniformed Services University Travelan field study clinical trial

In April 2023, the company provided shareholders and the market with a progress update on the planned clinical field trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® sponsored by the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Travelers’ Diarrhea (TD). USU’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program (IDCRP), the UK Ministry of Defense and the New York City Travel Clinic are jointly planning to conduct the randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available nutraceutical product for TD and inform strategies for Defense Force Health Protection. The P2TD study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of IMM-124E (Travelan®) passive immunoprophylaxis verses a placebo, for prophylaxis during deployment or travel to a high-TD risk region (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04605783). All study participants (868 in total) will be randomized to Travelan® or placebo (434 per arm).

The clinical protocol was amended in February 2023 removing the probiotic (Florastor®) from the active study arms. USU estimates a primary completion date of July 20, 2023, and study completion date of December 31, 2023.

Immuron Strategic Investment in Leading Gut Health Biotech Ateria Health

In October 2022, the company reported that it had signed a subscription and option agreement to acquire 17.5% of the issued share capital of Ateria Health Limited, a UK based company that has developed a ground-breaking product for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In November 2022, the company reported that it had completed settlement. The strategic investment advances Immuron’s objective to enter the broader IBS market with leading products and strengthen the distribution of Immuron’s Travelan® product through B2C online platforms and pharmacy and retail channels (B2B) in target markets.

Steven Lydeamore

Chief Executive Officer
 

September 28, 2023

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

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

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023

OR

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

For the transition period from                 to                

OR

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

Date of event requiring this shell company report                    

Commission file number 000-38104

IMMURON LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter
and translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Australia

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Level 3, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton South, Victoria, 3053, Australia

(Address of principal executive offices)

Mr. Steven Lydeamore, Chief Executive Officer

Level 3, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton South, Victoria, 3053, Australia

+61 (0)3 9824 5254 (phone); +61 (0)3 9822 7735 (fax)

(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)

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

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:

Ordinary Shares, as of June 30, 2023                     227,798,346

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ☐ No ☒

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 (§2232.405 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, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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. ☐

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

INTRODUCTION

We are a commercial and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology platform focused on the development and commercialization of a novel class of specifically targeted polyclonal antibodies that we believe can address significant unmet medical needs. This is a large addressable market which continues to grow as we seek to increase sales of our existing commercial products and to expand our product portfolio and distribution capability.

We currently market our flagship commercial products Travelan® and Protectyn® in Australia, where both products are listed medicines on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods. Travelan® (AUST L 106709) is an over-the-counter product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea, reduce the risk of minor gastro-intestinal disorders and is antimicrobial and is sold in pharmacies throughout Australia. Protectyn® is currently sold online and in health practitioner clinics and is marketed as an immune supplement to help maintain a healthy digestive function and liver. We also market Travelan® (NPN 80046016) in Canada where it is licensed as a natural health product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea, and presently market Travelan® in the U.S. as a dietary supplement for digestive tract protection.

Our polyclonal antibodies offer delivery within the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract and do not cross into the bloodstream, potentially leading to improved safety and tolerability, without sacrificing efficacy. Our technology platform can be used to target viruses or bacteria and neutralize the toxins they produce at mucosal surfaces. We believe that our lead drug candidates currently entering the clinical development phase have the potential to transform the existing treatment paradigms for moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections, travelers’ diarrhea and for Clostridioides difficile (C.difficle) infections.

Our American Depositary Shares (each, an “ADS” and, collectively the “ADSs”) are listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbols “IMRN” Each ADS represents 40 of our ordinary shares, no par value. Our ordinary shares are also listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol “IMC.”

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in this annual report are prepared in Australian dollars and in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB. Our consolidated financial statements appearing in this annual report comply with the IFRS.

In this annual report, all references to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to the currency of the United States, and all references to “Australian dollars”, “A$” or “$” are to the currency of Australia. Unless otherwise indicated or the context implies otherwise, items included in the financial statements of each of the group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollar (“A$” or “$”), which is Immuron Limited’s functional and presentation currency. Unless otherwise indicated or the context implies otherwise all references to “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Immuron Limited, an Australian corporation.

Statements made in this annual report concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are summaries of such contracts, agreements or documents and are not complete descriptions of all of their terms. If we filed any of these documents as an exhibit to this annual report or to any registration statement or annual report that we previously filed, you may read the document itself for a complete description of its terms.

Except for the historical information contained in this annual report, the statements contained in this annual report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, with respect to our business, financial condition and results of operations. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current view with respect to future events and financial results. We urge you to consider that statements which use the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We remind readers that forward-looking statements are merely predictions and therefore inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors and involve known and unknown risks that could cause the actual results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, levels of activity, or our achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we undertake no obligation to publicly release any update or revision to any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise after the date hereof. We have attempted to identify significant uncertainties and other factors affecting forward-looking statements in the Risk Factors section that appears in Item 3.D. “Key Information-Risk Factors.”

Australian Disclosure Requirements

Our ordinary shares are primarily quoted on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) in addition to our listing of our ADSs on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. As part of our ASX listing, we are required to comply with various disclosure requirements as set out under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX Listing Rules. Information furnished under the sub-heading “Australian Disclosure Requirements” is intended to comply with ASX listing and Corporations Act 2001 disclosure requirements and is not intended to fulfill information required by this annual report on Form 20F.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

A. [RESERVED]

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

D. Risk Factors

Investing in our ADSs involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below before investing in our ADSs. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the price of our ADSs could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Summary of Risk Factors

The following summarizes some, but not all, of the risks provided below. Please carefully consider all of the information discussed in this Item 3.D. “Risk Factors” in this annual report for a more thorough description of these and other risks:

Summary of Risks Related to Our Financial Condition

As a company undertaking research and development activities of our existing patent portfolio we have incurred operating losses; we may continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

Summary of Risks Related to Our Business

Clinical trials are expensive and time consuming, and their outcome is uncertain.

We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining other rights necessary for the development of our pipeline through acquisitions and in-licenses.

We grant licenses to our collaborators to use our hyper-immune colostrum technology exclusively for the development of product candidates for certain conditions.

We may not be able to complete the development of IMM-124E, CampETEC, IMM-529 or develop other pharmaceutical products.

Our research and development efforts will be seriously jeopardized if we are unable to retain key personnel and cultivate key academic and scientific collaborations.

Acceptance of our products in the marketplace is uncertain, and failure to achieve market acceptance will negatively impact our business and operations.

We face competition from entities that have developed or may develop product candidates for our target disease indications, including companies developing novel treatments and technology platforms based on modalities and technology similar to ours. If these companies develop technologies or product candidates more rapidly than we do or their technologies, including delivery technologies, are more effective, our ability to develop and successfully commercialize product candidates may be compromised.

Our product candidates and the process for administering our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following any potential marketing approval.

We currently depend upon a sole manufacturer of our lead compound and on a sole manufacturer to produce finished drug products and could incur significant costs and delays if we are unable to promptly find a replacement for either of them.

Our future prospects may also be dependent on our or our collaborators’ ability to successfully develop a pipeline of additional product candidates, and we and our collaborators may not be successful in efforts to use our platform technologies to identify or discover additional product candidates.

We may not be able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity for some of our product candidates.

Summary of Risks Related to Government Regulation

If we do not obtain the necessary governmental approvals, we will be unable to commercialize our pharmaceutical products.

Our product candidates are based on our hyper-immune colostrum technology. Currently, no prescription product candidates utilizing our technology have been approved for commercial sale and our approach to the development of our technology may not result in safe, effective or marketable products.

We are early in our product development efforts and have only two product candidates in early-stage clinical trials. All of our other current product candidates are still in preclinical development. We have no late-stage clinical trials (post-proof of concept) and may not be able to obtain regulatory approvals for the commercialization of some or all of our product candidates.

Summary of Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

Our success depends upon our ability to protect our intellectual property and our proprietary technology, to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties and to obtain marketing exclusivity for our products and technologies.

We may face difficulties in certain jurisdictions in protecting our intellectual property rights, which may diminish the value of our intellectual property rights in those jurisdictions.

Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and protect other proprietary information.

Summary of Risks Related to Our Securities

The dual listing of our ordinary shares and the ADSs may adversely affect the liquidity and value of the ADS.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted, and we expect to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain NASDAQ requirements applicable to domestic issuers. This may afford less protection to holders of our ADSs.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a company incorporated in the U.S. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there is for companies incorporated in the U.S.

If we fail to comply with the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 related to accounting controls and procedures in the future, or, if we discover additional material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, the price of our ordinary shares and ADSs could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult.

ADS holders may be subject to additional risks related to holding ADS rather than ordinary shares.

Our Constitution and Australian laws and regulations applicable to us may adversely affect our ability to take actions that could be beneficial to our shareholders.

You will have limited ability to bring an action against us or against our directors and officers, or to enforce a judgment against us or them, because we are incorporated in Australia and certain of our directors and officers reside outside the U.S.

Australian companies may not be able to initiate shareholder derivative actions, thereby depriving shareholders of the ability to protect their interests.

Anti-takeover provisions in our Constitution and our right to issue preference shares could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.

Risks Related to Our Financial Condition

As a company undertaking research and development activities of our existing patent portfolio we have incurred operating losses; we may continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

We have incurred losses in every period since we began operations in 1994 and we have reported net losses of A$3,786,507, A$2,854,254, A$8,384,465, A$2,927,206 and A$4,656,421 during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, our accumulated deficit was A$72,055,396. We may continue to incur additional operating losses for the next several years as we expand our research and development activities for the treatment of infectious diseases, commence new trials for our product candidate IMM-529 for C. difficile, and potential other assets/indications. We may never be able to achieve or maintain profitability.

Our actual cash requirements may vary materially from those now planned and will depend upon numerous factors, including:

As of June 30, 2023, we had A$17,159,764 in cash and cash equivalents. Developing prescription products is expensive and we may need to secure additional financing in order to continue to meet our longer-term business objectives, including advancement of our research and development programs. We may also require additional funds to pursue regulatory clearances, defend our intellectual property rights, establish commercial scale manufacturing facilities, develop marketing and sales capabilities and fund operating expenses. We may seek such additional funding through public or private financings and/or through licensing of our assets or strategic alliances or other arrangements with corporate partners. The global economic climate could adversely impact our ability to obtain such funding, license our assets or enter into alliances or other arrangements with corporate partners. Any shortfall in funding could result in our having to curtail or cease our operations, including our research and development activities, which would be expected to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have never generated any revenue from prescription product sales and this area of our business may never be profitable.

Our ability to generate significant revenue from prescription products and achieve profitability depends on our ability to, alone or with strategic collaboration partners, successfully complete the development of and obtain the regulatory approvals for our prescription product candidates, to manufacture sufficient supply of our product candidates, to establish a sales and marketing organization or suitable third-party alternative for the marketing of any approved products and to successfully commercialize any approved products on commercially reasonable terms. All of these activities will require us to raise sufficient funds to finance business activities. Currently, we do not expect any milestone payments from our collaborative partners to be significant in the foreseeable future. However, we are actively pursuing potential partner collaboration. In addition, we do not anticipate generating revenue from commercializing new product candidates for the foreseeable future, if ever.

Our ability to generate future revenues from commercializing our intellectual property (“IP”) assets depends heavily on our success in:

The process of developing product candidates for the prevention and treatment of gut mediated pathogens contains several inherent risks and uncertainties, including clinical and regulatory risks.

Even if one or more of our product candidates is approved for commercial sale, we may incur significant costs associated with commercializing any approved product candidate. As one example, our expenses could increase beyond expectations if we are required by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or other regulatory agencies, domestic or foreign, to perform clinical and other studies in addition to those that we currently anticipate. Even if we are able to generate revenues from the sale of any approved products, we may not become profitable and may need to obtain additional funding to continue operations, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We are a commercial and development stage company and our success is uncertain.

We are a commercial and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and our pharmaceutical products are designed to treat a range of infectious diseases. Other than our Travelan and Protectyn products, we have not sufficiently advanced the development of any of our products, including our current lead product candidate, IMM-124E, to market or generate revenues from their commercial application. Our current or any future product candidates, if successfully developed, may not generate sufficient or sustainable revenues to enable us to be profitable.

We receive Australian government research and development tax incentive refunds. If our research and development expenditures are not deemed eligible for the refund, we may encounter difficulties in the funding of future research and development projects, which could harm our operating results.

We expect to receive refunds from the Australian Federal Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive program, under which the government provides a refundable cash offset pegged at 18.5% above the corporate tax rate, which is currently 25% for Immuron, providing a 43.5% refundable tax offset of eligible research and development expenditures by small to medium size Australian entities during the year ended June 30, 2023, which are defined as Australian entities with less than A$20 million in revenue, having a tax loss. There will also be no cap on the refundable tax offset. We have historically received refunds from the Australian Federal Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive program, under which the government provides a cash refund for the 43.5%  of eligible research and development expenditures by small to medium size Australian entities during the previous financial year, which are defined as Australian entities with less than A$20 million in revenue, having a tax loss.

The Research and Development Tax Incentive refunds are made by the Australian federal government for eligible research and development purposes based on the filing of an annual application and subsequent income tax returns for the fiscal year. We recognized Research and Development Tax Incentive refunds in the fiscal years ended June 30, 2022, June 30, 2021, June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2019 of A$257,500, A$356,209, A$308,225 and A$531,005, respectively, and we have recognized a receivable of A$398,391 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 that includes an estimate of the receipt for the claim yet to be filed. This amount was offset by an over estimation from the prior period of A$5,514 in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

These refunds are available to fund our ongoing activities including our research and development activities in Australia, as well as activities in the U.S. to the extent such overseas-based expenses relate to our activities in Australia, do not exceed half the expenses for the relevant activities and are approved by the Australian government. To the extent our research and development expenditures are deemed to be “ineligible,” then our refunds would decrease. In addition, the Australian government may in the future modify the requirements of or reduce the amounts or percentage claimable in turn reducing the refunds available under the Research and Development Tax Incentive program, or discontinue the incentive program entirely. Any such change in the Research and Development Tax Incentive program would have a negative effect on our future cash flows and our potential associated future expenditures. 

Risks Related to Our Business

A variety of general risk factors associated with commercializing our products and product candidates internationally could materially adversely affect our business.

We, or our licensing partners, may seek regulatory approval for our products or product candidates in multi- jurisdictions, accordingly, we expect that we will be subject to additional risks for our products and product candidates related to operating in foreign countries if we obtain the necessary approvals, including:

These and other risks associated with our or our licensing partners’ international operations may materially adversely affect our ability to attain or maintain profitable operations.

We are faced with uncertainties related to our research.

Our research programs are based on scientific hypotheses and experimental approaches that may not lead to desired results. In addition, the timeframe for obtaining proof of principle and other results may be considerably longer than originally anticipated, or may not be possible given time, resource, financial, strategic and collaborator scientific constraints. Success in one stage of testing is not necessarily an indication that the particular program will succeed in later stages of testing and development. It is not possible to predict whether any of the drugs designed for these programs will prove to be safe, effective, and suitable for human use. Each drug will require additional research and development, scale-up, formulation and extensive clinical testing in humans. Unsatisfactory results obtained from a particular study relating to a program may cause us to abandon our commitment to that program or to the lead compound or product candidate being tested. The discovery of toxicities, lack of sufficient efficacy, unacceptable pharmacology, inability to increase scale of manufacture, market attractiveness, regulatory hurdles, competition, as well as other factors, may make our targets, lead therapies or product candidates unattractive for further development or unsuitable for human use, and we may abandon our commitment to that program, target, lead therapy or product candidate. Any delay in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals could materially and adversely affect our ability to generate revenue from the particular product candidate, which likely would result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact the price of the ADS. Furthermore, any regulatory approval to market a product may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which we may market the product. These limitations may limit the size of the market for the product.

Clinical trials are expensive and time consuming, and their outcome is uncertain.

In order to obtain approvals to market a new drug product, we or our potential partners must demonstrate proof of safety and efficacy in humans. To meet these requirements, we or our potential partners will have to conduct extensive preclinical testing and “adequate and well- controlled” clinical trials. Conducting clinical trials is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. The length of time may vary substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of the product candidate, and often can be several years or more per trial. Even if we obtain positive results from preclinical or initial clinical trials, we may not achieve the same success in future trials. Clinical trials may not demonstrate statistically sufficient safety and effectiveness to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals for product candidates employing our technology. The failure of clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy for a particular desired indication could harm development of that product candidate for other indications as well as other product candidates.

We expect to commence new clinical trials from time to time in the course of our business as our product development work continues. Any change in, or termination of, our clinical trials could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies and clinical trials. If these third parties do not meet our deadlines or otherwise conduct the studies as required, we may be delayed in progressing, or ultimately may not be able to progress, product candidates to clinical trials, our clinical development programs could be delayed or unsuccessful, and we may not be able to commercialize or obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates when expected, or at all.

We do not have the ability to conduct all aspects of our preclinical testing or clinical trials ourselves. We are dependent on third parties to conduct the clinical trials for IMM-124E, CampETEC and IMM-529, and preclinical studies for our other product candidates, and therefore the timing of the initiation and completion of these trials and studies is reliant on third parties and may occur at times substantially different from our estimates or expectations.

If we cannot contract with acceptable third parties on commercially reasonable terms, or if these third parties do not carry out their contractual duties, satisfy legal and regulatory requirements for the conduct of preclinical studies or clinical trials or meet expected deadlines, our clinical development programs could be delayed or discontinued.

We may experience delays in one or any of our clinical trial programs that could have an adverse effect on our business and operations, and future commercialization opportunities of our clinical pipeline.

To the extent we do our best to plan and mitigate against known risk aspects of our clinical trial programs, we do not know with any certainty whether the planned clinical trials will begin on time, whether we will complete any of our clinical trials on schedule, or at all, or within the forecasted budget. Our ability to commence and complete clinical trials may be delayed by many factors, including, but not limited to:

Patient enrollment is a function of, among other things, the nature of the clinical trial protocol, the existence of competing protocols, the size and longevity of the target patient population, and the availability of patients who comply with the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial. Delays in planned patient enrollment may result in increased costs, delays or termination of the clinical trials. Moreover, we rely on third parties such as clinical research organizations to assist us in clinical trial management functions including clinical trial database management, statistical analyses, site management and monitoring. Any failure by these third parties to perform under their agreements with us may cause the trials to be delayed or result in a failure to complete the trials.

If we experience delays in testing, in gaining the receipt of necessary approvals, or if we need to perform more, larger or more complex clinical trials than planned, our product development costs may increase. Significant delays could adversely affect the commercial prospects of our product candidates and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining other rights necessary for the development of our pipeline through acquisitions and in-licenses.

Our product candidates may require specific formulations to work effectively, and efficiently, and rights to such formulations may be held by others. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify on terms that we find acceptable, or at all. The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and a number of more established companies are also pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities.

