Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. 8-K

What Happened

• Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. (DRMA) filed a Form 8-K disclosing that it notified Baker Tilly US, LLP (formerly Moss Adams LLP) of its dismissal as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm on January 30, 2026, with the dismissal effective January 31, 2026. The Audit Committee approved the decision.
• Baker Tilly’s audit reports for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 did not contain adverse opinions or disclaimers and were not qualified or modified for scope or accounting principles; however, they included an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
• The company states there were no disagreements with Baker Tilly on accounting, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope/procedures during the two most recent fiscal years and through January 31, 2026, and no “reportable events” as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(v). Dermata provided Baker Tilly a copy of the Form 8-K and requested a letter to the SEC; a Baker Tilly letter dated February 3, 2026 is included as an exhibit.

Key Details

• Notification date to auditor: January 30, 2026; dismissal effective: January 31, 2026.
• Audit reports referenced: fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
• Previous audit reports included a going-concern explanatory paragraph.
• No disagreements or reportable events reported for the periods reviewed.

Why It Matters

• A change of independent auditor is material corporate governance information investors monitor because it can signal changes in financial reporting oversight or upcoming restatements; here, Dermata says the change followed Audit Committee approval and no auditor disagreements.
• The presence of a going-concern explanatory paragraph in the prior audits is an independent factual signal that the company has faced liquidity or operational uncertainty — a point investors should consider alongside other financial disclosures (earnings, cash runway, financing plans).
• Investors should watch subsequent filings (future 8-Ks, quarterly reports) for the identity of the new auditor, any auditor communications, and updates on the company’s financial condition and plans to address going-concern issues.