Item 4.01.
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Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.
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On January 29, 2018, the Company (formerly
Monster Digital, Inc.) completed its reverse recapitalization with what was then known as Innovate Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
(now IB Pharmaceuticals Inc.) (“Innovate”) in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization,
dated as of July 3, 2017, by and among the Company, Monster Merger Sub., Inc. (“Merger Sub”), and Innovate (the “Merger
Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into Innovate, with Innovate surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company (the “Merger”). Prior to completion of the Merger, Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (“MHM”) served
as the independent registered public accounting firm of Innovate.
On February 23, 2018, the Audit Committee
of the Company’s Board of Directors approved (i) the retention of MHM to audit the financial statements of Innovate as of
and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and with respect to the quarterly review procedures for the Company’s quarterly
financial statements for the quarters ending March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018 and (ii) the dismissal of CohnReznick
LLP (“CohnReznick”), which is currently serving as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm,
upon completion of its audit of the Company’s financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
and the issuance of its report thereon.
The report of CohnReznick on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 did not contain an adverse opinion
or disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, but included
an explanatory paragraph that noted there was substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
During the fiscal years ended December 31,
2016 and December 31, 2015, and the subsequent interim period through February 23, 2018, there were no: (i) disagreements
(as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) with CohnReznick on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreement if not resolved to
the satisfaction of CohnReznick would have caused CohnReznick to make reference thereto in its reports on the consolidated financial
statements for such years, or (ii) reportable events (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). As disclosed in
the Company’s periodic filings, the Company’s management determined that the Company had a material weakness in its
internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017, March 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December
31, 2015 relating to the design and operation of its closing and financial reporting processes due to lack of appropriate resources
with the appropriate level of experience and technical expertise to oversee the Company’s closing and financial reporting
processes. CohnReznick was not required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting and was not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
The Company delivered a copy of this Current
Report on Form 8-K to CohnReznick on February 23, 2018 and requested that CohnReznick furnish a letter addressed to the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) stating whether or not it agrees with the statements made in response to this Item
4.01 and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. CohnReznick responded with a letter dated February 23, 2018,
stating its agreement with such statements, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 16.1.
During the fiscal years ended December 31,
2016 and December 31, 2015, and the subsequent interim period through February 23, 2018, neither the Company nor anyone on its
behalf consulted with MHM regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, completed
or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written
report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that MHM concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching
a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue 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) or a reportable event (as described
in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).