For example, we sometimes collaborate with U.S. and foreign academic institutions to accelerate our preclinical research or development under written agreements with these institutions. Typically, these institutions provide us with an option to negotiate a license to any of the institution’s rights in technology resulting from the collaboration. Regardless of such right of first negotiation for intellectual property, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified time frame or under terms that are acceptable to us. If we are unable to do so, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to other parties, potentially blocking our ability to pursue our program.

In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights, our business, financial condition and prospects for growth could suffer.

We rely on research institutions to conduct our clinical trials and we may not be able to secure and maintain research institutions to conduct our future trials.

Our reliance upon research institutions, including public and private hospitals and clinics, provides us with less control over the timing and cost of clinical trials, clinical study management personnel and the ability to recruit subjects. If we are unable to reach agreements with suitable research institutions on acceptable terms, or if any resulting agreement is terminated, we may be unable to secure, maintain, or quickly replace the research institution with another qualified institution on acceptable terms.

We grant licenses to our collaborators to use our hyper-immune colostrum technology exclusively for the development of product candidates for certain conditions.

We may out-license to our collaborators the right to use our hyper-immune colostrum technology for the development of product candidates for certain conditions, so long as our collaborators comply with certain requirements. That means that once our technology is licensed to a collaborator for a specified condition, we are generally prohibited from developing product candidates for that condition and from licensing to any third party for that condition. The limitations imposed by these exclusive licenses could prevent us from expanding our business and increasing our development of product candidates with new collaborators, both of which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We may not be able to complete the development of IMM-124E, CampETEC, IMM-529 or develop other pharmaceutical products.

We may not be able to progress with the development of our current, or any future, pharmaceutical product candidates to a stage that will attract a suitable collaborative partner for the development of any current or future pharmaceutical product candidates. The projects initially specified in connection with any such collaboration and any associated funding may change or be discontinued as a result of changing interests of either the collaborator or us, and any such change may change the budget for the projects under the collaboration. Additionally, our research may not lead to the discovery of additional product candidates, and any of our current and future product candidates may not be successfully developed, prove to be safe and efficacious in clinical trials, meet applicable regulatory standards and receive regulatory approval, be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at reasonable costs, or be successfully or profitably marketed, either by us or a collaborative partner. The products we develop may not be able to penetrate the potential market for a particular therapy, or indication, or gain market acceptance among health care providers, patients and third-party payers. We cannot predict if or when the development of IMM-124E, CampETEC, IMM-529 or any future pharmaceutical product will be completed or commercialized, whether funded by us, as part of a collaboration or through a grant.

We may need to prioritize the development of our most promising candidates at the expense of the development of other products.

We may need to prioritize the allocation of development resources and/or funds towards what we believe to be our most promising product or products. The nature of the drug development process is such that there is a constant availability of new information and data that could positively or adversely affect any of our products in development. We cannot predict how such new information and data may impact in the future the prioritization of the development of our current or future product candidates or that any of our products, regardless of its development stage or the investment of time and funds in its development, will continue to be funded or developed.

Our research and development efforts will be seriously jeopardized if we are unable to retain key personnel and cultivate key academic and scientific collaborations.

Our future success depends to a large extent on the continued services of our senior management and key scientific personnel, including Mr. Steven Lydeamore who is currently our Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Jerry Kanellos who is currently our Chief Operating Officer.

Competition among biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for qualified employees is intense, including competition from larger companies with greater resources, and we may not be able to continue to attract and retain qualified management, technical and scientific personnel critical to our success. Our success is highly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain important relationships with leading academic institutions and scientists who conduct research at our request or assist us in formulating our research and development strategies. These academic and scientific collaborators are not our employees and may have commitments to, or consulting or advisory contracts with, other entities that may limit their availability to us. In addition, these collaborators may have arrangements with other companies to assist such companies in developing technologies that may prove competitive to ours.

If we are unable to successfully keep pace with technological change or with the advances of our competitors, our technology and products may become obsolete or non-competitive.

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are subject to rapid and significant technological change. Our competitors are numerous and include major pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, universities and other research institutions. These competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective than any that we are developing, or which would render our technology and products obsolete or non-competitive. Many of these competitors have greater financial and technical resources and manufacturing and marketing capabilities than we do. In addition, many of our competitors have much more experience than we do in pre-clinical testing and human clinical trials of new or improved drugs, as well as in obtaining regulatory approvals.

We know that competitors are developing or manufacturing various technologies or products for the treatment of diseases that we have targeted for product development. Some of these competitive products use therapeutic approaches that compete directly with our product candidates. Our ability to further develop our products may be adversely affected if any of our competitors were to succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for their competitive products sooner than us.

Acceptance of our products in the marketplace is uncertain, and failure to achieve market acceptance will negatively impact our business and operations.

Our current or future products may not achieve market acceptance even if they are approved by regulatory authorities. The degree of market acceptance of such products will depend on a number of factors, including:

Physicians, patients, third-party payors or others in the medical community may not be receptive to our product candidates, and we may not generate any future revenue from the sale or licensing of our product candidates.

Even if we obtain approval for a product candidate, we may not generate or sustain revenue from sales of the product if the product cannot be sold at a competitive cost or if it fails to achieve market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors or others in the medical community. These market participants may be hesitant to adopt a novel treatment based on hyper-immune colostrum technology, and we may not be able to convince the medical community and third-party payors to accept and use, or to provide favorable reimbursement for, any product candidates developed by us or our existing or future collaborators. Market acceptance of our product candidates will depend on, among other factors:

Additional risks apply in relation to any disease indications we pursue which are classified as rare diseases and allow for orphan drug designation by regulatory agencies in major commercial markets, such as the U.S. or European Union. If pricing is not approved or accepted in the market at an appropriate level for any approved product for which we pursue and receive an orphan drug designation, such product may not generate enough revenue to offset costs of development, manufacturing, marketing and commercialization despite any benefits received from the orphan drug designation, such as market exclusivity, for a period of time. Orphan exclusivity could temporarily delay or block approval of one of our products if a competitor obtains orphan drug designation for its product first. However, even if we obtain orphan exclusivity for one of our products upon approval, our exclusivity may not block the subsequent approval of a competitive product that is shown to be clinically superior to our product. 

Market size is also a variable in disease indications not classified as rare. Our estimates regarding potential market size for any indication may be materially different from what we discover to exist at the time we commence commercialization, if any, for a product, which could result in significant changes in our business plan and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We face competition from entities that have developed or may develop product candidates for our target disease indications, including companies developing novel treatments and technology platforms based on modalities and technology similar to ours. If these companies develop technologies or product candidates more rapidly than we do or their technologies, including delivery technologies, are more effective, our ability to develop and successfully commercialize product candidates may be compromised.

The development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products is highly competitive. We compete with a variety of multinational pharmaceutical companies and specialized biotechnology companies, as well as technology being developed at universities and other research institutions. Our competitors have developed, are developing or could develop product candidates and processes competitive with our product candidates. Competitive therapeutic treatments include those that have already been approved and accepted by the medical community, patients and third-party payors, and any new treatments that enter the market.

We believe that a significant number of products are currently under development, and may become commercially available in the future, for the treatment of conditions for which we are developing, and may in the future try to develop, product candidates. We are aware of multiple companies that are working in the field of infectious diseases, travelers’ diarrhea and C. difficile therapeutics, including Cosmo Technologies, PanTheryx, PaxVax Bermuda Limited, Proctor and Gamble, Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc and Scandinavian BioPharma which are all developing therapeutics for travelers’ diarrhea and, Acetelion, Assembly Biotechnology, Creston Pharma, Da Volterra, Finch Therapeutics, MaaT Pharma, Merck, Rebiotix Inc., Seres, Synthetic Biotechnology and Vedanta Biosciences for C.difficile.

We have limited large scale manufacturing experience with our product candidates. Delays in manufacturing sufficient quantities of such materials to the required standards for pre-clinical and clinical trials may negatively impact our business and operations.

While we have extensive experience in producing therapeutic colostrum, we may not be able to manufacture sufficient quantities of our product candidates in a cost-effective or timely manner. Manufacturing includes the production, formulation and stability testing of an active pharmaceutical ingredient and its formulation into pharmaceutical products, such as capsules or tablets. Any delays in production would delay our pre-clinical and human clinical trials, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operations.

We may be required to enter into contracting arrangements with third parties to manufacture our product candidates for large-scale, pre-clinical and/or clinical trials. We may not be able to make the transition from laboratory-scale to development-scale or from development-scale to commercial production. We may need to develop additional manufacturing resources, enter into collaborative arrangements with other parties who have established manufacturing capabilities, or have third parties manufacture our products on a contract basis. We may not have access on acceptable terms to the necessary and substantial financing that would be required to scale-up production and develop effective commercial manufacturing processes and technologies. We may not be able to enter into collaborative or contracting arrangements on acceptable terms with parties that will meet our requirements for quality, quantity and timeliness.

If we are not able to obtain an acceptable purity for any product candidate or an acceptable product specification, pre-clinical and clinical trials would be delayed, which could adversely affect the priority of the development of our product candidates, our business, financial condition and results of operations. This may adversely impact the cost of goods or feasibility of market scale.

Our product candidates and the process for administering our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following any potential marketing approval.

Treatment with our product candidates may produce undesirable side effects or adverse reactions or events. If any such adverse events occur, our clinical trials could be suspended or discontinued, and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. The product-related side effects could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial. If we elect or are required to delay, suspend or discontinue any clinical trial of any of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of such product candidates will be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues from any of these product candidates will be delayed or eliminated. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.

We currently depend upon a sole manufacturer of our lead compound and on a sole manufacturer to produce finished drug products and could incur significant costs and delays if we are unable to promptly find a replacement for either of them.

At this time, we are relying on a single manufacturer to develop Good Manufacturing Practice (“GMP”), processes for our lead compound. Our lead compound, IMM-124E, was manufactured by Synlait Milk Limited based in New Zealand. This manufacturer enables efficient large-scale manufacture of colostrum to provide drug substance for our current and prospective clinical trials. We also rely on contract manufacturers such as Mayne Pharma International and Pharmtech (Hong Kong) Limited to produce all of our marketed products and PCI Clinical Services to package our investigational drug products. We are actively seeking additional and back-up manufacturers but may be unsuccessful in our efforts or may incur material additional costs and substantial delays.

The failure to establish sales, marketing and distribution capability would materially impair our ability to successfully market and sell our pharmaceutical products.

We currently have limited experience in the marketing, sales or distribution of pharmaceutical products. If we develop any commercially marketable pharmaceutical products and decide to perform our own sales and marketing activities, we will require additional resources and, will need to hire sales and marketing personnel which will require additional capital. Qualified personnel may not be available in adequate numbers or at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, our sales staff may not achieve success in their marketing efforts. Alternatively, we may be required to enter into marketing arrangements with other parties who have established appropriate marketing, sales and distribution capabilities. We may not be able to enter into marketing arrangements with any marketing partner, or if such arrangements are established, our marketing partners may not be able to commercialize our products successfully. Other companies offering similar or substitute products may have well-established and well-funded marketing and sales operations in place that will allow them to market their products more effectively. Failure to establish sufficient marketing capabilities would materially impair our ability to successfully market and sell our pharmaceutical products.

If healthcare insurers and other organizations do not pay for our products, or impose limits on reimbursement, our future business may suffer.

The drugs we hope to develop may be rejected by the marketplace due to many factors, including cost. The continuing efforts of governments, insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and other payors of healthcare costs to contain or reduce healthcare costs may affect our future revenues and profitability and those of our potential customers, suppliers and collaborative partners, as well as the availability of capital. In Australia and certain foreign markets, the pricing or profitability of prescription pharmaceuticals is already subject to government control. We expect initiatives for similar government control at both the state and federal level to continue in the U.S. and elsewhere. The adoption of any such legislative or regulatory proposals could adversely affect our business and prospects.

Our ability to commercially exploit our products successfully will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement for the cost of our products and related treatment will be available from government health administration authorities, private health coverage insurers and other organizations. Third-party payors, such as government and private health insurers, are increasingly challenging the price of medical products and services. Uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products and in foreign markets, including the U.S. If third-party coverage is not available to patients for any of the products we develop, alone or with collaborators, the market acceptance of these products may be reduced, which may adversely affect our future revenues and profitability. In addition, cost containment legislation and reductions in government insurance programs may result in lower prices for our products and could materially adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.

We may be exposed to product liability claims, which could harm our business.

The testing, marketing, and sale of human health care products also entail the inherent risk of product liability. We may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit development or commercialization of our products if we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims. We have historically obtained no fault compensation insurance for our clinical trials and will continue to obtain similar coverage for all future clinical trials. Such coverage may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all. This may result in our inability to pursue further clinical trials or to obtain adequate protection in the event of a successful claim. We may not be able to obtain product liability insurance in the event of the commercialization of a product or such insurance may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. Even if we have adequate insurance coverage, product liability claims, or recalls could result in negative publicity or force us to devote significant time, attention and financial resources to those matters.

Breaches of network or information technology security, natural disasters or terrorist attacks could have an adverse effect on our business.

Cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology (“IT”) security, natural disasters, terrorist acts or acts of war may cause equipment failures or disrupt our research and development operations. In particular, both unsuccessful and successful cyber-attacks on companies have increased in frequency, scope and potential harm in recent years. Such an event may result in our inability, or the inability of our partners, to operate the research and development facilities, which even if the event is for a limited period of time, may result in significant expenses and/or significant damage to our experiments and trials. In addition, a failure to protect employee confidential data against breaches of network or IT security could result in damage to our reputation. Any of these occurrences could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

We expect to expand our drug development, regulatory and business development capabilities, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could disrupt our operations.

We expect to experience significant growth in the number of our employees and consultants and the scope of our operations, particularly in the areas of drug development, regulatory affairs and business development. To manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Due to our limited financial resources and the limited experience of our management team in managing a company with such anticipated growth, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations or recruit and train additional qualified personnel. The expansion of our operations may lead to significant costs and may divert our management and business development resources. Any inability to manage growth could delay the execution of our business plans or disrupt our operations and have a materially adverse effect on our business.

Positive results from preclinical studies of our product candidates are not necessarily predictive of future results of planned clinical trials of our product candidates.

Positive results in preclinical proof-of-concept and animal studies of our product candidates may not result in positive results in clinical trials in humans. Many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials after achieving positive results in preclinical development or early stage clinical trials, and we cannot be certain that we will not face similar setbacks. These setbacks have been caused by, among other things, preclinical findings made while clinical trials were underway or safety or efficacy observations made in clinical trials, including adverse events. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials nonetheless failed to obtain FDA or other regulatory authority approval. If we fail to produce positive results in our clinical trials of our product candidates, the development timeline and regulatory approval and commercialization prospects for our product candidates, and, correspondingly, our business and financial prospects, would be negatively impacted.

Our future prospects may also be dependent on our or our collaborators’ ability to successfully develop a pipeline of additional product candidates, and we and our collaborators may not be successful in efforts to use our platform technologies to identify or discover additional product candidates.

The success of our business depends primarily upon our ability to identify, develop and commercialize products based on our platform technology. We only have three product candidates currently in clinical development and several in early stage research and preclinical development.

Our other product candidates derived from our platform technology may not successfully complete IND-enabling studies, and our research programs may fail to identify other potential product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons. Our and our collaborators’ research methodology may be unsuccessful in identifying potential product candidates, our potential product candidates may not demonstrate the necessary preclinical outcomes to progress to clinical studies, or our product candidates may be shown to have harmful side effects or may have other characteristics that may make the products unmarketable or unlikely to receive marketing approval.

If any of these events occur, we may be forced to discontinue our development efforts for a program or programs. Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential programs or product candidates that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.

We may not be able to obtain orphan drug exclusivity for some of our product candidates.

Of our current product candidates, the only one designed for treatment of an indication that would likely qualify for rare disease status is IMM-529 for the treatment of recurrent C. difficile. Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the U.S. and the European Union, may designate drugs or biological products for relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a product as an orphan drug if it is a product intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals annually in the U.S. The FDA may also designate a product as an orphan drug if it is intended to treat a disease or condition of more than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. and there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making a drug or biological product available in the U.S. for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product candidate. Under the European Union orphan drug legislation, a rare disease or condition means a disease or condition which affects not more than five in ten thousand persons in the European Union at the time of the orphan drug designation application.

Generally, if a product with an orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first marketing approval for the indication for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to a period of marketing exclusivity, which precludes the FDA from approving another marketing application for the same drug for that time period. During the marketing exclusivity period, in the European Union, the European Medicines Agency, or the EMA, is precluded from approving a similar drug with an identical therapeutic indication. The applicable period is seven years in the U.S. and ten years in the European Union. The European Union exclusivity period can be reduced to six years if a drug no longer meets the criteria for orphan drug designation or if the drug is sufficiently profitable so that market exclusivity is no longer justified. Orphan drug exclusivity may be lost if the FDA or EMA determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the drug to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.

Even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs can be approved for the same condition, and the same drug could be approved for a different condition. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug, made by a competitor, for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the competitive product is clinically superior in that it is shown to be safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care. In the European Union, the EMA can approve a competitive product if the orphan drug no longer meets the criteria for orphan designation (including sufficient profitability), if the competitive product is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior, or if the orphan drug cannot be supplied in sufficient quantities.

We have not entered into agreements with any third-party manufacturers to support commercialization of our pharmaceutical product candidates. Additionally, no manufacturers have experience producing our product candidates at commercial levels, and any manufacturer that we work with may not achieve the necessary regulatory approvals or produce our product candidates at the quality, quantities, locations and timing needed to support commercialization.

We have not yet secured manufacturing capabilities for commercial quantities of our product candidates or established facilities in the desired locations to support commercialization of our product candidates. We intend to rely on third-party manufacturers for commercialization, and currently we have only entered into agreements with such manufacturers to support our clinical trials for IMM-124E. We may be unable to negotiate agreements with third-party manufacturers to support our commercialization activities on commercially reasonable terms.

We may encounter technical or scientific issues related to manufacturing or development that we may be unable to resolve in a timely manner or with available funds. Currently, we do not have the capacity to manufacture our product candidates on a commercial scale. In addition, our product candidates are novel, and no manufacturer currently has experience producing our product candidates on a large scale. If we are unable to engage manufacturing partners to produce our product candidates on a larger scale on reasonable terms, our commercialization efforts will be harmed.

Even if we timely develop a manufacturing process and successfully transfer it to the third-party manufacturers of our product candidates, if such third-party manufacturers are unable to produce the necessary quantities of our product candidates, or do so in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMP”) or with pertinent foreign regulatory requirements, and within our planned time frame and cost parameters, the development and sales of our product candidates, if approved, may be impaired.

Risks Related to Government Regulation

If we do not obtain the necessary governmental approvals, we will be unable to commercialize our pharmaceutical products.

