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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 5, 2025 (June 3, 2025)

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-38306   82-2755287

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

7946 Ivanhoe Avenue, Suite 201

La Jolla, California

  92037
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(858) 263-4196

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

N/A

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

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   ENSC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

 

On June 3, 2025, Ensysce Biosciences, Inc., (the “Company”) was notified that Moss Adams LLP (“Moss Adams”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, merged with Baker Tilly US, LLP effective on June 3, 2025. The combined audit practices operate as Baker Tilly US, LLP (“Baker Tilly”). In connection with the notification of the merger, Moss Adams has resigned as the auditors of the Company and the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the appointment of Baker Tilly, as the successor to Moss Adams, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of the date of the merger.

 

The audit report of Moss Adams on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and for each of the two-years in the period ended December 31, 2024, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Moss Adams’ audit report on the consolidated financial statements contained an explanatory paragraph regarding a going concern uncertainty.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the subsequent interim period through June 3, 2025, there were no (a) disagreements with Moss Adams on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to Moss Adams’ satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports on the Company’s financial statements, or (b) reportable events requiring disclosure pursuant to Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the subsequent interim period through the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted with Baker Tilly regarding: (i) either the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements; or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to that item, or a “reportable event,” as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company provided Moss Adams with a copy of this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and requested that Moss Adams furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements and, if it does not agree, the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Moss Adams’ letter to the Commission, dated June 5, 2025, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
16.1   Letter dated June 5, 2025, from Moss Adams LLP.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: June 5, 2025

 

Ensysce Biosciences, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Lynn Kirkpatrick
  Name: Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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