Our ongoing research and development activities are, and the production and marketing of our pharmaceutical product candidates derived from such activities will be, subject to regulation by numerous international regulatory authorities. Prior to marketing, any therapeutic product developed must undergo rigorous pre-clinical testing and clinical trials and, to the extent that any of our pharmaceutical products under development are marketed abroad, by the relevant international regulatory authorities. For example, in Australia, principally the Therapeutics Goods Administration (“TGA”), the FDA in the U.S.; the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, (“MHRA”) in the United Kingdom; the Medical Products Agency (“MPA”) in Sweden; and the EMA in Europe. These regulatory processes can take many years and require the expenditure of substantial resources. Governmental authorities may not grant regulatory approval due to matters arising from pre-clinical animal toxicology, safety pharmacology, drug formulation and purity, clinical side effects or patient risk profiles, or medical contraindications. Failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approvals would adversely affect the development and commercialization of our pharmaceutical product candidates. We may not be able to obtain the clearances and approvals necessary for clinical testing or for manufacturing and marketing our pharmaceutical product candidates.

We will not be able to commercialize any current or future product candidates if we fail to adequately demonstrate their safety, efficacy and superiority over existing therapies.

Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any of our pharmaceutical products, we must demonstrate through pre-clinical testing and clinical studies that our product candidates are safe and effective for use in humans for each target indication. Results from early clinical trials may not be predictive of results obtained in large-scale, later-stage clinical testing. Even though a potential drug product shows promising results in clinical trials, regulatory authorities may not grant the necessary approvals without sufficient safety and efficacy data.

We may not be able to undertake further clinical trials of our current and future product candidates as therapies for infectious diseases, C. difficile or other indications or to demonstrate the safety and efficacy or superiority of any of these product candidates over existing therapies or other therapies under development, or enter into any collaborative arrangement to commercialize our current or future product candidates on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Clinical trial results that show insufficient safety and efficacy could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our products may remain subject to regulatory scrutiny.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval in a jurisdiction, the regulatory authority may still impose significant restrictions on the indicated uses or marketing of our product candidates or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-approval studies or post-market surveillance. For example, the holder of an approved biologics license application (“BLA”) is obligated to monitor and report to the FDA adverse events and any failure of a product to meet the specifications in the BLA. The holder of an approved BLA must also submit new or supplemental applications and obtain FDA approval for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling or manufacturing process.

Advertising and promotional materials must comply with FDA rules and are subject to FDA review, in addition to other potentially applicable foreign, federal and state laws.

If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements following approval of any of our product candidates, a regulatory agency may:

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate negative publicity. The occurrence of any event or penalty described above may inhibit our ability to commercialize our product candidates and generate revenues.

Healthcare reform measures and other statutory or regulatory changes could adversely affect our business.

In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory proposals to change the healthcare system in ways that could impact our business. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “ACA”), enacted in March 2010, substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacts the pharmaceutical industry. With regard to pharmaceutical products, among other things, the ACA is expected to expand and increase industry rebates for drugs covered under Medicaid programs and make changes to the coverage requirements under the Medicare D program.

The United States congress passed drug pricing measures in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, such as Medicare direct negotiation of drug prices, but how the law will be implemented or challenged in court remains to be seen.

If we fail to comply with our reporting and payment obligations under the Medicaid program or other governmental pricing programs, we could be subject to additional reimbursement requirements, penalties, sanctions and fines which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

If we obtain FDA approval for any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our operations may be directly or indirectly through our customers, subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act, and physician sunshine laws and regulations.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are subject to extensive regulation, and from time to time legislative bodies and governmental agencies consider changes to such regulations that could have significant impact on industry participants. For example, in light of certain highly-publicized safety issues regarding certain drugs that had received marketing approval, the U.S. Congress has considered various proposals regarding drug safety, including some which would require additional safety studies and monitoring and could make drug development costlier. Additional legislation or regulation, if any, relating to the implementation of cost containment measures or other aspects of drug development may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our products. Such reforms could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenues from product candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain regulatory approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop product candidates. In addition, it is possible that there will be further legislation or regulation that could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our product candidates are based on our hyper-immune colostrum technology. Currently, no prescription product candidates utilizing our technology have been approved for commercial sale and our approach to the development of our technology may not result in safe, effective or marketable products.

We have concentrated our product research and development efforts on our hyper-immune colostrum technology, and our future success depends on successful clinical development of this technology. We plan to develop a pipeline of product candidates using our technology and deliver therapeutics for a number of infectious and life-threatening conditions, including moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, C. difficile Infections (“CDI”), Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) and Traveler’s Diarrhea.

The scientific research that forms the basis of our efforts to develop product candidates is based on the pre-clinical and clinical data in conditions such as moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, CDI, Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) and Traveler’s Diarrhea, and the identification, optimization and delivery of hyper-immune colostrum- based product candidates is relatively new. The scientific evidence to support the feasibility of successfully developing therapeutic treatments based on our technology is preliminary and limited. There can be no assurance that any development and technical problems we experience in the future will not cause significant delays or unanticipated costs, or that such development problems can be solved. We may be unable to reach an agreement on favorable terms, or at all, with providers of vectors needed to optimize delivery of our product candidates to target disease cells and we may also experience unanticipated problems or delays in expanding our manufacturing capacity or transferring our manufacturing process to commercial partners, any of which may prevent us from completing our clinical trials or commercializing our products on a timely or profitable basis, if at all.

Only a few product candidates based on our technology have been tested in either animals or humans. We may discover that the applications of our pharmaceutical drug candidates do not possess properties required for a therapeutic benefit. In addition, application of hyper-immune- based products in humans may result in safety problems. We currently have only limited long-term data, and no conclusive evidence, to suggest that we can effectively produce efficacious therapeutic treatments using our hyper-immune colostrum technology.

We are early in our product development efforts and have only two product candidates in early-stage clinical trials. All of our other current product candidates are still in preclinical development. We have no late-stage clinical trials (post-proof of concept) and may not be able to obtain regulatory approvals for the commercialization of some or all of our product candidates.

The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, marketing and distribution of biologics is subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities, and these regulations differ from country to country. We do not have any prescription products on the market and are early in our development efforts. We have two product candidates in clinical trials and all of our other product candidates are in preclinical development. All of our current and future product candidates are subject to the risks of failure typical for development of biologics. The development and approval process is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. In addition, the outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results.

We have not submitted an application, or received marketing approval, for any of our product candidates and will not submit any applications for marketing approval for several years. We have limited experience in conducting and managing clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory approvals for prescription product candidates. To receive approval, we must, among other things, demonstrate with evidence from clinical trials that the product candidate is both safe and effective for each indication for which approval is sought, and failure can occur in any stage of development. Satisfaction of the approval requirements typically takes several years and the time needed to satisfy them may vary substantially, based on the type, complexity and novelty of the pharmaceutical product. We cannot predict if or when we might receive regulatory approvals for any of our product candidates currently under development.

The FDA and foreign regulatory authorities also have substantial discretion in the pharmaceutical and biological product approval process. The numbers, types and sizes of preclinical studies and clinical trials that will be required for regulatory approval varies depending on the product candidate, the disease or condition that the product candidate is designed to address and the regulations applicable to any particular product candidate. Approval policies, regulations or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions, and there may be varying interpretations of data obtained from preclinical studies or clinical trials, any of which may cause delays or limitations in the approval or the decision not to approve an application. Regulatory agencies can delay, limit or deny approval of a product candidate for many reasons, including:

Any delay in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals could materially and adversely affect our ability to generate revenue from the particular product candidate, which likely would result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact the price of the ADSs. Furthermore, any regulatory approval to market a product may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which we may market the product. These limitations may limit the size of the market for the product.

We are not permitted to market our product candidates in the U.S. or in other countries until we receive approval of a BLA from the FDA or marketing approval from applicable regulatory authorities outside the U.S. Obtaining approval of a BLA can be a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process. If we fail to obtain FDA approval to market our product candidates, we will be unable to sell our product candidates in the U.S., which will significantly impair our ability to generate any revenues. In addition, failure to comply with FDA and non-U.S. regulatory requirements may, either before or after product approval, if any, subject us to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions, including:

Even if we do receive regulatory approval to market a product candidate, any such approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which we may market the product. It is possible that none of our existing product candidates or any product candidates we may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals necessary for us or our collaborators to commence product sales.

Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, applicable regulatory approvals would prevent us from commercializing our product candidates, generating revenues and achieving and sustaining profitability.

If our ability to use cumulative carry forward net operating losses is or becomes subject to certain limitations, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

We are an Australian company subject to taxation in Australia and other jurisdictions. As of June 30, 2023, our cumulative operating losses have a total potential tax benefit of A$13,156,385 at local tax rates (excluding other temporary differences). These losses may be available for use once we are in a tax profitable position. These losses were incurred in different jurisdictions and can only be offset against profits earned in the relevant jurisdictions. Tax losses are able to be carried forward at their nominal amount indefinitely in Australia and for losses generated prior to January 1, 2018 for up to 20 years in the U.S. as long as certain conditions are met. In order to use these tax losses, it is necessary to satisfy certain tests and, as a result, we cannot assure you that the tax losses will be available to offset profits if and when we earn them. Utilization of our net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards in the U.S. may be subject to substantial annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that could occur in the future provided by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Our carry forward net operating losses in the U.S. first start to expire in 2035.

We could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Our business operations may be subject to anti-corruption laws and regulations, including restrictions imposed by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act the FCPA. The FCPA and similar anti-corruption laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We cannot provide assurance that our internal controls and procedures will always protect us from criminal acts committed by our employees or third parties with whom we work. If we are found to be liable for violations of the FCPA or similar anti-corruption laws in international jurisdictions, either due to our own acts or out of inadvertence, or due to the acts or inadvertence of others, we could suffer from criminal or civil penalties which could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

Our success depends upon our ability to protect our intellectual property and our proprietary technology, to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties and to obtain marketing exclusivity for our products and technologies.

Any future success will depend in large part on whether we can:

Patent matters in biotechnology are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. Accordingly, the availability and breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology and pharmaceutical patents cannot be predicted. Any of the pending or future patent applications filed by us or on our behalf may not be approved, we may not develop additional proprietary products or processes that are patentable, or we may not be able to license any other patentable products or processes.

Our products may be eligible for orphan designation for particular therapeutic indications that are of relatively low prevalence and for which there is no effective treatment. Orphan drug designation affords market exclusivity post marketing authorization for a product for a specified therapeutic utility. The period of orphan protection is dependent on jurisdiction, for example, seven years in the U.S. and ten years in Europe. The opportunity to gain orphan drug designation depends on a variety of requirements specific to each marketing jurisdiction and can include; a showing of improved benefit relative to marketed products, that the mechanism of action of the product would provide plausible benefit and the nature of the unmet medical need within a therapeutic indication. It is uncertain if our products will be able to obtain orphan drug designation for the appropriate indications and in the jurisdictions sought.

Our commercial success will also depend, in part, on our ability to avoid infringement of patents issued to others. If a court determines that we were infringing any third-party patents, we could be required to pay damages, alter our products or processes, obtain licenses or cease certain activities. Licenses required under patents held by third parties may not be made available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. To the extent that we are unable to obtain such licenses, we could be foreclosed from the development, export, manufacture or commercialization of the product requiring such license or encounter delays in product introductions while we attempt to design around such patents, and any of these circumstances could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may have to resort to litigation to enforce any patents issued or licensed to us or to determine the scope and validity of third-party proprietary rights. We may have to defend the validity of our patents in order to protect or enforce our rights against a third party. Third parties may, in the future, assert against us infringement claims or claims that we have infringed a patent, copyright, trademark or other proprietary right belonging to them. Any infringement claim, even if not meritorious, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources and could negatively affect our profitability. While defending our patents, the scope of the claim may be reduced in breadth and inventorship of the claimed subject matter, and proprietary interests in the claimed subject matter may be altered or reduced. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial resources. Any such litigation or proceedings, regardless of outcome, could be expensive and time consuming, and adverse determinations in any such litigation or proceedings could prevent us from developing, manufacturing or commercializing our products and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The patents for our product candidates have varying expiration dates and, if these patents expire, we may be subject to increased competition and we may not be able to recover our development costs or market any of our approved products profitably. In some of the larger potential market territories, such as the U.S. and Europe, patent term extension or restoration may be available to compensate for time taken during aspects of the product’s development and regulatory review or by procedural delays before the relevant patent office. However, such an extension may not be granted, or if granted, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded during any extension period may not be sufficient. In addition, even though some regulatory authorities may provide some other exclusivity for a product under their own laws and regulations, we may not be able to qualify the product or obtain the exclusive time period. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension/restoration or some other exclusivity, we could be subject to increased competition and our opportunity to establish or maintain product revenue could be substantially reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, we may not have sufficient time to recover our development costs prior to the expiration of our U.S. and non-U.S. patents.

We may face difficulties in certain jurisdictions in protecting our intellectual property rights, which may diminish the value of our intellectual property rights in those jurisdictions.

The laws of some jurisdictions do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws in the U.S. and the European Union, and many companies have encountered significant difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in such jurisdictions. If we or our collaboration partners encounter difficulties in protecting, or are otherwise precluded from effectively protecting, the intellectual property rights important for our business in such jurisdictions, the value of these rights may be diminished and we may face additional competition from others in those jurisdictions.

Many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent. If we or any of our licensors is forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive position may be impaired and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Intellectual property rights do not address all potential threats to our competitive advantage.

The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations, and may not adequately protect our business, or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. The following examples are illustrative:

Changes in patent laws or patent jurisprudence could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products or product candidates.

As is the case with other pharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents involves both technological complexity and legal complexity and is costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. In addition, the America Invents Act was recently enacted in the U.S., resulting in significant changes to the U.S. patent system. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or weakening the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that could weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future. Similarly, the complexity and uncertainty of European patent laws has also increased in recent years. In addition, the European patent system is relatively stringent with regard to the type of amendments that are allowed during prosecution. These changes could limit our ability to obtain new patents in the future that may be important for our business.

Confidentiality agreements with employees and others may not adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and protect other proprietary information.

We consider proprietary trade secrets and/or confidential know-how and unpatented know-how to be important to our business. We may rely on trade secrets and/or confidential know-how to protect our technology, especially where patent protection is believed by us to be of limited value. However, trade secrets and/or confidential know-how can be difficult to maintain as confidential.

To protect this type of information against disclosure or appropriation by competitors, our policy is to require our employees, consultants, contractors and advisors to enter into confidentiality agreements with us. However, current or former employees, consultants, contractors and advisers may unintentionally or willfully disclose our confidential information to competitors, and confidentiality agreements may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Enforcing a claim that a third-party obtained illegally and is using trade secrets and/or confidential know-how is expensive, time consuming and unpredictable. The enforceability of confidentiality agreements may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Failure to obtain or maintain trade secrets and/or confidential know-how trade protection could adversely affect our competitive position. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and may even apply for patent protection in respect of the same. If successful in obtaining such patent protection, our competitors could limit our use of our trade secrets and/or confidential know-how.

Risks Related to Our Securities

The market price and trading volume of our ADS may be volatile and may be affected by economic conditions beyond our control.

The market price of our ADS may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations. In addition, the trading volume of the ADS may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the market price of the ADS declines significantly, you may be unable to resell your ADS at or above the purchase price, if at all. We cannot assure you that the market price of the ADS will not fluctuate or significantly decline in the future.

Some specific factors that could negatively affect the price of the ADS or result in fluctuations in their price and trading volume include:

The dual listing of our ordinary shares and the ADSs may adversely affect the liquidity and value of the ADS.

Our ordinary shares are listed on the ASX. We cannot predict the effect of this dual listing on the value of our ordinary shares and ADS. However, the dual listing of our ordinary shares and ADS may dilute the liquidity of these securities in one or both markets and may impair the development of an active trading market for the ADS in the U.S. The trading price of the ADSs could also be adversely affected by trading in our ordinary shares on the ASX.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted, and we expect to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain NASDAQ requirements applicable to domestic issuers. This may afford less protection to holders of our ADSs.

As a foreign private issuer whose shares are listed on NASDAQ, we are permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. Among other things, as a foreign private issuer we have elected to follow home country practice with regard to, the composition of the board of directors and the audit committee, the financial expert, director nomination procedure, compensation of officers and quorum at shareholders’ meetings. In addition, we may follow our home country law, instead of the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules, which require that we obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events, such as for the establishment or amendment of certain equity based compensation plans, an issuance that will result in a change of control of the company, certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or more interest in the company and certain acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company. Accordingly, our shareholders may not be afforded the same protection as provided under NASDAQ’s corporate governance rules. See Item 16G - Corporate Governance.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to file less information with the SEC than a company incorporated in the U.S. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information concerning us than there is for companies incorporated in the U.S.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose disclosure requirements as well as procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as a company that files as a U.S. company whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, nor are we required to comply with the SEC’s Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material non-public information. Accordingly, there may be less information publicly available concerning us than there is for a company that files as a domestic issuer.

If we fail to comply with the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   related to accounting controls and procedures in the future, or, if we discover additional material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, the price of our ordinary shares and ADSs could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult.

If we fail to comply with the rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 related to disclosure controls and procedures in the future, or, if we discover material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, our stock price could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. As of June 30, 2023, our management determined that we had no material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If material weaknesses or significant deficiencies are discovered or if we otherwise fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal control, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to helping prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our ordinary shares and ADSs could drop significantly.

ADS holders may be subject to additional risks related to holding ADS rather than ordinary shares.

ADS holders do not hold ordinary shares directly and, as such, are subject to, among others, the following additional risks:

You must act through the ADR depositary to exercise your voting rights and, as a result, you may be unable to exercise your voting rights on a timely basis.

As a holder of ADS (and not the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs), we will not treat you as one of our shareholders, and you will not be able to exercise shareholder rights. The ADR depositary will be the holder of the ordinary shares underlying your ADS, and ADS holders will be able to exercise voting rights with respect to the ordinary shares represented by the ADS only in accordance with the Deposit Agreement relating to the ADS. There are practical limitations on the ability of ADS holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional procedural steps involved in communicating with these holders. For example, holders of our ordinary shares will receive notice of shareholders’ meetings by mail and will be able to exercise their voting rights by either attending the shareholders meeting in person or voting by proxy. ADS holders, by comparison, will not receive notice directly from us. Instead, in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, we will provide notice to the ADR depositary of any such shareholders meeting and details concerning the matters to be voted upon at least 30 days in advance of the meeting date. If we so instruct, the ADR depositary will mail to holders of ADS the notice of the meeting and a statement as to the manner in which voting instructions may be given by holders as soon as practicable after receiving notice from us of any such meeting. To exercise their voting rights, ADS holders must then instruct the ADR depositary as to voting the ordinary shares represented by their ADSs. Due to these procedural steps involving the ADR depositary, the process for exercising voting rights may take longer for ADS holders than for holders of ordinary shares. The ordinary shares represented by ADS for which the ADR depositary fails to receive timely voting instructions will not be voted.

If we are classified as a “passive foreign investment company,” then our U.S. shareholders could suffer adverse tax consequences as a result.

Generally, if, for any taxable year, at least 75% of our gross income is passive income (including our pro rata share of the gross income of our 25% or more owned corporate subsidiaries) or at least 50% of the average quarterly value of our total gross assets (including our pro rata share of the gross assets of our 25% or more owned corporate subsidiaries) is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, including cash, we would be characterized as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For purposes of these tests, passive income includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. If we are characterized as a PFIC, a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares or ADSs may suffer adverse tax consequences, including having gains recognized on the sale of our ordinary shares or ADSs treated as ordinary income, rather than capital gain, the loss of the preferential rate applicable to dividends received on our ordinary shares or ADSs by individuals who are U.S. holders, and having interest charges added to their tax on distributions from us and on gains from the sale of our ordinary shares or ADS. See “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company.”

Our status as a PFIC may also depend, in part, on how quickly we utilize any cash proceeds from any offering. Since PFIC status depends on the composition of our income and the composition and value of our assets, which may be determined in large part by reference to the market value of our ordinary shares or ADS, which may be volatile, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year. While we expect that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ended June 30, 2023, no assurance of our PFIC status can be provided for such taxable year or future taxable years. Prospective U.S. investors should discuss the issue of our possible status as a PFIC with their tax advisors.

Currency fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our ordinary shares and ADS.

Our ordinary shares are quoted in Australian dollars on the ASX and the ADS are quoted in U.S. dollars on NASDAQ. Movements in the Australian dollar/U.S. dollar exchange rate may adversely affect the U.S. dollar price of the ADS. In the past year the Australian dollar has generally weakened against the U.S. dollar. However, this trend may not continue and may be reversed. If the Australian dollar weakens against the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar price of the ADS could decline, even if the price of our ordinary shares in Australian dollars increases or remains unchanged.

We have never declared or paid dividends on our ordinary shares and we do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our ordinary shares. For the foreseeable future, we currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support our operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to compliance with applicable laws and covenants under current or future credit facilities, which may restrict or limit our ability to pay dividends, and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. As a result, a return on your investment will only occur if our ADS price appreciates.

You may not receive distributions on our ordinary shares represented by the ADS or any value for such distribution if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to holders of ADS.

While we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future, if such a dividend is declared, the depositary for the ADS has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of our ordinary shares your ADS represent. However, in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Deposit Agreement, it may be unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to holders of ADS. We have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of the ADS, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of the ADS. This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value from them if it is unlawful or impractical to make them available to you. These restrictions may have a material adverse effect on the value of your ADS.

Australian takeover laws may discourage takeover offers being made for us or may discourage the acquisition of a significant position in our ordinary shares or ADS.

We are incorporated in Australia and are subject to the takeover laws of Australia. Among other things, we are subject to the Australian Corporations Act 2001, or the Corporations Act. Subject to a range of exceptions, the Corporations Act prohibits the acquisition of a direct or indirect interest in our issued voting shares if the acquisition of that interest will lead to a person’s voting power in us increasing to more than 20%, or increasing from a starting point that is above 20% and below 90%. Australian takeover laws may discourage takeover offers being made for us or may discourage the acquisition of a significant position in our ordinary shares. This may have the ancillary effect of entrenching our board of directors and may deprive or limit our shareholders’ or ADS holders’ opportunity to sell their ordinary shares or ADSs and may further restrict the ability of our shareholders and ADS holders to obtain a premium from such transactions. See Item 10. – Additional Information “Change of Control”.

Our Constitution and Australian laws and regulations applicable to us may adversely affect our ability to take actions that could be beneficial to our shareholders.

As an Australian company, we are subject to different corporate requirements than a corporation organized under the laws of the states of the U.S. Our Constitution, as well as the Australian Corporations Act, set forth various rights and obligations that are unique to us as an Australian company. These requirements may operate differently than those of many U.S. companies. See Item 10 – Additional Information.

You will have limited ability to bring an action against us or against our directors and officers, or to enforce a judgment against us or them, because we are incorporated in Australia and certain of our directors and officers reside outside the U.S.

We are incorporated in Australia, certain of our directors and officers reside outside the U.S. and substantially all of the assets owned by such persons are located outside of the U.S.. As a result, it may be impracticable or at least more expensive for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in Australia in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the applicable securities laws or otherwise.

You may be subject to limitations on transfer of the ADSs.

The ADSs are only transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deem it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or for any other reason.

Australian companies may not be able to initiate shareholder derivative actions, thereby depriving shareholders of the ability to protect their interests.

Australian companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the U.S. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of an Australian company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the U.S. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred. Australian courts are also unlikely to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts in the U.S. based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities law and to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in Australia, based on certain liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature. Although the courts of Australia may recognize and enforce the non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits upon being satisfied about all the relevant circumstances upon which such judgment was obtained, there is no statutory recognition in Australia of judgments obtained in the U.S..

Anti-takeover provisions in our Constitution and our right to issue preference shares could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.

Some provisions of our Constitution may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that only require one-third of our board of directors to be elected annually and authorize our board of directors to issue an unlimited number of shares of capital stock and preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares by amending the Constitution.

ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A. History and Development of the Company

We were incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1994 and have been listed on the ASX since April 30, 1999. Our ADSs and Warrants have traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market since June 13, 2017, with the Warrants delisted in June 2022 in connection with their expiration. Our principal executive office is located at Level 3, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia 3053 and our telephone number is +61 (0)3 9824 5254. Our agent for service in the U.S. is Puglisi & Associates, 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, DE 19711. Our website address is www.immuron.com.au. The information in our website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report.

SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the group that file electronically with the SEC (https://www.sec.gov).

Immuron is an Australian biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing orally delivered targeted polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory mediated and infectious diseases.

We currently market our flagship commercial products Travelan® and Protectyn® in Australia, where both products are listed medicines on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods.

As we will mention in “Our Strategy” in the section “B. Business Overview” below, in the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, we have been advancing our lead oral polyclonal antibody drug candidates presently in clinical development for the treatment of moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, travelers’ diarrhea and to treat recurrent C. difficile infections (CDI); together with continuing to invest in and growing Travelan and Protectyn sales worldwide, including in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and in new markets.

Since inception until June 30, 2023, we were not required to invest material amounts for capital expenditures since our development efforts took place at research facilities operated by institutions with which we have relationships. Over the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2023, the total capital expenditure amounted to A$24,417 for purchases of plant and equipment.

B. Business Overview

We are a commercial and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology platform focused on the development and commercialization of a novel class of specifically targeted polyclonal antibodies that we believe can address significant unmet medical needs. Our oral polyclonal antibodies offer delivery within the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract and our technology platform can be used to target viruses or bacteria and neutralize the toxins they produce at mucosal surfaces. We currently market our flagship commercial products Travelan® and Protectyn® in Australia, where both products are listed medicines on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods. Travelan® (AUST L 106709) is an over-the-counter orally administered passive immunotherapeutic product and is indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea, reduce the risk of minor gastro-intestinal disorders and is antimicrobial and is sold in pharmacies throughout Australia. Protectyn® (AUST L 231001) is currently sold online and in health practitioner clinics and is marketed as an immune supplement to help maintain a healthy digestive function and liver. We also market Travelan® (NPN 80046016) in Canada where it is licensed as a natural health product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea, and presently market Travelan® in the U.S. as a dietary supplement for digestive tract protection.

We currently have three lead drug candidates entering the clinical development phase, which we believe have the potential to transform the existing treatment paradigms for moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, Clostridiodies difficle (C.difficle) Infections, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections and travelers’ diarrhea, a digestive tract disorder that is commonly caused by pathogenic bacteria and the toxins they produce.

Travelan sales for fiscal year 2023, 2022 and 2021 were gross A$1.97 million (net: A$1.80 million), A$792 thousand (net: A$765 thousand) and A$166 thousand (net: A$146 thousand), respectively.

OUR STRATEGY

Our goal is to become one of the leading biopharmaceutical companies developing and commercializing therapeutics to address increased unmet medical needs in the anti-infective area. The critical components of our strategy include:

OUR PLATFORM

Our platform technology is based on oral polyclonal immunoglobulins. Prior to calving, cows are immunized with proprietary vaccines to ensure maximum immunogenicity and after calving, the first milk, called bovine colostrum is harvested and processed to produce a hyper-immune bovine colostrum powder. This proprietary process of vaccinating cows with specific vaccines generated against antigens for therapeutic targets ensures that the colostrum contains a high concentration of polyclonal antibodies and high concentrations of immunoglobulin G1 against the specified antigens. The technology can be applied to a variety of diseases.

The underlying nature of our platform technology enables the development of medicines across a large range of infectious diseases. The platform can be used to block viruses or bacteria at mucosal surfaces (such as the GI tract) and neutralize the toxins they produce. Additionally, the dairy origins of our antibodies enable us to commercialize our platform through most regulatory pathways, including prescription (Rx), medical foods, over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements.

The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for a particular application is prepared using the first milking colostrum of dairy cows that have been immunized with patented vaccines for the specific therapeutic use to produce very high levels of antibodies against selected surface antigens. Pregnant dairy cows at commercial dairy farms are immunized through a proprietary process. Such inoculation of dairy cows with specific vaccines activates a generalized immune response in the host animal to produce antibodies which recognize and bind to bacterial cell-surface epitopes that the vaccines were designed against. These polyclonal antibodies in the harvested bovine colostrum are present in high concentration within the raw material which is further processed to produce the final drug product which contains at least 35% immunoglobulins (Ig), composed mainly of IgG (mostly IgG1).

Risk management covering the source of colostrum must focus on assurance of absence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (“BSE”), commonly known as Mad Cow Disease attributable to the liquid raw product. BSE is a transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle. BSE has never been detected in cattle in Australia or New Zealand. The World Organization for Animal Health recognizes both countries as having a negligible BSE risk status. Australia and New Zealand are two of only 16 countries in the world to-date assessed by the European Union as meeting all criteria for the lowest geographical BSE risk level.

OUR PIPELINE

Immuron’s platform technology is based on oral polyclonal immunoglobulins. Prior to calving, cows are immunized with proprietary immunogens to ensure maximum antibody production. After calving, the first milk, called bovine colostrum is harvested and processed to produce a hyper-immune bovine colostrum powder. The underlying nature of our platform technology enables the development of medicines across a large range of infectious diseases. This approach can be used to block viruses or bacteria at mucosal surfaces (such as the GI tract) and neutralize the toxins they produce.

Immuron has three lead clinical products entering the clinical development phase for the treatment of multiple high value enteric disease indications:

Collaborations with U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. We believe that our collaborations with the DoD are a powerful validation of the potential of our platform to develop novel anti-infectives. These collaborations also open the door to explore and develop potentially low risk / low cost therapeutics with some of the most advanced research facilities in the world. The DoD earlier commissioned several studies to characterize the polyclonal antibodies contained in Travelan. The aim was to conduct trials to determine the product’s effectiveness in neutralizing pathogenic GI bacterial infections as a preventative treatment for U.S. military personnel and civilians stationed or traveling in locations where such infections can be debilitating.

Immuron has an immediate focus on seeking FDA approval of Travelan® to prevent travelers’ (TD) diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 10 million international travelers develop travelers’ diarrhea every year. Approval of Travelan® as a preventative treatment for TD is expected to significantly increase commercial opportunities for Travelan® in the U.S., particularly as Travelan® is a non-antibiotic treatment having a considerable record of successful treatment. The company was awarded a USD $3.43 million grant from the US Department of Defense to test the efficacy of one large daily dose regimen of Travelan® in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) clinical study using the ETEC strain H10407. This dose regime is potentially more amenable for use in military populations. The US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA was also awarded over USD $1 million in a separate grant to provide immunological support for the Immuron clinical program. The company submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and obtained approval in December 2022. On October 4, 2022, Immuron announced execution of a clinical trial master service agreement with Maryland, Baltimore, USA based Pharmaron CPC, Inc. Up to 60 volunteers will be enrolled in the clinical study and will be randomly assigned to receive either a once-daily dose of 1200 mg of Travelan® or placebo. As of July 25, 2023 the first cohort of 30 participants had been enrolled in this clinical trial. Results of the proposed clinical study will inform dosing in the planned pivotal Phase 3 studies for BLA licensure.

The US Department of Defense Uniformed Services University (USU) have also been awarded grant funding to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® and a probiotic in Travelers’ Diarrhea. Enrollment of 868 deployed military personnel or travelers will occur at sites within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) network, the UK military, and at a civilian travel clinic in New York City. Subjects will be randomized to receive a masked regimen of Travelan®, or placebo. Findings from the clinical study will inform strategies for Defense Force Health Protection. The P2TD study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of IMM-124E (Travelan®) passive immunoprophylaxis verses a placebo, for prophylaxis during deployment or travel to a high-TD risk region

Infectious diarrhea is the most common illness reported by travelers visiting developing countries and among US troops deployed overseas. The morbidity and associated discomfort stemming from diarrhea decreases daily performance, affects judgment, decreases morale, and lowers operational readiness. The first line of treatment for infectious diarrhea is the prescription of antibiotics. Unfortunately, in the last decade, several enteric pathogens have an increasing resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. In addition, travelers’ diarrhea is now recognized by the medical community to result in post-infectious sequelae, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and several post-infectious autoimmune diseases. A preventative treatment that protects against enteric diseases, is a high priority objective for the US Military.

Our second clinical asset IMM-529 is an oral biologic that targets the Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) bacterium, IMM-529 can protect and prevent against enteric diarrheal symptoms associated with C.difficile infection. We have evidence to suggest IMM-529 treatment is effective and does not destroy the microbiome which is a side effect of treatment with many antibiotics. IMM-529 allows the microbiome to return to a healthy state while treating C. difficile infection (CDI). The antibodies in IMM-529 have been generated against the essential C. difficile virulence components, specifically, spores, vegetative cells and toxin B and shown to bind and neutralize a variety of human and animal C. difficile isolates. IMM-529, which was developed in collaboration with world-leading C.difficile Key Opinion Leader, Dr. Dena Lyras and her team at Monash University, has a Triple-Action MOA (antibodies to Toxin B + Spores + Vegetative Cells). It is a three-pronged approach that is novel, and which has yielded exceptional results in pre-clinical studies including (1) Prevention of primary disease, (2) Treatment of primary disease and (3) Suppression of recurrence. To date this is the only investigational drug that has showed positive therapeutic benefits in all three phases of the disease. In the preclinical stage, prevention studies demonstrated an 80% efficacy without the use of antibiotics. Furthermore, in treatment studies an 80% efficacy was demonstrated without the use of antibiotics like vancomycin. In relapse studies a 90% survival rate was noticed vs 22% survival rate in the control group. To our knowledge, it is to date the only investigational drug that has showed therapeutic benefits in all three phases of the disease. The Company’s plan to file an IND with FDA for further development of the drug candidate, with the initial focus on treating patients with recurrent disease. The trial is designed to study a total of 60 patients, diagnosed with CDI and have received standard of care antibiotic treatment. The primary objective is to assess IMM-529 safety and tolerability, while secondary end points are to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of IMM-529 as evaluated by duration and severity of symptoms and rate of disease recurrence.

IMM-529 has a unique competitive advantage:

CDI is an infection of the colon caused by the bacteria Clostridioides difficile that produces toxins that cause inflammation and severe diarrhea. CDI can also result in serious disease complications including bowel perforation, toxic megacolon and sepsis, and it can prove fatal in the most severe cases. In recent years, increases in the frequency and severity of CDI have been observed worldwide, as well as an increased risk of community-associated CDI, and CDI in persons previously thought to be low risk. It is estimated that CDI affects up to 1.2% of hospitalized patients in the United States, representing an estimated cost of USD 4.8 billion per year (source: CDC). In Europe, the estimated cost is approximately 3 billion per year, which is likely to increase concomitantly with a more elderly society; more than 134 million Europeans will be >65 years by 2050. In addition to hospitalization, the most significant predisposing factors for CDI include advanced age (>65 years) and antibiotic therapy (disrupts the normal gut microbiota). The most common antibiotics implicated to date include broad-spectrum cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and clindamycin. The only remaining effective therapeutic agents are metronidazole, vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Vancomycin and metronidazole are the current standard of care, accounting for 80% of patients share in the US. However, these two therapies are plagued by a 25% rate of CDI recurrences and each recurrence predisposes to further recurrence. After two or more episodes of recurrence, the risk of subsequent recurrence may reach 65%. This underscores the need for new treatments. Against this backdrop, the last decade has seen the emergence of a new epidemic of CDI characterized by increased frequency and severity of enteric disease and increased resistance to antibiotic therapy.

The global therapeutics and prophylactics market for Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%, increasing from USD 630 million in 2016 to USD 1.7 billion by 2026, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s report states the launch of prophylactic treatments for the prevention of CDI, treatment of recurrent CDIs (rCDIs) through microbiological approaches and novel antibiotics targeted towards reduction of disease recurrence have been identified as the key drivers for the growth.

The Company is collaborating with the US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA to develop and clinically evaluate a new therapeutic to protect against Campylobacter and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections. The new Hyper-immune therapeutic contains high levels of antibodies which specifically target key protective antigenic targets Campylobacter jejuni capsule and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I). The NMRC submitted an IND application to the FDA and received approval in May 2023 for the new oral therapeutic and is preparing to commence the first clinical trials in the United States following approval of the application. The safety and protective efficacy of the product will be tested utilizing a controlled human infection-model clinical trials. This trial is designed to focus on the ability of the hyperimmune product to protect volunteers against moderate to severe Campylobacteriosis. A total of 30 volunteers will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to either C. jejuni or placebo.

Immuron’s IMM-124E used to manufacture   Travelan® and Protectyn® demonstrates antiviral activity against the COVID-19 virus in laboratory studies

Immuron announced to the market in August 2022 that it has deprioritized SARS-CoV-2 research to focus on the clinical development of our more advanced stage therapeutic drug candidates. Immuron has dedicated significant resources to interrogate the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 protection, however, the mechanism of how IMM-124E provides protection against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection remains unclear. In consideration of our research findings, the rapid evolution of the virus and changing treatment landscape presents significant challenges to conduct a clinical trial for SARS-CoV-2 with IMM-124E

Immuron has previously reported IMM-124E research investigations demonstrating neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 (ASX announcements dated 13 May 2021, 15 December 2020, and 21 July 2020). The company has been pursuing the antiviral activities of IMM-124E, focusing on establishing a better understanding of the mechanism of action associated with these initial observations. CSIRO conducted Quantitative Mass Spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS) to identify potential antiviral agents that are significantly enriched in IMM-124E. Quantitative proteomics identified at least 53 proteins that are significantly overexpressed in IMM-124E compared to the Milk Powder control samples. This included 17 immunoglobulin-like proteins that appear to be enriched between two- to nine-fold in Immuron Colostrum drug substance and several small antimicrobial proteins known to function in defense against bacterial infections. Testing completed by Research Scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity detected no neutralizing antibodies in IMM-124E targeting SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. Researchers analyzed immune fractions of IMM-124E, previously isolated by Monash University Scientists at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute, for antibody-mediated viral neutralization. Antiviral activity was undetectable in these immune fractions, suggesting an alternative, non-specific, mode of action is responsible for earlier preliminary results.

We know that SARS-CoV-2 causes an influenza-like disease that is primarily thought to infect the lungs with transmission through the respiratory route ranging from mild respiratory symptoms to severe lung injury, multiorgan failure, and death. Understandably, respiratory symptoms have dominated the clinical focus, however gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are also observed in a subset of patients often presenting with no respiratory symptoms. In the United States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the symptoms of coronavirus to include diarrhea. Clinical research suggests that the Gastrointestinal tract may present another viral target organ. The virus RNA has been detected in anal swabs of some patients even after nasopharyngeal testing has turned negative, and cells in the inner-gut lining express high amounts of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor that SARS-CoV-2 uses to gain entry to cells implying the potential for gastrointestinal infection and a fecal–oral transmission route. However, fecal–oral transmission has not been demonstrated to be a significant factor in the pandemic and the current research is still inconclusive. The company has filed a provisional patent application in respect of the findings.

On August 19, 2022, Immuron announced that it had deprioritized SARS-CoV-2 research to focus on the clinical development of more advanced stage therapeutic drug candidates.

US Department of Defense New Drug Candidate to treat moderate to severe campylobacteriosis and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections.

Immuron’s clinical development collaboration with the US Department of Defence (DoD) resulted in the US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) filing an investigational new drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA). In July 2022, Immuron announced that the NMRC has received feedback from the FDA following a review of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a new oral therapeutic targeting Campylobacter and ETEC. The Agency has specified that the IND does not contain sufficient information required under 21 CFR 312.23 to assess the risk to subjects in the proposed clinical studies. The IND was placed on Clinical Hold until the FDA have received and reviewed a response from the NMRC justifying dosing, safety monitoring and a risk mitigation plan. In May 2023, Immuron announced that the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA) had lifted the Clinical Hold in relation to the clinical development pathway of a new investigational drug which the company is developing to treat moderate to severe campylobacteriosis and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections.

The company had previously initiated a second vaccination campaign in March 2022 and utilized the bispecific vaccine developed by the NMRC which is made up of the capsule of C. jejuni chemically conjugated to the CFA/I pilin of ETEC. The second vaccination campaign was successfully completed in May 2022 and each animal in the second herd received three doses of the vaccine. The hyper-immune colostrum was harvested in July 2022 and samples were shipped to the NMRC for immunological evaluation. The NMRC confirmed that the conjugated vaccine produced a robust immunological response and reported that the new Hyper-immune therapeutic contains high levels of antibodies which specifically target Campylobacter jejuni capsule and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) colonization factor antigen 1 (CFA/1). These are key antigenic targets predicted to be protective against diarrhea induced by both pathogens.

The manufacturing campaign for the drug substance was completed in August 2022 and the company plans to complete the manufacture of active drug product in the second half of 2023. Once completed the investigational medical products will be transferred to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHBSPH) in the USA the clinical trial site which plans to conduct two Controlled Human Infection Model clinical studies. The ability of the new hyperimmune product to protect volunteers from moderate to severe campylobacteriosis and ETEC disease will be assessed during two inpatient clinical trials the first of which is planned to commence in the second half of 2023.

Our partnerships with components of the US Department of Defense remain strong, close, and strategically vital. We will continue the clinical development of a new oral therapeutic to treat moderate to severe campylobacteriosis and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections in conjunction with the US Naval Medical Research Centre.

Immuron Awarded $6.2 Million to Clinically Evaluate a Military Strength Dosing Regimen for Travelan

Immuron is pursuing a regulatory pathway to license Travelan® (IMM-124E) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via a Biologics License Application (BLA). The proposed indication is to reduce the risk of contracting travelers’ diarrhea caused by bacterial pathogens. The Company announced in January 2022 that it was awarded AU$4.8M (US$3.43M) by the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) for the development of a Travelan® dosing regimen acceptable for use by the US military. The US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA was also awarded over AU$1.4M (USD $1M) in a separate grant to provide immunological support for the Immuron clinical program. In April 2022 the company also announced a new MTEC request for funding seeking an additional US$4M to fund the CMC Assay Development and Validation, Nonclinical Safety Studies and Stability Studies required to support the BLA. The focus of this new project proposal is to develop a self-administered non-vaccine oral immunotherapy to prevent endemic diarrheal disease by targeting multiple bacterial pathogens. The oral immunotherapy should mitigate symptoms, shorten the duration of illness, and/or reduce the risk of contracting bacterial diarrheal illnesses. The proposed immunotherapy product will target enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and at least one other common bacterial diarrheal pathogen e.g., Campylobacter spp or Shigella spp. Immuron was formally notified that no government funding is immediately available, however, this application has been deemed ‘eligible for funding’ and will be eligible for award for a period of up to two years.

The major focus over this reporting period has been to establish and execute agreements to commence the MTEC award and perform a dose optimization controlled human infection model (CHIM) study with IMM-124E. Five Contract Research Organizations have been approached to conduct the CHIM study, quality, experience, timelines and budgets are the major factors under consideration. A SWOT and Risk analysis and due diligence of each site has been completed. The company executed a Master Service Agreement in October 2022 with the CRO, Pharmaron CPC, Inc., based in Baltimore, USA. A Service Proposal has been executed with our Contract Manufacturing Organization and the manufacture of the investigational medical products (IMM-124E and placebo caplets) for the clinical study has been completed. The company finalized the Investigational brochure and clinical study protocol. The company filed the investigational new drug application with the FDA in December 2022 and received approval from the FDA in December 2022.

The proposed development program is based on the past commercial and clinical trial experience with Travelan®. Two company sponsored clinical studies have demonstrated that Travelan® conferred 84% to over 90% protective efficacy against moderate to severe diarrhea upon challenge with ETEC in comparison to a placebo. These clinical studies were performed using two different doses of Travelan® (200 mg and 400 mg), administered 3 times a day. Ongoing discussions with Army and Navy leadership have highlighted that such a regimen is cumbersome for military personnel deployed in austere environments and military field studies have shown that compliance is low with products dosed more than once per day. The rationale behind the company’s proposal is to leverage the current BLA program to obtain US Government funding to test the efficacy of one large daily dose regimen of Travelan® in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) clinical study using the ETEC strain H10407. This dose regime is potentially more amenable for use in military populations. Results of the proposed clinical study will inform dosing in the planned pivotal Phase 3 studies for BLA licensure.

In January 2022 the company announced the funding of a new research agreement with the U.S Department of Defense. The focus of this new agreement, entitled “Biologics License Application (BLA) of a therapeutic Bovine Immunoglobulin supplement targeting Travelers’ Diarrhea caused by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (ETEC)”, is aimed at testing and confirming the efficacy of a single larger dose regimen of Travelan® in a controlled human infection model (CHIM) clinical study using the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain H10407. This single larger dosing regime is potentially more amenable for use in military populations. Up to 60 volunteers will be enrolled in the clinical study and will be randomly assigned to receive either a once-daily dose of 1200 mg of Travelan® or placebo. This study will occur across two cohorts (n=15 Travelan® subjects and n=15 placebo subjects per cohort), as the inpatient unit can accommodate up to 30 study participants at a time. A project kickoff meeting for this award was held on the 25 of January 2022 with the U.S Government sponsors and representatives of the company, the Naval Medical Research Command, Navy Advanced Medical Development and the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium.

The award followed several pivotal meetings with our US Department of Defense (US DoD) associates to review the proposed company sponsored phase III clinical trial strategy, address key questions identified by the FDA clinical reviewers and to identify potential endemic countries and clinical sites of interest to the US DoD. During these meetings the company was invited to present its strategic plan for the Biologics License Application (BLA), to the Military Infectious Diseases Research Program (MIDRP). MIDRP manages research and development programs for the US DoD and its mission is to protect the U.S. military against naturally occurring infectious diseases via the development of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic assays. The meeting also focused on funding opportunities available to support the BLA and the associated approval process, as well as to provide some additional insights on the processes the company would need to navigate to advance Travelan® with FDA licensure and DoD acquisition.

The company’s presentation was held on the 25 May 2022 and was well attended by the US Government sponsors. The Government reviewers were very much engaged and interested in the technology and the proposal. Advanced Technology International (ATI), the MTEC Consortium Management Firm formally notified the Company on the 25 June 2022 that our proposal was considered eligible for award and requested Immuron to submit a full proposal for consideration which was prepared and submitted to the MTEC Contracts team on the 13 July 2022. The company received formal notification confirming that the US Government sponsors had completed the evaluation of our proposal and intends to select it for award subject to funding availability.

Uniformed Services University Phase II P3TD Field Trial targeting travelers’ diarrhea

In April 2023, the company provided shareholders and the market with a progress update on the planned clinical field trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® sponsored by the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Travelers’ Diarrhea (TD). USU’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program (IDCRP), the UK Ministry of Defense and the New York City Travel Clinic are jointly planning to conduct the randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available nutraceutical product for TD and inform strategies for Defense Force Health Protection. The P2TD study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of IMM-124E (Travelan®) passive immunoprophylaxis verses a placebo, for prophylaxis during deployment or travel to a high-TD risk region (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04605783). All study participants (868 in total) will be randomized to Travelan® or placebo (434 per arm).

The clinical protocol was amended in February 2023 removing the probiotic (Florastor®) from the active study arms. USU estimates a primary completion date of July 20, 2023, and study completion date of December 31, 2023.

In September 2023, the company provided shareholders and the market with a progress update on the clinical field trial to evaluate the efficacy of Travelan® sponsored by the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Travelers’ Diarrhea (TD). USU revised estimates for completion of enrollment to 31 March 2024 and anticipated completion of in-patient phase to 30 June 2024.

IMM-124E is manufactured from colostrum harvested from dairy cows that have been immunized against the 13 most common pathogenic strains of enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC). IMM-124E is designed to block and reduce bacterial growth without negatively impacting essential microbiota, and is a first-in-class, oral polyclonal antibody therapeutic which targets gram negative ETEC and other cross-reactive pathogenic bacteria in the gut, leading to the blockage of their pathologic activities.

Earlier Clinical Studies on IMM-124E

IMM-124E was evaluated as a potential drug to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) under FDA IND #014933. The primary endpoint was the mean change from baseline in the hepatic fat fraction (HFF, %), as measured by MRI at week 24 for two doses of IMM-124E compared with placebo. Both doses of IMM-124E did not lead to significant reduction in fat at the end of 24 weeks of therapy. Topline results from this earlier IMM-124E phase II NASH clinical study were reported in March 2019. The 24-week treatment study which was conducted in Australia, Israel, and the U.S. involved 133 biopsy-proven NASH patients. The study results demonstrated that IMM-124E, a first-in-class, oral antibody therapy targeting the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and other bacterial components in the gastrointestinal tract, resulted in a statistically significant reduction of serum LPS in patients with biopsy proven NASH. IMM-1214E was developed to target ETEC pathogens, preventing LPS from translocating into the portal circulation. The study results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of serum LPS levels in the drug treatment arms when compared to placebo, providing proof-of-concept for a novel mechanism of action. Serum ALT was also significantly reduced when compared to placebo as well as AST and cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) demonstrating metabolic endotoxemia can be decreased with IMM-124E which can lower serum LPS levels and reduce LPS -associated liver inflammation. The data showed a small statistically significant reduction in serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and reductions in two biomarkers associated with liver function, but the drug did not display signs of clinical benefit in reducing fat content of the liver in patients with NASH. Consequently, we decided not to continue clinical development of IMM-124E specifically to treat NASH. Data from this trial, however, showed that IMM-124E was not systemically absorbed, and the trial provided further support for IMM-124E’s safety profile, and for its potential use in other therapeutics areas.

Two additional clinical studies, sponsored and funded by the National Institute of Health, have been performed with IMM-124E: 1) a Phase II clinical study in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) conducted under FDA IND #015675, and 2) a Phase II clinical study in pediatric patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) conducted under FDA IND #017066.

Top-line results from the SAH trial with Dr. Arun Sanyal of Virginia Commonwealth University as the lead Principal Investigator were released on August 8, 2019. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IMM-124E at two oral dosage levels as compared with a placebo in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and with all patients being treated with steroids. A total of 57 patients with SAH with a model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score ranging from 21-28 were enrolled into the clinical study and were treated with either IMM-124E or placebo for 28 days (placebo N=20, IMM-124E 2400 mg/day N=18, IMM-124E 4800 mg/day N= 19). No suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions were reported and no differences in serious adverse events (SAE) were observed across the three arms of the study and no SAE was considered related to the study drug by investigators. Both doses of IMM-124E in the study (2400mg and 4800mg) were well tolerated. There were 9 deaths reported over a six-month period for the entire cohort and there were no significant differences across study groups. The data showed that IMM-124E is safe to use in patients with SAH but does not reduce circulating lipopolysaccharide levels, mortality or have an impact on MELD score in the study population, and we will not continue clinical development of IMM-124E specifically to treat SAH.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the IMM-124E pediatric clinical study in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. The study’s Principle Investigator Dr Miriam Vos from the Emory University School of Medicine closed the study earlier this year with only 22 subjects out of a target 40 completed the study protocol. The study findings were reported as negative as there was no substantial changes in ALT (Primary study end point) in the active arm of the study when compared to placebo.

IMM-529 to Treat Recurrent C. difficile Infections (CDI)

The company is pursuing the clinical development of IMM-529 for FDA approval as drug to prevent recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI). The phase I/II, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of IMM-529 for the treatment of CDI is planned to be performed in 60 patients with recurrent CDI and may involve up to 12 clinical study sites in the USA and 4 clinical sites in Australia.

The company has established a Medical Advisory Committee to review the clinical development plans and establish a clinical protocol for IMM-529 in recurrent CDI. Members include Professor Teena Chopra, Professor of Medicine Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit Michigan. Professor Chopra is an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist with a specific interest in CDI. Professor Paul Feuerstadt assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Professor Sahil Khanna, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. The committee members have an in depth understanding on CDI and currently treat a large number of patients with recurring CDI. The Medical Advisory Committee has completed their review of the clinical trial protocol following several meetings and we are currently in the process of finalizing the clinical protocol, identifying suitable clinical trial sites and updating the Project plan which will be presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

The company has completed the assessment of the acceptability of the orphan drug designation (ODD) application for IMM-529. Based on the literature related to Clostridioides difficile, treatment of recurring infection, and the information available on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and prevention site, our regulatory consultants have concluded that it would be challenging to secure an ODD designation for IMM-529 based on the available data.

Background on C. difficile

C. difficile is a gram-positive, toxin-producing, spore-forming bacterium that generally causes severe and persistent diarrhea in infected individuals, but can also lead to more severe outcomes, including in the most serious cases, death. C. difficile infection (CDI) is most often associated with the prior use of antibiotics. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has identified CDI as one of the top three most urgent antibiotic-resistant bacterial threats in the U.S. and is now the most common cause of hospital acquired infection in the U.S.

C. difficile can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. In the most serious cases, C. difficile infections can lead to fulminant colitis, megacolon and even death from colon perforation and peritonitis. C difficile is acquired from contact with humans or objects harboring these bacteria. It can be commonly acquired during hospitalization. Up to 30% of those who have spent a prolonged period in the hospital leave carrying these bacteria in the bowel flora, especially if antibiotics have been administered. This is because CDI is most often associated with the prior use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which decrease the natural resistance of the body to C. difficile. Chronic CDI is estimated to occur in perhaps 15-30% of those infected. In some cases, reinfections can occur with the same or with a different strain. Risk factors for relapse include the number of previous episodes, the need to use antibiotics recurrently, and older age groups.

Human infection occurs through ingestion of the highly infectious spores, which survive acid and bile on their passage into the bowel. Normally, this infectious process may be eradicated or substantially reduced by the normal bowel flora since the microbes that collectively make up the flora provide colonization resistance against pathogenic species through competition for essential nutrients and attachment sites to the gut wall. However, if the bowel flora is suppressed because of concomitant use of antibiotics, or if the bowel flora has a deficiency, C. difficile can colonize the flora and remain with the patient. In some individuals, it seems that antibiotics are not required for colonization to take place, which may be related to inadequate defense of the naturally occurring flora within the bowel.

When C. difficile takes hold, the toxins produced by the bacterium, especially Toxin B, act by inactivation of Rho GTPases leading to cell death, and stimulation of an inflammatory cascade that exacerbates tissue damage, diarrhea, and pseudomembranous colitis. When faced with a CDI infection, the standard of care is typically either a course of vancomycin or metronidazole, both of which are broad spectrum antibiotics. While these agents are very effective at treating the primary infections, they also severely impact the rest of the gut flora, creating an ideal environment for the C. difficile spores to once again take hold. This creates a vicious cycle, as more courses of antibiotic treatments worsen recurrence. Vancomycin and metronidazole treatments are plagued by increasing rate of CDI recurrences, underscoring the need for new treatments. There is also growing concern of resistance to vancomycin treatment.

C. difficile is a very hardy organism, most likely because it sheds spores that are unable to be eradicated by any known antibiotics. Since C. difficile spores are able to survive for long periods of time outside of the body, and because healthcare settings are often sites of significant antibiotic use, CDI transmission rates in hospitals, long-term acute care facilities and nursing homes have been increasing. CDI is also a cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized cancer patients and bone marrow transplant patients, as their immune systems are suppressed by cytotoxic drugs and sometimes by antibiotics that are administered to prevent opportunistic infections.

IMM-529 – Novel Triple Action offers a Revolutionary Treatment for Recurrent CDI

Our second lead compound, IMM-529, targets the C. difficile bacterium and contains polyclonal antibodies cross-reactive to Toxin B, spores and vegetative cells of the bacterium. IMM-529 is an oral biologic which does not destroy the microbiome like antibiotic treatments, allowing the microbiome to return to a healthy state, while treating the virulent CDI. The antibodies in IMM-529 have been demonstrated to be cross-reactive with a variety of human and animal C. difficile isolates and to their associated Toxin B, vegetative cells and spore components. The antibodies in IMM-529 have also been shown to neutralize Toxin B from a historical C. difficile strain (630), and from a hypervirulent strain which caused recent worldwide outbreaks.

IMM-529 was developed and tested extensively in pre-clinical models in collaboration with Dr. Dena Lyras and her team at Monash University, Australia. Dr. Lyras is one of the world’s foremost experts in C. difficile. IMM-529 targets the virulent Toxin B, the spores and the vegetative cells. It is a three-pronged approach that is unique and which has yielded promising results in pre-clinical studies, including (1) prevention of primary disease, (2) treatment of primary disease and (3) suppression of disease recurrence. To our knowledge, IMM-529 is, to date, the only investigational drug that has shown therapeutic potential in all three phases of the disease.

Preclinical studies with IMM-529 yielded promising results in a number of pre-clinical animal models (shown below). All results were highly statistically significant:

The results of these studies were published in Scientific Reports (Hutton et al. Bovine antibodies targeting primary and recurrent Clostridium difficile disease are potent antibiotic alternatives), SCI Rep. 2018 Jun 16:7(1):3665.

Phase I/IIa clinical trial of IMM-529 in C. difficile patients

A first-in-man Phase I/II clinical trial was initiated at two clinical sites in Israel at the end of 2018 in CDI patients. This trial was intended to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of IMM-529 together with standard of care (SOC) antibiotic treatment in patients with CDI.

On March 19, 2020, we provided an update regarding the status of the IMM-529 clinical trial in patients with CDI, along with a refocusing of our efforts to develop IMM-529. The Phase I/II clinical trial of IMM-529 in patients with C. difficile initiated at the end of 2018 at two clinics in Israel provided us with disappointing numbers of enrolled patients. Only 9 out of 60 patients have been randomized into the study and the company has decided to close these sites. We decided to further develop IMM-529 to treat CDI patients through a formal filing of an IND with FDA, and to develop a new clinical plan for the drug candidate with input from FDA. The focus for IMM-529 will be to explore how the drug can be developed to determine its impact on reducing recurrent CDI disease, a major unmet medical need in treatment of patients suffering with C. difficile infections. We are planning to file a Type B meeting request with FDA to develop IMM-529 to treat patients with CDI.

Other Development Programs

We also have a research collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) involving programs with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, for the development of three Shigella-specific therapeutic products.

Collaborations with U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. We believe that our collaborations with the DoD are a powerful validation of the potential of our platform to develop novel anti-infectives. These collaborations also open the door to explore and develop potentially low risk / low cost therapeutics with some of the most advanced research facilities in the world. The DoD earlier commissioned several studies to characterize the polyclonal antibodies contained in Travelan. The aim was to conduct trials to determine the product’s effectiveness in neutralizing pathogenic GI bacterial infections as a preventative treatment for U.S. military personnel and civilians stationed or traveling in locations where such infections can be debilitating.

Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences.

In January 2019, we reported that the DoD-commissioned study showed Travelan was immunologically reactive to a number of dangerous and potentially fatal infectious bacteria. The Department of Enteric Diseases unit of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (“AFRIMS”) performed the study. It took place at a WRAIR laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand. The study, one of three involving Travelan, looked at 60 clinical isolates of each of Campylobacter, ETEC, and Shigella obtained from infected U.S. defense personnel in southeast Asia between 1993 and 2016. The study indicated that, compared to the control, Travelan antibodies were reactive to all 180 clinical isolates.

In September 2019, we reported the findings of a study conducted by AFRIMS. The study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Travelan in a non-human primate (“NHP”) preclinical Shigella challenge model that closely mimics the disease seen in humans. The study was performed in collaboration with the Department of Enteric Diseases and the Department of Veterinary Medicine, AFRIMS, and the Department of Enteric Infections, Bacterial Diseases Branch, WRAIR. The placebo-controlled study was carried out in 12 NHPs segregated into 2 groups: a Travelan treatment cohort of 8 and a placebo cohort of 4, which were treated with either Travelan or placebo respectively twice daily for a total of 12 doses over a 6-day period. The animals received treatment for 3 days prior to oral challenge with approximately 3 x 109 viable Shigella flexneri strain 2a organisms. All (4 of 4 - 100%) placebo-treated animals displayed acute dysentery symptoms within 24 to 36 hours of the Shigella flexneri 2a challenge. Seven of the eight individuals in the Travelan treatment cohort (87.5%) remained symptom-free to 4 days post the Shigella flexneri 2a challenge. Only one of the Travelan-treated cohort displayed dysentery symptoms during the same time frame as the placebo arm. Once the treatment period was concluded a second individual in the Travelan treatment group developed symptoms. Six of the eight Travelan treated cohort animals remained symptom-free to the conclusion of the study which was 11 days post the Shigella flexneri 2a challenge.

In June 2020, we updated the market on the latest developments arising from our cooperative research and development efforts with the DoD. AFRIMS completed the histopathological analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the clinical disease and its effect on tissues of gut, revealed that all animals in the placebo-treated group displayed severe inflammation in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract. These animals also had very high levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-8) in fecal samples collected throughout the study. The inflammation seen in the gastrointestinal tract and the increase in inflammatory cytokines in the feces were closely associated with the observed clinical outcomes of dysentery. Only 3 of the 8 Travelan-treated animals had signs of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, and only 2 of those had high levels of inflammatory cytokines in fecal samples. All other animals in the Travelan-treated group were clinically healthy and did not excrete any inflammatory cytokines. Overall the results suggest that Travelan® is functionally cross-reactive and may have prophylactic activity against Shigellosis.

In June 2020, we also reported the completion of the manufacture of three new Shigella-specific therapeutic products using proprietary vaccines developed by WRAIR. The immune reactivity of the three hyper-immune Shigella specific products were evaluated by the WRAIR using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay and Western Blot analysis. The antibodies in the products were shown to react with the specific antigens present in the vaccines. The antibodies within the three products were also reactive to 4 different clinical isolates of Shigella (S. flexneri 2a, S. flexneri 3a, S. flexneri 6, and S. sonnei). The three Immuron Shigella-specific therapeutic products will now go on to evaluation in WRAIR’s preclinical models of shigellosis.

In September 2020, we announced the results of the study, sponsored by the DoD and funded through the Defense Health Agency, which was performed at the overseas laboratory of the WRAIR located in Bangkok, Thailand. The goal was to investigate the breadth of Travelan®’s immunological reactivity against pathogenic Vibrio cholera bacterial isolates. Clinical isolates were collected from infected personnel located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Thailand, enabling researchers to gauge Travelan®’s potential against bacterial strains typically seen in the field. When compared to a placebo control, researchers found that the polyclonal antibodies comprising Immuron’s Travelan® product were reactive to all 71 clinical isolates from these infected individuals. The ability of Travelan® to bind these bacteria highlights the broad-spectrum recognition by Travelan® of surface antigens on potentially debilitating and even life-threatening bacteria.

OUR ADVISORY BOARD

Our company’s programs have been supported by an advisory board consisting of:

OUR MARKETED ASSETS

Our Flagship Commercial Assets. Immuron currently markets our flagship commercial products Travelan® and Protectyn® in Australia, where both products are listed medicines on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods. Travelan® (AUST L 106709) is an over-the-counter orally administered passive immunotherapeutic product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea and reduce the risk of minor gastro-intestinal disorders and is sold in pharmacies throughout Australia. Protectyn® (AUST L 231001) is currently sold online and in health practitioner clinics and is marketed as an immune supplement to help maintain a healthy digestive function and liver. In Canada, Travelan® (NPN 80046016) is a licensed natural health product and is indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea. In the U.S. Travelan® is sold as a dietary supplement for digestive-tract protection in accordance with section 403 (r)(6) of the FDA. The Company plans to pursue clinical development of Travelan®) through a formal FDA registration pathway to gain FDA-approval as a drug to specifically reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea in travelers to endemic areas.

In Australia Travelan® is approved as a preventative for Traveler’s Diarrhea, the indications are;

Travelan® contains high levels of specific antibodies generated against 13 strains of Enterotoxigenic E.coli bacteria, the most common cause of Travelers’ Diarrhea. Travelan® directly targets the pathogens in the gut and prevents the infection and its resulting symptoms from occurring. The product achieved over 2.7 million AUD (net: A$2.5 million) in sales to 30 June 2020 (FY20).

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted international travel throughout the world and impacted every Travelan® market. The company is pleased to report a continued uplift of sales currently being observed in Australia and the USA as international travel increases following removal of restrictions nationally and internationally. North America, Travelan® sales were up by 14%, reaching AU $644K in FY23, compared to AU $564K in FY22. Global sales of Travelan® and Protectyn® increased by 136% in the 2023 fiscal year to AU $1.805M, compared to AU $0.765M in FY22. This growth was attributable to increasing sales in both the Australian pharmacy channel and USA Passport Health Travel Clinics. While not at pre-pandemic peak, the sales numbers in the US are starting to considerably pick up again. In Australia, Travelan® and Protectyn® sales increased to AU $1.161M in FY23 representing a significant increase over FY22 (AU $0.2M). With international travel continuing to increase we anticipate continued strong growth in sales.

OUR INVESTMENTS

On November 16, 2022 Immuron announced completion of settlement of strategic investment in Ateria Health Limited (Ateria); investment of approximately £1.48m (A$2.65m) to acquire an initial 17.5% with an option for a further investment to acquire 735,000 Ateria shares expiring on 31 July 2023 which Immuron subsequently elected not to exercise. Ateria is a UK based company that developed and recently launched a ground-breaking product, JuviaTM for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Immuron and Ateria intend to enter into reciprocal distribution agreements for Travelan® in the UK market and JuviaTM in Australian and North American markets.

OVERVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY

Immuron Limited (NASDAQ: IMRN; ASX: IMC), is a commercial and clinical-stage Australian biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology platform focused on the development and commercialization of a novel class of orally delivered polyclonal antibodies for treatment of infectious diseases. Immuron’s technology is focused on generation of hyperimmune antibody-rich bovine colostrum, providing antimicrobial therapy to treat gut-mediated diseases.

The underlying nature of our platform technology enables the development of medicines across a large range of infectious diseases. The platform can be used to directly block viruses or bacteria and neutralize the toxins they produce at mucosal surfaces (such as the GI tract). Additionally, the dairy origins of our antibodies enable us to commercialize our platform through most regulatory pathways, including prescription, medical foods, over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements.

Manufacturing Process

Our active pharmaceutical ingredients are manufactured under cGMP conditions and many of the components are the same as those of normal cow’s milk. However, the main differentiation between milk and our active ingredient constituents is the presence of antibodies in bovine colostrum of the order of 35-45% by weight of dry colostrum powder. The main classes of immunoglobulins found in the active ingredient are IgG with smaller amounts of IgM and IgA. Immunoglobulins account for up to 70–80% of the total protein content in colostrum, whereas in milk they account for only 1–2% of total protein. The major class of immunoglobulin G found in bovine colostrum is IgG1 making up between 65% and 90% of total immunoglobulins, in contrast to milk which comprises predominantly IgA.

Vaccination

The active drug substance is prepared using the first milking colostrum of dairy cows that have been immunized with patented vaccines to produce very high levels of specific antibodies against selected surface antigens. Pregnant dairy cows at commercial dairy farms are immunized through a proprietary process.

Colostrum

The colostrum is harvested from immunized Holstein Friesian and Jersey cows registered for milk production for human consumption and at the time of harvesting are free from antibiotics. They are not given steroids at any stage of the process. Colostrum is harvested at the first milking which will be within twelve hours of calving, leaving plenty for the calf to feed on.

Once harvested, preparation of the active ingredient complies with processes that are regulated by Dairy Safe standards in addition to the TGA, which is a Federal requirement and known globally for its stringent criteria. The raw colostrum material is first pasteurized then cooled and centrifuged using a milk separator to remove somatic cells, cell debris, some bacteria and fat. It is then subjected to membrane ultra-filtration, removing much of the water, salts and lactose. The colostrum wet concentrate is then spray dried to produce a powder, which is milled to 200 microns. The processes are typical for the dairy industry and for production of dairy foods. After spray drying, the active ingredient is ready for further processing into the oral dosage form.

Tableting

The product excipients are all standard, FDA acceptable oral compounds that are granulated, milled and finally compressed into caplets and blister packaged (pharmaceutical grade packaging materials).

Batch Consistency

The IgG component of our active ingredient ranges between 36% and 45%. The parameters are stable within batches and across batches. Our product is stable according to ICH guidelines and the IgG component of our active ingredient is stable over time and is manufactured under cGMP conditions with all associated QA and QC processes ensuring the stability of these parameters.

Trademarks

We have rights to trademarks and trade names (both registered and unregistered) used in this Annual Report on Form 20-F (this “Annual Report”) which are important to our business.

These trademarks are as follows:

Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Annual Report appear without the “®” or “™” symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. Each trademark, trade name or service mark of any other company appearing in this Annual Report is the property of its respective holder.

PATENTS

We have a policy to identify, capture and protect all relevant intellectual property associated within our core business strategies. We own a number of patent families that have been filed to protect both the vaccine that is used to generate our colostrum enriched with antibodies of choice, as well as methods of treating certain conditions with the resulting hyper-immune colostrum.

Our patent rights are supplemented by a comprehensive body of confidential and proprietary expertise that has been developed over many years and relates to the methods of production of the hyper-immune colostrum. These trade secrets include information relating to the production system and an effective immunization process that is approved by an independent animal ethics committee.

During the year ended June 30, 2023, we continued to expand our patent portfolio in various global jurisdictions. Grant of European Patent 2986316, entitled “Methods and Compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of Clostridium difficile associated disease,” was published in the European Patent Bulletin on January 25, 2023. The European registration adds to Immuron’s patent position for compositions and methods for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of Clostridioides difficile associated disease in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

A summary of our principal patent families is set out in the table below:

REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

Our clinical assets are considered as biologics by the FDA, conferring 12 years of market exclusivity from date of approval in the U.S. for approved drugs derived from our technology program. New products in Europe have 10 years of market exclusivity.

Our ongoing research and development activities, and the production and marketing of our pharmaceutical product candidates derived from those activities will be subject to regulation by human research ethics committees and institutional research boards, as well as numerous governmental authorities in Australia, principally the TGA, the FDA in the U.S., the MHRA in the United Kingdom and the EMA in Europe. Prior to marketing, any therapeutic product developed must undergo rigorous pre-clinical testing and clinical trials, as well as an extensive regulatory approval process mandated by the TGA and, to the extent that any of our pharmaceutical products under development are marketed abroad, by foreign regulatory agencies, including the FDA, EMA and MHRA.

Clinical trials can take many years to complete and require the expenditure of substantial resources. The length of time varies substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of the product candidate. We cannot make any assurances that once clinical trials are completed by us or our collaborative partners, we will be able to submit as scheduled a marketing approval request to the applicable governmental regulatory authority, or that such request and application will be reviewed and cleared by such governmental authority in a timely manner, or at all. Although we intend to make use of fast-track and abbreviated regulatory approval programs when possible and commercially appropriate, we cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain the clearances and approvals necessary for clinical testing or for manufacturing and marketing our pharmaceutical products candidates. Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals could adversely affect the development and commercialization of our pharmaceutical product candidates and could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

During the course of clinical trials and non-clinical studies, including toxicology studies, product candidates may exhibit unforeseen and unacceptable drug-related toxicities or side effects. If any unacceptable toxicities or side effects were to occur, we may, or regulatory authorities may require us to, interrupt, limit, delay or abort the development of our potential products. In addition, unacceptable toxicities could ultimately prevent the clearance of our product candidates by human research ethics committees, institutional research boards, the TGA, EMA, FDA or other regulatory authority for any or all targeted indications. Even after being cleared by a regulatory authority, any of our products may later be shown to be unsafe or not to have its purported effect, thereby preventing widespread use or requiring withdrawal from the market. We cannot make any assurances that IMM-124E, IMM-529 or any other development or product candidate will be safe or effective when administered to patients.

Australian Disclosure Requirements

Dividends

No dividends were declared or paid to members for the year ended June 30, 2023. The directors do not recommend that a dividend be paid in respect of the financial year.

C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

We have three wholly-owned subsidiaries, Immuron Inc., Anadis EPS Pty Ltd (formed for the sole purpose to act as trustee for the Immuron Limited Executive Officer Share Plan Trust) and Immuron Canada Ltd. All costs associated with the operations of these companies are borne by Immuron Limited.

D. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Our corporate headquarters are located at Level 3, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton South, Victoria, 3053, Australia. Our principal office is located at Suite 10, 25-37 Chapman Street, Blackburn North, Victoria 3130 and consists of office facilities under a lease agreement which is expiring in December 2024, with an ongoing further three-year option for extension. We have no dedicated research and development facility as our research and development activities are provided by third party suppliers who are responsible for their own premises. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion and analysis includes certain forward-looking statements with respect to the business, financial condition and results of operations of our company. The words “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, including those risk factors contained in Item 3.D. of this annual report. You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in this annual report.

A. Operating Results

Overview

We were incorporated under the laws of Australia in 1994 and have been listed on the ASX since April 30, 1999. Our ADSs have traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market since June 13, 2017.

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in this annual report comply with IFRS as issued by IASB. In this annual report, all references to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to the currency of the U.S., and all references to “Australian dollars”, “A$” or “$” are to the currency of Australia. Unless otherwise indicated or the context implies otherwise, items included in the financial statements of each of the group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Australian dollar (“A$” or “$”), which is Immuron Limited’s functional and presentation currency. All of our revenues are generated in Australian dollars, United States dollars and Canadian dollars, and the majority of our expenses are incurred in Australian dollars.

Immuron Limited is a commercial and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary technology platform focused on the development and commercialization of a novel class of specifically targeted polyclonal antibodies in the treatment of diseases with associated with the gastrointestinal tract. We believe that we can address this significant unmet medical need. Our oral polyclonal antibodies are orally active and offer localized delivery within the gastrointestinal (“GI”) tract. We currently market our flagship commercial products Travelan® and Protectyn® in Australia, both products are listed medicines on the Australian Register for Therapeutic Goods. Travelan® is an over-the-counter product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea and is sold in pharmacies throughout Australia. Protectyn® is currently sold online and in health practitioner clinics and is marketed as an immune supplement to help maintain a healthy digestive function and liver. We also market Travelan® in Canada where it is licensed as a natural health product indicated to reduce the risk of travelers’ diarrhea, and presently market Travelan® in the U.S. as a dietary supplement for digestive tract protection.

We believe that our lead drug candidates, currently in clinical development have the potential to transform the existing treatment paradigms for moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections, travelers’ diarrhea and for Clostridioides difficile infections.

Results of Operations

The following discussion relates to our consolidated results of operations, financial condition and capital resources. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this annual report.

Comparison of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022

Revenue and Other income

Revenues received from the sale of goods increased by A$1,039,512, or 136%, from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023, primarily due to the sales recovery in the Australian and U.S. markets for Travelan® and Protectyn® products as international travel continues to increase. We anticipate that revenues from sales of our Travelan® product will continue to increase in the future.

For the fiscal 2023, the group has included an item in other income of $398,391 offset by an over estimation from the prior period of $5,514 (2022: $257,500) to recognize income over the year necessary to match the R&D tax incentive on a systematic basis with the costs that they are intended to compensate. As a result, our Australian R&D tax incentive refund recognized for fiscal 2023 has increased as compared to for fiscal 2022. The overall increase is attributed to a change in R&D expenditure relating to eligible research and development.

The group’s other grant income consists of grants received by the group with relation to R&D grants. Grants are recognized as other income when the group is reasonably assured that it will comply with the conditions attaching to it and the grant will be received.

For the year ended 30 June 2023, the group has recognized nil (2022: $306,595) R&D grant from the Henry M Jackson Foundation (“HJF”) and $2,158,936 (2022: $369,045) R&D grant from Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (“MTEC”) to recognize income over the year necessary to match the R&D grants on a systematic basis with the costs that they are intended to compensate.

The group has recognized $28,000 in Export Market Development Grants Scheme (“EMDG”) grant for fiscal 2023 (2022: $nil).

Other (residual) income, which is income from inventory disposal and freight income, decreased by A$12,900 in fiscal 2023.

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit margin increased to 73% in fiscal 2023 from 68% in fiscal 2022. The change in gross profit margin resulted from a higher selling price during the fiscal year 2023.

Expenses

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by A$696,517 from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023. In which, share-based payment expenses increased by A$132,063 from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023. Total share-based payments made to employees, consultants and directors of the Company is A$226,954 in fiscal 2023 compared to A$94,891 in fiscal 2022. The remaining increase of A$564,454 in general and administrative expenses is mainly attributed to more costs incurred for payroll and higher consumer price index.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses increased by A$1,934,430 from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023. The increase in the research and development expenditure reflects restarting development activities following a short-term delay during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Selling and marketing expenses. Selling and marketing expenses increased by A$510,886 from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023 as discounts and various marketing activities are required to boost sales after the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have been lifted.

Loss for the period. As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the period after income tax benefit increased by A$932,253, or 33%, from A$2,854,254 in fiscal 2022 to A$3,786,507 in fiscal 2023.

Given our, and our subsidiaries’, history of recent losses, we have not recognized a deferred tax asset with regard to unused tax losses and other temporary differences, as it has not been determined whether we, or our subsidiaries, will generate sufficient future taxable income against which we can utilize these unused tax losses and any uncalculated potential deferred tax assets, together with any other temporary differences. Should the need arise, we can, and will, revisit this position.

Comparison of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

Revenue and Other income

Revenues received from the sale of goods increased by A$619,417, or 425%, from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022, primarily due to the sales recovery in the Australian, U.S. and North American markets for Travelan and Protectyn products after the lockdowns and travel restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted. We anticipate that revenues from sales of our Travelan product will continue to increase in the future.

For the fiscal 2022, the group has included an item in other income of $257,500 (2021: $356,209) to recognize income over the year necessary to match the R&D tax incentive on a systematic basis with the costs that they are intended to compensate. As a result, our Australian R&D tax incentive refund recognized for fiscal 2022 has decreased as compared to for fiscal 2021. The overall decrease is attributed to a change in R&D expenditure relating to eligible research and development.

The group’s other grant income consists of grants received by the group with relation to COVID-19 and other R&D grants. Grants are recognized as other income when the group is reasonably assured that it will comply with the conditions attaching to it and the grant will be received.

No further COVID-19 government assistance was recognized in other income for fiscal 2022 (2021: $161,600).

For the year ended 30 June 2022, the group has recognized $306,595 (2021: $74,821) R&D grant from the Henry M Jackson Foundation (“HJF”) and $369,045 (2021: nil) R&D grant from Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (“MTEC”).

Other (residual) income, which is income from inventory disposal and freight income, increased by A$105 in fiscal 2022.

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross Profit

The Company’s gross profit margin increased to 68% in fiscal 2022 from 65% in fiscal 2021. The slight change in gross profit margin resulted from lower  sales deductions and discounts during the fiscal year 2022, and cost of goods sold difference of two products of the Company, Travelan and Protectyn.

Expenses

General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by A$2,570,304 from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022. In which, share-based payment expenses decreased by A$2,021,122 from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022. The decrease mainly results from no share-based payments made to consultants and directors of the Company in fiscal 2022. Total share-based payments made to employees, consultants and directors of the Company is A$94,891 in fiscal 2022 compared to A$2,116,013 in fiscal 2021. The remaining decrease of A$549,182 in general and administrative expenses is mainly attributed to less consulting service provided to the Company.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses decreased by A$709,339 from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022. The decrease in the research and development expenditure reflects a short-term impact of the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic while the Company continue to pursue its strategic focus and development.

Selling and marketing expenses. Selling and marketing expenses increased by A$128,853 from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2022 as discounts and various marketing activities are required to boost sales after the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions have been lifted.

Loss for the period. As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the period after income tax benefit decreased by A$5,530,211, or 66%, from A$8,384,465 in fiscal 2021 to A$2,854,254 in fiscal 2022.

Given our, and our subsidiaries’, history of recent losses, we have not recognized a deferred tax asset with regard to unused tax losses and other temporary differences, as it has not been determined whether we, or our subsidiaries, will generate sufficient future taxable income against which we can utilize these unused tax losses and any uncalculated potential deferred tax assets, together with any other temporary differences. Should the need arise, we can, and will, revisit this position.

Inflation and Seasonality

Management believes inflation has not had a material impact on our company’s operations or financial condition and that our operations are not currently subject to seasonal influences.

Foreign currency fluctuations  

Our ordinary shares are quoted in Australian dollars on the ASX and the ADS are quoted in U.S. dollars on NASDAQ. Movements in the Australian dollar/U.S. dollar exchange rate may adversely affect the U.S. dollar price of the ADS. In the past year the Australian dollar has generally weakened against the U.S. dollar. However, this trend may not continue and may be reversed. If the Australian dollar weakens against the U.S. dollar, the U.S. dollar price of the ADS could decline, even if the price of our ordinary shares in Australian dollars increases or remains unchanged.

We are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currencies that arise from foreign currencies held in bank accounts and the translation of results from our operations outside Australia. Our foreign exchange exposure is primarily to the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar. Foreign currency risks arising from commitments in foreign currencies are managed by holding cash in that currency. Foreign currency translation risk is not hedged.

Conditions in Australia

We are incorporated under the laws of, and our principal offices and research and development facilities are located in, the Commonwealth of Australia. Therefore, we are directly affected by political and economic conditions in Australia. See Item 3.D. “Key Information – Risk Factors” for a description of factors that could materially affect our operations.

Australian Disclosure Requirements

Significant Changes in the State of Affairs

There have been no significant changes within the state of affairs during the year ended June 30, 2023 except as noted in the “Business Overview” section included in item 4.B.

Likely Developments and Expected Results of Operations

The group aims to create value for shareholders through a two-pronged approach. In the short- and medium-term, Immuron Limited sells and licenses Travelan® and Protectyn®, over-the-counter products. Beyond this, the group is researching and clinically developing products, principally for the treatment of moderate to severe campylobacteriosis, travelers’ diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections.

More information on these developments is noted in the “Business Overview” section included in item 4.B.

Environmental Regulations

The group is not affected by any significant environmental regulation in respect of its operations.

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred cumulative losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception in 1994 and as of June 30, 2023 we had accumulated losses of A$72,055,396.

In July 2020, the Company completed a registered direct offering of 1,066,668 ADSs at a purchase of US$18.75 per ADS for gross proceeds US$20,000,025 (prior to deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other estimated offering expenses). The funds will support current and future clinical programs, support continued Travelan marketing, and our working capital. We anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We expect that as we continue research efforts and the development of our product candidates, hire additional staff, including clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management personnel we will need additional capital to fund our operations which we may raise through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, other third-party funding and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.

The commitment to these projects will require additional external funding, at least until we are able to generate sufficient cash flow from sale of one or more of our products to support our continued operations. If adequate funding is not available, we may be required to delay, scale back or eliminate certain aspects of our operations or attempt to obtain funds through unfavorable arrangements with partners or others that may force us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies, products or potential markets or that could impose onerous financial or other terms. Management is continuing its efforts to obtain additional funds so that we can meet our obligations and sustain operations.

The sale of additional equity or convertible debt could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We can provide no assurance that financing will be available in the amounts we need or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we are unable to secure adequate additional funding we may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, and/or suspend or curtail planned programs. Any of these actions could materially harm our business.

We do not currently have any credit facilities in place.

As of June 30, 2023, we had cash of A$17,159,764 as compared to cash of A$22,110,278 as of June 30, 2022. The company is in a position to meet future commitments in the current business cycle and pay its debts as and when they fall due. Furthermore, the company is able to progress its research and development programs for at least the next 12 months. The annual report has been prepared on a going concern basis. Accordingly, the annual report does not include adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the group not continue as a going concern. The company is a going concern and is of the opinion that no asset is likely to be realized for an amount lower than the amount at which it is recorded in our Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of June 30, 2023.

We expect that our current cash, cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our capital requirements for at least 12 months from the issuance date of the financial statements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

In connection with our initial public offering in June 2017, we sold Warrants to purchase 701,500 ADSs at an initial exercise price of US$10.00 per ADS. The Warrants expired five years from the date of issuance. Any proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants were added to our working capital.

Upon the closing of our initial public offering, we issued Warrants to purchase 30,500 ADSs to the representatives (the “Representative’s Warrants”). The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at a per ADS exercise price equal to US$12.50. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering. Any proceeds from the exercise of the Representative’s Warrants will be added to our working capital.

In connection with our public offering in May and July 2019, we issued Warrants to purchase 20,000 and 13,565 ADSs to the representatives (the “Representative’s Warrants”), respectively. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at a per ADS exercise price equal to US$5.00. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering. Any proceeds from the exercise of the Representative’s Warrants will be added to our working capital.

In connection with the registered direct offering in July 2020, we issued Warrants to purchase 64,000 ADSs to the representatives (the “Representative’s Warrants”), respectively. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at a per ADS exercise price equal to US$23.4375. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering. Any proceeds from the exercise of the Representative’s Warrants will be added to our working capital.

Cash flows

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods set forth below:

Operating activities. Net cash used in operating activities decreased by A$552,598 from A$3,147,328 in fiscal year 2022 to A$2,595,195 in fiscal year 2023. During the twelve months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, net cash used in operating activities decreased by A$930,954 from A$4,078,747 to A$3,147,793, respectively. The use of net cash in all periods resulted from our ordinary business operations. Net cash used in operating activities decreased by approximately 17% in fiscal year 2023 due to higher receipts from customers and more government grants and other grants received which resulted in decrease in net operational cash outflow.

Investing activities. During the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities mainly included payments for acquisition of associate of A$2,729,863. Net cash used in investing activities during the twelve months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 were relatively minimal and solely related to interest received and pertained to purchases of office and computer equipment.

Financing activities. During the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, net cash outflow in relation to financing activities was A$44,667, which comprised of principal elements of lease payments and interest paid. 

During the twelve months ended June 30, 2022, net cash outflow in relation to financing activities was A$42,447, which comprised of principal elements of lease payments and interest paid. 

During the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities was A$26,480,182, which comprised of proceeds from issue of securities through a public offering of ADSs (less costs associated with the issue).

Contractual Obligations

The group had no contractual obligations other than those disclosed in Note 9(d) Leases. The group had no contingent liabilities at 30 June 2023 (2022: nil).

Off balance sheet arrangements

We are not a party to any material off-balance sheet arrangements. In addition, we have no unconsolidated special purpose financing or partnership entities that are likely to create material contingent obligations.

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks

We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and exchange rates. As of June 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of A$17,159,764, primarily held in bank accounts. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected primarily by changes in the general level of Australian interest rates. We are exposed to interest rate risks relating to our cash and borrowings. Interest rate risk is the risk that a financial instrument’s value will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates.

We are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currencies that arise from foreign currencies held in bank accounts and the translation of results from our operations outside Australia. Our foreign exchange exposure is primarily to the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar. Foreign currency risks arising from commitments in foreign currencies are managed by holding cash in that currency. Foreign currency translation risk is not hedged.

C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses

In recent years, we have continued our practice of building valuable research collaborations with institutes based in Australia, the United States, Europe and other countries to enable us to investigate a variety of therapeutic indications including Campylobacter, ETEC, Shigella and Clostridioides Infections. These collaborative arrangements ensure that we work with well-respected key opinion leaders and laboratories with specific expertise in screening and animal modelling of relevance to the particular indication, without incurring ongoing administrative and personnel costs. We maintain in-house patent counsel and research and development project expertise to coordinate these research collaborations.

When a lead compound is identified as suitable for clinical development, we establish a project team to coordinate all non-clinical and clinical development and manufacturing activities. Typically, we would project manage all the project activities, tasks and milestones and engage clinical research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations to assist. We manage our manufacturing campaigns through contract manufacturing organizations for quality assurance and cGMP compliance. All clinical, non-clinical, clinical development and manufacturing of our compounds is performed in compliance with the appropriate governing authorities, regulators and standards (for example, the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use).

Research and development expenses amounted to A$1,367,054, A$657,715 and A$2,592,145 during the years ended June 30, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Costs associated with patent applications and defense of patent applications are classified as research and development expenses and amounted to approximately A$61,000, A$97,000 and A$80,000, during the years ended June 30, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of expenses for contracted research and development activities conducted by third parties on our behalf, including personnel, testing facilities and other payments in accordance with our research and clinical agreements. Research and development expenses also include costs associated with the acquisition and development of patents. Due to the numerous variables and the uncertain nature of the development of a clinical compound, including obtaining regulatory approvals, we are not able to reasonably estimate the nature, timing and costs of the future expenditures necessary to complete our research and development projects, the anticipated completion dates of each project and when material net cash flows from our research and development programs will commence. 

D. Trend Information

We are a commercial and clinical development stage company, and while we believe that our technology will offer novel therapeutic strategies into an expanding market, we cannot predict with any degree of accuracy the outcome of our research or commercialization efforts. Accordingly, any trends within the markets in which we operate are expected to have more direct impact on our business in the event that we are successful in commercializing our new product candidates, including our current lead product candidates.

Over the past few years, there has been increasing pressure to reduce drug prices in the developed markets as a consequence of political initiatives and regulations aiming to curb continuous increases in healthcare spending. Any revenue we earn in the future may be negatively affected by such political initiatives and regulations. The increased burden of healthcare costs in the aging population have led to an increased focus on reducing costs and, therefore, have further increased the pressure to lower drug prices. We expect this trend to continue in the years ahead. However, we believe spending in the healthcare industry, as compared to many other industries, is less linked to economic trends. We expect sales growth to continue at higher levels in emerging markets and also for niche, orphan indications. We also expect that demographic developments, increased treatment penetration, especially in newly established drug markets, and better diagnostic tools to enable the tailoring of drugs to specific needs, will result in continuing growth in overall global drug sales.

E. Critical Accounting Estimates

Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that may have a financial impact on the entity and that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

We make estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

See Note 2 to our financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 for a discussion of critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions.

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

(Start of the Remuneration Report for Australian Disclosure Requirements)

The Immuron Limited Board of Directors (“the Board”) presents the 2022/2023 Remuneration Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the relevant Corporations Act 2001 (“Corporations Act”) and accounting standards requirements. The remuneration report sets out remuneration information for our company’s key management personnel (“KMP”) as defined in the International Accounting Standards 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ and the Australian Corporations Act 2001 for the financial year ended June 30, 2023. The remuneration report has been audited as required by s308 (3C) of the Corporations Act.

A. Directors and Senior Management

As of September 28, 2023, our directors and executive officers are as follows:

There are no family relationships among our directors and senior executives.

Dr. Roger Aston has been a member of our board of directors and the board’s Independent Non-Executive Chairman since March 2012. He has recently transitioned to his role as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective from 1 July 2023. He also had special responsibilities as a member of the audit and risk committee and chair of the remuneration committee until 30 June 2023. Dr. Aston holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Dr Aston was previously the chief executive officer and a director of Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX: MYX). Prior to his position at Mayne Pharma, some of his previous positions have included chief executive officer of Peptech Limited (ASX: PTD), director of Cambridge Antibody Technology Limited (LSE: CAT and NASDAQ: CATG) and chairman of Bio Focus Plc (formerly: Cambridge Drug Discovery Limited). Dr Aston was also founder and chief executive officer of Biokine Technology Ltd (UK) prior to its acquisition by the Peptech Group. Dr Aston was also a director of pSivida Ltd. During the past 20 years of his career, Dr Aston has been closely involved in the development of many successful pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He has extensive experience including negotiating global license agreements, overseeing product registration activities with the FDA, the establishment and implementation of guidelines and operating procedures for manufacturing and clinical trials, overseeing manufacturing of human and veterinary products, private and public fund-raising activities and the introduction of corporate governance procedures. Dr. Aston’s other current directorships are with Pharmaust Limited (ASX: PAA) since August 2013. Former public company directorship held by Mr. Aston in the last three years: Oncosil Limited (ASX: OSL), until 19 October 2021.

Mr. Paul Brennan has been a member of our board of directors and our Independent Non-Executive Director since March 2022. He has recently transitioned to his new role as the board’s Independent Non-Executive Chairman, effective from 1 July 2023. He also has special responsibilities as a member of the audit and risk committee and chair of the remuneration committee, effective from 1 July 2023. Mr Brennan holds an MBA from Swinburne University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of New England in NSW, Certificate in Midwifery Central Coast Areas Health Service NSW and General Nursing certificate from St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst NSW. He has extensive experience in the health system through his clinical background and commercial exposure with various multinational companies. Mr Brennan was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PolyNovo Limited (ASX: PNV) for 7 years from 2015 to 2021 and took the company from a market capitalisation of $30M to a high of $2B. Prior to this he was Marketing Director Australia and New Zealand and Sales Director New Zealand for Smith & Nephew Healthcare for 6 years. Mr. Brennan has coordinated the marketing, global strategy development, new product development and regulatory processes for the Asia-Pacific region for industry-leading organisations in relation to medical products and devices. He has an intimate knowledge of the manufacturing and production processes. Former public company directorship held by Mr. Brennan in the last three years: Polynovo Limited (ASX: PNV), until 5 November 2021.

Mr. Daniel Pollock has been a member of our board of directors and our Independent Non-Executive Director since October 2012. He also has special responsibilities as chair of the audit and risk committee and a member of the remuneration committee. Mr. Pollock holds a Bachelor of Laws and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and is a lawyer admitted in both Scotland and Australia and holding practicing certificates in both jurisdictions. He is a sole practitioner in his own legal firm based in Melbourne which operates internationally and specializes in commercial law. Further, he is executive director and co-owner of Great Accommodation Pty Ltd, a property management business operating in Victoria. Mr. Pollock has had historical involvement as a seed investor and board member of a number of small unlisted companies. The most recent of these was an e-pharmacy company where he was heavily involved in its commercial growth and ultimate sale to a large listed health services company.

Mr. Stephen Anastasiou has been a member of our board of directors and our Independent Non-Executive Director since May 2013. Mr. Anastasiou holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons), Graduate Diploma in Marketing and Master of Business Administration. He has over 20 years of experience in general management, marketing and strategic planning within the healthcare industry. His breadth of experience incorporates medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, hospital, dental and over-the-counter products, with companies including the international pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). Mr. Anastasiou is also a director and shareholder of a number of unlisted private companies, covering a variety of industry sectors, that have actively participated in Corporate transaction with both local and International Companies.

Professor Ravi Savarirayan has been a member of our board of directors and our Independent Non-Executive Director since April 2017. Prof. Savarirayan holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Adelaide, is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (ARCPA, Hons). He has been a consultant clinical geneticist at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services since August 1999, as well as professor and research group leader of Molecular therapies at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute since September 2000. Prof. Savarirayan has served as a founding member of the Skeletal Dysplasia Management Consortium since January 2011 and has acted as the chair of the specialist advisory committee in clinical genetics at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians since February 2009. He was president of the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society from July 2009 to June 2011 and has been an invited member of several international working committees on constitutional diseases of bone. Prof. Savarirayan’s primary research focus is on inherited disorders of the skeleton causing short stature, arthritis and osteoporosis. He has published over 210 peer-reviewed articles, collaborating with peers from over 30 countries. He has been on the editorial board of Human Mutation since January 2009, European Journal of Human Genetics since July 2007, American Journal of Medical Genetics since December 2011 and the Journal of Medical Genetics since June 2005. He is an NHMRC Leadership fellow.

Mr. Steven Lydeamore has been our Chief Executive Officer since June 2022. He has 30 years international pharmaceutical experience, working in Australia, Canada and USA. Mr. Lydeamore brings valuable international experience having spent eleven years working at Canadian global pharmaceutical company Apotex Inc., and four years for Mayne Pharma (USA) Limited. This includes valuable experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance, business development, sales and marketing, manufacturing, and research and development. Mr. Lydeamore was most recently Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anatara Lifesciences Limited (ASX: ANR), during which time the company successfully transitioned from a preclinical to a clinical company following development of a gastrointestinal tract delivery technology from which two products have commenced human clinical trials.

Dr. Jerry Kanellos, Ph.D. served as our Chief Executive Officer from March 2020 to June 2022 and our Chief Operating Officer since July 2015. He also served as our Chief Scientific Officer from July 2015 to November 2018. In addition, since April 2018, Dr. Kanellos has served as a director of Immuron Canada Limited. Dr. Kanellos has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and has held leadership roles in executive management, business development, project management, intellectual property portfolio management research and development. From 2008 until 2012, Dr. Kanellos was the Chief Operating Officer of TransBio Limited where he was responsible for the strategic identification, development and maintenance of commercial partnerships globally, along with development, management and maintenance responsibility for the intellectual property portfolio, research and development and technology transfer. Prior to this, Dr. Kanellos worked for five years as a consultant to the biotechnology industry and provided development and commercialization strategies for various bodies including academic institutes, private and publicly listed companies and government departments both national and international. He has also been involved in the establishment and management of several startup biotechnology companies. During his ten year tenure in research and development at CSL Limited, a global specialty biotherapeutics company that develops and delivers innovative biotherapies, Dr. Kanellos gained considerable experience in the international drug development process, formulation development through to pharmaceutical scale up and cGMP manufacture successfully leading the Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls programs for the approval, manufacture and launch of several products. Dr. Kanellos holds a PhD degree in Medicine from the University of Melbourne.

Mr. Flavio Palumbo has been our Chief Commercial Officer since November 2022. Mr. Palumbo is a successful commercial leader with over 20 years extensive global management and business development experience. Flavio has extensive consumer healthcare experience holding leadership roles for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) locally (Australia & NZ), regionally (South-East Asia) and globally where he has been responsible for developing strategic plans and achieving hyper growth targets. Mr. Palumbo’s experience extends to sales and marketing leadership roles for Procter & Gamble (P&G) in the UK, Europe and Australia and Deloitte in Australia. MBA qualified from the University of Adelaide, with a proven record of accomplishment in commercial strategy, sales, marketing, brand and product management, communication, finance, digital technology and product innovation.

Chief Financial Officer and Company secretary

Mr. Phillip Hains was appointed as the secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the Company in April 2013. Mr. Hains is a Chartered Accountant operating a specialist public practice, The CFO Solution, now part of Acclime Australia. The CFO Solution focuses on providing back office support, financial reporting and compliance systems for listed public companies. A specialist in the public company environment, Mr Hains has served the needs of a number of company boards and their related committees. He has over 30 years of experience in providing businesses with accounting, administration, compliance and general management services. He holds a Master of Business Administration from RMIT University and a Public Practice Certificate from the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. 

B. Compensation

Our remuneration policy is designed to ensure that directors and senior management are appropriately remunerated having regard to their relevant experience, their performance, the performance of our company, industry norms and standards and the general pay environment as appropriate. Our remuneration policy has been established to enable us to attract, motivate and retain suitably qualified directors and senior management who will create value for shareholders.

Our remuneration policy is not directly based on our earnings. Our earnings have remained negative since inception due to the nature of our company. Shareholder wealth reflects this speculative and volatile market sector. No dividends have ever been declared by us. We continue to focus on the research and development of our intellectual property portfolio with the objective of achieving key development and commercial milestones in order to add further shareholder value. 

Non-Executive Director Remuneration

Similarly, our remuneration policy is designed to ensure that non-executive directors are appropriately remunerated with respect to their relevant experience, individual performance, the performance of our company, industry norms/standards and the general pay environment as appropriate.

Our Constitution and the ASX Listing Rules specify that the aggregate remuneration of non-executive directors shall be determined from time to time by a meeting of shareholders. An amount (not exceeding the amount approved at the shareholders’ meeting) is determined by the Board and then divided between the non-executive directors. The latest determination was at the shareholders’ meeting held on October 29, 2020 when shareholders approved the aggregate maximum cash sum to be paid or provided as remuneration to the directors as a whole (other than the managing director and executive directors) for their services as A$750,000 per annum.

In the year ended June 30, 2023, our Non-Executive directors received an aggregate of A$438,350, including superannuation. The manner in which the aggregate remuneration is apportioned among non-executive directors is reviewed periodically. The Board is responsible for reviewing its own performance. Both Board and Board committee performance is monitored on an informal basis throughout the year with a formal review conducted during the financial year. No retirement benefits are payable other than statutory superannuation, if applicable.

Executive Director and Executive Officer Remuneration

Our remuneration policy is also designed to ensure that executive directors are appropriately remunerated with respect to their relevant experience, individual performance, the performance of our company, industry norms/standards and the general pay environment as appropriate.

Our non-executive directors are responsible for evaluating the performance of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) who in turn evaluates the performance of the other senior executives. The evaluation process is intended to assess our business performance, whether long-term strategic objectives are being achieved, and the achievement of individual performance objectives.

The performance of our CEO and senior executives are monitored on an informal basis throughout the year and a formal evaluation is performed annually.

Fixed Remuneration. Executives’ fixed remuneration comprises salary and superannuation and is reviewed annually by the CEO, and in turn, the Remuneration Committee. This review takes into account the executives’ experience, performance in achieving agreed objectives and market factors as appropriate.

Variable Remuneration – Short Term Incentive Scheme. Executives may be entitled to receive a combination of short term incentives (“STI”) and long term incentives (“LTI”) as part of their total remuneration if they achieve certain performance indicators as set by the Board. These STI /LTI may be paid either by cash, or a combination of cash and the issue of equity in our company, at the determination of the Board and Remuneration Committee.

The Remuneration Committee approves the issuance of bonuses following the recommendations of the CEO in the annual review of the performance of the executives, and our company as a whole, against agreed key performance indicators (“KPIs”).

Variable Remuneration – Long Term Incentive Scheme. Executives may also be provided with longer-term incentives through our Omnibus Incentive Plan (“OIP”) that was approved by shareholders at our annual general meeting held on December 15, 2021. The goal of the OIP is to allow the executives to participate in, and benefit from, the growth of our company as a result of their efforts and to assist in motivating and retaining those key employees over the long term. Continued service is the condition attached to the vesting of the options. The Board at its discretion determines the total number of options granted to each executive.

Remuneration paid in Fiscal 2023 and 2022

The following table sets forth all compensation we paid for the year ended June 30, 2023 with respect to each of our executive officers and directors during the 2023 fiscal year:

Notes

The following table sets forth all compensation we paid for the year ended June 30, 2022 with respect to each of our executive officers and directors during the 2022 fiscal year:

Notes

Australian Disclosure Requirements

Relative proportions of fixed vs variable remuneration expense

The following table shows the relative proportions of remuneration that are linked to performance and those that are fixed, based on the amounts disclosed as statutory remuneration expense above:

Terms and conditions of the share-based payment arrangements

Options

The terms and conditions of each grant of options affecting remuneration in the current or a future reporting year are as follows:

Reconciliation of options and ordinary shares held by KMP

Share holdings  

Notes

Option holdings

Notes

Performance rights

It was agreed that performance bonus for Mr. Steven Lydeamore and Dr. Jerry Kanellos for the year ended 30 June 2023 would be paid in performance rights rather than cash. Performance rights to be issued to employees are long-term incentives under OIP. However, the performance rights for the current financial year have not been issued as at 30 June 2023.

Other transactions with key management personnel

Mr. Stephen Anastasiou is a director and a majority shareholder of Wattle Laboratories Pty Ltd. Immuron Limited has rented an office suite from Wattle Laboratories Pty Ltd since 1 January 2016 under a three-year agreement, renewed for another three years on 1 January 2019 and an additional three years on 1 January 2022. The rental agreement is based on normal commercial terms and conditions.

Mr. Stephen Anastasiou is a director and a majority shareholder of Grandlodge Capital Pty Ltd (Grandlodge). New annual agreements commenced on 1 July 2021 and 2022. Grandlodge was contracted on commercial terms to provide warehousing, distribution and invoicing services for Immuron’s products for $77,000 and $55,000 per annum, respectively. The terms of the agreement were to have fees payable in cash. In fiscal 2022, an additional A$35,000 was recognized and paid in shares to Grandlodge as per the shareholders’ approval at the AGM held on December 15, 2021.

Aggregate amounts of each of the above types of other transactions with key management personnel of Immuron Limited:

Voting of shareholders at last year’s annual general meeting

Immuron Limited received more than 75 percent of favorable votes on its remuneration report for the 2022 financial year. The company did not receive any specific feedback at the 2022 annual general meeting or throughout the year on its remuneration practices.

Employment Agreements with Executive Officers

We have contracts with all of our senior management and employees, and letters of appointment for each of our directors.

Steven Lydeamore

On June 27, 2022, we entered into an Executive Service Agreement with Mr. Steven Lydeamore (the “Lydeamore Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Lydeamore is serving as our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Pursuant to the Lydeamore Agreement, we will pay Mr. Lydeamore A$415,000 per annum. In addition to the base salary, contributions will be made to the superannuation fund in accordance with the minimum amount prescribed by relevant superannuation legislation which shall not be limited by any maximum superannuation contribution base. Mr. Lydeamore may be eligible to participate in bonus plans, share plans or other incentive plans approved by the Board. There are 1,430,000 options granted to Mr. Lydeamore with a nil purchase price, and an exercise price of 145% of the 5 Day rolling VWAP on the day he starts June 27, 2022 (with a cashless exercise provision), and an expiry date four years after grant date all in accordance with the Immuron Omnibus Incentive Plan (“OIP”). The mentioned options have been subsequently issued on July 1, 2022.

Jerry Kanellos

On July 23, 2015, we entered into an Executive Service Agreement with Dr. Jerry Kanellos (the “Kanellos Agreement”), pursuant to which Dr. Kanellos is serving as our Chief Operating & Scientific Officer. Pursuant to the Kanellos Agreement, we will pay Dr. Kanellos A$160,000 per annum. Following Dr. Kanellos’ appointment as Interim-Chief Executive Officer on August 3, 2017, we increased his base salary to A$210,000 per annum plus 9.5% Australia superannuation guarantee equating to a total remuneration package of A$229,950 per annum. On November 19, 2018, Dr. Jerry Kanellos resigned as Interim CEO and moved to the role of Chief Operating Officer on the same date with no change in remuneration. On March 25, 2020, Dr. Jerry Kanellos was appointed as CEO. Following Dr. Kanellos’ appointment as CEO, we increased his base salary to A$260,000 per annum plus Australian statutory superannuation guarantee. There were no changes to this compensation upon his resignation as CEO since June 27, 2022. Dr. Kanellos resumed his role as our Chief Operating Officer (“COO”).

Our Board will consider a short and long term share and/or share option incentive package for Dr. Kanellos after twelve months of continuous employment, subject to any applicable shareholder approval. We or Dr. Kanellos may terminate the Kanellos Agreement without cause on thirty days’ written notice. Subject to applicable laws and rules, we may elect to pay Dr. Kanellos thirty days’ base salary instead of providing notice. We may also terminate the Kanellos Agreement for cause (as defined in the Kanellos Agreement).

Flavio Palumbo

On November 1, 2022, we entered into an Executive Service Agreement with Mr. Flavio Palumbo (the “Palumbo Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Palumbo is serving as our Chief Commercial Officer (“CCO”). Pursuant to the Palumbo Agreement, we will pay Mr. Palumbo A$217,000 per annum. In addition to the base salary, contributions will be made by the Company to Mr. Palumbo’s superannuation fund in accordance with the minimum amount prescribed by relevant superannuation legislation from time to time. Mr. Palumbo may be eligible to participate in bonus plans, share plans or other incentive plans approved by the board of directors from time to time, which will be appended as the Palumbo Agreement. Any payment or other benefit to Mr. Palumbo as a result of participation in any bonus, share or incentive plan will be at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company.

Omnibus Incentive Plan

Under the term of the OIP the Board may offer options to key management staff and consultants and in special circumstances may provide financial assistance to an entitled option holder to assist in the exercise of the OIP options. The aggregate number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of the OIP options, together with all other share purchase plans for eligible persons, may not at any time exceed 5% of the total number of our outstanding ordinary shares.

The assessed fair value of options granted to personnel at their grant date is allocated equally over the period from grant date to vesting date, and the amount for the current financial year is included in the remuneration table as set out above. Fair values at grant date are determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that takes into account the exercise price, the term of the option, the impact of dilution, the share price at grant date and expected price volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend yield and the risk-free interest rate for the term of the option. The expected price volatility is based on the historic volatility (based on the remaining life of the options), adjusted for any expected changes to future volatility due to publicly available information.

As of June 30, 2023 the number of options over ordinary shares in our company held by each director and other key management personnel of our company, including their personally related parties, are set out below.

As of June 30, 2023 our executive officers and directors as a group, then consisting of nine persons, held options under our OIP to purchase an aggregate of 8,230,000 ordinary shares. Of such options, options to purchase 6,300,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of A$0.12 expire on April 14, 2024, options to purchase 500,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of A$0.25 expire on October 26, 2025 and options to purchase 1,430,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of A$0.12 expire on June 27, 2026.

(End of the Remuneration Report for Australian Disclosure Requirements)

Other Australian Disclosure Requirements

Shares under options and performance rights

(a) Unissued ordinary shares

Unissued ordinary shares of Immuron Limited under options and performance rights at the date of this report are as follows:

No option holder or performance right holder has any right under the options or performance rights to participate in any other share issue of the company or any other entity.

(b) Shares issued on the exercise of options

No ordinary shares of Immuron Limited were issued during the year ended 30 June 2023 on the exercise of options granted.

Insurance of officers and indemnities

(a) Insurance of officers

During the financial year, Immuron Limited paid a premium of A$300,000 to insure the directors and secretary of the company. The liabilities insured are legal costs that may be incurred in defending civil or criminal proceedings that may be brought against the officers in their capacity as officers of entities in the group, and any other payments arising from liabilities incurred by the officers in connection with such proceedings. This does not include such liabilities that arise from conduct involving a wilful breach of duty by the officers or the improper use by the officers of their position or of information to gain advantage for themselves or someone else or to cause detriment to the company. It is not possible to apportion the premium between amounts relating to the insurance against legal costs and those relating to other liabilities.

(b) Indemnity of auditors

Immuron Limited has not, during or since the financial year, indemnified or agreed to indemnify the auditor of the company or any related entity against a liability incurred by the auditor. During the financial year, the company has not paid a premium in respect of a contract to insure the auditor of the company or any related entity.

Proceedings on behalf of the company

No person has applied to the Court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001 for leave to bring proceedings on behalf of the company, or to intervene in any proceedings to which the company is a party, for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the company for all or part of those proceedings.

No proceedings have been brought or intervened in on behalf of the company with leave of the Court under section 237 of the Corporations Act 2001.

Non-audit services

The company may decide to employ the auditor on assignments additional to their statutory audit duties where the auditor's expertise and experience with the company and/or the group are important.

Details of the amounts paid or payable to the auditor (Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd) for non-audit services provided during the year are set out below.

The board of directors has considered the position and, in accordance with advice received from the audit committee, is satisfied that the provision of the non-audit services is compatible with the general standard of independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. The directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services by the auditor, as set out below, did not compromise the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 for the following reasons:

During the year ended June 30, 2023, the following fees were paid or payable for non-audit services provided by the auditor of the group, its related practices and non-related audit firms:

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

There were no former partners or directors of Grant Thornton Audit Pty Ltd, the Company’s auditor, who were or were at any time during the financial year an officer of the Company.

A copy of the auditor’s independence declaration under Section 307C of the Corporations Act in relation to the audit for the year ended June 30, 2023 is included in Exhibit 23.2 of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Rounding of amounts

The company is of a kind referred to in Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) Legislative Instrument 2016/191, relating to the ‘rounding off’ of amounts in the directors’ report. Amounts in the directors’ report have been rounded off in accordance with the instrument to the nearest dollar.

This report is made in accordance with a resolution of directors.

Corporate governance statement

In accordance with ASX listing Rule 4.10.3, the group’s 2023 Corporate Governance Statements can be found on its website at www.immuron.com.au.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors made pursuant to s298(2) of the Corporations Act 2001.

C. Board Practices 

As of June 30, 2023, our board of directors consisted of five members. Directors are elected at each annual general meeting of our shareholders and serve until their successors are elected or appointed unless their office is earlier vacated. See Item 10 – Additional Information, section “Retirement of Directors”. We believe that each of our directors has relevant industry experience. The membership of our board of directors is directed by the following requirements:

Our board of directors has delegated responsibility for the conduct of our businesses to the Chief Executive Officer, but remains responsible for overseeing the performance of management. Our board of directors has established delegated limits of authority, which define the matters that are delegated to management and those that require board of directors’ approval. Under the Corporations Act, at least two of our directors must be resident Australians. None of our directors have any service contracts with us that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

We have not entered into any service contracts with our directors providing for benefits upon termination of employment.

The Board meets to discuss business regularly throughout the year, with additional meetings being held when circumstances warrant. Included in the table below are details of the meetings of the Board and the sub-committees of the Board that were held during the 2023 financial year.

Committees

To assist our board of directors with the effective discharge of its duties, it has established a Remuneration and Nomination Committee and an Audit and Risk Committee, which committees operate under a specific charter approved by our board of directors.

Remuneration and Nomination Committee

During the 2023 financial year, the members of our Remuneration and Nomination Committee are Roger Aston and Daniel Pollock, each of whom our board of directors has determined meets the criteria for independence under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2). Dr. Aston acts as chairman of the committee. The committee’s role involves:

Audit and Risk Committee

During the 2023 financial year, the members of our Audit and Risk Committee are Daniel Pollock and Roger Aston, each of whom our board of directors has determined meets the criteria for independence of audit committee members set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the applicable rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the listing standards of the NASDAQ Capital Market. Daniel Pollock acts as the chairman of the audit committee. The principal duties and responsibilities of our audit committee include, among other things: