UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31 2017, 2023

OR

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

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

Commission File Number 001-38130

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware

13-4196017

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

281 Albany Street12407 N. Mopac Expy.

Cambridge, MASuite 250#390

Austin, TX

0213978758

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 995-0900(737) 802-1989

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, $0.001 par value

ALRN

The Nasdaq Global Capital Market

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

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐ NO  No

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO  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  Yes NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES  Yes NO ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

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.

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐ NO

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). ☐

As of June 30, 2017,2023, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the last reported sale price of the shares of common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market was $61,589,199.$6,587,576.

As of March 26, 2018,April 12, 2024, the Registrant has 14,734,38316,972,512 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which the Registrant intends to file pursuant to Regulation 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2017,2023, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



Table of Contents

Page

PART I

Item 1.

Business

25

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

5633

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

9993

Item 2.1C.

PropertiesCybersecurity

9993

Item 3.2.

Legal ProceedingsProperties

9994

Item 4.3.

Mine Safety DisclosuresLegal Proceedings

9994

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

94

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

9995

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data[Reserved]

10195

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

10296

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

114106

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

114106

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements Withwith Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

114106

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

115106

Item 9B.

Other Information

115108

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

108

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

116109

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

116109

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

116109

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

116109

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

116109

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

117110

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

110

Aileron and the other trademarks or service marks of Aileron appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of Aileron. All other trademarks, service marks or other trade names appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.

i


i


SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INDUSTRY DATA

This Annual Report on Form 10-K of Aileron Therapeutics Inc. (“Aileron,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K,proxy statement, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about:

our plans to develop and commercialize ALRN-6924LTI-03 and other product candidates,LTI-01, including the potential benefits thereof;

the timing and expectation of the results of the Phase 1b study of LTI-03;

our unproven approach to drug research and development in the area of fibrotic diseases, with a focus on Caveolin-1, or Cav1, -related peptides, and our ability to develop marketable products;
our ongoing and future clinical trials for ALRN-6924,LTI-03 and LTI-01, whether conducted by us or by any future collaborators, including our ability to enroll patients in our clinical trials, the timing of initiation of these trials and of the anticipated results;

the possibility that we may be adversely affected by economic, business, and/or competitive factors, including risks inherent in pharmaceutical research and development, such as: adverse results in our drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development activities, the risk that the results of our preclinical studies and early clinical trials may not be replicated in later clinical trials, and the risk that any of our clinical trials may not commence, continue or be completed on time, or at all;

our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Lung Acquisition (as defined herein);
our expectations regarding our ability to fund our operating expenses, our planned activities, and capital expenditure requirements with our cash, cash equivalents and investments;
our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;
the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain marketing approvals for our product candidates;

LTI-03 and LTI-01;

our expectations regarding our ability to fund out operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements with our cash, cash equivalents and investments;

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of any products for which we receive marketing approval;

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;

our intellectual property position and strategy;

strategy, and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights for our platform and development candidates;

our ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential;

our plans to enter into collaborations for the development and commercialization of LTI-03, LTI-01 and any additional product candidates;

our reliance on third-party manufacturing and supply vendors;

potential benefits of any future collaboration;

developments relating to our competitors and our industry; and

the impact of government laws and regulations.regulations;

the impact of affiliated stockholders choosing to act together; and
our ability to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

1


We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included, or incorporated by reference, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in the “Risk Factors” section, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, collaborations, joint ventures or investments that we may make or enter into.

You should read this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents that we reference herein and have filed or incorporated by reference hereto completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes or incorporates by reference statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information.

Summary Risk Factors

1

Our business is subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware in evaluating our company and our business. These risks are discussed more fully in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. These risks include the following:

Risks Related to Our Business

Our business is highly dependent on the success of our product candidates, LTI-03 and LTI-01 and any other product candidates that we advance into clinical development. Our approach to drug research and development in the area of fibrotic diseases, with a focus on Cav1-related peptides, is unproven and may not result in marketable products. All of our product candidates will require significant additional development before we may be able to seek regulatory approval for and launch a product commercially. Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to LTI-03, LTI-01, or other product candidates.

Risks Related to Our Financial Condition

We will require substantial additional capital to finance our operations. Our cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to enable us to complete the development and commercialization of LTI-03 and LTI-01. If we are unable to raise such capital when needed, or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce and/or eliminate one or more of our clinical and research and development programs, future commercialization efforts or other operations.
There is no guarantee that our acquisition of Lung and its business will increase stockholder value in our company or that we will be able to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, which may result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations.
We have incurred significant net losses since inception and we expect to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future and do not expect to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to develop and commercialize our product candidates, we may never generate revenues that are significant or large enough to achieve profitability.
We have identified conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

2


PART

Risks Related to the Discovery, Development and Commercialization of Product Candidates

The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, interim results of a clinical trial, do not necessarily predict final results and the results of our clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities.
We may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidates.
Our ongoing and future clinical trials may reveal significant adverse events or unexpected drug-drug interactions not seen in our preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies and may result in a safety profile that could delay or prevent regulatory approval or market acceptance of any of our product candidates.
Clinical development involves a lengthy, complex and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome.

Risks Related to Marketing Approval, Reimbursement, Healthcare Regulations and Ongoing Regulatory Compliance

We have never obtained marketing approval for a product candidate and we may be unable to obtain, or may be delayed in obtaining, marketing approval for any product candidate. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our products, we may not be able to generate product revenue.
Even if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the marketing approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain and may prevent us, or any future collaborators, from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate that we may develop. As a result, we cannot predict when or if, and in which territories or for which indications, we, or any future collaborators, will obtain marketing approval to commercialize LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate that we may develop.
Even if a product candidate we develop receives marketing approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of any product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our product candidates, if approved.

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

We rely on third parties to conduct certain aspects of our clinical trials and preclinical studies. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or comply with regulatory requirements, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of or commercialize any potential product candidates.
Because we rely on third-party manufacturing and supply vendors, our supply of research and development, preclinical and clinical development materials may become limited or interrupted or may not be of satisfactory quantity or quality.
We have entered into a collaboration agreement with Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., or Taiho, for the development of LTI-01 and may in the future seek to enter into collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of other product candidates. If we fail to enter into such collaborations, or our collaborations are not successful, we may be unable to continue development of such product candidates, we would not receive any contemplated milestone payments or royalties, and we could fail to capitalize on the market potential of such product candidates.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

3


Our success depends in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property. It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights and technology, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.
We are currently party to license or other collaboration agreements that impose certain obligations on us, and we may enter into additional license or collaboration agreements in the future. If we fail to comply with our obligations under such present or future agreements with third parties, we could lose license rights that may be important to our business.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

If we fail to maintain compliance with the requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock could be delisted from trading, which would adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.
Assuming the conversion of all outstanding Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, or the Series X Preferred Stock, and the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, or the Warrants, there is a concentration of ownership of our outstanding common stock by one group of affiliated stockholders. If this group chooses to act together, it could exert substantial influence over our business, and the interests of this group may conflict with those of other stockholders.

4


PART I

Item 1. Business.Business

Overview and Recent Developments

We areAileron Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aileron,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stageclinical stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on developing and commercializing a novel class of therapeutics called stapled peptides. Our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, targets the tumor suppressor p53therapies for the treatment of orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications with no approved or limited effective treatments. We currently have two product candidates in clinical development, LTI-03 and LTI-01, and multiple candidates in preclinical development focused on fibrosis indications. Our pipeline includes:

LTI-03, a wide variety of cancers. ALRN-6924,peptide, for which iswe are currently being tested in multiple clinical trials, reactivates p53-mediated tumor suppression by targeting the two primary p53 suppressor proteins, MDMX and MDM2. Our ongoing clinical trials of ALRN-6924 consist ofrecruiting patients for a Phase 11b dose-ranging, placebo-controlled safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamic biomarker activity trial in development for the treatment of advanced solid tumorsidiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or lymphomas,IPF, that has demonstrated the ability to protect healthy lung epithelial cells and reduce pro-fibrotic signaling;
LTI-01, a proenzyme that completed a Phase 2a dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or PTCL, a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and advanced myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, as a monotherapy and a Phase 1b safety, tolerability and proof of mechanism trial for the treatment of AML/MDS in combination with cytosine arabinoside,loculated pleural effusion, or Ara-C.

As of February 26, 2018, we had administered ALRN-6924 to 118 cancerLPE, patients, in our clinical trials,an indication that has no approved drug treatment; and we believe it has been generally well tolerated in these patients. Of the 63 evaluable patients in our Phase 1 trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors or lymphomas, as of February 26, 2018, 30 patients (or 48%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of two patients who achieved complete responses, two patients who achieved partial responses and 26 patients who achieved stable disease, with 42% of stable disease patients experiencing shrinkage of the tumor. Five patients remained on treatment in the trial as of February 26, 2018, with an average time on treatment of 685 days, including three of the four patients who achieved complete or partial responses. In addition, as of February 26, 2018, in a subset of 41 patients whose cells did not contain mutant p53 and who received doses of at least 0.8 mg/kg per administration, which we believe to be the minimal clinically relevant dose in this trial, 24 patients (or 59%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of two patients who achieved complete responses, two patients who achieved partial responses and 20 patients who achieved stable disease, with 55% of the patients with stable disease experiencing shrinkage of the tumor. In the 24 patients who demonstrated disease control, as of February 26, 2018, the median time on drug was 120 days, with an average of 243 days

preclinical programs targeting cystic fibrosis and a maximumpeptide program focused on the Cav1 protein for one patientsystemic fibrosis indications.

Prior to the termination of 981 days. We believe that, based on preclinical data and preliminary evidencedevelopment of safety and anti-tumor activity in our ongoing clinical trials, there may be a significant opportunity to develop ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy or combination therapy for a wide variety of solid and liquid tumors.

We believe that by using our proprietary stapled peptide drug platform, we can develop first-in-class molecules, like ALRN-6924, that contain a novel set of properties. As such, our stapled peptide drugs may be able to address historically undruggable targets and complex mechanisms, such as intracellular protein-protein interactions like p53, that underlie many diseases with high unmet medical need. We believe that stapled peptide therapeutics have the potential to become a major class of drugs, like small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, for oncology and other therapeutic areas, and may significantly improve treatment paradigms and clinical outcomes for patients.

P53 has been a focus of researchers and the pharmaceutical industry due to its central role in preventing the initiation and progression of most solid and liquid tumors, and has long been referred to as “the guardian of the genome” because it is the body’s first line of cellular defense against cancers. P53 is activated when DNA damage is detected and, among other functions, is capable of regulating a variety of tumor suppression responses, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, or senescence. The effect of p53 activation is to facilitate the repair of the cell, or trigger killing of the damaged cell, a process known as apoptosis, before it can become cancerous and replicate. P53 function is believed to be primarily regulated by the suppressor proteins MDMX and MDM2, which bind to p53 to either reduce its levels through degradation or to control its activity, including the suppression of its cell repair and apoptotic activities, so that normal cells are able to function as expected. Approximately half of all cancer patients at initial diagnosis have cancers that prevent this tumor suppression response by mutation of the p53 gene. The remaining cancer patients have a p53 gene that is not mutated and is otherwise known as wild type, but that is functionally suppressed through the activation or overexpression of regulatory proteins, including, MDMX and MDM2. ALRN-6924 reactivates non-mutant or wild type, or WT, p53 by disrupting the interactions between p53 and these two suppressor proteins, thereby freeing p53 to transit to its DNA target in the nucleus and initiate cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, or senescence in damaged cells. Although p53 and its tumor suppression responses have been well characterized in the scientific literature, no product that directly engages the p53 pathway and its function has been approved. Moreover, we believe that the only product candidates in clinical development

2


targeted at p53 activation, including one product candidate that is in Phase 3 testing, are small molecule inhibitors that are designed to engage only the p53-MDM2 interaction and not the p53-MDMX interaction, which we believe, based on published data and our clinical results, is equally important. We believe that ALRN-6924 is the first and onlymain product candidate in clinical development that can bind to and disrupt the interaction of MDMX and MDM2 with p53 with equivalent effectiveness, or equipotently. As such, we believe that ALRN-6924’s ability to bind to both MDMX and MDM2 may enable it to have an effect in a broader range of tumors, to have an improved safety profile and to be less prone to resistance as a result of different levels of MDMX and MDM2 in tumor cells.

We are currently conducting multiple clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in various cancer indications. Most of the patients in these trials have undergone multiple procedures and received a number of approved and experimental treatments. In our clinical trials we have observed preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity across a broad spectrum of cancer patients, durable effect by trial responders and, to date, a favorable safety profile. We are conducting a Phase 1 trial of ALRN-6924 in adult patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas expressing WT p53 that are refractory to or intolerant of standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists. We refer to this trial as our Phase 1 All-comers trial. We designed our Phase 1 All-comers trial to evaluate safety, to determine a recommended Phase 2 dose and dosing schedule and to evaluate the preliminary anti-tumor activity of ALRN-6924. We completed enrollment of this trial in January 2017 with a total of 71 patients enrolled. We treated patients with 24 different tumor types in this trial.

In addition to the Phase 1 All-comers trial, we are conducting clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in PTCL and AML/MDS. We are conducting a Phase 2a trial in relapsed and/or refractory PTCL patients whose cells contain WT p53 and who have failed at least one prior line of therapy. Patients in the first cohort of the Phase 2a PTCL trial are receiving a 3.1 mg/kg dose of ALRN-6924 on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle, with scans being performed after every two cycles. As of February 26, 2018, we had administered ALRN-6924 to 16 patients in accordance with this dosing regimen, including one PTCL patient enrolled in the Phase 1 All-comers trial who received ALRN-6924 using the same dosing regimen, and 14 of these patients were evaluable. Of the evaluable patients, six patients (or 43%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of two patients who achieved complete responses, one patient who achieved a partial response and three patients who achieved stable disease, with all of the stable disease patients experiencing tumor shrinkage. As of February 26, 2018, two patients remained on treatment with this dosing regimen. These patients were the two patients who achieved complete responses. The average time on treatment for these two patients as of February 26, 2018 was 594 days. Of the two non-evaluable patients, one was not evaluable due to non-measurable disease and one was not evaluable because the patient had cells that contained mutant p53.

In the trial, the patients’ tumors were assessed for purposes of the primary endpoint by the investigator using positron emission tomography/computed tomography, or PET/CT, scans per International Working Group (Cheson 2014), or IWG 2014, criteria. In reviewing the data, we identified a number of instances where the assessment using PET/CT scans per IWG 2014 criteria differed from the assessments using computed tomography, or CT, scans alone. Accordingly, we conducted an independent evaluation of each of the evaluable patients using an independent radiologist who applied a modified Cheson 2007 set of criteria, which are the response criteria used during the pivotal trials of certain other drugs that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for the second-line treatment of PTCL prior to the adoption of the IWG 2014 criteria. Using the modified Cheson 2007 criteria, 15 of the patients were evaluable, of whom seven patients (or 47%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of one patient who achieved a complete response, three patients who achieved partial responses and three patients who achieved stable disease with all of the stable disease patients experiencing tumor shrinkage. Three patients who otherwise would have been removed from the study based on a PET/CT-determined disease progression, continued on treatment per their treating physician, and two of these patients achieved partial responses and one achieved stable disease based on the modified Cheson 2007 criteria. The one non-evaluable patient was not evaluable because the patient had cells that contained mutant p53.

We plan to continue to assess patients in the trial using both the IWG 20142023 and the modified Cheson 2007 evaluation criteria and, prior to commencing future trialsacquisition of ALRN-6924, to discuss withLung Therapeutics, Inc. (as described below), our focus was the FDA the appropriate evaluation criteria to be used in the trials. We believe, however, that whether assessed using either criteria, the preliminary response rate (21% or 27%) that we have observed in the trial at this point is generally in line with the overall response rates reported for romidepsin (Istodax). Romidepsin is a product marketed by Celgene, Inc. and had the highest worldwide net sales in 2017 of any product approved for second line treatment of PTCL. To date,

3


ALRN-6924 has been well-tolerated by patients in the Phase 2 trial and its safety profile remains consistent with the profile observed in our Phase 1 All-comers trial.

We are also exploring a new dosing regimen in our Phase 2a PTCL trial under which patients in the trial receive three doses of 3.1 mg/kg per week, followed by two weeks off in a 21-day cycle. We are evaluating this new dosing regimen to assess whether a more frequent dosing regimen could improve the response rate of ALRN-6924 while still maintaining a favorable safety profile. We based our determination to explore this dosing regimen on our ongoing non-clinical research as well the tolerability of ALRN-6924 observed in our clinical trials. We enrolled our first patient under this dosing regimen in February 2018 and enrollment is ongoing. We expect to report additional interim data from the trial, including from patients in the second cohort who receive the three doses per week, in the second half of 2018. Based on the anticipated timingdevelopment of our Phase 2a PTCL trial, and subject to the data from the trial, we may seek discussions with the FDA regarding the possibility of an expedited clinical development and registration pathway formain product candidate, ALRN-6924, in PTCL patients and the design of a single agent pivotal clinical trial as early as the fourth quarter of 2018.

We are also conducting a Phase 1 trial of ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy and a Phase 1b trial of ALRN-6924 in combination with Ara-C, each in AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53. We are conducting these dose escalation trials to establish the recommended Phase 2 dose of ALRN-6924 in patients with AML or MDS, to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ALRN-6924 in patients with AML or MDS and to provide a preliminary assessment of anti-leukemic activity. In the Phase 1 monotherapy trial, we have tested three doses of ALRN-6924, 3.1 mg/kg, 4.4 mg/kg and 5.8 mg/kg, and in our Phase 1b combination trial, we have tested ALRN-6924, 3.1 mg/kg in combination with two different low doses (100 or 200 mg/m2) of Ara-C and we have tested ALRN-6924, 4.4 mg/kg in combination with (200 mg/m2) of Ara-C. As of February 26, 2018, we had enrolled a total of 33 patients in the trials, of whom 26 were evaluable consisting of 11 patients in the Phase 1 monotherapy trial and 15 patients in the Phase 1b combination trial. As of February 26, 2018, six of the patients in the trials remain on treatment. Of the 26 evaluable patients, two MDS patients achieved marrow complete responses, including one patient who proceeded to receive a stem cell transplant, and five MDS patients achieved stable disease. Three of the 26 evaluable AML/MDS patients experienced a reduction of bone marrow blasts ranging from 40% to 50%. Each of the patients with the marrow complete responses participated in the 4.4 mg/kg of ALRN-6924 plus 200 mg/m2of Ara-C cohort. Five patients received treatment in this cohort as of February 26, 2018. We are currently seeking to enroll one or more additional patients in the ALRN-6924 4.4 mg/kg plus 200 m/m2 Ara-C cohort. We expect to complete enrollment into this cohort in the second quarter of 2018. To date, we have observed a safety profile in these trialsMDM2/MDMX dual inhibitor that is similar to the safety profile of ALRN-6924 seen in our other clinical trials.

In addition to meeting our initial AML/MDS Phase 1 and Phase 1b enrollment targets, we are currently exploring a new three times per week dosing regimen in the Phase 1 trial. Under the new dosing regimen, patients receive ALRN-6924 (starting at 2.7 mg/kg) three times a week for two consecutive weeks, followed by one week off, for a 21-day cycle. We are evaluating this new dosing regimen to assess whether more frequent dosing could improve the response rate of ALRN-6924 while still maintaining a favorable safety profile. We based our determination to explore this dosing regimen on our ongoing non-clinical research as well the tolerability of ALRN-6924 observed in our clinical trials. We expect to report interim data from our AML/MDS trials, our dosing strategy, and our plans for a Phase 2 trial in the second half of 2018. In April 2017, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to ALRN-6924 for use in the treatment of AML.

We plan to conduct, alone or in collaboration with third parties, additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, as warranted by the clinical data. The goal of these clinical trials will be to broaden the application of ALRN-6924 by studying safety and potential anti-tumor activity in additional distinct subgroups of patients with specific solid tumors or hematological malignancies that commonly present with WT p53, such as certain leukemias, breast cancers and melanomas. In addition, because many approved drugs and drug candidates for cancer require a functioning p53 pathway, we have expanded and advanced our non-clinical research to test a variety of approved drugs in combination with ALRN-6924, including immuno-oncology agents, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and traditional chemotherapeutic agents for solid and liquid tumors. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with a wide variety of conventional and novel therapies. We currently expect to provide an update on our non-clinical research and development plans for our ALRN-6924 combination studies during the second half of 2018. Subject to the results of our ongoing research and

4


obtaining additional funding, we expect to conduct one or more additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in combination with other anti-cancer agents as early as the first half of 2019.

We believe that our ability to target and activate or inhibit key intrinsic cellular functions, such as p53 and apoptosis, usingleveraged our proprietary stapled peptide platform and our scientific expertise in the design, application and development of stabilized alpha-helical peptides has the potential to significantly impact patients’ lives and treatment strategies for a wide variety of cancers. Our belief is based on the scientific evidence that these cellular functions play a key role in cancer formation, maintenance and resistance. As such, we believe the ability to directly impact these key intrinsic cellular functions, as we are striving to achieve with ALRN-6924 and p53, may have potential advantages over approved drugs and drug candidates that work upstream at the cell surface or systemically by stimulating immune responses. By targeting a downstream pathway like p53 that is critical and preserved across a multitude of different cancers, our approach may allow for utility in a broader set of cancer patients. In addition, we believe that our approach may circumvent resistance mechanisms that characterize many of the most virulent cancers.

Our integrated understanding of peptide chemistry and molecular biology as it relates to the physiological functions of stabilized and cell-penetrating peptides forms the basis of our ability to generate novel product candidates. We seek to rationally design sequences of amino acids and “staple” them with hydrocarbon bonds that maintain their natural alpha-helical shape. The broad potential of maintaining the alpha helix is derived from the fact that it is the most common protein structure at the interface of protein-protein interactions and, as exploited by our stapled alpha-helical peptides, is a necessary shape to retain the intended biological activity of the therapeutic molecule. Our approach is to target high value and historically undruggable intracellular and extracellular targets with this novel class of molecules. In the case of cancer, pathways that incorporate protein-protein interactions with an alpha helix, and that, therefore, may be amenable to our approach and the focus of our future research, include p53 and may include other transcription factors and signaling proteins such as Ras, Myc, ß-Catenin, the Bcl family of proteins and HIF-1a. Importantly, while the critical role of these targets in biological processes has been known for decades, there are no approved therapeutics that directly engage these targets other than one therapeutic that inhibits Bcl-2. While the conventional approaches to modulate these significant targets have been based on small molecules, we believe that our ability to target and activate or inhibit key intrinsic cellular proteins and their functions, including p53 and apoptosis, using our proprietary stapled peptides represents an important opportunity for developing novel drugs and addressing unmet medical need. In addition to oncology, we are currently exploring research and business development strategies to develop certain non-cancer applications.

technology. Since our inception, we have created over 10,000 stapled peptides against multiple targets indevoted a varietysubstantial portion of therapeutic areas. We believe that a number of these molecules and targets warrant further study and development and could, in the future, contribute to a pipeline of novel therapeutics. We have recently expanded our internal research capability and support of research against other therapeutic targets, subject to our resources it is our intention to continue to make selective investments into early research programs as part of our ongoing research. Where we believe it will be beneficial to the success of the program, we also expect to seek academic and industry collaborations to advance this work.

We strive to protect the proprietary product candidates and technologies that we believe are important to our business, including seeking and maintaining patent protection intended to cover the composition of matter ofdeveloping our product candidates, including ALRN-6924, their methods of use, related platform technology and other inventions. As of January 31, 2018, we owned or had an exclusive license to over 240 patents and over 190 provisional or non-provisional patent applications throughout the world directed toward various aspects of our product candidates and research programs. We own worldwide rights to ALRN-6924.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to be a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer by targeting high value and historically undruggable targets throughdeveloping our proprietary stapled peptide technology. Key elements of our strategy to achieve this goal include the following:

5


Pursue a broad development strategy for our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, as a monotherapy and combination therapy across multiple oncology indications. We plan to advance our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, in a broad range of solid and liquid tumors, focusing on areas in which we believe ALRN-6924 may have anti-tumor activity and in which there are significant unmet medical needs. We are initially focusing our development efforts on solid and liquid tumors that commonly present with WT p53. One of the key benefits of targeting p53 is that the MDMX/MDM2-dependent mechanism by which cancers overcome p53 is found in a broad range of solid and liquid tumors. We have observed preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity in our Phase 1 All-comers trial in which we have treated patients with 24 different tumor types as well as in our ongoing Phase 2a PTCL trial and our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials. We plan to conduct, alone or in collaboration with third parties, additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, as warranted by the clinical data. The goal of these clinical trials will be to broaden the application of ALRN-6924 by studying safety and potential anti-tumor activity in additional distinct subgroups of patients with specific solid tumors or hematological malignancies that commonly present with WT p53, such as certain leukemias, breast cancers and melanomas. In addition, because many approved drugs and drug candidates for cancer require a functioning p53 pathway, we have expanded and advanced our non-clinical research to test a variety of approved drugs in combination with ALRN-6924 including immuno-oncology agents, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and traditional chemotherapeutic agents for solid and liquid tumors. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with a wide variety of conventional and novel therapies. We currently expect to provide an update on our non-clinical research and development plans for our ALRN-6924 combination studies during the second half of 2018. Subject to the results of our ongoing research and obtaining additional funding, we expect to conduct one or more additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in combination with other anti-cancer agents as early as the first half of 2019.

Rapidly advance ALRN-6924 through clinical development and regulatory approval. We are currently conducting a Phase 2a trial of ALRN-6924 in relapsed and/or refractory PTCL patients whose PTCL cells contain WT p53 and who have failed at least one prior line of therapy. We are initially conducting the trial in approximately 25 PTCL patients to provide preliminary insight into the responsiveness of this patient population to treatment with ALRN-6924 and to evaluate its safety and confirm the optimal dosing regimen. We expect to report additional interim data from the trial, including from patients in the second cohort who receive the three doses per week, in the second half of 2018. Based on the anticipated timing of our Phase 2a PTCL trial, and subject to the data from the trial, we may seek discussions with the FDA regarding the possibility of an expedited clinical development and registration pathway for ALRN-6924 in PTCL patients and the design of a single agent pivotal clinical trial as early as the fourth quarter of 2018. Similarly, if we see sufficient evidence of a therapeutic effect in any of our future Phase 2 trials of ALRN-6924, we would also plan to meet with regulatory authorities to discuss the possibility of an expedited clinical development and regulatory pathway for ALRN-6924 in any such indications, including the scope and timing of a single agent pivotal trial.

Maximize the global commercial value of ALRN-6924 and other product candidates. We have retained all commercial rights to ALRN-6924 and plan to retain all commercial rights to any other product candidates we develop. As we further develop ALRN-6924, we may build a commercial infrastructure with the capability to directly market in a variety of indications and geographies. Although we currently plan to retain all commercial rights to ALRN-6924 and any other product candidates we develop, we may seek to enter into strategic collaborations for the development, marketing and commercialization of ALRN-6924 and these other product candidates, particularly those directed towards complex indications with larger patient populations and in certain geographies where we believe a collaboration could bring additional resources and expertise to maximize the value of our product candidates.

Leverage our proprietary stapled peptide technology to develop additional product candidates across oncology and other diseases with unmet medical need. Over 3,000 known protein-protein interactions are mediated by a helical peptide interface. Based on our data related to stapled peptides, as well as the growing body of third-party publications that support the utility of stapled peptides against a wide variety of targets, we believe that our stapled peptides have the potential for therapeutic benefits across a broad range of oncology indications and other diseases with unmet medical need. Subject to available resources, we plan to invest in and conduct research on those product candidates for which our prior work or published literature suggests a stapled peptide may confer advantages over small molecule or biologic therapeutics in delivering therapeutic benefits. We may also seek to develop additional stapled peptides to target p53 as changes in the chemical structures of our stapled peptides may engender these stapled peptides with varying affinities to MDMX and MDM2. Additionally, we may seek to

6


selectively form collaborations to expand our capabilities and potentially accelerate research and development activities for certain of these oncology indications and other diseases.

Maintain our leading position in stapled peptides by continuing to develop our proprietary platform. We are developing novel computational chemistry, screening technology, purification and manufacturing processes to continually improve our technology platform as we advance our stapled peptide drug development program. We also support our scientific efforts with a strong patent estate that may provide a competitive advantage and position us as scientific leaders in the emerging field of stapled peptides. We intend to continue to strengthen our platform by developing and filing for patents on various aspects of our technology and product candidates and, when applicable, through in-licensing activities with research institutions and other biopharmaceutical companies.

Our Development Pipeline

The following table summarizes key information about our programs:

Cancer and the Need for Novel and Improved Treatment Options

Cancer is a major public health problem in the United States and worldwide. The U.S. National Cancer Institute estimated that approximately 40% of all men and women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, cancer is currently the second leading cause of death in the United States, and is expected to surpass heart disease as the leading cause of death in the next several years. Although progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the American Cancer Society estimates that over 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States and approximately 609,640 people will die from cancer in 2018. Thus, there remains a significant need for novel and improved treatment options for cancer patients.

Most cancers begin as a result of DNA damage or the mutation of certain important genes that alters or inhibits the cell’s mechanism for making the proteins it needs to function, survive and grow. When DNA becomes damaged or mutated, either as a result of natural processes, inherited traits or other exogenous factors such as radiation or exposure to chemicals in the environment, abnormal cells begin to replicate and spread into surrounding tissue, interfere with the body’s normal function and eventually invade and destroy the body’s healthy tissue.

Surgery, radiation and drug therapy, which are currently the most common methods used in treating patients with cancer, whether individually or in combination, can be effective in specific situations. Surgery and radiation are particularly effective for patients in whom the disease is localized, but are unable to address the needs of a patient with metastasized tumors. For these patients, or for patients where surgery or radiation is ineffective, physicians

7


typically prescribe a treatment program using systemic drug therapies. The goal of drug therapy is to kill cancer cells or to damage cellular components required for the proliferation of cancer cells. Drug therapy often is administered with a combination of several different drugs. Drug therapy has been evolving from non-specific drugs that kill both healthy and cancer cells, to drugs that target specific molecular pathways to selectively kill only cancer cells. While heightened vigilance, new diagnostic tests, combination regimens and targeted therapies have resulted in improvements in overall survival for some cancer patients, we believe that continued innovation in the treatment of cancer is necessary.

The conventional approaches to oncology drug development, which are based primarily on small molecules and antibodies, have limitations that restrict their ability to fully treat the disease. Small molecule drugs can target proteins inside the cell, but are often limited to a subset of proteins with accessible functional domains or, in most cases, a single intended target protein, while antibodies are unable to directly bind to intracellular targets and are thereby limited to targeting circulating proteins or those expressed on the cell surface. We believe that the ability to target and activate or inhibit key intrinsic cellular proteins and their functions, such as p53 and apoptosis, using our proprietary stapledstabilized cell-permeating peptide platform, has the potential to significantly impact patients’ livesbuilding our intellectual property portfolio, business planning, raising capital and treatment strategiesproviding general and administrative support for these operations.

Announcement of Exploration of Strategic Alternatives

In February 2023, we announced a wide varietyreview of cancers. Our belief is based on the mounting scientific evidence that these cellular functions play a key role in cancer formation, maintenance and resistance. As such, the ability to directly impact these key intrinsic cellular functions, as we are striving to achieve with ALRN-6924, may have potential advantages over approved drugs and drug candidates that work upstream at the cell surface or systemically by stimulating immune responses. By targeting a downstream pathway like p53 that is critical and preserved across a multitude of different cancers, our approach may allow for utility in a broader set of cancer patients. In addition, we believe that our approach may circumvent resistance mechanisms that characterize many of the most virulent cancers.

P53 and its Interaction with MDMX and MDM2

P53 is considered to be one of the most important tumor suppressor proteins due to its central role in preventing the initiation and progression of most solid and liquid tumors. The role of p53 in cancer was first described in 1979. Since then, it has become clear that inactivation of p53’s tumor suppression activity is an almost universal step in the development and progression of virtually all human cancers. Research on the function and role of the p53 mechanism has been the subject of over 75,000 scientific publications, and targeting p53 has been tested clinically in at least 18 prior and ongoing clinical trials that were sponsored by six of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. The magnitude and persistence of this effort demonstrates the importance of the mechanism and the enormous challenge that drugging this mechanism presents. Recent clinical data from certain of these p53 development efforts has shown encouraging progress, possibly an indication that the field is maturing to a point where these efforts may start to yield valuable cancer treatments. We believe, however, that clinical progress against this target has been slowed due in part to the complex biology and limitations of traditional drug technologies, such as small molecules. We believe that a stapled peptide, such as ALRN-6924, is better suited to address this mechanism due to the inherent molecular properties of the stapled peptide.

The main function of p53 is to activate genes that will interrupt the cell cycle when DNA damage is first detected. The effect of this process is to ensure that damaged, or cancerous, cells do not continue to grow and propagate. This is why functional p53 is critical to human health and the main reason it has been called the “guardian of the genome.” P53 normally protects cells by monitoring and controlling how quickly cells divide into new cells, repairing DNA mutations and controlling when a cell dies. When p53 itself is mutated or pathologically inhibited by its natural regulators, cells grow uncontrollably and may eventually form a cancerous tumor. Approximately half of all cancer patients at initial diagnosis have cancers that circumvent the p53 mechanism by activating or overexpressing the natural suppressor proteins of p53, including, MDMX and MDM2, making them an ideal target for novel cancer therapies. In the remaining cancer patients, the p53 mechanism is circumvented by deactivating mutations in p53 itself, commonly referred to as mutant p53.

In recent years there have been numerous publications that describe the relationship between p53-activation and the immune response to cancer, in addition to its effects on cell cycle, DNA repair and cell death. P53 regulates the expression of various chemokines, interferons and related receptors, as well as other elements of the adaptive and innate immune response.

8


As depicted in the figures below, p53 is regulated by MDMX and MDM2, which are two proteins known to bind to p53 and play non-redundant roles in modulating p53 protein activity. In normal cells, MDMX generally acts to sequester p53, whereas MDM2 primarily acts to shuttle p53 out of the nucleus and target it for degradation. By playing these roles, MDMX and MDM2 collectively act to suppress p53’s apoptotic activity so that cells can function as expected. In the event of DNA damage, these two suppressor proteins detach from p53 so that it is activated to respond to DNA damage. Once activated, p53 either enables the repair of the DNA damage or triggers apoptosis. This is the body’s natural response against cancer and a defense mechanism for dealing with DNA damage and maintaining normal cellular function. However, activation and overexpressionof MDMX and MDM2 are found in a significant number of solid and liquid tumors that commonly present with WT p53. In these cancers, cancer cells co-opt and over-activate some of the mechanisms used by normal cells to restrain p53 function, thereby nullifying the tumor suppression capabilities of WT p53. In this environment, the cancer cell growth is left unchecked.

Despite the structural similarity between MDMX and MDM2, there is important diversity in the p53 binding sites of these proteins that make the development of therapeutic antagonists that can bind to both MDMX and MDM2 challenging. MDM2 has a deep binding pocket that offers potential for small molecule selectivity. MDMX, in comparison, has a structural difference in its p53 binding cleft, making it larger and shallower and less accessible to small molecules. We are not aware of any small molecules in clinical development that are capable of binding to MDMX in a therapeutically meaningful way. We are aware of selective small molecule inhibitors that are designed to target only the p53-MDM2 interaction. Certain of these small molecule inhibitors have been publicly reported to shrink tumors in certain cancers and have thereby provided clinical proof of concept that restoration of p53 activity can lead to the killing of cancer cells and tumor shrinkage in select cancers. However, these MDM2-only small

9


molecule inhibitors have also been publicly reported to have caused meaningful levels of neutropenia of grade 3 or worse and thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or worse in patients. For instance, in Phase 1 dose escalation trials of these small molecule inhibitors that are currently in active development for the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas, approximately 20% to 26% of patients in the trials experienced neutropenia of grade 3 or grade 4 and 15% to 44% of patients experienced thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or grade 4.

As tumor cells can have different levels of, and differential reliance on, MDMX and MDM2, the current data suggests that there is a limited set of tumors that are highly sensitive to MDM2 inhibition, while a broader set of tumors may be sensitive to both MDMX and MDM2 inhibition. We believe that ALRN-6924 is the first and only product candidate in clinical development that can equipotently bind to and disrupt the interaction of MDMX and MDM2 with p53. As such, we believe that ALRN-6924 may have an effect in a broad range of tumors and may be less prone to resistance as a result of different levels of MDMX and MDM2 in tumor cells. We believe ALRN-6924 should also be less prone to resistance from the likely compensatory mechanisms, such as activation or overexpression of MDMX, that may result from selective pressure on MDM2 alone.

Our Platform – Stapled Peptides

Our goal is to create a broad range of first-in-class therapeutics through our proprietary stapled peptide technology. Our platform enables us to chemically stabilize and improve the performance and activity of a broad range of alpha-helical peptides that we believe may have benefit in oncology and other diseases. We believe that our stapled peptides can potentially activate and inhibit key cellular functions that underlie disease and that are otherwise difficult to target with existing drug technologies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies. Our strategy is to target high value and historically undruggable targets with stabilized peptides.

The Value and Intrinsic Limitations of Peptide Drugs

Nature’s evolutionarily optimized molecular template to control cellular functions via protein-protein interactions is the peptide. Peptides are functional subunits of proteins that act as nature’s locks and keys and enable two proteins to interact. The alpha-helical structure is the most common peptide structure found at these protein interfaces.

There are presently more than 60 approved peptide drugs, including insulin, liraglutide (Victoza), exenatide (Byetta), teriparatide (Forteo) and Linaclotide (Linzess), that have benefitted patients and improved their quality of life. Attractive attributes of peptide drugs include high specificity and low off-target toxicity, high potency, wide systemic distribution with limited accumulation in specific organs, ready synthesis and rational optimization. Despite these advantages, and the information regarding over 3,000 known alpha-helical protein structures contained in publicly available protein data banks, small molecules remain the primary approach by which drug developers attempt to modulate protein functionality. Drug developers have tended to avoid developing peptide drugs in favor of small molecule drugs because peptide drugs, while highly effective in certain applications, have intrinsic liabilities that limit their applications as therapeutics, including poor biological stability (due to protein degradation), poor chemical stability (due to loss of helical configuration when removed from their natural protein scaffold), short plasma half-lives and the inability to effectively penetrate cell membranes to access desirable intracellular targets.

10


Small molecules currently represent the dominant therapeutic modality underlying the majority of approved drugs and are the only modality that can directly engage protein targets and protein-protein interactions that are contained inside our cells. However, protein-protein interactions are still viewed as difficult targets for small molecule drugs due to the fact that these protein targets often present relatively large and flat interacting surfaces that are not readily addressed by small molecule drugs. In addition, many of the emerging therapeutically important pathways have been found to require engagement of multiple proteins, like MDMX and MDM2, or multiple binding sites in order to fully engage the mechanism and drive the desired biological activity. Multiple binding sites and complex mechanisms have to date proven to be challenging to small molecules due to their small size and physiochemical properties. We believe that limitations of existing drug technologies like small molecules will become increasingly apparent as the scientific and medical fields continue to understand and reveal the complexity of protein interactions, cellular pathways and disease etiology.

Our Solution

We believe our platform addresses and solves many of the inherent limitations of peptides and can potentially enable us to uniquely pursue high value targets that are currently undruggable by existing drug technologies. Because peptides lose their shape by unwinding when removed from their natural protein scaffold, developing chemical interventions to stabilize peptides into their bioactive structure has been and remains an active area of research. Although there have been several published examples of peptide stabilization strategies, these strategies have not translated into clinically relevant drugs for intracellular targets. Our all-hydrocarbon staple, or linker, has emerged as a solution that stabilizes the alpha-helical structure, improves protease resistance, enables cellular penetrance and maintains biological activity.

We stabilize peptides by “stapling” them with hydrocarbon bonds into their natural alpha-helical conformation. We achieve this by inserting two or more non-natural amino acids that, when catalyzed by a chemical reaction, form a bridge that often provides comparable stability to the endogenous protein structure and maintains the biological activity of the peptide. We believe that this chemical strategy may allow us to improve on many of the intrinsic limitations of peptides and to develop molecules that interact with high value targets that may not be amenable to small molecules or monoclonal antibodies.

11


Unlike large proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies or other naturally occurring proteins, that do not penetrate cell membranes due to their size and biophysical properties, stabilized alpha-helical peptides can in many circumstances penetrate cells and still maintain high affinity to their large protein surface targets. Our stapled peptides typically retain the molecular target specificity of their underlying native protein structure. As depicted below, we believe that the larger protein structure provides multiple surface contact points accessible to the stapled peptide, while the small molecule drugs have difficulty binding to the larger, shallower contact points. In addition, as has been demonstrated in recent third-party publications, the multiple surface contact points mean that the binding may be less likely to be disrupted by single point mutation in the underlying genetic code.

Our Lead Product Candidate – ALRN-6924

ALRN-6924 is a stapled peptide designed to reactivate WT p53 by inhibiting both MDMX and MDM2. We believe that ALRN-6924, by inhibiting both MDMX and MDM2, may enable p53 to perform its natural function of responding to DNA damage and repairing the DNA damage or triggering apoptosis. In so doing, ALRN-6924 may help to restore the body’s natural defense against its existing cancer. The figure below shows ALRN-6924 inhibiting both MDMX and MDM2 and reactivating WT p53. ALRN-6924 enters the cell and mimics p53 and in so doing acts as a higher-affinity decoy that attracts and binds to MDMX and MDM2, thereby causing the release of the bound p53.

We believe that, based on preclinical data and preliminary evidence of safety and anti-tumor activity in our ongoing clinical trials, there is significant opportunity to develop ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy or a combination therapy for a wide variety of solid and liquid tumors. We are focusing our development efforts on solid and liquid tumors that commonly present with WT p53. Approximately half of all cancer patients at initial diagnosis are characterized as WT p53. Cancer indications in which WT p53 is believed to be prevalent include certain leukemias, breast cancers, melanomas, sarcomas, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, renal cell cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, epithelial ovarian cancers and thymomas.

12


We are pursuing a broad registration-oriented clinical development program for ALRN-6924 in multiple solid tumor and hematological cancer indications that commonly present with WT p53. Based on preliminary evidence of safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity that we observed in our Phase 1 All-comers trial, we commenced tumor-specific trials in PTCL and in AML/MDS. In determining to evaluate ALRN-6924 in PTCL, we considered our preclinical data, data from our Phase 1 All-comers trial, and published literature regarding the role of p53 in T-cell related malignancies. In determining to evaluate ALRN-6924 in AML/MDS, we considered our preclinical data, published literature regarding the role of p53 and MDMX and MDM2 in AML and MDS, that AML has recently been reported to respond to single agent therapy with MDM2 inhibitors in clinical trials conducted by third parties, and data from our first compassionate use patient.

We plan to conduct, alone or in collaboration with third parties, additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, as warranted by the clinical data. The goal of these clinical trials will be to broaden the application of ALRN-6924 by studying safety and potential anti-tumor activity in additional distinct subgroups of patients with specific solid tumors or hematological malignancies that commonly present with WT p53, such as certain leukemias, breast cancers and melanomas. In addition, because many approved drugs and drug candidates for cancer require a functioning p53 pathway, we have expanded and advanced our non-clinical research to test a variety of approved drugs in combination with ALRN-6924 including immune-oncology agents, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and traditional chemotherapeutic agents for solid and liquid tumors. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with a wide variety of conventional and novel therapies. We currently expect to provide an update on our non-clinical research and development plans for our ALRN-6924 combination studies during the second half of 2018. Subject to the results of our ongoing research and obtaining additional funding, we expect to conduct one or more additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in combination with other anti-cancer agents as early as the first half of 2019.

In June 2014, we submitted an investigational new drug application, or IND, to the FDA for ALRN-6924 for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma expressing WT p53, and in the fourth quarter of 2014, we initiated our ongoing Phase 1 All-comers trial of ALRN-6924 in adult patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas expressing WT p53 that are refractory to or intolerant of standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists, as a part of a planned Phase 1/2a clinical trial program. In the third quarter of 2016, we initiated a Phase 2a1b chemoprotection trial of ALRN-6924 in patients with relapsed and/p53-mutated breast cancer. Based on these findings, we decided to terminate the Phase 1b breast cancer trial and further development of ALRN-6924. We also announced that we were exploring a range of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. We engaged Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc. to act as a strategic advisor for this process. Strategic alternatives that were being evaluated included, but were not limited to, an acquisition, a merger, a business combination, a sale of assets or refractory PTCL whoseother transactions. In addition, in February 2023, we determined to reduce our workforce from nine to three full-time employees, which we completed in the second quarter of 2023.

The Lung Acquisition

On October 31, 2023, we acquired Lung Therapeutics, Inc., or Lung, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the Lung Acquisition Agreement. Following our acquisition of Lung, or the Lung Acquisition, the business conducted by Lung became the business primarily conducted by the Company and we shifted our operating disease focus to advancing a pipeline of first-in-class medicines to address significant unmet medical needs in orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications.

Under the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement, at the closing of the Lung Acquisition, we issued to the stockholders of Lung 344,345 shares of our common stock and 19,903 shares of our newly designated Series X Preferred Stock. Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of common stock. In addition, we assumed all Lung stock options and all warrants exercisable for Lung common stock immediately outstanding prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, each subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement.

5


Immediately following the closing of the Lung Acquisition, we entered into a Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, or the Purchase Agreement, with a group of accredited investors, or the Investors, led by Bio Partners, the majority stockholder of Lung prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, and including Nantahala Capital, as well as additional undisclosed investors, pursuant to which we issued and sold (i) an aggregate of 4,707 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, and (ii) warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,353,500 shares of common stock, or the Warrant Shares, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $18.4 million, which included the conversion of certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.6 million issued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of the Series X Preferred Stock, or the Financing, and collectively with the Lung Acquisition, the Transactions. The Financing closed on November 2, 2023.

On February 28, 2024, we held our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders in which our stockholders approved the issuance, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(a), of shares of common stock, upon conversion of our outstanding Series X Preferred Stock. Following approval of the conversion of outstanding Series X Preferred Stock, the Company had approximately 29,495,512 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis, which gives effect to the full conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock as of the date of our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, without regard to beneficial ownership limitations that may limit the ability of certain holders of Series X Preferred Stock to convert such shares to common stock as such time. On March 5, 2024, based upon existing beneficial ownership limitations, 12,087 shares of Series X Preferred Stock were automatically converted into 12,087,000 shares of common stock. The remaining approximately 12,523 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (which are convertible into 12,523,000 shares of common stock) will remain convertible at the option of the holder thereof, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations.

Principal Product Candidates

LTI-03

LTI-03 is a novel peptide drug, the sequence of which is derived from the endogenous protein Cav1, that protects lung epithelial cells contain WT p53, who have failed at least one prior lineand inhibits multiple pro-fibrotic pathways in IPF patients. IPF is a progressive, fatal, age-associated lung disease with a median survival from diagnosis of therapy. In November 2015, we submitted an IND for ALRN-6924two to five years. There are approximately 100,000 people living with IPF in the U.S. LTI-03 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. for the treatment of AMLIPF.

The pathogenesis of IPF is characterized by the loss of healthy lung cells known as alveolar epithelial type 2 cells, or MDSAEC2s, proliferation and accumulation of activated myofibroblasts, deposition of extracellular matrix, or ECM, and fibrosis, resulting in labored breathing and loss of lung function. Damaged AEC2s are unable to replace injured alveolar epithelial type 1 cells, or AEC1s, which make up the majority of the alveolar surface and are important in mucus clearance and healthy lung function. Other than lung transplantation, no treatment has shown survival benefit. Two approved drugs, nintedanib and pirfenidone, have been shown to reduce the rate of lung function decline, but unfortunately provide only modest clinical benefit in IPF patients. Neither drug is curative, and significant side effects or intolerance can occur with the use of pirfenidone and nintedanib. As these approved drugs are focused on fibroblast proliferation, they have not demonstrated an effect on protecting or restoring healthy lung epithelial cells. We believe LTI-03 has a mechanism that not only reduces fibroblast proliferation but also, importantly, protects and potentially restores healthy lung epithelial cells.

Cav1 normally serves a critical function in the prevention of fibrosis by maintaining a balance between pathways that both initiate and arrest lung repair and cell movement. Studies conducted by third parties have shown decreased levels of Cav1 in patients whose cells contain WT p53,with IPF and the development of fibrosis in Cav1 knock-out models of fibrosis. Furthermore, we initiated our have conducted in vitro and animal model tests with LTI-03 in which we have observed a reduction in numerous pro-fibrotic signaling proteins. In analyzing fibrotic activity in a sample precision cut lung slice, or PCLS, tissue from an end stage IPF lung, LTI-03 demonstrated a broad anti-fibrotic activity similar to that of nintedanib in a single patient sample and composite of six patient samples.

In additional PCLS testing of end stage IPF lungs with LTI-03, we observed increased viable AEC2s that are important for epithelial regeneration and proper lung function. We believe that this protection of AEC2s has the potential to improve IPF patients’ underlying disease.

6


The soluble Receptor of Advanced Glycation End-products, or sRAGE, is a prognostic marker of IPF disease progression and is produced by AEC1s. Low levels of sRAGE at diagnosis predict poor survival in IPF and as IPF patients’ disease worsens, sRAGE declines. In further testing of PCLS tissue, LTI-03 administration demonstrated an increase in sRAGE versus untreated control samples. We believe the increase in sRAGE provides further evidence of increased AEC2 survival, possibly leading to greater AEC1 production and thus overall epithelial cell survival, and therefore the elevation of sRAGE levels after administration of LTI-03 in the PCLS model may indicate a beneficial impact of LTI-03 in treating IPF patients.

Phase 11a Clinical Trial

We completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 1a clinical trial of LTI-03 in healthy volunteers in the UK. The primary objective of this trial was to determine the safety and Phase 1b trialstolerability of single and multiple ascending doses, SAD and MAD, respectively, of inhaled LTI-03. The secondary objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of SAD and MAD daily doses for 14 days of inhaled LTI-03.

In four SAD cohorts, 24 subjects were administered LTI-03 by inhalation at single doses of 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg. At the 80 mg dose, subjects in AML/MDSone cohort were administered four 20 mg capsules by inhalation and in a second cohort, subjects were administered eight 10 mg capsules by inhalation. Eight subjects in the combined SAD cohorts were administered a placebo. In the SAD cohorts, 21 of 24 subjects administered LTI-03 experienced treatment emergent adverse events, or TEAE, the most frequent of which were mild dry coughs related to LTI-03.

In two MAD cohorts, 12 subjects were administered LTI-03 by inhalation once daily for up to 14 days at 20 mg and 40 mg. Mild coughs, assessed as related to LTI-03, were the most frequent TEAEs occurring in 12 of 12 subjects over the course of the 14-day dosing period. Mild and related coughs occurred in three of the four subjects administered placebo. Other TEAEs occurring in more than one of the 12 subjects administered LTI-03 included sinus tachycardia, which is a fast increase in heart rate, in two subjects assessed as mild and not related in one and moderate and related in the other; chest discomfort in two subjects assessed as related and moderate in one and related and severe in the other; and labored breathing in two subjects assessed as related and moderate in one and related and severe in the other. During dosing in the second halfMAD cohort of 2016 as part40 mg of LTI-03, we placed the study on hold after one subject developed severe TEAEs and two other subjects developed moderate TEAEs secondary to pulmonary airflow limitations that appeared to be secondary to reversible airway obstruction. These events were considered related to LTI-03. All TEAEs were resolved within 24 hours.

Adverse findings in the MAD 40 mg cohort, and a re-evaluation of the dose rationale based on further analysis of in vitro and in vivo data, suggest that lower doses should be efficacious with an improved safety profile. The 20 mg and 40 mg doses evaluated are predicted to be 21- to 39-fold in excess of a plannedminimally efficacious dose. Based upon these MAD observations, three additional MAD cohorts of 2.5 mg administered once daily, 5 mg (two 2.5 mg capsules), and 10 mg (two 2.5 mg capsules dosed twice daily) were administered to 17 subjects for 14 days. In these lower dose cohorts, the most common TEAEs related to LTI-03 were mild coughs in 41% of subjects. The only other TEAEs occurring in more than one subject was mild throat irritation in two subjects that were assessed as related to LTI-03. The were no moderate, severe, or serious TEAEs assessed as related to LTI-03.

Upon review of pooled plasma samples from patients in all Phase 1/1a cohorts up to 20 mg, there was an increase in sRAGE from day 13 treatment compared to pre-treatment for patients who received LTI-03 compared to patients who received placebo.

Phase 1b Clinical Trial

We are currently recruiting patients for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 1b clinical trial program. In addition, compassionate use access to ALRN-6924 has been grantedof LTI-03 in IPF patients, which is being conducted at 11 centers in the form of three single-patient INDs.

If we see sufficient evidence of a therapeutic effectU.S., UK, Belgium, Germany and Australia. Patients in our Phase 2a PTCL trial or any future Phase 2 clinical trials of ALRN-6924, we plan to seek to meet with regulatory authorities to discuss the possibility of an expedited clinical development and regulatory pathway for ALRN-6924, including for PTCL the scope and timing of a single agent pivotal trial that may include between 80 and 120 patients. Based on the anticipated timing of our Phase 2a PTCL trial, and subject to the data from the trial we may seek discussions with the FDA regarding the registration pathwaywill either receive 5 mg (one 2.5 mg capsule dosed twice daily) of inhaled LTI-03, 10 mg of inhaled LTI-03 (two 2.5 mg capsules dosed twice daily), or placebo in three active dose patients to one placebo patient randomization for PTCL and the design of a single agent pivotal clinical trial as early as the fourth quarter of 2018.

Depending on the timing of the completion of and the results of our Phase 1 AML/MDS trial as a monotherapy and our Phase 1b AML/MDS trial as a combination therapy with Ara-C, we may determine to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial of ALRN-6924 for AML/MDS as a monotherapy and of ALRN-6924 as a combination therapy with Ara-C,14 days in each case, as early as the fourth quarter of 2018.

Clinical Development of ALRN-6924

We are currently conducting multiple clinical trials of ALRN-6924: our Phase 1 All-comers trial, our Phase 2a PTCL trial, our Phase 1 AML/MDS trial as a monotherapy and our Phase 1b AML/MDS trial as a combination therapy with Ara-C. Most of the patients in these trials have undergone multiple procedures and/or received a number of approved and experimental treatments.

13


In our Phase 1 All-comers trial and our Phase 2a PTCL trial, we are conducting preliminary assessments of anti-tumor activity or response to ALRN-6924 using standard tumor assessment methods including PET scans and computed tomography, or CT, imaging. We are measuring anti-tumor activity using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1, or RECIST 1.1 criteria, for patients with solid tumors and IWG 2014 criteria for patients with lymphomas, as a means to objectively evaluate whether a tumor has progressed, stabilized or shrunk. Patients in our Phase 2a PTCL trial are also being evaluated using the modified Cheson 2007 criteria, which are the response criteria used during the pivotal trials of other drugs that were approved by the FDA for the second-line treatment of PTCL prior to the adoption of the IWG 2014 criteria.

RECIST 1.1 criteria define disease progression and tumor response based on the sum of the longest diameters of a set of target tumor lesions identified when the patient enters the trial. Potential responses include complete responses, partial responses, stable disease or progressive disease. The IWG 2014 criteria provide clinicians guidelines to cover the use of a non-invasive imaging technique to measure and image lesions for assessing all types of lymphoma. Potential responses include complete responses, partial responses, stable disease and progressive disease.

In our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials, we are conducting preliminary assessments of anti-leukemic activity or response to ALRN-6924 using standard bone marrow assessment methods. We are measuring anti-leukemic activity using the modified IWG response criteria for patients with AML (Dohner 2010) and IWG criteria for patients with MDS (Cheson 2006), as a means to objectively evaluate whether the disease has progressed, stabilized or improved.

Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas

We are conducting a Phase 1 open-label, multi-center, two-arm trial of ALRN-6924 administered by intravenous infusion in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas that are refractory to or intolerant of standard therapy or for which no standard therapy exists. We initiated the trial in October 2014 and completed enrollment of the trial in January 2017 with a total of 71 patients enrolled. These patients have 24 different tumor types. Most of the patients have undergone multiple procedures and/or received a number of approved and experimental treatments.IPF patients. The trial was designed to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose, towill evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics,pharmacodynamic biomarker activity of LTI-03. We expect to report top-line data from the Phase 1b clinical trial in the third quarter of 2024.

7


LTI-01

LTI-01 is a scuPA for the treatment of LPE. Pleural effusion is defined by the build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity, predominantly resulting from pneumonia, and is considered loculated when fibrinous scar tissue forms, trapping the fluid and preventing drainage. LPE is an orphan disorder for which there are no currently approved therapeutics. LPEs are a frequent complication of pneumonia and develop from pockets of infected fluid, known as a complicated parapneumonic effusion, or PK,CPE, or if pus is present, known as an empyema. LPEs can result in pain, shortness of ALRN-6924breath and providecan rapidly lead to sepsis and death. CPE and empyema can be serious clinical problems which are associated with mortality of approximately 20%. Effective drainage of infected pleural effusions is essential for treatment. We believe over 60,000 cases of LPE associated with CPE and empyema are estimated to occur annually in the U.S. alone, and based upon our market research, over half of these patients are receiving off-label, intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy, or IPFT, which is the use of clot busting drugs injected locally into the pleural cavity to treat the LPEs. LTI-01 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and EU for treatment of empyema and Fast Track Designation in the U.S. for the investigation of LTI-01 for the treatment of infected, non-draining pleural effusion. In November 2020, we signed a preliminary assessmentregional licensing deal with Taiho for the rights to develop and commercialize LTI-01 in Japan. We received an up-front payment of anti-tumor$5.0 million and may receive a future milestone payment of $10.0 million, drug supply payments and royalties on drug sales upon approval and commercial launch in Japan.

Currently, there are no approved drug treatments for LPE. Given the risks of surgery and extensive days of hospitalization post-surgery, IPFT has been used off-label in patients with LPE to promote pleural drainage. Despite limited research of IPFT, tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, in combination with recombinant deoxyribonuclease, or DNase, has become the off-label standard of care for treating LPEs in many institutions. Similar to off label IPFT, LTI-01 works locally in the pleural space by breaking down the fibrinous scar tissue and allowing the trapped fluid to drain. We believe there are advantages possessed by LTI-01 over other fibrinolytics which arise from the resistance of LTI-01 to a protein which is the major inhibitor of fibrinolytic activity, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, or PAI-1. PAI-1 has been shown to suppress fibrinolytics like tPA by binding to them and inhibiting activity. TreatmentLTI-01, however, has demonstrated relative resistance to PAI-1 inhibition. Animal model studies, conducted by third parties, of PAI-1 inhibition showed LTI-01 to be active 24 hours post administration, while tPA was shown to be inactivated in as little as 40 minutes. We believe that this provides for a longer duration of activity, eliminates the need for repeated daily dosing, and could confer a lower risk of bleeding.

Based upon our Phase 2a and Phase 1b data and historical treatment data of LPE patients receiving off-label tPA with DNase in the U.S., we believe LTI-01 may be more beneficial to patients when compared to tPA with DNase in the treatment of LPE on dosing schedule, surgical referrals and safety profile. Furthermore, third party market research with physician interviews performed by MME, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indegene, Inc., suggests LTI-01 could potentially replace the use of tPA with DNase for LPE patients.

Phase 2a Clinical Trial

We completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2a clinical trial that was conducted at 36 centers in the U.S. to evaluate LTI-01 in patients with infected, non-draining pleural effusions. The primary endpoint in the trial was treatment failure, defined as death or referral to surgery by checklist within seven days from commencement of dosing. Secondary endpoints included length of hospital stay, incidence of bleeding and pain and volume of pleural fluid drainage. The trial evaluated 3 doses of LTI-01, 400,000, 800,000 or 1.2 million units compared to placebo in a three to one active to placebo randomization. Due to trial delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited shelf life of drug product, only 40 patients completed enrollment in the trial. There was not a statistically significant difference in the primary endpoint of treatment failure between treatment arms and the placebo arm. We believe this lack of significance was due to referral to surgery checklist limitations which allowed patients, including those on placebo, to be deemed a successful treatment while also receiving rescue treatment, defined as either surgery, off label IPFT or other intervention. Based upon a patient’s need for a rescue treatment, either surgery, off label IPFT or other intervention, 60.0% and 55.5% of patients in the trial will continue until documentation400,000 and 800,000 dosing arms, respectively, did not require rescue treatment to resolve their LPE. However, 27.3% of progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or patient or physician decision to discontinue study medication. As of February 26, 2018, five patients continued to receive treatment in the trial with an average and median time on treatment of 685 and 651 days, respectively.

The trial uses a “3+3” dose escalation design. For the first two dose levels, patients received ALRN-6924 once a week for three consecutive weeks over a 28-day cycle. After the first two dose levels, patients were included in one of two arms. In Arm A, patients receive ALRN-6924 once a week for three consecutive weeks over a 28-day cycle (days 1, 8 and 15), with doses ranging from 0.64 mg/kg to 4.4 mg/kg. Patients in Arm B receive a lower dose level twice a week for two consecutive weeks over a 21-day cycle (days 1, 4, 8 and 11), with doses ranging from 0.32 mg/kg to 2.7 mg/kg. Arm A, with its less frequent dosing and higher peak levels of ALRN-6924, and Arm B, with its more frequent dosing and more continuous exposure to ALRN-6924, provided us with PK information, safety profiles and preliminary clinical activity data that informed the dose selection for our Phase 2a trial. Of the 71 patients in the trial, 41 patients received treatment in the first two dose levels and Arm A, and 30 patients received treatment in Arm B. Of the five patients who remained on trial as of February 26, 2018, three patients are receiving treatment in Arm A and two are receiving treatment in Arm B.

Starting with the fourth dose level (1.25 mg/kg in Arm A and 0.53 mg/kg in Arm B), patients were required to test positive for WT p53 through next-generation sequencing in order to participate in the trial and patients who had cancers with known human papilloma virus, or HPV, association were excluded from enrollment because HPV is known to destroy WT p53. Because we startedplacebo dosing at relatively low dose levels, the protocolgroup did not require patientsa rescue treatment to resolve their LPE. Moreover, the 400,000 and 800,000 dosing arms showed a meaningful reduction in the first three dose levels to have WT p53 or have cancers that are not associatedvolume of pleural fluid drainage, a secondary endpoint. LTI-01 was well tolerated with HPV.no safety signals of concern.

8


14


To identify WT p53 patients in this trial, we relied upon commercially available third-party assays and also employed a central laboratory to conduct next generation sequencing on archived tumor tissue samples or fresh biopsy samples from patients taken prior to enrollment. Even though we did not require confirmation of WT p53 in patients prior to enrollment for the initial three dose levels (dose groups 1, 2, 3a and 3b), we attempted to establish WT p53 status through testing after enrollment. Five of the 13 patients enrolled in those three dose levels who completed at least one cycle were confirmed to have WT p53 status.

In the trial, we are seeking a preliminary assessment of anti-tumor activity or response to ALRN-6924 through the use of standard imaging assessments methods. Imaging is performed at the end of the second cycle and every two cycles thereafter in Arm A, or approximately within 56 days following initial dosing. Patients in Arm B are measured at the end of the third cycle and every three cycles thereafter, or approximately within 63 days following initial dosing. We are measuring anti-tumor activity using RECIST 1.1 criteria for patients with solid tumors and the IWG criteria (Cheson 2014) for patients with lymphomas, as a means to objectively evaluate whether a tumor has progressed, stabilized or shrunk.

In the trial, we are also seeking a preliminary assessment of the effect of ALRN-6924 on biomarkers. Biomarkers provide us with information as to on-target activity, specific patient type response and early insight as to effect on tumor. We are assessing the effect of ALRN-6924 on potential biomarkers in different sources of biological samples, such as tumor biopsies, circulating tumor cells where detectable, mononuclear blood cells and blood samples. Dependent on the sample type, those biomarkers may include measures of MDMX, MDM2, p21, p53, apoptosis and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1, or MIC-1 as well as other genetic features of tumor cells. We believe that by evaluating these biomarkers, we may be able to develop a better understanding of the on-target effect, as well as support our understanding of potential future trial designs for ALRN-6924.

Based on the results of thethis trial, we concluded that the recommended Phase 2 dose and dosing schedule for ALRN-6924 was administration of a 3.1 mg/kg infusion once per week.

Clinical Activity

We enrolled 71 patients in the trial, 63 of whom are evaluable. As of February 26, 2018, of the 63 evaluable patients, 30 patients (or 48%) demonstrated disease control consisting of two patients who achieved complete responses, two patients who achieved partial responses and 26 patients who achieved stable disease, with 46% of the stable disease patients experiencing shrinkage of the tumor. We are also aware of a third patient who, approximately 11 months after discontinuing ALRN-6924 and leaving the trial, was determined to have a response that may have qualified as a complete response if observed within the trial. The investigator for such patient has advised us that the patient did not receive any other anti-cancer therapy following discontinuation of ALRN-6924 and attributed the response to ALRN-6924. For patients to be evaluable, they had to have received at least one dose of study medication and have undergone at least one tumor imaging with CT per protocol post-baseline or have experienced clinical progression as determined by the investigator without formal imaging. Of the 71 enrolled patients, eight patients were not evaluable because they had discontinued treatment without an efficacy assessment, including two patients who discontinued treatment due to adverse events, three patients who discontinued treatment due to noncompliance, and three patients who withdrew their informed consent.

15


The anti-tumor activity for patients in our Phase 1 All-comers trial is shown in the “waterfall” plot below. In this figure, the percent change in tumor volume for each evaluable patient is plotted from highest to lowest value, or worst to best response, and each bar of the histogram colored by the best overall response measured for that patient per RECIST 1.1 or IWG criteria. The “waterfall” plot only shows the results for 60 of the 63 evaluable patients as of February 26, 2018. Two patients did not have RECIST-compliant data and one patient had a brain lesion, which cannot be shown on the plot below.

16


We also evaluated the anti-tumor activity in our Phase 1 All-comers trial in a subset of WT p53 patients who were treated at doses of at least 0.8 mg/kg per administration, which we believe to be the minimal clinically relevant dose in this trial. For this purpose, we excluded patients who were mutant p53 patients and patients who received doses at one of the three lowest dose levels in the trial of ALRN-6924, as we do not believe that these doses are relevant to the future clinical development of ALRN-6924. In this subset of 41 evaluable patients as of February 26, 2018, 39 are represented in the “waterfall” plot below as two patients with clinical or objective evidence of disease progression did not receive a scan. Of these 41 evaluable patients, 24 (or 59%) demonstrated disease control in at least one scan following the start of ALRN-6924 treatment, including two patients who achieved complete responses, two patients who achieved partial responses and 20 patients who achieved stable disease, with 55% of the patients with stable disease experiencing shrinkage of the tumor.

17


As of February 26, 2018, the median time on drug for all patients, including patients with mutant p53 status and patients dosed below the minimal clinically relevant level, was 53 days, with an average of 114 days, and a maximum for one patient of 981 days. In the figure below, the time-on-drug is shown for evaluable WT p53 patients in the clinically relevant subset who achieved a complete response, a partial response or stable disease as of February 26, 2018. In these 24 patients, as of February 26, 2018, the median time on drug was 120 days, with an average of 243 days, and a maximum for one patient of 981 days. As of February 26, 2018, six patients have been on drug for more than one year, five of them remain on ALRN-6924. Three of the four patients who have achieved a complete response or partial response since trial inception remain on ALRN-6924.

Safety Results

Based on safety data in our ongoing Phase 1 All-comers trial, we consider ALRN-6924 to be well tolerated by patients in that trial. Across all dose levels as of February 26, 2018, treatment-related adverse events were seen in 69 patients (97%). Of these 69 patients, 54 (78%) reported maximum treatment-related adverse events of grade 1 or 2, 13 (16%) reported maximum treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 and two (3%) reported maximum treatment-related adverse events of grade 4. Fewer than 5% of patients experienced a treatment-related serious adverse event. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were gastrointestinal side effects, fatigue, anemia and headache. Dose limiting toxicities, or DLTs, were grade 3 fatigue at 3.1 mg/kg, and grade 3 hypotension, grade 3 alkaline phosphatase elevation, grade 3 anemia and grade 4 neutropenia at 4.4 mg/kg, all in five patients in Arm A. All DLTs resolved following dose interruption, dose reduction or treatment discontinuation. Infusion-related reactions were seen in six patients, with two treatment discontinuations.

18


The table below shows the number of patients and percent of the 71 total patients across all dose levels of our Phase 1 All-comers trial experiencing a hematological abnormality as of February 26, 2018. Notably, only three patients (less than 5% in total) have experienced neutropenia of grade 3 or worse, and no patients have experienced thrombocytopenia of grade 3 or worse.

 

Anemia, Grade*

 

Lymphocytopenia, Grade*

Neutropenia, Grade*

Thrombocytopenia, Grade*

 

1

 

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

 

31 

(43.7%)

 

26 

(36.6%)

(7.0%)

0

 

(5.6%)

21 

(29.6%)

(9.9%)

(4.2%)

(2.8%)

(5.6%)

(1.4%)

(2.8%)

24 

(33.8%)

1

 (1.4%)

0

 

0

 

*

Number (%) of patients in our Phase 1 All-comers trial with hematological abnormalities

Pharmacokinetic Profile

We chose to deliver ALRN-6924 systemically in an intravenous administration given potential advantages of avoiding metabolic impact from hepatic and gastrointestinal enzymes as well as reproducible systemic bioavailability. In our Phase 1 All-comers trial, we measured drug concentrations in patient plasma as we increased the dose. As shown in the figure below (for the once-weekly arm), ALRN-6924 produced a dose-related increase in maximum drug plasma concentration in patients, as well as a longer corresponding half-life, up to 5.5 hours at the recommended Phase 2 dose of 3.1 mg/kg.

Clinical Development Plan

Based on the preliminary clinical data from the Phase 1 All-comers trial, we determined to pursue a broad registration-oriented clinical development program for ALRN-6924 in multiple solid tumor and hematological cancer indications that commonly present WT p53. We have chosen to initially evaluate ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy in relapsed and/or refractory PTCL patients whose cells contain WT p53 and in AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53 both as a monotherapy and in combination with Ara-C. We plan to conduct, alone or in collaboration with third parties, additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, as warranted by the clinical data. The goal

19


of these clinical trials will be to broaden the application of ALRN-6924 by studying safetyand potential anti-tumor activity in additional distinct subgroups of patients with specific solid tumors or hematological malignancies that commonly present with WT p53, such as certain leukemias, breast cancers and melanomas. In addition, because many approved drugs and drug candidates for cancer require a functioning p53 pathway, we have expanded and advanced our non-clinical research to test a variety of approved drugs in combination with ALRN-6924 including immune-oncology agents, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and traditional chemotherapeutic agents for solid and liquid tumors. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with a wide variety of conventional and novel therapies. We currently expect to provide an update on our non-clinical research and development plans for our ALRN-6924 combination studies during the second half of 2018. Subject to the results of our ongoing research and obtaining additional funding, we expect to conduct oneinvestigate LTI-01 in an additional Phase 2 dose-ranging, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a lower dose to establish efficacy and safety.

Phase 1b Clinical Trial

We completed a first-in-human, open-label, dose escalation Phase 1b safety, tolerability and proof of mechanism trial of LTI-01 in 14 LPE patients presenting with pneumonia and CPE or more additionalempyema. The Phase 1b clinical trialstrial was conducted at seven clinical centers in Australia and New Zealand. LTI-01 was administered intrapleurally once per day for up to three consecutive days at doses ranging from 50,000 units to 800,000 units. At the doses tested, LTI-01 was well tolerated and there were no safety signals of ALRN-6924concern. Moreover, no local or systemic bleeding was observed. All adverse events observed were considered unrelated to the study drug.

LTI-01 showed preliminary signs of efficacy, with reductions in combinationpleural opacity and declines in pleural infection indicators. Preliminary efficacy findings included signs of successful treatment of the underlying infectious process with our anti-cancer agents as early asdecreased C-reactive protein, or CRP, levels and total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, drainage of the first half of 2019.infected pleural fluid and decreases in pleural opacity. These results suggest that LTI-01 clears scar tissue with once-a-day dosing for three days and promotes fluid drainage around the lungs without bleeding and other side effects.

Peripheral T-Cell LymphomaPreclinical Programs

We have multiple programs in preclinical development. We are conducting a Phase 2a open label, multi-center clinical trial of ALRN-6924developing LTI-05, an epithelial sodium channel, or ENaC, inhibitor, in WT p53 patients who have relapsed/refractory PTCL after at least one prior systemic chemotherapy. In determining to evaluate ALRN-6924 in PTCL, we considered our preclinical results, data from our Phase 1 All-comers trial, and published literature regarding the role of p53 in T-cell related malignancies.

Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer and it primarily occurs when lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, grow abnormally and accumulate in one or more lymph nodes. The body has two main types of lymphocytes that can develop into lymphomas: B-lymphocytes, or B-cells, and T-lymphocytes, or T-cells. PTCL comprises a group of rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, or NHL, that develop from mature T-cells. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PTCL accounts for approximately 10% to 15% of all NHL cases in the United States, which suggests that 7,200 to 10,800 new cases of PTCL are diagnosed in the United States annually. In a study by the International T-cell Lymphoma Project, overall survival in the most common subtypes of PTCL, PTCL not otherwise specified (NOS) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, at five years was only 32%.

For most subtypes of PTCL, the front-line treatment is typically a combination chemotherapy regimen, such as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin), or other multi-drug chemotherapeutic regimens. While over 50% of patients initially respond to these chemotherapeutic regimens, many patients with PTCL do not respond to these regimens or, after initially responding, later relapse. For second-line treatment, some oncologists recommend treating relapsed patients with a variety of intensive combination chemotherapy therapies, such as ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide), followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. Alternatively, patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL may be treated with the chemotherapeutic antifolate pralatrexate (Folotyn), the anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) or the histone deacetylase, or HDAC, inhibitors romidepsin (Istodax) and belinostat (Beleodaq) or a combination of a chemotherapy and one of the HDAC inhibitors. However, these treatments also have demonstrated limited efficacy and tolerability. We are also aware of additional product candidates that are in clinical developmentlead optimization for the treatment of PTCL.

We enrolled the first patientcystic fibrosis, or CF, that has demonstrated sodium channel inhibition and localized activity in preclinical studies. In addition, we are developing a systemic formulation of a proprietary Cav1-related peptide to be utilized for patients where a systemic delivery would be ideal. Cav1, from which LTI-03 is derived, has been widely studied for its role in the Phase 2a PTCL trialregulation of cell signaling and endocytosis and, we believe, restores balance by regulating aberrant cell signaling. Cav1 has been demonstrated to be deficient in August 2016multiple fibrotic organs in preclinical models. Independent preclinical research and planour preclinical research have demonstrated the potential of a Cav1-related peptide to enroll approximately 25 patientstreat fibrosis in the trial. We are conducting the Phase 2a PTCL trial to provide preliminary insight into the responsiveness of this patient population to ALRN-6924, to evaluate its safety and confirm the optimal dosing regimen. The primary endpoint of this trial is overall response rate as well as the safety and tolerability of ALRN-6924 in relapsed/refractory PTCL patients. Important secondary endpoints are the duration of response, progression-free and overall survival as well as time-to-response. Treatment of patients will continue until documentation of unacceptable toxicity or patient or physician decision to discontinue therapy, or disease progression that is either symptomatic, rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, or associated with a decline in performance status.

In the first cohort of the Phase 2a PTCL trial, patients received a 3.1 mg/kg dose of ALRN-6924 on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle, with scans being performed after every two cycles. As of February 26, 2018, we had administered ALRN-6924 to 16 patients in accordance with this dosing regimen including one PTCL patient enrolled in the Phase 1 All-comers trial who received ALRN-6924 using the same dosing regimen, and 14 of these

20


patients were evaluable. Of the evaluable patients, six patients (or 43%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of two patients who achieved complete responses, one patient who achieved a partial response and three patients who achieved stable disease, with all of the stable disease patients experiencing tumor shrinkage. As of February 26, 2018, two patients remained on treatment with this dosing regimen. These patients were the two patients who achieved complete responses. The average time on treatment for these two patients as of February 26, 2018 was 594 days. Of the two non-evaluable patients, one was not evaluable due to non-measurable disease and one was not evaluable because the patient had cells that contained mutant p53.

In the trial, the patients’ tumors were assessed for purposes of the primary endpoint by the investigator using PET/CT scans per IWG 2014, criteria. In reviewing the data, we identified a number of instances where the assessment using PET/CT scans per IWG 2014 criteria differed from the assessments using CT scans alone. Accordingly, we conducted an independent evaluation of each of the evaluable patients using an independent radiologist who applied the modified Cheson 2007 set of criteria, which are the response criteria used during the pivotal trials of certain other drugs that were approved by the FDA for the second-line treatment of PTCL prior to the adoption of the IWG 2014 criteria. Using the modified Cheson 2007 criteria, 15 of the patients were evaluable, of whom seven patients (or 47%) demonstrated disease control, consisting of one patient who achieved a complete response, three patients who achieved partial responsesorgans, including kidney, heart and three patients who achieved stable disease with all of the stable disease patients experiencing tumor shrinkage. Three patients who otherwise would have been removed from the study based on a PET/CT-determined disease progression, continued on treatment per their treating physician, and two of these patients achieved partial responses and one achieved stable disease based on the modified Cheson 2007 criteria. The one non-evaluable patient was not evaluable because the patient had cells that contained mutant p53.

We plan to continue to assess patientsskin. This preclinical program is currently in the trial using both the IWG 2014 and the modified Cheson 2007 evaluation criteria and, prior to commencing future trials of ALRN-6924, to discuss with the FDA the appropriate evaluation criteria to be used in the trials. We believe, however, that whether assessed using either criteria, the preliminary response rate (21% or 27%) that we have observed in the trial at this point is generally in line with the overall response rates reported for romidepsin (Istodax). To date, ALRN-6924 has been well-tolerated by patients in the Phase 2 trial and its safety profile remains consistent with the profile observed in our Phase 1 All-comers trial.formulation development stage.

Manufacturing

We are also exploring a new dosing regimen in our Phase 2a PTCL trial under which patients in the trial receive three doses of 3.1 mg/kg per week, followed by two weeks off in a 21-day cycle. We are evaluating this new dosing regimen to assess whether a more frequent dosing regimen could improve the response rate of ALRN-6924 while still maintaining a favorable safety profile. We based our determination to explore this dosing regimen on our ongoing non-clinical research as well as the tolerability of ALRN-6924 observed in our clinical trials. We enrolled our first patient under this dosing regimen in February 2018 and enrollment is ongoing. We expect to report additional interim data from the trial, including from patients in the second cohort who receive the three doses per week, in the second half of 2018. Based on the anticipated timing of our Phase 2a PTCL trial, and subject to the data from the trial as well as other strategic considerations, we may seek discussions with the FDA regarding the possibility of an expedited clinical development and registration pathway for ALRN-6924 in PTCL patients and the design of a single agent pivotal clinical trial as early as the fourth quarter of 2018.

AML/MDS

We are conducting a Phase 1 open label, multi-center clinical trial of ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy for the treatment of AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53 and a Phase 1b open label, multi-center clinical trial of ALRN-6924 in combination with Ara-C for the treatment of AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53. In determining to evaluate ALRN-6924 in AML/MDS, we considered our preclinical results, published literature regarding the role of p53 in AML and MDS, that AML has recently been reported to respond to single agent therapy with MDM2 inhibitors in clinical trials conducted by third parties, and data from our first compassionate use patient.

21


AML is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized primarily by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that build up in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. The American Cancer Society, or ACS, estimates for 2018 that there will be 19,500 new cases of AML and 10,700 deaths from AML in the United States. Survival is age-dependent and survival rates are extremely poor for the elderly. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, in the United States, while the five-year relative survival for AML patients age 20 to 49 years is 55%, it is only 6% for patients that are 65 years or older. MDS is a group of diverse bone marrow disorders in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. MDS is often referred to as a “bone marrow failure disorder”. The ACS estimates that there are 13,000 new MDS cases each year in the United States. AML and MDS are often treated similarly in clinical practice because both disorders can originate from the same cell type and have numerous other features in common. As a result, it is difficult to distinguish between AML and MDS. Irrespective of diagnostic challenges, about one third of MDS patients progress to AML.

The front-line treatment for patients with AML has typically been a combination chemotherapy, consisting of intensive Ara-C-based induction chemotherapy followed by Ara-C-based consolidation therapy. Because Ara-C-based induction chemotherapies have significant toxicities, elderly patients with AML typically do not qualify for standard Ara-C-based induction chemotherapy. However, in 2017, the FDA approved a liposomal formulation of a fixed-dose combination of Ara-C and daunorubicin (Vyxeos) which showed superior overall survival in elderly AML patients. Still, the primary treatment for the majority of elderly patients remains palliative and as such elderly patients are treated with palliative measures encompassing best supportive care, low-dose Ara-C, or hypomethylating agents such as decitabine (Dacogen) or azacitidine (Vidaza), or they are referred to clinical trials with investigational agents. Once elderly patients experience disease progression following their initial treatment, they have a very poor expected survival rate and treatment represents a significant medical challenge. Many elderly patients go untreated after failure of these treatment options. In 2017, four products were approved specifically for AML (daunorubicin and cytarabine (Vyxeos), midostaurin (Rydapt), enasidenib (Idhifa), and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg)). Vyxeos, Rydapt and Mylotarg were approved for first-line treatment, and Idhifa and Mylotarg are approved for second-line treatment. To date, the majority of elderly patients still proceed to go on to palliative care after exhausting these newly approved agents.

We are conducting a Phase 1 open label, multi-center clinical dose-escalation trial of ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy for the treatment of AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53. We enrolled the first patient in the fourth quarter of 2016 and had enrolled a total of 14 patients into the 1x/week dose-escalation part of the trial as of February 26, 2018. The trial is intended to establish the recommended Phase 2 dose of ALRN-6924 in patients with AML or MDS. The trial is also designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and PK of ALRN-6924 in patients with AML or MDS and provide a preliminary assessment of anti-leukemic activity. The trial uses a 3+3 dose escalation design. In the one-time per week dose escalation part of the trial patients have received ALRN-6924 once a week for three consecutive weeks over a 28-day cycle. We treated the first cohort of patients with a dose of 3.1 mg/kg per infusion of ALRN-6924, and subsequently increased the dose up to 5.8 mg/kg per infusion without recording any DLTs.

We are also conducting a Phase 1b open label, multi-center clinical dose-escalation trial of ALRN-6924 in combination with Ara-C for the treatment of AML or MDS patients whose cells contain WT p53. We enrolled the first patient in the fourth quarter of 2016 and completed the original enrollment plan. The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and PK of ALRN-6924 in combination with Ara-C in patients with AML or MDS and provide a preliminary assessment of anti-leukemic activity. The trial uses a 3+3 dose escalation design. Patients receive ALRN-6924 in combination with Ara-C once a week for three consecutive weeks over a 28-day cycle. We treated the first cohort of patients in the trial with an initial dose of 3.1 mg/kg plus 100 mg/m2 of Ara-C and subsequently increased the dose up to 4.4 mg/kg per infusion of ALRN-6924 plus 200 mg/m2 of Ara-C. We are currently seeking to enroll one or more additional patients in the ALRN-6924 4.4 mg/kg plus 200 m/m2 Ara-C cohort. We expect to complete enrollment of this cohort in the second quarter of 2018.

As of February 26, 2018, we had enrolled a total of 33 patients in the trials, of whom 26 were evaluable consisting of 11 patients in the Phase 1 monotherapy trial and 15 patients in the Phase 1b combination trial. As of February 26, 2018, six of the patients in the trials remained on treatment. Of the 26 evaluable patients, two MDS patients achieved marrow complete responses, including one patient who proceeded to receive a stem cell transplant, and five MDS patients achieved stable disease. Three of the 26 evaluable AML/MDS patients experienced a reduction of bone marrow blasts ranging from 40% to 50%. Each of the patients with the marrow complete responses participated in the 4.4 mg/kg of ALRN-6924 plus 200 mg/m2of Ara-C cohort. Five patients received

22


treatment in this cohort as of February 26, 2018.To date, we have observed a safety profile in this patient population in this trial that is similar to the safety profile of ALRN-6924 seen in our other clinical trials.

In addition to meeting our initial AML/MDS Phase 1 and Phase 1b enrollment targets, we are currently exploring a new three times per week dosing regimen in the Phase 1 trial. Under the new dosing regimen, patients receive ALRN-6924 (starting at 2.7 mg/kg) three times a week for two consecutive weeks, followed by one week off, for a 21-day cycle. We are evaluating this new dosing regimen to assess whether more frequent dosing could improve the response rate of ALRN-6924 while still maintaining a favorable safety profile. We based our determination to explore this dosing regimen on our ongoing non-clinical research including research conducted by us and our collaborators that was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology or ASH in December 2017 as well the tolerability of ALRN-6924 observed in our clinical trials. In February 2018, we enrolled our first patient in this new dosing regimen and expect to complete enrollment in the second half of 2018. Depending on the timing of the completion of and the results of our Phase 1 AML/MDS trial as a monotherapy and our Phase 1b AML/MDS trial as a combination therapy with Ara-C, we may determine to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial of ALRN-6924 for AML/MDS as a monotherapy and of ALRN-6924 as a combination therapy with Ara-C, in each case, as early as the fourth quarter of 2018. In April 2017, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to ALRN-6924 for use in the treatment of AML.

In both trials, treatment of patients continues until documentation of progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or patient or physician decision to discontinue study medication. Bone marrow assessments for hematologic response are performed at the end of every second cycle for AML patients, at the end of every third cycle (once a week dosing regimens) or second cycle (three times a week dosing regimen) for MDS patients, and at the end of study or at relapse for both AML and MDS patients. If peripheral blood counts change in a manner suggestive of change in the underlying disease, a bone marrow assessment may be conducted outside the scheduled visits at the discretion of the investigator.

Additional Combination Trials

A standard treatment practice in oncology is the use of multiple agents in combination regimens to improve patient outcomes. Since many approved drugs and drug candidates for cancer require a functioning p53 pathway, we have expanded and advanced our non-clinical research to test a variety of approved drugs in combination with ALRN-6924 including immune-oncology agents, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and traditional chemotherapeutic agents for solid and liquid tumors. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with a wide variety of conventional and novel therapies. We currently expect to provide an update on our non-clinical research and development plans for our ALRN-6924 combination studies during the second half of 2018. Subject to the results of our ongoing research and obtaining additional funding, we expect to conduct one or more additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in combination with other anti-cancer agents as early as the first half of 2019.

Our preclinical in-vitro data and recent published data indicate that there may be synergy between p53-reactivating therapy and different anti-cancer agents, such as targeted therapies and chemotherapy. In addition to our AML/MDS combination study, we may also conduct additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 in combination with other anti-cancer agents. We believe the mechanism of action and safety profile of ALRN-6924 may provide the potential for its combination with conventional and novel therapies. Prior to commencing these trials, we are conducting preclinical studies of ALRN-6924 in combination with these other anti-cancer agents in in vitro studies and, where appropriate, subsequently in in vivo xenograft studies to evaluate activity and tolerability of individual combinations with ALRN-6924.

23


Some of our studies combining ALRN-6924 with other anti-cancer agents have shown the potential benefits of combination therapy. In in vitro testing, we have investigated the combination of more than 20 drugs with ALRN-6924, including drugs that target a variety of pathways mediated by p53, including MAPK, mTOR and CDK4/6 inhibitors, and traditional chemotherapeutic agents, including demethylating agents, such as rituximab (Rituxan ® ), obinutuzumab (Gazyva ® ), palbociclib (Ibrance ® ), everolimus (Afinitor ® ), dabrafenib (Tafinlar ® ), vemurafenib (Zelboraf ® ), capecitabine (Xeloda ® ) and triflurdine/tipiracil (Lonsurf ® ). The results indicate that almost all of the selected drugs are additive or synergistic with ALRN-6924 in vitro, with the exception of dexamethasone, which was expected to have no effect on ALRN-6924 activity. To date, no antagonism of any tested drugs with ALRN-6924 was found.

Companion Diagnostic

If we decide to seek marketing approval of ALRN-6924 with a label limited to WT p53 cancer patients, we would be required to have a companion in vitro diagnostic approved for use with ALRN-6924. We would also expect that we would be required to obtain similar approvals from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. In such cases, we will need to contract with a third party for the supply of a commercially available diagnostic to identify patients with WT p53 status, or develop such a diagnostic ourselves or in collaboration with a third party, in each case requiring approval of the diagnostic by regulatory authorities. We are currently evaluating the risks and benefits of each approach. We currently rely upon commercially available third-party assays and employ a central laboratory to test both archived tumor tissue samples and fresh biopsy samples from patients taken prior to enrollment in our clinical trials to identify WT p53 status.

Preclinical Studies

We conducted several in vivo and in vitro studies of ALRN-6924 that informed our approach to the design of our clinical trials and provided safety information needed to initiate patient selection and dosing in our trials. In these preclinical studies, ALRN-6924 bound to both MDMX and MDM2 with nanomolar affinities, indicating a high level of binding between ALRN-6924 and these proteins, and demonstrated evidence of specific on-target engagement in vitro by gene expression profiling. In addition, ALRN-6924 demonstrated tumor growth suppression, p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and anti-tumor activity in an MDMX/MDM2-overexpressing xenograft cancer model with clear correlation to on-target PK and pharmacodynamic activity.

ALRN-6924 has also been studied in a patient with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome who was suffering from MDS who was transforming into AML, and who was concurrently suffering from breast cancer, under a single-patient emergency IND, or compassionate use. With respect to this patient, after harvesting leukemic cells as well as healthy control lymphocytes, the investigator measured intracellular protein levels of p53 and its downstream effector p21, in the patient’s cells. Treatment with ALRN-6924 resulted in a 10-fold increase of intracellular levels of p53 and p21 within 12 hours in the leukemic stem cell compartment, whereas control healthy lymphocytes did not show any meaningful increase in p53 or p21 protein levels.

In Vitro

We conducted a p53 signal activation preclinical study to determine if ALRN-6924 has a differential effect on cancer cell lines with mutant p53 compared to WT p53. In the study, we measured the effect of ALRN-6924 in 312 cell lines across a variety of different cancers to compare the effect of ALRN-6924 in cell lines with mutant p53 and cell lines with WT p53. In all but two of the 207 mutant p53 cell lines, ALRN-6924 had no discernable effect, but 98 of the 105 WT p53 cell lines showed tumor cell death and seven of the 105 WT p53 cell lines did not show tumor cell death. Five of the seven WT p53 cell lines that did not show tumor cell death were derived from HPV-related cancers. We believe these HPV-derived cell lines were not responsive due to the presence of HPV-generated protein that destroys p53. By concentrating on WT p53 and responsive tumors, we believe we are better able to enrich for patient populations that may have a better chance of response to ALRN-6924. We used the results from this preclinical study to inform entry criteria in our ongoing Phase 1 All-comers trial. The figure below shows the results from this study.

24


In another preclinical study, we measured the binding affinity of ALRN-6924 for MDMX and MDM2 relative to the binding affinity for MDMX and MDM2 of WT p53 and of a small molecule MDM2 inhibitor. The affinity of a drug to a receptor is the measure of how effectively that drug binds to its target and can provide insight on the potential for on-target effect and off-target toxicity. We have designed ALRN-6924 to bind to both MDMX and MDM2 with higher affinity than WT p53. As a result, ALRN-6924 is able to displace MDMX and MDM2, and thereby enable bound p53 to be released to reactivate p53 function. In this study, the MDM2 inhibitor displayed strong binding affinity to MDM2 and non-measurable binding affinity to MDMX. The table below shows ALRN-6924’s ability to bind to MDMX and MDM2 relative to WT p53 and the small molecule MDM2 inhibitor. Lower nanomolar concentrations (nM) in the table reflect a stronger binding affinity (K d ) with MDMX or MDM2.

In Vivo

In our in vivo preclinical studies of ALRN-6924, we have studied the effects of ALRN-6924 in both solid and liquid tumors. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ALRN-6924 administered by an intravenous injection in an MDMX-driven MCF-7 breast cancer xenograft model in mice. We further evaluated doses ranging from 1.25 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg, dosed twice weekly (BIW) over four weeks, to determine effect on tumor volume growth as measured by physical examination. ALRN-6924 showed statistically significant tumor growth inhibition at doses ranging from 5 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg 28 days after initiation of treatment. At 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg in this model, when measured against the control, we observed 55%, 84% and 102% tumor growth inhibition in each dose group, with 10%, 20% and 60% of individual mice demonstrating tumor shrinkage, respectively.

25


*

P-value is a conventional statistical method for measuring the statistical significance of scientific results. A p-value of 0.05 or less represents statistical significance, meaning that there is a 1-in-20 or less statistical probability that the observed results occurred by chance.

In a preclinical study, one of our academic collaborations assessed the activity of ALRN-6924 in eight TP53 wild-type patient-derived tumor models representing six different T-cell lymphoma subtypes and compared the efficacy of ALRN 6924 to the maximum tolerated dose of romidepsin. Mice were xenografted with tumor, allowed to develop significant disease burden and then randomized to treatment with vehicle, romidepsin or ALRN-6924 on Days 1, 4, and 7. As shown in the figure below, ALRN-6924 was broadly active across compartments in all eight models. The activity of ALRN 6924 was generally superior or similar to romidepsin.

26


In another preclinical study, immune compromised NSG mice were xenotransplanted with the MOLM13 AML cell line and then treated with either vehicle (Group 1), 20 mg/kg ALRN-6924 twice per week (Group 2), or 20 mg/kg ALRN-6924 three times per week (Group 3) for 5 weeks after tumor engraftment. Median survival for Group 1 and Group 2 was 34 days and 83 days, respectively (p<0.0001). Long term survival was assessed at 130 days post treatment initiation, with 22% of mice in Group 2 and 60% of mice in Group 3 still alive. These data show that ALRN-6924 has strong leukemia-inhibitory activity in an in vivo AML cell xenotransplantation model. Furthermore, these data suggest that more frequent dosing may be more efficacious.

In another preclinical study, we used an MV(4;11) human leukemia xenograft model in mice to assess the ability of ALRN-6924 to inhibit tumor growth and improve overall survival in AML. In this study, we administered a 25 mg/kg dose of ALRN-6924 in six twice weekly doses and compared the results to mice treated with only cyclophosphamide, the control group. Mice were monitored individually for an endpoint of survival due to progression of leukemia. Because all ten mice that received the control exited the study between days 21 and 28, we believe that this study offered a sensitive assay for drug activity. Treatment with ALRN-6924 resulted in median overall survival of 40 days as compared to 22 days for untreated mice, an 82% increase for those receiving ALRN-6924. In our view, these results, among others, supported our belief that ALRN-6924 may potentially have an effect in liquid tumors with WT p53. The figure below shows the results of the preclinical study.

27


Next Generation WT p53 Reactivators

We intend to leverage the knowledge we have obtained from our ALRN-6924 development program to develop next generation p53 reactivating stapled peptides. We believe that specific changes in the chemical structures of our stapled peptides may engender our stapled peptides with varying affinities to MDMX and MDM2, enabling better targeting of cancers that are more dependent on one p53 suppressor protein or the other. In addition to novel chemical and anti-tumor properties, our next generation p53 program may also yield new chemical entities, or NCEs, with differential PK and safety profiles relative to ALRN-6924.

Other Targets

Based on our preclinical research, along with third-party scientific publications, we believe that stapled peptides may be effective against a variety of cancer targets, as well as targets in other therapeutic areas, such as infectious disease, metabolic disease and immunology. Pathways that incorporate protein-protein interactions with an alpha helix, and that, therefore, may be amenable to our approach and the focus of our future research, include p53 and may include other transcriptional factors and signaling proteins, such as Ras, which is implicated in colorectal cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, Myc, which is implicated in breast cancer and colorectal cancer, ß-Catenin, which is implicated in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, melanoma and breast cancer, among others, the Bcl family of proteins, which are implicated in hematologic cancers such as AML, MDS, NHL as well as melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer, among others and HIF-1a , which is implicated in diabetes and metabolic disease.

Since our inception, we have created over 10,000 stapled peptides against multiple targets in a variety of therapeutic areas. We believe that a number of these molecules and targets warrant further study and development and could, in the future, contribute to a pipeline of novel therapeutics. We recently expanded our internal research capability and support of research against other therapeutic targets. Subject to our resources, it is our intention to continue to make selective investments into early research programs as part of our ongoing research. Where we believe it will be beneficial to the success of the program, we also expect to seek academic and industry collaborations to advance this work.

Manufacturing

We currently manufacture our research-scale peptides in-house. We contract with third parties for the GMP manufacture of our product candidates for certain preclinical studies and clinical trial materials, including raw materials and consumables necessary for their manufacture. We intend to continue to contract for these materials in the future, including commercial manufacture if our product candidates receive marketing approval. We do not own or operate GMP manufacturing facilities nor do we currently plan to build our own GMP manufacturing capabilities for the production of any of our product candidates, for clinical or commercial use. Althoughnor do we have plans to develop our own manufacturing operations in the foreseeable future. We currently rely, uponand expect to continue to rely, on third-party contract manufacturers for the manufacture of all our product candidates for IND-enabling studiespreclinical research and clinical trials, wetrials. We do not have personnellong-term agreements with extensive manufacturing experience who oversee ourany of these third-party contract manufacturers. In the future, we may also rely upon collaboration partners, in addition to contract manufacturers, for the manufacture

If any of our product candidates are approved by any regulatory agency, we intend to enter into agreements with a third-party contract manufacturer and one or more back-up manufacturers for the commercial production of our product candidates. Development and commercial quantities of any drugs that we develop will need to be manufactured in facilities, and by processes, that comply with the requirements of the FDA and the regulatory agencies of other jurisdictions in which we are seeking approval.

The risks associated with our reliance on third-party contract manufacturers are described in Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Sales and Marketing

We currently have no marketing, sales or distribution capabilities. In order to commercialize any products that are approved for commercial sale, we must either develop a sales and marketing infrastructure or collaborate with third parties that have sales and marketing experience. We may seek third-party support from established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for those products that would benefit from the promotional support of a large sales and marketing force. In these cases, we might seek to promote our products in collaboration with

9


marketing partners or rely on relationships with one or more companies with large established sales forces and distribution systems.

We may elect to establish our own sales force to market and sell a product for which we obtain marketing approval.

The active pharmaceutical ingredient,regulatory approval if we expect that the geographic market for a product we develop on our own is limited or API,that the prescriptions for ALRN-6924 is currently manufacturedthe product will be written principally by a single contract manufacturer. Althoughrelatively small number of physicians. If we may do so in the future,decide to market and sell any products ourselves, we do not currently have arrangements in placeexpect to establish direct sales capability until shortly before the products are approved for redundant supply of the API for ALRN-6924. We contract with a different manufacturer to conduct fill-and-finishcommercial sale.

Competition

The biotechnology and labeling services, as well as for the storage and distribution of ALRN-6924 to clinical sites. We believe that these third parties have sufficient capacity to meet our current demand and, in the event they fail to meet our demand, we believe that adequate alternative sources for the supply of materials for ALRN-6924 exist. We intend to identify and qualify additional manufacturers to provide the API and fill-and-finish services for ALRN-6924 prior to seeking marketing approval for ALRN-6924.

We believe that, because ALRN-6924 is a peptide, it can be manufactured through reliable and reproducible synthetic processes from readily available raw materials and then purified and packaged for clinical use. We believe that the chemistry process is amenable to scale-up and does not require unusual equipment in the manufacturing process.

28


We have agreed to purchase all of our olefin metathesis catalyst compositions, whichbiopharmaceutical industries are used in the manufacturing process to cross-link, or “staple,” our API precursors into the final stapled peptides, under a license agreement with Materia. If Materia is unable to meet our requirements for such olefin metathesis catalyst compositions in terms of amount or delivery date, then under the license agreement, we are permitted to procure such olefin metathesis catalyst compositions from a third party until such time that Materia can meet our requirements. In February 2017, we were advised that the license agreement had been assigned to Umicore, and Umicore agreed to continue to supply us under the agreement.

Manufacturing clinical products is subject to extensive regulations that impose various procedural and documentation requirements, which govern record keeping, manufacturing processes and controls, personnel, quality control and quality assurance. Our contract manufacturers are required to comply with current good manufacturing practice regulations, which are regulatory requirements for the production of pharmaceuticals that will be used in humans.

Competition

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries generally, and the cancer drug sector specifically, are highly competitive and characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, evolving understanding of disease etiologystrong competition and a strongan emphasis on proprietary drugs.products. While we believe that our product candidates, development capabilities,technology, knowledge, experience and scientific knowledgepersonnel provide us with competitive advantages, we face significant potentialsubstantial competition from many different sources, including majorlarger pharmaceutical companies with greater resources. Smaller specialty pharmaceuticalbiotechnology and biotechnologybiopharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies, andas well as public and private research institutions. Any product candidates that we successfully developinstitutions are also potential sources of competitive products and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.

There are a large number of companies developing or marketing treatments for cancer,technologies, including the indications for which we may develop product candidates. Many of the companies that we compete or may compete against in the future have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved drugs than we do. Small or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established biopharmaceutical companies. These competitorsWe also compete with usface competition in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registrationenrolling patients for clinical trials, as well as inand acquiring technologies complementary to, or that may be necessary for, our programs. We believe that the key competitive factors affecting the success of any of our product candidates will include efficacy, safety profile, convenience, method of administration, cost, level of promotional activity and intellectual property protection.

Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors developThere are a number of large biopharmaceutical and commercialize drugsbiotechnology companies that are safer, more effective, have fewercurrently pursuing the commercialization or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any drugsdevelopment of products for the treatment of fibrosis. Companies that we may develop.are aware of that are targeting the treatment of various fibrosis indications include larger companies with significant financial resources such as AbbVie Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Roche Holding AG, Novartis AG, and Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. However, we know of no other companies currently in clinical development with a drug therapeutic utilizing Cav1 and Cav1-related peptides.

Although our novel approach is unique from most other existing or investigational therapies across the disease areas where we are focusing our development, we will need to compete with currently approved therapies, and potentially those currently in development if they are approved. We are aware of several marketed and investigational products in our leading disease areas, including but not limited to:

IPF: There are currently two approved branded products for the treatment of IPF; Esbriet, marketed by Roche Holding AG, and Ofev, marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. Companies currently developing product candidates in IPF include AbbVie Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Avalyn Pharma, Inc., Roche Holding AG, Vicore Pharma Holding AB, Endeavor BioMedicines and PureTech Health plc.
LPE: There are currently no approved drug therapies for the treatment of LPE. Roche Holding AG manufactures tPA and DNase, which is used off-label to treat LPE. We are not aware of any other pharmaceutical nor biotechnology company developing drug therapies for the treatment of LPE.

The availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payors will also significantly affect the pricing and competitiveness of our product candidates, if approved for marketing. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their drugsproducts more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours,do, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. The key competitive factors affecting

Out-License Agreement

Agreement with Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

On November 12, 2020, Lung entered into a license agreement with Taiho, or the successTaiho Agreement, to collaborate on the development and potential commercialization of LTI-01. Under the terms of the Taiho Agreement,

10


Lung granted Taiho an exclusive, royalty-bearing license to develop, seek regulatory approval for and commercialize LTI-01 in Japan. We are obligated to conduct all development activities for LTI-01 through regulatory approval in the U.S. or other markets worldwide, except Japan, and retain the right to commercialize LTI-01 in all markets worldwide except Japan. Under the terms of the Taiho Agreement, we, in part through our product candidates, if approved, are likely to be their efficacy, safety, convenience, price,participation in a joint development committee with Taiho, will participate in overseeing the effectivenessdevelopment and commercialization of companion diagnosticsLTI-01 in guidingJapan.

In consideration for the use of related therapeutics, the level of generic competition and the availability of reimbursement from governmentexclusive, royalty-bearing license and other third-party payors.rights contained in the Taiho Agreement, Taiho made a non-refundable, non-creditable payment to Lung of $5.0 million. We are also eligible to receive an additional milestone payment of $10.0 million.

The most common methodsWe are entitled to receive a minimum percentage on product sales for commercial supply and royalties. In addition, we are entitled to receive royalties on net sales of treating patients with cancer are surgery, radiationLTI-01 in Japan. Royalties will be payable during the period commencing on the first commercial sale of LTI-01 in Japan and drug therapy. There are a variety of available drug therapies marketed for cancer. In many cases, these drugs are administered in combination to enhance efficacy. Someending upon termination or expiration of the currently approved drug therapies are branded and subject to patent protection and may be established as standardTaiho Agreement.

Unless earlier terminated, the Taiho Agreement will expire on the later of care for(i) 10 years after the treatmentdate of indications for which we may choose to seek regulatory approvals. Manyfirst commercial sale of these approved drugs are well-established therapies and are widely accepted by physicians, patients and third-party payors, and even if our drug candidates were to be approved, there can be no assurance that our drugs would displace existing treatments. In addition to currently marketed therapies, there are also a number of drugsLTI-01 in late-stage clinical development to treat cancer, including forJapan, (ii) the treatmentexpiration of the indications for which we are developing product candidates. These clinical-stage drug candidates may provide efficacy, safety, convenience and other benefits that are not provided by currently marketed therapies. As a result, they may provide significant competition forlast valid intellectual property claim of any of our patents, if any, that covers LTI-01 in Japan and (iii) the expiration of the regulatory data exclusivity in Japan. Taiho has the ability to extend the term of the Taiho Agreement upon notice at least 12 months prior to the expiration of the initial term. Upon this extension notice, we and Taiho will negotiate a revised minimum supply transfer price, royalty and length of the extension term. Taiho has the ability to terminate the Taiho Agreement early for safety reasons or if marketing approval in Japan has not occurred within three years of initial filing for approval in Japan.

In-License Agreements

Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

In June 2013, Lung entered into a patent and technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, or UT System, on behalf of University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, or UTHSCT. The patent and technology license agreement with UT System, or the UTHSCT Agreement, provides us access to patents and technology related to the development of LTI-01 and LTI-03. As part of the UTHSCT Agreement, we have (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the patent rights to manufacture, distribute, and sell certain intellectual property; (ii) a non-exclusive license under the technology rights to manufacture, distribute and sell the licensed product; and (iii) a sublicensing right that allows us to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product candidatesin the field of use and approved territories outlined in the UTHSCT Agreement. In December 2013, the UTHSCT Agreement was amended and restated to include certain patents in all fields worldwide. In May 2017, the UTHSCT Agreement was amended and restated to modify the specific milestone criteria.

In consideration of the UTHSCT Agreement, we granted UT System (via UTHSCT and UT Horizon Fund affiliates) (i) 2,000,000 shares of Lung common stock and (ii) 400,000 shares of Lung non-convertible preferred stock. On February 6, 2015, UT System exchanged the 400,000 shares of Lung non-convertible preferred stock for which4,000,000 shares of Lung common stock. In addition, Lung agreed to pay past and ongoing patent expenses, and we obtainowe UTHSCT sublicensing fees, assignment fees, and single digit royalties on worldwide net product sales, with fixed minimum royalty payments that started in 2015.

Pursuant to the UTHSCT Agreement, we are required to use diligent efforts to commercialize the licensed technology as soon as commercially practicable, including maintaining active research and development, regulatory, approval.marketing and sales program, all as commercially reasonable.

We may terminate the UTHSCT Agreement for convenience with 90 days’ notice. UTHSCT may also terminate the UTHSCT Agreement, but only if we breach the terms of the agreement.

29Agreement with the University of Texas at Austin

11


In May 2015, Lung entered into a patent license agreement with UT Austin on behalf of the UT System. This license agreement with UT Austin, or (the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, relates to the patent rights to polypeptide therapeutics and uses thereof. Pursuant to the UT Austin 6607 Agreement we have (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the patent rights to manufacture, distribute, and sell the licensed product; and (ii) a sublicensing right that allows us to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the agreement. The UT Austin 6607 Agreement was amended and restated in January 2017, November 2018, and June 2019. The amendments related to extension of milestone payment dates and specific terminology around the milestone achievement criteria.

In consideration of the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, Lung agreed to pay past and ongoing patent expenses, milestone fees upon certain development and regulatory milestone events, annual license fees, tiered sublicense fees, assignment fees, low single digit royalties on net sales and an FDA Priority Review Voucher fee if we sell or transfer this voucher.

Pursuant to the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, we are required to use diligent efforts to commercialize the licensed products, including maintaining active research and development, regulatory, marketing and sales program. Moreover, we are required to meet certain development and regulatory milestones by specific dates. We designed ALRN-6924,may terminate the UT Austin 6607 Agreement for convenience with 90 days’ notice. UT Austin may also terminate the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, but only if we breach the terms of the agreement.

Agreement with Medical University of South Carolina

In March 2016, Lung entered into a license agreement with Medical University of South Carolina Foundation for Research Development, or MUSC. Pursuant to this license agreement with MUSC, or the MUSC Agreement, we have patent rights related to protecting against lung fibrosis by up regulating Cav1. The MUSC Agreement granted (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the patent rights to make, use and sell the license product; and (ii) a sublicensing right that allows us to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the agreement. In September 2018, the agreement was amended and restated to include definitions of related methods, related products and related rights.

In consideration of the MUSC Agreement, Lung agreed to pay a non-refundable license fee, patent expenses, milestone fees upon certain development, regulatory and commercial milestone events, sublicense fees, assignment fees and low single digit royalties on net sales, with a fixed minimum royalty payment starting in 2019 and a transaction fee upon our leadliquidation.

Pursuant to the MUSC Agreement, we are required to use diligent efforts to develop, manufacture and sell the licensed products.

We may terminate the MUSC Agreement for convenience by providing a written notice to MUSC effective 90 days following the receipt of notice, and either party may terminate the agreement for a breach of contract.

Agreement with Vivarta Therapeutics LLC

In March 2018, Lung entered into a license agreement with Vivarta Therapeutics, LLC, or Vivarta. This license agreement with Vivarta, or the Vivarta Agreement, relates to intellectual property relating to epithelial sodium channel inhibitors and methods to treat pulmonary disease. Pursuant to the Vivarta Agreement we have (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the intellectual property rights to make, use and sell the licensed product, candidate,and (ii) a sublicensing right that allows us to act as a reactivatorgrant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of p53use and approved territories outlined in the agreement.

In consideration for the treatmentVivarta Agreement, Lung agreed to grant Vivarta a warrant to purchase an aggregate of various cancers. We are aware75,000 shares of other product candidates that are in clinical developmentLung common stock for $0.12 per share, to pay a license fee of $10,000 upon the treatmentVivarta Agreement effective date and $40,000 within 30 days of various cancers through the reactivation of p53. Although there is a subset of drugs that directly target the p53 pathway, there are many cancer drugs that claim to affect the p53 pathway by upstream or other complementary pathways. We are aware of selective small molecule inhibitors that are designed to target the p53-MDM2 interaction in various stages of clinical development being tested by F-Hoffman La Roche Ltd and Hoffman La Roche Inc., or collectively Roche, Amgen Inc., Novartis AG and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., including testing MDM2 inhibitors in combination with a variety of other anti-cancer agents. Roche is currently conducting Phase 3 testing of its MDM2 agent in combination with high-dose Ara-C in AML patients between the ages of 18 and 60.

If ALRN-6924 was approved for the indications for which we currently have ongoing clinical trials, it will compete with currently-marketed drugs and will likely compete with other drugs that are currently in clinical development, each as discussed below.

PTCL

For most subtypes of PTCL, the front-line treatment is typically a combination chemotherapy regimen, such as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin), or other multi-drug chemotherapeutic regimens. While over 50% of patients initially respond to these chemotherapeutic regimens, many patients with PTCL do not respond to these regimens or, after initially responding, later relapse. For second-line treatment, some oncologists recommend treating relapsed patients with a variety of intensive combination chemotherapy therapies, such as ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide), followed by an autologous stem cell transplant.

In addition, although treatment practices vary, some oncologists recommend treating relapsed patients with a variety of intensive combination chemotherapy therapies such as ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide), followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. Alternatively, patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL may be treated with pralatrexate (Folotyn), an antifolate chemotherapy marketed by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; belinostat (Beleodaq), an HDAC inhibitor marketed by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; romidepsin (Istodax), an HDAC inhibitor marketed by Celgene Corporation; brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate marketed by Seattle Genetics, Inc.; or a combinationreceipt of a chemotherapypositive freedom to operate analysis from legal counsel. Lung also agreed to pay patent expenses, milestone fees upon certain development and oneregulatory milestone events, sublicense fees, assignment fees and low single digit royalties on net sales.

12


Pursuant to the Vivarta Agreement, we are required to use diligent efforts to develop, manufacture and sell the licensed products.

We may terminate the Vivarta Agreement for convenience by providing a written notice to Vivarta effective 90 days following the receipt of notice, and either party may terminate the HDAC inhibitors. However, these treatments also have demonstrated limited efficacy and tolerability. The approved drugs are being clinically tested in combination withagreement for a wide varietybreach of agents. We are aware of multiple investigational agents in clinical development for PTCL, including product candidates from AstraZeneca PLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Eisai Co., Ltd., Kura Oncology, Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. and Verastem, Inc. If approved, these new product candidates may compete with currently-approved therapies.contract.

AML/MDS

The front-line treatment for patients with AML has typically been a combination chemotherapy, such as intensive Ara-C-based induction chemotherapy followed by Ara-C-based consolidation therapy. Because Ara-C-based induction chemotherapies have significant toxicities, elderly patients with AML typically do not qualify for standard Ara-C-based induction chemotherapy. However, in 2017, the FDA approved a liposomal formulation of a fixed-dose combination of Ara-C and daunorubicin (Vyxeos), which showed superior overall survival in elderly AML patients. Still, the treatment for the vast majority of elderly patients continues to be palliative and, as such, elderly patients are treated with measures encompassing best supportive care, low-dose Ara-C, or hypomethylating agents such as decitabine (Dacogen) or azacitidine (Vidaza), or they are referred to clinical trials with investigational agents. Once elderly patients experience disease progression following their initial treatment, they have a very poor expected survival rate and treatment represents a significant medical challenge. Many elderly patients go untreated after failure of these treatment options.

In 2017, the FDA approved four new drugs for AML. In addition to Vyxeos, FDA approved midostaurin (Rydapt), an inhibitor of the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), which was approved in combination with Ara-C-based induction and consolidation chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with FLT3-mutant AML. Enasidenib (Idhifa), an isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) inhibitor, was approved as a mono-therapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML with an IDH2 mutation. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg), a CD33-directed antibody-drug conjugate, was re-approved in combination with Ara-C-based induction

30


and consolidation chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with CD33-positive AML. In addition, Mylotarg is also indicated as single agent for induction and continuation treatment in first-line treatment for adult patients with CD33-positive AML as well as for adult or pediatric patients ≥2 years with relapsed or refractory AML.

We are aware of a number of product candidates in late-stage clinical development being developed by Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AbbVie Inc., Seattle Genetics, Inc. and earlier-stage product candidates being developed by Astellas Pharma Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

AML and MDS are often treated similarly in clinical practice. The front-line treatment for patients with higher-risk MDS in the United States are combination chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents such as decitabine (Dacogen) or azacitidine (Vidaza). We are aware of several ongoing clinical trials aimed at expanding the use of approved chemotherapy and immunomodulatory agents in higher-risk MDS, as well as several new clinical programs testing novel technologies in this area, including product candidates from Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Celgene Corporation, CTI BioPharma Corp., Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eisai Co., Ltd., Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc., Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Intellectual Property

Overview

We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technologiestechnology, inventions and improvements that we believe are commercially important to the development of our business, including seeking, maintaining and maintainingdefending patent protection intended to cover the composition of matter of our product candidates, including ALRN-6924, their methods of use, related technology, and other inventions that are important to our business. In addition to patent protection, werights, whether developed internally or licensed from third parties. We also rely on trade secrets relating to our proprietary pipeline of product candidates and confidentiality agreementson know-how, continuing technological innovation and in-licensing opportunities to protectdevelop and strengthen our technology, know-howpipeline that may be important for the development and other aspectsgrowth of our business that are not amenable to, or that we do not consider appropriate for,business. We additionally may rely on regulatory protection afforded through data exclusivity, market exclusivity and patent protection.term extensions, where available.

Our commercial success willmay depend significantlyin part on our ability toto: obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection for commercially important technology, inventions and know-how related to our business,business; defend and enforce our patents, maintain our licenses to use intellectual property owned by third parties,patents; preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets,secrets; and operate without infringing the valid and enforceable patents and other proprietary rights of third parties.

A Our ability to stop third parties from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing our products may depend on the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable licenses, patents, or trade secrets that cover these activities. In some cases, enforcement of these rights may depend on third party may holdlicensors. With respect to both licensed and company-owned intellectual property, including patent rights, which are important or necessarywe cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to the development or commercialization of our product candidates. If it becomes necessary for us to use patented or proprietary technology of third parties to develop or commercialize our product candidates, we may need to seek a license from such third parties. Our business could be harmed, possibly materially, if we are unable to obtain such a license on terms that are commercially reasonable, or at all.

We may seek to expand our intellectual property estate by filing patent applications directed to dosage forms, methods of treatment, diagnostics, and additional compounds and their derivatives. Specifically, we have sought and continue to seek patent protection in the United States and internationally for novel compositions of matter covering the compounds, the chemistries and processes for manufacturing these compounds, and the use of these compounds in a variety of therapies.

The patent positions of biopharmaceutical companies like us are generally uncertain and involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions. In addition, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued, and its scope can be reinterpreted after issuance. Consequently, we do not know whether any of our product candidatespending patent applications or with respect to any patent applications filed by us in the future, nor can we be sure that any of our existing patents or any patents that may be granted to us in the future will be protectablecommercially useful in protecting our commercial products and methods of manufacturing the same.

Prior to the Lung Acquisition in October 2023, we developed our global patent property portfolio covering the composition of matter of ALRN-6924, its methods of use, and related technology. As described above, we terminated the development of ALRN-6924 in February 2023.

As a result of the Lung Acquisition, as of March 5, 2024, we own or remain protected by enforceable patents. We cannot predict whether thehave licensed thirty-three issued patents and forty-one pending patent applications we are currently pursuing will issue as patents in any particular jurisdiction or whether the claims of any issued patents will provide sufficient proprietary protection from competitors. Any patents that we hold may be challenged, circumvented or invalidated by third parties.

Because patent applications in the United States and certain other jurisdictions are maintained in secrecy for 18 months, and since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature often lags actual discoveries, we cannot be certain of the priority of inventions covered byworldwide, two pending patent applications. Moreover, we may have to

31


participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, to determine priority of invention or in post-grant challenge proceedings at the USPTO or at a foreign patent office, such as inter partes review and post grant review proceedings at the USPTO and opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office, that challenge priority of invention or other features of patentability. Such proceedings could result in substantial cost, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us.

We generally file a provisional patent application with the USPTO first and then subsequently file a corresponding non-provisional patent application, which enables us to establish an earlier effective filing date in the subsequently filed non-provisional patent application. In order to benefit from the earlier effective filing date, we must file a corresponding non-provisional patent application, such as a utility application in the United States or an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, within 12 months of the date of thepatent applications and one U.S. provisional patent application filing. Based on a PCT filing, we may file nationalapplications, which are material to the programs described below relating to the Lung business. Thirty-one issued patents worldwide and regionaleight pending patent applications inare owned by the United States orUT System, which have granted us exclusive license rights to the technology. We own eleven pending patent applications worldwide together with the UT System, which have granted us exclusive license rights to the technology. Our policy is to file patent applications to protect technology, inventions and improvements to inventions that are commercially important to the development of our business. We seek U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, such as the European Union, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa or the Eurasian Patent Organization. To date, we have not filed for patent protection in all nationalfor a variety of technologies, including peptides and regional jurisdictions where suchcompositions related to LTI-03 and Cav1-related peptides, methods for therapeutic use of peptides and conjugates of interest and diagnostic methods with peptides of interest for treating diseases of interest. We also intend to seek patent protection or rely upon trade secret rights to protect other technologies that may be available,used to discover and validate targets and identify and develop novel products. We seek protection, in part, through confidentiality and proprietary information agreements. We are a party to various other license agreements that give us rights to use specific technologies in our research and development.

LTI-03 Program

As of March 5, 2024, we may decide to abandon national and regionalowned two pending PCT applications, eight pending U.S. patent applications before a patent is granted. In addition, the patent grant proceeding for each national or regional patent application that we file is an independent proceeding. As a result, it is possible for a patent application to be granted inincluding one jurisdiction and denied in another jurisdiction, and depending on the jurisdiction, the scope of patent protection may vary.

Patent Portfolio

As of January 31, 2018, we owned or had an exclusive license to at least 47 U.S. patents, at least 44 pending U.S. provisional or non-provisional patent applications, at least 195 foreignand fifteen pending applications outside of the U.S. related to the LTI-03 program. We also have licensed: five U.S. patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 8,697,840, 9,630,990, 10,377,796, 11,161,875, and at least 15011,780,879, twenty-five patents granted outside of the U.S., two pending foreign applications.U.S. application, and six

13


pending applications outside of the U.S. related to the LTI-03 program. The claims of these owned or in-licensedissued LTI-03 related patents and patent applications are directed toward various aspects of our product candidates and research programs. Specifically, the claims of these patents and patent applications include compositions of matter, methods of use, drug product formulations, diagnostics, methods of manufacture and methods of identifying active compounds. Such owned and in-licensed patents and patent applications, if issued, are expected to expire on various dates from 2020 through 2037,in 2030 or 2034, without taking into account any possibleavailable patent term adjustments or extensions. In addition, within our patent portfolio, as of January 31, 2018, we owned or had an exclusive license to at least 21 U.S. patents, at least 14Patents that may issue from the pending U.S. provisional or non-provisional patent applications at least 87 foreign patents and at least 82 pending foreign applications that include claims covering ALRN-6924, such as its composition of matter, formulations, manufacturing processes, manufacturing precursors or uses thereof. Such owned and in-licensed patents and patent applications, if issued, are expected to expire on various dates from 2020 through 2037, withbetween the owned patentsyears 2034 and patent applications, if issued, expiring on various dates from 2029 to 2037, in each case2044, without taking into account any possibleavailable patent term adjustmentextensions. The in-licensed LTI-03 issued patents from the UT System are directed to methods of treating acute lung injury or extensions. More specifically, such ownedpulmonary fibrosis with LTI-03 and in-licensed patents claiming compositionsmethods of matter covering ALRN-6924treating a condition characterized by fibrosis with LTI-03. The pending applications in the LTI-03 program are directed to methods for treating diseases or disorders, including fibrosis, methods for increasing viability of lung epithelial cells, and formulations, including dry powder formulations, as well as therapeutic uses of LTI-03 for other indications interest and diagnostic methods.

LTI-01 Program

As of March 5, 2024, we have a license to one U.S. patent from the UT System directed to methods of using intrapleural scuPA polypeptide for decreasing the severity of pleural scarring, which is expected to expire on various dates from 2020 through 2033, with the owned patents and patent applications, if issued, expiring on various dates from 2029 to 2033, in each case2024 without taking into account any possible patent term adjustmentsextension.

We expect LTI-01 to be the first to file Biologics License Application, or extensions. Lastly, within our patent portfolio, as of January 31, 2018, at least 14 U.S. patents, at least 4 pending U.S. non-provisional patent applications, at least 105 foreign patents and at least 20 foreign patent applications are licensed to us by President and Fellows of Harvard College, or Harvard, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, or DFCI, pursuant to our license agreement with such parties, which patents and patent applications, if issued, are expected to expire on various dates from 2020 through 2028, without taking into account any possible patent term adjustments or extensions. We also have rights to certain patents and pending patent applications throughout the world licensed on a non-exclusive basis to us by Materia and other third parties pursuant to our license agreements with such parties.

The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term of the patentsBLA, in the countriesU.S., which provides for the potential of 12 years exclusivity. The drug is made using a complex process which would likely be difficult to duplicate. In addition, we have received Orphan Drug Designation for pleural empyema in both the U.S. and the EU, which they are obtained. In most countries in which we file,designation should provide exclusivity of seven and ten years, respectively. We believe that, if the patent termproduct is 20 years fromapproved, these designations may afford us exclusivity and the earliest datecomplex production of filing a non-provisional patent application.LTI-01 will provide for additional barriers to entry for potential competition.

U.S. Government Regulation of Drug and Biological Products

In the United States, the Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent holder to apply for patent term extension of a patent that covers an FDA-approved drug, which, if granted, can extend the patent term of such patent to compensate for the patent term lost during theU.S., FDA regulatory review process. This extension can be for up to five years beyond the original expiration date of the patent. The length of the patent term extension is related to the length of time the drug is under regulatory review. Patent extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent

32


beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be extended. Similar provisions are available in Europe and other non-United States jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved drug. In the future, if and when our product candidates receive FDA approval, we expect to apply for patent term extensions on patents covering those product candidates. While we intend to seek patent term extensions to any of our patents in any jurisdiction where such extensions are available, there is no guarantee that the applicable authorities, including the FDA in the United States, will agree with our assessment of whether such extensions should be granted, and even if granted, the length of such extensions.

In addition to our reliance on patent protection for our inventions, product candidates and research programs, we also rely on trade secret protection for our confidential and proprietary information. Although we take steps to protect our proprietary information and trade secrets, including through contractual means with our employees and consultants, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose our technology. Thus, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. It is our policy to require our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with us. These agreements provide that all confidential information concerning our business or financial affairs developed or made known to the individual or entity during the course of the party’s relationship with us is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees, the agreements provide that all inventions conceived by the individual, and which are related to our current or planned business or research and development or made during normal working hours, on our premises or using our equipment or proprietary information, are our exclusive property.

License Agreements

Harvard and Dana-Farber License Agreement

In August 2006, we entered into a license agreement with Harvard and DFCI. This agreement was amended and restated in February 2010. Pursuant to the amended and restated agreement, Harvard and DFCI granted us an exclusive worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under certain patents and patent applications to develop, make, have made, market, use, sell, offer for sale, and import products covered by the patents and patent rights. The licensed patents cover ALRN-6924. We also generally have the first right to enforce the licensed patents against third-party infringers.

33


Under the terms of the amended and restated agreement, we are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop licensed products in accordance with a development plan and to develop and commercialize licensed products. We are also required to achieve specified milestone events by specified dates. Depending on the failure, Harvard may terminate the agreement either in its entirety or as to categories of licensed patent rights if we fail to achieve such milestone events and do not cure such failure within a specified termination notice period.

In addition, under the license agreement, if a third party makes a proposal to Harvard or DFCI to develop a licensed product that does not contain a peptide that is substantially similar to a peptide in a licensed product we are developing, that would be developed for an indication for which we are not interested in developing a licensed product and that would not present a material risk of competing through off-label use with a licensed product we are developing or plan to develop, and Harvard is interested in having such product developed and commercialized, Harvard is to notify us of the proposal. Following such notification, we then have the right to decide to develop such product ourselves, subject to agreement with Harvard upon a development plan and milestones, to directly negotiate a sublicense with such third party of the licensed intellectual property only or to give Harvard the right to negotiate such a sublicense with the third party in which case we will be entitled to a portion of the income to Harvard from the sublicense. Harvard may also terminate the agreement upon our breach of our payment obligations by us under the agreement if we do not cure such breach within a specified period. Harvard and DFCI may terminate the agreement upon other material breaches by us under the agreement if we do not cure such breach within a specified period or our bankruptcy or insolvency. We may terminate the agreement upon any breach by Harvard or DFCI if not cured within a specified notice period or at any time for any reason upon written notice to Harvard and DFCI. If not earlier terminated, the agreement will remain in force on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire applicable licensed patent.

As of December 31, 2017, we have paid non-refundable fees, consisting of license and maintenance fees, milestone payments and sublicense fees, of $4.4 million. We are obligated to pay annual maintenance fees totaling $145,000, which on an annual basis are creditable against royalties due for commercial sales of licensed products. We are obligated to make additional milestone payments of up to a maximum of $7.5 million upon our achievement of certain specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to ALRN-6924. In the future, we may be obligated to pay up to a maximum of $7.7 million per additional licensed therapeutic product upon our achievement of certain specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to such product with the first milestone being payable upon initiation of clinical development of the product. We may also be obligated to pay up to a maximum of $700,000 per licensed diagnostic product upon our achievement of certain specified regulatory and sales milestones with respect to such product. We also have agreed to pay low single-digit percentage royalties on aggregate worldwide net sales of licensed products, including sales by our sublicensees, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire applicable licensed patent. Our royalty obligations are subject to specified reductions in the event that we are required to obtain additional licenses from third parties and to make payments to such third parties under such licenses. We must also pay a percentage, up to the mid-twenties, of all sublicense income received from sublicensees, less certain costs, such as research and development costs and, in the event our patent rights are licensed to the sublicensee as part of the same transaction, less the portion of sublicense income allocated to our licensed patent rights. Under specified circumstances, portions of our sublicense payments may be creditable against royalty payments payable for sales of a licensed product. Finally, we must also reimburse all future patent expenses related to the prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents and applications in-licensed.

Materia License Agreement

In December 2006, we entered into a license agreement with Materia. Pursuant to the agreement, Materia granted us a non-exclusive worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under certain of its patents and patent applications covering olefin metathesis catalyst compositions, to develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, import and export certain conformationally restricted peptides, which are crosslinked, or “stapled,” peptides, for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or control of anyregulates human or animal disease, disorder or condition.

34


During the term of the agreement, we have agreed to purchase all of our olefin metathesis catalyst compositions from Materia at agreed prices, subject to potential cost-based increases over time. If Materia is unable or unwilling to meet our requirements for such olefin metathesis catalyst compositions in terms of amount or delivery date, then a process is provided by which we can procure such olefin metathesis catalyst compositions from a third party until such time that Materia can meet our requirements and notifies us in writing.

As of December 31, 2017, we paid non-refundable fees, consisting of an up-front technology access fee and annual maintenance payments and milestone payments, to Materia of $850,000. We are obligated to pay Materia an annual maintenance fee of $50,000. We are obligated to make additional milestone payments up to a maximum of $6.25 million upon our achievement of certain specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to ALRN-6924. In the future, we may be obligated to pay to Materia up to a maximum of $6.25 million per additional licensed product upon our achievement of certain specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to such licensed product. We must also pay Materia tiered royalties ranging in the low single-digit percentages on aggregate worldwide net sales of licensed products, including sales by our sublicensees, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire applicable licensed patent. Our royalty obligations are subject to specified reductions in the event that we are required to obtain additional licenses from third parties and to make payments to such third parties under such licenses.

Either party may terminate the agreement upon material breach by the other party under the agreement if the breaching party does not cure such breach within a specified notice period. We may also terminate the agreement at any time with specified prior notice to Materia. In February 2017, we were advised that the license agreement had been assigned to Umicore, and Umicore agreed to continue to supply us under the agreement.

Government Regulation and Product Approvals

Government authorities in the United States, at the federal, state and local level, and in other countries and jurisdictions, including the European Union, extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, approval, packaging, storage, recordkeeping, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution, pricing, marketing, post-approval monitoring and reporting, and import and export of pharmaceutical products. The processes for obtaining marketing approvals in the United States and in foreign countries and jurisdictions, along with subsequent compliance with applicable statutes and regulations and other regulatory authorities, require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.

Approval and Regulation of Drugs in the United States

In the United States, the FDA approves drug productsdrugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or FDCA,(FDCA) and implementing regulations. Biological products, onin the other hand, are licensed by the FDAcase of biologics, also under the Public Health Service Act or PHSA. With passage of(PHSA) and their implementing regulations. Failure to comply with the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, Congress amended the definition of “biological product”applicable U.S. requirements may result in the PHSA so asFDA refusal to exclude a chemically synthesized polypeptide from licensure under the PHSA. Rather, the Act provided that such products would be treated as drugs under the FDCA. Through companion guidance issued in April 2015, FDA considers any polymer composed of 40 or fewer amino acids to be a peptide and not a protein. Therefore, unless a peptide otherwise meets the statutory definition of a “biological product” (e.g., a peptide vaccine), it will be regulated as a drug under the FD&C Act. Accordingly, based on this FDA guidance, we believe that our products will not be treated as biologics subject to approval of a biologics license application, or BLA, by the FDA, and rather will be treated as drug products subject to approval ofapprove a new drug application (NDA) or NDA, by the FDA pursuant to the FDCA.

35


The failure to comply with applicable requirements under the FDCA and other applicable laws at any time during thea Biologics License Application (BLA). Further, non-compliance may delay product development process, approval process or after approval mayand could subject an applicant and/or sponsor to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, including refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, imposition of a clinical hold,such as issuance of warning letters, and other typesor the imposition of letters,fines, civil penalties, product recalls, or other corrective action. This could include product seizures, import alerts, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement of profits, and/or civil or criminal investigations and penaltiesprosecution brought by FDA, with the FDA andassistance of the U.S. Department of Justice or other governmental entities.

FDA must approve our product candidates for therapeutic indications before they may be marketed in the U.S. For drug products, FDA must approve an NDA, and for biologic products, FDA must approve a BLA. An applicant seeking approval to market and distribute a new drug productor biologic in the United StatesU.S. generally must typically undertakesatisfactorily complete each of the following:following steps, where applicable:

completion of preclinical laboratory tests and animal studies and formulation studies in compliance with the FDA’saccording to good laboratory practice,practices (GLP) regulations or GLP,other applicable regulations;

manufacture and testing of the therapeutic or biologic moiety and its respective product formulation according to good manufacturing practices (cGMP), regulations or other applicable regulations;

submission to the FDA of an IND,investigational new drug application (IND) which must take effectbecome effective before human clinical trials may begin;

begin and must be updated annually and amended when certain changes are made;

approval by an independent institutional review board (IRB) or IRB,ethics committee representing each clinical trial site before each clinical trial may be initiated;

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with applicable IND regulations, good clinical practices or GCP,(GCPs) and other clinical-trial related regulations to establishevaluate the safety and efficacy of the proposed druginvestigational product for each proposed indication;

preparation and submission to the FDA of an NDA or BLA requesting marketing approval for one or more proposed indications;

indications, including payment of application user fees;

review of the NDA or BLA by an FDA advisory committee, where appropriate or if applicable;

14


satisfactory completion of one or more FDA inspections of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the drug or biologic and its respective finished product or components thereof, areis produced to assess compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP requirements and to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity;

satisfactory completion of any FDA audits of clinical trial sites to assure compliance with GCPs and the integrity of the clinical data;

data submitted in support of the NDA or BLA; and

payment of user feesFDA review and securing FDA approval of the NDA; and

compliance with anyNDA or BLA, which may be subject to additional post-approval requirements, including the potential requirement to implement a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy or REMS,(REMS) and theany other potential requirement to conduct post-approval studies.

studies required by FDA.

Preclinical Studies and IND

Before an applicant begins testing a compound with potential therapeutic valueany drug or biological product candidate in humans, the product candidate must undergo rigorous preclinical testing. The preclinical developmental stage generally involves laboratory evaluations of drug candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical studies include in vitro laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, toxicitychemistry/biology, formulation and formulation,stability, as well as in vitro and animal studies to assess the potential safety and activity of the drug for initial testing in humans andsome cases to establish a rationale for therapeutic use. The conduct of preclinical studies is subject to federal regulations and requirements, including GLP regulations.regulations for safety and toxicology studies. The sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical tests,studies, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and plans fora proposed clinical trials, among other things, are submittedprotocol, to the FDA as part of the IND.

An IND is a request for authorization from FDA to administer an IND. Someinvestigational product to humans. The IND sponsor must submit the IND and then wait 30 days before initiating clinical trials, so that FDA can use that time to review the submission, and raise concerns or questions related to one or more proposed clinical trials. Even if FDA does not raise concerns within 30 days, it could place the clinical trial on a clinical hold due to potential safety concerns. In such a case, the IND sponsor and FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. Imposition of a clinical hold could cause significant delays or difficulties in initiating and/or completing planned clinical trials in a timely manner. Certain long-term preclinical testing, such as animal tests of reproductive adverse events and carcinogenicity, may initiate or continue or may be conducted after thean IND is submitted.

The IND and IRB Processes

An IND is a request for an exemption from restrictionsinvestigational product candidate is submitted to FDA and human clinical trials have been initiated.

Human Clinical Trials in Support of an NDA or BLA

Clinical trials involve the administration of an investigational product candidate to healthy volunteers or patients with the disease to be treated under the FDCA that allows an unapproved drugsupervision of qualified investigators. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the study, inclusion and exclusion criteria, dosing procedures and the parameters to be shippedused in interstate commerce for use in an investigational clinical trial,monitoring the safety and also a request for FDA authorizationeffectiveness criteria to administer an investigational drug to humans. Such authorization must be secured prior to interstate shipment and administration of any new drug that is not the subject of an approved NDA. In support of a request for an IND, applicants must submit aevaluated. Each protocol, for each clinical trial andas well as any subsequent protocol amendments, must be submitted

36


to the FDA as part of the IND. In addition, the results of the preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and plans for clinical trials, among other things, are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND. The FDA requires a 30-day waiting period after the filing of each IND before clinical trials may begin. This waiting period is designed to allow the FDA to review the IND to determine whether human research subjects will be exposed to unreasonable health risks. At any time during this 30-day period, the FDA may raise concerns or questions about the conduct of the trials as outlined in the IND and impose a clinical hold. In this case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin.

Following commencement of a clinical trial under an IND, based upon reported safety-related information, the FDA may also place a clinical hold or partial clinical hold on that trial. A clinical hold is an order issued by the FDA to the sponsor to delay a proposed clinical investigation or to suspend an ongoing investigation. A partial clinical hold is a delay or suspension of only part of the clinical work requested under the IND. For example, a specific protocol or part of a protocol is not allowed to proceed, while other protocols may do so. No more than 30 days after imposition of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, the FDA will provide the sponsor a written explanation of the basis for the hold. Following issuance of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, an investigation may only resume after the FDA has notified the sponsor that the investigation may proceed. The FDA will base that determination on additional information provided by the sponsor correcting deficiencies or addressing safety concerns, thereby satisfying the FDA that the investigation can proceed.

A sponsor may choose, but is not required, to conduct a foreign clinical study under an IND. When a foreign clinical study is conducted under an IND, all IND requirements must be met unless waived. When the foreign clinical study is not conducted under an IND, the sponsor must ensure that the study complies with certain FDA regulatory requirements in order to use the study as support for an IND or application for marketing approval. Specifically, FDA has promulgated regulations governing the acceptance of foreign clinical studies not conducted under an IND, establishing that such studies will be accepted as support for an IND or application for marketing approval if the study was conducted in accordance with GCP including review and approval by an independent ethics committee, or IEC, and informed consent from subjects, and the FDA is able to validate the data from the study through an on-site inspection if FDA deems such inspection necessary. The GCP requirements encompass both ethical and data integrity standards for clinical studies. The FDA’s regulations are intended to help ensure the protection of human subjects enrolled in non-IND foreign clinical studies, as well as the quality and integrity of the resulting data. They further help ensure that non-IND foreign studies are conducted in a manner comparable to that required for IND studies. If a marketing application is based solely on foreign clinical data, the FDA requires that the foreign data be applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice; the studies must have been performed by clinical investigators of recognized competence; and the FDA must be able to validate the data through an on-site inspection or other appropriate means, if the FDA deems such an inspection to be necessary.

In addition to the foregoing IND requirements, anAn IRB representing each institution that is participating in the clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that institution, and the IRB must thereafter conduct a continuing review of the trial. The IRB will consider, among other things, clinical trial design, patient informed consent, ethical factors and reapprove the study at least annually.safety of human subjects. The IRB must review and approve, among other things, the studytrial protocol and informed consent information to be provided to study subjects. An IRBclinical trial subjects or their legal representatives and must operate in compliance with FDA regulations. An IRB can suspend or terminate approval

Clinical trials must also comply with extensive GCP standards intended to ensure protection of a clinical trial at its institution, or an institution it represents, ifhuman subjects and the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance withquality and integrity of the IRB’sstudy data, including requirements or if the product candidate has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.

for obtaining subjects’ informed consent. Additionally, some clinical trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board or DSMB, or committee. This group provides authorization for whethermay recommend continuation of the trial as planned, changes in trial conduct or not acessation of the trial may move forward at designated check pointscheckpoints based on access that only the group maintains to availablecertain data from the study. Suspension or termination of development duringFDA may, at any phase oftime while clinical trials can occur if it is determined that the participantsare ongoing, impose a partial or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Suspension or termination decisions,complete clinical hold based on concerns for reasons unrelated to patient safety may be made by us based on evolving business objectives and/or competitive climate.noncompliance with regulatory requirements. This order, if issued by FDA, would cause suspension of an ongoing trial until all outstanding concerns have been adequately addressed and FDA has notified the company that investigations may proceed.

Information about certain15


Human clinical trials must be submitted within specific timeframes to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH,evaluate therapeutic indications to support NDAs and BLAs for public dissemination on its ClinicalTrials.gov website.

37


Human Clinical Studies in Support of an NDA

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational product to human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators in accordance with GCP requirements, which include, among other things, the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent in writing before their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under written study protocols detailing, among other things, the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the objectives of the study, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated.

Human clinical trialsmarketing approval are typically conducted in the followingthree sequential phases whichthat may overlap or be combined:

Phase 1: The drugproduct candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects or, in certain indications such as cancer, patients with the target disease or condition and tested for safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion, and if possible, to gain an early indicationevidence for effectiveness. Phase 1 trials may be conducted in healthy volunteers or, in the case of its effectiveness and to determine optimal dosage.

some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, including many rare diseases, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients with the target disease or condition.

Phase 2: The drug is administered to Clinical trials are conducted in a limited patient population with a specified disease or condition to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage.

Multiple Phase 2 clinical trials may be conducted to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more expensive Phase 3 clinical trials.

Phase 3: The drug is administered to Clinical trials are undertaken with an expanded patient population generallyto further evaluate dosage, and to provide substantial evidence of clinical efficacy and safety in an expanded patient population, often at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites, in well-controlled clinical trials to generate enough data to statistically evaluate the efficacy and safety of the product for approval,study sites. These studies are intended to establish the overall risk-benefit profilerisk- benefit ratio of the product candidate and provide, if appropriate, an adequate basis for product labeling. These trials may include comparisons with placebo and/or other comparator treatments. The duration of treatment is often extended to provide adequate information formimic the labelingactual use of the product.

a product during marketing.

Post-approval trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4: Post-approval studies, which4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These trials are conducted following initial approval, are typically conductedused to gain additional experience and data from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication.

Progress reports detailingindication, or to document a clinical benefit in the resultscase of drugs or biologics approved under FDA’s accelerated approval regulations and generate additional safety data regarding use of the product in a clinical setting. In certain instances, FDA may mandate the performance of Phase 4 clinical trials must be submitted at least annuallyas a condition of approval of an NDA or BLA. Failure to the FDA and more frequently if unexpected serious adverse events suspected of being relatedexhibit due diligence with regard to the drug occur. IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA for serious and unexpected suspected adverse reactions, or SUSARs, occurring during the trial; and any clinically important increase in the number or severity of serious suspected adverse reactions over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. In addition, findings from other clinical studies or animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk in humans exposed to the drug should also be reported.conducting Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 34 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, or at all. Furthermore,could result in withdrawal of approval for the product.

FDA or the sponsor may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution, or an institution it represents, if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’sclinical protocol, GCP, or other IRB requirements or, if the drug has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients. The FDA will typically inspect one or more

Information about certain clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP and the integritytrials, including details of the protocol and eventually study results, also must be submitted within specific time frames to the National Institutes of Health for public dissemination on the ClinicalTrials.gov data registry. Similar requirements for posting clinical trial information in clinical trial registries exist in the EU and in other countries outside the U.S.

During the development of a new drug or biological product, sponsors have the opportunity to meet with FDA at certain points, including prior to submission of an IND, at the end of phase 2 and before submission of an NDA or BLA. These meetings can provide an opportunity for the sponsor to share information about the data submitted.gathered to date and for FDA to provide advice on the next phase of development.

Concurrent with clinical trials, companies oftenusually complete additional animalnonclinical studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the drug as well asor biological product and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP regulatory requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the drugproduct candidate and, among other things, the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final drug. drug or biological product. For biological products in particular, the PHSA emphasizes the importance of manufacturing controls for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined in order to help ensure safety, purity and potency.

Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the drugproduct candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.

16


Marketing Application Submission of an NDA to theand FDA Review

Assuming successful completion of the required clinical testing, and other requirements, the results of the clinical trials and preclinical studies and clinical trials, together(along with detailed information relating to the product’s chemistry, manufacture,manufacturing, controls (CMC)) and the proposed labeling among other things, are submitted to the FDA as part of an NDA or BLA, requesting approval to market the drug product for one or more indications. Under federal law,Data may come from company-sponsored clinical trials intended to test the safety and efficacy of a product’s use or from a number of alternative sources, including studies initiated by investigators. To support marketing approval, FDA must find the data submitted to be sufficient to establish the safety and efficacy of the investigational product for its proposed indication. The fee required for the submission of most NDAsan NDA or BLA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), is additionally subject to an application user fee, whichsubstantial (for example, for federal fiscal year 20182024 this application fee is $2,421,495, unless

38


a partial or full fee waiver is granted as may occur forapproximately $4 million), and the first NDA of a small business or an NDA for drug intended to treat a rare, or “orphan” disease. The sponsor of an approved NDA mayor BLA is also be subject to an annual program fee, which is currently more than $400,000 per program. These fees are adjusted annually, but exemptions and waivers may be available under certain circumstances. No user fee is required for fiscal year 2018 is $304,162 perorphan drug product per approvedapplications, except when an application also includes an indication up to 5 indications.for a non-rare disease or condition.

The FDA conducts a preliminary reviewvalidation of an NDAall NDAs and BLAs within 60 days of its receipt and informs the sponsor by the 74th day after the FDA’s receipt of the submission to determine whether thean application is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. The FDA may request additional information rather than accept an NDA or BLA for filing. In this event, the application must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application is also subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once

After the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth substantive review. The FDA hasreview of the application. Under the goals and policies agreed to specified performance goals in the review process of NDAs. Most such applications are meant to be reviewed withinby FDA under PDUFA, FDA has ten months from the filing date (following the 60-day validation period) in which to complete its initial review of a standard application and most applications for “priority review” products are meantrespond to be reviewed withinthe applicant and six months offrom the filing date.date for an application with “Priority Review.” The review process and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date may be extended by the FDA for three additional months to consider new information or in the case of a clarification provided by the applicant to address an outstanding deficiency identified by the FDA following the original submission. Despite these review goals, it is not uncommon for FDA review of an NDA or BLA to extend beyond the PDUFA goal date.

Before approving an NDA or BLA, FDA will typically conduct a pre-approval inspection of the FDA typically will inspectmanufacturing facilities for the facility ortherapeutic/biologic to determine whether the manufacturing processes and facilities where the product is or will be manufactured. These pre-approval inspections may cover all facilities associatedcomply with an NDA submission, including drug component manufacturing (such as active pharmaceutical ingredients), finished drug product manufacturing, and control testing laboratories. TheGMPs. FDA will not approve an applicationthe product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliancecomply with cGMP regulatory requirements and are adequate to assureensure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving an NDA,FDA also may inspect the FDA will typically inspectsponsor and one or more clinical trial sites to assureensure compliance with GCP. UnderGCP requirements and the integrity of the clinical data submitted to FDA.

Additionally, FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, the FDA must implement a protocol to expedite review of responses to inspection reports pertaining to certain applications,may refer any NDA or BLA, including applications for products in shortagenovel product candidates which present difficult questions of safety or those for which approval is dependent on remediation of conditions identified in the inspection report.

In addition, as a condition of approval, the FDA may require an applicant to develop a REMS. REMS use risk minimization strategies beyond the professional labeling to ensure that the benefits of the product outweigh the potential risks. To determine whether a REMS is needed, the FDA will consider the size of the population likely to use the product, seriousness of the disease, expected benefit of the product, expected duration of treatment, seriousness of known or potential adverse events, and whether the product is a new molecular entity. REMS can include medication guides, physician communication plans for healthcare professionals, and elements to assure safe use, or ETASU. ETASU may include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring, and the use of patient registries. The FDA may require a REMS before approval or post-approval if it becomes aware of a serious risk associated with use of the product. The requirement for a REMS can materially affect the potential market and profitability of a product.

The FDA is required to refer an application for a novel drugefficacy, to an advisory committee or explain why such referral was not made.for review, evaluation and recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. Typically, an advisory committee is a panel of independent experts, including clinicians and other scientific experts, that reviews, evaluates and provides a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. Theexperts. FDA is not bound by the recommendationsrecommendation of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions.final decisions on approval. FDA also may require submission of a REMS, if it determines that a REMS is necessary to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks and to assure the safe use of the drug or biological product. If FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the NDA or BLA must submit a proposed REMS and FDA will not approve the NDA or BLA without a REMS.

Fast Track, Breakthrough TherapyUnder the Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003 (PREA), an NDA or a BLA or certain supplements thereto must contain data that are adequate to assess the safety and Priority Review Designationseffectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations, and Regenerative Advanced Therapy Designationsto support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective, unless this requirement is waived, deferred or inapplicable. Sponsors must submit a pediatric study plan to FDA outlining the proposed pediatric study or studies they plan to conduct, including study objectives and design, any deferral or waiver requests, and other information required by regulation. FDA must then review the information submitted, consult with the sponsor, and agree upon a final plan. FDA or the applicant may request an amendment to the plan at any time. In general, PREA requirements do not apply to drugs or biologics for indications granted Orphan Drug Designation by FDA.

17


FDA reviews an NDA or a BLA to determine, among other things, whether a product is safe and effective for its intended use, and whether its manufacturing is cGMP-compliant to ensure and preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity. The approval process is lengthy and often difficult, and FDA may refuse to approve an NDA or a BLA if the applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied, or may require additional clinical or other data and information. After evaluating the application and all related information (including the advisory committee recommendations, if any) and inspection reports of manufacturing facilities and clinical trial sites, FDA may issue either an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter (CRL). It could also issue a Refuse to File letter that, in its current state, the NDA or BLA is insufficient to initiate an FDA review. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A CRL indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete, and the application will not be approved in its present form. A CRL generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing or information in order for FDA to reconsider the application. The CRL may require additional clinical or other data, additional pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial(s) and/or other significant and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, preclinical studies or manufacturing. If a CRL is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the NDA or BLA addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application. If and when those deficiencies have been addressed to FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA or BLA, FDA will issue an approval letter. FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in response to an issued CRL in either two or six months depending on the type of information included. Even with the submission of this additional information, however, FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.

If a product receives regulatory approval from FDA, the approval is limited to the conditions of use (e.g., patient population, indication) described in FDA-approved labeling. Further, depending on the specific risk(s) to be addressed, FDA may require that contraindications, warnings, or precautions be included in the product labeling (including specific safety-related label warnings). FDA may also require that post-approval trials, including Phase 4 clinical trials, be conducted to further assess a product’s safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization or impose other conditions, including distribution and use restrictions, or other risk management mechanisms under a REMS, which can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the product. FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post-marketing trials or surveillance programs. After approval, some types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and additional labeling claims, are subject to further testing requirements, and FDA review and approval.

Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions

FDA is authorized to designate certain products for expedited development or review if they are intended to address an unmet medical need in the treatment of a serious or life-threatening disease or condition. These programs are referredinclude Fast Track Designation, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Priority Review Designation and accelerated approval.

To be eligible for a Fast Track Designation, FDA must determine, based on the request of a sponsor, that a product is intended to astreat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need by providing a therapy where none exists or a therapy that may be potentially superior to existing therapy based on efficacy or safety factors. Fast Track Designation provides opportunities for more frequent interactions with FDA review team to expedite development and review of the product. FDA also may review sections of the NDA or BLA for a fast track designation, breakthrough therapy designation, priority review designationproduct on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted if the sponsor and regenerative advanced therapy designation.

Specifically,FDA agree on a schedule for the FDA may designate a product forsubmission of the application sections and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the NDA or BLA. Fast Track reviewDesignation may be rescinded by FDA if the designation is no longer supported by data emerging from the clinical trial process. Fast Track Designation does not guarantee product approval.

In addition, a new drug or biological product may be eligible for Breakthrough Therapy Designation if it is intended, whether alone or in combination with one or more other products, for the treatment of a seriousdrugs or life-threatening disease or condition, and it demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for such a disease or condition. For Fast Track products, sponsors may have greater interactions with the FDA and the FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast Track product’s application before the application is complete. This rolling review may be available if the FDA

39


determines, after preliminary evaluation of clinical data submitted by the sponsor, that a Fast Track product may be effective. The sponsor must also provide, and the FDA must approve, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the sponsor must pay applicable user fees. However, the FDA’s time period goal for reviewing a Fast Track application does not begin until the last section of the application is submitted. In addition, the Fast Track designation may be withdrawn by the FDA if the FDA believes that the designation is no longer supported by data emerging in the clinical trial process.

Second, a product may be designated as a Breakthrough Therapy if it is intended, either alone or in combination with one or more other products,biologics, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the productdrug or biologic may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. TheBreakthrough Therapy Designation provides all the features of Fast Track Designation in addition to intensive guidance on an efficient development program beginning as early as Phase

18


1, and FDA may take certain actions with respectorganizational commitment to Breakthrough Therapies,expedited development, including holding meetings with the sponsor throughout the development process; providing timely advice to the product sponsor regarding developmentinvolvement of senior managers and approval; involving more seniorexperienced review staff in the review process; assigning a cross-disciplinary project lead forreview, where appropriate. Breakthrough Therapy Designation may be rescinded by FDA if the review team; and taking other steps to design the clinical trials in an efficient manner.designation is no longer supported. Breakthrough Therapy Designation does not guarantee product approval.

Third, the FDA may designate a product for priority reviewPriority Review if it is a productdrug or biologic that treats a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness. The FDA determines at the time that the marketing application is submitted, on a case- by-casecase-by-case basis, whether the proposed product represents a significant improvement when compared with other available therapies.drug or biologic qualifies for Priority Review. Significant improvement over available therapies may be illustrated, for example, by evidence of increased effectiveness in the treatment of a condition, elimination or substantial reduction of a treatment-limiting productdrug reaction, documented enhancement of patient compliance that may lead to improvement in serious outcomes, andor evidence of safety and effectiveness in a new subpopulation. A priority designationPriority Review Designation is intended to direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of such applications and to shorten the FDA’s goal for taking action on a marketing application from ten months to six months.months for an original BLA or NDA from the date of filing.

Fast Track Designation, Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Priority Review do not change the standards for approval and may not ultimately expedite the development or approval process.

With passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, or the Cures Act, in December 2016, Congress authorized the FDA to accelerate review and approval of products designated as regenerative advanced therapies. A product is eligible for this designation if it is a regenerative medicine therapy that is intended to treat, modify, reverse or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product has the potential to address unmet medical needs for such disease or condition. The benefits of a regenerative advanced therapy designation include early interactions with FDA to expedite development and review, benefits available to breakthrough therapies, potential eligibility for priority review and accelerated approval based on surrogate or intermediate endpoints.

Accelerated Approval Pathway

TheFinally, FDA may grant accelerated approval to a drugproduct for a serious or life-threatening condition that provides meaningful therapeutic advantage to patients over existing treatments based upon a determination that the drugproduct has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA may also grant accelerated approval for such a condition when the product has an effect on an intermediate clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or IMM,(IMM), and that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortalityIMM or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. DrugsFor drugs granted accelerated approval, must meet the same statutory standards for safety and effectiveness as those granted traditional approval.

For the purposes of accelerated approval, a surrogate endpoint is a marker, such as a laboratory measurement, radiographic image, physical sign or other measure that is thought to predict clinical benefit, but is not itself a measure of clinical benefit. Surrogate endpoints can often be measured more easily or more rapidly than clinical endpoints. An intermediate clinical endpoint is a measurement of a therapeutic effect that is considered reasonably likely to predict the clinical benefit of a drug, such as an effect on IMM. The FDA has limited experience with accelerated approvals based on intermediate clinical endpoints, but has indicated that such endpoints generally may support accelerated approval where the therapeutic effect measured by the endpoint is not itself a clinical benefit and basis for traditional approval, if there is a basis for concluding that the therapeutic effect is reasonably likely to predict the ultimate clinical benefit of a drug.

40


The accelerated approval pathway is most often used in settings in which the course of a disease is long and an extended period of time is required to measure the intended clinical benefit of a drug, even if the effect on the surrogate or intermediate clinical endpoint occurs rapidly. Thus, accelerated approval has been used extensively in the development and approval of drugs for treatment of a variety of cancers in which the goal of therapy is generally to improve survival or decrease morbidity and the duration of the typical disease course requires lengthy and sometimes large trials to demonstrate a clinical or survival benefit.

The accelerated approval pathway is usually contingent on a sponsor’s agreementsponsors to conduct, in a diligent manner, additional post-approval confirmatory studies to verify and describe the drug’sproduct’s clinical benefit. As a result, a drug candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post-marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4 or post-approval clinical trials to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post-approval studies orwith due diligence, failure to confirm a clinical benefit during post-marketingthe post-approval studies, or dissemination of false or misleading promotional materials would allow the FDA to withdraw the drug from the marketproduct approval on an expedited basis. All promotional materials for drugproduct candidates approved under accelerated regulationsapproval are subject to prior review by FDA unless FDA informs the FDA.applicant otherwise.

The FDA’s Decision on an NDAPost Approval Requirements

OnFollowing approval of a new product, the basis of the FDA’s evaluation of the NDAmanufacturer and accompanying information, including the results of the inspection of the manufacturing facilities, the FDA may issue an approval letter or a complete response letter. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A complete response letter generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing or information in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. If and when those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two or six months depending on the type of information included. Even with submission of this additional information, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.

If the FDA approves a product, it may limit the approved indications for use for the product require that contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling, require that post-approval studies, including Phase 4 clinical trials, be conducted to further assess the drug’s safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization, or impose other conditions, including distribution restrictions or other risk management mechanisms, including REMS, which can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the product. The FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post-market studies or surveillance programs. After approval, many types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and additional labeling claims, are subject to further testing requirements and FDA review and approval.

Post-Approval Requirements

Drugs manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including,governing, among other things, requirements relating tomanufacturing and quality-related compliance, monitoring and recordkeeping periodic reporting, product sampling and distribution, advertising and promotion andactivities, reporting of adverse experiences with the product. After approval, most changesproduct and product problems to FDA, product sampling and distribution, manufacturing and promotion and advertising. Although physicians may prescribe legally available products for unapproved uses or patient populations, known as off-label uses, manufacturers may not market or promote such uses. FDA and other agencies, including state regulatory bodies, actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability.

If there are any modifications to the approved product, including changes in indications, labeling, or manufacturing processes or facilities, the applicant may be required to submit and obtain FDA approval of a new NDA/BLA or an NDA/BLA supplement, which may require the applicant to develop additional data or conduct additional clinical trials and preclinical studies. FDA may also place other conditions on approvals including the requirement for a REMS to assure the safe use of the product, which may require substantial commitment of resources post-approval to ensure compliance. A REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans or elements to assure safe use, such as adding new indicationsrestricted distribution methods, patient registries, and other risk minimization tools. Any of these limitations on approval or othermarketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or dispensing of products. Product approvals may be withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory standards or if problems occur following initial marketing.

FDA regulations require that drug and biological products be manufactured in specific approved facilities and in accordance with cGMPs. The cGMP regulations include requirements relating to organization of personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment, control of components and drug product containers and closures, production and

19


process controls, packaging and labeling claims, arecontrols, holding and distribution, laboratory controls, records and reports and returned or salvaged products. The manufacturing facilities for our product candidates must meet cGMP regulatory requirements and satisfy FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities before any product is approved and our commercial products can be manufactured. In addition, for any of our product candidates that include a device delivery system, the device component will be subject to prior FDA reviewaspects of the Quality System Regulations (QSRs) applicable to medical devices.

We rely, and approval. There also are continuing, annual user feeexpect to continue to rely, on third parties for the production of clinical and commercial quantities of our products in accordance with cGMP regulations. These manufacturers must comply with cGMP regulations, including requirements for any marketed productsquality control and quality assurance, the maintenance of records and documentation and the establishments at which such products are manufactured, as well as new application fees for supplemental applications with clinical data.

In addition, drug manufacturersobligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved drugs or biologics are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and thesecertain state agencies for compliance with cGMP requirements. Changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated and often require prior FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMP and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon the sponsor and any third-party manufacturers that the sponsor may decide to use.other laws. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. Future inspections by FDA and other regulatory agencies may identify compliance issues at the facilities of our Contract Manufacturing Organizations that may disrupt production or distribution, or require substantial resources to correct. In addition, the discovery of conditions that violate these rules, including failure to conform to cGMPs, could result in enforcement actions, and the discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved NDA or BLA, including voluntary recall and regulatory sanctions as described below.

41


Once an approval of a drug/biologic product is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained, or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information;information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials requirement to assess new safety risks;risks, or imposition of distribution or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:

restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market, or product recalls;

safety alerts, Dear Healthcare Provider letters, press releases, or other communications containing warnings or other safety information about a product;

mandated modification of promotional materials and labeling, and issuance of corrective information;
fines, warning letters, untitled letters, or other enforcement-related letters or clinical holds on post-approvalpost- approval clinical trials;

refusal of the FDA to approve pending NDAsNDAs/BLAs or supplements to approved NDAs,NDAs/BLAs, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;

product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or

injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

penalties; and

The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Drugs may be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. In the United States,

consent decrees, corporate integrity agreements, debarment, or exclusion from federal health care professionals are generally permitted to prescribe drugs for such uses not described inprograms; or mandated modification of promotional materials and labeling and the drug’s labeling, known as off-label uses, because the FDA does not regulate the practiceissuance of medicine. However, FDA regulations impose rigorous restrictions on manufacturers’ communications, prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses. It may be permissible, under very specific, narrow conditions, for a manufacturer to engage in nonpromotional, non-misleading communication regarding off-label information, such as distributing scientific or medical journalcorrective information.

In addition, the distribution of prescription pharmaceutical products is subject to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act or PDMA, and its implementing regulations, as well as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, or DSCA,(PDMA), which regulateregulates the distribution and tracing of prescriptiondrugs and drug samples at the federal level and setsets minimum standards for the registration and regulation of drug distributors by the states. The PDMA, its implementing regulationsAdditionally, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) imposes requirements related to identifying and state laws limit the distribution oftracing certain prescription pharmaceutical product samples and impose requirements to ensure accountability in distribution and to identify and remove counterfeit and other illegitimate products from the market.

Abbreviated New Drug Applications for Generic Drugs

In 1984, with passage of the Hatch-Waxman Amendments to the FDCA, Congress established an abbreviated regulatory scheme allowing the FDA to approve generic drugs that are shown to contain the same active ingredients as, and to be bioequivalent to, drugs previously approved by the FDA pursuant to NDAs. To obtain approval of a generic drug, an applicant must submit an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, to the agency. An ANDA is a comprehensive submission that contains, among other things, data and information pertaining to the active pharmaceutical ingredient, bioequivalence, drug product formulation, specifications and stability of the generic drug, as well as analytical methods, manufacturing process validation data and quality control procedures. ANDAs are “abbreviated” because they generally do not include preclinical and clinical data to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. Instead, in support of such applications, a generic manufacturer may rely on the preclinical and clinical testing previously conducted for a drug product previously approved under an NDA, known as the reference-listed drug, or RLD.

Specifically, in order for an ANDA to be approved, the FDA must find that the generic version is identical to the RLD with respect to the active ingredients, the route of administration, the dosage form, and the strength of the drug. At the same time, the FDA must also determine that the generic drug is “bioequivalent” to the innovator drug. Under the statute, a generic drug is bioequivalent to a RLD if “the rate and extent of absorption of the drug do not show a significant difference from the rate and extent of absorption of the listed drug.

42


Upon approval of an ANDA, the FDA indicates whether the generic product is “therapeutically equivalent” to the RLD in its publication “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,” also referred to as the “Orange Book.” Physicians and pharmacists consider a therapeutic equivalent generic drug to be fully substitutable for the RLD. In addition, by operation of certain state laws and numerous health insurance programs, the FDA’s designation of therapeutic equivalence often results in substitution of the generic drug without the knowledge or consent of either the prescribing physician or patient.

Under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments, the FDA may not approve an ANDA until any applicable period of non-patent exclusivity for the RLD has expired. The FDCA provides a period of five years of non-patent data exclusivity for a new drug containing a new chemical entity. For the purposes of this provision, an NCE is a drug that contains no active moiety that has previously been approved by the FDA in any other NDA. An active moiety is the molecule or ion responsible for the physiological or pharmacological action of the drug substance. In cases where such NCE exclusivity has been granted, an ANDA may not be filed with the FDA until the expiration of five years unless the submission is accompanied by a Paragraph IV certification, in which case the applicant may submit its application four years following the original product approval. The FDCA also provides for a period of three years of exclusivity if the NDA includes reports of one or more new clinical investigations, other than bioavailability or bioequivalence studies, that were conducted by or for the applicant and are essential to the approval of the application.

The FDCA also provides for a period of three years of exclusivity if the NDA includes reports of one or more new clinical investigations, other than bioavailability or bioequivalence studies, that were conducted by or for the applicant and are essential to the approval of the application. This three-year exclusivity period often protects changes to a previously approved drug product, such as a new dosage form, route of administration, combination or indication. Three-year exclusivity would be available for a drug product that contains a previously approved active moiety, provided the statutory requirement for a new clinical investigation is satisfied. Unlike five-year NCE exclusivity, an award of three-year exclusivity does not block the FDA from accepting ANDAs seeking approval for generic versions of the drug as of the date of approval of the original drug product. The FDA typically makes decisions about awards of data exclusivity shortly before a product is approved.

The FDA must establish a priority review track for certain generic drugs, requiring the FDA to review a drug application within eight (8) months for a drug that has three (3) or fewer approved drugs listeddistributed in the Orange Book and is no longer protected by any patent or regulatory exclusivities, or is on the FDA’s drug shortage list. The new legislation also authorizes FDA to expedite review of ‘‘competitor generic therapies’’ or drugs with inadequate generic competition,U.S., including holding meetings with or providing advice to the drug sponsor prior to submission of the application.most biological products.

505(b)(2) NDAs

As an alternative path to FDA approval for modifications to formulations or uses of products previously approved by the FDA pursuant to an NDA, an applicant may submit an NDA under Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA. Section 505(b)(2) was enacted as part of the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and permits the filing of an NDA where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by, or for, the applicant. If the 505(b)(2) applicant can establish that reliance on FDA’s previous findings of safety and effectiveness is scientifically and legally appropriate, it may eliminate the need to conduct certain preclinical or clinical studies of the new product. The FDA may also require companies to perform additional studies or measurements, including clinical trials, to support the change from the previously approved reference drug. The FDA may then approve the new product candidate for all, or some, of the label indications for which the reference drug has been approved, as well as for any new indication sought by the 505(b)(2) applicant.

Hatch-Waxman Patent Certification and the 30-Month Stay

Upon approval of an NDA or a supplement thereto, NDA sponsors are required to list with the FDA each patent with claims that cover the applicant’s product or an approved method of using the product. Each of the patents listed by the NDA sponsor is published in the Orange Book. When an ANDA applicant files its application with the FDA, the applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the reference product

43


in the Orange Book, except for patents covering methods of use for which the ANDA applicant is not seeking approval. To the extent that the Section 505(b)(2) applicant is relying on studies conducted for an already approved product, the applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the Orange Book to the same extent that an ANDA applicant would.

Specifically, the applicant must certify with respect to each patent that:

the required patent information has not been filed;

the listed patent has expired;

the listed patent has not expired, but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or

the listed patent is invalid, unenforceable or will not be infringed by the new product.

A certification that the new product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents or that such patents are invalid or unenforceable is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents or indicates that it is not seeking approval of a patented method of use, the application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product have expired (other than method of use patents involving indications for which the applicant is not seeking approval).

If the ANDA or 505(b)(2) applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA or 505(b)(2) application has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days after the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the application until the earlier of 30 months after the receipt of the Paragraph IV notice, expiration of the patent, or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the applicant. The ANDA or 505(b)(2) application also will not be approved until any applicable non-patent exclusivity listed in the Orange Book for the branded reference drug has expired.

Pediatric Studies and Exclusivity

Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003, an NDA or supplement thereto must contain data that are adequate to assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations, and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. With enactment of the FDASIA in 2012, sponsors must also submit pediatric study plans prior to the assessment data. Those plans must contain an outline of the proposed pediatric study or studies the applicant plans to conduct, including study objectives and design, any deferral or waiver requests, and other information required by regulation. The applicant, the FDA, and the FDA’s internal review committee must then review the information submitted, consult with each other, and agree upon a final plan. The FDA or the applicant may request an amendment to the plan at any time.

For drugs intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, the FDA must, upon the request of an applicant, meet to discuss preparation of the initial pediatric study plan or to discuss deferral or waiver of pediatric assessments. In addition, FDA will meet early in the development process to discuss pediatric study plans with sponsors and FDA must meet with sponsors by no later than the end-of-phase 1 meeting for serious or life-threatening diseases and by no later than ninety (90) days after FDA’s receipt of the study plan.

The FDA may, on its own initiative or at the request of the applicant, grant deferrals for submission of some or all pediatric data until after approval of the product for use in adults, or full or partial waivers from the pediatric data requirements. Additional requirements and procedures relating to deferral requests and requests for extension of deferrals are contained in FDASIA. Unless otherwise required by regulation, the pediatric data requirements do not apply to products with orphan designation.

44


The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 established new requirements to govern certain molecularly targeted cancer indications. Any company that submits an NDA three years after the date of enactment of that statute must submit pediatric assessments with the NDA if the drug is intended for the treatment of an adult cancer and is directed at a molecular target that FDA determines to be substantially relevant to the growth or progression of a pediatric cancer. The investigation must be designed to yield clinically meaningful pediatric study data regarding the dosing, safety and preliminary efficacy to inform pediatric labeling for the product.

Pediatric exclusivity is another type of non-patent marketing exclusivity in the United States and, if granted, provides for the attachment of an additional six months of marketing protection to the term of any existing regulatory exclusivity, including the non-patent and orphan exclusivity. This six-month exclusivity may be granted if an NDA sponsor submits pediatric data that fairly respond to a written request from the FDA for such data. The data do not need to show the product to be effective in the pediatric population studied; rather, if the clinical trial is deemed to fairly respond to the FDA’s request, the additional protection is granted. If reports of requested pediatric studies are submitted to and accepted by the FDA within the statutory time limits, whatever statutory or regulatory periods of exclusivity or patent protection cover the product are extended by six months. This is not a patent term extension, but it effectively extends the regulatory period during which the FDA cannot approve another application.

Orphan Drug Designation and Exclusivity

Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a drug product as an “orphan drug” if it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition (generally meaning that it affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more in cases in which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making a drug product available in the United States for treatment of the disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product). A company must request orphan product designation before submitting an NDA. If the request is granted, the FDA will disclose the identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential use. Orphan product designation does not convey any advantage in or shorten the duration of the regulatory review and approval process, although it does convey certain advantages such as tax benefits and exemption from PDUFA application fee.

If a product with orphan status receives the first FDA approval for the disease or condition for which it has such designation or for a select indication or use within the rare disease or condition for which it was designated, the product generally will be receiving orphan product exclusivity. Orphan product exclusivity means that the FDA may not approve any other applications for the same product for the same indication for seven years, except in certain limited circumstances. If a drug or drug product designated as an orphan product ultimately receives marketing approval for an indication broader than what was designated in its orphan product application, it may not be entitled to exclusivity. Orphan exclusivity will not bar approval of another product under certain circumstances, including if a subsequent product with the same active ingredient for the same indication is shown to be clinically superior to the approved product on the basis of greater efficacy or safety, or providing a major contribution to patient care, or if the company with orphan drug exclusivity is not able to meet market demand. This is the case despite an earlier court opinion holding that the Orphan Drug Act unambiguously required the FDA to recognize orphan exclusivity regardless of a showing of clinical superiority.

Further, the FDA may approve more than one product for the same orphan indication or disease as long as the products contain different active ingredients. Moreover, competitors may receive approval of different products for the indication for which the orphan product has exclusivity or obtain approval for the same product but for a different indication for which the orphan product has exclusivity.

U.S. Patent Term Restoration and ExtensionHatch-Waxman Marketing Exclusivity

A patent claiming a new drug20


Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA approval for our product candidates, some of our U.S. patents may be eligible for a limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, commonly referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Act, which permits a patentAmendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit restoration of the patent term up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review.review process. Patent-term restoration, however, cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date, and only those claims covering such approved drug product, a method for using it or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. The patent-term restoration period granted is typicallygenerally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of an NDA or a BLA, plus the time betweenduring which the submission date of an NDA and the ultimate approval date. Patent term restoration cannot be usedapplicant failed to extend the remaining term of a patent past a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date.exercise due diligence. Only one patent applicable to an approved drug product is eligible for the extension, and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patentpatent. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in question. A patent that covers multiple drugs for which approval is sought can only be extended in connectionconsultation with one of the approvals. The USPTOFDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration in consultation withrestoration. Regulatory exclusivity provisions under the FDA.

45


FDCA also can delay the submission or the approval of certain applications. The FDCA provides a five-year period of non-patent marketing exclusivity within the U.S. to the first applicant to gain approval of an NDA for a new chemical entity. A drug is a new chemical entity if FDA Approval and Regulation of Companion Diagnostics

We believe that ithas not previously approved any other new drug containing the same active moiety, which is the FDA’s current view that, in the event that we decide to seek marketing approval of ALRN-6924 with a label limited to WT p53 cancer patients, we may be required to have a companion in vitro diagnostic approved for use with ALRN-6924. If safe and effective use of a therapeutic depends on an in vitro diagnostic, then the FDA generally will require approvalmolecule or clearance of that diagnostic, known as a companion diagnostic, at the same time that the FDA approves the therapeutic product. In August 2014, the FDA issued final guidance clarifying the requirements that will apply to approval of therapeutic products and in vitro companion diagnostics. According to the guidance, for novel drugs, a companion diagnostic device and its corresponding therapeutic should be approved or cleared contemporaneously by the FDAion responsible for the use indicated in the therapeutic product’s labeling. In July 2016, the FDA issued a draft guidance intended to assist sponsorsaction of the drug therapeutic and in vitro companion diagnostic device on issues relatedsubstance. During the exclusivity period, FDA may not accept for review an abbreviated new drug application, or a 505(b)(2) NDA submitted by another company for another version of such drug. However, an application may be submitted after four years if it contains a certification of patent invalidity, non-infringement, or unenforceability for the listed drug. An applicant may also submit a full 505(b)(1) NDA.

The FDCA also provides three years of exclusivity for a full NDA, 505(b)(2) NDA, or supplement to co-development ofan existing NDA if new clinical investigations, other than bioavailability studies, conducted or sponsored by the products.

Ifapplicant are deemed by FDA determines that a companion diagnostic device isto be essential to the safeapproval of the application. This three-year exclusivity covers only the conditions of use associated with the new clinical investigations and effectivedoes not prohibit FDA from approving competitor products for drugs that fall outside the scope of the exclusivity. Three-year exclusivity will not delay the submission or approval of a full NDA; it delays approval of a 505(b)(2) NDA or an abbreviated new drug applications. or ANDA, covered by the exclusivity, until the exclusivity expires, but not the submission itself.

In addition, both drugs and biologics can obtain pediatric exclusivity in the U.S. pediatric exclusivity, if granted, adds six months to existing exclusivity periods and patent terms (it is not a patent term extension itself). This six-month exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity protection or patent term, may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric study in accordance with an FDA-issued “Written Request” for such a study.

Biosimilars and Reference Product Exclusivity for Biological Products

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted in the U.S. and included the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA). The BPCIA amended the PHSA to create an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. To date, FDA has approved a number of biosimilars. FDA has also issued several guidance documents outlining its approach to reviewing and approving biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars.

Under the BPCIA, a manufacturer may submit an application that is “biosimilar to” or “interchangeable with” a previously approved biological product or “reference product.” In order for FDA to approve a biosimilar product, it must find that there are no clinically meaningful differences between the reference product and proposed biosimilar product in terms of safety, purity and potency. For FDA to approve a biosimilar product as interchangeable with a reference product, the agency must find that the biosimilar product can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product and (for products administered multiple times) that the biologic and the reference biologic may be switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of a novel therapeuticthe reference biologic. Upon licensure by FDA, an interchangeable biosimilar may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the health care provider who prescribed the reference product, although to date no such products have been approved for marketing in the U.S.

The biosimilar applicant must demonstrate that the product is biosimilar based on data from analytical studies showing that the biosimilar product is highly similar to the reference product, data from animal studies (including toxicity) and data from one or indication,more clinical studies to demonstrate safety, purity and potency in one or more appropriate conditions of use for which the reference product is approved. In addition, the applicant must show that

21


the biosimilar and reference products have the same mechanism of action for the conditions of use on the label, route of administration, dosage and strength, and the production facility must meet standards designed to assure product safety, purity, and potency.

A reference biological product is granted 12 years of data exclusivity from the time of first licensure of the product, and the first approved interchangeable biologic product will be granted an exclusivity period of up to one year after it is first commercially marketed. FDA generally will not accept an application for a biosimilar or interchangeable product based on the reference biological product until four years after the date of first licensure of the reference product.

The BPCIA is complex and only beginning to be interpreted and implemented by FDA. In addition, recent government proposals have sought to reduce the 12-year reference product exclusivity period. Other aspects of the BPCIA, some of which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of recent litigation. As a result, the ultimate impact, implementation and meaning of the BPCIA is subject to significant uncertainty.

Orphan Drug Designation and Exclusivity

Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. is designed to encourage sponsors to develop products intended for the treatment of rare diseases or conditions. In the U.S., a rare disease or condition is statutorily defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. or that affects more than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making the product available for the disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product in the U.S.

Orphan Drug Designation qualifies a company for certain tax credits. Designation does not guarantee approval. In addition, if a product candidate that has Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for that drug for the disease for which it has such designation, the product may receive seven-year orphan drug exclusivity, which means that FDA may not approve any other applications to market the same drug for the same indication for seven years following product approval unless the subsequent product candidate is demonstrated to be clinically superior. Absent a showing of clinical superiority, FDA cannot approve the therapeuticsame product made by another manufacturer for the same indication during the market exclusivity period unless it has the consent of the sponsor, or the sponsor is unable to provide sufficient quantities.

A sponsor may request Orphan Drug Designation of a previously unapproved product or new therapeuticorphan indication for an already marketed product. More than one sponsor may receive Orphan Drug Designation for the same product for the same rare disease or condition, but each sponsor seeking Orphan Drug Designation must file a complete orphan disease designation application. To qualify for orphan exclusivity, however, the drug must be clinically superior to the previously approved product that is the same drug for the same condition. If a product designated as an orphan drug ultimately receives marketing approval for an indication ifbroader than what was designated in its orphan drug application, it may not be entitled to exclusivity.

LTI-01 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the companion diagnostic device is not approved or clearedtreatment of pleural empyema. LTI-03 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by FDA for that indication. Approval or clearancetreatment of IPF.

Regulation Outside of the companion diagnostic device will ensure that the device has been adequately evaluated and has adequate performance characteristicsU.S.

In addition to regulations in the intended population. The reviewU.S., we will be subject to a variety of in vitro companion diagnostics in conjunction with the review of our therapeutic treatments for cancer will, therefore, likely involve coordination of review by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluationforeign regulations governing clinical trials and Research and the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health Office of In Vitro Diagnostics Device Evaluation and Safety.

Under the FDCA, in vitro diagnostics, including companion diagnostics, are regulated as medical devices. In the United States, the FDCA and its implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern, among other things, medical device design and development, preclinical and clinical testing, premarket clearance or approval, registration and listing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, advertising and promotion,commercial sales and distribution export and import, and post-market surveillance. Unless an exemption applies, diagnostic tests require marketing clearance or approval from the FDA prior to commercial distribution. The two primary types of FDA marketing authorization applicable to a medical device are premarket notification, also called 510(k) clearance, and premarket approval, or PMA approval. The FDA has generally required in vitro companion diagnostics intended to select the patients who will respond to cancer treatment to obtain a PMA, for that diagnostic simultaneously with approvalour products outside of the drug. We expect that any companion diagnostic developedU.S. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for use with ALRN-6924 will utilize the PMA pathway.

The PMA process, including the gathering of clinical and preclinical data and the submission to and reviewa product candidate, we must obtain approval by the FDA, can take several yearscomparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries or longer. It involves a rigorous premarket review during whicheconomic areas, such as the applicant must prepare and provide the FDA with reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness and information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design, manufacturing and labeling. PMA applications are subject to fees for medical device product review; for federal fiscal year 2018, the standard fee for review of a PMA is $310,764 and the small business fee is $77,691.

In addition, PMAs for certain devices must generally include the results from extensive preclinical and adequate and well-controlled27-member EU, before we may commence clinical trials to establish the safety and effectiveness of the device for each indication for which FDA approvalor market products in those countries or areas.

The United Kingdom is sought. In particular, for a diagnostic, a PMA application typically requires data regarding analytical and clinical validation studies. Asno longer part of the PMA review,European Single Market and European Union Customs Union. Though a significant proportion of the FDA will typically inspect the manufacturer’s facilitiesregulatory framework for compliance with the Quality System Regulation, or QSR, which imposes elaborate testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance requirements.

PMA approval is not guaranteed, and the FDA may ultimately respond to a PMA submission with a not approvable determination based on deficienciespharmaceutical products in the application and require additional clinical trial or other data that may be expensive and time-consuming to generate and that can substantially delay approval. IfUnited Kingdom covering the FDA’s evaluation of the PMA application is favorable, the FDA typically issues an approvable letter requiring the applicant’s agreement to specific conditions, such as changes in labeling, or specific additional information, such as submission of final labeling, in order to secure final approval of the PMA. If the FDA’s evaluation of the PMA or manufacturing facilities is not favorable, the FDA will deny approval of the PMA or issue a not approvable letter. A not approvable letter will outline the deficiencies in the application and, where practical, will identify what is

46


necessary to make the PMA approvable. The FDA may also determine that additional clinical trials are necessary, in which case the PMA approval may be delayed for several months or years while the trials are conducted and then the data submitted in an amendment to the PMA. If the FDA concludes that the applicable criteria have been met, the FDA will issue a PMA for the approved indications, which can be more limited than those originally sought by the applicant. The PMA can include post-approval conditions that the FDA believes necessary to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device, including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and distribution. Once granted, PMA approval may be withdrawn by the FDA if compliance with post approval requirements, conditions of approval or other regulatory standards are not maintained or problems are identified following initial marketing.

After a device is placed on the market, it remains subject to significant regulatory requirements. Medical devices may be marketed only for the uses and indications for which they are cleared or approved. Device manufacturers must also establish registration and device listings with the FDA. A medical device manufacturer’s manufacturing processes and those of its suppliers are required to comply with the applicable portions of the QSR, which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, processes, controls, quality assurance, labeling, packaging and shipping of medical devices. Domestic facility records and manufacturing processes are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections by the FDA. The FDA also may inspect foreign facilities that export products to the U.S.

The 21st Century Cures Act

On December 13, 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act, or the Cures Act, was signed into law. The Cures Act is designed to modernize and personalize healthcare, spur innovation and research, and streamline the discovery and development of new therapies through increased federal funding of particular programs. It authorizes increased funding for the FDA to spend on innovation projects. The new law also amends the PHSA to reauthorize and expand funding for the NIH. The Cures Act establishes the NIH Innovation Fund to pay for the cost of development and implementation of a strategic plan, early stage investigators and research. It also charges NIH with leading and coordinating expanded pediatric research. Further, the Cures Act directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand surveillance of neurological diseases.

With amendments to the FDCA and the PHSA, Title III of the Cures Act seeks to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new medicines and medical technologies. To that end, and among other provisions, the Cures Act reauthorizes the existing priority review voucher program for certain drugs intended to treat rare pediatric diseases until 2020; creates a new priority review voucher program for drug applications determined to be material national security threat medical countermeasure applications; revises the FDCA to streamline review of combination product applications; requires FDA to evaluate the potential use of “real world evidence” to help support approval of new indications for approved drugs; provides a new “limited population” approval pathway for antibiotic and antifungal drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening infections; and authorizes FDA to designate a drug as a “regenerative advanced therapy,” thereby making it eligible for certain expedited review and approval designations.

Regulation Outside the United States

Regulation and Procedures Governing Approval of Medicinal Products in the European Union

In order to market any product outside of the United States, a company must also comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of other countries and jurisdictions regarding quality, safety, and efficacy and governing, among other things,of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, and distribution of products. Whetherpharmaceutical products is derived from EU Directives and Regulations, there

22


are some significant changes made to the regulatory framework to address the United Kingdom's departure from the EU.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or not it obtains FDA approvalthe MHRA, is the national regulator responsible for supervising medicines and medical devices in the United Kingdom, comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales form Great Britain which follows domestic law, whereas Northern Ireland currently continues to be subject to European Union rules under the Northern Ireland Protocol. The main domestic legislation regulating medicines in the UK is the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916) (as amended), or the HMR. The HMR has incorporated into domestic law some of the body of European Union law instruments governing medicinal products that pre-existed prior to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and has been amended to take into account the country's departure from the EU. Other domestic law implements the other corpus of EU medicines law that existed prior to the UK's departure from the EU.

Following Brexit, national marketing authorizations in the UK can be obtained to cover the whole of the UK (UKMA(UK)), Great Britain (UKMA(GB)) or Northern Ireland (UKMA(NI)), through the different available marketing authorization routes. Northern Ireland also continues to participate in the EU marketing authorization routes. In this case, the UK for the purpose of Northern Ireland can be a product,concerned member state (not a reference member state) for medicines going through the company would needdecentralized or mutual recognition procedure. Northern Ireland can also be included within the scope of the centralized procedure.

Any marketing authorizations granted by the MHRA under the decentralized or mutual recognition procedure before Brexit became national marketing authorizations covering the whole of the UK. Centrally authorized products were converted to a UKMA(GB) on January 1, 2021 unless the marketing authorization holder informed the MHRA otherwise, and centrally authorized products continued to be recognized in Northern Ireland.

Until December 31, 2023, the European Commission Decision Reliance Procedure (ECDRP) could be used to obtain a UKMA(GB) with the necessary approvalsMHRA relying on a decision taken by the comparable foreign regulatory authoritiesEuropean Commission on the approval of a new MA under the centralized procedure. Similarly, the MHRA could grant UKMA(UK) or UKMA(GB) marketing authorizations under the decentralized and mutual recognition reliance procedure (MRDCRP).

From January 1, 2024, the ECDRP is replaced by a new International Recognition Procedure (IRP). The MRDCRP will be incorporated within the IRP. ECDRP and MRDCRP submissions received by the MHRA before it can commence clinical trials or marketingJanuary 1, 2024 continue to follow existing procedures, but for ECDRP applications the CHMP positive opinion (but not necessarily the European Commission Decision) should have been received before December 31, 2023. The IRP procedure is open to applicants who have received an authorization for the same product in one of the productMHRA's specified Reference Regulators. The current Reference Regulators include (among others) the FDA, EMA and the national competent authorities of EU / EEA countries.

The start dates of the data and market exclusivity periods for medicines in those countries or jurisdictions. Specifically, the process governingUK will depend on which route it was granted. In respect to orphan drugs, the general position under the HMR is 10 years' orphan market exclusivity awarded from the date of authorization by the MHRA (which can be reduced to six years at the end of the fifth year if the licensing authority is satisfied that the orphan criteria is no longer met). An additional two years may be granted where pediatric data requirements are met. A UK-wide orphan marketing authorization can only be granted in the absence of an active EU designation.

On February 27, 2023, the UK and the EU agreed the Windsor Framework which addresses (among other things) the supply of medicines into Northern Ireland. It provides that medicines must be approved and licensed on a UK-wide basis by the MHRA with the same labelling and packaging across the whole of the UK. The EMA will have no role in the approval of medicinalnew medicines for Northern Ireland. The arrangement takes effect from January 1, 2025.

Since a significant proportion of the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products in the European Union generally followsUnited Kingdom covering the same lines as in the United States and involves satisfactorily completing preclinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish thequality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, and distribution of pharmaceutical products is derived from EU Directives and Regulations, with some amendments made to address the United Kingdom's departure from the EU, Brexit may have a material impact upon the regulatory regime with respect to the development, manufacture, importation, approval and

23


commercialization of product for each proposed indication, as wellcandidates in the United Kingdom. However, there are new routes to obtaining marketing authorizations available such as the submissionIRP.

With the exception of the EU or European Economic Area, or EEA, applying the harmonized regulatory rules for medicinal products, the approval process and requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly between countries and jurisdictions and can involve additional testing and additional administrative review periods. The time required to obtain approval in other countries and jurisdictions might differ from and be longer than that required to obtain FDA approval. Regulatory approval in one country or jurisdiction does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country or jurisdiction may negatively impact the relevant competent authorities of a marketing authorisation application, or MAA,regulatory process in others.

European Union Drug Development, Review and actual granting ofApproval

In the EU, our product candidates are subject to extensive regulatory requirements. As in the U.S., medicinal products can be marketed only if a marketing authorization by these authorities beforefrom the product can be marketedcompetent regulatory agencies has been obtained. Similar to the U.S., the various phases of preclinical and soldclinical research in the European Union.EU are subject to significant regulatory controls.

47


Clinical Trial Approval. Pursuant to the currently applicableThe Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC andRegulation (EU) No 536/2014, which came into application on January 31, 2022, governs the Directive 2005/28/EC on Good Clinical Practice, a system for the approval of clinical trials in the European UnionEU.

The extent to which clinical trials, which were ongoing on January 31, 2022 are governed by the Clinical Trials Regulation depends on the date when the request for authorization of a clinical trial has been implemented through national legislationsubmitted and on the duration of the member states. Under this system, an applicant must obtain approval fromindividual clinical trial. Generally, according to the competent national authoritytransitional provisions, if the request for authorization of a European Union member state in whichclinical trial has been submitted before the date of application of the Clinical Trials Regulation (i.e. before January 31, 2022) and the clinical trial is to be conducted, or in multiple member states ifcontinues for more than three years from the clinical trial is to be conducted in a number of member states. Furthermore,day on which the applicant may only start a clinical trial at a specific study site after the competent ethics committee has issued a favorable opinion. The clinical trial application must be accompanied by an investigational medicinal product dossier with supporting information prescribed by Directive 2001/20/EC and Directive 2005/28/EC and corresponding national laws of the member states and further detailed in applicable guidance documents.

In April 2014, the European Union passed a new Clinical Trials Regulation (EU) No 536/2014, which will replacebecomes applicable (i.e. beyond January 31, 2025), the current Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC. To ensureRegulation will at that time begin to apply to the rules for clinical trials are identical throughouttrial. Until then the European Union, the new European Union clinical trials legislation was passed as a regulation that is directly applicable in all European Union member states without the need for implementation into the member states’ national laws. All clinical trials performed in the European Union are required to be conducted in accordance withpredecessor provisions of the Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC, untilDirective 2005/28/EC on GCP and the new Clinical Trials Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 becomes applicable. According to the current plansrelated national implementing provisions of the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, the new Clinical Trials Regulation will become applicable no earlier than 2019. The Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC will, however, still apply three years from the date of entry into application of the Clinical Trials Regulation to (i) clinical trials applications submitted before the entry into application and (ii) clinical trials applications submitted within one year after the entry into application if the sponsor opts for old system.individual EU Member States apply.

The new Clinical Trials Regulation aims to simplify and streamline the approval of clinical trialtrials in the European Union.EU. The main characteristics of the regulation include: a streamlined application procedure via a single entry point, the European Union portal;“EU portal”; a single set of documents to be prepared and submitted for the application as well as simplified reporting procedures that will spare sponsors from submitting broadly identical information separately to various bodiesfor clinical trial sponsors; and different member states; a harmonized procedure for the assessment of applications for clinical trials, which is divided in two parts. Part I is assessed jointly by the competent authorities of all member states concerned.EU Member States in which an application for authorization of a clinical trial has been submitted (Member States concerned). Part II is assessed separately by each member state concerned; strictly definedMember State concerned. Strict deadlines have been established for the assessment of clinical trial applications; andapplications. The role of the involvement of therelevant ethics committees in the assessment procedure in accordance withcontinues to be governed by the national law of the member state concerned but within theEU Member State. However, overall related timelines have been defined by the Clinical Trials Regulation.

PRIME DesignationIf any of our product candidates that, if used separately, would be considered a medicinal product is incorporated, as an integral part, in a medical device intended to administer the medicinal product, and the action of the medicinal product is principal and not ancillary to that of the device, then the combination product is regulated by Directive 2001/83/EC or Regulation (EC) 726/2004 as a medicinal product. However, the medical device used for administration must satisfy the requirements for its general safety and performance under EU law governing general medical devices.

The EU regulatory regime under Directive 93/42/EEC, or the Medical Devices Directive, was replaced by Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices, or the Medical Devices Regulation as of May 26, 2021, subject to the transitional provisions for medical devices to remain on the EU market for a limited period if they were certified or, if certification was not required, a EU declaration of conformity had been drawn up under the Medical Devices Directive. There are significant changes to the EU regulatory system governing medical devices under the Medical Devices Regulation.

24


Under the Medical Devices Regulation, data resulting from the conformity assessment relating to the general safety and performance of the medical device that is part of a combination product regulated by Directive 2001/83/EC or Regulation (EC) 726/2004 shall be included in the EU

In March 2016, the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, launched an initiative to facilitate development of product candidates in indications, often rare,application for which few or no therapies currently exist. The PRIority MEdicines, or PRIME, scheme is intended to encourage drug development in areas of unmet medical need and provides accelerated assessment of products representing substantial innovation reviewed under the centralized procedure. Products from small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, may qualify for earlier entry into the PRIME scheme than larger companies. Many benefits accrue to sponsors of product candidates with PRIME designation, including but not limited to, early and proactive regulatory dialogue with the EMA, frequent discussions on clinical trial designs and other development program elements, and accelerated marketing authorization application assessment once a dossier has been submitted. Importantly, a dedicated Agency contact and rapporteur fromfor the Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) or Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) are appointed early in PRIME scheme facilitating increased understandingcombination product. Such information must be provided by the manufacturer of the product at EMA’s Committee level. A kick-off meeting initiates these relationships and includesmedical device in its EU declaration of conformity, or the relevant certificate issued by a team of multidisciplinary experts atnotified body allowing the EMAmedical device manufacturer to provide guidance onaffix a European Conformity, or CE mark to the overall development and regulatory strategies.

Marketing Authorization. To obtain amedical device. If the dossier submitted to support the marketing authorization for a combination product under European Union regulatory systems, an applicant must submit an MAA either underwithin the scope of Directive 2001/83/EC or Regulation (EC) 726/2004 does not include the results of the conformity assessment and where for the conformity assessment of the device, if used separately, the involvement of a centralized procedure administered bynotified body is required in accordance with the Medical Devices Regulation, the medicinal products authority such as the EMA or one ofcan require the procedures administered by competent authorities in European Union member states (decentralized procedure, national procedure or mutual recognition procedure). A marketing authorization may be granted only to an applicant established in the European Union. In the case of pediatric patients, Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006 provides that prior to obtainingfor a marketing authorization into provide an opinion on the European Union, applicants have to demonstrate compliance with all measures included in an EMA-approved Paediatric Investigation Plan, or PIP, covering all subsetsconformity of the device part with the relevant general safety and performance requirements issued by a designated notified body.

For marketing authorization applications, or MAA, the law provides for the so-called centralized authorization and authorization procedures in individual EU member states, whereas the Mutual Recognition or Decentralized procedure is mandatory for a product to be authorized in more than one EU member state.

48


pediatric population, unless the EMA has granted (1) a product-specific waiver, (2) a class waiver or (3) a deferral for one or more of the measures included in the PIP.Centralized Procedure

The centralized procedure provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization following a favorable opinion by the European CommissionEMA that is valid forin all European Union member states. Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004,EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are part of the EEA. The centralized procedure is compulsory for specific products, including for medicines produced by certainspecified biotechnological processes, products designated as orphan medicinal products, advancedadvanced-therapy medicines (such as gene-therapy, somatic cell- therapy productsor tissue-engineered medicines) and products with a new active substance indicated for the treatment of certainspecified diseases, including products for the treatment of cancer. For products with a new active substance indicated for the treatment of othersuch as HIV/ AIDS, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders or autoimmune diseases and other immune dysfunctions and viral diseases. The centralized procedure is optional for products that are highly innovativerepresent a significant therapeutic, scientific or for which a centralized process istechnical innovation, or whose authorization would be in the interest of patients, the centralized procedure may be optional.

public health. Under the centralized procedure the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or the CHMP, established at the EMA is responsible for conducting the initial assessment of a product. The CHMP is also responsible for several post-authorization and maintenance activities, such as the assessment of modifications or extensions to an existing marketing authorization. Under the centralized procedure in the European Union, the maximum timeframe for the evaluation of an MAA by the EMA is 210 days, excluding clock stops, when additional information or written or oral explanationinformation is to be provided by the applicant in response to questions ofasked by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or the CHMP. Accelerated evaluationassessment might be granted by the CHMP in exceptional cases, when a medicinal product is expected to be of a major public health interest, particularly from the point of view of therapeutic innovation. The timeframe for the evaluation of an MAA under the accelerated assessment procedure is of 150 days, excluding stop-clocks.

National Authorization Procedures

There are also two other possible routes to authorize medicinal products in several EU countries, which are available for medicinal products that fall outside the scope of the centralized procedure:

Decentralized procedure. Using the decentralized procedure, an applicant may apply for simultaneous authorization in more than one EU country of medicinal products that have not yet been authorized in any EU country and that do not fall within the mandatory scope of the centralized procedure. The applicant may choose a member state as the reference member State to lead the scientific evaluation of the application.
Mutual recognition procedure. In the mutual recognition procedure, a medicine is first authorized in one EU Member State (which acts as the reference member state), in accordance with the national procedures of that country. Following this, further marketing authorizations can be progressively sought from other EU countries in a procedure whereby the countries concerned agree to recognize the validity of the original, national marketing authorization produced by the reference member state.

Under the above-described procedures, before granting the marketing authorization, the competent authorities of the EU Member States have 90 days to review the assessment report rendered by the reference member state. Approval of the assessment report may be only denied for the reason of potential serious risk for public healthhealth. In case of diverging views among the member states, a coordination procedure at EU level applies, leading ultimately to a uniform decision binding on the member states.

25


On April 26, 2023, the European Commission presented a draft for a comprehensive reform of the pharmaceutical legislation. The so-called “EU pharmaceutical package” does not intend to change the existing procedures currently in place at EU level: Medicinal products are still to be approved in the decentralized procedure, mutual recognition procedure, or centralized procedure. However, the duration of authorization procedures is generally to be reduced. The decisive factor for the reduction of the duration of the procedure under the decentralized procedure and in particularthe mutual recognition procedure is the reduction of the period of cooperation of the EU member states. In regards of the centralized procedure, the shortening of the overall duration results from the viewpointaccumulation of therapeutic innovation. Ifseveral small reductions in time.

Conditional Marketing Authorization

In specific circumstances, EU legislation enables applicants to obtain a conditional marketing authorization prior to obtaining the CHMP accepts such request,comprehensive clinical data required for an application for a full marketing authorization. The legal basis is Article 14-a of Regulation (EC) No. 726/2004. The provisions for granting a conditional marketing authorization are further elaborated in Regulation (EC) No. 507/2006. Such conditional approvals may be granted for product candidates (including medicines designated as orphan medicinal products) if the time limitbenefit-risk balance of 210 daysthe medicine is positive; it is likely that the applicant will be reducedable to 150 days but itprovide comprehensive data post-authorization; the medicine fulfils an unmet medical need; and the benefit of the medicine’s immediate availability to patients is possiblegreater than the risk inherent in the fact that additional data are still required.

A conditional marketing authorization may contain specific obligations to be fulfilled by the CHMP can revertmarketing authorization holder, including obligations with respect to the standard time limitcompletion of ongoing or new studies and with respect to the collection of pharmacovigilance data. Conditional marketing authorizations are valid for one year, and may be renewed annually, if the risk-benefit balance remains positive, and after an assessment of the need for additional or modified conditions or specific obligations. The timelines for the centralized procedure if it considers that it is no longer appropriatedescribed above also apply with respect to conduct an accelerated assessment.the review by the CHMP of applications for a conditional marketing authorization. In a public health emergency, the conditional marketing authorization procedure can also be combined with a rolling review of data during the development of a promising medicine, to further expedite the evaluation.

European Union Regulatory Data Protection in the EU. Exclusivity

In the EU, innovative medicinalnew products approved on the basis of a complete independent data packageauthorized for marketing (i.e., reference products) qualify for eight years of data exclusivity upon marketing authorization and an additional two years of market exclusivity pursuant to Directive 2001/83/EC. Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 repeats this entitlementupon marketing authorization. The data exclusivity period prevents generic or biosimilar applicants from relying on the preclinical and clinical trial data contained in the dossier of the reference product when applying for medicinal products authorized in accordance with the centralized authorization procedure. Data exclusivity prevents applicants for authorization of generics of these innovative products from referencing the innovator’s data to assess a generic (abridged) application foror biosimilar marketing authorization in the EU during a period of eight years. During an additional two-year period ofyears from the date on which the reference product was first authorized in the EU. The market exclusivity period prevents a successful generic marketingauthorization application can be submitted and authorized, and the innovator’s data may be referenced, but no generic medicinalor biosimilar applicant from commercializing its product can be placed onin the EU market until ten years have elapsed from the expirationinitial authorization of the reference product in the EU. The ten-year market exclusivity. The overall ten-yearexclusivity period willcan be extended to a maximum of 11eleven years if, during the first eight years of those ten years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an authorization for one or more new therapeutic indications which, during the scientific evaluation prior to their authorization, are held to bring a significant clinical benefit in comparison with existing therapies. Even

The planned EU pharmaceutical package mentioned above foresees that pharmaceutical companies are given the opportunity to receive a period of protection of up to twelve (12) years (as opposed to the maximum of 11 years currently possible) by achieving certain public health objectives which are as follows:

two (2) years extension if a compoundpharmaceutical is considered to beplaced on the market by a company in all Member States within two years, or within three years for companies with limited experience in the EU system;
six (6) months extension if the medicinal product covers an unmet medical need;
six (6) months extension if comparative clinical trials are conducted; and
one (1) year extension if a new chemical entity soindication is authorized for the medicinal product within the protection period, provided that a significant benefit can be achieved in comparison with existing therapies.

26


European Union Orphan Designation and Exclusivity

The criteria for designating an orphan medicinal product in the EU are similar in principle to those in the U.S. Under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 141/2000, a medicinal product may be designated as orphan if (1) it is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life- threatening or chronically debilitating condition, (2) either (a) such condition affects no more than five in 10,000 persons in the EU when the application is made, or (b) the product, without the benefits derived from orphan status, would not generate sufficient return in the EU to justify investment and (3) there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such condition authorized for marketing in the EU, or if such a method exists, the product will be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition. The term ‘significant benefit’ is defined in Regulation (EC) 847/2000 to mean a clinically relevant advantage or a major contribution to patient care.

Orphan medicinal products are eligible for financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and are, upon grant of a marketing authorization, entitled to ten years of market exclusivity for the approved therapeutic indication. During this ten-year market exclusivity period, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA, cannot accept an application for a marketing authorization for a similar medicinal product for the same indication. A similar medicinal product is defined as a medicinal product containing a similar active substance or substances as contained in an authorized orphan medicinal product, and which is intended for the same therapeutic indication. This is determined by the molecular structure, the mechanism of action and the approved therapeutic indication. The application for orphan designation must be submitted before the application for marketing authorization. The applicant will receive a fee reduction for the marketing authorization application if the orphan designation has been granted, but not if the designation is still pending at the time the marketing authorization is submitted. Orphan designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process.

The ten-year market exclusivity in the EU may be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the innovator gainsproduct no longer meets the prescribed periodcriteria for orphan designation, for example, if the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of datamarket exclusivity. On the other hand, orphan market exclusivity another company nevertheless couldcan be extended to a maximum of twelve years if an approved pediatric investigation plan (PIP) has been completed. Furthermore, marketing authorization may be granted to a similar product for the same indication at any time if:

the second applicant can establish that its product, although similar, is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior;
the applicant consents to a second orphan medicinal product application; or
the applicant cannot supply enough orphan medicinal product.

The planned EU pharmaceutical package mentioned above provides, among others, for a new regulation to replace Regulation (EC) No. 141/2000 on orphan medicinal products. The draft regulation introduces the possibility of establishing new designation criteria by the EMA and the restriction of designation as an orphan drug to generally seven years. The draft regulation also provides for more flexible rules on the duration of market another versionexclusivity, including: ten years of market exclusivity for orphan drugs in the case of "high unmet medical need", five years for orphan drugs, approved by a bibliographic marketing authorization and nine years in all other cases with the possibility of extension in the case of market access in all Member States (another year) or development of new therapeutic indications for an already authorized orphan medicinal product (up to two years). Market exclusivity can thus add up to a maximum of thirteen years, whereas today it is still capped at ten years. It should be noted that the market exclusivity right of the orphan medicinal product if such company obtaineddoes not prevent the submission, validation and assessment of an application for marketing authorization based onof a similar medicinal product, including generics and biosimilars, if the remaining duration of the market exclusivity right is less than two years. The EU pharmaceutical package is still at an MAA with a complete independent data packageearly stage of pharmaceutical tests, preclinical teststhe legislative process. It may still undergo substantial changes and clinical trials.is expected to turn into binding law in several years' time.

Periods of Authorization and Renewals.

27


A marketing authorization shall beis valid for five years in principle and the marketing authorization may be renewed after five years on the basis of a re-evaluation of the risk-benefit balance by the EMA or by the competent authority of the authorizing member state. To this end, the marketing authorization holder must provide the EMA or the competent authority with a consolidated version of the file in respect of quality, safety and efficacy, including all variations introduced since the marketing authorization was granted, at least sixnine months before the marketing authorization ceases to be valid. Once renewed, the marketing authorization shall beis valid for an unlimited period, unless the European Commission or the competent authority decides, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, to proceed with one additional five-year renewal. Any authorization which is not followed by the actual placing of the drug on the European UnionEU market (in case of centralized procedure) or on the market of the authorizing member state within three years after authorization ceases to be valid (the so-called sunset clause).

49


Orphan Drug Designation and Exclusivity. Regulation 141/2000 provides thatIn future, under the planned EU pharmaceutical package mentioned above, pharmaceutical marketing authorizations are to be valid for an unlimited period, although a druglimitation of the duration to five years shall be designatedpossible in certain cases. The so-called sunset provision will be abolished.

Rest of the World Regulation

For other countries outside of the EU and the U.S., such as an orphan drug if its sponsor can establishcountries in Eastern Europe, Latin America or Asia, the requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Additionally, the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with cGCP requirements and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that the product is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting not more than five in ten thousand personshave their origin in the European Community when the application is made, or that the product is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatmentDeclaration of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition in the European Community and that without incentives it is unlikely that the marketing of the drug in the European Community would generate sufficient return to justify the necessary investment. For either of these conditions, the applicant must demonstrate that there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of the condition in question that has been authorized in the European Community or, if such method exists, the drug will be of significant benefit to those affected by that condition.Helsinki.

Regulation 847/2000 sets out criteria and procedures governing designation of orphan drugs in the European Union. Specifically, an application for designation as an orphan product can be made any time prior to the filing of an application for approval to market the product. Marketing authorization for an orphan drug leads to a ten-year period of market exclusivity. During this market exclusivity period, the EMA or the member state competent authorities, cannot accept another application for a marketing authorization, or grant a marketing authorization, for a similar medicinal product for the same indication. The period of market exclusivity is extended by two years for medicines that have also complied with an agreed PIP.

This period may, however, be reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product no longer meets the criteria for orphan drug designation, for example because the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify market exclusivity. Market exclusivity can be revoked only in very selected cases, such as consent from the marketing authorization holder, inability to supply sufficient quantities of the product, demonstration of “clinical superiority” by a similar medicinal product, or, after a review by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, requested by a member state in the fifth year of the marketing exclusivity period (if the designation criteria are believed to no longer apply). Medicinal products designated as orphan drugs pursuant to Regulation 141/2000 shall be eligible for incentives made available by the European Community and by the member states to support research into, and the development and availability of, orphan drugs.

Regulatory Requirements after a Marketing Authorization has been Obtained. In case an authorization for a medicinal product in the European Union is obtained, the holder of the marketing authorization is requiredIf we fail to comply with a range ofapplicable foreign regulatory requirements, applicablewe may be subject to, the manufacturing, marketing, promotion and sale of medicinal products. These include:

Compliance with the European Union’s stringent pharmacovigilance or safety reporting rules, pursuant to which post-authorization studies and additional monitoring obligations can be imposed, has to be ensured.

The manufacturing of authorized drugs, for which a separate manufacturer’s license is mandatory, must also be conducted in strict compliance with the EMA’s GMP requirements and comparable requirements of other regulatory bodies in the European Union, which mandate the methods, facilities and controls used in manufacturing, processing and packing of drugs to assure their safety and identity.

The marketing and promotion of authorized drugs, including industry-sponsored continuing medical education and advertising directed toward the prescribers of drugs and/or the general public, are strictly regulated in the European Union notably under Directive 2001/83EC, as amended, and European Union member state laws.

50


Authorization to Market Companion Diagnostics in the European Union.

In the European Economic Area, or EEA, in vitro medical devices are currently required to conform with the essential requirements of the European Union Directive on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (Directive No 98/79/EC, as amended). To demonstrate compliance with the essential requirements, the manufacturer must undergo a conformity assessment procedure. The conformity assessment varies according to the type of medical device and its classification. The conformity assessment of in vitro diagnostic medical devices can require the intervention of an accredited EEA Notified Body. If successful, the conformity assessment concludes with the drawing up by the manufacturer of an EC Declaration of Conformity entitling the manufacturer to affix the CE mark to its products and to sell them throughout the EEA. On April 5, 2017, the European Parliament passed the In Vitro Device Regulation, or IVDR, which repeals and replaces Directive No 98/79/EC. Unlike directives, which must be implemented into the national laws of the EU member states, a regulation is directly applicable, i.e., without the need for adoption of EU member state laws implementing them, in all EEA member states. The IVDR, among other things, is intended to establish a uniform, transparent, predictable and sustainable regulatory framework across the EU for in vitro diagnostic medical devices and ensure a high level of safety and health while supporting innovation. The IVDR will not become fully applicable until five years following its entry into force. Once applicable, the IVDR will among other things:

strengthen the rules on placing devices on the market and reinforce surveillance once they are available;

establish explicit provisions on manufacturers’ responsibilities for the follow-up of the quality, performance and safety of devices placed on the market;

improve the traceability of medical devices throughout the supply chain to the end-userfines, suspension or patient through a unique identification number; and

set up a central database to provide patients, healthcare professionals and the public with comprehensive information on products available in the EU.

Brexit and the Regulatory Framework in the United Kingdom

On June 23, 2016, the electorate in the United Kingdom voted in favor of leaving the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union will take effect either on the effective dateregulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of the withdrawal agreement or, in the absence of agreement, two years after the United Kingdom provides a notice of withdrawal pursuant to the European Union Treaty. The United Kingdom communicated the notice of withdrawal to the EU on March 29, 2017. Since the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products, in the United Kingdom covering quality, safetyoperating restrictions and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales and distribution of pharmaceutical products is derived from European Union directives and regulations, Brexit could materially impact the future regulatory regime which applies to products and the approval of product candidates in the United Kingdom. It remains to be seen how, if at all, Brexit will impact regulatory requirements for product candidates and products in the United Kingdom.criminal prosecution.

Pharmaceutical Coverage, Pricing and Reimbursement

InSales of any biopharmaceutical products, if and when approved by FDA or analogous authorities outside the United States and marketsU.S., will depend in other countries, patients who are prescribed treatments for their conditions and providers performingsignificant part on the prescribed services generally rely onavailability of third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the associated healthcare costs. Patients are unlikely to use our products unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our products. Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of products approved byfor the FDA and other government authorities. Even if our product candidates are approved, sales of our products will depend, in part, onproducts.

In the extent to whichU.S., third-party payors includinginclude government healthhealthcare programs in the United States such as Medicare and Medicaid, commercialprivate health insurers, and managed care organizations, provide coverage,plans and establish adequate reimbursement levels for, such products. The process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price or reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product once coverage is approved. Third-partyother organizations. These third-party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged,price and examining the medical necessity, and reviewing the cost-effectiveness of medical products and services, including biopharmaceutical products. Significant uncertainty exists regarding coverage and imposing controlsreimbursement for newly approved healthcare products. Coverage does not ensure reimbursement. It is time consuming and expensive to manage costs.seek coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors. We may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of our products, in addition to the costs required to obtain FDA regulatory approvals. Third-party payors may take into account clinical practice guidelines in determining coverage and there may be significant delays before our products are addressed by such guidelines and we cannot predict what position such guidelines would take with respect to our products if and when addressed. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, also known as aor formulary, which might not include all of the approved products for a particular indication.

51


In orderindication, or utilize other mechanisms to secure coverage and reimbursementmanage utilization (such as requiring prior authorization for any product that might be approved for sale, a company may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of the product, in addition to the costs required to obtain FDA or other comparable marketing approvals. Nonetheless, product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost effective. A decision by a third-party payor not to cover our product candidates could reduce physician utilization of our products once approved and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, a payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequatefor use in a particular patient). Limits on coverage may impact demand for our products. Even if coverage is obtained, third- party reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a drug product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage and reimbursement for the product, and the level of coverage and reimbursement can differ significantly from payor to payor. Third-party reimbursement and coverage may not be availableadequate to enableallow us to sell our products on a competitive and profitable basis. As result, we may not be sufficient to maintain price levels sufficienthigh enough to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.

The containment of healthcare costs also has becomeIn addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a priority of federal, state and foreign governments and the prices of drugs have been a focus in this effort. Governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit a company’s revenue generated from the sale of anydrug must be approved products. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which a company or its collaborators receive marketing approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement ratesbefore it may be implemented in the future.

Outside the United States, ensuring adequate coverage and payment for our product candidates will face challenges. Pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control in many countries. Pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can extend well beyond the receipt of marketing approval for a product and may require us to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost effectiveness of our product candidates or products to other available therapies.lawfully marketed. The conduct of such a clinical trial could be expensive and result in delays in our commercialization efforts.

In the European Union,requirements governing drug pricing and reimbursement schemes vary widely from country to country. Some countries provide that drug products may be marketed only after a reimbursement price has been agreed. Some countries may require the completion of additional studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular drugour product candidate to currently available therapies (so called health technology assessment, or HTA) in order to obtain reimbursement or pricing approval. For example, subject to the European Union provides optionsrequirements set out in Directive 89/105/EEC relating to the transparency of measures regulating the pricing of medicinal products for its member stateshuman use and their inclusion in the scope of national health

28


insurance systems, EU Member States have the legal competence to set national measures of an economic nature on the marketing of medicinal products in order to control public health expenditure on such products. Accordingly, EU Member States can restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. On December 13, 2021, a new Regulation on health technology assessment (HTA) was adopted by the European Union member statesUnion. It entered into force in January 2022 and will become fully applicable in January 2025. The regulation provides for a coordinated approach to assessing the benefit of new therapies, which assessment will take place in parallel to the EU regulatory approval process. The objectives of the EU HTA regulation are to accelerate patient access to new therapies and reduce duplication of work. The impact of the new legislation on market access, pricing and reimbursement of new medicinal products in the individual EU countries cannot be predicted yet. An EU Member State may approve a specific price for athe medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. Other member statesEU Member States allow companies to fix their own prices for drug products but monitor and control prescription volumes and issue guidance to physicians to limit prescriptions. Recently, many countries in the European Union have increased the amount of discounts required on pharmaceuticals and these efforts could continue as countries attempt to manage healthcare expenditures, especially in light of the severe fiscal and debt crises experienced by many countries in the European Union. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs, has become intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various European Union member states, and parallel trade (arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states), can further reduce prices. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, products if approved in those countries.

52


Healthcare Law and Regulation

Healthcare providers and third-party payors play a primary rolelaunched in the recommendationEU do not follow price structures of the U.S. and generally tend to be significantly lower.

The downward pressure on health care costs in general, particularly prescription drugs, has become intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, there can be considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic, and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various EU Member States and parallel import or distribution (arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states) can further reduce prices. Any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for drug products that are granted marketing approval. Arrangements with providers, consultants, third-party payorsmay not allow favorable reimbursement and customerspricing arrangements.

Other U.S. Health Care Laws and Regulations

In the U.S., biopharmaceutical manufacturers and their products are subject to broadly applicableextensive regulation at the federal and state level, such as laws intended to prevent fraud and abuse anti-kickback,in the healthcare industry. These laws, some of which will apply only if and when we have an approved product, include:

federal false claims, false statements and civil monetary penalties laws reportingprohibiting, among other things, any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment of paymentsgovernment funds or knowingly making, or causing to physicians and teaching physicians and patient privacy laws and regulations and otherbe made, a false statement to get a false claim paid;
federal healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain our business and/or financial arrangements. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, include the following:

the federalprogram anti-kickback statutelaw, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfullyoffering, soliciting, offering, receiving or providing any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, orderpurchasing or recommendation or arrangingordering of, anya good facility, item or service for which payment may be made in whole or in part, by aunder federal healthcare programprograms such as Medicare and Medicaid;

the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the civil False Claims Act, and civil monetary penalties laws, which prohibit individuals or entities from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment that are false, fictitious or fraudulent or knowingly making, using or causing to made or used a false record or statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government.

theThe federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which, created additional federal criminal laws that prohibit, amongin addition to privacy protections applicable to healthcare providers and other things, knowingly and willfullyentities, prohibits executing or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;

HIPAA,FDCA, which among other things, strictly regulates drug marketing, prohibits manufacturers from marketing such products prior to approval or for off-label use and regulates the distribution of samples;

federal laws that require pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain calculated product prices to the government or provide certain discounts or rebates to government authorities or private entities, often as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and their respective implementing regulations, including the Final Omnibus Rule published in January 2013, which impose obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmissiona condition of individually identifiable health information;

reimbursement under government healthcare programs;

the federal transparency requirements known as theOpen Payments (or federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the Affordable Care Act,“sunshine” law), which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicspharmaceutical and medical suppliesdevice companies to monitor and report annuallycertain financial interactions with certain healthcare providers to the CentersCenter for Medicare & Medicaid Services or CMS, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services information relatedfor re-disclosure to payments and other transfers of value made by that entity to physicians and teaching hospitals,the public, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members; and

29


federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;
analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such asincluding: state anti-kickback and false claims laws, can apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services and are reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers.

Somelaws; state laws requirerequiring pharmaceutical companies to comply with thespecific compliance standards, restrict financial interactions between pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelinescompanies and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government in addition to requiring drug manufacturershealthcare providers or require pharmaceutical companies to report information related to payments to physicians and other healthcarehealth care providers or marketing expendituresexpenditures; and pricing information. Statestate laws governing privacy, security and foreign laws also govern the privacy and securitybreaches of health information in somecertain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage and Health Care Reform

In efforts;

the United States and marketsTravel Act of 1961, which has been used as a tool in other countries, patients who are prescribed treatments for their conditions and providers performing the prescribed services generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the associated health care costs. Significant uncertainty existscontext to target kickback schemes involving private insurance that would not otherwise be prohibited under the anti-kickback statute, makes it unlawful for a facility to use interstate commerce with the intent, among other things, to distribute proceeds of “unlawful activity” and thereafter do some act to further such distribution (“unlawful activity” includes bribery under the state law in which the activity was committed); and
laws and regulations prohibiting bribery and corruption, such as the FCPA, which, among other things, prohibits U.S. companies and their employees and agents from authorizing, promising, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to the coverageforeign government officials, employees of public international organizations or foreign government-owned or affiliated entities, candidates for foreign public office, and reimbursement statusforeign political parties or officials thereof.

Violations of products approvedthese laws are punishable by the FDAcriminal and/or civil sanctions, including, in some instances, exclusion from participation in federal and other government authorities. Thus, even if a product candidate is approved, sales of the product will depend, in part, on the extent to which third-party payors, including governmentstate health care programs, in the

53


United States such as Medicare and Medicaid, commercialMedicaid. Ensuring compliance is time consuming and costly.

Similar healthcare laws and regulations exist in the EU and other jurisdictions, including reporting requirements detailing interactions with and payments to healthcare providers and laws governing the privacy and security of personal information.

Health Care Reform in the U.S. and Potential Changes to Health Care Laws

Health care reform has been a significant trend in the U.S. health insurerscare industry and managed care organizations, provideelsewhere. In particular, government authorities and other third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and establish adequatethe amount of reimbursement levels for the product. The process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price or reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product once coverage is approved. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged, examining the medical necessity and reviewing the cost effectiveness ofparticular medical products and servicesservices. Under the Trump administration, there were efforts to repeal or modify prior health care reform legislation and imposing controlsregulation and to manage costs. Third-party payors may limit coverageimplement new health care reform measures, including measures related to specific products on an approved list, also knownpayment for drugs under government health care programs. The Biden administration ceased many of these efforts, but continued others, such as a formulary, which might not include all of the approved productsimplementing mandatory price transparency for a particular indication.

In order to secure coverageproviders and reimbursement for any product that might be approved for sale, a company may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessityinsurance companies. The nature and cost-effectiveness of the product, in addition to the costs required to obtain FDA or other comparable marketing approvals. Nonetheless, product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost effective. A decision by a third-party payor not to cover a product could reduce physician utilization once the product is approved and have a material adverse effect on sales, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, a payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage and reimbursement for the product, and the level of coverage and reimbursement can differ significantly from payor to payor.

The containmentscope of health care costs also has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments and the prices of products have been a focus in this effort. Governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit a company’s revenue generated from the sale of any approved products. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which a company or its collaborators receive marketing approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implementedreform in the future.

There have been a number of federal and state proposals during the last few years regarding the pricing of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products, limiting coverage and reimbursement for drugs and biologics and other medical products, government control and other changes to the health care system in the United States. In March 2010, the ACA was enacted, which includes measures that have significantly changed health care financing by both governmental and private insurers. The provisionswake of the ACA of importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry are, among others, the following:2024 election remains uncertain.

an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drug agents or biologic agents, which is apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government health care programs;

an increase in the rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs, respectively;

a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts to negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer's outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

extension of manufacturers' Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, unless the drug is subject to discounts under the 340B drug discount program;

a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected;

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for certain individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers' Medicaid rebate liability;

54


expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program;

new requirements under the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act for drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals as well as ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;

a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research;

creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which, if and when impaneled, will have authority to recommend certain changes to the Medicare program that could result in reduced payments for prescription drugs; and

establishment of a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending.

Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. These changes include the Budget Control Act of 2011, which, among other things, led to aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year that started in 2013 and will stay in effect through 2024 unless additional Congressional action is taken, and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These new laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used. Further, there have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries and proposed state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, reduce the costs of drugs under Medicare and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drug products.

These healthcare reforms, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, new payment methodologies and additional downward pressure on the price for any approved product and/or the level of reimbursement physicians receive for administering any approved product. Reductions in reimbursement levels may negatively impact the prices or the frequency with which products are prescribed or administered. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. Since enactment of the ACA, there have been numerous legal challenges and Congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the ACA. In May 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation known as the American Health Care Act of 2017, and in the U.S. Senate a number of measures have been proposed and considered, but noneThere has been passed.

The current Administrationheightened governmental scrutiny in recent years over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which has also taken executive actions to undermine or delay implementation of the ACA. In January 2017, the President signed an Executive Order directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. In October 2017, the President signed a second Executive Order allowing for the use of association health plans and short-term health insurance, which may provide fewer health benefits than the plans sold through the ACA exchanges. At the same time, the Administration announced that it will discontinue the payment of cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to insurance companies until Congress approves the appropriation of funds for such CSR payments. The loss of the CSR payments is expected to increase premiums on certain policies issued by qualified health plans under the ACA. A bipartisan bill to appropriate funds for CSR payments was introducedresulted in the Senate, but the future of that bill is uncertain.

55


More recently, with enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, in December 2017, Congress repealed the “individual mandate.” The repeal of this provision, which requires most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, will become effective in 2019. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the repeal of the individual mandate will cause 13 million fewer Americans to be insured in 2027 and premiums in insurance markets may rise. Additionally, on January 22, 2018, the President signed a continuing resolution on appropriations for fiscal year 2018 that delayed the implementation of certain ACA-mandated fees, including the so-called “Cadillac” tax on certain high cost employer-sponsored insurance plans, the annual fee imposed on certain health insurance providers based on market share, and the medical device excise tax on non-exempt medical devices. The Congress will likely consider other legislation to replace elements of the ACA during 2018.

Further, there have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries and proposed federal and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drugproduct pricing review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, reduce the costs of drugs under Medicare and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drugpharmaceutical and biologic products. At the federal level, Congress and the current Administration have each indicated that it will continue to seek new legislative and/or administrative measures to control drug costs. At the state level, individual states are increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. In addition, regional health care authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other health care programs. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products, once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing.

We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the U.S. or abroad. We expect that additional federal and state health care reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for health care products and services.

30


For a more detailed discussion of health care reform in the U.S., see “Risk Factors—Ongoing healthcare legislative and regulatory reform measures may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.”

Data Privacy Regulation

U.S. Privacy Law

There are numerous U.S. federal and state laws and regulations related to the privacy and security of personal information, including laws requiring the safeguarding of personal information and laws requiring notification to governmental authorities and data subjects as well as remediation in the event of a data breach. In the health care industry generally, under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, as amended in 2009 by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, has issued regulations to protect the privacy and security of protected health information used or disclosed by covered entities including certain healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses. HIPAA also regulates standardization of data content, codes and formats used in healthcare transactions and standardization of identifiers for health plans and providers. HIPAA also imposes certain obligations on the business associates of covered entities that obtain protected health information in providing services to or on behalf of covered entities. HIPAA may apply to us in certain circumstances and may also apply to our business partners in ways that may impact our relationships with them. Our clinical trials are regulated by the Common Rule, which also includes specific privacy-related provisions. HITECH made significant modifications to HIPAA including subjecting business associates to direct regulation and enforcement by the Office of Civil Rights of HHS, or OCR, instituting a breach notification requirement for breaches of unsecured PHI, including a breach of PHI held by a business associate, and strengthening the enforcement tools available to OCR. In addition to federal privacy regulations, there are a number of state laws governing confidentiality and security of health information that may be applicable to our business. In addition to possible federal civil and criminal penalties for HIPAA violations, state attorneys general are authorized to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce HIPAA and seek attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state attorneys general (along with private plaintiffs) have brought civil actions seeking injunctions and damages resulting from alleged violations of HIPAA’s privacy and security rules. State attorneys general also have authority to enforce state privacy and security laws.

General Data Protection Regulation

Many countries outside of the U.S. maintain rigorous laws governing the privacy and security of personal information. The General Data Protection Regulation, (EU) 2016/679, or GDPR, became effective on May 25, 2018, and deals with the collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals in the EEA. The GDPR imposes a broad range of strict requirements on companies subject to the GDPR, including requirements relating to having legal bases for processing personal information relating to identifiable individuals and transferring such information outside the EEA, including to the U.S., providing details to those individuals regarding the processing of their personal health and other sensitive data, obtaining consent to certain processing activities from the individuals to whom the personal data relates, keeping personal data secure, having data processing agreements with third parties who process personal data, responding to individuals’ requests to exercise their rights in respect of their personal data, reporting security breaches involving personal data to the competent national data protection authority and affected individuals, appointing data protection officers, conducting data protection impact assessments, and record- keeping. The GDPR provides for substantial penalties to which we could be subject in the event of any non-compliance, including fines of up to €10 million or up to two percent of our total worldwide annual revenues, whichever is greater, for certain comparatively minor offenses, or up to €20 million or up to four percent of our total worldwide annual revenues, whichever is greater, for more serious offenses. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. In addition, the GDPR includes restrictions on cross-border data transfers, and recent court decisions and regulatory guidance have substantially increased the compliance burden and legal uncertainty associated with transferring the personal data of EEA individuals to third countries outside of the EEA whose data protection laws are not believed to be adequate by European standards (although the recent EU-US Data Privacy Framework offers a new route for data transfers from the EU to be made lawfully to the US).

31


Further, the GDPR provides for opening clauses in certain areas, which enable the legislators of member states of the EU to implement additional requirements to the GDPR in national law, whereby national laws may partially deviate from the GDPR and impose different obligations from country to country, so that we do not expect to operate in a uniform legal landscape in the EEA.

Also, as it relates to processing and transfer of genetic, biometric and health data, the GDPR specifically allows national laws to impose additional and more specific requirements or restrictions, and European laws have historically differed quite substantially in this field, leading to additional uncertainty. The UK’s decision to leave the EU (and it is important to note that the EEA does not include the UK), often referred to as Brexit, has created uncertainty with regard to data protection regulation in the UK and to what extent UK law will diverge from the GDPR in the future. At this point in time, the UK Government has incorporated the GDPR into UK law, known as the ‘UK GDPR', but has also published proposals recently to reform UK data protection law which are going through the UK Parliament and likely to become law in 2024. In the context of international data transfers, European Commission has issued adequacy decisions which have the effect of authorizing data transfers from the EEA to the UK. The UK Government and the Information Commissioner’s Office have also published proposals recently to indicate how data transfers between the UK and the rest of the world will be regulated now that the UK has left the EU. For instance, the UK Government proposes recognizing more countries as adequate for data transfers as part of reducing barriers to data flows — this would include countries not yet authorized by the European Commission. The UK Government has also approved the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework for data transfers from the UK to the US.

Employees and Human Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2023, we had 15 full-time employees, including a total of five employees with M.D. or Ph.D. degrees. Of these full-time employees, six are engaged in research and development activities and nine are engaged in general and administrative activities. None of our employees is represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

We are dedicated to fostering a workplace environment that keeps our employees inspired, including providing a comprehensive benefits program that supports the health care, family, and financial needs of our employees. All of our full-time employees are eligible for cash bonuses and equity awards in addition to other benefits including comprehensive health insurance, life and disability insurance, and 401(k) matching.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 6, 2001 under the name Renegade Therapeutics, Inc. We changed our name to Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. on February 5, 2007. On October 31, 2023, we acquired Lung pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement, after which time Lung became a wholly owned subsidiary of us. Our principal executive office is located at 12407 N. Mopac Expy. Suite 250 #390, Austin, TX 78758, and our telephone number is (737) 802-1989.

Information Available on the Internet

Our internet website address is http://www.aileronrx.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have included our website address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K solely as an inactive textual reference. We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendment to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We make these reports available through the “SEC Filings” section of our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish such reports to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We also make available, free of charge on our website, the reports filed with the SEC by our executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders pursuant to Section 16 under the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after copies of those filings are provided to us by those persons. You can review our electronically filed reports and other information that we file with the SEC on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

32


Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Careful consideration should be given to the following risk factors, in addition to the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we file with the SEC, in evaluating our company and our business. Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional CapitalBusiness

We have incurred significant losses since inception. We expect to incur losses forOur business is highly dependent on the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. Our net loss was $22.6 million, $18.1 million and $12.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We have not generated any revenue to date from sales of any drugs and have financed our operations principally through the sale of our common stock in our initial public offering, through private placements of our preferred stock, and, to a lesser extent, through a collaboration agreement. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to research and development. Our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, is in clinical development, and our other product candidates are in preclinical research. As a result, we expect that it will be several years, if ever, before we have any product candidates ready for commercialization. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future. The net losses we incur may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:

conduct our current and future clinical trials and additional preclinical research of ALRN-6924;

initiate and continue research and preclinical and clinical development of our other product candidates;

seek to identify additional product candidates;

seek marketing approvals for anysuccess of our product candidates, that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;

56


establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval;

require the manufacture of larger quantities of ourLTI-03 and LTI-01 and any other product candidates forthat we advance into clinical development. Our approach to drug discovery and development and potentially commercialization;

maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;

acquire or in-license other drugs and technologies;

hire and retain additional clinical, quality control and scientific personnel;

build out new facilities or expand existing facilities to support our ongoing development activity; and

add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our drug development, any future commercialization efforts and our compliance with our obligations as a public company.

To become and remain profitable, we must develop, obtain approval for and eventually commercialize a drug or drugs with significant market potential, either on our own orin the area of fibrotic diseases, with a collaborator. This will require us to be successful in a range of challenging activities, including completing preclinical studiesfocus on Cav1-related peptides, is unproven and clinical trials of our product candidates, obtaining marketing approval for these product candidates, manufacturing, marketing and selling those drugs for which we may obtain marketing approval and establishing and managing any collaborations for the development, marketing and/or commercialization of our product candidates. We may never succeed in these activities and, even if we do, may never generate revenues that are significant or large enough to achieve profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business and/or continue our operations. A declineresult in the value of our company could also cause our stockholders to lose all or part of their investment.

Our limited operating history may make it difficult for our stockholders to evaluate the success of our business to date and to assess our future viability.

We are an early-stage company. We were incorporated in 2001 and commenced principal operations in 2006. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our stapled peptide platform, identifying potential product candidates, conducting preclinical studies of our product candidates and conducting clinical trials of our product candidates.marketable products. All of our product candidates other than ALRN-6924 are in preclinical research. We have not yet demonstrated our ability to successfully complete any clinical trials, including large-scale, pivotal clinical trials, obtain marketing approvals, manufacture a commercial-scale drug or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful drug commercialization. Typically, it takes about six to ten years to develop a new drug from the time it is in Phase 1 clinical trials to when it is approved for treating patients, but in many cases it may take longer. Consequently, any predictions made about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history.

In addition, as a business with a limited operating history, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors. We may need to transition from a company with a research focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition.

As we continue to build our business, we expect our financial condition and operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, stockholders should not rely upon the results of any particular quarterly or annual periods as indications of future operating performance.

57


We will need substantialrequire significant additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed,development before we may be forcedable to delay, reduce and/or eliminate our research and drug development programs or future commercialization efforts.

Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a very time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we conduct clinical trials of, and seek marketingregulatory approval for ALRN-6924 and our otherlaunch a product candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution are not the responsibility of any collaborator that we may have at such time for any such product candidate. Furthermore, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce and/or eliminate our research and drug development programs or future commercialization efforts.

We will be required to expend significant funds in order to advance the development of ALRN-6924, as well as any other product candidates. In addition, while we may seek one or more collaborators for future development of our product candidates for one or more indications, we may not be able to enter into a collaboration for any of our product candidates for such indications on suitable terms, on a timely basis or at all. In any event, our cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2017 will not be sufficient to fund all of the efforts that we plan to undertake or to fund the completion of development of any of our product candidates. Accordingly, we will be required to obtain further funding through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations and licensing arrangements or other sources. We do not have any committed external source of funds. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy.

We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2017 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2019. Our estimate as to how long we expect our cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2017 to be able to continue to fund our operations is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Further, changing circumstances, some of which may be beyond our control, could cause us to consume capital significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

the scope, progress, results and costs of our current and future clinical trials and additional preclinical research of ALRN-6924;

the scope, progress, results and costs of drug discovery, preclinical research and clinical trials for our other product candidates;

the number of future product candidates that we pursue and their development requirements;

the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;

the success of any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties;

the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies, including entering into licensing or collaboration arrangements for product candidates, although we currently have no commitments or agreements to complete any such transactions;

the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval, to the extent that such sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution are not the responsibility of any collaborator that we may have at such time;

the amount of revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval;

58


the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;

our headcount growth and associated costs, including costs of our planned build-out of new facilities, as we expand our business operations and our research and development activities; and

the costs of operating as a public company.

Our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if at all. If we are unable to obtain product approvals or generate significant commercial revenues, our business will be materially harmed.

commercially. Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to LTI-03, LTI-01, or other product candidates.

We currently have no products that are approved for commercial sale and may never be able to develop marketable products. We have two clinical product candidates, LTI-03 and LTI-01, in early- and mid-stage clinical development, respectively. If either of our clinical product candidates encounter safety or efficacy problems, development delays, regulatory issues or other problems, our development plans and business would be significantly harmed. We have completed a Phase 1a safety and tolerability clinical trial of LTI-03 in healthy normal volunteers and are currently recruiting a Phase 1b dose ranging, placebo-controlled safety and tolerability trial of LTI-03 in IPF patients. We have completed a Phase 1b safety, tolerability and proof of mechanism trial and a Phase 2a dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial of LTI-01 in loculated pleural effusion, or LPE, patients. We must successfully complete Phase 3 clinical trials prior to obtaining FDA approval of LTI-03 or LTI-01 for commercial use.

For each product candidate, we must demonstrate its safety and efficacy in humans, obtain regulatory approval in one or more jurisdictions, obtain manufacturing supply, capacity and expertise, and substantially invest in marketing efforts before we are able to generate any revenue from such product candidate.

Before we can generate any revenue from sales of our clinical product candidates, LTI-03 and LTI-01, or any other product candidates, we must perform additional clinical studies and/or preclinical development, and complete regulatory review and approval in one or more jurisdictions. In addition, if one or more of our product candidates is approved, we must ensure sufficient commercial manufacturing capacity and conduct and finance significant marketing efforts in connection with any commercial launch. These efforts will require substantial investment, and we may not have the financial resources to continue development of our product candidates.

We may experience setbacks that could delay or prevent regulatory approval of, or our ability to commercialize, our product candidates, including, but not limited to:

negative or inconclusive results from our clinical trials or preclinical studies or the clinical trials or preclinical studies of others for product candidates similar to ours, leading to a decision or requirement to conduct additional clinical trials or preclinical studies or to abandon a program;
drug-related side effects experienced by subjects in our clinical trials or by individuals using drugs or therapeutics similar to our product candidates;
delays in submitting Investigational New Drug applications, or INDs, or comparable foreign regulatory applications or delays or failure in obtaining the necessary approvals from regulators to commence a clinical trial, or a suspension or termination of a clinical trial once commenced;
conditions imposed by the FDA or comparable foreign authorities regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials or our drug development strategy;
delays in enrolling subjects in clinical trials;
high drop-out rates of subjects from clinical trials;

33


inadequate or delayed supply or quality of product candidates or other materials necessary for the conduct of our clinical trials;
greater than anticipated clinical trial costs;
inability to compete with other therapies;
unfavorable FDA or other regulatory agency inspection and review of a clinical trial site;
failure of our third-party manufacturers, contractors or investigators to comply with regulatory requirements or otherwise meet their contractual obligations in a timely manner, or at all;
delays in obtaining any pre-market inspections required by the FDA or other regulatory agencies;
delays and changes in regulatory requirements, policy and guidelines, including the imposition of additional regulatory oversight around clinical testing generally or with respect to our technology in particular; or
varying interpretations of data by the FDA and similar foreign regulatory agencies.

We do not have complete control over many of these factors, including certain aspects of clinical development and the regulatory review process, potential threats to our intellectual property rights and our manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales efforts or that of any future collaborator.

Our approach to drug research and development in the area of fibrotic diseases, with a focus on Cav1-related peptides, is unproven and may not result in marketable products.

Our approach is to develop targeted treatments for fibrosis with an initial focus on Cav1 biology and utilization of its caveolin scaffolding domain, or CSD, peptide region. However, to date, this mechanism has not been definitively proven to successfully treat fibrosis in patients. Utilizing a Cav1-related peptide to treat fibrosis is a novel approach in a rapidly developing field, and there can be no assurance that we will not experience unforeseen problems or delays in developing our product candidates, that such problems or delays will not result in unanticipated costs, or that any such development problems can be solved. Therefore, we may ultimately discover that our approach and any product candidates resulting therefrom do not possess properties required for therapeutic effectiveness. As a result, we may never succeed in developing a marketable product.

In addition, while we have utilized cell assays, precision cut lung slice models, and in vivo animal models to assess both anti-fibrotic and epithelium preservation functions of Cav1-related peptides, there can be no assurance that our technology will yield its intended benefits in human patients.

Risks Related to Our Financial Condition

We will require substantial additional capital to finance our operations. Our cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to enable us to complete the development and commercialization of LTI-03 and LTI-01. If we are unable to raise such capital when needed, or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce and/or eliminate one or more of our clinical and research and development programs, future commercialization efforts or other operations.

Developing biopharmaceutical products, including conducting clinical trials and preclinical studies, is a very time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we conduct our planned clinical trials of LTI-03 and LTI-01 and any future product candidates that we may develop, seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates and to launch and commercialize any products for which we receive regulatory approval. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in order to maintain our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate one or more of our research and drug development programs or future commercialization efforts.

34


As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $17.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on our current operating plan, we believe that existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2024. However, our future capital requirements and the period for which our existing resources will support our operations may vary significantly from what we expect, and we will in any event require additional capital in order to complete clinical development of any of our current programs. Our monthly spending levels will vary based on new and ongoing development and corporate activities. Because the length of time and activities associated with development of our product candidates is highly uncertain, we are unable to estimate the actual funds we will require for development, marketing and commercialization activities. Our future funding requirements, both near and long-term, will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of clinical trials and preclinical studies for our product candidates;
the clinical development plans we establish for these product candidates;
the timelines of our clinical trials and the overall costs to finish the clinical trials;
the number and characteristics of product candidates that we develop;
the outcome, timing and cost of meeting regulatory requirements established by the FDA, and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities;
whether we are able to enter into collaboration agreements and the terms of any such agreements;
the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing our patent claims and other intellectual property rights;
the cost of defending intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement actions brought by third parties against us or our product candidates;
the effect of competing technological and market developments;
the cost and timing of completion of outsourced manufacturing activities; and
the cost of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for any product candidates for which we may receive regulatory approval in regions where we choose to commercialize our products on our own.

We do not have any committed external source of funds or other support for our development efforts and we cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Until we can generate sufficient revenue to finance our cash requirements, which we may never do, we expect to finance our future cash needs through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and other marketing or distribution arrangements. If we raise additional funds through public or private equity offerings, the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Further, to the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, your ownership interest will be diluted. In addition, any debt financing may subject us to fixed payment obligations and covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional capital through marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish certain valuable intellectual property or other rights to our product candidates, technologies, future revenue streams or research programs or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. We also may be required to seek collaborators for any of our product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or relinquish our rights to product candidates or technologies that we otherwise would seek to develop or commercialize ourselves. Any of the above events could significantly harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our common stock to decline.

There is no guarantee that our acquisition of Lung and its business will increase stockholder value in our company or that we will be able to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.

35


In October 2023, we acquired Lung and shifted our disease focus from chemoprotection to orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications. We cannot guarantee that implementing the Lung Acquisition and related transactions and the shift in our disease focus will not impair stockholder value or otherwise adversely affect our business or that we will be able to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. The Lung Acquisition poses significant integration challenges between our business and management teams which could result in management and business disruptions, any of which could harm our results of operation, business prospects, and impair the value of such acquisition to our stockholders.

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to LTI-03, LTI-01 or other product candidates.

We expect our expenses to increase as we will incur significant research and development expenses as we continue our ongoing clinical trial of LTI-03 in patients with IPF, continue our non-clinical research with our product candidates, initiate additional clinical trials of our product candidates and pursue later stages of clinical development of our product candidates. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial revenues from the sale of drugs,our products, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and/or licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our then existing stockholders may be diluted, and the terms of these securities could include liquidation or other preferences and anti-dilution protections that could adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. In addition, debt financing, if available, would result in fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, creating liens, redeeming stock or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. In addition, securingSecuring financing couldmay also require a substantial amount of time and attention from our management team and maycould divert a disproportionate amount of their attention away from day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our management’s ability to oversee the development of our product candidates.

IfWe may seek one or more collaborators for future development of our product candidates for one or more indications. However, we may not be able to enter into such collaborations on suitable terms, on a timely basis, or at all. Even if we are able to raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technology, future revenue streams or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.

If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be required to delay, reduce and/or eliminate our product development or future commercialization efforts, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we wouldmight otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

We have a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale, which may make it difficult to evaluate our prospects and likelihood of success.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, establishing our intellectual property portfolio and performing clinical trials and research and development of our product candidates. Our approach to the research and development of product candidates is unproven, and we do not know whether we will be able to develop any products of commercial value. In addition, one clinical product candidate, LTI-03, is in early clinical development and a second clinical product candidate, LTI-01, is in mid-stage clinical development. Both programs will require substantial additional development and clinical research time and resources before we would be able to apply for or receive regulatory approvals and begin generating revenue from product sales. We have not yet demonstrated the ability to progress any product candidate through clinical trials to regulatory approval. We are still in mid-stage and early clinical development and may be unable to obtain regulatory approval, manufacture a commercial scale product, or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that any potential product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval and become commercially viable. In addition, as a business with a limited operating history, we may encounter unforeseen

36


expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors and risks frequently experienced by early-stage biopharmaceutical companies in rapidly evolving fields. Consequently, we have no meaningful history of operations upon which to evaluate our business, and predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history or a history of successfully developing and commercializing drug products.

We have incurred significant net losses since inception and we expect to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future and do not expect to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to develop and commercialize our product candidates, we may never generate revenues that are significant or large enough to achieve profitability.

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and have financed our operations principally through equity financings. We continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we reported an operating loss of $16.3 million and $27.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $288.5 million. We have devoted substantially all of our resources and efforts to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, acquiring and discovering development programs, securing intellectual property rights and research and development and we expect that it will be several years, if ever, before we generate revenue from product sales. Even if we receive marketing approval for and commercialize one or more of our product candidates, we expect that we will continue to incur substantial research and development and other expenses in order to develop and market additional potential product candidates. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if, and as, we:

advance the development of our clinical product candidates, LTI-03 and LTI-01, and our other product candidates, through clinical development, and, if successful, later-stage clinical trials;
advance our preclinical development programs into clinical development;
research and develop new product candidates;
experience delays or interruptions to clinical trials, preclinical studies, our receipt of materials and services from our third-party service providers on whom we rely, or our supply chain;
seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;
commercialize our product candidates and any future product candidates, if approved;
increase the amount of research and development activities to identify and develop product candidates;
hire additional clinical, chemistry, manufacturing, controls, or CMC, quality control, scientific and management personnel and expand our operational, financial and management systems and personnel, including personnel to support our clinical development and manufacturing efforts and our operations as a public company;
establish a sales, marketing, medical affairs and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval and intend to commercialize on our own or jointly with third parties;
maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and
invest in or in-license other technologies or product candidates.

To become and remain profitable, we must develop and eventually commercialize products with significant market potential. This will require us to be successful in a range of challenging activities, including completing clinical trials and preclinical studies, obtaining marketing approval for product candidates, manufacturing, marketing and selling products for which we may obtain marketing approval and satisfying any post-marketing requirements. We may never succeed in any or all of these activities and, even if we do, we may never generate revenue that is significant enough to achieve profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company

37


and could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations.

We hold a portion of our cash and cash equivalents that we use to meet our working capital and operating expense needs in deposit accounts that could be adversely affected if the financial institutions holding such funds fail.

We hold a portion of cash and cash equivalents that we use to meet our working capital and operating expense needs in deposit accounts. The balance held in these accounts may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, standard deposit insurance limit of $250,000. If a financial institution in which we hold such funds fails or is subject to significant adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets, we could be subject to a risk of loss of all or a portion of such uninsured funds or be subject to a delay in accessing all or a portion of such uninsured funds. Any such loss or lack of access to these funds could adversely impact our short term liquidity and ability to meet our operating expense obligations.

For example, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, and Signature Bank, were closed by state regulators and the FDIC was appointed receiver for each bank. The FDIC created successor bridge banks and all deposits of SVB and Signature Bank were transferred to the bridge banks under a systemic risk exception approved by the United States Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. If financial institutions in which we hold funds for working capital and operating expenses were to fail, we cannot provide any assurances that such governmental agencies would take action to protect our uninsured deposits in a similar manner.

We also maintain investment accounts in which we hold our investments and, if access to the funds we use for working capital and operating expenses is impaired, we may not be able to open new operating accounts or to sell investments or transfer funds from our investment accounts to new operating accounts on a timely basis sufficient to meet our operating expense obligations.

We have identified conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and if we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate, dissolve or seek bankruptcy protection.

We do not believe that our cash and cash equivalents as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K will be sufficient to enable us to fund our current operations for at least twelve months from the date of issuance of the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and have therefore concluded that this circumstance raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on our assessment. We expect that we will continue to generate substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future until we complete development and approval of our product candidates.

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. After the Lung Acquisition, we believe that, based on our current operating plan, our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2024 following the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Since our inception, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and have never generated an operating profit. We have incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred in connection with research and development activities, licensing and patent investment and general and administrative costs associated with our operations. In February 2023, we discontinued development of ALRN-6924 which substantially reduced our operating expenses. Notwithstanding these events, we expect to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future unless we complete development and approval of our product candidates. We will continue to fund our operations primarily through utilization of our current financial resources and additional raises of capital.

38


These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We plan to address these conditions by raising funds from our current investors, potential outside investors and other funding sources. However, there is no assurance that such funding will be available to us, will be obtained on terms favorable to us or will provide us with sufficient funds to meet our objectives. The reaction of investors to the inclusion of a going concern statement by our auditors and our potential inability to continue as a going concern may materially adversely affect our share price and our ability to raise new capital or enter into partnerships. Our funding estimates are based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Our future viability is dependent on our ability to raise additional capital, enter into a financing, consummate a successful acquisition, merger, business combination, or a sale of assets or other transaction. If we become unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to:

significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue the development or commercialization of our product candidates;
seek strategic partnerships, or amend existing partnerships, for research and development programs at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or that we otherwise would have sought to develop independently, or on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available in the future;
dispose of technology assets, or relinquish or license on unfavorable terms, our rights to technologies or any of our product candidates that we otherwise would seek to develop or commercialize ourselves;
liquidate our assets and the values we receive for our assets in liquidation or dissolution could be significantly lower than the values reflected in our consolidated financial statements; or
file for bankruptcy or cease operations altogether (and face any related legal proceedings).

Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and prospects.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, which may result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations.

Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. An ineffective system of internal control could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weaknesses primarily related to the accounting for the business combination with Lung Therapeutics, Inc., specifically the (i) lack of sufficient accounting and supervisory personnel to maintain appropriate segregation of duties relating to user access of the financial accounting system and who have the appropriate level of technical accounting experience and training, (ii) lack of evidence over reviews of account reconciliations and supporting schedules, and (iii) lack of adequate procedures and controls to ensure that accurate financial statements could have been prepared and reviewed on a timely basis for annual reporting purposes. Refer to Part II, Item 9A for additional information regarding the material weaknesses.

We are implementing procedures to remediate these material weaknesses, however, we cannot assure you that these or other measures will fully remediate the material weaknesses in a timely manner or prevent future material weaknesses from occurring.

39


If we identify material weaknesses in the future, and we are unable to remediate any such material weaknesses, our reputation, financial reporting and condition, and operating results could suffer. Moreover, we could become subject to investigations by regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

We are required to disclose changes made in our internal control procedures on a quarterly basis. Our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. However, for so long as we are neither a “large accelerated filer” nor an “accelerated filer”, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could detect additional material weaknesses that our management’s assessment might not detect. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could lead to restatements of our financial statements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.

During the course of our review and testing, we may identify additional material weaknesses and be unable to remediate them before we must provide the required reports. Furthermore, if we identify any material weaknesses, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our financial statements may be materially misstated.

The amount of our future losses is uncertain and our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly or may fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, each of which may cause our stock price to fluctuate or decline.

Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and may be difficult to predict, including the following:

the timing and success or failure of clinical trials for our product candidates or competing product candidates, or any other change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or partners;
our ability to successfully recruit and retain subjects for clinical trials, and any delays caused by difficulties in such efforts;
our ability to obtain marketing approval for our product candidates, and the timing and scope of any such approvals we may receive;
the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research and development activities relating to our product candidates, which may change from time to time;
the cost and timing of manufacturing our product candidates, which may vary depending on the quantity of production and the terms of our agreements with manufacturers;
our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel;
expenditures that we will or may incur to develop additional product candidates;
the level of demand for our product candidates should they receive approval, which may vary significantly;
the risk/benefit profile, cost and reimbursement policies with respect to our product candidates, if approved, and existing and potential future therapeutics that compete with our product candidates;
general market conditions or extraordinary external events, such as recessions or pandemics;
the changing and volatile U.S. and global economic environments; and
future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies.

The cumulative effects of these factors could result in large fluctuations and unpredictability in our quarterly and annual operating results. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. This variability and unpredictability could also result in our failing to meet the expectations of industry or financial analysts or investors for any period. If our revenue or operating results fall below the expectations of

40


analysts or investors or below any forecasts we may provide to the market, or if the forecasts we provide to the market are below the expectations of analysts or investors, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Such a stock price decline could occur even when we have met any previously publicly stated guidance we may provide.

Risks Related to the Discovery, Development and Commercialization of Our Product Candidates

We are dependent on the success of our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, which is currently in multiple clinical trials. Our clinical trials of ALRN-6924 may not be successful. If we are unable to obtain approval for and commercialize ALRN-6924 or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.

Our future success is substantially dependent on our ability to timely obtain marketing approval for, and then successfully commercialize, ALRN-6924, our lead product candidate. We are investing a majority of our efforts and financial resources in the research and development of ALRN-6924. Our other product candidates are in earlier stages of development. Our business depends entirely on the successful development and commercialization of our product candidates. We currently generate no revenues from sales of any products, and we may never be able to develop a marketable product.

ALRN-6924 will require additional clinical development, evaluation of clinical, preclinical and manufacturing activities, marketing approval in multiple jurisdictions, substantial investment and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenues from product sales. We believe that it is the current view of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, that in the event that we decide to seek marketing approval of ALRN-6924 with a label limited to non-mutated or wild type, or WT, p53 cancer patients, we would be required to have a companion in vitro diagnostic approved for use with ALRN-6924. We would also expect that we would be required to obtain similar approvals from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. In such cases, we will need to contract with a third

59


party for the supply of a commercially available diagnostic to identify patients with WT p53 status, or develop such a diagnostic ourselves, in each case requiring approval of the diagnostic by regulatory authorities. Companion diagnostics are subject to regulation as medical devices and must be separately approved or cleared for marketing by the FDA or certain other foreign regulatory agencies. We are not permitted to market or promote ALRN-6924, or any other product candidates, before we receive marketing approval from the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such marketing approvals.

The success of ALRN-6924 will depend on several factors, including the following:

successful and timely completion of our ongoing clinical trials of ALRN-6924;

initiation and successful patient enrollment and completion of additional clinical trials on a timely basis;

safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority for marketing approval;

timely receipt of marketing approvals for both ALRN-6924 and any required companion diagnostic from applicable regulatory authorities;

the performance of our future collaborators, if any;

the extent of any required post-marketing approval commitments to applicable regulatory authorities;

establishment of supply arrangements with third-party raw materials and drug product suppliers and manufacturers;

establishment of scaled production arrangements with third-party manufacturers to obtain finished products that are appropriately packaged for sale;

obtaining and maintaining patent protection, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally;

protection of our rights in our intellectual property portfolio, including our licensed intellectual property;

successful launch of commercial sales following any marketing approval;

a continued acceptable safety profile following any marketing approval;

commercial acceptance by patients, the medical community and third-party payors; and

our ability to compete with other therapies.

We do not have complete control over many of these factors, including certain aspects of clinical development and the regulatory submission process, potential threats to our intellectual property rights and the manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales efforts of any future collaborator.

The approach we are taking to discover and develop novel drugs is unproven and may never lead to marketable products.

We have concentrated our efforts and therapeutic product research on stapled peptide technology, and our future success depends on the successful development of this technology and products based on stapled peptide technology. Neither we nor any other company has received marketing approval to market therapeutics utilizing stapled peptides. The scientific discoveries that form the basis for our efforts to discover and develop new drugs are relatively new. The scientific evidence to support the feasibility of developing drugs based on these discoveries is both preliminary and limited. Very few drug candidates based on these discoveries have ever been tested in animals, and development of an earlier stapled peptide product candidate by us was suspended following a clinical trial due to the anticipated costs of required reformulation. Peptides, the class of molecule we are trying to develop into drugs, do not naturally possess the inherent molecular properties typically required of drugs, such as the ability to be stable in the body long enough to reach the tissues in which their effects are required, nor the ability to enter cells within these tissues in order to exert their effects. We currently have only limited data to suggest that we can

60


introduce these properties into peptides. We may spend large amounts of money trying to introduce these properties, and never succeed in doing so. In addition, our stapled peptide product candidates may not demonstrate in patients the chemical and pharmacological properties ascribed to them in laboratory studies, and they may interact with human biological systems in unforeseen, ineffective or harmful ways. As a result, we may never succeed in developing a marketable product. If we do not successfully develop and commercialize products based upon our technological approach, we will not become profitable and the value of our common stock will decline. Further, our focus on stapled peptide technology as opposed to multiple technologies increases the risks associated with the ownership of our common stock. If our approach is not successful, we may be required to change the scope and direction of our product development activities. In that case, we may not be able to successfully identify and implement an alternative product development strategy.

Moreover, our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, reactivates p53 by disrupting the interactions between p53 and MDMX and MDM2, thereby freeing p53 to transit to its DNA target in the nucleus and initiate apoptosis in cancerous cells. We believe that ALRN-6924 is the first and only product candidate in clinical development that can bind to and disrupt the interaction of MDMX and MDM2 with p53 with equivalent effectiveness, or equipotently. Although we have evaluated ALRN-6924 in preclinical studies and are aware of published literature supporting the role of MDMX and MDM2 in reactivating WT p53 as well as clinical results for small molecule inhibitors that act to disrupt the interaction of p53 and MDM2, we believe that we are the first to clinically test a molecule that binds directly to both MDMX and MDM2. As such, the effect of binding to and simultaneously disrupting the interactions of MDMX and MDM2 with WT p53 in cancer patients has not been established in clinical trials. In addition, the role of factors other than MDMX and MDM2 in circumventing the p53 mechanism is still the subject of continued research. As a result, we do not know whether the mechanism of action of ALRN-6924 will have the expected effect on all target cancer indications and whether ALRN-6924 will succeed in demonstrating the safety and efficacy needed to advance in clinical development and obtain marketing approval.

The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, interim results of a clinical trial, do not necessarily predict final results and the results of our clinical trials may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

We currently have no drugsproducts approved for sale and we cannot guarantee that we will ever have marketable drugs.products. Clinical failure can occur at any stage of clinical development. For instance, our first clinical trial of one of our earlier stapled peptide product candidates did not generate the desired results, and we suspended the development program. Clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we or any future collaborators may decide, or regulatorsregulatory authorities may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or preclinicalnonclinical studies. We will be required to demonstrate with substantial evidence through well-controlled, adequate clinical trials that our product candidates are safe and effective for use in a diverse population before we can seek marketing approvals for their commercial sale. Success in preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials does not mean that future larger registration clinical trials will be successfulsuccessful. This is because product candidates in later-stage clinical trials may fail to demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of the FDA and non-U.S.comparable foreign regulatory authorities despite having progressed through preclinicalnonclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials. Product candidates that have shown promising results in preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials may still suffer significant setbacks in subsequent registration clinical trials. Additionally, the outcome of preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later-stage clinical trials.

From time to time, we may publish or report topline, interim or preliminary data from our clinical trials. InterimWe make assumptions, estimates, calculations, and conclusions as part of our analyses of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to evaluate all data fully and carefully. As a result, topline, interim or preliminary data from clinical trials that we may conduct may not be indicative of the final results of the trialsuch trials and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patientsubject enrollment continues and more patient data from the trials become available. InterimTopline, interim or preliminary data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the interim or preliminary data. As a result, topline, interim or preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available.

In addition, the design of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support approval of a drugWe are conducting and flawsmay in the designfuture choose to conduct clinical trials for current or future product candidates outside of a clinical trialthe U.S., and the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced. accept data from such trials.

We have limited experience in designing clinical trialsare conducting and may be unablein the future choose to design and conduct a clinical trial to support marketing approval. Further, if our product candidates are found to be unsafe or lack efficacy, we will not be able to obtain marketing approval for them and our business would be harmed. A number of companies in the

61


pharmaceutical industry, including those with greater resources and experience than us, have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after obtaining promising results in preclinical studies and earlier clinical trials.

In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety and efficacy results between different clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial protocols, differences in size and type of the patient populations, differences in and adherence to the dosing regimen and other trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. We do not know whether any clinical trials we may conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety sufficient to obtain marketing approval to market our product candidates.

We have multiple clinical trials of ALRN-6924 currently ongoing. In the event that an adverse safety issue, clinical hold or other adverse finding occurs in one or more of our clinical trials outside the U.S. The acceptance of ALRN-6924, such event could adversely affect our otherstudy data from clinical trials of ALRN-6924. Moreover, there is a relatively limited safety data set for product candidates utilizing stapled peptidesconducted outside the U.S. or that are designed to reactivate p53. An adverse safety issue or other adverse finding in a clinical trial conducted by a third party with a product candidate utilizing stapled peptides or that is designed to reactivate p53, such as the small molecules in development that target the p53-MDM2 interaction, could adversely affect our clinical trials of ALRN-6924.

Further, our product candidates may not be approved even if they achieve their primary endpoints in Phase 3 clinical trials or registration trials. The FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities may disagree with our trial design and our interpretation of data from preclinical studies and clinical trials. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may change requirements for the approval of a product candidate even after reviewing and providing comments or advice on a protocol for a pivotal clinical trial that has the potential to result in approvalanother jurisdiction by the FDA or anothercomparable foreign regulatory authority. In addition, any of these regulatory authoritiesauthority may also approve a product candidate for fewer or more limited indications than we requestbe subject to certain conditions or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials. In addition, the FDA or other non-U.S. regulatory authorities may not approve the labeling claims that we believe would be necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates.

Before obtaining marketing approvals for the commercial sale of any product candidate for a target indication, we must demonstrate with substantial evidence gathered in preclinical studies and well-controlled clinical studies, and, with respect to approval in the United States, to the satisfaction of the FDA, that the product candidate is safe and effective for use for that target indication.accepted at all. There iscan be no assurance that the FDA or non-U.S.any comparable foreign regulatory authoritiesauthority will consider ouraccept data from trials conducted outside of the U.S. or the applicable jurisdiction. If the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional trials, which could be costly and time-consuming, and which may result in current or future clinical trials to be sufficient to serve as the basis for approval of one of our product candidates that we may develop being delayed for any indication. The FDA and non-U.S.development or regulatory authorities retain broad discretionauthorization or not receiving approval for commercialization in evaluating the results of our clinical trials and in determining whether the results demonstrate that a product candidate is safe and effective. If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials of a product candidate than we expect prior to its approval, we will need substantial additional funds and there is no assurance that the results of any such additional clinical trials will be sufficient for approval.applicable jurisdiction.

Clinical drug development is a lengthy and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome. If clinical trials of our product candidates fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities or do not otherwise produce positive results, weWe may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidates.

We may experience delays in initiating or completing clinical trials. We also may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, any future clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidates, including, but not limited to:

regulators or be unable to obtain marketing approval.

Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of our product candidates, we must complete preclinical development and then conduct extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates. Clinical testing is expensive, difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and is uncertain as to outcome. A failure of oneinstitutional review boards, or more clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing. The outcome of preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trialsIRBs, or ethics committees may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and interim results ofauthorize us or our investigators to commence a clinical trial such as or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;

the results ofFDA or other comparable regulatory authorities may disagree with our ongoingclinical trial design, including with respect to dosing levels administered in our planned clinical trials, of ALRN-6924, do not necessarily predict final results. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies andwhich may delay or prevent us from initiating our clinical trials have nonetheless failedwith our originally intended trial design;

41


we may experience delays in reaching, or we may fail to obtain marketing approval of their drugs.

62


We do not know whether ongoing clinical trials will be completed on schedule or at all, or whether future clinical trials will begin on time, need to be redesigned, enroll patients on time or be completed on schedule, if at all.

Clinical trials can be delayed for a variety of reasons, including delays related to:

obtaining marketing approval to commence a trial;

reachingreach, agreement on acceptable terms with prospective trial sites and prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and clinical trial sites;

obtaining institutional review board approval at each clinical trial site;

recruiting suitable patients to participate in a trial;

developing and validating any companion diagnostic to be used in the trial, to the extent we are required to do so;

patients failing to comply with trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;

clinical trial sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;

the need to add new clinical trial sites; or

manufacturing sufficient quantities of product candidate for use in clinical trials.

We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize our product candidates, including:

we may receive feedback from regulatory authorities that requires us to modify the design of our clinical trials;

clinical trials of our product candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon drug development programs;

the number of patientssubjects required for clinical trials of ourany product candidates may be larger than we anticipate or patient recruitment and enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipateslow or participantssubjects may drop out of these clinical trials or fail to return for post-treatment follow-up at a higher rate than we anticipate;

our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all;

all, or may deviate from the clinical trial protocol or drop out of the trial, which may require that we add new clinical trial sites or investigators;

additional delays and interruptions to our clinical trials could extend the duration of the trials and increase the overall costs to finish the trials as our fixed costs are not substantially reduced during delays;

we may elect to, or regulators, IRBs, Data Safety Monitoring Boards, or DSMBs, or ethics committees may require that we or our investigators, might have to suspend or terminate clinical research or trials of our product candidates for various reasons, including non-compliancenoncompliance with regulatory requirements a finding that our product candidates have undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics, or a finding that the participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;

we may not have the financial resources available to begin and complete the planned trials, or the cost of clinical trials of ourany product candidates may be greater than we anticipate;

the supply or quality of our product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient or inadequate;

inadequate to initiate or complete a given clinical trial; and

regulators may revise the requirements for approving our product candidates, or such requirements may not be as we anticipate; and

any future collaborators that conduct clinical trials may face any of the above issues, and may conduct clinical trials in ways they view as advantageous to them but that are suboptimal for us.

63


If we are required to conduct additional clinical trialsFDA or other testing of our product candidates beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are unablecomparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to successfully completesubmit additional data such as long-term toxicology studies or impose other requirements before permitting us to initiate a clinical trials of our product candidates or other testing, if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if there are safety concerns, we may:

incur unplanned costs;

be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates or not obtain marketing approval at all;

obtain marketing approval in some countries and not in others;

obtain marketing approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;

obtain marketing approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings, including boxed warnings;

be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements; or

have the drug removed from the market after obtaining marketing approval.

trial.

Our drugproduct development costs will also increase if we experience additional delays in clinical testing or in obtaining marketing approvals. We do not know whether any of our clinical trials will begin as planned, will need to be restructured or will be completed on schedule, or at all. Furthermore,If we rely on third-party CROsdo not achieve our product development goals in the time frames we announce and clinical trial sites to ensureexpect, the properapproval and timely conductcommercialization of our clinical trials, and while we have agreements governing their committed activities, we have limited influence over their actual performance.product candidates may be delayed or prevented entirely. Significant clinical trial delays also could shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates orand may allow our competitors to bring drugsproducts to market before we do, and impairpotentially impairing our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates and may harmharming our business and results of operations. Any delays in our clinical development programs may harm our business, financial condition and results of operations significantly.

If we experience delaysOur ongoing and future clinical trials may reveal significant adverse events or difficultiesunexpected drug-drug interactions not seen in our preclinical studies or earlier clinical studies and may result in a safety profile that could delay or prevent regulatory approval or market acceptance of any of our product candidates.

We completed a healthy normal volunteer Phase 1a clinical trial of our clinical product candidate LTI-03. During our LTI-03 Phase 1a clinical trial, subjects experienced mild Treatment Emergent Adverse Events, or TEAEs, such as dry cough, as well as moderate or even severe TEAEs, such as wheezing, chest tightness, or decline in the enrollmentamount of air a person can force from their lungs in one second. While no subject experienced a Serious Adverse Event, or SAE, it is possible that subjects in future clinical studies could develop TEAEs such as the ones experienced in the Phase 1a clinical trial, and it is possible that such the number and/or severity of such TEAEs could result in a pause or cessation of the clinical trial. We have also completed Phase 1b and Phase 2a clinical trials of our clinical product candidate LTI-01 in LPE patients. In the Phase 2a trial, four subjects experienced TEAEs, including 1 mild, 2 moderate, and 1 severe TEAE. There were no SAEs reported. The product candidate was concluded to be generally well-tolerated across all doses in trial participants.

If significant adverse events or other side effects are observed in any of our ongoing or future clinical trials, whether or not related to our product candidates, we may have difficulty recruiting patients to our clinical trials, patients may drop out of our trials, or we may be required to abandon the trials or our development efforts altogether

42


or may result in safety profile that could delay or prevent regulatory approval or market acceptance of any of our product candidates.

Clinical development involves a lengthy, complex and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome.

To obtain the requisite regulatory approvals to commercialize any product candidates, we must demonstrate through extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials that our product candidates are safe and effective in humans. Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. In particular, the general approach for FDA approval of a new drug is dispositive data from two well-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trials of the relevant drug in the relevant patient population. Phase 3 clinical trials typically involve many patients, have significant costs and can take years to complete. A product candidate can fail at any stage of testing, even after observing promising signals of activity in earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. In addition, initial success in clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when such trials are completed. There is typically an extremely high rate of attrition of candidate therapies from failure of these candidates proceeding through clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy profile despite having progressed through preclinical studies and previous clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Most product candidates that commence clinical trials are never approved as new drugs and there can be no assurance that any of our receiptfuture clinical trials will ultimately be successful or support further clinical development of LTI-03 and LTI-01 or any of our other product candidates. Product candidates that appear promising in the early phases of development may fail to reach the market for several reasons, including, but not limited to:

clinical trials or preclinical studies may show the product candidates to be less effective than expected (e.g., a clinical trial could fail to meet its primary endpoint(s)) or to have unacceptable side effects or toxicities;
failure to establish clinical endpoints that applicable regulatory authorities would consider clinically meaningful;
failure to receive the necessary regulatory approvals;
failure of contract manufacturers to comply with regulatory requirements;
manufacturing costs, formulation issues, pricing or reimbursement issues, or other factors that make a product candidate uneconomical; and
the proprietary rights of others and their competing products and technologies that may prevent one of our product candidates from being commercialized.

In addition, differences in trial design between early-stage clinical trials and later-stage clinical trials make it difficult to extrapolate the results of earlier clinical trials to later clinical trials. Moreover, clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many candidates that have performed satisfactorily in clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their products. Some of our future trials may be open label studies, where both the patient and investigator know whether patient is receiving the investigational product candidate or either an existing approved drug or placebo. Most typically, open label clinical trials test only the investigational product candidates and sometimes do so at different dose levels. Open label clinical trials are subject to various limitations that may exaggerate any therapeutic effect as patients in open label clinical trials are aware when they are receiving treatment. In addition, open label clinical trials may be subject to an “investigator bias” where those assessing and reviewing the physiological outcomes of the clinical trials are aware of which patients have received treatment and may interpret the information of the treated group more favorably given this knowledge. Therefore, it is possible that positive results observed in open label trials will not be replicated in later placebo-controlled trials.

In addition, the standards that the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities use when regulating us require judgment and can change, which makes it difficult to predict with certainty how they will be applied. Any analysis we perform of data from preclinical and clinical activities is subject to confirmation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. We may also encounter unexpected

43


delays or increased costs due to new government regulations. Examples of such regulations include future legislation or administrative action, or changes in FDA policy during the period of product development and FDA regulatory review. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA or foreign regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be. The FDA also requires a panel of experts, referred to as an Advisory Committee, to deliberate on the adequacy of the safety and efficacy data to support product candidate approval. The opinion of the Advisory Committee, although not binding, may have a significant impact on our ability to obtain approval of any product candidates that we develop.

If we seek to conduct clinical trials in foreign countries or pursue marketing approvals in foreign jurisdictions, we must comply with numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing, among other things, the ethical conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process varies among countries and may include all of the risks associated with FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the satisfaction of local regulations in foreign jurisdictions. Moreover, the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities outside the U.S. and vice versa.

Successful completion of clinical trials is a prerequisite to submitting a marketing application to the FDA and similar marketing applications to comparable foreign regulatory authorities, for each product candidate and, consequently, the ultimate approval and commercial marketing of any product candidates. We may experience negative or inconclusive results, which may result in our deciding, or our being required by regulators, to conduct additional clinical studies or trials or abandon some or all of our product development programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Studies involving human tissue samples may also be subject to institutional and government human subject privacy policies that may vary by territory. We or our partners which use human tissue samples or conduct tissue and/or animal studies on our behalf, may be found to be in violation of one or more of these regulations or policies and may be subject to closure, censure or other penalties. In some cases, these penalties could materially impact the performance, availability, or validity of studies conducted by us or on our behalf. Even in the absence of violations resulting in penalties, regulatory and other authorities may refuse to authorize the conduct or to accept the results of studies for regulatory or ethical reasons.

If we encounter difficulties enrolling and retaining patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or prevented.otherwise adversely affected.

We may not be able to initiate or continueexperience difficulties in patient enrollment in our clinical trials for a variety of reasons. The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends, among other things, on our product candidates if we are unableability to locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligiblepatients who remain in the trial until its conclusion. The enrollment of patients depends on many factors, including, but not limited to:

the patient eligibility and exclusion criteria defined in the protocol;
the size of the patient population required for analysis of the trial’s primary endpoints and the process for identifying patients;
the willingness or availability of patients to participate in theseour trials;
the proximity of patients to trial sites;
the design of the trial;
our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;
clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and risks of the product candidate being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new products that may be approved for the indications we are investigating;
the availability of competing commercially available therapies and other competing product candidates’ clinical trials;

44


our ability to obtain and maintain patient informed consents; and
the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials as required bywill drop out of the FDAtrials or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Patient enrollmentare discontinued from trials at the recommendation of the principal investigator before completion.

For example, we are developing LTI-03 for the treatment of IPF, which is an orphan indication. In the U.S., IPF is estimated to affect approximately 100,000 people. As a significant factorresult, we may encounter difficulties enrolling subjects in the timing of clinical trials. In particular, because our clinical trials of ALRN-6924 are focused on indicationsLTI-03 due, in part, to the small size of this patient population. In addition, our clinical trials could compete with small patient populations and are targeted at a subset of patients in such indications with cancer cells that contain WT p53, our ability to enroll eligible patients may be limited or may result in slower enrollment than we anticipate.

Patient enrollment may be affected if our competitors have ongoingother clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as our product candidates, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Since the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, it is possible that we would conduct some of our clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that a competitor uses, which would reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials in such clinical trial site. Certain of our planned clinical trials may also involve invasive procedures such as bronchoscopy and broncho-alveolar lavage procedure, which may lead some patients to drop out of trials to avoid these follow-up procedures. In addition, patients participating in our clinical trials may drop out before completion of the trial or experience adverse medical events unrelated to our products.

If approved, our product candidates that are regulated as biologics may face competition from biosimilars approved through an abbreviated regulatory pathway.

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or the ACA, to establish an abbreviated pathway for the biosimilar and interchangeable biological products. The regulatory pathway establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar as “interchangeable” based on its similarity to an approved biologic. Under the BPCIA, a reference biological product is granted 12 years of data exclusivity from the time of first licensure of the product, and the FDA will not accept an application for a biosimilar or interchangeable product based on the reference biological product until four years after the date of first licensure of the reference product. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still develop and receive approval of a competing biologic, so long as their biologics license application, or BLA, does not rely on the reference product, sponsor’s data or submit the application as a biosimilar application. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, the law’s ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty, and any new policies or processes adopted by the FDA could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our biological products.

We believe that any of the product candidates we develop that are approved in the U.S. as a biological product under developmenta BLA may qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity. However, there is a risk that the FDA may not grant exclusivity, this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise undermined by a competitor, or that the FDA will not consider the subject product candidates to be reference products for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for biosimilar competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of the reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing. The approval of a biosimilar of our product candidates could have a material adverse impact on our business due to increased competition and pricing pressure.

Although we have received U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for LTI-03 for IPF and U.S. and European Union, or EU, Orphan Drug Designation for LTI-01 for pleural empyema, we may be unable to obtain and maintain Orphan Drug Designation for our other product candidates and, even if we obtain such designation, we may not be able to realize the benefits of such designation, including potential marketing exclusivity of our product candidates, if approved.

Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the U.S. and other major markets, may designate drugs intended to treat conditions or diseases affecting relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, the FDA may designate a product candidate as an orphan drug if it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as having a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals

45


in the U.S. or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the U.S. where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the U.S.

Regulation (EC) No. 141/2000 specifies the requirements for designation as an orphan drug at the EU level. The medicinal product must be intended (i) for the treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating disease affecting no more than five in 10,000 individuals in the EU, or (ii) for the treatment of a correspondingly serious condition described in the Regulation, and in both cases, without additional incentives, the marketing of the medicinal product must be unlikely to generate sufficient profit to justify the necessary investment. If one of the two alternatives applies, it is assumed that there is no other satisfactory treatment method or, if such a method exists, that the new product has a significant therapeutic benefit compared to it.

Although we have received U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for LTI-03 for IPF and U.S. and EU Orphan Drug Designation for LTI-01 for pleural empyema, we have not received U.S. Orphan Drug Designation for LTI-01 for LPE, which is the first indication that we are pursuing for LTI-01. Furthermore, the designation of any of our product candidates as an orphan drug does not mean that any regulatory agency will accelerate regulatory review of, or ultimately approve, that product candidate, nor does it limit the ability of any regulatory agency to grant Orphan Drug Designation to product candidates of other companies that treat the same indications as our product candidates,candidates.

Generally, if a product candidate with an Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. 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 FDA from approving another marketing application for a product that constitutes the same drug treating the same indication for that marketing exclusivity period, except in limited circumstances. Similar exclusivity rights apply under EU law if a product candidate with Orphan Drug Designation is authorized in the EU. Designation does not mean approval. Even if we obtain marketing authorization, the FDA may choose not to grant exclusivity. In the EU, market exclusivity only applies if the criteria for orphan drug designation still subsist at the time when the marketing authorization is granted. The applicable period is seven years in the U.S. and patients who would otherwiseten years in the EU. Under EU law, the period of exclusivity may be eligible for our clinical trials instead enroll in clinical trials of our competitors’ product candidates. Patient enrollment may also be affected by other factors, including:

size and naturereduced to six years if it is established, at the end of the patient population;

severity offifth year, that the disease under investigation;

availability and efficacy of approved drugs for the disease under investigation;

patient eligibility criteria for orphan drug designation are no longer met. In the trial in question;

perceived risks and benefitsU.S., orphan drug exclusivity may be revoked if the FDA determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantity of the product candidate under study;

efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials;

patient referral practices of physicians;

meet the ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment;

64


proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients; and

continued enrollment of prospective patients by clinical trial sites.

Our inability to enroll a sufficient numberneeds of patients with the rare disease or condition.

Under EU law, the protection of an orphan medicinal product does not only apply to medicinal products with the same active substance, but extends to all “similar medicinal products”. This is determined by the molecular structure, the mechanism of action and the approved therapeutic indication. Once an orphan medicinal product has been authorized, the European Commission, the EMA and the national regulatory authorities may not, for oura period of ten years from the date of authorization, in respect of such similar medicinal products for the same therapeutic indication: accept another application for authorization, grant a corresponding authorization, or grant an application to extend an existing authorization. Thus, not only market exclusivity is conferred, but also additional protection by prohibiting any application and/or granting of authorization for a similar medicinal product during this 10-year period.

Yet, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product candidate, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product candidate from competition because different drugs can be approved for the same condition or the FDA or the European Commission can approve a similar drug for a different indication. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA may subsequently approve another drug for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the latter drug is not the same drug or is clinically superior in that it is shown to be safer, more effective, or makes a major contribution to patient care. In the EU, another similar product in the same indication may be approved if the holder of the orphan designation is unable to supply sufficient quantities of the product or if the second applicant can establish clinical superiority of its product.

On April 26, 2023, the European Commission presented a draft for a comprehensive reform of the pharmaceutical legislation. The so-called “EU pharmaceutical package” provides, among others, for a new regulation to replace Regulation (EC) No. 141/2000 on orphan medicinal products. The draft regulation introduces the possibility of establishing new designation criteria by the EMA and the restriction of designation as an orphan drug to generally seven years. The draft regulation also provides for more flexible rules on the duration of market exclusivity, including: ten years of market exclusivity for orphan drugs in the case of “high unmet medical need”, five years for orphan drugs, approved by a bibliographic marketing authorization and nine years in all other cases with the possibility of extension

46


in the case of market access in all Member States (another year) or development of new therapeutic indications for an already authorized orphan medicinal product (up to two years). Market exclusivity can thus add up to a maximum of thirteen years, whereas today it is still capped at ten years. It should be noted that the market exclusivity right of the orphan medicinal product does not prevent the submission, validation and assessment of an application for marketing authorization of a similar medicinal product, including generics and biosimilars, if the remaining duration of the market exclusivity right is less than two years. The EU pharmaceutical package is still at an early stage of the legislative process. It may still undergo substantial changes and is expected to turn into binding law in several years’ time.

Changes in methods of product candidate manufacturing or formulation may result in additional costs or delay.

As product candidates progress through preclinical to later-stage clinical trials would resultto marketing approval and commercialization, it is common that various aspects of the development program, such as manufacturing methods and formulation, are altered along the way in significant delaysan effort to optimize yield, manufacturing batch size, minimize costs and achieve consistent quality and results. Such changes carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives. Any of these changes could cause our product candidates to perform differently and affect the results of planned clinical trials or mayother future clinical trials conducted with the altered materials. This could delay completion of clinical trials, require us to abandonthe conduct of bridging clinical trials or the repetition of one or more clinical trials, altogether. Enrollment delays in ourincrease clinical trials may result in increased developmenttrial costs, for our product candidates, which would cause the value of our company to decline and limit our ability to obtain additional financing.

If serious adverse or unacceptable side effects are identified during the development of our product candidates or we observe limited efficacy of our product candidates, we may need to abandon or limit the development of one or more of our product candidates.

Adverse events or undesirable side effects caused by, or other unexpected properties of, our product candidates could cause us, any future collaborators, an institutional review board, or IRB, or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials of one or moreapproval of our product candidates and could result in the delay or denial of marketing approval by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities or a more restrictive label, if approved.

In general,jeopardize our clinical trials of ALRN-6924 include cancer patients who are very sick and whose health is deteriorating, and we expect that additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924 and our other product candidates will include similar patients with deteriorating health. It is possible that some of these patients might die priorability to their completion of our clinical trial. Such deaths may be caused by the cancers from which such patients are suffering, or other causes, unrelated to ALRN-6924 or the other product candidates that may be the subject of the clinical trial. Even if the deaths are not related to our product candidate, the deaths could affect perceptions regarding the safety of our product candidate.

If any ofcommercialize our product candidates and generate revenue.

In addition, there are risks associated with adverse eventslarge scale manufacturing for clinical trials or undesirable side effects or have properties that are unexpected, our trials could be suspended or terminatedcommercial scale including, among others, cost overruns, potential problems with process scale-up, process reproducibility, stability issues, compliance with good manufacturing practices, lot consistency and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further developmenttimely availability of or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. We, or any future collaborators, may abandon development or limit development of that product candidate to certain uses or subpopulations in which the undesirable side effects or other characteristics are less prevalent, less severe or more acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective. Drug-related side effects could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects significantly.

We have never obtained marketing approval for a product candidate andraw materials. Even if we may be unable to obtain or may be delayed in obtaining, marketing approval for any of our product candidates.

We have never obtained marketing approval for acandidates, there is no assurance that our manufacturers will be able to manufacture the approved product candidate. It is possible thatto specifications acceptable to the FDA may refuse to accept for substantive review any new drug applications, or NDAs, that we submit for our product candidates or may conclude after review of our data that our application is insufficient to obtain marketing approval of our product candidates. If the FDA does not accept or approve our NDAs for our product candidates, it may require that we conduct additional clinical, nonclinical or manufacturing validation studies and submit that data before it will reconsider our applications. Depending on the extent of these or any other FDA-required studies, approval of any NDA or application that we submit may be delayed by several years, or may require us to expend more resources than we have available. It is also possible that additional studies, if performed and completed, may not be considered sufficient by the FDA to approve our NDAs.

Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, marketing approvals would prevent us from commercializing our product candidates, generating revenues and achieving and sustaining profitability. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for our product candidates, which could significantly harm our business.

65


The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may, under certain circumstances, require that a companion diagnostic be approved for use with ALRN-6924. If we are unable to successfully develop and obtain approval for such a diagnostic, either on our own or through a third party, or if we experience significant delays in doing so, we may not obtain marketing approval for ALRN-6924 in a timely manner, or at all.

If we decide to seek marketing approval of ALRN-6924 with a label limited to WT p53 cancer patients, we would be required to have a companion in vitro diagnostic approved for use with ALRN-6924. We would also expect that we would be required to obtain similar approvals from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. In such cases, we will need to contract with a third party for the supply of a commercially available diagnostic to identify patients with WT p53 status, or develop such a diagnostic ourselves, in each case requiring approval of the diagnostic by regulatory authorities. We are currently evaluating the risks and benefits of each approach. We currently rely upon commercially available third-party assays and employ a central laboratory to test both archived tumor tissue samples and fresh biopsy samples from patients taken prior to enrollment in clinical trials of ALRN-6924 to identify WT p53 status. We do not have experience or capabilities in developing or commercializing companion diagnostics.

Companion diagnostics are subject to regulation by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities as medical devices and require separate marketing approval prior to commercialization. We or any third party upon which we decide to rely may encounter difficulties in developing and obtaining approval for a companion diagnostic for ALRN-6924, including issues relating to selectivity/specificity, analytical validation, reproducibility or clinical validation. The process of complying with the requirements of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, to support marketing authorization of a companion diagnostic is costly, time-consuming and burdensome. Any delay or failureproduce it in sufficient quantities to develop or obtain marketing approvalmeet the requirements for the potential commercial launch of the companion diagnostic could delayproduct or prevent approvalto meet potential future demand. If our manufacturers are unable to produce sufficient quantities for clinical trials or for commercialization, our development and commercialization efforts would be impaired, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of ALRN-6924.operations and growth prospects.

We may expendDue to our limited resources and access to pursue a particularcapital, we must make decisions on the allocation of resources to certain programs and product candidate or indicationcandidates; these decisions may prove to be wrong and fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.adversely affect our business.

Because weWe have limited financial and managerialhuman resources weand intend to initially focus on research programs and product candidates that we identify for specifica limited set of indications. As a result, we may foregoforgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Ourpotential or a greater likelihood of success. This approach may cause us to commit significant resources to prepare for and conduct later-stage trials for one or more product candidates that subsequently fail earlier-stage clinical testing. Therefore, our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial drugsproducts or profitable market opportunities. Our spendingopportunities, or expend resources on current and future research and development programs and product candidates for specific indications maythat are not yield any commercially viable drugs. Ifviable.

There can be no assurance that we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing or other strategic arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.

We may notwill ever be successful in our effortsable to identify or discover additional potential product candidates.

One element of our strategy is to leverage our proprietary stapled peptide technology to develop additional product candidates across oncology and other diseases with unmet medical need. We may not be successful in doing so. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidatestherapeutic opportunities for clinical development for a number of reasons, including:

the research methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential product candidates;

potential product candidates may, on further study, be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate that they are unlikely to be drugs that will receive marketing approval and/or achieve market acceptance; and

potential product candidates may not be effective in treating their targeted diseases.

Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. If we are unable to identify suitable compounds for preclinical and clinical development, our business would be harmed.

66


If any of our product candidates receives marketing approval and we, or others, later discover that the drug is less effective than previously believed or causes undesirable side effects that were not previously identified, our ability, or that of any future collaborators, to market the drug could be compromised.

Clinical trials of our product candidates must be conducted in carefully defined subsets of patients who have agreed to enter into clinical trials. Consequently, it is possible that our clinical trials, or those of any future collaborator, may indicate an apparent positive effect of a product candidate that is greater than the actual positive effect, if any, or alternatively fail to identify undesirable side effects. If one or more of our product candidates receives marketing approval and we, or others, discover that the drug is less effective than previously believed or causes undesirable side effects that were not previously identified, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:

regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of the drug or seize the drug;

we, or any future collaborators, may be required to recall the drug, change the way the drug is administered or conduct additional clinical trials;

additional restrictions may be imposed on the marketing of, or the manufacturing processes for, the particular drug;

we may be subject to fines, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties;

regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “black box” warning or a contraindication;

we, or any future collaborators, may be required to create a Medication Guide outlining the risks of the previously unidentified side effects for distribution to patients;

we, or any future collaborators, could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients;

the drug may become less competitive; and

our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could have a material and adverse effect on our operations and business and could adversely impact our stock price.

Even if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, they may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.

If any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, they may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payors and others in the medical community. For example, current cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy are well-established in the medical community, and doctors may continue to rely on these treatments. If our product candidates do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant revenues from sales of drugs and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:

the efficacy and safety of the product;

the potential advantages of the product compared to competitive therapies;

the prevalence and severity of any side effects;

whether the product is designated under physician treatment guidelines as a first-, second- or third-line therapy;

our ability, or the ability of any future collaborators, to offer the product for sale at competitive prices;

the product’s convenience and ease of administration compared to alternative treatments;

the willingness of the target patient population to try, and of physicians to prescribe, the product;

67


limitations or warnings, including distribution or use restrictions contained in the product’s approved labeling;

the strength of sales, marketing and distribution support;

changes in the standard of care for the targeted indications for the product; and

availability and amount of coverage and reimbursement from government payors, managed care plans and other third-party payors.

If, in the future, we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to sell and market our product candidates, we may not be successful in commercializing our product candidates if and when they are approved.

We do not have a sales or marketing infrastructure and have no experience in the sale or marketing of pharmaceutical drugs. We are not currently a party to a strategic collaboration that provides us with access to a collaborator’s resources in selling or marketing drugs. To achieve commercial success for any approved drug for which sales and marketing is not the responsibility of any strategic collaborator that we may have in the future, we must either develop a sales and marketing organization or outsource these functions to other third parties. In the future, we may choose to build a sales and marketing infrastructure to market or co-promote some of our product candidates if and when they are approved, or enter into collaborations with respect to the sale and marketing of our product candidates.

There are risks involved with both establishing our own sales and marketing capabilities and entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these services. For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time-consuming and could delay any commercial launch of a product candidate. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.

Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our drugs on our own include:

our inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel;

the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians or persuade adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future drugs;

the lack of complementary drugs to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive drug lines;

unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization; and

inability to obtain sufficient coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors and governmental agencies.

If we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales and marketing services, our revenues from the sale of drugs or the profitability of these revenues to us are likely to be lower than if we were to market and sell any drugs that we develop ourselves. In addition, we may not be successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to sell and market our product candidates or to develop suitable potential product candidates through internal research programs, which could materially adversely affect our future growth and prospects. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential product candidates or other potential programs that ultimately prove to be unable to do so on terms that are favorable to us. We likely will have little control over such third parties,unsuccessful.

Mergers and any of them may fail to devoteacquisitions in the necessary resourcesbiopharmaceutical and attention to sell and market our drugs effectively. If we do not establish sales and marketing capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing our product candidates.

68


We face substantial competition, whichbiotechnology industries may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before oreven more successfully than we do.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries generally, and the cancer drug sector specifically, are highly competitive and characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, evolving understanding of disease etiology andresources being concentrated among a strong emphasis on proprietary drugs. We face competition with respect to ALRN-6924, our lead product candidate, and will face competition with respect to any product candidates that we may seek to discover and develop or commercialize in the future, from major pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. There are asmaller number of major pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell drugsour competitors. Smaller or are pursuing the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. Potential competitors also include academic institutions and governmental agencies and public and private research institutions.

There are a large number of companies developing or marketing treatments for cancer, including the indications for which we may develop product candidates. Many of the companies that we compete or may compete against in the future have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved drugs than we do. Small or early-stageearly stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or that may be necessary for, our programs.

Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or

47


eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize drugsproducts that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient, or are less expensive than any drugsproducts that we may develop. Furthermore, products currently approved for other indications could be discovered to be effective treatments of IPF and LPE as well, which could give such products significant regulatory and market timing advantages over LTI-03 and LTI-01 or other product candidates that we may identify. Currently, off-label use of fibrinolytics is utilized in many hospitals for the treatment of LPE. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their drugsproducts more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. If competitors obtain patent protection or market exclusivity for their products before any of our products are approved, they could significantly delay the approval, and even review (in some cases), of our marketing application. Additionally, products or technologies developed by our competitors may render our potential product candidates uneconomical or obsolete and we may not be successful in marketing any product candidates we may develop against competitors. The keyavailability of competitive products could limit the demand, and the price we are able to charge, for any products that we may develop and commercialize.

We may not be successful in our efforts to identify or discover additional product candidates in the future.

Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to:

our inability to design or obtain such product candidates with the pharmacological properties that we desire or attractive pharmacokinetics; or
potential product candidates may, on further study, be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate that they are unlikely to be medicines that will receive marketing approval and achieve market acceptance.

We have Cav1-related peptides in preclinical development for potentially a broad number of fibrosis indications. Many of these fibrosis indications may require a systemically delivered formulation to effectively treat these indications. We have not finalized a systemic formulation of a proprietary Cav1-related peptide and are currently developing potential systemic formulations. In the event we are unable to successfully complete a suitable formulation for therapeutic delivery, we may not be able to develop product candidates to address additional fibrosis indications. Even if we are able to develop a systemic formulation, it is possible that this systemic delivered product candidate will fail to show sufficient efficacy or safety in later stages of testing to proceed with development.

We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than us.

The development and commercialization of new drug products is highly competitive. We may face competition with respect to any product candidates that we seek to develop or commercialize in the future from major biopharmaceutical companies, specialty biopharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies, and other public and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization.

There are a number of large biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are currently pursuing the commercialization or development of products for the treatment of fibrosis. Companies that we are aware of that are targeting the treatment of various fibrosis indications include large companies with significant financial resources such as, but not limited to: AbbVie Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Roche Holding AG, Novartis AG, and Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. Many of our current or potential competitors, either alone or with their strategic partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, and marketing approved products than we do. There are currently no approved therapeutics for the treatment of LPE. Roche Holding AG manufactures tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, and recombinant deoxyribonuclease, or DNase, which are used off-label to treat LPE patients. We are not aware of any other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies developing drug therapies for the treatment of LPE.

48


If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial financial or other liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our product candidates.

We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of testing LTI-03, LTI-01 and any of our other product candidates in clinical trials, and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if any of our product candidates cause or are perceived to cause injury or are found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical trials, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our product candidates. Even successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

inability to bring a product candidate to the market;
decreased demand for our products;
injury to our reputation;
withdrawal of clinical trial participants and inability to continue clinical trials;
initiation of investigations by regulators;
fines, injunctions or criminal penalties;
costs to defend the related litigation;
diversion of management’s time and our resources;
substantial monetary awards to trial participants;
product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;
loss of revenue;
exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources;
adverse effects to our results of operations and business;
the inability to commercialize any product candidate, if approved; and
decline in our share price.

Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of products we develop, alone or with collaboration partners. We will need to obtain additional insurance for clinical trials as LTI-03 and LTI-01 continue clinical development and as additional product candidates enter the clinic. However, we may be unable to obtain, or may obtain on unfavorable terms, clinical trial insurance in amounts adequate to cover any liabilities from any of our clinical trials. Our insurance policies may also have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We may have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Even if our agreements with any future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification against losses, such indemnification may not be available or adequate should any claim arise.

Risks Related to Marketing Approval

We have never obtained marketing approval for a product candidate and we may be unable to obtain, or may be delayed in obtaining, marketing approval for any product candidate.

We have never obtained marketing approval for a product candidate. It is possible that the FDA may refuse to accept for substantive review any new drug applications, or NDAs, or biologics license applications, or BLAs, that

49


we submit for our product candidates or may conclude after review of our data that our application is insufficient to obtain marketing approval of our product candidates. If the FDA does not accept or approve our NDAs or BLAs for our product candidates, it may require that we conduct additional clinical, nonclinical or manufacturing validation studies and submit that data before it will reconsider our applications. Depending on the extent of these or any other FDA-required studies, approval of any NDA or BLA, or application that we submit may be delayed by several years, or may require us to expend more resources than we have available. It is also possible that additional studies, if performed and completed, may not be considered sufficient by the FDA to approve our NDAs or BLAs.

Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, marketing approvals would prevent us from commercializing our product candidates, generating revenues and achieving and sustaining profitability. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for our product candidates, which could significantly harm our business.

We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell our products, we may not be able to generate product revenue.

We have no internal sales, marketing or distribution capabilities, nor have we commercialized a product. If any of our product candidates ultimately receives regulatory approval, we expect to establish a marketing and sales organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize each such product in major markets, which will be expensive and time consuming. We have no prior experience as a company in the marketing, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel and effectively manage a geographically dispersed sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. We may also choose to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems, either to augment our own sales force and distribution systems or in lieu of our own sales force and distribution systems. Notwithstanding our current license and collaboration agreement with Taiho, we may not be able to enter into future collaborations or hire consultants or external service providers to assist us in sales, marketing and distribution functions on acceptable financial terms, or at all, which may result in being unable to successfully commercialize our products. In addition, our product revenues and our profitability, if any, may be lower if we rely on third parties for these functions than if we were to market, sell and distribute any products that we develop ourselves. We likely will have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our products effectively. If we are not successful in commercializing our product candidates, either on our own or through arrangements with one or more third parties, we may not be able to generate any future product revenue and we would incur significant additional losses.

Even if a product candidate we develop receives marketing approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.

Even if LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate we develop receives marketing approval, it may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors, such as Medicare and Medicaid programs and managed care organizations, and others in the medical community. Our belief that LTI-01 compares well on dosing schedule, surgical referrals and side effect profile compared to off-label IPFT treatment, such as tPA with DNase, to treat LPE patients is based upon limited data from our completed clinical trials. In addition, the availability of coverage by third-party payors may be affected by existing and future health care reform measures designed to reduce the cost of health care. If the product candidates we develop do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant product revenues and we may not become profitable.

The degree of market acceptance of any product candidate, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, affecting including, but not limited to:

efficacy and potential advantages compared to alternative treatments;

50


the ability to offer our products, if approved, for sale at competitive prices;
convenience and ease of administration compared to alternative treatments;
the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies;
the recommendations with respect to our product candidates in guidelines published by various scientific organizations applicable to us and our product candidates;
the strength of marketing and distribution support;
the ability to obtain sufficient third-party coverage, and adequate reimbursement; and
the prevalence and severity of any side effects.

If government and other third-party payors do not provide coverage and adequate reimbursement levels for any products we commercialize, market acceptance and commercial success would be reduced.

In addition, even if we obtain approval, the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority might add specific warnings to the product label, making promotion more difficult. In the U.S., for example, a product with a “Boxed Warning” which is a call-out warning for the possibility of a serious, life-threatening risk, carries promotional restrictions. In addition, due to the nature of the serious risk potentially associated with the drug, necessitating the Boxed Warning, public acceptance of the product may be challenging.

Even if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the marketing approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain and may prevent us, or any future collaborators, from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate that we may develop. As a result, we cannot predict when or if, and in which territories or for which indications, we, or any future collaborators, will obtain marketing approval to commercialize LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate that we may develop.

The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, marketing, promotion and distribution of drugs are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, whose laws and regulations may differ from country to country. We, and any future collaborators, are not permitted to market our product candidates in the U.S. or in other countries until we or they receive approval of an NDA or BLA from the FDA or marketing approval from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. LTI-03 and LTI-01 are in early stages of development and are subject to the risks of failure inherent in drug development. We have not submitted an application for or received marketing approval for LTI-03, LTI-01 or any of our future product candidates in the U.S. or in any other jurisdiction. We have limited experience in conducting and managing the clinical trials necessary to obtain marketing approvals, including FDA approval of an NDA or BLA.

The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the U.S. and abroad, is a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process. It may take many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Securing marketing approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. Securing marketing approval also requires the submission of information about the product manufacturing process to, and inspection of manufacturing facilities by, the regulatory authorities. The FDA or other regulatory authorities have substantial discretion and may determine that our product candidates are not safe and effective, only moderately effective or have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that preclude our obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use. Any marketing approval we ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions, such as the aforementioned Boxed Warning in the product label, or post-approval commitments that render the approved product not commercially viable.

Our product candidates could fail to receive marketing approval for many reasons, including the following:

51


the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;
we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;
the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval;
we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;
the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;
the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA or other submission or to obtain marketing approval in the U.S. or elsewhere;
the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies due to quality manufacturing concerns;
the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve any companion diagnostics that may be required in connection with approval of our therapeutic product candidates; and
the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

This lengthy approval process as well as the unpredictability of clinical trial results may result in our failing to obtain marketing approval to market our product candidates, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment or promulgation of additional statutes, regulations or guidance or changes in regulatory review for each submitted drug application may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical studies, clinical trials or other studies and testing. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical studies and clinical trials could delay, limit or prevent marketing approval of a product candidate. Any marketing approval we, or any collaborators we may have in the future, ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render the approved drug not commercially viable.

Any delay in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals could materially adversely affect our ability or that of any collaborators we may have to generate revenue from the particular product candidate, which likely would result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our stock price.

Failure to obtain marketing approval in foreign jurisdictions would prevent our product candidates from being marketed abroad. Any approval we are granted for LTI-03 or LTI-01 in the U.S. would not assure approval of our product candidates in foreign jurisdictions.

In order to market and sell our products in the EU and many other foreign jurisdictions, we or our potential third-party collaborators must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval may differ substantially from that required to obtain FDA approval. The regulatory approval process outside of the U.S. generally includes all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. In addition, in many countries outside of the U.S., it is required that the product be approved for reimbursement before the product can be approved for sale in that country. We or our potential third-party collaborators may not obtain approvals from regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority outside of the

52


U.S. does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA. However, a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory process in other countries. We may not be able to file for marketing approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products candidates in any market.

The above-mentioned EU pharmaceutical package does not intend to change the existing procedures currently in place at EU level: Medicinal products are still to be approved in the decentralized procedure, mutual recognition procedure, or centralized procedure. However, the duration of authorization procedures is generally to be reduced. The decisive factor for the reduction of the duration of the procedure under the decentralized procedure and the mutual recognition procedure is the reduction of the period of cooperation of the EU member states. In regards of the centralized procedure, the shortening of the overall duration results from the accumulation of several small reductions in time.

Additionally, we could face heightened risks with respect to seeking marketing approval in the United Kingdom, or the UK, as a result of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, commonly referred to as Brexit. Brexit may have a material impact upon the regulatory regime with respect to the development, manufacture, importation, approval and commercialization of product candidates in the UK.

The UK is no longer part of the European Single Market and EU Customs Union. Though a significant proportion of the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products in the UK covering the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, and distribution of pharmaceutical products is derived from EU Directives and Regulations, there are some significant changes made to the regulatory framework to address the UK’s departure from the EU.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or the MHRA, is the national regulator responsible for supervising medicines and medical devices in the UK, comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland, and Wales form Great Britain which follows domestic law, whereas Northern Ireland currently continues to be subject to EU rules under the Northern Ireland Protocol. The main domestic legislation regulating medicines in the UK is the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916) (as amended), or the HMR. The HMR has incorporated into domestic law some of the body of EU law instruments governing medicinal products that pre-existed prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and has been amended to take into account the country’s departure from the EU. Other domestic law implements the other corpus of EU medicines law that existed prior to the UK’s departure from the EU.

Following Brexit, national marketing authorizations in the UK can be obtained to cover the whole of the UK (UKMA(UK)), Great Britain (UKMA(GB)) or Northern Ireland (UKMA(NI)), through the different available marketing authorization routes. Northern Ireland also continues to participate in the EU marketing authorization routes. In this case, the UK for the purpose of Northern Ireland can be a concerned member state (not a reference member state) for medicines going through the decentralized or mutual recognition procedure. Northern Ireland can also be included within the scope of the centralized procedure.

Any marketing authorizations granted by the MHRA under the decentralized or mutual recognition procedure before Brexit became national marketing authorizations covering the whole of the UK. Centrally authorized products were converted to a UKMA(GB) on January 1, 2021 unless the marketing authorization holder informed the MHRA otherwise, and centrally authorized products continued to be recognized in Northern Ireland. Until December 31, 2023, the European Commission Decision Reliance Procedure (ECDRP) could be used to obtain a UKMA(GB) with the MHRA relying on a decision taken by the European Commission on the approval of a new MA under the centralized procedure. Similarly, the MHRA can grant UKMA(UK) or UKMA(GB) marketing authorizations under the decentralized and mutual recognition reliance procedure (MRDCRP).

From January 1, 2024, the ECDRP will be replaced by a new International Recognition Procedure (IRP). The MRDCRP will be incorporated within the IRP. ECDRP and MRDCRP submissions received by the MHRA before January 1, 2024 will continue to follow existing procedures, but for ECDRP applications the CHMP positive opinion (but not necessarily the European Commission Decision) should be received before December 31, 2023. The IRP procedure is open to applicants who have received an authorization for the same product in one of the MHRA’s

53


specified Reference Regulators. The current Reference Regulators include (among others) the FDA, EMA and the national competent authorities of the EU / EEA countries.

The start dates of the data and market exclusivity periods for medicines in the UK will depend on which route it was granted. In respect to orphan drugs, the general position under the HMR is 10 years’ orphan market exclusivity is awarded from the date of authorization by the MHRA (which can be reduced to six years at the end of the fifth year if the licensing authority is satisfied that the orphan criteria is no longer met). An additional two years may be granted where pediatric data requirements are met. A UK-wide orphan marketing authorization can only be granted in the absence of an active EU designation.

On February 27, 2023, the UK and the EU agreed the Windsor Framework which addresses (among other things) the supply of medicines into Northern Ireland. It provides that medicines must be approved and licensed on a UK-wide basis by the MHRA with the same labelling and packaging across the whole of the UK. The EMA will have no role in the approval of new medicines for Northern Ireland. The arrangement takes effect from January 1, 2025.

Since a significant proportion of the regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products in the UK covering the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, and distribution of pharmaceutical products is derived from EU Directives and Regulations, with some amendments made to address the UK’s departure from the EU, Brexit may have a material impact upon the regulatory regime with respect to the development, manufacture, importation, approval and commercialization of product candidates in the UK. However, there are new routes to obtaining marketing authorizations available such as the IRP.

Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, may force us to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the UK for our product candidates, which could significantly and materially harm our business.

The design or execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials may not support marketing approval.

The design or execution of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support marketing approval, and flaws in the design or execution of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced. We completed a Phase 2a dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial of LTI-01 in LPE patients. We may need to investigate higher or lower doses of LTI-01 in future clinical trials to establish efficacy and safety. Additionally, as no drug has been approved for LPE, our Phase 2a primary endpoint of treatment failure, defined as death or referral to surgery by a specific criteria checklist within seven days of commencing treatment may not be considered an appropriate endpoint for approval by the regulatory authorities. The trial results did not show statistical significance on the primary endpoint. Additionally, our highest dose of LTI-01 in this trial showed a lower effect than the other LTI-01 doses tested. Based on the results of this trial, we expect to investigate LTI-01 in a Phase 2b dose-ranging, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a lower dose to establish efficacy and safety. Even with additional clinical trial testing with a modified primary endpoint, we may never be successful in demonstrating sufficient results to support marketing approval.

Additionally, in some instances, there can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different clinical trials with the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including differences in trial protocols, size and type of the patient populations, variable adherence to the dosing regimen or other protocol requirements and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. We do not know whether any clinical trials we conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety to obtain marketing approval to market our product candidates.

Further, the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and in determining when or whether marketing approval will be obtained for any of our product candidates. Our product candidates may not be approved even if they achieve their primary endpoints in future Phase 3 clinical trials or registrational trials. The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our trial designs and our interpretation of data from clinical trials or preclinical studies. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may change requirements for the approval of a product candidate even after reviewing and providing comments or advice on a protocol for a pivotal Phase 3 or registrational clinical trial. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may also approve a product candidate for fewer or more limited indications than we request or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials or a more restrictive label than we expect (e.g.,

54


Boxed Warning). Similarly, the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not approve the labeling claims that we believe would be necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of our product candidates, if approved, are likely to be their efficacy, safety, convenience, price,approved.

Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs or may affect the effectivenesstiming or outcome of companion diagnostics in guiding the use of related therapeutics, the level of generic competition and the availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payors.

The most common methods of treating patients with cancer are surgery, radiation and drug therapy. There are a variety of available drug therapies marketed for cancer. In many cases, these drugs are administered in combination to enhance efficacy. Some of the currently-approved drug therapies are branded and subject to patent protection and may be established as the standard of care for treatment of indications forour future clinical trials, which we may choose to seek regulatory approvals. Manycould prevent completion of these approved drugs are well-established therapiestrials and are widely accepted by physicians, patients and third-party payors, and, even ifadversely affect our drug candidates wereability to be approved, there can be no assurance that our drugs would displace existing treatments. In addition to currently marketed therapies, there are also a number of drugs in late-stage clinicaladvance the development to treat cancer, including the indications for which we are developing product candidates. These clinical-stage drug candidates may provide efficacy, safety, convenience and other benefits that are not provided by currently-marketed therapies. As a result, they may provide significant competition for any of our product candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval.candidates.

We designed ALRN-6924, our lead product candidate, to act as a reactivator of p53 for the treatment of various cancers. We are aware of other product candidates that are in clinical development for the treatment of various cancers through the reactivation of p53. Although there is a subset of drugs that directly target the p53 pathway, there are many cancer drugs that claim to affect the p53 pathway by upstream or complementary pathways. We are aware of selective small molecule inhibitors that are designed to target the p53-MDM2 interaction in various stages of clinical development being tested by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., or collectively Roche, Amgen Inc., Novartis AG and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. If ALRN-6924 were to be approved for the indications for which we currently have ongoing clinical trials, it will compete with currently-marketed drugs or drugs that may be approved for marketing by the FDA in the future and such competition will not be limited to drugs that act through the reactivation of p53.

69


If the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities approve generic or competitor versions of any of our drugs that receive marketing approval, or such authorities do not grant our drugs appropriate periods of data or market exclusivity before approving generic or competitor versions of our drugs, the sales of our drugs could be adversely affected.

Once an NDA is approved, the drug covered thereby becomes a “reference-listed drug” in the FDA’s publication, “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations.” Manufacturers may seek approval of generic versions of reference-listed drugs through submission of abbreviated new drug applications, or ANDAs in the United States.U.S. In support of an ANDA, a generic manufacturer need not conduct clinical trials demonstrating safety and efficacy. Rather, the applicant generally must show that its drug has the same active ingredient(s), dosage form, strength, route of administration and conditions of use or labeling as the reference-listed drug and that the generic version is bioequivalent to the reference-listed drug, meaning it is absorbed in the body at the same rate and to the same extent. Generic drugs may be significantly less costly to bring to market than the reference-listed drug and companies that produce generic drugs are generally able to offer them at lower prices. Thus, following the introduction of a generic drug, a significant percentage of the sales of any branded product or reference-listed drug is typically lost to the generic drug.

The FDA may not approve an ANDA for a generic drug until any applicable period of non-patent exclusivity for the reference-listed drug has expired. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the FDCA, provides a period of five years of non-patent exclusivity for a new drug containing a new chemical entity, or NCE. Specifically, in cases where such exclusivity has been granted, an ANDA may not be filed with the FDA and the FDA may not approve the application until the expiration of five years unless the submission is accompanied by a Paragraph IV certification that a patent covering the reference-listed drug is either invalid, or will not be infringed by the generic drug, or unenforceable, in which case the applicant may submit its application four years following approval of the reference-listed drug. Manufacturers may seek to launch these generic drugs following the expiration of the marketing exclusivity period, even if we still have patent protection for our drug.

Competition that our drugs may face from generic or competitor versions of our drugs could materially and adversely impact our future revenue, profitability and cash flows and substantially limit our ability to obtain a return on the investments we have made in those drug candidates. Our future revenues, profitability and cash flows could also be materially and adversely affected and our ability to obtain a return on the investments we have made in those drug candidates may be substantially limited if our drugs, if and when approved, are not afforded the appropriate periods of non-patent exclusivity.

Risks Related to Reimbursement, Healthcare Regulations and Ongoing Regulatory Compliance

Even if we receive regulatory approval of any product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our product candidates, if approved.

If any of our product candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies and submission of safety, efficacy and other post-market information, including both federal and state requirements in the U.S. and requirements of comparable foreign regulatory authorities. In addition, we will be subject to continued compliance with good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, and good clinical practices, or GCP, requirements for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval.

55


Manufacturers and their facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authority requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP regulations. As such, we and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any marketing application, and previous responses to inspection observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money, and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, and quality control.

Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our product candidates may be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product candidate, or include specific safety-related label warnings that could affect marketing efforts. The FDA may also require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategies, or REMS, program as a condition of approval of our product candidates, which could entail requirements for long-term patient follow-up, a medication guide, physician communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. In addition, if the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority approves our product candidates, we will have to comply with requirements including submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports and registration.

The FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies may initiate consent decrees or withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our product candidates, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our third-party manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information; imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:

rescinding approval of the application, restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of our products, withdrawal of the product from the market or voluntary or mandatory product recalls;
fines, warning letters or holds on clinical trials;
refusal by the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory agency to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or suspension or revocation of license approvals;
product seizure or detention or refusal to permit the import or export of our product candidates; and
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising, and promotion of products that are placed on the market, and similar restrictions apply in foreign jurisdictions. Products may be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. However, companies may share truthful and not misleading information that is not inconsistent with the labeling, if certain conditions are met. The FDA and other agencies, including the Department of Justice, actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of false or misleading information or unapproved uses and a company that is found to have improperly promoted the product may be subject to significant liability. The policies of the FDA and of other regulatory authorities may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.

Even if we are able to commercialize any product candidate, such product candidate may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party coverage and reimbursement policies or healthcare reform initiatives, which would harm our business.

The regulations that govern marketing approval, pricing, coverage and reimbursement for new drugs vary widely from country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug before it can be marketed.

56


In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain marketing approval for a product in a particular country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay our commercial launch of the product, possibly for lengthy time periods, and negatively impact the revenues we are able to generate from the sale of the product in that country. Adverse pricing limitations may hinder our ability to recoup our investment in one or more product candidates,LTI-03 and LTI-01 even if our product candidateswe obtain marketing approval.approval for either product candidate.

Our ability to commercialize any products successfully also will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement and coverage for these products and related treatments will be available from government authorities, private health insurers and other organizations, and if reimbursement and coverage is available, the level of reimbursement and coverage. Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which medications they will pay for and establish reimbursement levels. A primary trend in the healthcare industry in the United StatesU.S. and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medications. Increasingly, the third-party payors who reimburse patients or healthcare providers, such as government and private insurance plans, are requiring that drug companies provide them with

70


predetermined discounts from list prices and are seeking to reduce the prices charged or the amounts reimbursed for medical products. We cannot be sure that reimbursement will be available for any drug that we commercialize and, if reimbursement is available, we cannot be sure as to the level of reimbursement. Reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval. If reimbursement is not available or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval.

There may be significant delays in obtaining reimbursement for newly approved drugs, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the drug is approved by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any drug will be reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Interim reimbursement levels for new drugs, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement rates may vary according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs, may be incorporated into existing payments for other services and may reflect budgetary constraints or imperfections in Medicare data. Net prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States.U.S. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and adequate reimbursement rates from both government-funded and private payors for new products that we develop and for which we obtain marketing approval could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize products and our overall financial condition.

Product liability lawsuits againstRecently enacted and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us and our future collaborators to obtain marketing approval of and commercialize our product candidates and affect the prices we, or they, may obtain for any products that are approved in the U.S. or foreign jurisdictions.

In the U.S. and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to limit commercialization of any drugs that we may develop.

We face an inherent risk of product liability exposure related to the testingprevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, in clinical trialsrestrict or regulate post-approval activities and will face an even greater risk if we commerciallyaffect our ability, or the ability of any future collaborators, to profitably sell any product candidates for which we, or they, obtain marketing approval. We expect that current laws, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we, or any collaborators, may receive for any approved products. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope, our business could be materially harmed.

In the U.S., the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or Medicare Modernization Act, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on

57


average sales prices for physician-administered drugs. In addition, this legislation provided authority for limiting the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and price that we, or any future collaborators, may receive for any approved products. While the Medicare Modernization Act applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the Medicare Modernization Act may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, or collectively the ACA. In August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. This legislation resulted in aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, which will remain in effect through 2031 under the CARES Act. These Medicare sequester reductions were suspended through the end of June 2022, with the full 2% cut resuming thereafter. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used. Indeed, under current legislation, the actual reductions in Medicare payments may vary up to 4%.

Since enactment of the ACA, there have been, and continue to be, numerous legal challenges and Congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the law. For example, with enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the TCJA, which was signed by President Trump on December 22, 2017, Congress repealed the “individual mandate.” The repeal of this provision, which requires most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, became effective in 2019.

On November 10, 2020, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments to a case challenging the ACA. On February 10, 2021, the Biden Administration withdrew the federal government’s support for overturning the ACA. On June 17, 2021, the Supreme Court rejected this challenge to the ACA. Litigation and legislation over the ACA are likely to continue, with unpredictable and uncertain results.

The Trump Administration also took executive actions to undermine or delay implementation of the ACA, including directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. On January 28, 2021, however, President Biden issued a new Executive Order which directs federal agencies to reconsider rules and other policies that limit Americans’ access to health care and consider actions that will protect and strengthen that access. This Executive Order also directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a special enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot predict how federal agencies will respond to such Executive Orders.

We expect that these healthcare reforms, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, new payment methodologies and additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product and/or the level of reimbursement physicians receive for administering any approved product we might bring to market. Reductions in reimbursement levels may negatively impact the prices we receive or the frequency with which our products are prescribed or administered. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. Accordingly, such reforms, if enacted, could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from product candidates that we may develop.successfully develop and for which we may obtain marketing approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop or commercialize product candidates.

Our relationships with healthcare providers and physicians and third-party payors will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.

58


Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors in the U.S. and elsewhere play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of biopharmaceutical products. Arrangements with third-party payors and customers can expose biopharmaceutical manufacturers to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act, or FCA, which may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which such companies sell, market and distribute biopharmaceutical products. In particular, the research of our product candidates, as well as the promotion, sales and marketing of healthcare items and services, as well as certain business arrangements in the healthcare industry, are subject to extensive laws designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, structuring and commission(s), certain customer incentive programs and other business arrangements generally. Activities subject to these laws also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of patient recruitment for clinical trials. The applicable federal, state and foreign healthcare laws and regulations laws that may affect our ability to operate include, but are not limited to:

the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, lease, order or recommendation of any good, facility, item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. A person or entity can be found guilty of violating the statute without actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, a claim submitted for payment to any federal health care program that includes items or services that were made as a result of a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the FCA. The Anti-Kickback Statute has been interpreted to apply to arrangements between biopharmaceutical manufacturers on the one hand and prescribers, purchasers, group purchasing organizations, and formulary managers, among others, on the other. There are a number of statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors protecting some common activities from prosecution;
the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the FCA, and civil monetary penalty laws which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false, fictitious or fraudulent claims for payment to, or approval by Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs; knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim or an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the federal government; or knowingly concealing or knowingly and improperly avoiding or decreasing or concealing an obligation to pay money to the federal government. A claim that includes items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim under the FCA. Manufacturers can be held liable under the FCA even when they do not submit claims directly to government payors if they are deemed to “cause” the submission of false or fraudulent claims. The FCA also permits a private individual acting as a “whistleblower” to bring qui tam actions on behalf of the federal government alleging violations of the FCA and to share in any monetary recovery;
the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any healthcare benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private) and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity can be found guilty of violating HIPAA without actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it;
HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, or HITECH, and their respective implementing regulations, which impose, among other things, requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information on certain covered healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, known as covered entities, as well as their respective “business associates,” those independent contractors or agents of covered entities that perform services for covered entities that involve the creation, use, receipt,

59


maintenance or disclosure of individually identifiable health information. HITECH also created new tiers of civil monetary penalties, amended HIPAA to make civil and criminal penalties directly applicable to business associates, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions;
the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, created under the ACA, and its implementing regulations, which require some manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services, or CMS, information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Effective January 1, 2022, these reporting obligations were extended to include transfers of value made in the previous year to certain non-physician providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners;
federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers; and
analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by third-party payors, including private insurers, the Travel Act of 1961, or the Travel Act, which has been used as a tool in the health care context to target kickback schemes prohibited under state law involving private insurance that would not otherwise be prohibited under federal law and may be broader in scope than their federal equivalents; state and foreign laws that require biopharmaceutical companies to comply with the biopharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state and foreign laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers, marketing expenditures or drug pricing; state and local laws that require the registration of biopharmaceutical sales representatives; and state and foreign laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

The distribution of biopharmaceutical products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping, licensing, storage and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of biopharmaceutical products. There are also federal and state consumer deception laws, with which we must comply.

The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of healthcare reform, especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Ensuring business arrangements comply with applicable healthcare laws, as well as responding to possible investigations by government authorities, can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert a company’s attention from the business.

It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we cannotare not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, reputational harm, possible exclusion from participation in federal and state funded healthcare programs, contractual damages and the curtailment or restricting of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws. Further, if any of the physicians or other healthcare providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found not to be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to significant criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs. Any action for violation of these laws, even if successfully defend ourselves against claimsdefended, could cause a biopharmaceutical manufacturer to incur significant legal

60


expenses and divert management’s attention from the operation of the business. Prohibitions or restrictions on sales or withdrawal of future marketed products could materially affect business in an adverse way.

The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions are subject to considerable legislative and executive actions and could impact the prices we obtain for our products, if and when licensed.

The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals have also been the subject of considerable discussion in the U.S. There have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries, as well as proposed and enacted state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to pharmaceutical pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reduce the costs of pharmaceuticals under Medicare and Medicaid. In 2020, President Trump issued several executive orders intended to lower the costs of prescription products and certain provisions in these orders have been incorporated into regulations. These regulations include an interim final rule implementing a most favored nation model for prices that would tie Medicare Part B payments for certain physician-administered pharmaceuticals to the lowest price paid in other economically advanced countries, effective January 1, 2021. That rule, however, has been subject to a nationwide preliminary injunction and, on December 29, 2021, CMS issued a final rule to rescind it. With issuance of this rule, CMS stated that it will explore all options to incorporate value into payments for Medicare Part B pharmaceuticals and improve beneficiaries’ access to evidence-based care.

In addition, in October 2020, HHS and the FDA published a final rule allowing states and other entities to develop a Section 804 Importation Program, or SIP, to import certain prescription drugs from Canada into the U.S. The final rule is currently the subject of ongoing litigation, but at least six states (Vermont, Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Mexico, and New Hampshire) have passed laws allowing for the importation of drugs from Canada with the intent of developing SIPs for review and approval by the FDA. Further, on November 20, 2020, HHS finalized a regulation removing safe harbor protection for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law. The implementation of the rule has been delayed by the Biden administration from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023 in response to ongoing litigation. The final rule would eliminate the current safe harbor for Medicare drug rebates and create new safe harbors for beneficiary point-of-sale discounts and pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, services fees. It was originally set to go into effect on January 1, 202, but with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act has been delayed by Congress to January 1, 2032.

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14063, which focuses on, among other things, the price of pharmaceuticals. The Order directs the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to create a plan within 45 days to combat “excessive pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals and enhance domestic pharmaceutical supply chains, to reduce the prices paid by the federal government for such pharmaceuticals, and to address the recurrent problem of price gouging.” On September 9, 2021, HHS released its plan to reduce pharmaceutical prices. The key features of that plan are to: (a) make pharmaceutical prices more affordable and equitable for all consumers and throughout the health care system by supporting pharmaceutical price negotiations with manufacturers; (b) improve and promote competition throughout the prescription pharmaceutical industry by supporting market changes that strengthen supply chains, promote biosimilars and generic drugs, and increase transparency; and (c) foster scientific innovation to promote better healthcare and improve health by supporting public and private research and making sure that market incentives promote discovery of valuable and accessible new treatments.

More recently, on August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or IRA, was signed into law by President Biden. The new legislation has implications for Medicare Part D, which is a program available to individuals who are entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Medicare Part B to give them the option of paying a monthly premium for outpatient prescription drug coverage. Among other things, the IRA requires manufacturers of certain drugs to engage in price negotiations with Medicare (beginning in 2026), with prices that can be negotiated subject to a cap; imposes rebates under Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D to penalize price increases that outpace inflation (first due in 2023); and replaces the Part D coverage gap discount program with a new discounting program (beginning in 2025). The IRA permits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement many of these provisions through guidance, as opposed to regulation, for the initial years.

Specifically, with respect to price negotiations, Congress authorized Medicare to negotiate lower prices for certain costly single-source drug and biologic products that do not have competing generics or biosimilars and are

61


reimbursed under Medicare Part B and Part D. CMS may negotiate prices for ten high-cost drugs paid for by Medicare Part D starting in 2026, followed by 15 Part D drugs in 2027, 15 Part B or Part D drugs in 2028, and 20 Part B or Part D drugs in 2029 and beyond. This provision applies to drug products that have been approved for at least 9 years and biologics that have been licensed for 13 years, but it does not apply to drugs and biologics that have been approved for a single rare disease or condition. Nonetheless, since CMS may establish a maximum price for these products in price negotiations, we would have been fully at risk of government action if our products were the subject of Medicare price negotiations. Moreover, given the risk that could be the case, these provisions of the IRA may also have further heightened the risk that we would not have been able to achieve the expected return on our drug products or full value of our patents protecting our products if prices are set after such products had been on the market for nine years.

Further, the legislation subjects drug manufacturers to civil monetary penalties and a potential excise tax for failing to comply with the legislation by offering a price that is not equal to or less than the negotiated “maximum fair price” under the law or for taking price increases that exceed inflation. The legislation also requires manufacturers to pay rebates for drugs in Medicare Part D whose price increases exceed inflation. The new law also caps Medicare out-of-pocket drug costs at an estimated $4,000 a year in 2024 and, thereafter beginning in 2025, at $2,000 a year. In addition, the IRA potentially raises legal risks with respect to individuals participating in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan who may experience a gap in coverage if they required coverage above their initial annual coverage limit before they reached the higher threshold, or “catastrophic period” of the plan. Individuals requiring services exceeding the initial annual coverage limit and below the catastrophic period, must pay 100% of the cost of their prescriptions until they reach the catastrophic period. Among other things, the IRA contains many provisions aimed at reducing this financial burden on individuals by reducing the co-insurance and co-payment costs, expanding eligibility for lower income subsidy plans, and price caps on annual out-of-pocket expenses, each of which could have potential pricing and reporting implications.

At the state level, individual states are increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. In addition, regional healthcare organizations and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products, once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or drugs caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claimsadditional pricing pressures.

In the E.U., similar political, economic, and regulatory developments may result in:

decreased demand for any product candidates or drugs that we may develop;

injuryaffect our ability to our reputation and significant negative media attention;

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

significant costs to defend the related litigation;

substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;

loss of revenue;

reduced resources of our management to pursue our business strategy; and

the inability toprofitably commercialize any drugs that we may develop.

We currently hold clinical trial liability insurance coverage for up to $5.0 million, but that coverage may not be adequate to cover any and all liabilities that we may incur. We would need to increase our insurance coverage when we begin the commercialization of our product candidates, if ever. Insurance coverageapproved. In markets outside of the U.S. and the E.U., reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific products and therapies. In many countries, including those of the E.U., the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is increasingly expensive. Wesubject to governmental control and access. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we or our collaborators may not be ablerequired to maintain insurance coverageconduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product to other available therapies. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount or if pricing is set at a reasonable cost or in an amount adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise.unsatisfactory levels, our business could be materially harmed.

Governments outside of the United StatesU.S. tend to impose strict price controls, which may adversely affect our revenues from the sales of our products, if any.

In most foreign countries, including the European Economic Area, or EEA, and the UK, the proposed pricing for certain drugs (in particular, prescription-only drugs) is subject to pricing regulations. In the EU, although Directive 89/105/EEC regulates the framework conditions for the pricing of medicinal products and Regulation (EU) 2021/2282 on health technology assessment (HTA), to become fully applicable in January 2025, provides for a coordinated approach to assessing the benefit of new therapies, the decisions on pricing and cost reimbursement remain in the responsibility of the member states. The requirements governing drug pricing and reimbursement vary widely from country to country. For example, the EU provides options for its member states to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of

62


medicinal products for human use. In some countries, particularly member states of the European Union,EU, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control.control and other market regulations which could put pressure on the pricing and usage of our product candidates. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. In addition, market acceptance and sales of our product candidates will depend significantly on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for our product candidates and may be affected by existing and future health care reform measures. Moreover, there can be

71


considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various European UnionEU member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states, can further reduce prices. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product, or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. In view of the recurring shortages of medicines, individual member states (especially Germany) have decided to adjust price regulations for particularly rare pediatric medicinal products. In some countries, we, or our future collaborators, may be required to conduct a clinical trial or other studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of our product candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for biopharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, products launched in the EU do not follow price structures of the U.S. and generally prices tend to be significantly lower. Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels or if reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, our revenues from sales and the potential profitability of any of our product candidates in those countries would be negatively affected.

Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If reimbursement of any product candidate approved for marketing is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our business could be materially harmed.

EU drug marketing and reimbursement regulations may materially affect our ability to market and receive coverage for our products in the European member states.

We intend to seek approval to market our product candidates in both the U.S. and in selected foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions for our product candidates, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions.

Much like the federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibition in the U.S., the provision of benefits or advantages to physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply, order or use of medicinal products is also prohibited in the EU. The provision of benefits or advantages to physicians is governed by the national anti-bribery laws, unfair competition laws and laws on advertising in the healthcare sector of EU Member States, and in respect of the UK (which is no longer a member of the EU), the UK Bribery Act 2010 and laws on advertising and promotion in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and healthcare sectors. Infringement of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment.

Payments made to physicians in certain EU Member States must be publicly disclosed. The UK has also recently concluded a public consultation on introducing new statutory requirements for disclosing industry payments in the healthcare sector. Further, certain company associations have adopted so-called transparency codes, according to which payments to certain groups in the healthcare sector must be published or are published voluntarily. Moreover, agreements with physicians often must be the subject of prior notification and approval by the physician’s employer, his or her competent professional organization and/or the regulatory authorities of the individual EU Member States. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes or professional codes of conduct, applicable in the EU Member States, as well in as the UK. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.

63


We may seek to obtain certain regulatory designations for our product candidates. We may not receive such designations, and even if we do, such designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

We may seek to obtain breakthrough therapy designation, fast track designation, or priority review designation for our product candidates. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. FDA fast track designation is possible for drugs intended for the treatment of a serious condition and nonclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical need for this condition. In addition, if the FDA determines that a product candidate offers a treatment for a serious condition and, if approved, the product would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness, the FDA may designate the product candidate for priority review. Drugs designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA may also be eligible for priority review if supported by clinical data at the time the NDA is submitted to the FDA.

Such regulatory designations are within the discretion of the FDA, and the FDA may not approve any application that we submit. Even if we were to obtain breakthrough designation or fast track designation, the FDA may subsequently withdraw such designation if the FDA determines that the designation no longer meets the conditions for qualification or is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. In addition, receipt of any such designations may not result in a faster development or regulatory review or approval process compared to drugs considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA of any drug candidates so designated.

Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners, collaborators and vendors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.

We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other illegal activity by our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners, collaborators and vendors. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless and/or negligent conduct that fails to comply with the laws and regulations of the FDA, CMS and other similar foreign regulatory bodies, provide true, complete and accurate information to the FDA, CMS and other similar foreign regulatory bodies, comply with manufacturing standards we have established, comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws in the U.S. and similar foreign fraudulent misconduct laws, or report financial information or data accurately or to disclose unauthorized activities to us. If we obtain FDA approval of any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the U.S., our potential exposure under such laws and regulations will increase significantly, and our costs associated with compliance with such laws and regulations will also increase. These laws and regulations may impact, among other things, our current activities with principal investigators and research patients, as well as proposed and future sales, marketing and education programs. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics and maintain a quality management system, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners and vendors, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any actions are instituted against us and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could result in the imposition of civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, imprisonment, disgorgement, possible exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and the curtailment of our operations.

If we fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

We are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our research and development activities involve the use of biological and hazardous materials and produce hazardous

64


waste products. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development efforts and business operations, environmental damage resulting in costly clean-up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. Although we believe that the safety procedures utilized by our third-party manufacturers for handling and disposing of these materials generally comply with the standards prescribed by these laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee that this is the case or eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In such an event, we may be held liable for any resulting damages and such liability could exceed our resources and state or federal or other applicable authorities may curtail our use of certain materials and/or interrupt our business operations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance. In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.

Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials or other work-related injuries, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not carry specific biological waste or hazardous waste insurance coverage, workers compensation or property and casualty and general liability insurance policies that include coverage for damages and fines arising from biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination, and as such we would have to pay the full amount of any resultant liability out of pocket, which could significantly impair our financial condition.

Additional laws and regulations governing international operations could negatively impact or restrict our operations.

If we expand our operations outside of the U.S., we must dedicate additional resources to comply with numerous laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which we plan to operate. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business entity from paying, offering, authorizing payment or offering of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the U.S. to comply with certain accounting provisions requiring the company to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations.

Compliance with the FCPA is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, the FCPA presents particular challenges in the biopharmaceutical industry, because, in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and other hospital employees are considered foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals and healthcare providers in connection with clinical trials and other work have been deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions. Various laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the U.S., or the sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals, of information products classified for national security purposes, as well as certain products, technology and technical data relating to those products. If we expand our presence outside of the U.S., it will require us to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws, and these laws may preclude us from developing, manufacturing, or selling certain products and product candidates outside of the U.S., which could limit our growth potential and increase our development costs.

The failure to comply with laws governing international business practices may result in substantial civil and criminal penalties and suspension or debarment from government contracting.

We may incur substantial costs in our efforts to comply with evolving global data protection laws and regulations, and any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations may harm our business and operations.

65


The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and we may be or become subject to or affected by numerous federal, state and foreign laws and regulations, as well as regulatory guidance, governing the collection, use, disclosure, transfer, security and processing of personal data, such as information that we collect about participants and healthcare providers in connection with clinical trials. Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, which may create uncertainty in our business, affect our or our service providers’ ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer use and share personal data, result in liability or impose additional compliance or other costs on us. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal, state, or foreign laws or self-regulatory standards could result in negative publicity, diversion of management time and effort and proceedings against us by governmental entities or others.

In addition to our operations in the U.S. and our ongoing Phase 1b trial of LTI-03 in IPF patients in the UK, E.U. and Australia, which may be subject to healthcare and other laws relating to the privacy and security of health information and other personal information, we may seek to conduct clinical trials in the EEA and may become subject to additional European data protection laws, regulations and guidelines. The General Data Protection Regulation, (EU) 2016/679, or GDPR, became effective on May 25, 2018, and deals with the collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals in the EEA. The GDPR imposes a broad range of strict requirements on companies subject to the GDPR, including requirements relating to having legal bases for processing personal information relating to identifiable individuals and transferring such information outside the EEA, including to the U.S., providing details to those individuals regarding the processing of their personal health and other sensitive data, obtaining consent to certain processing activities from the individuals to whom the personal data relates, keeping personal data secure, having data processing agreements with third parties who process personal data, responding to individuals’ requests to exercise their rights in respect of their personal data, reporting security breaches involving personal data to the competent national data protection authority and affected individuals, appointing data protection officers, conducting data protection impact assessments, and record-keeping. The GDPR provides for substantial penalties to which we could be subject in the event of any non-compliance, including fines of up to 10,000,000 Euros or up to two percent of our total worldwide annual revenues, whichever is greater, for certain comparatively minor offenses, or up to 20,000,000 Euros or up to four percent of our total worldwide annual revenues, whichever is greater, for more serious offenses. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. In addition, the GDPR includes restrictions on cross-border data transfers, and recent court decisions and regulatory guidance have substantially increased the compliance burden and legal uncertainty associated with transferring the personal data of EEA individuals to third countries outside of the EEA whose data protection laws are not believed to be adequate by European standards (although the recent EU-US Data Privacy Framework offers a new route for data transfers from the EU to be made lawfully to the US).

Further, the GDPR provides for opening clauses in certain areas, which enable the legislators of member states of the EU to implement additional requirements to the GDPR in national law, whereby national laws may partially deviate from the GDPR and impose different obligations from country to country, so that we do not expect to operate in a uniform legal landscape in the EEA.

Also, as it relates to processing and transfer of genetic, biometric and health data, the GDPR specifically allows national laws to impose additional and more specific requirements or restrictions, and European laws have historically differed quite substantially in this field, leading to additional uncertainty. The UK’s decision to leave the EU (and it is important to note that the EEA does not include the UK), often referred to as Brexit, has created uncertainty with regard to data protection regulation in the UK and to what extent UK law will diverge from the GDPR in the future. At this point in time, the UK Government has incorporated the GDPR into UK law, known as the ‘UK GDPR”, but has also published proposals recently to reform UK data protection law which are going through the UK Parliament and likely to become law in 2024. In the context of international data transfers, European Commission has issued adequacy decisions which have the effect of authorizing data transfers from the EEA to the UK The UK Government and the Information Commissioner’s Office have also published proposals recently to indicate how data transfers between the UK and the rest of the world will be regulated now that the UK has left the EU. For instance, the UK Government proposes recognizing more countries as adequate for data transfers as part of reducing barriers to data flows—this would include countries not yet authorized by the European Commission. The UK Government has also approved the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework for data transfers from the UK to the US.

66


The GDPR increases our responsibility and liability in relation to personal data that we process where such processing is subject to the GDPR, and we may be required to put in place additional mechanisms and safeguards to ensure compliance with the GDPR, including as implemented by individual countries. Compliance with the GDPR is a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase our cost of doing business or require us to change our business practices, and despite those efforts, there is a risk that we may be subject to fines and penalties, litigation, and reputational harm in connection with our European activities. We face uncertainty as to whether our efforts to comply with our obligations under European data protection laws are sufficient, and personal data transfers from the EEA to the U.S. (which include accessing in the U.S. personal data from EEA individuals, even if the data actually remains stored in the EEA) may face particular scrutiny. If we are investigated by a European data protection authority, we may face fines and other penalties. Any such investigation or charges by European data protection authorities could have a negative effect on our existing business and on our ability to attract and retain new clients or biopharmaceutical partners. We may also experience hesitancy, reluctance, or refusal by European or multi-national clients or biopharmaceutical partners to continue to use our products and solutions due to the potential risk exposure as a result of the current (and, in particular, future) data protection obligations imposed on them by certain data protection authorities in interpretation of current law, including the GDPR. Such clients or biopharmaceutical partners may also view any alternative approaches to compliance as being too costly, too burdensome, too legally uncertain, or otherwise objectionable and therefore decide not to do business with us. Any of the forgoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to certain U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions and other trade laws and regulations. We can face serious consequences for violations.

Among other matters, U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions and other trade laws and regulations, which are collectively referred to as Trade Laws, prohibit companies and their employees, agents, clinical research organizations, legal counsel, accountants, consultants, contractors, and other partners from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting, or receiving directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to or from recipients in the public or private sector. Violations of Trade Laws can result in substantial criminal fines and civil penalties, imprisonment, the loss of trade privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm and other consequences. We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or government affiliated hospitals, universities and other organizations. We also expect our non-U.S. activities to increase in time. We plan to engage third parties for clinical trials and/or to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations, and other regulatory approvals and we can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our personnel, agents or partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have prior knowledge of such activities.

Inadequate funding for the FDA, the SEC and other government agencies, including from government shut downs, or other disruptions to these agencies’ operations, could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.

The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.

Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

67


Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.

The same is true of disruptions related to public health emergencies that have occurred or that may occur in the future. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of companies announced receipt of complete response letters due to the FDA’s inability to complete required inspections for their applications. The FDA has now indicated that it can and will conduct timely reviews of applications for medical products in line with its user fee performance goals, including conducting mission critical domestic and foreign inspections to ensure compliance of manufacturing facilities with FDA quality standards. However, in the event of a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or another similar public health emergency in the future, the FDA may not be able to continue its current pace and review timelines could be extended. Regulatory authorities outside the U.S. facing similar circumstances may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to future emergencies and may also experience delays in their regulatory activities.

The application of newly developed artificial intelligence and other technologies which are widely anticipated to reduce the development time to bring new products to market may materially increase the volume of applications for product approval to the FDA compared to historical application levels. If this increased application volume materializes and additional staff and resources are not allocated to the FDA, the FDA may not be able to continue its current pace of application reviews and review timelines could be extended. Regulatory authorities outside the U.S. facing similar increases in application volume may also experience delays in their regulatory activities. Accordingly, if a prolonged government shutdown or other disruption occurs, or the volume of application to the FDA for new product candidates increases materially, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Future shutdowns or other disruptions could also affect other government agencies such as the SEC, which may also impact our business by delaying review of our public filings, to the extent such review is necessary, and our ability to access the public markets.

Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties

We rely on third parties to conduct certain aspects of our clinical trials and some aspects of our research and preclinical studies, and thosestudies. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or comply with regulatory requirements, we may not perform satisfactorily, including failingbe able to meet deadlines for the completionobtain regulatory approval of such trials, research and studies.or commercialize any potential product candidates.

We currently rely on third parties, such as CROs, clinical data management organizations, medical institutions and clinical investigators, to conduct our clinical trials of ALRN-6924 and expect to continue to relydepend upon third parties to conduct additionalcertain aspects of our clinical trials of ALRN-6924 and our other product candidates.preclinical studies, under agreements with universities, medical institutions, CROs, strategic collaborators and others. We currently rely and expect to continuehave to negotiate budgets and contracts with such third parties, which may result in delays to our development timelines and increased costs.

We will rely especially heavily on third parties to conduct some aspectsover the course of our researchclinical trials, and, preclinical studies. Anyas a result, will have limited control over the clinical investigators and limited visibility into their day-to-day activities, including with respect to their compliance with the approved clinical protocol. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of theseour trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal and regulatory requirements and scientific standards and our reliance on third parties may terminate their engagements with us at any time. If we need to enter into alternative arrangements, it would delay our drug development activities.

Our reliance on these third parties for research and development activities will reduce our control over these activities but willdoes not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. For example, we will remain responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational planWe and protocols for the trial. Moreover, the FDA requires usthese third parties are required to comply with standards, commonly referred to as Good Clinical Practice,GCP or GCP,other requirements, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for conducting, recording and reporting the results ofproduct candidates in clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. The European Medicines Agency, or EMA, also requires us to comply with similar standards.development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCP requirements through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principalclinical investigators and trial sites. If we or any of our CROsthese third parties fail to comply with applicable GCP requirements, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to suspend or terminate these trials or perform additional clinical trials or preclinical studies before approving our marketing applications. There canWe cannot be no assurancescertain that, upon inspection, by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authorityauthorities will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with the GCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP, regulations. requirements.

Our failure or any failure by these third parties to comply with these regulations or to recruit a sufficient number of patients may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the marketingregulatory approval process. We also are required to register certain ongoingMoreover, our

68


business may be implicated if any of these third parties violates federal or state fraud and abuse or false claims laws and regulations or healthcare privacy and security laws.

Any third parties conducting aspects of our clinical trials or preclinical studies will not be our employees and, post the results of certain completedexcept for remedies that may be available to us under our agreements with such third parties, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our clinical trials on a government-sponsored database, ClinicalTrials.gov, within certain timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicityprograms and civil and criminal sanctions.

Furthermore, thesepreclinical studies. These third parties may also have relationships with other commercial entities, some ofincluding our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other product development activities, which may becould affect their performance on our competitors.behalf. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or conductif the quality or accuracy of the preclinical or clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical trials in accordance withprotocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons or if due to federal or state orders they are unable to meet their contractual and regulatory obligations, our stated protocols,development timelines, including clinical development timelines, may be extended, delayed or terminated and we willmay not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval of or may be delayed in obtaining, marketing approvalssuccessfully commercialize our product candidates. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for our product candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase and willour ability to generate revenue could be delayed.

If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs or others terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or may be delayed in our efforts to, successfully commercialize our product candidates.

We also expect to rely on other third parties or to storedo so on commercially reasonable terms. Switching or adding additional CROs might require prior regulatory approvals or notifications and distribute drug supplies forinvolves additional cost. Furthermore, it requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO begins work. As a result, delays may occur, which can materially impact our clinical trials. Any performance failureability to meet our desired development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter similar challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact on the partour business, financial condition and prospects.

Because we rely on third-party manufacturing and supply vendors, our supply of such third parties could delayresearch and development, preclinical and clinical development materials may become limited or marketing approvalinterrupted or may not be of our product candidatessatisfactory quantity or commercialization of our drugs, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential revenue from sales of drugs.quality.

72


We rely on third-party contract with third parties for themanufacturers to manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical studies and, in the case of ALRN-6924, our ongoing clinical trials and expect topreclinical studies. We do not own manufacturing facilities for producing any clinical trial product supplies. There can be no assurance that our preclinical and clinical development product supplies will not be limited, interrupted, or of satisfactory quality or continue to do sobe available at acceptable prices.

The manufacturing process for additional clinical trialsa product candidate is subject to FDA and ultimatelyforeign regulatory authority review. Suppliers and manufacturers must meet applicable manufacturing requirements and undergo rigorous facility and process validation tests required by regulatory authorities in order to comply with regulatory standards, such as cGMPs. In the event that any of our manufacturers fail to comply with such requirements or to perform its obligations to us in relation to quality, timing or otherwise, or if our supply of components or other materials becomes limited or interrupted for commercialization. This reliance on third parties increasesother reasons, we may be forced to manufacture the risk thatmaterials ourselves, for which we willcurrently do not have sufficient quantities ofthe capabilities or resources, or enter into an agreement with another third-party, which we may not be able to do on reasonable terms, if at all, or on a delayed basis. In some cases, the technical skills or technology required to manufacture our product candidates may be unique or drugsproprietary to the original manufacturer and we may have difficulty transferring such skills or technology to another third-party and a feasible alternative may not exist. These factors would increase our reliance on such quantities at an acceptable cost, whichmanufacturer or may require us to obtain a license from such manufacturer in order to have another third-party manufacture our product candidates. If we are required to change manufacturers for any reason, we will be required to verify that the new manufacturer maintains facilities and procedures that comply with quality standards and with all applicable regulations and guidelines. The delays associated with the verification of a new manufacturer could delay, preventnegatively affect our ability to develop product candidates in a timely manner or impair our development or commercialization efforts.within budget. In addition, the new manufacturer must comply with the aforementioned quality-related regulatory requirements.

We do not have any manufacturing facilities or personnel. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely on third-party manufacturers if we receive regulatory approval for LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate. To the extent that we have existing, or enter into future, manufacturing arrangements with third parties, we will depend on these third parties to perform their obligations in a timely manner

69


consistent with contractual and regulatory requirements, including those related to quality control and assurance. If we are unable to obtain or maintain third-party manufacturing for product candidates, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to develop and commercialize our product candidates successfully. Our or a third-party’s failure to execute on our manufacturing requirements and comply with cGMP or other requirements could adversely affect our business in a number of ways, including, but not limited to:

an inability to initiate or continue clinical trials of product candidates under development;
imposition of a clinical hold;
initiation of an Import Alert or Automatic Detection;
delay in submitting regulatory applications, or receiving regulatory approvals, for product candidates;
loss of the cooperation of an existing or future collaborator;
subjecting third-party manufacturing facilities or our manufacturing facilities to additional inspections by regulatory authorities;
requirements to cease distribution or to recall batches of our product candidates;
increase manufacturing costs for delays and/or finding replacement manufacturers; and
in the event of approval to market and commercialize a product candidate, an inability to meet commercial demands for our products.

In addition, we contract with fill and finishing providers with the appropriate expertise, facilities and scale to meet our needs. Failure to maintain cGMP and other regulatory compliance can result in a contractor receiving sanctions by the FDA or another foreign regulatory agency, which can impact our ability to operate or lead to delays in any clinical development programs. We believe that our current fill and finish contractors are operating in accordance with cGMP and other regulatory requirements, but we can give no assurance that the FDA or other regulatory agencies will not conclude that a lack of compliance exists. In addition, any delay in contracting for fill and finish services, or failure of the contract manufacturer to perform the services as needed, may delay any clinical trials, registration and launches, which could negatively affect our business.

The manufacture of our clinical and, if approved, commercial drug supply of LTI-01 involves a highly complex manufacturing process that is subject to a number of risks.

The manufacturing process for the development of clinical, and if approved, commercial supply for LTI-01 involves a complex, multi-step process involving mammalian-based cell expression of the proenzyme and harvest, viral inactivation, purification and filtration of LTI-01 drug substance which is then lyophilized into drug product. Manufacturing any biological drug, such as LTI-01, is highly complex and is subject to a number of risks, and failure can occur at any stage in the production process. If our manufacturing partners fail to achieve and maintain high quality controls, processing and manufacturing standards, including avoidance of manufacturing errors, defects or product failures, we could experience recalls or withdrawals of our products, delays in delivery, cost overruns or other problems that would adversely affect our business. If our manufacturing partners are unable to manufacture our products on a timely basis, at acceptable quality and costs, and in sufficient quantities, or if we experience unanticipated technological problems or delays in production, our business would be adversely affected.

We depend on sole-source third-party suppliers for materials that are necessary for the conduct of preclinical studies and manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical studies and clinical trials, underand the guidance of members of our organization. To date, we have obtained the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, of ALRN-6924 from one third-party manufacturer. We have engaged a separate third-party manufacturer to conduct fill-and-finish and labeling services, as well as for the storage and distribution of ALRN-6924 to clinical sites. We do not have a long-term supply agreement with eitherloss of these third-party suppliers and manufacturers or their inability to supply us with sufficient quantities of adequate materials, or to do so at acceptable quality levels and we purchase our required drug supplies on a purchase order basis.timely basis, could harm our business.

Manufacturing our product candidates requires many specialty materials and equipment, some of which are manufactured or supplied by small companies with limited resources and experience to support commercial biologics production. We expect to relycurrently depend on third-party manufacturers or third-party collaboratorsa limited number of vendors for certain materials and equipment used in the manufacture of our product candidates for commercialcandidates. For example, we are reliant on one manufacturer as the sole drug substance manufacturer of LTI-01. If this sole supplier is unable to supply ofto us in the quantities we require, or at all, or otherwise

70


defaults on its supply obligations to us, we may not be able to obtain alternative supplies from other suppliers on acceptable terms, in a timely manner, or at all. We also do not have long-term supply agreements with any of our product candidates for which wesuppliers. Our current contracts with certain suppliers may be canceled or not extended by such suppliers and, therefore, do not afford us with protection against a reduction or interruption in supplies. Moreover, in the event any of these suppliers breach their contracts with us, our future collaborators obtain marketing approval. Welegal remedies associated with such a breach may be unableinsufficient to establishcompensate us for any agreementsdamages we may suffer.

In addition, we developed the cell line and manufacturing process for drug substance manufacture in collaboration with third-party manufacturersour sole manufacturer. The loss of this contract development and manufacturing company, or CDMO, or its failure to do sosupply us with material to support our clinical development program on acceptable terms. Even if we are ablea timely basis could impair our ability to establish agreements with third-party manufacturers, reliance on third-party manufacturers entails additional risks, including:

the possible failure of the third party to manufacture our product candidate according to our schedule, or at all, including if our third-party contractors give greater priority to the supply of other products overdevelop our product candidates or otherwise do not satisfactorily perform according todelay the termsdevelopment process, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of the agreements between us and them;

the possible termination or nonrenewal of agreements by our third-party contractors at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us;

the possible breach by the third-party contractorsoperations. Some of our agreements with them;

CDMO’s raw material suppliers may not have the failure of third-party contractorscapacity to comply with applicablesupport clinical trials and commercial products manufactured under cGMP or other regulatory requirements;

the possible failure of the third partyrequirements by biopharmaceutical firms or may otherwise be ill-equipped to manufacturesupport our product candidates according to our specifications;

the possible mislabeling of clinical supplies, potentially resulting in the wrong dose amounts being supplied or active drug or placebo not being properly identified;

the possibility of clinical supplies not being delivered to clinical sites on time, leading to clinical trial interruptions, or of drug supplies not being distributed to commercial vendors in a timely manner, resulting in lost sales; and

the possible misappropriation of our proprietary information, including our trade secrets and know-how.

The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture our product candidates must be approved by the FDA pursuant to inspections that will be conducted after we submit our NDA to the FDA.needs. We also do not have complete control over all aspectssupply contracts with many of the manufacturing process of,these suppliers directly, and are dependent on,we or our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with cGMP regulations for manufacturing both active drug substances and finished drug products. Third-party manufacturersCDMOs may not be able to complyobtain supply contracts with cGMP regulationsthem on acceptable terms or similar regulatory requirements outsideat all. Accordingly, we or our CDMOs may experience delays in receiving key raw materials and equipment to support clinical or commercial manufacturing.

For some of these specialty materials, we and our CDMOs rely on and may in the United States. Iffuture rely on sole-source vendors or a limited number of vendors. The supply of specialty materials and equipment that are necessary to produce our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specificationsproduct candidates could be reduced or interrupted at any time. In such case, identifying and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDAengaging an alternative supplier or others, they willmanufacturer could result in delay, and we may not be able to secure and/find other acceptable suppliers or maintain marketing approvalmanufacturers on acceptable terms, or at all. Switching suppliers or manufacturers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines. If we change suppliers or manufacturers for their manufacturing facilities. In addition, we do not have complete control overclinical or commercial production, applicable regulatory agencies may inspect the ability of our contractnew vendor or require us to conduct additional studies or trials. If key suppliers or manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority does not approve these facilities for the manufacture of our product candidatesare lost, or if it withdraws any such approval in the future,supply of the materials is diminished or discontinued, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our abilitynot be able to develop, obtain marketing approval for ormanufacture and market our product candidates if approved. Our failure,in a timely and competitive manner, or at all. An inability to continue to source product from any of these suppliers, which could be due to a number of issues, including regulatory actions or requirements affecting the failure ofsupplier, adverse financial or other strategic developments experienced by a supplier, labor disputes or shortages, unexpected demands or quality issues, could adversely affect our third-party manufacturers,ability to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocation, seizures or recalls ofsatisfy demand for our product candidates, which could adversely and materially affect our product sales and operating results or drugs, operating restrictionsour ability to conduct preclinical and criminal prosecutions, anyclinical trials, either of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of our drugs and harm our businessbusiness.

Our existing collaborations and results of operations.

73


Any drugs thatfuture collaborations are and will be important to our business. If we may develop may compete with other product candidates and drugs for accessare unable to manufacturing facilities. There are a limited number of manufacturers that operate under cGMP regulations and that might be capable of manufacturing for us.

Any performance failure on the part of our existing or future manufacturers could delay clinical development or marketing approval. We do not currently have arrangements in place for redundant supply of the API of ALRN-6924 and we only currently use a different single third-party manufacturer for fill-and-finish services for ALRN-6924. If our current contract manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to replace those manufacturers. Although we believe that there are several potential alternative manufacturers who could manufacture our product candidates, we may incur added costs and delays in identifying and qualifying any such replacement.

Our current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the manufacture of our product candidates or drugs may adversely affect our future profit margins and our ability to commercialize any drugs that receive marketing approval on a timely and competitive basis.

Although we currently plan to retain all commercial rights to ALRN-6924 and our other stapled peptide product candidates, we may enter into strategicnew collaborations, for the development, marketing and commercialization of ALRN-6924 and our other stapled peptide product candidates. If thoseor if these collaborations are not successful, the development, marketingour business could be adversely affected.

A part of our strategy is to selectively establish partnerships in indications and geographies where we believe partners can add significant commercial and/or commercialization of ourdevelopment capabilities. Further, we have limited capabilities for product candidates that aredevelopment and do not yet have any capability for commercialization. Accordingly, we have and may in the subject of such collaborations would be harmed.

As we further develop ALRN-6924, we may build a commercial infrastructure with the capability to directly market it to a variety of markets and geographies. Although we currently plan to retain all commercial rights to ALRN-6924 and our other stapled peptide product candidates, we mayfuture enter into strategic collaborations with other companies to provide us with important technologies and funding for the development, marketingour programs and commercialization of ALRN-6924technology.

Our existing collaborations and our other product candidates. Our likely collaborators for any collaboration arrangements include large and mid-size pharmaceutical companies, regional and national pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies. Iffuture collaborations we do enter into any such arrangements with any third parties, we will likely have limited control overmay pose a number of risks, including the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators dedicate to the development, marketing and/or commercialization of our product candidates. Our ability to generate revenues from these arrangements will depend on our collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. In addition, any future collaborators may have the right to abandon research or development projects and terminate applicable agreements, including funding obligations, prior to or upon the expiration of the agreed upon terms. For example, in 2013, Roche terminated the research collaboration to which we were a party.

Collaborations involving our product candidates would pose the following risks to us:following:

collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations;

apply;

collaborators may not perform their obligations as expected;

collaborators may not pursue development marketing and/orand commercialization of ourany product candidates that achieve regulatory approval or may elect not to continue or renew development marketing or commercialization programs or license arrangements based on clinical trial results, changes in the collaborator’scollaborators’ strategic focus or available funding, or external factors, such as an acquisitiona strategic transaction that divertsmay divert resources or createscreate competing priorities;

71


collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;

collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, drugsproducts that compete directly or indirectly with our drugsproducts and product candidates if the collaborators believe that the competitive products are more likely to be successfully developed or can be commercialized under terms that are more economically attractive than ours;

product candidates discovered in collaboration with us may be viewed by our collaborators as competitive with their own product candidates or products, which may cause collaborators to cease to devote resources to the commercialization of our product candidates;

collaborators may fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements regarding the development, manufacture, distribution or marketing of a collaboratorproduct candidate or product;

collaborators with marketing and distribution rights to one or more drugsof our product candidates that achieve regulatory approval may not commit sufficient resources to the marketing and distribution of such drugproduct or drugs;

products;

74


disagreements with collaborators, including disagreements over proprietary rights, contract interpretation or the preferred course of development, might cause delays or termination of the research, development or commercialization of product candidates, might lead to additional responsibilities for us with respect to product candidates, or might result in litigation or arbitration, any of which would be time-consuming and expensive;

collaborators may not provide us with timely and accurate information regarding development progress and activity under any future license agreement, which could adversely impact our ability to report progress to our investors and otherwise plan development of our product candidates;

disagreements with collaborators, including disagreements over proprietary rights, contract interpretation or the preferred course of development, might cause delays or terminations of the research, development or commercialization of product candidates, might lead to additional responsibilities for us with respect to product candidates, or might result in litigation or arbitration, any of which would be time-consuming and expensive;

collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation;

collaborators may infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may expose us to litigation and potential liability;

we may lose certain valuable rights under circumstances identifiedif a collaborator of ours is involved in a business combination, the collaborator might deemphasize or terminate the development or commercialization of any collaboration arrangement that we enter into, such as if we undergo a change of control;

product candidate licensed to it by us; and

collaborations may be terminated by the collaborator, and, if terminated, may result in a need forwe could be required to raise additional capital to pursue further development marketing and/or commercialization of the applicable product candidates;

candidates.

collaborators may learn aboutIf our discoveries, data, proprietary information, trade secrets or compoundsexisting collaborations and use this knowledge to compete with usany future collaborations we enter into do not result in the future;successful research, development and

the number and type of our collaborations could adversely affect our attractiveness to future collaborators or acquirers.

Collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of product candidates or if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may not receive any future research funding or milestone or royalty payments under such collaboration. All of the risks relating to product development, regulatory approval and commercialization also apply to the activities of any therapeutic collaborators.

Additionally, if one of our existing or future collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may find it more difficult to attract new collaborators and our perception in the most efficient manner,business and financial communities could be adversely affected.

We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators for our product candidates, and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. In order for us to successfully establish a collaboration for one or more of our product candidates, potential collaborators must view these product candidates as economically valuable in markets they determine to be attractive in light of the terms that we are seeking and other available products for licensing by other companies. Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large biopharmaceutical

72


companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators. Our ability to reach a definitive agreement for a collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator’s resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration and the proposed collaborator’s evaluation of a number of factors. If we are unable to reach agreements with suitable collaborators on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, we may have to curtail the development of a product candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we fail to enter into future collaborations or do not have sufficient funds or expertise to undertake the necessary development and commercialization activities, we may not be able to further develop our product candidates, bring them to market and generate revenue from sales of drugs or continue to develop our technology, and our business may be materially and adversely affected. Even if we are successful in our efforts to establish new strategic collaborations, the terms that we agree upon may not be favorable to us, and we may not be able to maintain such strategic collaborations if, for example, development or approval of a product candidate is delayed or sales of an approved product are disappointing. Any delay in entering into new strategic collaboration agreements related to our product candidates could delay the development and commercialization of our product candidates and reduce their competitiveness even if they reach the market.

We have entered into a collaboration agreement with Taiho for the development of LTI-01 and may in the future seek to enter into collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of other product candidates. If we fail to enter into such collaborations, or our collaborations are not successful, we may be unable to continue development of such product candidates, we would not receive any contemplated milestone payments or royalties, and we could fail to capitalize on the market potential of such product candidates.

In November 2020, Lung entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Taiho for the development and commercialization of our clinical product candidate, LTI-01. In the first quarter of 2021, Lung received an up-front license payment of $5.0 million for the exclusive license to develop and commercialize LTI-01 in Japan.

Pursuant to the Taiho Agreement, we are eligible to receive a milestone payment, transfer supply payments for manufacture of clinical and commercial supplies of LTI-01 and royalties on annual nets sales of LTI-01. If we are unable to successfully advance the development of our product candidates or achieve milestones, including pursuant to the Taiho Agreement, we will not receive any revenue and cash resources from milestone and royalty payments under our collaboration agreements.

In addition, to the extent that any of our existing or future collaborators were to terminate a collaboration agreement, we may be forced to independently develop these product candidates, including funding preclinical or clinical trials, assuming marketing and distribution costs and defending intellectual property rights, or, in certain instances, abandon product candidates altogether, any of which could result in a change to our business plan and a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If we decide to seek to establish collaborations, but are not able to establish those collaborations, we may have to alter our development and commercialization plans.

Our drug development programsof our product candidates and the potential commercialization of our product candidates will require substantial additional cash to fund expenses. As noted above, weWe may seek to selectively form collaborations to expand our capabilities, potentially accelerate research and development activities and provide for commercialization activities by third parties.

We would face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Whether we reach a definitive agreement for a collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator’s resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration and the proposed collaborator’s evaluation of a number of factors. Those factors may include the design or results of clinical trials, the likelihood of approval by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, the potential market for the subject product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and delivering such product candidate to patients, the potential of competing drugs, the existence of uncertainty with respect to our ownership of intellectual property, which can exist if there is a

73


challenge to such ownership without regard to the merits of the challenge, and industry and market conditions generally. The potential collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available to collaborate on and whether such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate.

We may also be restricted under then-existing collaboration agreements from entering into future agreements on certain terms with potential collaborators.

Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators.

We may not be able to negotiate collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, if and when we seek to enter into collaborations. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of a product candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its

75


potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be able to further develop our product candidates or bring them to market and generate revenue from sales of drugs.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

Our success depends in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property. It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights and technology, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.

Our commercial successbusiness will depend in large part on obtaining and maintaining patent, trademark and trade secret protection of our proprietary technologies and our product candidates, which include ALRN-6924 and others, their respective components, synthetic intermediates, formulations, combination therapies, methods used to manufacture them and methods of treatment, as well as successfully defending these patents against third-party challenges. Our ability to stop unauthorized third parties from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing our product candidates is dependent upon the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents or trade secrets that cover these activities.activities and whether a court would issue an injunctive remedy. If we are unable to secure and maintain patent protection for any product or technology we develop, or if the scope of the patent protection secured is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products and technology similar or identical to ours, and our ability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop may be adversely affected.

The patenting process is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. In addition, we may not pursue, obtain, or obtainmaintain patent protection in all relevant markets. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Our pendingMoreover, in some circumstances, we may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and futureprosecution of patent applications, or to maintain the patents, covering technology that we license from or license to third parties and are reliant on our licensors or licensees.

The strength of patents in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical field involves complex legal and scientific questions and can be uncertain. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in issued patents with claims that cover our product candidates or uses thereof in the U.S. or in other foreign countries. Even if the patents do successfully issue, third parties may challenge the validity, enforceability or scope thereof, which may result in such patents being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not result in issued patents thatadequately protect our technology, or products, in whole or in part. In addition,including our existing patents and any future patents we obtain may not be sufficiently broad toproduct candidates, or prevent others from usingdesigning around our technologyclaims. If the breadth or from developing competing products and technologies.

We currently in-license certain intellectual property from President and Fellowsstrength of Harvard College, or Harvard, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, or DFCI, and others. Inprotection provided by the future we may in-license intellectual property from other licensors. We rely on certain of these licensors to file and prosecute patent applications and maintain patents and otherwise protect the intellectual property we license from them. We have limited control over these activities or any other intellectual property that may be relatedhold with respect to our in-licensed intellectual property. For example, we cannot be certain that such activities by these licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights. We have limited control over the manner in which our licensors initiate an infringement proceeding against a third-party infringer of the intellectual property rights, or defend certain of the intellectual property that is licensed to us. It is possible that the licensors’ infringement proceeding or defense activities may be less vigorous than had we conducted them ourselves.

The growth of our business may depend in part on our ability to acquire or in-license additional proprietary rights. For example, our programs may involve additional product candidates that may require the use of additional proprietary rights held by third parties. Our product candidates may also require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently. These formulations may be covered by intellectual property rights held by others. We may develop products containing our compounds and pre-existing pharmaceutical compounds. These pharmaceutical compounds may be covered by intellectual property rights held by others. We may be required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities to provide a companion diagnostic test or testsis threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with our product candidates. These diagnostic test or tests may be covered by intellectual property rights held by others. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any relevant third-party intellectual property rights that we identify as necessary or important to our business operations. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all, which would harm our business. We may need to cease use of the compositions or methods covered by such third-party intellectual property rights, and may need to seekus to develop, alternative approaches that do not infringe on such intellectual property rights which may entail additional costs and development delays, even if we were able to develop such alternatives, which may not be feasible. Even if we are able to obtain a license under such intellectual property rights, any such license may be non-exclusive, which may allow our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us.

76


Additionally, we sometimes collaborate with academic institutions to accelerate our preclinical research or development under written agreements with these institutions. In certain cases, 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 option, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified timeframe or under terms that are acceptable to us. If we are unable to do so, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to others, potentially blockingthreaten our ability to pursue our program. If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property or to maintain the existing intellectual property rights we have, we may have to abandon development of such program and our business and financial condition could suffer.

The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive practice, and companies that may be more established, or have greater resources than we do, may also be pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider necessary or attractive in order to commercialize, our product candidates. More established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their larger size and cash resources or greaterFurther, if we encounter delays in our clinical development and commercialization capabilities. There can be no assurance thattrials, the period of time during which we will be able to successfully complete such negotiations and ultimately acquire the rights to the intellectual property surrounding the additionalcould market our product candidates that we may seek to acquire.under patent protection would be reduced.

During the course of business we have decided not to pursue certain products or processes and have terminated certain corresponding intellectual property license agreements or removed certain intellectual property from current license agreements, and we may do so again in the future. If it is later determined that our activities or product candidates infringe this intellectual property we may be liable for damages, enhanced damages or subjected to an injunction, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.74


The patent position of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies generally is highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions for which many legal principles remain unresolved. In recent years patent rights have been the subject of significant litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability and commercial value of our patent rights are highly uncertain. Our pending and future patent applications may not result in patents being issued in the United States or in other jurisdictions which protect our technology or products or which effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive technologies and products. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. In addition, the laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. Therefore, we

We cannot be certain that we were the first to makefile any patent application related to our technology, including our product candidates, and, if we were not, we may be precluded from obtaining patent protection for our technology, including our product candidates.

We cannot be certain that we are the first to invent the inventions claimed in our patents orcovered by pending patent applications and, if we are not, we may be subject to priority disputes. Furthermore, for U.S. applications in which all claims are entitled to a priority date before March 16, 2013, an interference proceeding can be provoked by a third-party or that we were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions. In addition,instituted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, might require thatto determine who was the first to invent any of the subject matter covered by the patent claims of our applications. Similarly, for U.S. applications in which at least one claim is not entitled to a priority date before March 16, 2013, derivation proceedings can be instituted to determine whether the subject matter of a patent claim was derived from a prior inventor’s disclosure.

We may be required to disclaim part or all of the term of a patent issuing from a pending patent application be disclaimed and limited tocertain patents or all of the term of anothercertain patent applications. There may be prior art of which we are not aware that is commonly ownedmay affect the validity or namesenforceability of a common inventor. Aspatent or patent application claim. There also may be prior art of which we are aware, but which we do not believe affects the validity or enforceability of a result,claim, which may, nonetheless, ultimately be found to affect the issuance, scope, validity or enforceability of a claim. No assurance can be given that if challenged, our patents would be declared by a court to be valid or enforceable or that even if found valid and commercial valueenforceable, would adequately protect our product candidates, or would be found by a court to be infringed by a competitor’s technology or product. We may analyze patents or patent applications of our patentcompetitors that we believe are relevant to our activities and consider that we are free to operate in relation to our product candidates, but our competitors may achieve issued claims, including in patents we consider to be unrelated, which block our efforts or may potentially result in our product candidates or our activities infringing such claims. The possibility exists that others will develop products which have the same effect as our products on an independent basis which do not infringe our patents or other intellectual property rights are highly uncertain.or will design around the claims of patents that may issue that cover our products.

Recent or future patent reform legislation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. In March 2013, underUnder the recently enacted Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or America Invents Act, enacted in 2013, the United StatesU.S. moved from a “first to invent” to a “first-to-file” system. Under a “first-to-file” system, assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application generally will be entitled to a patent on the invention regardless of whether another inventor had made the invention earlier. The America Invents Act includes a number of other significant changes to U.S. patent law, including provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and establish a new post-grant review system. The effects of these changes are currently unclear as the USPTO only recently developed new regulations and procedures in connection with the America Invents Act and many of the substantive changes to patent law, including the “first-to-file” provisions, only became effective in March 2013. In addition, the courts have yet to address many of these provisions and the applicability of the act and new regulations on specific patents discussed herein have not been determined and would need to be reviewed. However, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. We may become involved in opposition, interference, derivation, inter partes review or other proceedings challenging our patent rights or the

77


patent rights of others, and the outcome of any proceedings are highly uncertain. An adverse determination in any such proceeding could reduce the scope of, or invalidate, our patent rights, allow third parties to commercialize our technology or products and compete directly with us, without payment to us, or result in our inability to manufacture or commercialize products without infringing third-party patent rights.

Even if our patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent competitors from competing with us or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. Our competitors may be able to circumvent our owned or licensed patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner. The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its scope, validity or enforceability, and our owned and in-licensed patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Such challenges may result in the patent claims of our owned or in-licensed patents being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop or prevent us from stopping others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and products. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a result, our patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours or otherwise provide us with a competitive advantage.

The degree of future protection for our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:

others may be able to make or use compounds that are similar to the pharmaceutical compounds used incompositions of our product candidates but that are not covered by the claims of our patents;

patents or those of our licensors;

the active pharmaceutical ingredients in our current product candidates will eventually become commercially available in generic drug products, and no patent protection may be available with regard to formulation or method of use;

we or our licensors, as the case may be, may fail to meet our obligations to the U.S. government in regardsregard to any in-licensed patents and patent applications funded by U.S. government grants, leading to the loss of patent rights;

we or our licensors, as the case may be, might not have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions;

others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies;

75


it is possible that our pending patent applications will not result in issued patents;

it is possible that there are prior public disclosures that could invalidate our or our licensors’ patents, as the case may be, or parts of our or their patents;

it is possible that others may circumvent our owned or in-licensed patents;

it is possible that there are unpublished applications or patent applications maintained in secrecy that may later issue with claims covering our products or technology similar to ours;

the laws of foreign countries may not protect our or our licensors’, as the case may be, proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States;

U.S.;

the claims of our owned or in-licensed issued patents or patent applications, if and when issued, may not cover our product candidates;

our owned or in-licensed issued patents may not provide us with any competitive advantages, may be narrowed in scope, or may be held invalid or unenforceable as a result of legal challenges by third parties;

78


the inventors of our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications may become involved with competitors, develop products or processes which design around our patents or become hostile to us or the patents or patent applications on which they are named as inventors;

the inventors of our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications may become involved with competitors, develop products or processes which design around our patents, or become hostile to us or the patents or patent applications on which they are named as inventors;

it is possible that our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications omit individual(s) that should be listed as inventor(s) or include individual(s) that should not be listed as inventor(s), which may cause these patents or patents issuing from these patent applications to be held invalid or unenforceable;

we have engaged in scientific collaborations in the past such as with Roche, and will continue to do so in the future. Such collaborators may develop adjacent or competing products to ours that are outside the scope of our patents;

we may not develop additional proprietary technologies for which we can obtain patent protection;

it is possible that product candidates or diagnostic tests we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other exclusive rights; or

the patents of others may have an adverse effect on our business.

We also may relyare currently party to license or other collaboration agreements that impose certain obligations on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect,us, and we have limited control over the protection of trade secrets used by our licensors, collaborators and suppliers. Although we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific collaborators and other advisors may unintentionallyenter into additional license or willfully disclose our information to competitors or use such information to compete with us. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how. If our confidential or proprietary information is divulged to or acquired by third parties, including our competitors, our competitive positioncollaboration agreements in the marketplace will be harmed and this would have a material adverse effect on our business.

If any of our owned or in-licensed patents are found to be invalid or unenforceable, or if we are otherwise unable to adequately protect our rights, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and our ability to commercialize or license our technology and product candidates. Likewise, our current owned and in-licensed patents covering our proprietary technologies and our product candidates are expected to expire on various dates from 2020 through 2033, without taking into account any possible patent term adjustments or extensions. Our earliest in-licensed patents were only filed in the United States and may expire before, or soon after, our first product achieves marketing approval in the United States. Upon the expiration of our current patents, we may lose the right to exclude others from practicing these inventions. The expiration of these patents could also have a similar material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. We own or in-license pending patent applications covering our proprietary technologies or our product candidates that if issued as patents are expected to expire from 2020 through 2037, without taking into account any possible patent term adjustments or extensions. However, we cannot be assured that the USPTO or relevant foreign patent offices will grant any of these patent applications.

future. If we fail to comply with our obligations under our patent licensessuch present or future agreements with third parties, we could lose license rights that aremay be important to our business.

We are a partyIn connection with our efforts to licenseexpand our pipeline of product candidates, we may enter into certain licenses or other collaboration agreements with Harvard, DFCI, Materia and others, pursuantin the future pertaining to which wethe in-license key patent and patent applications for our productof rights to additional candidates. These existing licensesSuch agreements may impose various diligence, milestone payment, royalty, insurance andor other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with these obligations, our licensorslicensor or collaboration partners may have the right to terminate the license,relevant agreement, in which event we would not be able to develop or market the products covered by such licensed intellectual property.

In early 2016, Harvard asserted that we had not achieved one or more Our existing licensing agreements with UTHSCT, the University of Texas at Austin, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Vivarta Therapeutics, LLC contain diligence milestones set forth in our license agreement with Harvard and DFCI within the time provided for in the agreement and that we were in material breach of theobligations to maintain each license agreement. In making this assertion, Harvard did not seek to terminate the license agreement or interfere with our ongoing p53 program, but instead proposed to convert our exclusive license with respect to certain of the patent families licensed under the license agreement

Moreover, disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a non-exclusive license. DFCI didlicensing agreement, including, but not join Harvard in making this assertion or proposal and has not expressed a similar position to us. Under Harvard’s proposal, we would have retained ourlimited to:

the scope of rights to these patent families under the license agreement on a non-exclusive basis, and Harvard and DFCI would have been able to license these patent families to third parties so that we would be unable to prevent third parties from practicing the claims of those patents, but Harvard and DFCI would not have

79


been able to license to third parties any of the other patent families licensed to us under the license agreement or any of our own patents or patent applications. As such, Harvard’s proposal would not have impeded our development of ALRN-6924 or our other ongoing programs. However, we rejected the proposal and provided Harvard with a response stating that we believe that we had fully satisfied the diligence milestones as requiredgranted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;

the extent to which our product candidates, technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that Harvard’s claimis not subject to the licensing agreement;
the sublicensing of breach is incorrect. Since that time, we have continued to communicate with Harvard in the ordinary coursepatent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;

76


our diligence obligations under the license agreement and have paid a milestone payment to Harvard,what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;
the inventorship and Harvard has not further asserted toownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us its claimand our partners; and
the priority of material breach or sought to terminate the license agreement. invention of patented technology.

In addition, the agreements under which we currently license intellectual property or technology from third parties are complex, and certain provisions in May 2017, we received correspondence from Harvard, which indicated that Harvard is awaresuch agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of a third party that is interested in developing a productany contract interpretation disagreement that may require a license under certainarise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the patent families licensedrelevant intellectual property or technology or increase what we believe to usbe our financial or other obligations under the license agreement. If Harvard were to assert in the future that we are inrelevant agreement, either of which could have a material breach of the license agreement and to seek to terminate the license agreement such that we lostadverse effect on our right to practice the claims of the patents licensed under the license agreement, we would not be able to commercialize ALRN-6924 until the applicable patents expired unless we were able to negotiate a new license arrangement with Harvard or DFCI with respect to the patent families owned by them respectively. Such loss of license rights under the license agreement with Harvard and DFCI or the loss of license rights under other of our license agreements if we were found not to be in compliance with such license agreements could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations financial condition and prospects. We may enter into additional licenses in the future andMoreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we failhave licensed prevent or impair our ability to comply with obligations under those agreements, we could suffer similar consequences.

We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patents, andmaintain our current licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to protectsuccessfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our rightsbusiness, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, we may have limited control over the maintenance and prosecution of these in-licensed patents and patent applications, or any other intellectual property that may be related to our productsin-licensed intellectual property. For example, our limited control over the prosecution of these in-licensed patents and technology.

If wepatent applications, or any other intellectual property that may be related to our in-licensed intellectual property may allow the licensors to pursue additional patent applications with limited input from us. Result in the licensor to pursue filing and prosecuting patent applications or obtaining patents without our knowledge or agreement. Such conduct by the licensor could have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot also be certain that such activities by any future licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights. We have limited control over the manner in which our licensors chooseinitiate an infringement proceeding against a third-party infringer of the intellectual property rights or defend certain of the intellectual property that is licensed to gous. It is possible that the licensors’ infringement proceeding or defense activities may be less vigorous than had we conducted them ourselves.

We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.

Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our current or future licensors. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that one or more of our patents is not valid or is unenforceable or may refuse to stop a thirdthe other party from using the inventions claimedtechnology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question or for other reasons. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceedings could put one or more of our ownedpatents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, or in-licensed patents, that third party may ask the court to rule that the patents are invalid and/or shouldinterpreted narrowly and could put our patent applications at risk of not be enforced against that third party. These lawsuits are expensiveissuing. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would consume time and otherbe a substantial diversion of employee resources even if we or they, as the case may be, were successful in stopping the infringement of these patents. In addition, there is a risk that the court will decide that these patents are not valid and that we or they, as the case may be, do not have the right to stop others from using the inventions.our business.

There is also the risk that, even if the validity of these patents is upheld, the court will refuse to stop the third party on the ground that such third party’s activities do not infringe our owned or in-licensed patents. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court has recently changed some legal principles that affect patent applications, granted patents and assessment of the eligibility or validity of these patents. As a consequence, issued patents may be found to contain invalid claims according to the newly revised eligibility and validity standards. Some of our owned or in-licensed patents may be subject to challenge and subsequent invalidation or significant narrowing of claim scope in proceedings before the USPTO, or during litigation, under the revised criteria which could also make it more difficult to obtain patents.

We or our licensors, may not be able to detect infringement against our owned or in-licensed patents, as the case may be, which may be especially difficult for manufacturing processes or formulation patents. Even if we or our licensors detect infringement by a third party of our owned or in-licensed patents, we or our licensors, as the case may be, may choose not to pursue litigation against or settlement with the third party. If we, or our licensors, later sue such third party for patent infringement, the third party may have certain legal defenses available to it, which otherwise would not be available except for the delay between when the infringement was first detected and when the suit was brought. Such legal defenses may make it impossible for us or our licensors to enforce our owned or in-licensed patents, as the case may be, against such third party.

If another party questionschallenge the patentability of any of our claims in our owned or in-licenseda third-party’s U.S. patents, the third party can requestpatent by requesting that the USPTO review the patent claims such as in an ex-parte re-examination, inter partes reviewex parte re-exam or post-grant review proceedings. These proceedings are expensive and may resultconsume our time or other resources. We may choose to challenge a third-party’s patent in a loss of scope of some claims or a loss of the entire patent. In addition to potential USPTO review proceedings, we may become a party to patent opposition proceedings in the European Patent Office, or EPO, or similar proceedings in other foreign patent offices, where either our owned or in-licensed foreign patents are challenged.office. The costs of these opposition or similar proceedings could be substantial and may result inconsume our time or other resources. If we fail to obtain a loss of scope of some claims or a loss of the entire patent. An unfavorablefavorable result at the USPTO, EPO or other patent office may result in the loss of our right to exclude others from practicing one or more of our inventions in the relevant country or jurisdiction, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

80


We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to intellectual property rights other than patents, andthen we may be unableexposed to protect our rights to our products and technology.

Welitigation by a third-party alleging that the patent may rely on trade secrets and confidentiality agreements to protect our technology and know-how, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally obtained and is using any of our trade secrets is expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States are sometimes less willing to protect trade secrets. If we choose to go to court to stop a third party from using any of our trade secrets, we may incur substantial costs. These lawsuits may consume our time and other resources even if we are successful.

If we are sued for infringing patents or other intellectual property rights of third parties, it will be costly and time consuming, and an unfavorable outcome in that litigation would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sellinfringed by our product candidates and use ouror proprietary technologies without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields relating to our product candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that others may assert our product candidates infringe the patent rights of others. Moreover, it is not always clear to industry participants, including us, which patents cover various types of drugs, products or their methods of use or manufacture. Thus, because of the large number of patents issued and patent applications filed in our fields, there may be a risk that third parties may allege they have patent rights encompassing our product candidates, technologies or methods.technologies.

In addition, because some patent applications in the United StatesU.S. may be maintained in secrecy until the patents are issued, patent applications in the United StatesU.S. and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, and publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that others have not filed patent applications for technology covered by our owned and in-licensed issued patents or our pending

77


applications, or that we or, if applicable, a licensor were the first to invent the technology. Our competitors may have filed, and may in the future file, patent applications covering our products or technology similar to ours. Any such patent application may have priority over our owned and in-licensed patent applications or patents, which could require us to obtain rights to issued patents covering such technologies. If another party has filed a U.S. patent application on inventions similar to those owned by or in-licensed to us, we or, in the case of in-licensed technology, the licensor may have to participate in an interference or derivation proceeding declared by the USPTO to determine priority of invention in the United States.U.S. If we or one of our licensors is a party to an interference or derivation proceeding involving a U.S. patent application on inventions owned by or in-licensed to us, we may incur substantial costs, divert management’s time, and expend other resources, even if we are successful.

Interference or derivation proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by us or declared by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patents or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could result in a loss of our current patent rights and could require us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or if a non-exclusive license is offered and our competitors gain access to the same technology. Litigation or interference proceedings may result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets or confidential information, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the U.S.

Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

In addition to patent protection, we rely heavily upon know-how and trade secret protection, as well as non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties, to protect our confidential and proprietary information, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret by an employee or third-party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security measures may not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. Because we expect to rely on third parties in the development and manufacture of our product candidates, we must, at times, share trade secrets with them. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

In addition, courts outside the U.S. are sometimes less willing to protect trade secrets. If we choose to go to court to stop a third-party from using any of our trade secrets, we may incur substantial costs. These lawsuits may consume our time and other resources even if we are successful. Although we take steps to protect our proprietary information and trade secrets, including through contractual means with our employees and consultants, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose our technology.

Thus, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. It is our policy to require our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with us. These agreements provide

78


that all confidential information concerning our business or financial affairs developed or made known to the individual or entity during the course of the party’s relationship with us is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees, the agreements provide that all inventions conceived by the individual, and which are related to our current or planned business or research and development or made during normal working hours, on our premises or using our equipment or proprietary information, are our exclusive property. In addition, we take other appropriate precautions, such as physical and technological security measures, to guard against misappropriation of our proprietary technology by third parties.

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our product discovery and development efforts.

Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell our product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patentpatents and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticalbiopharmaceutical industries, generally.as well as administrative proceedings for challenging patents, including interference, derivation, inter partes review, post grant review and reexamination proceedings before the USPTO or oppositions and other comparable proceedings in foreign jurisdictions. We may be exposed to, or threatened with, future litigation by third parties having patent or other intellectual property rights alleging that our product candidates and/or proprietary technologies infringe their intellectual property rights. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing our product candidates, and further applications in the fields could continue to be filed. For example, even if we were the first to file a patent application related to our technology, we cannot be certain that a third-party is or will be filing and prosecuting patent applications related to our technology or related to our field, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. As the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our product candidates may give rise to claims of infringement of the patent rights of others. Moreover, it is not always clear to industry participants, including us, which patents cover various types of drugs, products or their methods of use or manufacture. Thus, because of the large number of patents issued and patent applications filed in our fields, there may be a risk that third parties may allege they have patent rights encompassing our product candidates, technologies or methods.

If a third partythird-party claims that we infringe its intellectual property rights, we may face a number of issues, including, but not limited to:

infringement and other intellectual property claims which, regardless of merit, may be expensive and time-consuming to litigate and may divert our management’s attention from our core business;

substantial damages for infringement, which we may have to pay if a court decides that the product candidate or technology at issue infringes on or violates the third party’sthird-party’s rights and if the court finds that the infringement was willful, we could be ordered to pay treble damages and the patent owner’s attorneys’ fees;

a court prohibiting us from developing, manufacturing, marketing or selling our product candidates, or from using our proprietary technologies, unless the third partythird-party licenses its product rights to us, which it is not required to do;

81


if a license is available from a third party, we may have to pay substantial royalties, upfront fees and other amounts, and/or grant cross-licenses to intellectual property rights for our products; and

if a license is available from a third-party, we may have to pay substantial royalties, upfront fees and other amounts, and/or grant cross-licenses to intellectual property rights for our products and any license that is available may be non-exclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property; and

redesigning our product candidates or processes so they do not infringe, which may not be possible or may require substantial monetary expenditures and time.

Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with

We may choose to challenge the patentability79


intellectual property litigation or administrative proceedings, there is a risk that some of claims in a third party’s U.S. patent by requesting that the USPTO review the patent claims in an ex-parte re-exam, inter partes review or post-grant review proceedings. These proceedings are expensive and may consume our time or other resources. We may choose to challenge a third party’s patent in patent opposition proceedings in the EPO, or other foreign patent office. The costs of these opposition proceedingsconfidential information could be substantial, and may consume our time or other resources. If we fail to obtain a favorable result at the USPTO, EPO or other patent office then we may be exposed to litigationcompromised by a third party alleging that the patent may be infringed by our product candidates or proprietary technologies.disclosure.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights with patents throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on all of our product candidates throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. Competitors may use our technology in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection but where enforcement is not as strong as in the United States.U.S. These products may compete with our product candidates in jurisdictions where we do not have any issued patents and our patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from so competing. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biopharmaceuticals, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products against third parties in violation of our proprietary rights generally. The initiation of proceedings by third parties to challenge the scope or validity of our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends uponon compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent prosecutionapplication process and following the issuance of a patent. Our failure to complyWhile an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with such requirements couldthe applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of athe patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. In certain circumstances, even inadvertent noncompliance events may permanently and irrevocably jeopardize patent rights. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, earlier than would otherwise have been the case if our patent were in force, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our collaborators may assert ownership or commercial rights to inventions they develop from research we support or that we develop from our use of samples or other materials, which they provide to us, or otherwise arising from the collaboration.

We collaborate with several institutions, universities, medical centers, physicians and researchers in scientific matters and expect to continue to enter into additional collaboration agreements. In certain cases, we do not have written agreements with these collaborators, or the written agreements we have do not cover intellectual property rights. If we cannot successfully negotiate sufficient ownership and commercial rights to any inventions that result from our use of a third-party collaborator’s materials, or if disputes arise with respect to the intellectual property developed with the use of a collaborator’s samples, or data developed in a collaborator’s study, we may be limited in our ability to capitalize on the market potential of these inventions or developments.

Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization.

There may be third-party patents of which we are currently unaware with claims to compositions of matter, materials, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods for treatment that encompass the composition, use or manufacture of our product candidates. There may be currently pending patent applications of which we are currently unaware which may later result in issued patents that our product candidates or their use or manufacture may infringe. In addition, third parties may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover our product candidates, intermediates used in the manufacture of our product candidates or our materials generally, aspects of our formulations

80


or methods of use, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the product candidate unless we obtained a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize our product candidates may be impaired or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business. Even if we obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade parties making claims against us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize our product candidates. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need to obtain licenses from third parties to advance our research or allow commercialization of our product candidates. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be subjectunable to claimsfurther develop and commercialize our product candidates, which could harm our business significantly.

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed allegedconfidential information or misappropriated trade secrets of their former employers.secrets.

As is common in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticalbiopharmaceutical industries, we employ individuals who were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceuticalbiopharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, and although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that thesewe or our employees, consultants or weindependent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of theira former employers.employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are

82


successful in defending against such claims, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and, if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock. This type of litigation or proceeding could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce our resources available for development activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. 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. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other intellectual property related proceedings could adversely affect our ability to compete in the marketplace.

Risks Related to Marketing Approval and Other Legal Compliance Matters

EvenAny current or future patents, if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the marketing approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain and may prevent us, or any future collaborators, from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of some or all of our product candidates. As a result, we cannot predict when or if, and in which territories, we, or any future collaborators, will obtain marketing approval to commercialize a product candidate.

The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, marketing, promotion and distribution of drugs are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, whose laws and regulations may differ from country to country. We, and any future collaborators, are not permitted to marketissued, covering our product candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or the United States or in other countries untilUSPTO.

If we or they receive approval of an NDA from the FDA or marketing approval from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Our product candidates are in early stages of development and are subject to the risks of failure inherent in drug development. We have not submitted an application for or received marketing approval for anyone of our product candidates in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. We have limited experience in conducting and managing the clinical trials necessarylicensors initiate legal proceedings against a third-party to obtain marketing approvals, including FDA approval of an NDA.

The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the United States and abroad, isenforce a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process. It may take many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Securing marketing approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. Securing marketing approval also requires the submission of information about the product manufacturing process to, and inspection of manufacturing facilities by, the regulatory authorities. The FDA or other regulatory authorities have substantial discretion and may determine that our product candidates are not safe and effective, only moderately effective or have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that preclude our obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use. Any marketing approval we ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render the approved product not commercially viable.

Our product candidates could fail to receive marketing approval for many reasons, including the following:

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;

we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;

the results of clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval;

we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;

83


the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;

the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA or other submission or to obtain marketing approval in the United States or elsewhere;

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies;

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve any companion diagnostics that may be required in connection with approval of our therapeutic product candidates; and

the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

This lengthy approval process as well as the unpredictability of clinical trial results may result in our failing to obtain marketing approval to market ALRN-6924, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment or promulgation of additional statutes, regulations or guidance or changes in regulatory review for each submitted drug application may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical studies, clinical trials or other studies and testing. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical studies and clinical trials could delay, limit or prevent marketing approval of a product candidate. Any marketing approval we, or any collaborators we may have in the future, ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render the approved drug not commercially viable.

Any delay in obtaining or failure to obtain required approvals could materially adversely affect our ability or that of any collaborators we may have to generate revenue from the particular product candidate, which likely would result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our stock price.

Failure to obtain marketing approval in foreign jurisdictions would prevent our product candidates from being marketed abroad. Any approval we are granted for our product candidates in the United States would not assure approval of our product candidates in foreign jurisdictions.

In order to market and sell our drugs in the European Union and many other jurisdictions, we, and any collaborators we may have in the future, must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval may differ substantially from that required to obtain FDA approval. The marketing approval process outside of the United States generally includes all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. In addition, in many countries outside of the United States, it is required that the drug be approved for reimbursement before the drug can be approved for sale in that country. We, and any collaborators we may have in the future, may not obtain approvals from regulatory authorities outside of the United States on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority outside of the United States does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA.

Additionally, on June 23, 2016, the electorate in the United Kingdom voted in favor of leaving the European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit. On March 29, 2017, the country formally notified the European Union of its intention to withdraw pursuant to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Since a significant proportion of the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom is derived from European Union directives and regulations, the referendum could materially impact the regulatory regime with respect to the approval of our product candidates in the United Kingdom or the European Union. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, would prevent us from commercializing our product candidates in the United Kingdom

84


and/or the European Union and restrict our ability to generate revenue and achieve and sustain profitability. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom and/or European Union for our product candidates, which could significantly and materially harm our business.

We, or any future collaborators, may not be able to obtain orphan drug designation or obtain or maintain orphan drug exclusivity for our product candidates and, even if we do, that exclusivity many not prevent the FDA or the EMA from approving competing products.

Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union, may designate drugs 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 drug 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 United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. In April 2017, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to ALRN-6924 for use in the treatment of AML. We expect to seek orphan drug designation for ALRN-6924 for PTCL and MDS and may seek orphan drug designations for ALRN-6924 for other indications or for other of our product candidates. There can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain such designations.

In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages and user-fee waivers. In addition, if a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity in the United States provides that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full NDA, to market the same drug for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances The applicable exclusivity period is ten years in Europe. The European 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.

Even if we, or any future collaborators, obtain orphan drug designation for a product candidate as we have obtained for ALRN-6924 for AML, we, or they, may not be able to obtain or maintain orphan drug exclusivity for that product candidate. We may not be the first to obtain marketing approval of any product candidate for which we have obtained orphan drug designation for the orphan-designated indication due to the uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be limited if we seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan-designated indication or may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or if we are unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition. Further, even if we, or any future collaborators, obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs with different active moieties may be approved for the same condition. Even after an orphan drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is clinically superior in that it is shown to be safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care or the manufacturer of the product with orphan exclusivity is unable to maintain sufficient product quantity. Orphan drug designation neither shortens the development time or regulatory review time of a drug nor gives the drug any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process.

Even if we, or any collaborators we may have in the future, obtain marketing approvals for our product candidates, the terms of approvals and ongoing regulation of our drugs could require substantial expenditure of resources and may limit how we, or they, manufacture and market our drugs, which could materially impair our ability to generate revenue.

Once marketing approval has been granted, an approved drug and its manufacturer and marketer are subject to ongoing review and extensive regulation. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration and listing requirements, requirements relating to manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance and corresponding maintenance of records and documents, requirements regarding the distribution of samples to physicians and recordkeeping. We, and any collaborators we may have in the future, must also comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for any of our product candidates for

85


which we or they obtain marketing approval. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the drug’s approved labeling. Thus, we, and any collaborators we may have in the future, may not be able to promote any drugs we develop for indications or uses for which they are not approved.

The FDA may also impose requirements for costly post-marketing studies or clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of a drug. For example, the approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the drug may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, including the requirement to implement a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, which could include requirements for a restricted distribution system. Manufacturers of approved drugs and those manufacturers’ facilities are also required to comply with extensive FDA requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMPs, which include requirements relating to quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation and reporting requirements. We, our contract manufacturers, our future collaborators and their contract manufacturers could be subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA to monitor and ensure compliance with cGMPs.

Accordingly, assuming we, or our future collaborators, receive marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates, we, and our future collaborators, and our and their contract manufacturers will continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, product surveillance and quality control.

If we, and our future collaborators, are not able to comply with post-approval regulatory requirements, we, and our future collaborators, could have the marketing approvals for our drugs withdrawn by regulatory authorities and our, or our future collaborators’, ability to market any future drugs could be limited, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve or sustain profitability. Further, the cost of compliance with post-approval regulations may have a negative effect on our operating results and financial condition.

The FDA’s and other regulatory authorities’ policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates, which would impact our ability to generate revenue.

In December 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act, or Cures Act, was signed into law. The Cures Act, among other things, is intended to modernize the regulation of drugs and spur innovation, but its ultimate implementation is unclear. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

We also cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. For example, certain policies of the current administration may impact our business and industry. Namely, the current administration has taken several executive actions, including the issuance of a number of executive orders, that could impose significant burdens on, or otherwise materially delay, the FDA’s ability to engage in routine regulatory and oversight activities such as implementing statutes through rulemaking, issuance of guidance and review and approval of marketing applications. Notably, on January 30, 2017, the President issued an executive order, applicable to all executive agencies, including the FDA, which requires that for each notice of proposed rulemaking or final regulation to be issued in fiscal year 2017, the agency shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed, unless prohibited by law. These requirements are referred to as the “two-for-one” provisions. This executive order includes a budget neutrality provision that required the total incremental cost of all new regulations in the 2017 fiscal year, including repealed regulations, to be no greater than zero, except in limited circumstances. For fiscal years 2018 and beyond, the executive order requires agencies to identify regulations to offset any incremental cost of a new regulation and approximate the total costs or savings associated with each new regulation or repealed regulation. In interim guidance issued by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within Office of Management and Budget  on February 2, 2017, the administration indicated that the “two-for-one” provisions may apply not only to agency regulations, but also to significant agency guidance documents. In addition, on February 24, 2017, the President issued an executive order directing each affected agency to designate an agency official as a “Regulatory Reform

86


Officer” and establish a “Regulatory Reform Task Force” to implement the two-for-one provisions and other previously issued executive orders relating to the review of federal regulations; however, it is difficult to predict how these requirements will be implemented, and the extent to which they will impact the FDA’s ability to exercise its regulatory authority. If these executive actions impose constraints on the FDA’s ability to engage in oversight and implementation activities in the normal course, our business may be negatively impacted.

Any of our product candidates for which we, or our future collaborators, obtain marketing approval in the future will be subject to substantial penalties if we, or they, fail to comply with regulatory requirements or if we, or they, experience unanticipated problems with our drugs following approval.

Any of our product candidates for which we, or our future collaborators, obtain marketing approval in the future, will be subject to continual review by the FDA and other regulatory authorities.

The FDA and other agencies, including the Department of Justice, or the DOJ, closely regulate and monitor the post-approval marketing and promotion of drugs to ensure that they are manufactured, marketed and distributed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. The FDA imposes stringent restrictions on manufacturers’ communications regarding off-label use and if we, or our future collaborators, do not market any of our product candidates for which we, or they, receive marketing approval for only their approved indications, we, or they, may be subject to warnings or enforcement action for off-label marketing. Violation of the FDCA and other statutes, including the False Claims Act, relating to the promotion and advertising of prescription drugs may lead to investigations or allegations of violations of federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and state consumer protection laws.

In addition, later discovery of previously unknown adverse events or other problems with our drugs or their manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may yield various results, including:

litigation involving patients taking our drug;

restrictions on such drugs, manufacturers or manufacturing processes;

restrictions on the labeling or marketing of a drug;

restrictions on drug distribution or use;

requirements to conduct post-marketing studies or clinical trials;

warning letters or untitled letters;

withdrawal of the drugs from the market;

refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications that we submit;

recall of drugs;

fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenues;

suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals;

damage to relationships with any potential collaborators;

restrictions on coverage by third-party payors;

unfavorable press coverage and damage to our reputation;

refusal to permit the import or export of drugs;

drug seizure; or

injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

87


Recently enacted and future legislation, and a change in existing government regulations and policies, may increase the difficulty and cost for us and our future collaborators to obtain marketing approval of and commercialize our product candidates and affect the prices we, or they, may obtain.

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could, among other things, prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability, or the ability of any future collaborators, to profitably sell any drugs for which we, or they, obtain marketing approval. We expect that current laws, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we, or any future collaborators, may receive for any approved drugs.

In the United States, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or Medicare Modernization Act, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products and could decrease the coverage and price that we, or any future collaborators, may receive for any approved drugs. While the Medicare Modernization Act applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the Medicare Modernization Act may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, which substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers, was enacted. Among the provisions of the ACA of potential importance to our business, including, without limitation, our ability to commercialize and the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates, are the following:

an annual, non-deductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents;

an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program;

expansion of federal healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers and enhanced penalties for non-compliance;

a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices;

extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs;

expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program;

new requirements to report certain financial arrangements with physicians and certain others, including reporting “transfers of value” made or distributed to prescribers and other healthcare providers and reporting investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;

a new requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; and

a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.

88


In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. These changes include the Budget Control Act of 2011, which, among other things, led to aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year starting in 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, the reductions will stay in effect through 2025 unless additional congressional action is taken, and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These new laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used. Further, there have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries and proposed state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, reduce the costs of drugs under Medicare and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drug products.

We expect that these healthcare reforms, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, new payment methodologies and additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product and/or the level of reimbursement physicians receive for administering any approved product we might bring to market. Reductions in reimbursement levels may negatively impact the prices we receive or the frequency with which our products are prescribed or administered. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. Since enactment of the ACA, there have been numerous legal challenges and Congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the ACA. In May 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation known as the American Health Care Act of 2017. Thereafter, the Senate Republicans introduced and then updated a bill to replace the ACA known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, and in the U.S. Senate a number of measures have been proposed and considered, but none has been passed.

The current Administration has also taken executive actions to undermine or delay implementation of the ACA. In January 2017, an executive order was issued directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. In October 2017, a second executive order was issued allowing for the use of association health plans and short-term health insurance, which may provide fewer health benefits than the plans sold through the ACA exchanges. At the same time, the Administration announced that it will discontinue the payment of cost-sharing reduction, or CSR, payments to insurance companies until Congress approves the appropriation of funds for such CSR payments. The loss of the CSR payments is expected to increase premiums on certain policies issued by qualified health plans under the ACA. A bill to appropriate funds for CSR payments was introduced in the Senate, but the future of that bill is uncertain.

More recently, with enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, in December 2017, Congress repealed the “individual mandate.” The repeal of this provision, which requires most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, will become effective in 2019. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the repeal of the individual mandate will cause 13 million fewer Americans to be insured in 2027 and premiums in insurance markets may rise. Further, each chamber of Congress has put forth multiple bills designed to repeal or repeal and replace portions of the ACA. Although none of these measures has been enacted by Congress to date, Congress may consider other legislation to repeal and replace elements of the ACA.

We will continue to evaluate the effect that the ACA and its possible repeal and replacement could have on our business. It is possible that repeal and replacement initiatives, if enacted into law, could ultimately result in fewer individuals having health insurance coverage or in individuals having insurance coverage with less generous benefits. Accordingly, such reforms, if enacted, could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from product candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain marketing approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop commercialize product candidates. While the timing and scope of any potential future legislation to repeal and replace ACA provisions is highly uncertain in many respects, it is also possible that some of the ACA provisions that generally are not favorable for the research-based pharmaceutical

89


industry could also be repealed along with ACA coverage expansion provisions. At this point, healthcare reform and its impacts on the Company are highly uncertain in many respects.

Additional changes that may affect our business include the expansion of new programs such as Medicare payment for performance initiatives for physicians under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, which will be fully implemented in 2019. At this time, it is unclear how the introduction of the Medicare quality payment program will impact overall physician reimbursement.

We expect that these and other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved drug. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our drugs. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our drug candidates or additional pricing pressures.

The cost of prescription pharmaceuticals in the United States has also been the subject of considerable discussion in the United States, and members of Congress and the Administration have stated that they will address such costs through new legislative and administrative measures. The pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is also subject to governmental control outside the United States. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product candidates to that of other available therapies. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our ability to generate revenues and become profitable could be impaired. In the European Union, similar political, economic and regulatory developments may affect our ability to profitably commercialize our products.

Moreover, legislative and regulatory proposals have also been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. We cannot be sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of our product candidates, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us and any future collaborators to more stringent drug labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements.

We may seek a breakthrough therapy designation for ALRN-6924 or one or more of our other product candidates, we might not receive such designation, and even if we do, such designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

We may seek a breakthrough therapy designation for ALRN-6924 or one or more of our other product candidates. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. For drugs and biologics that have been designated as breakthrough therapies, interaction and communication between the FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens. Drugs designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA may also be eligible for priority review if supported by clinical data at the time the NDA is submitted to the FDA.

Designation as a breakthrough therapy is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe thatpatent covering one of our product candidates, meets the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy,defendant could counterclaim that the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation. Even if we receive breakthrough therapy designation, the receipt of such designation for apatent covering our product candidate, as applicable, is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the U.S., defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace, and there are numerous grounds upon which a third-party can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. Third parties may notalso raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the U.S. or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, inter partes review, post grant review and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (e.g., opposition proceedings). Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment to our patents in such a faster development or regulatory review or approval process compared to drugs considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if one or more of our product candidates qualify as

90


breakthrough therapies, the FDA may later decideway that the product candidatesthey no longer meet the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened.

We may seek fast track designation for ALRN-6924 or one or more of our other product candidates, but we might not receive such designation, and even if we do, such designation may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

If a drug is intended for the treatment of a serious condition and nonclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical need for this condition, a drug sponsor may apply for FDA fast track designation. If we seek fast track designation for a product candidate, we may not receive it from the FDA. However, even if we receive fast track designation, fast track designation does not ensure that we will receive marketing approval or that approval will be granted within any particular timeframe. We may not experience a faster development or regulatory review or approval process with fast track designation compared to conventional FDA procedures. In addition, the FDA may withdraw fast track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Fast track designation alone does not guarantee qualification for the FDA’s priority review procedures.

We may seek priority review designation for ALRN-6924 or one or more of our other product candidates, but we might not receive such designation, and even if we do, such designation may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

If the FDA determines that a product candidate offers a treatment for a serious condition and, if approved, the product would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness, the FDA may designate the product candidate for priority review. A priority review designation means that the goal for the FDA to review an application is six months, rather than the standard review period of ten months. We may request priority review forcover our product candidates. The FDA has broad discretion withoutcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to whether the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which we, our patent counsel and

81


the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or not to grant priority review status to a product candidate, so evenunenforceability, or if we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for such designation or status, the FDA may decide notare otherwise unable to grant it. Moreover, a priority review designation does not necessarily mean a faster development or regulatory review or approval process or necessarily confer any advantage with respect to approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. Receiving priority review from the FDA does not guarantee approval within the six-month review cycle oradequately protect our rights, we would lose at all.

Our relationships with healthcare providers, physiciansleast part, and third-party payors will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to penalties, including criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.

Our relationships with healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors will subject us to additional healthcare statutory and regulatory requirements and enforcement by the federal government and the states and foreign governments in which we conduct our business. Our future arrangements with healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors and patients may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we market, sell and distribute our products for which we obtain marketing approval. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations include the following:

Anti-Kickback Statute—the federal anti-kickback statute prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation or arranging of, any good, facility, item or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, by a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

False Claims Act—the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the civil False Claims Act, and civil monetary penalties laws, which prohibit individuals or entities from, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment that are false, fictitious or fraudulent or knowingly making, using or causing to made or used a false record or statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government;

91


HIPAA—the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created additional federal criminal laws that prohibit, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;

HIPAA Privacy Provisions—as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and their respective implementing regulations, including the Final Omnibus Rule published in January 2013, which impose obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information

Transparency Requirements—the federal transparency requirements known as the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the Affordable Care Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, information related to payments and other transfers of value made by that entity to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;

Analogous State and Foreign Laws—analogous state and foreign fraud and abuse laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, can apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services and are reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers.

Some state laws require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government and require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and pricing information. State and foreign laws also govern the privacy and security of health information in some circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, imprisonment, exclusion of drugs from government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Although effective compliance programs can mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution for violations of these laws, these risks cannot be entirely eliminated. Any action against us for an alleged or suspected violation could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and could divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business, even if our defense is successful. If anyperhaps all, of the physicians or other healthcare providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found to be not in compliance with applicable laws, it may be costly to us in termspatent protection on our product candidates. Such a loss of money, time and resources, and they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government-funded healthcare programs.

Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements, which could cause significant liability for us and harm our reputation.

We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct, including intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations or similar regulations of comparable foreign regulatory authorities, provide accurate information to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, comply with manufacturing standards we may establish, comply with federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations and similar laws and regulations established and enforced by comparable foreign regulatory authorities, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices.

92


These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws, standards or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actionspatent protection could have a significantmaterial adverse impact on our business and our ability to commercialize or license our technology and product candidates.

Changes in patent law in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.

Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the U.S. could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. Assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 16, 2013, in the U.S., the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the U.S., the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. On March 16, 2013, under America Invents Act, the U.S. transitioned to a first inventor to file system in which, assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. A third party that files a patent application in the USPTO on or after March 16, 2013, but before us could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we had made the invention before it was made by such third party. This will require us to be cognizant of the time from invention to filing of a patent application. Since patent applications in the U.S. and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to either (i) file any patent application related to our product candidates or (ii) invent any of the inventions claimed in our or our licensor’s patents or patent applications.

The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in U.S. federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our owned or in-licensed patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our owned or in-licensed issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, includingand prospects.

In addition, the impositionpatent positions of significant fines or other sanctions.

If we failcompanies in the development and commercialization of biopharmaceuticals are particularly uncertain. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. This combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to comply with environmental, healththe validity and safetyenforceability of patents, once obtained. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations wegoverning patents could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costschange in unpredictable ways that could have a material adverse effect on our business.existing patent portfolio and our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property in the future.

We are subjecthave limited foreign intellectual property rights and may not be able to numerous environmental, healthprotect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

We have limited intellectual property rights outside the U.S. Filing, prosecuting and safetydefending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the U.S. can be less extensive than those in the U.S. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and regulations, includingstate laws in the U.S. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the U.S., or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the U.S. or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection but where enforcement is not as strong as that in the U.S. These products may compete with our products in

82


jurisdictions where we do not have any issued patents and our patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of, and may require a compulsory license to, patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, particularly those governing laboratory proceduresrelating to biopharmaceutical products, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products against third parties in violation of our proprietary rights generally. The initiation of proceedings by third parties to challenge the scope or validity of our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the handling, use, storage, treatmentdamages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Patent terms may be inadequate to protect our competitive position on our product candidates for an adequate amount of time.

Patents have a limited lifespan. In the U.S., if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest U.S. non-provisional filing date. Various extensions such as patent term adjustments and/or extensions, may be available, but the life of a patent, and disposalthe protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering our product candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired, we may be open to competition from competitive products. Given the amount of hazardous materials and wastes. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste products. We generally contract with third partiestime required for the disposaldevelopment, testing and regulatory review of these materialsnew product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties.

Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurancelicensed patent portfolio may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities.us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to ours. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposalhave a license to one U.S. patent from the Board of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological materials.

In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or commercialization efforts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.

Laws and regulations governing any international operations we may have in the future may preclude us from developing, manufacturing and selling certain product candidates outsideRegents of the United States and require usUniversity of Texas System directed to develop and implement costly compliance programs.

Ifmethods of using intrapleural single chain urokinase plasminogen activator, or scuPA, polypeptide for decreasing the severity of pleural scarring, which is expected to expire in 2024 without patent term extension. We cannot assure that once the patent life has expired, we expand our operations outsidewill not face competition from competitive products. Given the limited patent life, we will be relying on the 12 years of data exclusivity provided under the United States, we must comply with numerous laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which we plan to operate. The creation and implementation of international business practices compliance programs is costly and such programs are difficult to enforce, particularly where reliance on third parties is required.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering, authorizing payment or offering of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to comply with certain accounting provisions requiring the company to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions of the corporation, including international subsidiaries, and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations. The anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA are enforced primarily by the DOJ. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, is involved with enforcement of the books and records provisions of the FCPA.

93


Compliance with the FCPA is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, the FCPA presents particular challenges in the pharmaceutical industry, because, in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and other hospital employees are considered foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals in connection with clinical trials and other work have been deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions.

Various laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the United States, or the sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals, of information classified for national security purposes,BPCIA, as well as certain productsthe complexity of the manufacturing process of LTI-01. There can be no assurance that BPCIA product protection will be available if LTI-01 is approved, or the company will be able to maintain the confidentiality of its trade secrets and technical data relating to those products. know-how in its manufacturing process.

If we expand our presence outside of the United States, it will require us to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws,do not obtain patent term extension and these laws may preclude us from developing, manufacturing, or selling certain drugs anddata exclusivity for any product candidates outsidewe may develop, our business may be materially harmed.

Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of the United States, which could limitany FDA marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop, one or more of our growth potential and increase our development costs.

The failure to comply with laws governing international business practicesU.S. patents may result in substantial penalties, including suspension or debarment from government contracting. Violation of the FCPA can result in significant civil and criminal penalties. Indictment alonebe eligible for limited patent term extension under the FCPA can leadDrug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Action of 1984 Hatch-Waxman Amendments, or the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent extension term of up to suspension offive years as compensation for patent term lost during the right to do business withFDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the U.S. government until the pending claims are resolved. Convictionremaining term of a violationpatent beyond a total of 14 years from the FCPA can result in long-term disqualification asdate of product approval, only one patent may be extended and only those claims covering the approved drug, a government contractor. The terminationmethod for using it, or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. However, we may not be granted an extension because of, a government contractfor example, failing to exercise due diligence during the testing phase or relationship as a resultregulatory review process, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of our failurerelevant patents, or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, our competitors may obtain approval of competing products following our obligations under laws governing internationalpatent expiration, and our business, practices would have a negative impactfinancial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially harmed.

83


If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected.

Our trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names or may be forced to stop using these names, which we need for name recognition by potential partners or customers in our markets of interest. If we are unable to establish name recognition based on our operationstrademarks and harmtrade names, we may not be able to compete effectively, and our reputation and ability to procure government contracts. The SEC alsobusiness may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for violations of the FCPA’s accounting provisions.be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Employee Matters and Managing Growth

Our future success depends on our ability to retain our President and Chief Executive Officer, our Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and other key executives and to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.

We are highly dependent on Joseph A. Yanchik III, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Manuel Aivado, M.D., Ph.D., our Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, as well as the other principal members of our management and scientific teams. Our agreements with Mr. Yanchik and Dr. Aivado do not prevent them from terminating their employment with us at any time. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or other employees. The loss of the services of any of these persons could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives.

Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, manufacturing and sales and marketing personnel will also be critical to our success. We may not be able to attract and retain these personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. We also experience competition for the hiring of scientific and clinical personnel from universities and research institutions. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us.

We expect to expand our development and regulatory capabilities and potentially our sales and marketing capabilities, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could disruptadversely affect our operations.

We expectAs our clinical development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, we will need to experience significant growth in the number ofexpand our employeesmanagerial, clinical, regulatory, sales, marketing, financial, development, manufacturing and the scope oflegal capabilities or contract with third parties to provide these capabilities for us. As our operations particularlyexpand, we expect that we will need to manage additional relationships with various strategic collaborators, suppliers and other third parties. Our future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including, but not limited to:

identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining and motivating additional employees;
managing our development and commercialization efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process for LTI-03, LTI-01 and any other product candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and
improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures.

Our ability to continue to develop and, if approved, commercialize our product candidates will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth. Our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities.

We currently rely, and for the areasforeseeable future will continue to rely, in substantial part on certain independent organizations, advisors and consultants to provide certain services, including contract manufacturers and companies focused on research and development activities. There can be no assurance that the services of drug development, clinical operations, regulatory affairsindependent organizations, advisors and potentially, sales and marketing. Toconsultants will continue to be available to us on a timely basis when needed, or that we can find qualified replacements. In addition, if we are unable to effectively manage our anticipated future growth, we must continue to implementoutsourced activities or if the quality, accuracy or quantity of the services provided is compromised for any reason, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, 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 expansionobtain, or may be substantially delayed in obtaining, regulatory approval of our operationsproduct candidates or otherwise advance our business. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our existing consultants or find other competent outside contractors and consultants on economically reasonable terms, or at all.

If we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and contractors, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop and commercialize LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development and commercialization goals.

We may acquire additional technology and complementary businesses in the future. Acquisitions involve many risks, any of which could materially harm our business, including the diversion of management’s attention from core business concerns, failure to effectively exploit acquired technologies, failure to successfully integrate the acquired business or realize expected synergies or the loss of key employees from either our business or the acquired businesses.

If we lose key management personnel or consultants, or if we fail to recruit additional highly skilled personnel, our ability to develop current product candidates or identify and train additionaldevelop new product candidates will be impaired, could result in loss of markets or market share and could make us less competitive.

84


Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel.managerial, scientific and medical personnel and consultants. We are highly dependent on our management, scientific and medical personnel and consultants. The physical expansionloss of the services of any of our operations may leadexecutive officers, other key employees, and other scientific and medical advisors and consultants, and our inability to significant costsfind suitable replacements could result in delays in product development and harm our business. Competition for skilled personnel in our industry is intense and may divertlimit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all.

To induce valuable employees to remain at our company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have provided stock options that vest over time. The value to employees of stock options that vest over time may be significantly affected by movements in our stock price that are beyond our control and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies. Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management, scientific and development teams may terminate their employment with us on short notice. Our key employees are at-will employees, which means that any of our key employees could leave our employment at any time, with or without notice. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled junior, mid-level and senior scientific and medical personnel and consultants.

Our internal computer systems, or those of our vendors or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.

Although we attempt to secure our systems and have a process to identify and mitigate threats, our internal computer systems and those of our current and any future vendors and other contractors or consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, ransomware attacks and other malicious behavior, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we have not experienced any such material system failure, accident, attack or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a disruption of our development programs and our business development resources. Anyoperations, whether due to a loss of our trade secrets or other proprietary information, inability to access critical systems and applications, or other similar disruptions. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption, attack or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur costs of notification to individuals, regulators and other third parties, remediation costs, liability to our customers or third parties and/or regulatory fines and penalties, our competitive position could be harmed, and the further development and commercialization of our product candidates could be delayed.

We could be subject to risks caused by misappropriation, misuse, leakage, falsification or intentional or accidental release or loss of information maintained in the information systems and networks of our company and our vendors, including personal information of our employees and study subjects, and company and vendor confidential data. In addition, outside parties may attempt to penetrate our systems or those of our vendors or fraudulently induce our personnel or the personnel of our vendors to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our data and/or systems. We may experience threats to our data and systems, including malicious codes and viruses, phishing, ransomware and other cyberattack. The number and complexity of these threats continue to increase over time. If a material breach of, or accidental or intentional loss of data from, our information technology systems or those of our vendors occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed and our reputation and credibility could be damaged. We could be required to expend significant amounts of money and other resources to respond to an incident and repair or replace information systems or networks. In addition, we could be subject to regulatory actions and/or claims made by individuals and groups in private litigation involving privacy issues related to data collection and use practices and other data privacy laws and regulations, including claims for misuse or inappropriate disclosure of data, failure to use reasonable measures to safeguard data, violation of state laws protecting the confidentiality, privacy and integrity of personal information and health-related information, as well as unfair or deceptive practices. Although we develop and maintain systems and controls designed to prevent these events from occurring, and we have a process to identify and mitigate threats, the development and maintenance of these systems, controls and processes is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures become increasingly sophisticated. Moreover, despite our efforts, the possibility of these events occurring cannot be eliminated entirely. As we outsource more of our information systems to vendors, engage in more electronic transactions with payors and patients, and rely more on cloud-based information systems, the related

85


security risks will increase, and we will need to expend additional resources to protect our own technology and information systems and manage growthpotential security risks associated with our vendors. In addition, there can be no assurance that our internal information technology systems or those of our third-party vendors, or our and our vendors’ efforts to implement adequate security and control measures, will be sufficient to protect us against breakdowns, service disruption, data deterioration or loss in the event of a system malfunction, or prevent data from being stolen or corrupted or the company being subject to attempted extortion in the event of a cyberattack or ransomware attack, security breach, industrial espionage attacks or insider threat attacks which could delayresult in financial, legal, business or reputational harm.

We or the executionthird parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by natural disasters and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster, including outbreak of disease or other natural disasters.

Any unplanned event, such as flood, fire, explosion, extreme weather condition, medical epidemics, power shortage, telecommunication failure or other natural or manmade accidents or incidents that result in us being unable to fully utilize our facilities, or the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, may have a material and adverse effect on our ability to operate our business, particularly on a daily basis, and have significant negative consequences on our financial and operating conditions. Loss of access to these facilities may result in increased costs, delays in the development of our product candidates or interruption of our business plans oroperations. Natural disasters could further disrupt our operations.operations and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as our research facilities or the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible, for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time.

Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

94Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. Portions of our future clinical trials may be conducted outside of the U.S. and unfavorable economic conditions resulting in the weakening of the U.S. dollar would make those clinical trials more costly to operate. Furthermore, the most recent global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, including due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including a reduced ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy or international trade disputes could also strain our suppliers, some of which are located outside of the U.S., possibly resulting in supply disruption. Any of the foregoing could harm our business and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.


Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our executive officersIf we fail to maintain compliance with the requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, our common stock could be delisted from trading, which would adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.

In the past we have received written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market, or Nasdaq, informing us that we were not in compliance with certain continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. As previously disclosed, on December 16, 2021, we received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq notifying us that, for the last 30 consecutive business days, the bid price for our common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), or the Bid Price Rule. On June 7, 2022, we received notification from Nasdaq notifying us that we were provided an additional 180 calendar day period or until December 5, 2022 to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.

We completed a 1-for-20 reverse stock split on our common stock on November 10, 2022. We regained compliance with the Bid Price Rule after the closing bid price of our common stock was above $1.00 per share for 10

86


consecutive business days from November 11, 2022 to November 25, 2022. On November 28, 2022, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that we had regained compliance with the Bid Price Rule and we have remained in compliance.

In addition, on January 4, 2024, we received written notice, or the Notice, from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq stating that we failed to hold our annual meeting of shareholders within twelve months after our fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(a), or the Annual Meeting Listing Rule. The Notice does not result in the immediate delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

The Notice stated that we have 45 calendar days, or until February 20, 2024, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Listing Rule. On January 31, 2024, we submitted a plan (which conveyed our intention to hold our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders on February 28, 2024) to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Listing Rule within the required time frame. On February 20, 2024, we were notified that Nasdaq had accepted our plan and granted us an extension until February 28, 2024 to regain compliance. On February 28, 2024, we held our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and on February 29, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that we had regained compliance with the Annual Meeting Listing Rule and we have remained in compliance.

Furthermore, in connection with the Lung Acquisition, we issued 19,903 shares of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock, which are convertible into an aggregate of 19,903,000 shares of our common stock. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5110(a) provides that a company must apply for initial listing in connection with a transaction whereby a company combines with a non-Nasdaq entity, resulting in a change of control of such company and potentially allowing the non-Nasdaq entity to effectively obtain Nasdaq listing. In determining whether a change of control has occurred, Nasdaq considers all relevant factors including, changes in management, board of directors, voting power, ownership and entities associated or affiliatedfinancing structure of the company. If Nasdaq does not agree with our executive officersdetermination that the Lung Acquisition and directorsthe issuance of shares of our common stock and Series X Preferred Stock pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement did not result in a change of control, we will be in violation of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5110(a) and our common stock could be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

There can be no assurance that we will continue to maintain compliance with the requirements for listing our common stock on Nasdaq. Any potential delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market would likely result in decreased liquidity and increased volatility for our common stock and would adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital or to enter into strategic transactions. Any potential delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market would also make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell our common stock in the public market.

An active trading market for our common stock may havenot be sustained.

Our shares of common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Global Market on June 29, 2017, and transferred to The Nasdaq Capital Market, effective December 30, 2019. Given the limited trading history of our common stock, there is a risk that an active trading market for our shares may not be sustained, which could put downward pressure on the market price of our common stock and thereby affect the ability of stockholders to sell their shares. An inactive trading market for our common stock may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund our operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using our shares as consideration.

If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. If few analysts commence, or if analysts discontinue, coverage of us, the trading price of our stock would likely decrease. If one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.

The price of our stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

87


The trading price of our common stock is highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including limited trading volume. These factors include:

the enrollment or results of our current Phase 1b clinical trial of LTI-03;
any delay in identifying and advancing a clinical candidate for our other development programs;
any delay in our regulatory filings for LTI-03, LTI-01 or our other product candidates and any adverse development or perceived adverse development with respect to the applicable regulatory authority’s review of such filings, including without limitation the FDA’s issuance of a “refusal to file” letter or a request for additional information;
adverse results or delays in future clinical trials;
our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate an existing clinical trial;
adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate;
changes in laws or regulations applicable to LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals;
adverse developments concerning our manufacturers;
our inability to obtain adequate product supply for any approved product or inability to do so at acceptable prices;
our inability to establish collaborations, if needed;
our failure to commercialize our product candidates, if approved;
additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel;
unanticipated serious safety concerns related to the use of LTI-03, LTI-01 or any other product candidate;
introduction of new products or services offered by us or our competitors;
announcements of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by us or our competitors;
our ability to effectively manage our growth;
actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
our cash position;
our failure to meet, or actual or anticipated changes in, the estimates and projections as to financial results, development timelines or recommendations of the investment community or that we may otherwise provide to the public;
publication of research reports about us or our industry, or product candidates in particular, or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts;
changes in the market valuations of similar companies;
changes in the structure of the healthcare payment systems;
market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;
overall performance of the equity markets;
sales of our common stock by us or our stockholders in the future;
trading volume of our common stock;
changes in accounting practices;

88


ineffectiveness of our internal controls;
disputes or other developments relating to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain patent protection for our technologies;
significant lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation;
general political and economic conditions;
the level of expenses related to our product candidates or clinical development programs;
investors’ general perception of us and our business; and
other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control.

In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. This type of litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.

We could be subject to securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because pharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and our resources, which could harm our business.

We are a “smaller reporting company” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are a smaller reporting company, and we will remain a smaller reporting company until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. Smaller reporting companies are able to provide simplified executive compensation disclosure and have certain other reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, being required to provide only two years of audited financial statements and not being required to provide selected financial data, supplemental financial information or risk factors.

We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced reporting obligations. Investors may find our common stock less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We have incurred and will continue to incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.

As a public company we have incurred and we will continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of The Nasdaq Global Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs, and make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

89


These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.

Changes in tax laws or in their implementation or interpretation may adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Changes in tax law may adversely affect our business or financial condition. The TCJA, as amended by the CARES Act, significantly influence all matters submittedreformed the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. The TCJA, among other things, contained significant changes to stockholderscorporate taxation, including a reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21% and, the limitation of the deduction for approval.net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and the elimination of loss carrybacks for losses arising in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 (though any such net operating losses may be carried forward indefinitely). The CARES Act delayed the 80% net operating loss limitation and allowed losses to be carried back five years for net operating losses generated in years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before December 1, 2021. In addition, beginning in 2022, the TCJA eliminated the option to deduct research and development expenditures currently and requires corporations to capitalize and amortize them over five years.

In addition to the CARES Act, as part of Congress’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic relief legislation has been enacted in 2020 and 2021 containing tax provisions. The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, was also signed into law in August 2022. The IRA introduced new tax provisions, including a 1% excise tax imposed on certain stock repurchases by publicly traded corporations. The 1% excise tax generally applies to any acquisition by the publicly traded corporation (or certain of its affiliates) of stock of the publicly traded corporation in exchange for money or other property (other than stock of the corporation itself), subject to a de minimis exception. Thus, the excise tax could apply to certain transactions that are not traditional stock repurchases.

Regulatory guidance under the TCJA, the IRA, and such additional legislation is and continues to be forthcoming, and such guidance could ultimately increase or lessen impact of these laws on our business and financial condition. In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the TCJA, the IRA, and additional tax legislation.

We might not be able to utilize a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2017,2023, we had federal net operating loss carryforwards of $56.5 million, of which $2.9 million will, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2036. As of December 31, 2023, we had state net operating carryforwards of $8.2 million, which will, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2043. Our federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of $1.1 million will, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2035. We also have federal orphan drug tax credit carryforwards of $6.7 million which begin to expire in 2039. These net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. We have a history of cumulative losses and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future; thus, we do not know whether or when we will generate taxable income necessary to utilize our executive officersnet operating losses or research and development tax credit carryforwards.

We have a history of cumulative losses and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses in the foreseeable future; thus, we do not know whether or when we will generate taxable income necessary to utilize our net operating losses or research and development tax credit carryforwards.

In addition, as described above in “Changes in tax laws or in their implementation or interpretation may adversely affect our business and financial condition,” the TCJA, as amended by the CARES Act, includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates and the rules governing net operating loss carryforwards that may significantly impact our ability to utilize our net operating losses to offset taxable income in the future.

90


Furthermore, under Section 382 of the Code and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” which is generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. As a result of the Company’s acquisition of Lung Therapeutics, the tax attributes have been limited under Section 382. The Company has reflected the reduction of these tax attributes within the income tax footnote at December 31, 2023.

There is also a risk that due to regulatory changes, such as suspensions on the use of net operating losses, or other unforeseen reasons, our existing net operating losses could expire or otherwise become unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. In addition, state net operating losses generated in one state cannot be used to offset income generated in another state. For these reasons, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our net operating losses and other tax attributes.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock so any returns will be limited to the value of our stock.

We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, future debt or other financing arrangements may contain terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our common stock. Any return to stockholders will therefore be limited to the appreciation of their stock.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the market at any time, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. As of April 12, 2024, we had 16,972,512 shares of common stock outstanding and 12,523 shares of our Series X Preferred Stock outstanding, which were convertible into 12,523,000 shares of common stock, subject to beneficial ownership limitations.

Concurrently and in connection with the execution of the Lung Acquisition Agreement, our directors and officers as of immediately after the Lung Acquisition, and the directors and officers of the majority shareholder of Lung immediately prior to the Lung Acquisition, entered into lock-up agreements with us, pursuant to which each such director, officer or stockholder is subject to a 180-day lockup on the sale or transfer of shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock (including without limitation, shares of common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by each such director, officer or stockholder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and our securities which may be issued upon exercise of an option to purchase shares of common stock or a warrant to purchase shares of common stock) that were held by each such director, officer or stockholder at the closing of the Lung Acquisition and hereafter owned by each such director, officer or stockholder, including those shares issued in the Lung Acquisition, subject to certain customary exceptions. Upon expiration of this 180-day lockup period, these shares will become eligible for sale in the public market.

On the closing of the Financing, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investors. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we filed a resale registration statement with the SEC on January 29, 2024, which was declared effective on February 5, 2024. The shares subject to the resale registration statement no longer constitute restricted securities and may be sold freely in the public markets, subject to lapse on any related contractual restrictions related thereto of any Investor and subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates.

We have also registered all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans, including upon exercise of outstanding options. These shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates.

91


Assuming the conversion of all outstanding Series X Preferred Stock and the exercise of outstanding Warrants, there is a concentration of ownership of our outstanding common stock by one group of affiliated stockholders. If this group chooses to act together, it could exert substantial influence over our business, and the interests of this group may conflict with those of other stockholders.

As of April 12, 2024, entities associated and individuals affiliated with our executive officers and directors, inBios Partners, or collectively, the aggregate,Bios Entities, beneficially own shares representing 32%owned 9.99% of our outstanding common stock. AsThis ownership percentage does not, due to certain restrictions on conversion and exercisability, take into account the issuance of all shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock or upon exercise of the Warrants issued to the Bios Entities in the Financing.

The Certificate of Designation for the Series X Preferred Stock provides that any holder of Series X Preferred Stock will not have a right to convert, subject to certain exceptions, the Series X Preferred Stock for our common stock if, as a result if these stockholders wereof such conversion, the holder, together with its affiliates and other attribution parties, would hold 19.99% of the total number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, subject to choosedecrease upon written notice by the holder. Similarly, under the terms of the Warrants a holder shall not have the right to actexercise any portion of any Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the holder (together with its affiliates and any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of its affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of a percentage elected by the holder up to 19.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. Assuming the conversion of all outstanding Series X Preferred Stock and the exercise of all outstanding warrants, options and any other rights to acquire our common stock, and without giving effect to the foregoing beneficial ownership limitations on Series X Preferred Stock and the Warrants, the Bios Entities would, as of April 12, 2024, own 45.8% of our common stock on a fully diluted basis.

If any of the Bios Entities acted together, they could be able to exert substantial influence over our business. Additionally, the interests of the Bios Entities may havebe different from or conflict with the ability to significantly influence all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs. For example, these persons, if they choose to act together, could significantly influence the election of directors and approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially allinterests of our assets.other stockholders. This concentration of voting power with the Bios Entities could delay, defer, or prevent a change of control, entrench our management and the Board of Directors, or delay or prevent an acquisition of our companya merger, consolidation, takeover, or other business combination involving us on terms that other stockholders may desire. In addition, conflicts of interest could arise in the future between us, on the one hand, and the Bios Entities on the other hand, concerning potential competitive business activities, business opportunities, the issuance of additional securities and other matters.

Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of us that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for shares of common stock. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. In addition, because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Among other things, these provisions:

establish a classified board of directors such that not all members of the board are elected at one time;

allow the authorized number of our directors to be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;

limit the manner in which stockholders can remove directors from the board;

establish advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings and nominations to our board of directors;

require that stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called stockholder meeting and prohibit actions by our stockholders by written consent;

92


limit who may call stockholder meetings;

authorize our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to institute a “poison pill” that would work to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer, effectively preventing acquisitions that have not been approved by our board of directors; and

require the approval of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast to amend or repeal certain provisions of our charter or bylaws.

Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

An active trading market for our common stock may not be sustained.

Our shares of common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Global Market June 29, 2017. Given the limited trading history of our common stock, there is a risk that an active trading market for our shares may not be sustained, which could put downward pressure on the market price of our common stock and thereby affect the ability of stockholders to sell their shares. An inactive trading market for our common stock may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund our operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using our shares as consideration.

95


If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. If few analysts commence, or if analysts discontinue, coverage of us, the trading price of our stock would likely decrease. If one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.

The price of our common stock is volatile and may fluctuate substantially, which could result in substantial losses for our stockholders.

Our stock price is volatile. During the period from June 28, 2017 to March 26, 2018, the closing price of our common stock ranged from a high of $14.91 per share to a low of $7.61 per share. The stock market in general and the market for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, our stockholders may not be able to sell their shares at or above the price they paid for their shares. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:

the timing and results of clinical trials of ALRN-6924 and any of our other product candidates;

regulatory actions with respect to our product candidates or our competitors’ products and product candidates;

the success of existing or new competitive products or technologies;

announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, collaborations or capital commitments;

establishment or termination of collaborations for our product candidates or development programs;

failure or discontinuation of any of our development programs;

results of clinical trials of product candidates of our competitors;

regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries;

developments or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents or other proprietary rights;

the recruitment or departure of key personnel;

the level of expenses related to any of our product candidates or development programs;

the results of our efforts to discover, develop, acquire or in-license additional product candidates or products;

actual or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results or development timelines;

announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts;

sales of our common stock by us, our insiders or other stockholders;

variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;

changes in estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, if any, that cover our stock;

changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;

market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;

general economic, industry and market conditions; and

the other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section.

96


We could be subject to securities class action litigation.

In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because pharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock price volatility in recent years. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and our resources, which could harm our business.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We may remain an emerging growth company until December 31, 2022, or until such earlier time as we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue, the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million or we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Investors may find our common stock less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.

As a public company, we incur, and particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we will incur, significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq have imposed various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. We have had to hire additional accounting, finance, and other personnel in connection with our becoming a public company, and our efforts to comply with the requirements of being a public company, and our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements. These requirements increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

Pursuant to Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting, and after we are no longer an emerging growth company, we will be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we are engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. There is a risk that neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm will be able to conclude within the prescribed timeframe that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. This could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.

97


We might not be able to utilize a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2017, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $129.6 million and $125.8 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 2029 and 2030, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, we had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $2.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 2025. These net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. Under the newly enacted federal income tax law, federal net operating losses incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal net operating losses is limited. It is uncertain how various states will respond to the newly enacted federal tax law.

In addition, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” which is generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We have not conducted a study to assess whether we have experienced Section 382 ownership changes in the past and if a portion of our net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are subject to an annual limitation under Section 382. In addition, we may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may be outside of our control. If we determine that an ownership change has occurred at any time since our inception and our ability to use our historical net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards is materially limited, it would harm our future operating results by effectively increasing our future tax obligations.

Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock for the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be our stockholders’ sole source of gain.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be our stockholders’ sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.

A significant portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the market at any time, which could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. As of March 26, 2018, we had 14,734,383 shares of common stock outstanding. The holders of an aggregate of approximately 10.5 million shares of our common stock have rights, subject to conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. We have registered all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans, including upon exercise of outstanding options. These shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates.

Our certificate of incorporation designates the state courts in the State of Delaware or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal court for the District of Delaware, as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could discourage lawsuits against the company and our directors, officers and employees.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or employees to our company or our stockholders, any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine. We do not expect this choice of forum provision will apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. This exclusive forum provision may limit the ability of our stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find

98


favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Risk Management and Strategy

We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, with no commercial operations or revenue streams and our sole business activity has been ongoing research into our drug therapies. We assess material risks from cybersecurity threats on an ongoing basis, including any potential unauthorized occurrence on or conducted through our information systems that may result in adverse effects on the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information systems or any information residing therein. As our company grows, we plan to expand our strategy for cybersecurity in alignment with nationally accepted standards. We have not encountered cybersecurity risks that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us or our business strategy. For additional information regarding risks from cybersecurity threats, please refer to Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Governance

Our management and board of directors recognize the critical importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of our business partners and employees, including the importance of managing cybersecurity risks as part of our larger risk management program. While all of our personnel play a part in managing cybersecurity risks, one of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process, including risks from cybersecurity threats. Our board of directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, and

93


our executive officers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the material risks that we face. Our Audit Committee, comprised of members with substantial experience in information technology governance and risk management, oversees our cybersecurity strategy. They are advised by a virtual CISO consultant with Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP certifications, as well as extensive background in IT infrastructure, risk mitigation, and incident response planning. In general, we seek to address cybersecurity risks through a cross-functional approach that is focused on preserving the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information that we collect and store by identifying, preventing, and mitigating cybersecurity threats and effectively responding to cybersecurity incidents when they occur.

Item 2. Properties.Properties

We occupy approximately 7,400 rentableLung Therapeutics LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, leased a facility containing 6,455 square feet of office space, which is located at 3801 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Suite 330, Austin, Texas. The lease expired on March 31, 2024. We do not plan to renew the lease following its expiration and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts under a lease that expires in May 2018. We expectplan to lease space in a new facility in 2018.operate virtually.

We are not currently subjecta party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have a material adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement, costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.Disclosures

Not Applicable.

94


PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.Securities

Priced Range of Our Common Stock

Our common stock trades under the symbol “ALRN” on the Nasdaq GlobalCapital Market and has been publicly traded since June 29, 2017. Prior to this time, there was no public market for our common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low sales price of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market for the periods indicated:

 

 

High

 

 

Low

 

Year ended December 31, 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Quarter (from June 29, 2017 to June 30, 2017)

 

$

14.00

 

 

$

10.37

 

Third Quarter (July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017)

 

$

14.66

 

 

$

11.10

 

Fourth Quarter (October 1, 2017 to December 31,

  2017)

 

$

15.48

 

 

$

8.77

 

Holders of Our Common Stock

As of March 26, 2018,April 12, 2024, there were approximately 55holders467 holders of record of shares of our common stock. This number does not include stockholders for whom shares are held in “nominee” or “street” name.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends in respect of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on restrictions and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. Investors should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

Stock Performance GraphItem 6. [Reserved]

The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities

9995


Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

The following graph compares the performance of our common stock to the Nasdaq Composite Index and to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index from June 29, 2017 (the first date that shares of our common stock were publicly traded) through December 29, 2017, which was the last trading day of the year. The comparison assumes $100 was invested in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices after the market closed on June 29, 2017, and it assumes reinvestment of dividends, if any. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

On July 5, 2017, we closed our initial public offering of 3,750,000 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share for an aggregate offering of $56.3 million. The offer and sale of all of the shares in the offering were registered under the Securities Act pursuant to registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218474), which was declared effective by the SEC on June 28, 2017. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Jefferies LLC acted as joint book-running managers for the offering and as representatives of the underwriters. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Canaccord Genuity Inc. acted as co-managers. The offering commenced on June 28, 2017 and did not terminate until the sale of all of the shares offered.

We received aggregate net proceeds from the offering of $50.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $3.9 million and estimated offering expenses of $2.3 million payable by us. None of the underwriting discounts and commissions or offering expenses were incurred or paid to directors or officers of ours or their associates or to persons owning 10% or more of our common stock or to any affiliates of ours.

We had not used any of the net offering proceeds as of December 31, 2017. We have invested the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments. There has been no material change in our planned use of the net proceeds from the offering as described in our final prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on June 29, 2017.

100


Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

You should read the following selected financial data together with our financial statements and the related notes, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have derived the statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 from our audited financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results that should be expected in any future period.

 

 

Year Ended

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

14,239

 

 

 

10,276

 

 

 

7,832

 

General and administrative

 

 

8,769

 

 

 

7,893

 

 

 

5,059

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

23,008

 

 

 

18,169

 

 

 

12,891

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(23,008

)

 

 

(18,169

)

 

 

(12,891

)

Interest income

 

 

404

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

13

 

Net loss

 

 

(22,604

)

 

 

(18,123

)

 

 

(12,878

)

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred

   stock to redemption value

 

 

(41

)

 

 

(75

)

 

 

(71

)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(22,645

)

 

$

(18,198

)

 

$

(12,949

)

Net loss per share attributable to common

   stockholders—basic and diluted (1)

 

$

(3.04

)

 

$

(42.35

)

 

$

(32.31

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—

   basic and diluted (1)

 

 

7,443,078

 

 

 

429,686

 

 

 

400,713

 

(1)

See Note 11 to our financial statements appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for details on the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders.

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and investments

 

$

50,752

 

 

$

20,715

 

 

$

3,768

 

Working capital (1)

 

 

46,949

 

 

 

17,002

 

 

 

1,477

 

Total assets

 

 

52,688

 

 

 

22,021

 

 

 

5,940

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock (2)

 

 

 

 

 

129,745

 

 

 

97,681

 

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

47,797

 

 

 

(111,806

)

 

 

(94,319

)

(1)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

(2)

Upon the closing of the IPO on July 5, 2017, all shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock then outstanding converted into an aggregate of 10,509,774 shares of common stock.  See Note 7 to our financial statements appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details.

101


Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis are meant to provide material information relevant to an assessment of the financial condition and results of operations of our Company, including an evaluation of the amounts and certainty of cash flows from operations and from outside sources, so as to allow investors to better view our Company from management’s perspective. You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. We discuss factors that we believe could cause or contribute to these differences below and elsewhere in this report, including those set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview and Recent Developments

We are a clinical-stageclinical stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on developing and commercializing a novel class of therapeutics called stapled peptides. Our lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, targets the tumor suppressor p53therapies for the treatment of orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications with no approved or limited effective treatments. We currently have two product candidates in clinical development, LTI-03 and LTI-01, and multiple candidates in preclinical development focused on fibrosis indications. Our pipeline includes:

LTI-03, a wide variety of cancers. ALRN-6924,peptide, for which iswe are currently being tested in multiple clinical trials, reactivates p53-mediated tumor suppression by targeting the two primary p53 suppressor proteins, MDMX and MDM2. Our ongoing clinical trials of ALRN-6924 consist ofrecruiting patients for a Phase 11b dose-ranging, placebo-controlled safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamic biomarker activity trial in development for the treatment of advanced solid tumors or lymphomas, which we referIPF, that has demonstrated the ability to as our Phase 1 All-comers trial,protect healthy lung epithelial cells and reduce pro-fibrotic signaling;
LTI-01, a proenzyme that completed a Phase 2a dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or PTCL, a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and advanced myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, as a monotherapy and a Phase 1b safety, tolerability and proof of mechanism trial in LPE patients, an indication that has no approved drug treatment; and
preclinical programs targeting cystic fibrosis and a peptide program focused on the Cav1 protein for systemic fibrosis indications.

Prior to the treatmenttermination of AML/MDSdevelopment of our main product candidate in combination with cytosine arabinoside, or Ara-C. We believeFebruary 2023 and the acquisition of Lung (as described below), our focus was the development of our main product candidate, ALRN-6924, a MDM2/MDMX dual inhibitor that based on preclinical data and preliminary evidence of safety and anti-tumor activity in our ongoing clinical trials, there may be significant opportunity to develop ALRN-6924 as a monotherapy or combination therapy for a wide variety of solid and liquid tumors. We believe that by usingleveraged our proprietary stapled peptide drug platform,technology. Since our inception, we can develop first-in-class molecules, like ALRN-6924, that contain a novel set of properties. As such, our stapled peptide drugs may be able to address historically undruggable targets and complex mechanisms, such as intracellular protein-protein interactions like p53, that underlie many diseases with high unmet medical need. We believe that stapled peptide therapeutics have the potential to become a major class of drugs, like small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, for oncology and other therapeutic areas, and may significantly improve treatment paradigms and clinical outcomes for patients.

We were incorporated in 2001 and commenced principal operations in 2006. We have devoted substantially alla substantial portion of our resources to developing our product candidates, including ALRN-6924, developing our stapledproprietary stabilized cell-permeating peptide platform, building our intellectual property portfolio, business planning, raising capital and providing general and administrative support for these operations.

Announcement of Exploration of Strategic Alternatives

In February 2023, we announced a review of initial data from our Phase 1b chemoprotection trial of ALRN-6924 in patients with p53-mutated breast cancer. Based on these findings, we decided to terminate the Phase 1b breast cancer trial and further development of ALRN-6924. We also announced that we were exploring a range of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value. We engaged Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc. to act as a strategic advisor for this process. Strategic alternatives that were being evaluated included, but were not limited to, an acquisition, a merger, a business combination, a sale of assets or other transactions. In addition, in February 2023, we determined to reduce our workforce from nine to three full-time employees, which we completed in the second quarter of 2023.

The Lung Acquisition

On June 28, 2017,October 31, 2023, we acquired Lung Therapeutics, Inc., or Lung, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the Lung Acquisition Agreement. Following our registration statement on Form S-1 relatingacquisition of Lung, or the Lung Acquisition, the business conducted by Lung became the business primarily conducted by the Company and we shifted our operating disease focus to our initial public offeringadvancing a pipeline of first-in-class medicines to address significant unmet medical needs in orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications.

96


Under the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement, at the closing of the Lung Acquisition, we issued to the stockholders of Lung 344,345 shares of our common stock and 19,903 shares of our newly designated Series X Preferred Stock. Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of common stock. In addition, we assumed (i) all Lung stock options and all warrants exercisable for Lung common stock immediately outstanding prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, each subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement.

Immediately following the closing of the Lung Acquisition, we entered into a Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, or IPO, was declared effectivethe Purchase Agreement, with a group of accredited investors, or the Investors, led by Bio Partners, the SEC. The IPO closed on July 5, 2017majority stockholder of Lung prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, and including Nantahala Capital, as well as additional undisclosed investors, pursuant to which we issued and sold 3,750,000(i) an aggregate of 4,707 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, and (ii) warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,353,500 shares of common stock, at a public offeringor the Warrant Shares, for an aggregate purchase price of $15.00 per share for net proceedsapproximately $18.4 million, which included the conversion of $50.0certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.6 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $3.9 million and offering expenses of $2.3 million. Uponissued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the IPO, all sharesLung Acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of redeemable convertible preferred stock then outstanding converted into an aggregatethe Series X Preferred Stock,, or the Financing, and collectively with the Lung Acquisition, the Transactions. The Financing closed on November 2, 2023.

On February 28, 2024, we held our 2023 annual meeting of 10,509,774stockholders in which our stockholders approved the issuance, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(a), of shares of common stock.

Priorstock, upon conversion of our outstanding Series X Preferred Stock. Following approval of the conversion of outstanding Series X Preferred Stock, the Company had approximately 29,495,512 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis, which gives effect to the IPO,full conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock as of the date of our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, without regard to beneficial ownership limitations that may limit the ability of certain holders of Series X Preferred Stock to convert such shares to common stock as such time. On March 5, 2024, based upon existing beneficial ownership limitations, 12,087 shares of Series X Preferred Stock were automatically converted into 12,087,075 shares of common stock. The remaining approximately 12,522 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (which are convertible into 12,522,925 shares of common stock) will remain convertible at the option of the holder thereof, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations.

We have not completed the development of any of our product candidates, have not generated any revenue from product sales and have never generated an operating profit.

To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of preferred stock and, to a lesser extent, through payments received under a collaboration agreement. Since our inception through December 31, 2017, we had received $50.0$145.5 million in net proceeds from our IPO,sales of common stock and warrants, $131.2 million from our sales of preferred stock andprior to our IPO, $34.9 million from a collaboration agreement.agreement in 2010, and $18.4 million in gross proceeds, less issuance costs of $0.9 million, in connection with the Financing following the Lung Acquisition, which included the conversion of certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.6 million issued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of the Series X Preferred Stock.

Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. Our net losses were $22.6 million, $18.1$15.7 million and $12.9$27.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 2015,2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2017,2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $136.9$288.5 million. These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred in connection with research and development activities, licensing and patent investment and general and administrative costs associated with our operations. WeIn February 2023, we discontinued development of ALRN-6924 which substantially reduced our operating expenses. Notwithstanding these events, we expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for at least the next several years.foreseeable future.

102


As a result,After the Lung Acquisition, we will need additional financing to supportbelieve that, based on our continuing operations. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to financecurrent operating plan, our operations through a combination of public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, which may include collaborations with third parties. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements ascash and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of one or more of our product candidates.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate revenue from product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.

As of December 31, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $50.8 million. We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and investments$17.3 million as of December 31, 2017,2023, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second halffourth quarter of 2019.2024 following the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have basedconcluded that as of the date of this estimateAnnual Report on Form 10-K there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our funding estimates are based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we expect. See “—Liquiditycurrently expect, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” We intend to fund our operations primarily through utilization of our current financial resources and additional raises of capital. Our future viability beyond that point is dependent on our ability to raise additional capital, enter into a financing, consummate a successful acquisition, merger, business

97


combination, or a sale of assets or other transaction. If we become unable to financecontinue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate our operations.assets and the values we receive for our assets in liquidation or dissolution could be significantly lower than the values reflected in our consolidated financial statements.

Components of ourAileron’s Results of Operations

Revenue

We have not generated any revenue from product sales and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the nearforeseeable future. If our development efforts for ALRN-6924 or other product candidates that we may develop in the future are successful and result in marketing approval or collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from a combination of product sales or payments from collaboration or license agreements that we may enter into with third parties.

Operating Expenses

Our expenses since inception have consisted solely of research and development costs, and general and administrative, and restructuring costs.

Research and Development Expenses

ResearchFor the periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities, including our discovery efforts, and the development of our product candidates, and include:

expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, including contract research organizations, or CROs, that conduct research, preclinical activities and clinical trials on our behalf as well as contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, that manufacture our product candidates for use in our preclinical and clinical trials;

salaries, benefits and other related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel engaged in research and development functions;

costsexpenses incurred in connection with the clinical development of outsideits product candidates, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants including their fees, stock-based compensation and related travel expenses;

contract research organizations, or CROs;

the cost of manufacturing product candidates for use in its clinical trials and preclinical studies, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs;

expenses incurred in connection with the preclinical development of its product candidates, including outsourced professional scientific development services, consulting research fees and payments made under sponsored research arrangements with third parties;
the costs of laboratory supplies and acquiring, developing and manufacturing preclinical study and clinical trial materials;

third-party license fees;

costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and

facility-related expenses, which includeincluded direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.

103


We expense research and development costs as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of salaries, stock-based compensation and benefits of employees, third-party license fees and other operational costs related to our research and development activities, including allocated facility-related expenses and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct both preclinical studies and clinical trials.

We recognize costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided to us by our vendors and our clinical investigative sites. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in our financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expenses.

WeIn addition, we typically useused our employee and infrastructure resources across our development programs. We tracktracked outsourced development costs and milestone payments made under our licensing arrangements by product candidate or development program, but we dodid not allocate personnel costs, license payments made under our licensing arrangements or other internal costs to specific development programs or product candidates. Thesecandidates because these costs are included in unallocated researchdeployed across multiple programs and, development expenses in the table below. Unallocated research and development expenses also includes internal research relating to non-clinical and pipeline compounds in oncology and non-oncology indications.as such, are not separately classified.

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses by product candidate or development program:98


 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ALRN-6924 and p53 program

 

$

8,755

 

 

$

6,392

 

 

$

4,082

 

Other early-stage development programs

 

 

232

 

 

 

266

 

 

 

211

 

Unallocated research and development expenses

 

 

5,252

 

 

 

3,618

 

 

 

3,539

 

Total research and development expenses

 

$

14,239

 

 

$

10,276

 

 

$

7,832

 

Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increase for the foreseeable future as we initiate additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, pursue later stages of clinical development of ALRN-6924, initiate clinical trials for product candidates other than ALRN-6924 and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates, including product candidates for targets in which we have made substantial investments in prior years and next generation stapled peptide compounds for the treatment of a variety of disease indications.

We cannot determine with certainty the duration and costs of the current or future clinical trials of our product candidates or if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. We may never succeed in obtaining marketing approval for any of our product candidates. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of oura product candidatescandidate will depend on a variety of factors, including:

the scope, rate of progress, expense and results of our ongoing clinical trials of ALRN-6924, as well as of any future clinical trials of ALRN-6924 or otherthe product candidatescandidate that we are developing and other research and development activities that we may conduct;

have conducted;

uncertainties in clinical trial design and patient enrollment rates;

significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance;

the timing and receipt of any marketing approvals; and

the expense of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights.

104


A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of a product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or another regulatory authority were to requirehave required us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate willanticipated would be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experienceexperienced significant trial delays due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we would behave been required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development.

We are currently conducting our Phase 1 All-comers trial, our Phase 2a PTCL trial and our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the cost for initiating and completing other clinical trials of ALRN-6924 and preclinical studies of ALRN-6924, as it will be highly dependent on the clinical data from ongoing clinical trials as well as any target disease subpopulations chosen for further evaluation.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in our executive, finance corporate and business developmentcorporate and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses are comprised of professional fees associated with being a public company including costs of accounting, auditing, legal, regulatory, tax and consulting services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance costs; and both public and investor relations costs. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters; legal and other professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services;relating to our strategic process; other insurance costs; travel expenses; and facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.

We expect that our generalRestructuring Costs

Restructuring-related charges are comprised of one-time termination costs in connection with the reduction-in-workforce, including severance, benefits, and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our generalrelated costs.

Other Income, net

Interest and administrative personnel headcount to support personnel in research and development and to support our operations generally as we increase our research and development activities and activities related to the potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also expect to incur increased expenses associated with operating as a public company, including costs of accounting, audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements; director and officer insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs.Other Income

Interest Income

Interest income consists of interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and investments.equivalents. Historically, our interest income had not been significant due to low investment balances and low interest earned on those balances. We anticipate that our interest income will fluctuate in the future in response to our cash and cash equivalents and the interest rate environment.

Income TaxesOther income, net consists of gains or losses recognized from non-routine items such as accretion on short-term investments, and gains or losses recognized from foreign currency transactions, and the disposal of fixed assets.

Since99


Results of Operations

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

The following tables summarize our inception in 2001, we have not recorded any U.S. federal or state income tax benefitsresults of operations for the net losses we have incurredyears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 in anythousands:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

$

3,991

 

 

$

17,967

 

 

 

(13,976

)

General and administrative

 

 

11,357

 

 

 

9,680

 

 

 

1,677

 

Restructuring and other

 

 

928

 

 

 

 

 

 

928

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

16,276

 

 

 

27,647

 

 

 

(11,371

)

Loss from operations

 

 

(16,276

)

 

 

(27,647

)

 

 

11,371

 

Other income, net

 

 

544

 

 

 

318

 

 

 

226

 

Net loss

 

$

(15,732

)

 

$

(27,329

)

 

$

11,597

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Direct research and development services

 

$

2,406

 

 

$

12,145

 

 

$

(9,739

)

Employee related expenses

 

 

1,214

 

 

 

3,266

 

 

 

(2,052

)

Professional fees for services

 

 

324

 

 

 

2,166

 

 

 

(1,842

)

Facilities and other expenses

 

 

47

 

 

 

390

 

 

 

(343

)

Total research and development expenses

 

$

3,991

 

 

$

17,967

 

 

$

(13,976

)

Research and development expenses for the year orended December 31, 2023 were $4.0 million, compared to $18.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease of $14.0 million was primarily a result of reduced spending of $6.0 million for our earnedcompleted Phase 1b NSCLC trial, $1.6 million for our completed healthy volunteer study, $2.6 million for our terminated Phase 1b breast cancer trial, $2.0 million for ALRN-6924 manufacturing costs, and $1.0 million for other research expenses, and reduced spending of $2.7 million for employee related expenses and facilities and other expenses, offset by the research and development tax credits,expense of $1.4 million and employee related expenses of $0.5 million incurred by Lung during 2023 after the acquisition.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Employee related expenses

 

$

2,723

 

 

$

3,068

 

 

$

(345

)

Professional fees for services

 

 

7,053

 

 

 

4,633

 

 

 

2,420

 

Facilities and other expenses

 

 

1,581

 

 

 

1,979

 

 

 

(398

)

Total general and administrative expenses

 

$

11,357

 

 

$

9,680

 

 

$

1,677

 

General and administrative expenses were $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $9.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $1.7 million in general and administrative expense was primarily the result of $2.4 million more professional fees during 2023 as compared to the year 2022 mainly due to the acquisition in October 2023, offset by $0.3 million lower headcount costs and $0.4 million lower facilities and other expenses during 2023 as compared to the year 2022.

100


Restructuring and Other

On February 16, 2023, our uncertaintyBoard of realizingDirectors determined to reduce the Company’s remaining workforce from nine to three full-time employees. The determination to affect the workforce reduction was made in connection with our decision to terminate the Phase 1b breast cancer trial of ALRN-6924 and further development of ALRN-6924.

As a benefit from those items. result of the above restructuring initiatives, we incurred restructuring-related charges of $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Restructuring-related charges were comprised of one-time termination costs in connection with the reduction-in-workforce, including severance, benefits, and related costs.

Other Income, net

Other income, net of $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 consisted of interest income of $0.4 million and investment accretion of $0.2 million. We anticipate that our interest income and investment accretion will fluctuate in the future in response to our then-current cash and cash equivalents, and then-current interest rates.

Income Taxes

As of December 31, 2017,2023, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $129.6$56.5 million and $125.8$8.2 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 20292036 and 2030,2043, respectively. As of December 31, 2017,2023, we also had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $2.0$1.1 million, and $1.2 million, respectively, which begin to expire in 2025.2035. The Company also has federal orphan drug tax credit carryforwards of $6.7 million which begin to expire in 2039.

Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 due to ownership changes that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholders or public groups in the stock of a corporation by more than 50% over a three-year period. As a result of the Company’s acquisition of Lung Therapeutics, the tax attributes have been limited under Section 382. The Company has reflected the reduction of these tax attributes within the income tax footnote at December 31, 2023.

On October 31, 2023, the Company acquired, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the stock of Lung Therapeutics. In accordance with ASC 805-740-25-3, recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities is required for substantially all temporary differences and acquired tax carryforwards and credits. The Company has computed estimated temporary differences and acquired tax carryforwards and credits as of the transaction date. The Company will not have tax basis in intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase. For accounting purposes, the intangible assets will not be amortized and subject to impairment review and testing. Though the tax effects may be delayed indefinitely, ASC 740-10-55-63 states that “deferred tax liabilities may not be eliminated or reduced because a reporting entity may be able to delay the settlement of those liabilities by delaying the events that would cause taxable temporary differences to reverse.” As such, the Company has recorded a deferred tax liability for the portion of the liability that cannot be offset with indefinite lived deferred tax assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. We have not conductedcommercialized any product candidates, and as we do not have any product candidates under development, we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products. We have financed our operations through sales of common stock in our initial public offering and follow-on public offerings, sales of common stock and warrants in a studyprivate placement, sales of common stock in “at-the-market” offerings, sales of common stock under our equity line with Lincoln Park Capital LLC, or LPC, sales of preferred stock prior to assess whetherour initial public offering, payments received under a changecollaboration agreement and sales of control has occurredcommon stock, preferred stock and warrants in connection with the Lung Acquisition and the Financing. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $17.3 million.

101


At-the-Market Program

In January 2021, we entered into a Capital on Demand Sales Agreement, or whether there have been multiple changesthe ATM Sales Agreement, with JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, or JonesTrading, and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., or William Blair, as agents, under which we may issue and sell shares of control since inception duecommon stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $30.0 million. Sales of common stock through JonesTrading and William Blair may be made by any method that is deemed an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We are not obligated to make any sales of common stock under the ATM Sales Agreement. Pursuant to a prospectus relating to the significant complexityATM Sales Agreement we filed with the SEC on June 21, 2022, we may offer and cost associated with such a study. If we have experienced a change of control, as defined by Section 382, at any time since inception, utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards or research and development tax credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual

105


limitation under Section 382, which is determined by first multiplying the valuesell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $14.0 million under the ATM Sales Agreement. There were no sales under the ATM Sales Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023, or the year ended December 31, 2022.

Equity Line Financing

On September 21, 2020, we entered into a purchase agreement, or the Equity Line Purchase Agreement, with LPC for an equity line financing. The Equity Line Purchase Agreement provided that, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, we had the right, but not the obligation, to sell to LPC, and LPC is obligated to purchase up to $15.0 million of shares of common stock at our sole discretion, over a 36-month period that commenced in October 2020. We filed a registration statement on Form S-1 covering the timesale of shares of common stock that are issued to LPC under the Equity Line Purchase Agreement, which was declared effective on October 15, 2020. The Equity Line Purchase Agreement was terminated in October 2023 pursuant to the terms thereof.

There were no sales under the Equity Line Purchase Agreement during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The Lung Acquisition and Financing Transaction

On October 31, 2023, we acquired Lung, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for the treatment of orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications that have no approved or limited effective treatments. Immediately following the acquisition of Lung, we entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of (i) 4,707 shares of Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock, at par value of $0.001, or the Series X Preferred Stock, and (ii) warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,353,500 shares of Aileron's common stock in a private placement to a group of accredited investors led by Bios Partners, all affiliated entities are collectively called Bios, and including Nantahala Capital, as well as additional undisclosed investors, or the Financing.

The Financing resulted in gross proceeds to Aileron of approximately $18.4 million, which included the conversion of certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1.6 million issued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the ownership changeLung Acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of the Series X Preferred Stock. The Financing closed on November 2, 2023.

The exercise price of the Warrants is $4.89 per share, subject to certain price and share adjustments, including for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, subdivisions, combinations, noncash distributions and cash dividends. The Warrants issued under the Financing will be exercisable any time after May 2, 2024, and on or prior to May 2, 2027. Payment for Warrant shares upon exercise of the Warrants may be (i) in cash or (ii) in the event that there is no registration statement available for the resale of Warrant shares, by cashless exercise.

Under the terms of the Warrants, the Company shall not effect the exercise of any portion of any Warrant, and a holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of any Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the holder (together with its affiliates and any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of its affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of a percentage elected by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate,holder up to 19.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. However, any holder may, upon written notice to the Company, increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99%; provided that any

102


increase or decrease in such percentage will not be effective until 61 days after such notice is delivered to the Company.

In connection with the Financing, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, with certain investors. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we filed a resale registration statement with the SEC on January 29, 2024, which was declared effective on February 5, 2024. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains customary terms, including an obligation to indemnify the investors, their officers, directors, agents, partners, members, managers, stockholders, affiliates and then could be subjectemployees under the registration statement from certain liabilities and pay all fees and expenses (excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for the investors, except for reasonable and documented fees and expenses in an amount not to additional adjustments, as required. Any limitation may resultexceed $30,000 of the investors that hold a majority in expirationinterest of the registrable securities in connection with the review of the registration statement) incident to our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Cash used in operating activities

 

$

(19,808

)

 

$

(24,865

)

Cash provided by investing activities

 

 

16,196

 

 

 

26,459

 

Cash provided by financing activities

 

 

15,794

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

$

12,119

 

 

$

1,594

 

Operating Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, operating activities used $19.8 million of cash, primarily resulting from our net loss of $15.7 million and cash provided by the change in operating assets and liabilities of $5.4 million offset by non-cash charges of $1.3 million. Non-cash charges resulted primarily from stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2023 consisted primarily of an increase of $5.0 million in accounts payable, and $0.4 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, operating activities used $24.9 million of cash, primarily resulting from our net loss of $27.3 million and cash provided by the change in operating assets and liabilities of $0.4 million offset by non-cash charges of $2.0 million. Non-cash charges resulted primarily from stock-based compensation expense. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2022 consisted primarily of a portiondecrease of $1.6 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a decrease of $1.6 million in prepaid expense and other assets, and an increase of $0.5 million in accounts payable.

Investing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, investing activities provided $16.2 million of cash. We received $16.3 million of proceeds from the maturities of investments, offset by $0.1 million of cash and cash equivalents from the Lung Acquisition.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, investing activities provided $26.5 million of cash. We received $48.3 million of proceeds from the sale of investments, offset by $21.9 million of purchases of investments.

Financing Activities

During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $15.8 million due to the proceeds of $15.8 million from the Financing in October 2023.

103


During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $0 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and in the periods presented, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the net operating loss carryforwards or research and development tax credit carryforwards before utilization. Further, until a study is completed and any limitation is known, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position.SEC.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, costs, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our financial statements appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Accrued Research and Development Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses. This process involves reviewing open contract and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated costs incurred for the services when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual costs. The majoritySome of our service providers invoice us in arrears for services performed, on a pre-determined schedule or when contractual milestones are met; however, some require advanced payments. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to:

vendors in connection with preclinical and clinical development activities;

CROs in connection with performing research activities on our behalf and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf;

investigative sites or other service providers in connection with clinical trials;

and

CMOs or other vendors in connection with preclinical and clinical development activities; and

vendors related to product manufacturing and development and distributionthe production of preclinical and clinical supplies.

trial materials.

We base our expenses related to preclinical studies and clinical trials on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with multiple CMOs and CROs that supply, conduct and manage clinical trials and preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruingrecording accrued or prepaid service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of patients, number of sites activated and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we adjust the accrual or amount of prepaid expense accordingly.

Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. To date, we have not made any material adjustments to our prior estimates of accrued research and development expenses.

104


106


Stock-Based Compensation

We measureaccount for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments, including grants of stock options and otherrestricted stock, to be recognized in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their fair values. We measure stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on their fair value on the date of the grant and recognize compensation expense offor those awards net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. We apply the straight-line method of expense recognition to all awards with only service-based vesting conditions and apply the graded-vesting method to all awards with performance-based vesting conditions or to awards with both service-based and performance-based vesting conditions.

For stock-based awards granted to non-employees, compensation expense is recognized over the period during which services are rendered by such non-employees until completed. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to the completion of the service, the fair value of these awards is remeasured using the then-current fair value of our common stock and updated assumption inputs in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

We estimate the fair value of each stock option grant onat the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricingoption pricing model which uses as inputsand the fair value of each restricted common stock award is estimated on the date of grant based on the fair value of our common stock andon that same date. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions we make forincluding the volatility of our common stock, the expected term of our stock options, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the expected term of our stock options and our expected dividend yield.

Determination of Fair Value of Common Stock

Due Changes to the absence of a public market for our common stock, prior to June 28, 2017, the date our stock began publicly trading, the estimated fair value of our common stock was determined by our board of directors as of the date of each option grant, with input from management, considering our most recently available third-party valuations of common stock and our board of directors’ assessment of additional objective and subjective factors that it believed were relevant and which may have changed from the date of the most recent valuation through the date of the grant. These third-party valuations were performed in accordance with the guidance outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. These common stock valuations were prepared using a hybrid method, which used market approaches to estimate our enterprise value. The hybrid method is a probability-weighed expected return method, or PWERM, where the equity value in one or more scenarios is calculated using an option-pricing method, or OPM. The OPM treats common stock and preferred stock as call options on the total equity value of a company, with exercise prices based on the value thresholds at which the allocation among the various holders of a company’s securities changes. Under this method, the common stock has value only if the funds available for distribution to stockholders exceeded the value of the preferred stock liquidation preference at the time of the liquidity event, such as a strategic sale or a merger. The PWERM is a scenario-based methodology that estimatesthese assumptions can materially affect the fair value of common stock based upon an analysisoptions and ultimately the amount of future valuesstock-based compensation expense recognized in our consolidated financial statements.

We account for stock option forfeitures during the period in which they occur.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the company, assuming various outcomes. The common stock value isexpected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or in our tax returns. Deferred taxes are determined based on the probability-weighted present valuedifference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.

We assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future investment returns considering eachtaxable income and, to the extent we believe, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the possible outcomes availabledeferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in our tax provision in the period of change. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

We account for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, that are considered appropriate as well as the rightsrelated net interest and penalties.

The recognition and measurement of each classtax benefits requires significant judgment, especially in assessing uncertain tax positions. Judgments concerning the recognition and measurement of stock. The future valueour tax benefits, as well as limitations surrounding their realizability, might change as new information becomes available.

Contractual Obligations

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Lung Therapeutics LLC, leased a facility containing 6,455 square feet of office space located at 3801 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Suite 330, Austin, Texas, which expired on March 31, 2024. We do not plan on renewing the lease. Following expiration of the common stocklease, we plan to operate virtually.

105


Our remaining contractual rent commitment under each outcome is discounted back to the valuation date at an appropriate risk-adjusted discount rate and probability weighted to arrive at an indicationthis lease was less than $0.1 million as of value for the common stock.

December 31, 2023. For grants made after the date our stock began public trading, the fair value per sharea description of our common stocklease obligations, refer to Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements appearing in this Annual Report on the date of grant is determined using the closing price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant. Form 10-K.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Jumpstart Our Business StartupsWe ceased to qualify as an emerging growth company as of December 31, 2022, and are now subject to Section 14A(a) and (b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 2012,1934, as amended, or the JOBSExchange Act, permitsbeginning with our fiscal year that started January 1, 2023. However, notwithstanding the loss of our status as an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards when they are required to be adopted by public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

107


Results of Operations

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

14,239

 

 

 

10,276

 

 

 

3,963

 

General and administrative

 

 

8,769

 

 

 

7,893

 

 

 

876

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

23,008

 

 

 

18,169

 

 

 

4,839

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(23,008

)

 

 

(18,169

)

 

 

(4,839

)

Interest income

 

 

404

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

358

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,604

)

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(4,481

)

Research and Development Expenses

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ALRN-6924 and p53 program

 

$

8,755

 

 

$

6,392

 

 

$

2,363

 

Other early-stage development programs

 

 

232

 

 

 

266

 

 

 

(34

)

Unallocated research and development expenses

 

 

5,252

 

 

 

3,618

 

 

 

1,634

 

Total research and development expenses

 

$

14,239

 

 

$

10,276

 

 

$

3,963

 

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $14.2 million, compared to $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of $4.0 million was primarily due to an increase of $2.4 million in research expenses associated with ALRN-6924 and p53 program and an increase of $1.6 million in unallocated research and development expenses. The increase in ALRN-6924 and p53 program expenses was primarily due to an increase in clinical trial costs in the year ended December 31, 2017 associated with contract manufacturing costs and increased clinical activity associated with our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials which commenced in the second half of 2016. This increase was offset by a decrease in clinical trial costs in the year ended December 31, 2017 associated with decreased clinical activity associated with our Phase 1 All-comers trial ascompany, we completed enrollment in this trial in January 2017. The increase in unallocated research and development expenses was primarily due to increased wage and other personnel related costs resulting from additional personnel that we hired to support our ongoing clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increasebe exempt from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the foreseeable futureso long as we initiate additional clinical trials of ALRN-6924, pursue later stages of clinical development of ALRN-6924, and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates, including product candidates for targetsare neither a “large accelerated filer” nor an “accelerated filer” as those terms are defined in which we have made substantial investments in prior years and next generation stapled peptide compounds forRule 12b-2 under the treatment of a variety of disease indications. We also expect that our research and development expenses will increase in the future as we increase our research and development headcount to support the increase in our research and development activities.Exchange Act.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to $7.9 million for year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of $0.9 million was primarily due to an increase of $0.9 million in personnel costs and $0.4 million in other general and administrative expense offset by a $0.4 million reduction in professional fees. The increase in personnel related costs was primarily due to higher non-cash stock compensation costs in the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in other general and administrative costs was primarily due to higher insurance costs. The decrease in professional fees was primarily the result of a charge of $1.5 million related to the write off of offering costs in the year ended December 31, 2016, which consisted mostly of legal and accounting fees that were previously capitalized in connection with a postponed equity financing. This

108


decrease was offset by increased costs related to operating as a public company. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our general and administrative personnel headcount to support personnel in research and development and to support our operations generally as we increase our research and development activities. We also expect to incur increased expenses associated with operating as a public company, including costs of accounting, audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements; director and officer insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs.

Interest Income

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $0.4 million higher than it was for the year ended December 31, 2016 due to higher investment balances resulting from the $50.0 million in net proceeds received from our IPO in July 2017.

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

10,276

 

 

 

7,832

 

 

 

2,444

 

General and administrative

 

 

7,893

 

 

 

5,059

 

 

 

2,834

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

18,169

 

 

 

12,891

 

 

 

5,278

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(18,169

)

 

 

(12,891

)

 

 

(5,278

)

Interest income

 

 

46

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

33

 

Net loss

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(12,878

)

 

$

(5,245

)

Research and Development Expenses

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ALRN-6924 and p53 program

 

$

6,392

 

 

$

4,082

 

 

$

2,310

 

Other early-stage development programs

 

 

266

 

 

 

211

 

 

 

55

 

Unallocated research and development expenses

 

 

3,618

 

 

 

3,539

 

 

 

79

 

Total research and development expenses

 

$

10,276

 

 

$

7,832

 

 

$

2,444

 

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $10.3 million, compared to $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase of $2.4 million was primarily due to an increase of $2.3 million in research expenses associated with the ALRN-6924 and p53 program. The increase in ALRN-6924 expenses was primarily due to an increase in clinical trial costs in 2016 associated with our ongoing Phase 1 All-comers trial as well as with our Phase 2a PTCL trial and our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials, each of which commenced in 2016.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to $5.1 million for year ended December 31, 2015. The increase of $2.8 million was due to an increase of $1.2 million in professional fees, an increase of $0.1 million in facility-related costs, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs, and a charge of $1.5 million recognized in June 2016 related to the write off of offering costs previously capitalized in connection with a postponed initial public offering. The increase in professional fees was due to increases in legal fees and in the use of outside professionals.

109


Interest Income

Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was comparable to interest income for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our interest income in each year was not significant due to low investment balances and low interest earned on those balances.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. We have not yet commercialized any of our product candidates, which are in various phases of preclinical and clinical development, and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products for several years, if at all. Prior to the IPO, we financed our operations through private placements of our preferred stock and, to a lesser extent, through payments received under a collaboration agreement. Since our inception through December 31, 2017, we had received $50.0 million in net proceeds from our IPO, $131.2 million from our sales of preferred stock and $34.9 million from a collaboration agreement. As of December 31, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $50.8 million.

On June 28, 2017, our registration statement on Form S-1 relating to our initial public offering of our common stock was declared effective by the SEC. The IPO closed on July 5, 2017 and we issued and sold 3,750,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share for net proceeds of $50.0 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $3.9 million and other offering expenses of $2.3 million. Upon the closing of the IPO, all shares of preferred stock then outstanding converted into an aggregate of 10,509,774 shares of common stock.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash used in operating activities

 

$

(20,531

)

 

$

(15,014

)

 

$

(11,710

)

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

(38,912

)

 

 

(25

)

 

 

10,629

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

50,591

 

 

 

31,986

 

 

 

(1,359

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(8,852

)

 

$

16,947

 

 

$

(2,440

)

Operating Activities. During the year ended December 31, 2017, operating activities used $20.5 million of cash, primarily resulting from our net loss of $22.6 million offset by net cash provided by non-cash charges of $1.7 million and changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $0.4 million. Non-cash charges resulted primarily from stock-based compensation expense. Net cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2017 consisted primarily of an increase of $1.2 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities offset by an increase of $0.8 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities was primarily due to the increase of clinical trial-related accruals and contract manufacturing costs. The increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets was primarily due to the timing of vendor invoicing and payments.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, operating activities used $15.0 million of cash, primarily resulting from our net loss of $18.1 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $2.4 million and cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $0.7 million. Net cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2016 consisted of an increase of $1.2 million in accounts payable and an increase of $0.3 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in other assets and a $0.1 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities were largely due to an increase of clinical trial-related expenses as we had increased enrollment in our Phase 1 All-comers trial and we had commenced our Phase 2a PTCL trial and our Phase 1/1b AML/MDS trials. The increase in other assets was due to deposits paid to our CROs for our ongoing clinical trials.

110


During the year ended December 31, 2015, operating activities used $11.7 million of cash, primarily resulting from our net loss of $12.9 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $0.9 million and cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $0.2 million. Net cash provided by changes in our operating assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2015 consisted of a $0.6 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in accounts payable and a $0.1 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities was largely due to the increase of clinical trial-related accruals as we had increased enrollment in our ongoing Phase 1 All-comers trial of ALRN-6924.

Investing Activities. During the year ended December 31, 2017, investing activities used $38.9 million of cash, consisting of net purchases of investments of $71.1 million offset against proceeds from the sales or maturities of those investments of $32.3 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we used an insignificant amount of cash in investing activities, consisting of net purchases of investments and an increase in restricted cash.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, investing activities provided $10.6 million of cash, consisting of net proceeds from sales of investments of $10.0 million and a decrease in restricted cash of $0.7 million, both of which were partially offset by purchases of property and equipment of $0.1 million.

We expect that purchases of property and equipment will increase over the next year as we expect to lease space in a new facility in 2018.

Financing Activities. During the year ended December 31, 2017, net cash provided by financing activities was $50.6 million primarily due to the proceeds, less underwriting discounts, from our IPO in July 2017 of $52.3 million. These proceeds were offset by payments of initial public offering costs of $2.3 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash provided by financing activities was $32.0 million, primarily due to the net proceeds from our sales of Series E-1 preferred stock and Series F preferred stock of $32.1 million, partially offset by the payment of initial public offering costs of $0.2 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we used $1.4 million of net cash in financing activities, due to the payment of initial public offering costs of $1.3 million and the payment of issuance costs of $0.1 million related to our issuance of Series E-1 preferred stock, both partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Funding Requirements

We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing development activities related to ALRN-6924, which is still in the early stages of clinical development, and other product candidates and programs. We expect that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:

conduct our current and future clinical trials and additional preclinical research of ALRN-6924;

initiate and continue research and preclinical and clinical development of our other product candidates;

seek to identify additional product candidates;

seek marketing approvals for any of our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;

establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval;

require the manufacture of larger quantities of our product candidates for clinical development and potentially commercialization;

maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;

acquire or in-license other drugs and technologies;

111


hire and retain additional clinical, quality control and scientific personnel;

build out new facilities or expand existing facilities to support our ongoing development activity; and

add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our drug development, any future commercialization efforts and our compliance with our obligations as a public company.

As of December 31, 2017, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $50.8 million. We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and investments, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2019. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development of ALRN-6924 and other product candidates and programs and because the extent to which we may enter into collaborations with third parties for development of our product candidates is unknown, we are unable to estimate the timing and amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the research and development of our product candidates. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

the scope, progress, results and costs of our current and future clinical trials and additional preclinical research of ALRN-6924;

the scope, progress, results and costs of drug discovery, preclinical research and clinical trials for our other product candidates;

the number of future product candidates that we pursue and their development requirements;

the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;

the success of any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties;

the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies, including entering into licensing or collaboration arrangements for product candidates, although we currently have no commitments or agreements to complete any such transactions;

the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval, to the extent that such sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution are not the responsibility of any collaborator that we may have at such time;

the amount of revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval;

the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;

our headcount growth and associated costs, including costs of our planned build-out of new facilities, as we expand our business operations and our research and development activities; and

the costs of operating as a public company.

Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval for any product candidates or generate revenue from the sale of any products for which we may obtain marketing approval. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if ever. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funds to achieve our business objectives.

112


Adequate additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. We do not currently have any committed external source of funds. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest may be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences and anti-dilution protections that could adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Additional debt or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends, which could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business, and may require the issuance of warrants, which could potentially dilute your ownership interest.

If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technology, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce and/or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2017:

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Less Than

1 Year

 

 

1 - 3

Years

 

 

3 - 5

Years

 

 

More Than

5 Years

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating lease commitments (1)

 

$

202

 

 

$

202

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

License agreement obligations (2)

 

$

1,470

 

 

 

245

 

 

 

490

 

 

 

490

 

 

 

245

 

Total

 

$

1,672

 

 

$

447

 

 

$

490

 

 

$

490

 

 

$

245

 

(1)

Represents minimum payments due for our lease of office and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts under an operating lease agreement that expires in May 2018.

(2)

Represents the aggregate minimum annual license maintenance fees payable under our existing licensing agreements with third parties. Amounts in the table reflect such fees payable through 2023, but we will be obligated to make such annual payments until the license agreements are terminated.

Under various licensing and related agreements to which we are a party, we may be required to make milestone payments and pay royalties and other amounts to third parties. We have not included any such contingent payment obligations in the table above as the amount, timing and likelihood of such payments are not known.

Under an amended and restated license agreement with President and Fellows of Harvard College, or Harvard, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, or DFCI, through December 31, 2017, we have paid aggregate milestone payments of $0.3 million related to achieving specified milestones for ALRN-6924 and another compound that we are not currently developing, and we have agreed to make additional milestone payments of up to $7.5 million and $7.65 million for each such product candidate, respectively, upon achieving additional specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones. We have agreed to make milestone payments of up to $7.7 million per any additional licensed therapeutic product and up to $0.7 million per any additional licensed diagnostic product upon achieving specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to each such product. In addition, we have agreed to pay royalties of low single-digit percentages on annual net sales of licensed products sold by us, our affiliates or our sublicensees. If we grant any sublicense rights under the license agreement, we have agreed to pay a percentage, up to the mid-twenties, of fees received by us in connection with our sublicense of the licensed products. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, our sublicense payment obligations may be subject to specified reductions, which have been and may potentially be substantial.

113


Under a license agreement with Materia, through December 31, 2017, we have paid aggregate milestone payments of $0.2 million related to achieving specified milestones for ALRN-6924 and another compound that we are not currently developing, and we have agreed to make additional milestone payments of up to $6.25 million and $6.35 million for each such product candidate, respectively, upon achieving additional specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones. We have agreed to make milestone payments of up to $6.4 million upon achieving specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to any other licensed product. In addition, we have also agreed to pay tiered royalties ranging in the low single-digit percentages on annual net sales of licensed products sold by us or our sublicensees.

In addition, under two other license agreements with third parties, we have agreed to make future milestone payments in a range of up to $0.4 million to $1.9 million per licensed product upon achieving specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones. We have also agreed to pay royalties under each agreement ranging in the low single-digit percentages on annual net sales of each developed product. We do not currently utilize the technologies licensed under these two agreements in our clinical program.

We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs and CMOs for clinical trials, preclinical research studies and testing, manufacturing and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts do not contain any minimum purchase commitments and are cancelable by us upon prior notice of 30 days and, as a result, are not included in the table of contractual obligations above. Payments due upon cancelation consist only of payments for services provided and expenses incurred up to the date of cancelation.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements,“smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the rulesExchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our shares held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and regulationsthe market value of the SEC.our shares held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million. For so long as we continue to be a smaller reporting company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

We have reviewed all recently issued standards and have determined that, other than as disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such standards will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or do not otherwise apply to our operations.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.Risk

We are exposeda smaller reporting company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for this reporting period and are not required to market risk related changes in interest rates. As of December 31, 2017, our cash equivalents consisted of money market accounts and investments in corporate notes and commercial paper that have contractual maturities of less than 90 days. As of December 31, 2017, our investments consisted of investments in corporate notes and commercial paper that have contractual maturities of less than one year. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes inprovide the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the investments in our portfolio, an immediate 10% change in market interest rates would not have a material impact on the fair market value of our investment portfolio or on our financial position or results of operations.information required under this item.

Item 8. Financial StatementsStatements and Supplementary Data.Data

The consolidated financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. An index of those consolidated financial statements is found in Item 15 of Part IV of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements Withwith Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.Disclosure

NoneNone.

114


Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.Procedures

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures

The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, refers to controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

106


In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,principal financial officer, evaluated, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act of 1934). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officerour principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2017.2023, because of the identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

This annual report does not includeOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a reportprocess designed by, or under the supervision of, management's assessmentthe Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s Board, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted an attestation reportevaluation of the company's registered public accounting firm due to a transition period establishedeffectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by rulesthe Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the SecuritiesTreadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2023 as a result of the material weakness discussed below.

We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weaknesses primarily related to the accounting for the business combination with Lung Therapeutics, Inc., specifically the (i) lack of sufficient accounting and Exchange Commissionsupervisory personnel to maintain appropriate segregation of duties relating to user access of the financial accounting system and who have the appropriate level of technical accounting experience and training, (ii) lack of evidence over reviews of account reconciliations and supporting schedules, and (iii) lack of adequate procedures and controls to ensure that accurate financial statements could have been prepared and reviewed on a timely basis for newly public companies.annual reporting purposes. In the year ended December 31, 2023, management identified material weaknesses related to the accounting for our acquisition of Lung, including a lack of

107


sufficient precision in the performance of reviews supporting the purchase price allocation accounting, and a lack of timely oversight over third-party specialists and the reports they produced to support the accounting for the acquisition.

We are implementing procedures to remediate these material weaknesses, including the hiring of a full-time additional employee in our accounting department, integration into one accounting system, third party accounting specialists and a more streamlined process in order to prepare and review financial information, however, our control environment needs improvement, and as a result we may be exposed to errors. Our remediation plan also includes the hiring of additional accounting employees and/or consultants with the specific technical accounting experience necessary to assist with complex, non-routine transactions and to support the timely completion of financial close procedures, the implementation of robust processes, and to assist with the preparation of financial statements and our compliance with SEC reporting obligations. Additionally, we intend to develop and implement consistent accounting policies, internal control procedures and provide additional training to our accounting and financial reporting personnel. While we are working to remediate such weakness as quickly and efficiently as possible, we cannot at this time, provide an estimate of the timeframe we expect in connection with implementing our plan to remediate the material weaknesses.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) has occurred during the three monthsquarter ended December 31, 20172023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.Information

None.Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

During the three months ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers adopted, modified or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K).

115Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

None.

108


PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.Governance

The information required by this Item 10 will be included under the captions “Executive Officers,” “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, with respect to our 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our last fiscal year ended December 31, 20172023 and is incorporated herein by reference.

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our officers, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers, and our directors and employees. We have posted the text of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics under the “Investors & Media — Corporate Governance” section of our website, www.aileronrx.com.www.aileronrx.com. We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that are required to be disclosed pursuant to the disclosure requirements of Item 5.05 of Form 8-K.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.Compensation

The information required by this Item 11 will be included under the captions “Executive and Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our last fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information required by this Item 12 will be included under the captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our last fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by this Item 13 will be included as applicable, under the captions “Employment Agreements,” “Director Independence” and “Related Person Transactions” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our last fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.Services

The information required by this Item 14 will be included under the captions “Audit Fees and Services” and “Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20182024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is expected to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of our last fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated herein by reference.

109


116


PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this Report:

(a)

Financial Statements. The following documents are included in Part II, Item 8 of this Report and are incorporated by reference herein:

(a)
Financial Statements. The following documents are included on pages F2-F35 attached hereto and are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

117


(b)

Financial Statement Schedules. Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required or not applicable or the information is otherwise included herein.
(c)
Exhibits. The exhibits filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are set forth on the Exhibit Index below. The Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

Exhibit Index

 

 

 

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

 

Form

 

Date of Filing

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Filed

Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1#

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 31, 2023, by and among Aileron Therapeutics, Inc., AT Merger Sub I, Inc., AT Merger Sub II, LLC and Lung Therapeutics, Inc.

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended

 

10-Q

 

8/11/2021

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated as of November 10, 2022

 

8-K

 

11/10/2022

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated as of February, 29, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.4

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant

 

8-K

 

7/5/2017

 

3.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen stock certificate evidencing shares of common stock

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Description of Securities of the Registrant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.3

 

Certificate of Designation of Series X Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to the Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1*

 

2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.2*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110


10.3*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.4*

 

2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.5*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.6*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.7*

 

2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.8*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.9*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.10*

 

2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.11*

 

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.12*

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2021 Stock Incentive Plan

 

10-K

 

3/20/2023

 

10.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.13*

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2021 Stock Incentive Plan

 

10-K

 

3/20/2023

 

10.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.14

 

Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.15

 

License Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2006, by and between the Registrant and Materia, Inc. (now Umicore Precious Metals Chemistry USA, LLC)

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.16++

 

Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2010, by and among the Registrant, President and Fellows of Harvard College and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.17*

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2018, between the Registrant and Manuel C. Alves Aivado, M.D., Ph.D.

 

10-Q

 

11/7/2018

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.18*

 

Severance Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2018, between the Registrant and Manuel C. Alves Aivado, M.D., Ph.D.

 

10-Q

 

11/7/2018

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.19*

 

Offer Letter, dated as of November 15, 2007, between the Registrant and D. Allen Annis, Ph.D.

 

10-K

 

3/29/2019

 

10.21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.20*

 

Severance Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2018, between the Registrant and D. Allen Annis, Ph.D.

 

10-K

 

3/29/2019

 

10.22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.21

 

Securities Purchase Agreement, dated March 28, 2019, by and among the Registrant and the persons party thereto

 

8-K

 

4/1/2019

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.22

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 28, 2019, by and among the Registrant and the persons party thereto

 

8-K

 

4/1/2019

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

111


10.23

 

Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock

 

8-K

 

4/1/2019

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.24

 

Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2020, by and between the Company and Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC

 

8-K

 

9/22/2020

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.25

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 21, 2020, by and between the Company and Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC

 

8-K

 

9/22/2020

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.26

 

Capital on Demand Sales Agreement, dated January 29, 2021, by and among Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC and William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

 

8-K

 

1/29/2021

 

1.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.27

 

Sublease Agreement, dated March 26, 2021, by and among the Company, Vittoria Industries North America, Inc. and Waterfront Equity Partners, LLC

 

10-Q

 

5/11/2021

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.28*

 

Separation and Release of Claims Agreement, dated July 8, 2022, by and between the Company and Vojislav Vukovic, M.D., Ph.D.

 

10-Q

 

8/15/2022

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.29*

 

Separation and Release of Claims Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2023, between the Registrant and D. Allen Annis, Ph.D.

 

10-Q

 

5/8/2023

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.30*

 

Consulting Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2023, between the Registrant and D. Allen Annis, Ph.D.

 

10-Q

 

5/8/2023

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.31

 

Waiver Under Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2010, by and among the Registrant, President and Fellows of Harvard College and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.

 

10-Q

 

10/13/2023

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.32#

 

Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2023, by and among Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. and each purchaser identified on Annex A thereto

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.33

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. and certain purchasers named therein

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.34*

 

Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2014, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Brian Windsor, Ph.D., as amended

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.35*

 

Letter Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2023, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Brian Windsor, Ph.D.

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.36*

 

Letter Agreement, dated as of October 30, 2023, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Brian Windsor, Ph.D.

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

10.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.37+#

 

Exclusive License Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2020, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Taiho Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

 

8-K

 

1/25/2024

 

10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

112


10.38+

 

Amended and Restated Patent and Technology License Agreement, effective as of December 19, 2013, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, on behalf of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, as amended by First Amendment, effective as of May 4, 2017.

 

8-K

 

1/25/2024

 

10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.39+

 

Patent License Agreement, effective as of May 21, 2015, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and the University of Texas at Austin, on behalf of The University of Texas System, as amended by Amendment #1, dated as of January 26, 2017, Amendment #2, dated as of November 19, 2018, Amendment #3, effective as of June 20, 2019, and Amendment #4, dated as of April 28, 2023.

 

8-K

 

1/25/2024

 

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.40+

 

Amended and Restated License Agreement, effective as of September 1, 2018, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Medical University of South Carolina Foundation for Research Development.

 

8-K

 

1/25/2024

 

10.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.41+

 

License Agreement, effective as of March 8, 2018, by and between Lung Therapeutics, Inc. and Vivarta Therapeutics, L.L.C.

 

8-K

 

1/25/2024

 

10.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.42*

 

Lung Therapeutics, Inc.2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16.1

 

Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding change in certifying accountant

 

8-K

 

10/31/2023

 

16.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

113


(c)

Exhibits.

32.2

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

X

97.1

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. Compensation Recovery Policy

X

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

+ In accordance with Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K, certain information (indicated by “[**]”) has been excluded from this exhibit because it is both not material and private or confidential. A copy of the omitted portion will be furnished to the SEC upon request.

++ Confidential treatment has been requested and/or granted as to certain portions, which portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC.

# Certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.

^ SEC File No. 333-218474

114


 

 

 

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

 

Form

 

Date of Filing

 

Exhibit Number

 

Filed Herewith

3.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant

 

8-K

 

7/5/2017

 

3.1

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant

 

8-K

 

7/5/2017

 

3.2

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen stock certificate evidencing shares of common stock

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

4.1

 

 

4.2

 

Seventh Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of December 23, 2016, among the Registrant and the other parties thereto

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

4.2

 

 

10.1*

 

2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.1

 

 

10.2*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.2

 

 

10.3*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.3

 

 

10.4*

 

2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.4

 

 

10.5*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.5

 

 

10.6*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2016 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.6

 

 

10.7*

 

2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.8

 

 

10.8*

 

Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.9

 

 

10.9*

 

Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under 2017 Stock Incentive Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.10

 

 

10.10*

 

2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.11

 

 

10.11

 

Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.12

 

 

10.12

 

License Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2006, by and between the Registrant and Materia, Inc.

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.13

 

 

10.13

 

Amended and Restated License Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2010, by and among the Registrant, President and Fellows of Harvard College and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.14

 

 

10.14

 

Lease Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2010, as amended on May 24, 2010, June 17, 2011 and August 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.15

 

 

10.15

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Joseph A. Yanchik III, as amended on December 31, 2008

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.16

 

 

10.16

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of July 23, 2014, between the Registrant and Manuel Aivado

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.17

 

 

SIGNATURES

118


10.17

 

Offer Letter, dated as of March 25, 2015, between the Registrant and Kira A. Nelson

 

S-1^

 

6/2/2017

 

10.19

 

 

10.18

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of June 5, 2017, between the Registrant and Donald V. Dougherty

 

S-1^

 

6/19/2017

 

10.20

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

31.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

31.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

32.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

32.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

*

 

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

+

 

Confidential treatment has been requested and/or granted as to certain portions, which portions have been omitted and filed separately with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

^

 

SEC File No. 333-218474

119


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.

Date: April 2, 201815, 2024

By:

/s/ Joseph A. Yanchik IIIBrian Windsor, Ph.D.

Joseph A. Yanchik IIIBrian Windsor, Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Brian Windsor, Ph.D. and Charles T. Garner, each or any of them, such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report on Form 10-K, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name

Title

Date

/s/ Joseph A. Yanchik IIIBrian Windsor, Ph.D.

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer)

April 2, 201815, 2024

Joseph A. Yanchik IIIBrian Windsor, Ph.D.

/s/ Donald V. DoughertyCharles T. Garner

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (principalFinance

(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

April 2, 201815, 2024

Donald V. DoughertyCharles T. Garner

/s/ Kira A. NelsonJosef H. Von Rickenbach

Vice President, Finance and Operations (principal accounting officer)

April 2, 2018

Kira A. Nelson

/s/ Jeffrey A. Bailey

Chairman of the Board of Directors

April 2, 201815, 2024

Jeffrey A. BaileyJosef H. Von Rickenbach

/s/ Manuel C. Aivado

 Director

 April 15, 2024

Manuel C. Aivado, M.D. Ph. D.

/s/ Reinhard J. Ambros, Ph.D.

Director

April 2, 201815, 2024

Reinhard J. Ambros, Ph.D.

/s/ Scott B. KapnickWilliam C. Fairey

Director

April 2, 201815, 2024

Scott B. KapnickWilliam C. Fairey

/s/ John H. McArthur, Ph.D.Alan Musso

Director

April 2, 201815, 2024

John H. McArthur, Ph.D.Alan Musso

115


INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238)

F-1

/s/ Armen B. Shanafelt, Ph.D.Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 688)

Director

April 2, 2018F-2

Armen B. Shanafelt, Ph.D.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022

F-5

/s/ Caleb Winder

Director

April 2, 2018

Caleb WinderConsolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

F-6

/s/ Jodie P. MorrisonConsolidated Statements of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Director

April 2, 2018F-7

Jodie P. Morrison

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

F-8

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-9

116


120


ReportReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

TotheBoard of Directors and Stockholders of Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheetssheet of Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016,2022, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, of redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders'stockholders’ equity (deficit), and of cash flows for each of the three years in the periodyear then ended, December 31, 2017, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016,2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the periodyear then ended December 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations and had an accumulated deficit that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits.audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”)(PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our auditsaudit of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our auditsaudit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our auditsaudit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provideaudit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter

As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company will require additional financing to fund future operations. Management’s plans in regard to this matter are described in Note 1.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

April 2, 2018March 20, 2023

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2009.from 2009 to 2023

F-1


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-1


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETSTo the Shareholders and Board of Directors of

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

December 31,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

11,863

 

 

$

20,715

 

Investments

 

 

38,889

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

333

 

Restricted cash

 

 

88

 

 

 

25

 

Total current assets

 

 

51,840

 

 

 

21,073

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

154

 

 

 

107

 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

63

 

Other assets

 

 

694

 

 

 

778

 

Total assets

 

$

52,688

 

 

$

22,021

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’

   Equity (Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,600

 

 

$

1,971

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

3,291

 

 

 

2,100

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

4,891

 

 

 

4,071

 

Deferred rent

 

 

 

 

 

11

 

Total liabilities

 

 

4,891

 

 

 

4,082

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock (Series A, A-1, B, C-1, C-2, D, D-1, E,

   E-1, E-2, E-3 and F), $0.01 par value; no shares and 151,557,293 shares

   authorized at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively; no

   shares and 105,631,019 shares issued and outstanding at

   December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively

 

 

 

 

 

129,745

 

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares and no shares authorized

   at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively; no shares

   issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares and 143,500,000 shares

   authorized at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively;

   14,723,818 and 432,413 shares issued and outstanding at

   December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

184,761

 

 

 

2,536

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(33

)

 

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(136,946

)

 

 

(114,342

)

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

47,797

 

 

 

(111,806

)

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and

   stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

$

52,688

 

 

$

22,021

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-2


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

14,239

 

 

 

10,276

 

 

 

7,832

 

General and administrative

 

 

8,769

 

 

 

7,893

 

 

 

5,059

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

23,008

 

 

 

18,169

 

 

 

12,891

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(23,008

)

 

 

(18,169

)

 

 

(12,891

)

Interest income

 

 

404

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

13

 

Net loss

 

 

(22,604

)

 

 

(18,123

)

 

 

(12,878

)

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to

   redemption value

 

 

(41

)

 

 

(75

)

 

 

(71

)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(22,645

)

 

$

(18,198

)

 

$

(12,949

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic

    and diluted

 

$

(3.04

)

 

$

(42.35

)

 

$

(32.31

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted

 

 

7,443,078

 

 

 

429,686

 

 

 

400,713

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,604

)

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(12,878

)

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $0

 

 

(33

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

(33

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(22,637

)

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(12,882

)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-3


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENT OF REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

Redeemable

Convertible

Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

Stockholders'

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Par

Value

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Accumulated

Deficit

 

 

Equity

(Deficit)

 

Balances at December 31, 2014

 

 

81,975,780

 

 

$

97,610

 

 

 

 

 

386,335

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,293

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

(83,341

)

 

$

(82,044

)

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

52

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

626

 

Accretion of redeemable convertible

   preferred stock to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(71

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(71

)

Unrealized loss on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(12,878

)

 

 

(12,878

)

Balances at December 31, 2015

 

 

81,975,780

 

 

 

97,681

 

 

 

 

 

426,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

(96,219

)

 

 

(94,319

)

Issuance of Series E-1 redeemable

   convertible preferred stock, net of

   issuance costs of $17

 

 

9,705,882

 

 

 

13,183

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of Series F redeemable

   convertible preferred stock, net

   of issuance costs of $165

 

 

13,949,357

 

 

 

18,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

688

 

Accretion of redeemable convertible

   preferred stock to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(75

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(75

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18,123

)

 

 

(18,123

)

Balances at December 31, 2016

 

 

105,631,019

 

 

 

129,745

 

 

 

 

 

432,413

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,536

 

 

 

 

 

 

(114,342

)

 

 

(111,806

)

Issuance of Series F redeemable

   convertible preferred stock, net of

    issuance costs of $32

 

 

483,501

 

 

 

626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of redeemable convertible

   preferred stock to redemption value

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(41

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(41

)

Conversion of redeemable convertible

   preferred stock to common stock

 

 

(106,114,520

)

 

 

(130,412

)

 

 

 

 

10,509,774

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

130,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130,412

 

Issuance of common stock upon

   completion of initial public offering,

   net of commissions, underwriting

   discounts and offering costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,750,000

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

50,005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50,009

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,631

 

 

 

 

 

 

111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

111

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,749

 

Unrealized loss on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(33

)

 

 

 

 

 

(33

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(22,604

)

 

 

(22,604

)

Balances at December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

14,723,818

 

 

$

15

 

 

$

184,761

 

 

$

(33

)

 

$

(136,946

)

 

$

47,797

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-4


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,604

)

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(12,878

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating

   activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

129

 

 

 

232

 

 

 

325

 

Net amortization of premiums and discounts on investments

 

 

(152

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

1,749

 

 

 

688

 

 

 

626

 

Change in deferred rent

 

 

(11

)

 

 

(18

)

 

 

(21

)

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

Write-off of deferred offering costs

 

 

 

 

 

1,500

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(764

)

 

 

(75

)

 

 

(109

)

Other assets

 

 

147

 

 

 

(778

)

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(241

)

 

 

1,215

 

 

 

(237

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

1,216

 

 

 

333

 

 

 

584

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(20,531

)

 

 

(15,014

)

 

 

(11,710

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(142

)

 

 

 

 

 

(94

)

Purchases of investments

 

 

(71,056

)

 

 

(12,634

)

 

 

(2,368

)

Proceeds from sales or maturities of investments

 

 

32,286

 

 

 

12,634

 

 

 

12,378

 

Changes in restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

(25

)

 

 

713

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

(38,912

)

 

 

(25

)

 

 

10,629

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred

   stock, net of issuance costs

 

 

471

 

 

 

32,143

 

 

 

(91

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

111

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

52

 

Proceeds from initial public offering of common stock, net of

   commissions and underwriting discounts

 

 

52,313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of initial public offering costs

 

 

(2,304

)

 

 

(180

)

 

 

(1,320

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

50,591

 

 

 

31,986

 

 

 

(1,359

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(8,852

)

 

 

16,947

 

 

 

(2,440

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

20,715

 

 

 

3,768

 

 

 

6,208

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

11,863

 

 

$

20,715

 

 

$

3,768

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to

   redemption value

 

$

41

 

 

$

75

 

 

$

71

 

Issuance costs for redeemable convertible preferred stock

   included in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

 

 

$

154

 

 

$

 

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and

   accrued expenses

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

180

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-5


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

1. Nature of the Business and Basis of Presentation

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aileron” or

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aileron Therapeutics, Inc.(the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on developing and commercializing a novel class of therapeutics called stapled peptides. The Company’s lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, targets the tumor suppressor p53 for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. ALRN-6924 reactivates p53-mediated tumor suppression by targeting the two primary p53 suppressor proteins, MDMX and MDM2. ALRN-6924 was in multiple clinical trials as of December 31, 2017.

The Company is subject to risks common to companies2023, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the biotechnology industry, including but not limited to, new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology, dependence on key personnel, compliance with government regulationsyear ended December 31, 2023, and the needrelated notes (collectively referred to obtain additional financing. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional researchas the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and development efforts, including extensive preclinicalthe results of its operations and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities.

The Company’s product candidates are in development. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protectionits cash flows for the Company’s intellectual property will be obtained, that any products developed will obtain necessary governmental regulatory approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s drug development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant revenue from product sales. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition, the Company is dependent upon the services of its key employees and consultants.

The accompanying financial statements have been preparedyear ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).America.

Reverse Stock Split

On June 16, 2017, in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”),Explanatory Paragraph – Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company effectedwill continue as a one-for-9.937 reverse stock splitgoing concern. As more fully described in Note 1, the Company has a significant working capital deficiency, has incurred significant losses and needs to raise additional funds to meet its obligations and sustain its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of its issuedthis uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and outstanding shares of common stock and a proportional adjustmentare required to be independent with respect to the existing conversion ratios for each series ofCompany in accordance with the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock (see Note 7). Accordingly, all common share and per share amounts for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect this reverse stock splitU.S. federal securities laws and the associated adjustmentapplicable rules and regulations of the preferred stock conversion ratios.

Initial Public Offering

On June 28, 2017, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 relating to its IPO was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Inand the IPO,PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts

F-2


and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which closed on July 5, 2017,they relate.

Business Combination

Critical Audit Matter Description

As described in Note 3 to the financial statements, the Company issuedacquired Lung Therapeutics, Inc. on October 31, 2023. This acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. We identified the evaluation of the acquisition-date fair value of the intangible assets acquired as a critical audit matter.

The principal consideration for our determination that the evaluation of the acquisition-date fair values of the intangible assets acquired was a critical audit matter is the high degree of subjective auditor judgment associated with evaluating management’s determination of the fair values of the acquired intangible assets, which is primarily due to the complexity of the valuation models used and sold 3,750,000 sharesthe sensitivity of common stock at a public offeringthe underlying significant assumptions. The key assumptions used within the valuation models included prospective financial information such as future revenue growth and an applied discount rate. The calculated fair values are sensitive to changes in these key assumptions.

How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of acquisition-date fair values of intangible assets acquired included the following, among others:

We evaluated the reasonableness of the purchase price allocation analysis from management and the third-party specialist engaged by management.
We assessed the qualifications and competence of $15.00management and the third-party specialist.
We evaluated the methodologies used to determine the fair values of the intangible assets.

F-3


We tested the assumptions used within the discounted cash flow models to estimate the fair values of the intangible assets, which included key assumptions such as the future revenue growth and the applied discount rate.
We assessed the reasonableness of management’s forecast by inquiring with management to understand how the forecast was developed and comparing the projections to external sources, including industry trends and peer companies’ historical data.
We involved our internal valuation specialist who assisted in the evaluation and testing performed on the reasonableness of significant assumptions to the models, including the applied discount rate.

/s/ Marcum LLP

Marcum LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.

New York, NY

April 15, 2024

F-4


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share for net proceedsdata)

 

 

December 31,
2023

 

 

December 31,
2022

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

17,313

 

 

$

5,194

 

Investments

 

 

 

 

 

16,048

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

882

 

 

 

606

 

Restricted cash

 

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

Operating lease, right-of-use asset, current portion

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

18,266

 

 

 

21,873

 

Operating lease, right-of-use asset

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

19

 

 

 

70

 

Goodwill

 

 

6,330

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets

 

 

79,200

 

 

 

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

2,193

 

 

 

24

 

Total assets

 

$

106,008

 

 

$

22,007

 

Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,190

 

 

$

1,720

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

3,147

 

 

 

1,631

 

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

 

 

48

 

 

 

33

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

4,385

 

 

 

3,384

 

Deferred tax liability

 

 

3,326

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

7,711

 

 

 

3,384

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and at December 31, 2022; 24,610 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022

 

 

91,410

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 45,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 4,885,512 shares and 4,541,167 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively

 

 

91

 

 

 

91

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

295,376

 

 

 

291,365

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(63

)

 

 

(48

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(288,517

)

 

 

(272,785

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

6,887

 

 

 

18,623

 

Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity

 

$

106,008

 

 

$

22,007

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of $50,009 after deducting underwriting discountsthese consolidated financial statements.

F-5


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except share and commissionsper share data)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

3,991

 

 

 

17,967

 

General and administrative

 

 

11,357

 

 

 

9,680

 

Restructuring and other costs

 

 

928

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

16,276

 

 

 

27,647

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(16,276

)

 

 

(27,647

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

544

 

 

 

318

 

Net loss

 

$

(15,732

)

 

$

(27,329

)

Net loss per share—basic and diluted

 

$

(3.42

)

 

$

(6.02

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted

 

 

4,598,715

 

 

 

4,539,318

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(15,732

)

 

$

(27,329

)

Other comprehensive gain (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on short-term investments, net of tax of $0

 

 

48

 

 

 

(35

)

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

(15

)

 

 

(35

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(15,747

)

 

$

(27,364

)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of $3,937these consolidated financial statements.

F-6


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

Convertible Series X Preferred Stock

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

 

 

Accumulated
Deficit

 

 

Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders'
Equity

 

Balances at December 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

4,528,667

 

 

$

91

 

 

$

289,282

 

 

$

(13

)

 

$

(245,456

)

 

$

43,904

 

RSUs vested, net of shares repurchased for tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,083

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,083

 

Unrealized loss on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(35

)

 

 

 

 

 

(35

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,329

)

 

 

(27,329

)

Balances at December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

4,541,167

 

 

$

91

 

 

$

291,365

 

 

$

(48

)

 

$

(272,785

)

 

$

18,623

 

Issuance of common stock in connection with business acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

344,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

403

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

403

 

Issuance of Series X preferred stock in connection with business acquisition

 

 

19,903

 

 

 

74,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,615

 

Stock options assumed in connection with business acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,050

 

Common stock warrants assumed in connection with business acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

627

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

627

 

Issuance of Series X preferred stock in connection with the Financing, net of issuance costs of $855

 

 

4,707

 

 

 

16,795

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,795

 

Issuance of common stock warrants in connection with the Financing, net of issuance costs of $38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

741

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

741

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,190

 

Unrealized gain on short-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

 

 

(63

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,732

)

 

 

(15,732

)

Balances at December 31, 2023

 

 

24,610

 

 

$

91,410

 

 

 

4,885,512

 

 

$

91

 

 

$

295,376

 

 

$

(63

)

 

$

(288,517

)

 

$

98,297

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-7


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(15,732

)

 

$

(27,329

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

119

 

 

 

169

 

Net amortization of premiums and discounts on investments

 

 

32

 

 

 

(208

)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

1,190

 

 

 

2,083

 

Gain on sale of property and equipment

 

 

(42

)

 

 

 

Loss on disposition of property and equipment

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

51

 

 

 

1,613

 

Other assets

 

 

(3

)

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(4,982

)

 

 

510

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

(65

)

 

 

(129

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

(382

)

 

 

(1,574

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(19,808

)

 

 

(24,865

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

Purchases of investments

 

 

 

 

 

(21,850

)

Proceeds from sales or maturities of investments

 

 

16,250

 

 

 

48,309

 

Acquisition, net of cash acquired

 

 

(96

)

 

 

0

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

 

16,196

 

 

 

26,459

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from the Financing

 

 

15,794

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

15,794

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(63

)

 

 

 

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

12,119

 

 

 

1,594

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

 

 

5,219

 

 

 

3,625

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

 

$

17,338

 

 

$

5,219

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

17,313

 

 

$

5,194

 

Restricted cash at end of year

 

 

25

 

 

 

25

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

 

$

17,338

 

 

$

5,219

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on short-term investments

 

$

48

 

 

$

 

Fair value of common shares issued in the Lung Acquisition

 

$

403

 

 

$

 

Fair value of Series X Preferred Stock issued in the Lung Acquisition

 

$

74,615

 

 

$

 

Fair value of options assumed in the Lung Acquisition

 

$

1,050

 

 

$

 

Fair value of warrants assumed in the Lung Acquisition

 

$

627

 

 

$

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-8


AILERON THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except share and offering expenses of $2,304. Upon the closingper share data)

1. Nature of the IPO, all 106,114,520 sharesBusiness

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aileron” or the “Company”) was a clinical stage chemoprotection oncology company. The Company's product candidate, ALRN-6924, was a MDM2/MDMX dual inhibitor that leverages its proprietary peptide drug technology. In February 2023, the Company decided to terminate further development of redeemable convertible preferred stock then outstanding convertedALRN-6924. Refer to Note 10 for more details on the restructuring event in 2023.

On October 31, 2023, Aileron acquired Lung Therapeutics, Inc. (“Lung Therapeutics” or "Lung") pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 31, 2023 (the “Lung Acquisition Agreement”), by and among the Company, AT Merger Sub I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, or First Merger Sub, AT Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and its wholly owned subsidiary, or Second Merger Sub, and Lung. Pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement, First Merger Sub merged with and into an aggregateLung, pursuant to which Lung was the surviving entity and became its wholly owned subsidiary, or the First Merger. Immediately following the First Merger, Lung merged with and into Second Merger Sub, pursuant to which Second Merger Sub was the surviving entity, such merger, together with the First Merger, the Lung Acquisition. Lung was incorporated on November 13, 2012 under the laws of 10,509,774the state of Texas. Its principal offices are in Austin, Texas. Following the Lung Acquisition, the Company shifted its operating disease focus to advancing a pipeline of first-in-class medicines to address significant unmet medical needs in orphan pulmonary and fibrosis indications with the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes over currently available treatments. Following expiration of the lease on March 31, 2024, the Company expects to operate virtually for the foreseeable future.

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common shares.to clinical-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to the risk that the Company never achieves profitability, the need for substantial additional financing, the risk of relying on third parties, risks of clinical trial failures, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, and compliance with government regulations. The Company’s lead product candidate, LTI-03, is being developed for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (“IPF”) and has completed a healthy volunteer Phase 1a clinical trial. LTI-03 is currently in a Phase 1b clinical trial in IPF patients. The Company’s second product candidate, LTI-01, is in development for loculated pleural effusion (“LPE”). The Company has completed Phase 1b and Phase 2a clinical trials in LPE patients.

Liquidity and Going Concern

In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), management must evaluatethe Company has evaluated whether there are conditions orand events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the company’sCompany’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the accompanying consolidated financial statements arewere issued. This evaluation

F-6


initially does not take into consideration the potential mitigating effect of management’s plans that have not been fully implemented as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued. When substantial doubt exists, under this methodology, management evaluates whether the mitigating effect of its plans sufficiently alleviates substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The mitigating effect of management’s plans, however, is only considered if both (1) it is probable that the plans will be effectively implemented within one year after the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued, and (2) it is probable that the plans, when implemented, will mitigate the relevant conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Generally, to be considered probable of being effectively implemented, the plans must have been approved before the date that the consolidated financial statements are issued.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared onassuming that the basis ofCompany will continue to operate as a going concern, which contemplates the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. Through December 31, 2017,2023, the Company has fundedfinanced its operations withprimarily through $145,467 in net proceeds of $50,009 from its IPO, $131,211 from sales of common stock and warrants, $131,211 from sales of

F-9


preferred stock prior to its initial public offering (“IPO”), and $34,910$34,910 from a collaboration agreement. Asagreement in 2010, and $18,429 in gross proceeds, less issuance costs of December 31, 2017,$893, in connection with the Company hadfinancing following the Lung Acquisition, which included the conversion of certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1,553 issued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of the Series X non-voting convertible preferred stock (“Series X Preferred Stock”), or the Financing, and collectively with the Lung Acquisition, the Transactions.

After the Lung Acquisition, management believes that, based on the Company’s current operating plan, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and investments of $50,752. The Company has incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations and had an accumulated deficit of $136,946$17,313 as of December 31, 2017. The Company expects to continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future.

As of April 2, 2018, the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments of $50,752 as of December 31, 20172023, will be sufficientenable Aileron to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements throughfor at least six months following the next twelve months.date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Since its inception, the Company has not generated any revenue from product sales and have never generated an operating profit. The Company has incurred significant losses on an aggregate basis. The Company’s net losses were $15,732 and $27,329 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $288,517. These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred in connection with research and development activities, licensing and patent investment and general and administrative costs associated with the Company's operations. In February 2023, the Company discontinued development of ALRN-6924 which substantially reduced its operating expenses. Notwithstanding these events, management expects to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future until the Company completes development and approval of its product candidates. The Company will continue to fund its operations primarily through utilization of its current financial resources and additional raises of capital.

These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least one year from the date those consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company plans to address these conditions by raising funds from its current investors, potential outside investors and other funding sources. However, there is no assurance that such funding will be available to the Company, will be obtained on terms favorable to the Company or will provide the Company with sufficient funds to meet its objectives. The Company’s funding estimates are based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and the Company could use its available capital resources sooner than it currently expects. The Company’s future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to raise additional capital, to finance its operations. Although the Company has beenenter into a financing, consummate a successful in raising capital in the past, there is no assurance that it will be successful in obtaining such additional financing on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all.

To execute itsacquisition, merger, business plans, the Company will need substantial funding to support its continuing operations and pursue its growth strategy. Until such time as the Company can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, it expects to finance its operations through thecombination, or a sale of common stock in public offering and/or private placements, debt financingsassets or other capital sources, including collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders.transaction. If the Company isbecomes unable to obtain funding,continue as a going concern, it may have to liquidate its assets and the Companyvalues it receives for its assets in liquidation or dissolution could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all ofsignificantly lower than the values reflected in its research and development programs, product portfolio expansion plans or commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect its business prospects.consolidated financial statements.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and as amended by ASUs of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Lung Therapeutics, LLC, Lung TherapeuticsAustralia Pty Ltd, and Lung Therapeutics Limited. All intercompany balances and transactionshave been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the accrual offor research and development expenses, the value of stock-based

F-10


compensation, the purchase price allocation for the Lung Acquisition,and the valuation of common stock and stock-based awards.warrants. Estimates are periodically reviewed in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from the Company’sthose estimates.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition date to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents, which consist of money market accounts, are stated at fair value.

F-7


Restricted Cash

As of December 31, 2017, current restricted cash of $88 consisted of $25 of cash deposited in a separate restricted bank account as a security depositfunctional currency for the Company’s corporate credit cards and $63 of cash deposited in a separate restricted bank account as a security deposit forwholly owned foreign subsidiary, Lung Therapeutics Australia Pty Ltd., is the lease of the Company’s facilities. As of December 31, 2016, current restricted cash consisted of $25 of cash deposited in a separate restricted bank account as a security deposit for the Company’s corporate credit cards and non-current restricted cash consisted of $63 of cash deposited in a separate restricted bank account as a security deposit for the lease of the Company’s facilities.

Investments

The Company classifies its available-for-sale investments as current assets on the balance sheet if they mature within one year from the balance sheet date.

The Company classifies all of its investments as available-for-sale securities. The Company’s investments are measured and reported at fair value using quoted prices in active markets for similar securities or using other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity (deficit). The cost of securities sold is determined on a specific identification basis, and realizedUnited States dollar. All foreign currency transaction gains and losses are includedrecognized in other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company evaluates its investments with unrealized losses for other-than-temporary impairment. When assessing investments for other-than-temporary declines in value, the Company considers such factors as, among other things, how significant the decline in value is as a percentage of the original cost, how long the market value of the investment has been less than its original cost, the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value and market conditions in general. If any adjustment to fair value reflects a decline in the value of the investment that the Company considers to be “other than temporary”, the Company reduces the investment to fair value through a charge to the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. No such adjustments were necessary during the periods presented.

Concentration of Credit Risk and of Significant Suppliers

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and investments. From time to time,equivalents. Periodically, the Company has maintained all of its cash, cash equivalents and investmentmaintains balances at three accredited financial institutions, in amounts that exceedoperating accounts above federally insured limits. The Company generally investsdeposits its excess cash in money market funds, commercial paperfinancial institutions that it believes have high credit quality. The Company has not experienced any losses on such accounts and corporate notes that are subjectdoes not believe it is exposed to minimalany significant credit risk on cash and market risk. Management has established guidelines relative to credit ratings and maturities intended to safeguard principal balances and maintain liquidity. The investment portfolio is maintained in accordance with the Company’s investment policy, which defines allowable investments, specifies credit quality standards and limits the credit exposure of any single issuer.cash equivalents.

The Company is dependent on third-party manufacturers to supply products for research and development activities of its programs, including preclinical and clinical testing. In particular, the Company relies and expects to continue to relyrelied on a small number of manufacturers to supply it with its requirements for the active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs related to these programs. These programs could behave been adversely affected by a significant interruption in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company maintains cash balances in various accounts, including those insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC provides insurance coverage up to applicable limits for deposits held in participating financial institutions.

F-8The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the acquisition date to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents are comprised of fundsheld in money market accounts and are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.


Restricted Cash

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, restricted cash of $25 consisted of cash deposited in a separate restricted bank account as a security deposit for the Company’s corporate credit cards.

Fair Value Measurements

Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under GAAP. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable.

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

F-11


Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.

To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s cash equivalents and investments are carried at fair value, determined according to the fair value hierarchy described above (see Note 3). The carrying values of the Company’s accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these liabilities.

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred offering costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded in stockholders’ equity (deficit) as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the offering. Should the planned equity financing be abandoned, the deferred offering costs would be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company’s IPO was completed in July 2017 and previously deferred offering costs of $2,304 were recorded as a reduction to stockholder's equity. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have any deferred offering costs recorded. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had recorded $1,500 of deferred offering costs in contemplation of a probable 2016 equity financing. The Company determined in June 2016 that the equity financing was no longer probable of being consummated and, at that time, recorded general and administrative expense of $1,500 in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss to write off the deferred offering costs that had been capitalized.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Laboratory equipment

5 years

Computer equipment and software

3 to 5 years

Furniture and fixtures

3 to 5 years

7 years

Leasehold improvements

Shorter of 7 years or term of lease

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance of assets are charged to expense as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets disposed of are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases under ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). Under ASC 842, at inception of a contract, the Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease. For all leases, the Company determines the classification as either operating leases or financing leases. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

F-9Lease recognition occurs at the commencement date and lease liability amounts are based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. If a lease does not provide information to determine an implicit interest rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments under the lease. ROU assets also include any lease payments made prior to the commencement date and exclude lease incentives received. Operating lease payments are expensed using the straight-line method as a general and administrative expense over the lease term. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise. The Company has elected to apply the practical short-term expedient to leases with a lease term of 12 months or less, which does not subject the leases to capitalization.

The Company has an operating lease of office space, which has a remaining lease term of less than one year and includes one or more options to renew or terminate early. The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. Operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use asset may be required for items such as prepaid or accrued lease payments, initial direct costs paid or incentives received. The Company’s leases do not contain an implicit rate, and therefore the Company uses an estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Options to extend or terminate the lease are reflected in the calculation when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. The Company has elected to account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component, however non-lease components that are variable, such as common area maintenance and utilities, are generally paid separately from rent based on actual costs incurred and therefore are not

F-12


included in the right-of-use asset and operating lease liability and are reflected as an expense in the period incurred. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the amount assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets, which consist of in-process research and development ("IPR&D"), acquired in the Lung Acquisition were recorded at fair value on their acquisition date. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are subject to impairment testing on an annual basis as of December 31 or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate a potential impairment. The Company accounts for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles Goodwill and Other, and Accounting Standards Update, or ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The Company’s goodwill and intangible assets are deductible for tax purposes.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment.equipment, goodwill and intangible assets. Long-lived assets to be held and used are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset over its fair value, determined based on discounted cash flows.

In performing the Company’s annual goodwill impairment test, the Company is permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, including goodwill. In performing the qualitative assessment, the Company considers certain events and circumstances specific to the reporting unit and to the entity as a whole, such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance and cost factors when evaluating whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount. The Company is also permitted to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to the quantitative assessment. If the Company chooses to undertake the qualitative assessment and concludes that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company would then proceed to the quantitative impairment assessment. In the quantitative assessment, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, which includes goodwill. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment loss exists. If the fair value is less than the carrying amount, a goodwill impairment loss is measured and recorded.

To date, the Company has notnot recorded any impairment losses on long-lived assets. For additional details regarding goodwill and intangible assets, refer to Note 7.

Series X Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company has classified its Series X convertible preferred stock, referred to as Series X Preferred Stock, as temporary equity in the accompanyingconsolidated balance sheets due to terms that allow for redemption of the shares in cash upon certain change in control events that are outside of the Company’s control, including sale or transfer of control of the Company as holders of the Series X Preferred Stock could cause redemption of the shares in these situations. The Company did not accrete the carrying values of the preferred stock to the redemption values since a liquidation event was not considered probable as of December 31, 2023. Subsequentadjustments of the carrying values to the ultimate redemption values will be made only when it becomes probable that such a liquidation event will occur.

F-13


Research and Development Costs

Research and development expenditurescosts are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of salaries, stock-based compensation and benefits of employees, third-party license fees and other operational costs related to the Company’sincurred in performing research and development activities, including allocated facility-related expensesstock-based compensation and benefits, facilities costs, costs of clinical trials, sponsored research, manufacturing, and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct both preclinical studiesdevelopment activities and clinical trials.

Research Contract Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are immediately recognized as research and Accrualsdevelopment expense if the technology licensed has not reached technological feasibility and has no alternative future uses.

The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with research institutions and other companies.agreements with commercial firms, researchers, universities, and others for provisions of goods and services. These agreements are generally cancelable, and the related paymentscosts are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred. Research and development expenses include costs for salaries, employee benefits, subcontractors, facility-related expenses, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, laboratory supplies, and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct discovery, preclinical and clinical development activities, and clinical trials as well as to manufacture clinical trial materials, and other costs. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research and development costs. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with personnel to identify services that have been performed and estimating levelWhen evaluating the adequacy of service performed and the associated costs incurred for the services for whichaccrued liabilities, the Company has not yet been invoiced.analyzes progress of the studies or clinical trials, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgmentjudgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from the Company’s estimates. The Company’s historical accrual estimatesNonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. Such prepaid expenses are recognized as an expense when the goods have not been materially different fromdelivered or the actual costs.related services have been performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered.

Upfront payments, milestone payments and annual maintenance fees under license agreements are expensed in the period in which they are incurred in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Patent Costs

All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to employees, directors and directorsnon-employee consultants based on the fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense of those awards, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company applies the straight-line method of expense recognition to all awards with only service-based vesting conditions and applies the graded vesting method to all awards with performance-based vesting conditions or both service-based and performance-based vesting conditions.

For stock-based awards granted to non-employees,The Company recognizes compensation expense is recognized overfor only the period during which servicesportion of awards that are rendered by such non-employeesexpected to vest. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. For performance-based awards, the Company does not recognize expense until completed. At the endunderlying vesting conditions are deemed to be probable of each financial reporting period prior to the completion of the service, the fair value of these awards is remeasured using the then-current fair value of the Company’s common stock and updated assumption inputs in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. occurrence.

The Company classifies stock-basedshare-based compensation expenseexpenses in its statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient’srecipient's payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’srecipient's service payments are classified.classified, either to general and administrative expenses or research and development expenses.

F-10


The Company recognizes compensation expense for only the portion of awards that are expected to vest. In developing a forfeiture rate estimate, the Company has considered its historical experience to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures for awards with service-based vesting conditions. The impact of a forfeiture rate adjustment will be recognized in full in the period of adjustment, and if the actual forfeiture rate is materially different from the Company’s estimate, the Company may be required to record adjustments to stock-based compensation expense in future periods.

The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company historically has been a private company and lacks company-specific historical and implied volatility information. Therefore, it estimates its expected stock volatility based on the historical volatility of a publicly traded set of peer companies and expects to continue to do so until such time as it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. For options with service-based vesting conditions, the expected term of the Company’s stock options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The expected term of

F-14


stock options granted to non-employees is equal to the contractual term of the option award. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The quoted market price of the Company’s common stock is used to estimate the fair value of the stock-based awards at grant date.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes.

The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the Company’s tax provision in the period of change. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, that are considered appropriate as well as the related net interest and penalties.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”) was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.

Any redemption or other repurchase that occurs after December 31, 2022, in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to the excise tax. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a business combination, extension vote or otherwise would depend on a number of factors, including (i) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, extension or otherwise, (ii) the structure of a business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) or other equity issuances in connection with a business combination (or otherwise issued not in connection with a business combination but issued within the same taxable year of a business combination) and (iv) the content of regulations and other guidance from the Treasury. In addition, because the excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holder, the mechanics of any required payment of the excise tax have not been determined. The foregoing could cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete a business combination and in the Company’s ability to complete a business combination.

F-15


Segment DataInformation

The Company manages its operations as a single segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions. The Company’s singular focus is on developing a novel class of therapeuticstherapies for the treatment of cancerorphan pulmonary and other diseases.fibrosis indications with no approved or limited effective treatments. All of the Company’s tangible assets are held in the United States. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment operating exclusively in the United States.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) that result from transactions and economic events other than those with stockholders. The Company’s only element of other comprehensive loss in all periods presented wasincludes unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments.investments and foreign currency translation adjustments.

F-11


Net Income (Loss)Loss per Share

The Company follows the two-class method when computing net income (loss) per share as the Company has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net income (loss) per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed.

Basic net income (loss)loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net income (loss)loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss)loss attributable to common stockholders is computed by adjusting income (loss)loss per share attributable to common stockholders to reallocate undistributed earnings based on the potential impact of dilutive securities. Diluted net income (loss)loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the diluted net income (loss)loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares. For purpose of this calculation, outstanding options and warrants to purchase common stock and shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock are considered potential dilutive common shares.

Acquisition Accounting

The Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock contractually entitled the holders of such shares to participate in dividends but contractually did not require the holders of such stock to participate in lossesfair value of the Company. Accordingly,consideration exchanged in periodsa business combination is allocated to tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at acquisition date fair value. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the consideration transferred over the net fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The accounting for an acquisition involves a considerable amount of judgment and estimation. Cost, income, market or a combination of approaches may be used to establish the fair value of consideration exchanged, assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, depending on the nature of those items. The valuation approach is determined in whichaccordance with generally accepted valuation methods. Key areas of estimation and judgment may include the selection of valuation approaches, cost of capital, market characteristics, cost structure, impacts of synergies, and estimates of terminal value, among other factors.

While the Company reportsuses estimates and assumptions as part of the purchase price allocation process to estimate the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with a net loss attributablecorresponding offset to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share attributablegoodwill, to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributableextent that adjustments are identified to common stockholders, since dilutive common sharesthe preliminary purchase price allocation. Upon conclusion of the measurement period, or final determination of the value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are not assumedrecorded to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.results of operations.

Recently IssuedAdopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014,On January 1, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issuedCompany adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 606), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance.326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective approach, and no cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit was needed as of the adoption date. Additionally, no prior period amounts were adjusted. The new standard adjusts the accounting for assets held on an amortized cost basis, including short-term investments accounted for as available-for-sale, and receivables. The standard eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold and requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amountvaluation account that reflectsis deducted from the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. The FASB has continued to issue accounting standards updates to clarify and provide implementation guidance related to Revenue from Contracts with Customers, including ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contract with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations, ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. These amendments address a number of areas, including the entity’s identification of its performance obligations in a contract, collectability, non-cash consideration, presentation of sales tax and an entity’s evaluationamortized

F-16


cost basis of the nature of its promisefinancial assets to grant a license of intellectual property and whether or not that revenue is recognized over time or at a point in time. These new standards willpresent the net amount expected to be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018. collected. The adoption of these standards is not expected tothis standard did not have ana material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as the Company does not currently have any revenue-generating arrangements.statements and related disclosures.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016,October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, (“2023-06—Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of Topics. ASU 2016-02”), which sets out2023-06 adds 14 of the principles27 identified disclosure or presentation requirements to the Codification. However, each amendment in the ASU will only become effective if the SEC removes the related disclosure or presentation requirement from its existing regulations by June 30, 2027. The effective dates of ASU 2023-06 will depend, in part, on whether an entity is already subject to the SEC’s current disclosure requirements. For such entities and those that must “file or furnish financial statements with or to the SEC in preparation for the recognition, measurement, presentationsale of or for purposes of issuing securities that are not subject to contractual restrictions on transfer,” the effective date for each amendment will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective two years after the date of such removal. The Company is currently assessing the effect of this ASU on its consolidated financial statements and disclosure of leasesrelated disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07—Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to improve the disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and address requests from investors for both parties toadditional, more detailed information about a contract (i.e. lessees or lessors). The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classificationreportable segment’s expenses. All public entities will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is alsobe required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leasesreport segment information in accordance with a term of greater than 12 months, regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for similar to existingthe new guidance for operating leases today. ASU 2016-02 (Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842) supersedes the previous leases standard, ASC 840, Leases. The standard is effective for public entities forstarting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 20182023. The Company plans to adopt the ASU for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2024. Since the Company has only one reportable segment, the Company will need to disclose the title and forposition of the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources, as well as disclose, on an annual and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.basis, significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM. The Company is currently evaluatingassessing the potential impact that the adoptioneffect of this ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.statements and related disclosures.

F-12


In March 2016,December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASU 2016-09”), which amends ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC Topic 718”). The new standard identifies areas2023-09—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, to address investor requests for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including themore transparency about income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an optioninformation through improvements to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur,income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information as well as certain classifications onother amendments to improve the statementseffectiveness of cash flows.income tax disclosures. The standard isamendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods within those fiscal years.2024. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on the required effective date of January 1, 2017. The Company elected to maintain its existing policy to estimate forfeitures when determining periodic stock-based compensation expense. The adoption of the other provisions of ASU 2016-09 had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). This guidance addresses the presentation and classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”). The new standard requires restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the total beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Thedoes not expect adoption of this standard is not expectedASU to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position,its results of operations, or cash flows.

In May 2017,financial condition, and its consolidated financial statements other than adding new disclosures, which the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASU 2017-09”), Scope of Modification Accounting which amends ASC Topic 718. This new standard clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The standard is effective for all companies for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating, as the potential impact thatCompany has not recorded any net tax provision for the adoption of ASU 2017-09 will haveperiods presented due to the losses incurred and the need for a full valuation allowance on its financial statements.net deferred tax assets.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures upon adoption.

3. Business Acquisition

On October 31, 2023, Aileron acquired 100% of Lung, pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement. At the closing of the Lung Acquisition, Aileron issued to the stockholders of Lung 344,345 shares of its common stock (excluding 221 fractional shares from the total 344,566 shares pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement) and 19,903 shares of its newly designated Series X Preferred Stock (excluding 238 fractional shares from the total 20,141 shares pursuant to the Lung Acquisition Agreement). Each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of common stock. The Company paid $290 cash in lieu of fractional shares of both common stock and Series X Preferred Stock. In addition, Aileron assumed all Lung's stock options (1,780,459) and all warrants (726,437)

3.F-17


exercisable for Lung common stock immediately outstanding prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, each subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement.

Immediately following the closing of the Lung Acquisition, on October 31, 2023, Aileron entered into a Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement” or the "PIPE") with a group of accredited investors, pursuant to which Aileron issued and sold (i) an aggregate of 4,707 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, and (ii) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,353,500 shares of Aileron common stock (the “Warrant Shares”), for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $18,429, which included the conversion of certain convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,553 issued by Lung to Bios Partners, the majority stockholder of Lung prior to the closing of the Lung Acquisition, at a 10% discount to the per share price of the Series X Preferred Stock. The Financing closed on November 2, 2023. Subject to stockholder approval for the conversion rights of the Series X Preferred Stock, each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of common stock.

The net proceeds from the Financing of approximately $17,536 are expected to be used to advance Aileron’s clinical development pipeline, business development activities, working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The Lung Acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting under ASC 805. Under the acquisition method, the total purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the fair values as of the date of the acquisition. Consideration transferred is the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred by the acquirer to the former owners of the acquiree, and the equity interests issued by the acquirer to the former owners of the acquiree (except for the measurement of share-based payment awards). The total purchase price consideration consisted of the following:

Fair value of common stock issued to Lung stockholders

 

$

403

 

Fair value of Series X Preferred Stock issued to Lung stockholders

 

 

74,615

 

Cash in lieu of fractional shares

 

 

290

 

Fair value of the options assumed

 

 

1,050

 

Fair value of the warrants assumed

 

 

627

 

Total purchase price consideration

 

$

76,985

 

The Company recorded the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of the Lung Acquisition based on the information available at that date. The following table presents the allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Lung Acquisition date:

Assets acquired:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

194

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2,465

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

3

 

Operating right-of-use assets

 

 

76

 

Goodwill

 

 

6,330

 

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

 

 

79,200

 

Other assets

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

88,295

 

Liabilities assumed:

 

 

 

Accounts Payable

 

 

4,452

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

1,899

 

Operating lease liabilities, current

 

 

80

 

Convertible notes payable

 

 

1,553

 

Deferred tax liability

 

 

3,326

 

 

 

 

11,310

 

Net assets acquired

 

$

76,985

 

Pro Forma Financial Information

F-18


The following pro forma financial information reflects the consolidated results of operations of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as if the Lung Acquisition had taken place on January 1, 2022. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations as they would have been had the transactions been effected on the assumed date.

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Total net revenue

 

$

153

 

 

$

688

 

Net loss

 

 

(28,232

)

 

 

(51,610

)

The unaudited pro forma financial information above gives effect primarily to the following:

The exclusion of Lung Acquisition related transaction costs from the year ended December 31, 2023, and the addition of these items to the year ended December 31, 2022.

4. Fair Value of Financial Assets

The following tables present information about the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values:

 

 

Fair Value Measurements as of

December 31, 2017 using:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

10,509

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

10,509

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate notes

 

 

 

 

 

25,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,710

 

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 

 

13,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,179

 

 

 

$

10,509

 

 

$

38,889

 

 

$

 

 

$

49,398

 

 

 

December 31,
2023

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

10,322

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

10,322

 

 

 

$

10,322

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

10,322

 

 

 

December 31,
2022

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

1,661

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,661

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 

 

12,814

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,814

 

Treasury bills

 

 

 

 

 

3,234

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,234

 

 

 

$

1,661

 

 

$

16,048

 

 

$

 

 

$

17,709

 

F-13


 

 

Fair Value Measurements as of

December 31, 2016 using:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

20,016

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

20,016

 

 

 

$

20,016

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

20,016

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s cash equivalents and investments were invested in money market funds, corporate notes and commercial paper and were valued based on Level 1 and Level 2 inputs. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s cash equivalents were invested in money market funds and were valued based on Level 1 inputs. In determining the fair value of its corporate notes and commercial paper at each date presented above, the Company relied on quoted prices for similar securities in active markets or using other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. The Company’s cash equivalents have original maturities of less than 90 days from the date of purchase. All available-for-sale investments have contractual maturities of less than one year. During the years ended December 31, 20172023 and 2016,2022, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2levels.

5. Prepaid Expenses and Level 3.Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

4. Investments

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Prepaid research and development

 

$

207

 

 

$

 

Other current assets

 

 

675

 

 

 

606

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

$

882

 

 

$

606

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had no available-for-sale investments. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of available-for-sale investments by type of security was as follows:F-19


 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

Amortized

Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gain

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Loss

 

 

Fair

Value

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate notes

 

$

25,733

 

 

$

 

 

$

(23

)

 

$

25,710

 

Commercial paper

 

 

13,189

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10

)

 

 

13,179

 

 

 

$

38,922

 

 

$

 

 

$

(33

)

 

$

38,889

 

5.6. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

December 31,

 

Laboratory equipment

 

$

1,308

 

 

$

1,240

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

559

 

 

 

559

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Computer equipment and software

 

 

195

 

 

 

331

 

 

$

323

 

 

$

340

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

 

71

 

 

 

71

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,133

 

 

 

2,201

 

 

 

377

 

 

 

340

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(1,979

)

 

 

(2,094

)

 

 

(358

)

 

 

(270

)

 

$

154

 

 

$

107

 

 

$

19

 

 

$

70

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 20152022 was $95, $232$49 and $325,$169, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017,2023, the Company received payment for disposed, fully depreciated assets, with a cost of $210 were disposed of for no proceeds, resulting in neither a gain nor a loss and during the year ended December 31, 2016, assets with a cost of $12 were disposed of for no proceeds, resulting in a lossgain on sales of $12. No$42.

7. Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

$6,330 of goodwill and $79,200 of indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired in the Lung Acquisition were disposedrecorded at fair value on the Lung Acquisition date (refer to Note 3 for more information). The Company performed a qualitative assessment of during the year endedgoodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for potential impairment as of December 31, 2015.2023, and concluded that there was no goodwill or intangible assets impairment as of December 31, 2023.

8. Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Non-current prepaid research and development

 

$

2,140

 

 

$

 

Other assets

 

 

53

 

 

 

24

 

Total other non-current assets

 

$

2,193

 

 

$

24

 

F-14


6.9. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

External research and development services

 

$

1,110

 

 

$

533

 

Payroll and payroll-related costs

 

 

1,178

 

 

 

425

 

Professional fees

 

 

653

 

 

 

492

 

Other

 

 

206

 

 

 

181

 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

$

3,147

 

 

$

1,631

 

 

 

December 31,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Payroll and payroll-related costs

 

$

1,120

 

 

$

899

 

External research and development services

 

 

1,284

 

 

 

723

 

Professional fees

 

 

536

 

 

 

322

 

Other

 

 

351

 

 

 

156

 

 

 

$

3,291

 

 

$

2,100

 

10. Restructuring and Other Costs

On February 16, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company determined to reduce the Company’s remaining workforce from nine to three full-time employees. The determination to effect the workforce reduction was made in connection with the Company’s decision to terminate its Phase 1b breast cancer trial of ALRN-6924 and further development of ALRN-6924.

F-20


As a result of the above restructuring initiatives, the Company incurred restructuring-related charges of $928 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Restructuring-related charges were comprised of one-time termination costs in connection with the reduction-in-workforce, including severance, benefits, and related costs.

7. Redeemable ConvertibleThe Company paid all restructuring-related charges during the year ended December 31, 2023.

11. Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2017 and 31, 2016, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized2023, the Company to issue no shares and 151,557,293had 5,000,000 shares of $0.01preferred stock, par value redeemable convertible preferred stock, respectively.

The Company previously had issued Series A, Series A-1, Series B, Series C-1 and Series C-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock (collectively, the “Junior Preferred Stock”) and Series D, Series D-1, Series E, Series E-1, Series E-2, Series E-3 and Series F redeemable convertible preferred stock (collectively, the “Senior Preferred Stock”), together the “Redeemable Preferred Stock”. The Redeemable Preferred Stock is classified outside$0.001 per share, authorized, out of stockholders’ equity (deficit) because the shares contain redemption features that are not solely within the control of the Company.

In January 2016, the Company issued 9,705,882which 24,610 shares of Series E-1X Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, at a price of $1.36par value $0.001 per share, resulting in proceedsauthorized, and no shares of $13,183, netpreferred stock issued or outstanding.

On October 31, 2023 Aileron acquired Lung. Under the terms of issuance coststhe Lung Acquisition Agreement, at the closing of $17.

In December 2016, the CompanyLung Acquisition, Aileron issued 13,949,357to the stockholders of Lung 344,345 shares of the common stock of Aileron, par value $0.001 per share, and 19,903 shares of Series F redeemable convertible preferred stock (the “Series F preferred stock”) at a price of $1.36 per share, resulting in proceeds of $18,806, net of issuance costs of $165. As partX Preferred Stock.

Immediately following the closing of the Series F preferred stock purchase agreement,Lung Acquisition, on October 31, 2023, Aileron entered into the Purchase Agreement with a group of accredited investors, agreedpursuant to purchase an additional 8,192,477which Aileron issued and sold 4,707 shares of Series F preferred stock at a price of $1.36 per share upon the Company achieving specified clinical milestones (the “second tranche closing”) forX Preferred Stock and Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate purchase price of $11,142. In February 2017,2,353,500 shares of Aileron common stock. Refer to Note 3 for more details on the Company amendedFinancing in connection with the Purchase Agreement.

Since the Series F preferred stock purchase agreement to permitX Preferred Stock was sold as a unit with the sale of up to 758,458 additional shares of Series F preferred stock. In February 2017, pursuantWarrants according to the amended Series F preferred stock purchase agreement,Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 483,501 shares of Series F preferred stock atproceeds received were allocated to each instrument on a price of $1.36 per share, resulting inrelative fair value basis. Total gross proceeds of $626, net$18,429 reduced by $893 of the issuance costs of $32.were allocated as follows: $16,795 to the Series X Preferred Stock and $741 to the Warrants. The purchasers of Series F preferred stock in this February 2017 closing agreed to purchase an additional 274,957 shares of Series F preferred stock at a price of $1.36 per shareX Preferred Stock and the Warrants issued in the second tranche closing, which increased the aggregate numberFinancing were recorded at par value of shares of Series F preferred stock to be purchased in the second tranche closing to 8,467,434 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $11,516. $0.001.

The Company evaluated the Series X Preferred Stock for liability classification in accordance with the provisions of ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity ("ASC 480"), and determined that the future tranche obligations ofequity treatment was appropriate because the Series F preferred stock purchase agreement, as amended,X Preferred Stock did not meet the definition of a freestanding financial instrument because, while separately exercisable, they werethe liability instruments. Specifically, the Series X Preferred Stock is not legally detachable. Further,mandatorily redeemable and does not embody an obligation to buy back the Company determined that the embedded future tranche obligations did not require bifurcation for accounting purposes as they are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risksshares outside of the initial preferred shares and would not qualify asCompany’s control in a derivative on a standalone basis.

In December 2016, pursuant tomanner that could require the Series F preferred stock purchase agreement, holderstransfer of 8,927,582 shares of Series E redeemable convertible preferred stock (the “Series E preferred stock”) that participated in the Series F preferred stock financing elected to convert their shares of Series E preferred stock into 8,927,582 shares of Series E-2 preferred stock, and holders of 16,567,108 shares of Series E-1 preferred stock that participated in the Series F preferred stock financing elected to convert their shares of Series E-1 preferred stock into 16,567,108 shares of Series E-3 redeemable convertible preferred stock (the “Series E-3 preferred stock”). Holders of Series E preferred stock and Series E-1 preferred stock that did not participate in the Series F preferred stock financing were not entitled to convert their shares into Series E-2 preferred stock and Series E-3 preferred stock, respectively. In February 2017, pursuant to the amended Series F preferred stock purchase agreement, holders of 4,411,765 shares of Series E-1 preferred stock that participated in the February 2017 closing elected to convert their shares of Series E-1 preferred stock into 4,411,765 shares of Series E-3 preferred stock.

F-15


In February 2017, the Company issued 483,501 shares of Series F preferred stock at a price of $1.36 per share, resulting in proceeds of $626, net of issuance costs of $32.

assets. The Company determined that the conversionSeries X Preferred Stock would be recorded as temporary equity, based on the guidance of ASC 480, given that it is contingently redeemable (see below).

Subject to stockholders’ approval, each share of Series X Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000shares of Common Stock. The preferences, rights, and limitations initially applicable to the Series X Preferred Stock are set forth in the Certificate of Designation.

The Series X Preferred Stock has the following characteristics:

Voting

Except as otherwise required by law, the Series X Preferred Stock does not have voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series X Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company will not, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series X Preferred Stock, (i) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series X Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation, amend or repeal any provision of, or add any provision to, the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company, or file any articles of amendment, certificate of designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of any series of preferred stock, that occurred in December 2016 and February 2017 represented modificationsif such action would adversely alter or change the preferences, rights, privileges or powers of, these securitiesor restrictions provided for accounting purposes; however, the modifications did not result in the recognition of a deemed dividend for accounting purposes because the modifications did not result in a transfer of value from common stockholders to preferred stockholders.

Pursuant to the terms of the amended Series F preferred stock purchase agreement, if the second tranche closing did not occur prior to the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of common stock, then, immediately prior to such closing, the purchasersbenefit of the Series F preferred stock would be required to purchase aX Preferred Stock, (ii) issue further shares of Series X Preferred Stock or increase or decrease (other than by conversion) the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock equalSeries X Preferred Stock, or (iii) enter into any agreement with respect to $11,516 divided by the price per share paid by the public in the initial public offering in a concurrent private offering. This requirement to purchase shares immediately prior to the closingany of the Company’s initial public offering could be waived in whole or in part byforegoing. Additionally, the Company’s boardapproval of directors. As of December 31, 2016, the specified clinical milestones had not been achieved and the second tranche closing had not occurred.

On June 15, 2017, the Company’s board of directors waived in whole, effective immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO, the requirement of the purchasers of Series F preferred stock to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in a concurrent private offering in connection with the Company’s initial public offering.

Upon the completion of the Company’s IPO on July 5, 2017, all shares of the Redeemable Preferred Stock converted into an aggregate of 10,509,774 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2017, there were no shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock authorized, issued or outstanding.

Redeemable Preferred Stock consisted of the following as of:

 

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

 

Preferred

Shares

Authorized

 

 

Preferred

Shares

Issued and

Outstanding

 

 

Carrying

Value

 

 

Liquidation

Preference

 

 

Common

Stock Issuable

Upon

Conversion

 

Series A preferred stock

 

 

1,250,000

 

 

 

1,250,000

 

 

$

1,250

 

 

$

1,250

 

 

 

12,579

 

Series A-1 preferred stock

 

 

615,384

 

 

 

615,384

 

 

 

800

 

 

 

800

 

 

 

6,192

 

Series B preferred stock

 

 

3,706,056

 

 

 

3,706,056

 

 

 

1,506

 

 

 

1,506

 

 

 

372,955

 

Series C-1 preferred stock

 

 

5,934,050

 

 

 

5,934,050

 

 

 

6,997

 

 

 

7,000

 

 

 

597,167

 

Series C-2 preferred stock

 

 

8,689,144

 

 

 

8,689,144

 

 

 

10,248

 

 

 

10,250

 

 

 

874,423

 

Series D preferred stock

 

 

34,142,865

 

 

 

34,142,865

 

 

 

40,263

 

 

 

40,276

 

 

 

3,435,932

 

Series D-1 preferred stock

 

 

363,636

 

 

 

363,636

 

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

2,000

 

 

 

36,594

 

Series E preferred stock

 

 

12,715,822

 

 

 

3,788,240

 

 

 

4,453

 

 

 

4,469

 

 

 

381,225

 

Series E-1 preferred stock

 

 

24,264,705

 

 

 

7,697,597

 

 

 

10,446

 

 

 

10,469

 

 

 

774,639

 

Series E-2 preferred stock

 

 

9,226,082

 

 

 

8,927,582

 

 

 

10,493

 

 

 

10,531

 

 

 

898,418

 

Series E-3 preferred stock

 

 

21,237,785

 

 

 

16,567,108

 

 

 

22,483

 

 

 

22,531

 

 

 

1,667,214

 

Series F preferred stock

 

 

29,411,764

 

 

 

13,949,357

 

 

 

18,806

 

 

 

18,971

 

 

 

1,403,779

 

 

 

 

151,557,293

 

 

 

105,631,019

 

 

$

129,745

 

 

$

130,053

 

 

 

10,461,117

 

The holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock had the following rights and preferences prior to conversion:

Voting Rights

The holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock were entitled to vote, together with the holders of common stock, on all matters submitted to stockholders for a vote and had

F-21


majority of the right to vote the number of shares equal to the number of whole shares of common stock into which such holders of RedeemableSeries X Preferred Stock could convert onis required for certain change of control transactions, provided that this approval right will terminate upon stockholders’ approval of the record date for determinationconversion proposal.

Dividends

Holders of stockholdersSeries X Preferred Stock are entitled to vote. In addition, holders of the Senior Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, were entitled to elect three directors of the Company. The holders of the Junior Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, were entitled to elect two directors of the Company.

F-16


Dividends

The holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock, in order of preference, were entitled to receive noncumulative dividends when and if declared by the Company’s board of directors. The Company could not declare, pay or set aside any dividends on shares of Series X Preferred Stock equal, on an as-if-converted-to-common-stock basis, and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the common stock. Such dividends are not cumulative. Since the Company’s inception, no dividends have been declared or paid.

Liquidation, dissolution or winding up

The Series X Preferred Stock does not have a preference upon any other classliquidation, dissolution or serieswinding-up of capital stockthe Company.

Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, unless the holdersSeries X preferred stockholders shall be entitled to receive an equivalent amount of distributions as would be paid on the common stock underlying the Series X Preferred Stock, determined on an as-converted basis, pari passu with any distributions to the common stock shareholders.

Conversion

Subject to stockholders’ approval of the Redeemableconversion proposal, the Series X Preferred Stock then outstanding first received, or simultaneously received, a dividend on each outstanding share of Redeemable Preferred Stock in an amount at least equal to the greater of (i) $0.08 per share for Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series A preferred stock”), $0.104 per share for Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series A-1 preferred stock”), $0.03251 per share for Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series B preferred stock”), $0.09437 per share for Series C-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series C-1 preferred stock”), $0.09437 per share for Series C-2 redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series C-2 preferred stock”), $0.09437 per share for Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series D preferred stock”), Series E preferred stock and Series E-2 preferred stock, $0.40 per share for Series D-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock (“Series D-1 preferred stock”), and $0.1088 per share for Series E-1 preferred stock, Series E-3 preferred stock and Series F preferred stock and (ii) (A) in the case of a dividend on common stock or any class or series of stock that is convertible into common stock, that dividend per share of Redeemable Preferred Stock as would equal the product of (1) the dividend payable on each share of such class or series determined, if applicable, as if all shares of such class or series had been converted into common stock and (2) the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of each share of Redeemable Preferred Stock, or (B) in the case of a dividend on any class or series that is not convertible into common stock at a rate per share of Redeemable Preferred Stock determined by (1) dividing the amount of the dividend payable on each share of such class or series of capital stock by the Original Issue Price (as defined below) of such class or series of capital stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination of or other similar recapitalization affecting such shares) and (2) multiplying such fraction by an amount equal to the Original Issue Price of each series of Redeemable Preferred Stock. If the Company declared, paid or set aside, on the same date, a dividend on1,000 shares of more than one class or series of capital stock of the Company, the dividend payable to the holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock would be calculated based upon the dividend on the class or series of capital stock that would result in the highest Redeemable Preferred Stock dividend. Stockholders were not entitled to any accruing dividends. No dividends have been declared or paid during the year ended December 31, 2017 or 2016.

The Original Issue Price per share was $1.00 for Series A, $1.30 for Series A-1, $0.4064 for Series B, $1.179633 for Series C-1, $1.179633 for Series C-2, $1.179633 for Series D, $5.50 for Series D-1, $1.179633 for Series E, $1.36 for Series E-1, $1.179633 for Series E-2, $1.36 for Series E-3 and $1.36 for Series F preferred stock, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of any liquidation event, voluntary or involuntary, dissolution or winding up of the Company or Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), the holders of the then outstanding Series F preferred stock were entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of the common stock and other preferred stock, $1.36 per share, plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series F preferred stock.

After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holders of Series F preferred stock, then, to the extent available, the holders of the Series E-2 and Series E-3 preferred stock would have been paid $1.179633 per share and $1.36 per share, respectively, plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series E-2 and Series E-3 preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock Series E, Series E-1, Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock and Junior Preferred Stock.

After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holdersfor every one share of Series E-2 andX Preferred Stock that is converted. The Series E-3 preferred stock, then,X Preferred Stock is subject to the extent available, the holders of the Series E preferred stock and the Series E-1 preferred stock would have been entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of the common stock and other preferred stock, $1.179633 per share and $1.36 per share, respectively, plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series E and Series E-1 preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock, Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock and Junior Preferred Stock.

F-17


After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holderscertain beneficial ownership limitations, including that a holder of Series E and Series E-1 preferred stock, then, to the extent available, the holders of the Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock would have been paid $1.179633 per share and $5.50 per share, respectively, plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series D and Series D-1 preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock and Junior Preferred Stock.

After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holders of the SeniorX Preferred Stock then, to the extent available, the holdersis prohibited from converting shares of Series C-1 and Series C-2 preferred stock would have been paid $1.179633 per share plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series C-1 and Series C-2 preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock and Series B, Series A and Series A-1 preferred stock.

After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holders of the SeniorX Preferred Stock Series C-1 and Series C-2 preferred stock, then, to the extent available, the holders of Series B preferred stock would have been paid $0.4064 per share plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series B preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock and Series A and Series A-1 preferred stock.

After the payment of all preferential amounts to the holders of the Senior Preferred Stock, Series C-1, Series C-2 and Series B preferred stock, then, to the extent available, the holders of Series A and Series A-1 preferred stock would have been paid $1.00 and $1.30 per share, respectively, plus any dividends declared but unpaid on the Series A and A-1 preferred stock, prior and in preference to any distributions to the holders of common stock.

After payments have been made in full to the holders of the Redeemable Preferred Stock, then, to the extent available, the remaining amounts would have been distributed among the holders of the shares of preferred stock and common stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each holder, treating for this purpose all such securities as if they had been converted to common stock immediately prior to such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

Unless 55% of the holders of the Senior Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, elected otherwise, a Deemed Liquidation Event would have included a merger or consolidation (other than one in which stockholders of the Company own a majority by voting power of the outstanding shares of the surviving or acquiring corporation) or a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company.

Conversion

Each share of Redeemable Preferred Stock was convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time, and without the payment of additional consideration, or would have automatically converted into shares of common stock if, as a result of such conversion, such holder (together with its affiliates and any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of its affiliates) would beneficially own more than a specified percentage (to be initially set at 19.99% and thereafter adjusted by the applicable conversion ratio then in effect (i) upon the closingholder to a number not to exceed 19.99%) of a firm commitment underwritten public offering at a price per share to the public, which when multiplied by the total number of shares of common stock thenissued and outstanding or then issuableimmediately after giving effect to such conversion.

At the 2023 Annual Meeting on February 28, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved the issuance of shares of common stock, upon conversion of its outstanding RedeemableSeries X Preferred Stock. Refer to Note 18 for more details on the 2023 Annual Meeting.

Redemption

Shares of the Series X Preferred Stock immediately prior toare not redeemable at the consummationelection of the offering, exceeded $150,000 and with at least $50,000 of gross proceeds toholder except for in the Company or (ii) uponevent the vote or written consent of the holders of at least 55% of the outstanding shares of the Senior Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class. All shares that were required to be surrendered per the provisions aboveCompany would have been deemedunable to obtain an affirmative stockholder vote at the 2023 Annual Meeting to permit conversion, each holder of Series X Preferred Stock would have been entitled to elect, at the holder’s option, to have been retired and canceled and would not be reissued asthe shares of preferred stock.

The conversion ratioSeries X Preferred Stock be redeemed by the Company and equal to the estimated fair value of each seriesthe Series X Preferred Stock share at the time of Redeemableredemption. Due to this redemption feature, as of December 31, 2023, the Series X Preferred Stock was determined by dividingclassified within temporary equity on the Original Issue Price of each series of preferred stock by the Conversion Price of each series, except forconsolidated balance sheet.

Maturity

The Series D-1 preferred stock. The conversion ratio for Series D-1 was determined by dividing $11.722013 by the Series D Conversion Price. The Conversion Price was $99.37 for Series A, $129.181 for Series A-1, $4.038397 for Series B, $11.722013 for Series C-1, Series C-2, Series D, Series E and Series E-2, and $13.51432 for Series E-1, Series E-3 and Series F. The Conversion Price was subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization and other adjustments as set forth in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated.

F-18


Redemption Rights

At the written election of at least 55% of the holders of the SeniorX Preferred Stock voting together as a single class,shall be perpetual unless converted.

12. Common Stock

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company was authorized to issue 45,000,000 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock outstanding were redeemable, at any time on or after December 22, 2020, in three equal annual installments commencing 60 days after receipt of the required vote, in an amount equal to the Original Issue Price per share of each series of Redeemable Preferred Stock plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon.

8. Preferred Stock

On July 5, 2017, in connection with the closing of the Company’s IPO, the Company filed its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which authorizes the Company to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferredcommon stock, $0.001 par value $0.001 per share. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016,2023, the Company had no4,885,512 shares of preferredcommon stock issued orand outstanding. The preferred stock was classified under stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2017.

9. Common Stock

As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and restated, authorized2022, the Company to issue up to 143,500,000 shares of $0.001 par value common stock. On July 5, 2017, the Company filed the amended and restated certificate of incorporation which increased the authorized number ofhad 4,541,167 shares of common stock to 150,000,000 shares.issued and outstanding.

F-22


Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. Common stockholders are entitled to receive dividends, as may be declared by the Company’s board of directors, if any, subject to the preferential dividend rights of the preferred stock.any. As of December 31, 20172023 and 2016, 2022, no dividends had been declared.

In the event of liquidation or dissolution, the holders of the common stock are entitled to receive proportionately all assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Issuance of Common Stock

As disclosed above, on October 31, 2023, the Company issued to the stockholders of December 31, 2017,Lung 344,345 shares of the common stock of Aileron, par value $0.001 per share, under the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement. In addition, Aileron assumed (i) all Lung stock options immediately outstanding prior to the First Merger, each becoming an option for common stock subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement, and (ii) all warrants exercisable for Lung common stock immediately outstanding prior to the First Merger, each becoming a warrant to purchase common stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement. Immediately following the closing of the Lung Acquisition, the Company had reserved 3,114,279 shares for the exercise of outstanding stock options and grant of future awards under the Company’s stock incentive plans (see Note 10).

10. Stock-Based Awards

2017 Stock Incentive Plan

The Company’s 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) was approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 16, 2017 and became effective on June 28, 2017. Under the 2017 Plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, awards of restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to receive awards under the 2017 Plan; however, incentive stock options may only be granted to employees. The 2017 Plan is administered by the board of directors or, at the discretion of the board of directors, by a committee of the board. The number of4,885,512 shares of common stock covered by optionsissued and outstanding.

As disclosed in the Note 3 above, immediately following the closing of the Lung Acquisition, on October 31, 2023, Aileron entered into the Purchase Agreement with a group of accredited investors, pursuant to which Aileron issued and sold 4,707 shares of Series X Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,353,500 shares of Aileron common stock. The exercise price of the Warrants is $4.89 per share, subject to certain price and share adjustments, including for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, subdivisions, combinations, reclassifications, noncash distributions, and cash dividends. The Warrants will be exercisable any time after the later of May 2, 2024, the date those options become exercisable, type of optionsthe requisite stockholder approval is obtained, and on or prior to be granted,May 2, 2027. Payment for Warrant shares upon exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions are determined at the discretion of the boardWarrants may be (i) in cash or (ii) in the event that there is no registration statement available for the resale of directors, or its committee if so delegated.Warrant shares, by cashless exercise.

Stock options granted underUnder the 2017 Plan with service-based vesting conditions generally vest over four yearsterms of the Warrants, the Company shall not effect the exercise of any portion of any Warrant, and maya holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of any Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, the holder (together with its affiliates and any other persons acting as a durationgroup together with the holder or any of its affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of ten years, although options have been granted with vesting terms of less than four years.

The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued undera percentage elected by the 2017 Plan was 1,674,501 as of December 31, 2017, of which 868,046 shares remained available for grant. The Company initially reserved 1,244,816 shares of common stock plus the number of shares equalholder up to the sum19.99% of the number of shares of common stock then availableoutstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. However, any holder may, upon written notice to the Company, increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 19.99%; provided that any increase or decrease in such percentage will not be effective until 61 days after such notice is delivered to the Company.

The Company has assessed the Warrants for appropriate equity or liability classification and determined the Warrants are freestanding instruments that do not meet the definition of a liability pursuant to ASC 480 and do not meet the definition of a derivative pursuant to ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The Warrants are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet all other conditions for equity classification under ASC 480 and ASC 815. Accordingly, the Warrants are classified as equity and accounted for as a component of additional paid-in capital at the time of issuance. The Warrants were initially recognized at their relative fair value in the amount of $741 at the time of issuance underdetermined using Black-Scholes option-pricing model and will not be remeasured.

Reverse Stock Split

The Company’s stockholders approved a reverse stock split of the 2016 Plan, which was 424,601Company’s common stock on June 15, 2022. The Company effected the Reverse Stock Split on November 10, 2022. Pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split, every 20 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock were automatically combined into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, without any change in the par value per share of the common stock. The Reverse Stock Split reduced the authorized number of shares of common stock subjectfrom 300,000,000 to outstanding awards under the 2006 Plan15,000,000 and, the 2016 Plan that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right. Thethe certificate of amendment, such reduced authorized number of shares of common stock was subsequently multiplied by three, such that may befollowing the Reverse Stock Split the Company has 45,000,000 shares of

F-23


common stock authorized. The Reverse Stock Split affected all issued underand outstanding shares of the 2017 Plan will automatically increase on January 1Company’s common stock, and the respective numbers of each year, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027, equal to the least of (i) 1,244,816 shares of common stock (ii) 4%underlying the Company’s outstanding stock options, outstanding warrants and the Company’s equity incentive plans were proportionately adjusted. All share and per share amounts disclosed give effect to the Reverse Stock Split on a retroactive basis.

As of the outstandingDecember 31, 2023, 4,885,512 shares of common stock on such datewere issued and (iii) an amount determined by the Company’s boardoutstanding, no shares were held in treasury, and 24,610 shares of directors.

F-19


During the year endedSeries X Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the 2017 Plan, the Company granted options to employees and directors to purchase 1,253,7282023, there were:

24,847,000 shares of common stock at a weighted averagereserved for issuance upon conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock;
2,212,102 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options under existing equity incentive plans, of which 1,780,459 options were assumed through the Lung Acquisition;
416,617 and 7,500 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan and 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, respectively, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of the common stock reserved under these plans; and
3,726,696 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants. The warrants consist of (i) warrants to purchase 646,759 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $10.49$40.00 per share.share, which were issued in the April 2019 private placement, which expire on April 2, 2024; (ii) warrants to purchase 726,437 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $5.66, which expire on May 20, 2029, which were assumed in connection with the Lung Acquisition, and (iii) warrants to purchase 2,353,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, which were issued and sold in the Financing as described above.

Accordingly, as of December 31, 2023, out of the 45,000,000 shares of common stock presently authorized, 36,095,427 shares are issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance and 8,904,573 shares of common stock remain available for future issuance.

13. Stock-Based Awards

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had five equity compensation plans, each of which was approved by its stockholders: 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”), 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan���), and 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2017 ESPP”). The Company also assumed Lung’s 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) as a result of the Lung Acquisition.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 9,482 shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options under the 2006 Plan; 8,404 shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options under the 2016 Plan, and 130,903 shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options under the 2017 Plan. No outstanding options under the 2006 Plan, the 2016 Plan, or the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2023. As such, no shares remained available for future issuance under the 2006 Plan, the 2016 Plan, or the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2023.

Shares that are expired, terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised will be available for future awards. In addition, shares of common stock that are tendered to the Company by a participant to exercise an award are added to the number of shares of common stock available for the grant of awards.

The exercise price for stock options granted may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant.

2017 Employee2021 Stock PurchaseIncentive Plan

On June 16, 2017,The Company’s 2021 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2017 ESPP”), whichon June 15, 2021 and became effective on June 28, 2017. A total16, 2021. Under the 2021 Plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, awards of 150,000restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The

F-24


Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors are eligible to receive awards under the 2021 Plan; however, incentive stock options may only be granted to employees. The 2021 Plan is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or, at the discretion of the Board, by a committee of the Board. The number of shares of common stock covered by options and the date those options become exercisable, type of options to be granted, exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions are reserved for issuancedetermined at the discretion of the Board, or its committee if so delegated.

Stock options granted under the 2017 ESPP. 2021 Plan with service-based vesting conditions generally vest over four years and may not have a duration in excess of ten years, although options have been granted with vesting terms of less than four years.

The total number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2017 ESPP automatically increase on each January 1 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year ending2021 Plan was 840,254 as of December 31, 2027, equal to the least2023, of (i) 622,408which 416,617 shares (ii) 1% of the outstandingremained available for grant. The Company initially reserved 625,000 shares of common stock, on such dateplus the number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards under the 2017 Plan, the 2016 Plan and (iii) an amount determinedthe 2006 Plan that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right up to 314,006 shares.

2017 Stock Incentive Plan

The 2017 Plan was approved by the Company’s board of directors.

2016 Stock Incentivestockholders on June 16, 2017, and became effective on June 28, 2017. Under the 2017 Plan,

The Company’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) provided for the Company tocould grant incentive stock options, or nonqualifiednonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, awards of restricted stock units and other equitystock-based awards. The Company’s employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors were eligible to receive awards under the 2017 Plan; however, incentive stock options could only be granted to employees, directors and consultants of the Company.employees. The 20162017 Plan wasis administered by the board of directorsBoard or, at the discretion of the board of directors,Board, by a committee of the board.Board. The number of shares of common stock covered by options and the date those options become exercisable, type of options granted, exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions were determined at the discretion of the board of directors,Board, or its committee if so delegated.

Stock options granted under the 20162017 Plan with service-based vesting conditions generally vest over four years and expire after may not have a duration in excess of ten years.years, although options have been granted with vesting terms of less than four years. The exercise price for stock options granted may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock as of the date of grant.

AfterAs of the effective date of the 20172021 Plan, the Board determined to grant no stock options or otherfurther awards were made under the 20162017 Plan. No shares remained available for future issuance as of December 31, 2017.

Shares that are expired, terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised under the 2017 Plan will be available for future awards under the 20172021 Plan. In addition, shares of common stock that are tendered to the Company by a participant to exercise an award are added to the number of shares of common stock available for the grant of awards under the 2021 Plan.

2017 Plan.Employee Stock Purchase Plan

2006On June 16, 2017, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2017 ESPP, which became effective on June 28, 2017. Under the 2017 ESPP, the number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2017 ESPP will automatically increase on each January 1, beginning with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year ending December 31, 2027, equal to the least of (i) 31,120 shares, (ii) 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock on such date and (iii) an amount determined by the Company’s Board. On January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024, no additional shares were reserved for issuance under the 2017 ESPP pursuant to this provision. 7,500 shares remained available for future issuance under the 2017 ESPP as of December 31, 2023.

2013 Stock Incentive Plan

F-25


The Company’s 2006 Stock IncentiveCompany assumed the Lung’s 2013 Plan as amended, (the “2006 Plan”a result of the Lung Acquisition. In October 2013, Lung’s Board of Directors (“Lung’s Board”) providedapproved the 2013 Plan to provide long-term incentives for its employees, non-employee directors and certain consultants. As of December 31, 2023, 1,780,459 shares were reserved to be issued upon exercise of options outstanding under the 2013 Plan, and 726,437 shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding warrants under Lung’s 2013 Plan. These options and warrants were assumed by the Company to grant incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other equity awards to employees, directors and consultants ofin connection with the Company. The 2006Lung Acquisition.

Before the Lung Acquisition, the 2013 Plan was administered by the board of directorsLung’s Board or, at the discretion of the board of directors,Lung’s Board, by a committee of the board.Lung’s Board. The exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions wereare determined at the discretion of the board of directors,Lung’s Board, or its committee if so delegated.

Stockdelegated, except that the exercise price per share of stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the share of common stock on the date of grant and the term of stock option may not be greater than ten years. The vesting periods for equity awards are determined by the Board, but generally are four years. The contractual term for stock option awards is ten years. The vesting periods for equity awards were determined by Lung’s Board, but generally are four years. The contractual term for stock option awards is ten years. Following the closing of the Lung Acquisition on October 31, 2023, no further awards can be granted under the 2006 Plan with service-based vesting conditions generally vest over four years and expire after ten years, although options have been granted with vesting terms of less than four years.2013 Plan.

The 2006 Plan expired in 2016. No shares remained available for future issuance as of December 31, 2016.

Shares that are expired, terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised will be available for future awards under the 2017 Plan. In addition, shares of common stock that are tendered to the Company by a participant to exercise an award are added to the number of shares of common stock available for the grant of awards under the 2017 Plan.

F-20


Stock Option Valuation

The assumptions that the Company used to determine the grant-date fair value of the stock options granted to employees and directors during the yearyears ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 20152022 and at the Lung Acquisition date were as follows, presented on a weighted average basis:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

October 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.16%

 

 

1.37%

 

 

2.01%

 

 

 

4.90

%

 

 

2.50

%

 

4.82-5.58%

 

Expected term (in years)

 

 

6.1

 

 

 

6.1

 

 

 

6.1

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

6.1

 

 

0.42-6.28

 

Expected volatility

 

80.4%

 

 

80.5%

 

 

80.5%

 

 

 

94.4

%

 

 

94.2

%

 

75-91%

 

Expected dividend yield

 

0%

 

 

0%

 

 

0%

 

 

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

 

 

0

%

Stock Options

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity since January 1, 2017:2023:

 

 

Number of

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term

 

 

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in years)

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

 

 

920,731

 

 

$

4.36

 

 

 

6.4

 

 

$

1,297

 

Granted

 

 

1,253,728

 

 

 

10.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(31,631

)

 

 

3.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(46,595

)

 

 

5.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

 

 

2,096,233

 

 

$

8.02

 

 

 

8.0

 

 

$

7,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2017

 

 

784,190

 

 

$

4.71

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

$

4,667

 

Options vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2017

 

 

2,030,629

 

 

$

7.96

 

 

 

7.9

 

 

$

7,198

 

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)

 

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2022

 

 

537,112

 

 

$

29.77

 

 

 

7.9

 

 

$

 

Granted

 

 

10,900

 

 

 

1.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited/Canceled

 

 

(57,483

)

 

 

14.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

Expired

 

 

(58,886

)

 

 

27.35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options assumed through business combination

 

 

1,780,459

 

 

 

1.61

 

 

 

6.8

 

 

 

200

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2023

 

 

2,212,102

 

 

$

7.42

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

$

2,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2023

 

 

1,882,191

 

 

$

7.46

 

 

 

5.8

 

 

$

2,631

 

Options vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2023

 

 

2,209,420

 

 

$

7.41

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

$

2,904

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2022

 

 

288,821

 

 

$

40.15

 

 

 

7.1

 

 

$

 

Options vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2022

 

 

529,549

 

 

$

29.95

 

 

 

7.8

 

 

$

 

The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 20152023 was $7.49, $3.24 and $3.69, respectively.$0.80. The weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the year ended December 31,

F-26


2022 was $7.32. The aggregate fair value of stock options that vested during the yearyears ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 20152022 was $1,268, $784$1,191 and $442,$2,808, respectively.

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock. There were no options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2023. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 20152022 was $165, $12 and $300, respectively.$0.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to stock options in the following expense categories of its statements of operations and comprehensive loss:

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Research and development expenses

 

$

611

 

 

$

219

 

 

$

275

 

 

$

277

 

 

$

600

 

General and administrative expenses

 

 

1,138

 

 

 

469

 

 

 

351

 

 

 

913

 

 

 

1,483

 

 

$

1,749

 

 

$

688

 

 

$

626

 

 

$

1,190

 

 

$

2,083

 

As of December 31, 2017,2023, the Company had an aggregate of $8,776$1,702 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, which it expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 3.31.73 years.

F-21


11.14. Net Loss per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was calculated as follows:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(22,604

)

 

$

(18,123

)

 

$

(12,878

)

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to

   redemption value

 

 

(41

)

 

 

(75

)

 

 

(71

)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(22,645

)

 

$

(18,198

)

 

$

(12,949

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—

   basic and diluted

 

 

7,443,078

 

 

 

429,686

 

 

 

400,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—

   basic and diluted

 

$

(3.04

)

 

$

(42.35

)

 

$

(32.31

)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(15,732

)

 

$

(27,329

)

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares
   outstanding—basic and diluted

 

 

4,598,715

 

 

 

4,539,318

 

Net loss per share attributable to common
   stockholders—basic and diluted

 

$

(3.42

)

 

$

(6.02

)

The Company’s potential dilutive securities, which include stock options as of December 31, 20172023 and include stock options and redeemable convertible preferred stock as of December 31, 2016 and 2015,2022, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders whenever the effect of including them would be to reduce the net loss per share. In periods where there is a net loss, the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same. The following potential shares of common stock, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Stock options to purchase common stock

 

 

2,096,233

 

 

 

920,731

 

 

 

973,777

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock (as converted to

   common stock)

 

 

 

 

 

10,461,117

 

 

 

8,080,596

 

 

 

 

2,096,233

 

 

 

11,381,848

 

 

 

9,054,373

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Options to purchase common stock

 

 

2,212,102

 

 

 

537,112

 

Warrants to issue shares of common stock

 

 

3,726,696

 

 

 

646,759

 

Series X Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, as converted

 

 

24,610,000

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

30,548,798

 

 

 

1,183,871

 

12.15. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

In February 2010,F-27


On March 26, 2021, the Company entered into a sublease agreement (the “Sublease”) by and among the Company, Vittoria Industries North America, Inc. (the “Sublessor”) and Waterfront Equity Partners, LLC (the “Lessor”), under which the Company was leasing approximately 3,365 square feet of office space located at 285 Summer Street, Unit 101, Boston, Massachusetts (the “Premises”). The Sublease was subject and subordinate to a lease agreement, dated as of July 13, 2012, by and between the Sublessor and Lessor, pursuant to which the Sublessor is leasing the Premises from the Lessor. The Sublease expired March 31, 2023, and the Company did not renew the Sublease. Following expiration of the Sublease, the Company is operating virtually, and expects to do so in the foreseeable future.

On August 16, 2021, Lung Therapeutics entered into an operating lease agreement to rent approximately 6,455 square feet of office space for officeits corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas, beginning on October 1, 2021. The lease agreement is for a 30-month term that ended on March 31, 2024, and laboratory space, which, as amended, expires in May 2018. Upon entering intoincludes a rent escalation clause and a rent holiday. In addition to the agreement,base rent, the Company was requiredalso responsible for its share of operating expenses, electricity and real estate taxes, in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement. Following expiration of the lease, the Company expects to maintain a security deposit of $776, which was recorded as restricted cash in the Company’s balance sheet. In connection with an amendment to the operating lease agreement in January 2015, the required security deposit was reduced from $776 to $63, and $713 of restricted cash was released to the Company.

In connection with an amendment to the operating lease agreement in June 2011, the landlord agreed to fund up to $752 in improvements to the leased facility, which was recorded as a liability and is being recognized as a reduction of rent expense over the remaining lease term.

The agreement requires future minimum lease paymentsoperate virtually for the year ending December 31, 2018 of $202.foreseeable future.

The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis overthroughout the remaining term of the lease.

The following table contains a summary of the lease periodcosts recognized and has recorded deferred rent for rent expense incurred but not yet paid. Rental expense underother information pertaining to the Company’s operating leases totaled $494, $432 and $258 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 2015, respectively.2022:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating lease cost

 

$

184

 

 

$

125

 

Total lease cost

 

$

184

 

 

$

125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

 

$

192

 

 

$

143

 

Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.3

 

Weighted average discount rate

 

 

7

%

 

 

12

%

As of December 31, 2023, future minimum commitments under the Company’s operating leases were as follows:

F-22


 

 

2023

 

2024

 

$

48

 

2025 and thereafter

 

 

-

 

Total lease payments

 

 

48

 

Less: imputed interest

 

 

-

 

Total operating lease liabilities

 

$

48

 

Legal Proceedings

The Company may from time to time be party to litigation arising in the ordinarycourse of business. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company was not party to any legal proceedings and no material legal proceedings are currently pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

Intellectual Property Licenses

Harvard and Dana-Farber Agreement

In August 2006, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with President and Fellows of Harvard College (“Harvard”) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (“DFCI”). The agreement granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under specified patents and patent applications to develop,

F-28


obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize specified product candidates based on stapledcell-permeating peptides. Under the agreement, the Company is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize one or more licensed products and to achieve specified milestone events by specified dates. In connection with entering into the agreement, the Company paid an upfront license fee and issued to Harvard and DFCI shares of its common stock.

In February 2010, the agreement was amended and restated (the “Harvard/DFCI agreement”) under which additional patent rights were added to the scope of the license agreement and the annual license maintenance fees were increased. Under the Harvard/DFCI agreement, the Company is obligated to make aggregate milestones payments of up to $7,700$7,700 per licensed therapeutic product upon the Company’s achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to such product and up to $700$700 per licensed diagnostic product upon the Company’s achievement of specified regulatory and sales milestones with respect to such product. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay royalties of low single-digit percentages on annual net sales of licensed products sold by the Company, its affiliates or its sublicensees. The royalties are payable on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis and may be reduced in specified circumstances. In addition, the agreement obligates the Company to pay a percentage, up to the mid-twenties, of fees received by the Company in connection with its sublicense of the licensed products. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the Company’s sublicense payment obligations may be subject to specified reductions.

The Harvard/DFCI agreement requires the Company to pay annual license maintenance fees of $145$110 each year. Any payments made in connection with the annual license maintenance fees will be credited against any royalties due.

The Company incurred annual license maintenance fees of $145$35 and $110 during each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 20162023 and 2015.2022, respectively. In addition, the Company paid aggregate milestone payments of $150 during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to a specified milestone achieved in the Phase 2 clinical trial for one of its product candidates. The Company did notnot make any milestone payments during the years ended December 31, 20172023 and 2015. As of2022. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2023 and 2022, no additional milestones had beenwere achieved and no liabilities for additional milestone payments had beenwere recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. ThroughFrom 2010 through December 31, 2017,2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had made non-refundable cash payments, consisting of license and maintenance fees, milestone payments and sublicense fees, totaling $4,428.$5,153 and $5,118, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017,2023, the Company had not developed a commercial product using the licensed technologies and no royalties under the agreement had been paid or were due.

Under the Harvard/DFCI agreement, the Company is responsible for all patent expenses related to the prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents and applications in-licensed under the agreement as well as cost reimbursement of amounts incurred for all documented patent-related expenses. The agreement will expire on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis upon the last to expire of any valid patent claim pertaining to licensed products covered under the agreement.

MateriaUmicore Agreement

In December 2006, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “Materia agreement”) with Materia, Inc. (“Materia”), under which it was granted a non-exclusive worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under specified patent and patent applications to utilize Materia’s catalysts to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize specified peptides owned or controlled by Materia and the right to manufacture specified compositions owned or controlled by Materia.

F-23


Under the Materia agreement, the Company is obligated to make aggregate milestone payments to Materia of up to $6,400 upon the Company’s achievement of specified clinical, regulatory and sales milestones with respect to each licensed product. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay tiered royalties ranging in the low single-digit percentages on annual net sales of licensed products sold by the Company or its sublicensees. The royalties are payable on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, and may be reduced in specified circumstances.

The Materia agreement requires the Company to pay annual license fees of $50. The Company incurred annual license fees of $50 during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. In addition, the Company paid Materia a milestone payment of $100 during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the achievement of a specified regulatory milestone for one of its product candidates. The Company did not make any milestone payments during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2015. As of December 31, 2017, no additional milestones had been achieved and no liabilities for additional milestone payments had been recorded in the Company’s financial statements.

The agreement expires upon the expiration of the Company’s obligation to pay royalties in each territory covered under the agreement. In February 2017, the Company was advised thatMateria assigned the license agreement had been assigned(the “Umicore agreement”) to Umicore Precious Metals Chemistry USA, LLC (“Umicore”), and Umicore agreed to continue to supply the Company under the agreement.

ScrippsThe Company incurred license fees of $50 during each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company did not make any milestone payments during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, no milestones were achieved and no liabilities for additional milestone payments were recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

F-29


The Umicore Agreement

In October 2010, terminated in July 2023 with the expiration of the last patent the Company had licensed.

Agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

In June 2013, Lung entered into a patent and technology license agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, or UT System, on behalf of University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, or UTHSCT. The patent and technology license agreement with UT System, or the UTHSCT Agreement, provides Lung access to patents and technology related to the development of LTI-01 and LTI-03. As part of the UTHSCT Agreement, Lung has (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the patent rights to manufacture, distribute, and sell certain intellectual property; (ii) a non-exclusive license under the technology rights to manufacture, distribute and sell the licensed product; and (iii) a sublicensing right that allows Lung to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the UTHSCT Agreement. In December 2013, the UTHSCT Agreement was amended and restated to include certain patents in all fields worldwide. In May 2017, the UTHSCT Agreement was amended and restated to modify the specific milestone criteria.

In consideration of the UTHSCT Agreement, Lung granted UT System (via UTHSCT and UT Horizon Fund affiliates) (i) 2,000,000 shares of Lung common stock and (ii) 400,000 shares of Lung non-convertible preferred stock. On February 6, 2015, UT System exchanged the 400,000 shares of Lung non-convertible preferred stock for 4,000,000 shares of Lung common stock. In addition, Lung agreed to pay past and ongoing patent expenses, and Lung owes UTHSCT sublicensing fees, assignment fees, and single digit royalties on worldwide net product sales, with fixed minimum royalty payments that started in 2015.

Pursuant to the UTHSCT Agreement, Lung is required to use diligent efforts to commercialize the licensed technology as soon as commercially practicable, including maintaining active research and development, regulatory, marketing and sales program, all as commercially reasonable.

The Company may terminate the UTHSCT Agreement for convenience with 90 days’ notice. UTHSCT may also terminate the UTHSCT Agreement, but only if the Company breaches the terms of the agreement.

Agreement with the University of Texas at Austin

In May 2015, Lung entered into a patent license agreement (the “Scripps agreement”) with UT Austin on behalf of the UT System. This license agreement with UT Austin, or the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, relates to the patent rights to polypeptide therapeutics and uses thereof. Pursuant to the UT Austin 6607 Agreement Lung has (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the patent rights to manufacture, distribute, and sell the licensed product; and (ii) a sublicensing right that allows Lung to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the agreement. The Scripps Research Institute (“Scripps”) under which itUT Austin 6607 Agreement was grantedamended and restated in January 2017, November 2018, and June 2019. The amendments related to extension of milestone payment dates and specific terminology around the milestone achievement criteria.

In consideration of the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, Lung agreed to pay past and ongoing patent expenses, milestone fees upon certain development and regulatory milestone events, annual license fees, tiered sublicense fees, assignment fees, low single digit royalties on net sales and an FDA Priority Review Voucher fee if Lung sells or transfers this voucher.

Pursuant to the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, Lung is required to use diligent efforts to commercialize the licensed products, including maintaining active research and development, regulatory, marketing and sales program. Moreover, Lung is required to meet certain development and regulatory milestones by specific dates.

The Company may terminate the UT Austin 6607 Agreement for convenience with 90 days’ notice. UT Austin may also terminate the UT Austin 6607 Agreement, but only if the Company breaches the terms of the agreement.

Agreement with Medical University of South Carolina

F-30


In March 2016, Lung entered into a license agreement with Medical University of South Carolina Foundation for Research Development, or MUSC. Pursuant to this license agreement with MUSC, or the rightMUSC Agreement, Lung has patent rights related to sublicense, forprotecting against lung fibrosis by up regulating Cav1. The MUSC Agreement granted (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the exclusive worldwidepatent rights to utilize Scripps’ “Click” chemistry for therapeuticsmake, use and non-exclusive worldwide rights for diagnostics withsell the Company’s stabilized peptidelicense product; and protein technology platforms.

Under(ii) a sublicensing right that allows Lung to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the agreement. In September 2018, the agreement was amended and restated to include definitions of related methods, related products and related rights.

In consideration of the Company is obligatedMUSC Agreement, Lung agreed to make aggregatepay a non-refundable license fee, patent expenses, milestone payments to Scripps of up to $1,900 for each licensed peptide product and up to $950 for each licensed protein productfees upon achieving of specified clinical,certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones. milestone events, sublicense fees, assignment fees and low single digit royalties on net sales, with a fixed minimum royalty payment starting in 2019 and a transaction fee upon Lung's liquidation.

Pursuant to the MUSC Agreement, Lung is required to use diligent efforts to develop, manufacture and sell the licensed products.

The Company may terminate the MUSC Agreement for convenience by providing a written notice to MUSC effective 90 days following the receipt of notice, and either party may terminate the agreement for a breach of contract.

Agreement with Vivarta Therapeutics LLC

In addition,March 2018, Lung entered into a license agreement with Vivarta Therapeutics, LLC, or Vivarta. This license agreement with Vivarta, or the Company is obligatedVivarta Agreement, relates to intellectual property relating to epithelial sodium channel inhibitors and methods to treat pulmonary disease. Pursuant to the Vivarta Agreement Lung has (i) a royalty-bearing, exclusive license under the intellectual property rights to make, use and sell the licensed product, and (ii) a sublicensing right that allows Lung to grant sublicenses to affiliates and third parties to use the licensed product in the field of use and approved territories outlined in the agreement.

In consideration for the Vivarta Agreement, Lung agreed to grant Vivarta a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares of Lung common stock for $0.12 per share, to pay tiered royalties ranging ina license fee of $10,000 upon the low single-digit percentages on annual net salesVivarta Agreement effective date and $40,000 within 30 days of licensed products sold by the Company or its sublicensees. The royalties are payable onreceipt of a product-by-product and country-by-country basis. The Scripps agreement requires the Companypositive freedom to operate analysis from legal counsel. Lung also agreed to pay annual licensepatent expenses, milestone fees of $50. upon certain development and regulatory milestone events, sublicense fees, assignment fees and low single digit royalties on net sales.

Pursuant to the Vivarta Agreement, Lung is required to use diligent efforts to develop, manufacture and sell the licensed products.

The Company incurred annual license feesmay terminate the Vivarta Agreement for convenience by providing a written notice to Vivarta effective 90 days following the receipt of $50 duringnotice, and either party may terminate the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.agreement for a breach of contract.

Manufacturing Commitments

As of December 31, 2017, no milestones had been achieved2023, the Company has non-cancellable purchase obligations and no liabilities for milestone payments had been recordeda prepaid balance with its contract manufacturer in the Company’s financial statements. Asamount of $2,312 and $1,432, respectively.

Aggregate future service and purchase commitments with manufacturer as of December 31, 2017, the Company had not developed a commercial product using the licensed technologies and no royalties under the agreement had been paid or were due.2023 are as follows:

The agreement expires upon expiration of the last of any patent rights covered under the agreement.

2023

2024

$

-

2025 and thereafter

2,312

Total purchase commitments

2,312

F-31


Indemnification Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and officers that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications. The Company does not believe that the outcome of any claims under indemnification arrangements will have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and it had not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 20172023 or 2016.December 31, 2022.

F-24


13.16. Income Taxes

ThereOn October 31, 2023, the Company acquired, in accordance with the terms of the Lung Acquisition Agreement, the stock of Lung Therapeutics ("Target"). In accordance with ASC 805-740-25-3, recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities is no provisionrequired for income taxessubstantially all temporary differences and acquired tax carryforwards and credits. The Company has computed estimated temporary differences and acquired tax carryforwards and credits as of the transaction date. The Company will not have tax basis in intangible assets recorded as part of the purchase. For accounting purposes, the intangible assets will not be amortized and subject to impairment review and testing. Though the tax effects may be delayed indefinitely, ASC 740-10-55-63 states that “deferred tax liabilities may not be eliminated or reduced because a reporting entity may be able to delay the settlement of those liabilities by delaying the events that would cause taxable temporary differences to reverse.” As such, the Company has historically incurred operating losses and maintainsrecorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax liability for the portion of the liability that cannot be offset with indefinite lived deferred tax assets.

The Company reported no income tax expense or benefit for the year ended December 31, 2023. The reported amount of income tax expense for the years differs from the amount that would result from applying domestic federal statutory tax rates to pretax losses primarily because of changes in valuation allowance.

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Federal statutory income tax rate

 

 

(21.0

)%

 

 

(21.0

)%

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

 

108.1

 

 

 

(5.4

)

Research and development and orphan drug tax credits

 

 

31.5

 

 

 

(2.9

)

Other permanent items

 

 

2.4

 

 

 

0.9

 

Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 

 

(444.9

)

 

 

28.4

 

Loss of federal net operating losses due to 382

 

 

323.9

 

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

 

 

%

 

 

%

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Federal statutory income tax rate

 

 

(34.0

)%

 

 

(34.0

)%

 

 

(34.0

)%

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

 

(4.3

)

 

 

(4.2

)

 

 

(4.8

)

Research and development tax credits

 

 

(1.6

)

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

(1.7

)

Write-off of deferred offering costs

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

 

 

Other permanent items

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

1.3

 

 

 

1.6

 

Change in tax rate

 

 

69.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance

 

 

(31.3

)

 

 

35.2

 

 

 

38.9

 

Effective income tax rate

 

 

%

 

 

%

 

 

%

F-32


Net deferred tax assetsliabilities as of December 31, 20172023 and 20162022 consisted of the following:

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

35,162

 

 

$

41,948

 

 

$

12,387

 

 

$

64,959

 

Research and development tax credit carryforwards

 

 

2,925

 

 

 

2,392

 

Research and development and orphan drug tax credit carryforwards

 

 

7,825

 

 

 

6,606

 

Capitalized research and development expenses

 

 

74

 

 

 

755

 

 

 

9,797

 

 

 

4,380

 

Accrued expenses and reserves

 

 

396

 

 

 

457

 

 

 

251

 

 

 

61

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

88

 

 

 

124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease liability

 

 

10

 

 

 

9

 

Stock compensation

 

 

1,514

 

 

 

1,442

 

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

38,645

 

 

 

45,676

 

 

 

31,784

 

 

 

77,457

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(38,645

)

 

 

(45,676

)

 

 

(18,506

)

 

 

(77,441

)

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

13,278

 

 

$

16

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

$

(16,594

)

 

$

(5

)

Right of use asset

 

$

(10

)

 

$

(11

)

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

$

(16,604

)

 

$

(16

)

Net deferred tax asset (liability)

 

$

(3,326

)

 

$

 

As of December 31, 2017,2023, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state purposes of $129,575$56,518 and $125,812, respectively, which$8,197, respectively. $2,863 of the U.S. federal tax operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2029 2036. Approximately $53,655 of the U.S. federal tax operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely. Of this amount, $44,420 of federal net operating losses came over from the Lung Acquisition, of which $2,863 will begin to expire in 2036 and 2030.the remaining $41,557 can be carried forward indefinitely. The state tax operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2043. As of December 31, 2017,2023, the Company also had available research and development tax credit carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of $1,999 and $1,172, respectively,$1,094, which begin to expire in 2025.2035. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had available orphan drug credit carryforwards of $6,731 for federal income tax purposes, which begin to expire in 2039. Of this amount, $1,064 of research and development credit carryforwards and $6,574 of orphan drug credit carryforwards came over from the Lung Acquisition.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA") was signed into law. Under the TCJA provisions, effective with tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, taxpayers can no longer immediately expense research and development expenditures. Taxpayers are now required to capitalize and amortize these costs over 5 years for research conducted within the United States or 15 years for research conducted abroad. As a result, the Company capitalized $3,639 of research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 for tax purposes.

Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 due to ownership changes that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. These ownership changes may limit the amount of carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholdersshareholders or public groups in the stock of a corporation by more than 50%50% over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has wound down its original business operations and entered into a merger in the year, which resulted in a significant shift in ownership. The Company has not conducted a studyexpects to assess whether a changehave all prior year net operating losses and tax credits of control has occurred or whether there have been multiple changes of control since inceptionits legacy business to be completely limited going forward due to the significant complexitylack of continuation in its legacy business. As such, all prior year net operating losses and cost associated with suchtax credits have been written down to zero as of December 31, 2023. The remaining net operating losses and tax credits as of December 31, 2023 relate to post-merger activity in the year, as well as acquired attributes as part of the merger in the year. A study has been completed on the Target ownership shifts through December 31, 2023, and multiple ownership changes were determined. As a study. Ifresult, the Company has experienced a change of control, as defined by Section 382, at any time since inception, utilizationwritten down the $1,673 portion of the Target net operating loss carryforwards orlosses expected to expire unutilized and include the $44,420 of remaining net operating losses and $7,638 of federal tax credits as part of its available attributes. As of December 31,

F-33


2023, the total federal net operating losses are $56,518 and federal research and development tax credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382,credits are $7,825, which is determined by first multiplying the value of the Company’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate, and then could be subject to additional adjustments, as required. Any limitation may result in expiration of a portion of the net operating loss carryforwards or research and development tax credit carryforwards before utilization. Further, until a study is completed and any limitation is known, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position.future limitations under these rules.

F-25


The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon its ability to realize the deferred tax assets. Management has considered the Company’s cumulative net losses and its lack of commercialization of any products or generation of any revenue from product sales since inception and has concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of the deferred tax assets. Accordingly,The Company maintained a full valuation allowance has been established against the full amount of theon its net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.2023. Management reevaluates the positive and negative evidence at each reporting period.

The decrease in the valuation allowance relates primarily to the deferred tax liability recognized as a result of the transaction as well as the reduction in prior year deferred tax assets due to Section 382 limitations. The increase in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2017 related primarily to the decrease in corporate tax rate from 34% to 21% starting on January 1, 2018 as described below. The increase in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 20152023 related primarily to an increase in net operating loss carryforwards, partially offset by the reversal of temporary differences for capitalized research and development expenses. carryforwards. Changes in the valuation allowance were as follows:

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Valuation allowance at beginning of year

 

$

(45,676

)

 

$

(39,302

)

 

$

(34,293

)

Increases recorded to income tax provision

 

 

(8,599

)

 

 

(6,374

)

 

 

(5,009

)

Decreases recorded as a benefit to income tax provision

 

 

15,630

 

 

 

 

 

Valuation allowance at end of year

 

$

(38,645

)

 

$

(45,676

)

 

$

(39,302

)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Valuation allowance at beginning of year

 

$

(77,441

)

 

$

(69,680

)

Decreases/(increases) recorded to income tax provision

 

 

69,134

 

 

 

(7,761

)

Increases recorded to invested capital

 

 

(10,199

)

 

 

 

Valuation allowance at end of year

 

$

(18,506

)

 

$

(77,441

)

The Company has notnot recorded any amounts for unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017, 20162023 or 2015.2022.

The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The Company’s tax years are still open under statute from 20132019 to the present. Earlier years may be examined to the extent that tax credit or net operating loss carryforwards are used in future periods. The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties related to income taxes as part of its income tax provision. As of December 31, 20172023 and 2016,2022, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions and no amounts have been recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

17. Related Party Transactions

On December 22, 2017,Immediately following the Presidentclosing of the United States signedLung Acquisition, the Company entered into law the Tax CutsPurchase Agreement with a group of accredited investors led by Bios Partners, the majority stockholder of Lung prior to the closing of Lung Acquisition, and Jobs Actincluding Nantahala Capital, as well as additional undisclosed investors, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold (i) an aggregate of 4,707 shares of Series X Preferred Stock, and (ii) up to an aggregate of 2,353,500 Warrant Shares, as described in the Note 3, which included the conversion of convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,553 issued by Lung to Bios Partners prior to the closing of the acquisition at a 10% discount to the per share price of Series X Preferred Stock. The Financing closed on November 2, 2023.

18. Subsequent Event

On February 28, 2024, the Company held its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders (the “TCJA”“2023 Annual Meeting”) at which the stockholders of the Company approved an amendment (the “Plan Amendment”) to the Aileron’s 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock issuable under the 2021 Plan by 3,000,000 shares to 3,840,254. On January 17, 2024, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee and subject to stockholder approval, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Plan Amendment. Other than increasing the number of shares issuable under the 2021 Plan, the Plan Amendment does not make any changes to the 2021 Plan. The material terms of the 2021 Plan are described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 2024 (the “Proxy Statement”). This legislation reduced

At the U.S. corporate tax rate2023 Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock of the Company from 45,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares. The Company filed the Certificate of Amendment to implement

F-34


the increase in the number of authorized shares, which was effective upon filing, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 28, 2024. The additional shares of common stock authorized by the Certificate of Amendment have rights identical to the Company’s currently outstanding Common Stock.

At the 2023 Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders also approved the issuance, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(a), of shares of common stock, upon conversion of the Company's outstanding Series X Preferred Stock. Following approval of the conversion of outstanding Series X Preferred Stock, the Company had 29,495,512 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis, which gives effect to the full conversion of the Series X Preferred Stock as of the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting, without regard to beneficial ownership limitations that may limit the ability of certain holders of Series X Preferred Stock to convert such shares to common stock as such time. On March 5, 2024, based upon existing beneficial ownership limitations, 12,087 shares of Series X Preferred Stock were automatically converted into 12,087,000 shares of common stock. The remaining approximately 12,523 shares of Series X Preferred Stock (which are convertible into 12,523,000 shares of common stock) will remain convertible at the option of the holder thereof, subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations.

On February 29, 2024, the Company received a letter from the existing rate of 34% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. As a resultListing Qualifications Department of the enacted law,Nasdaq Stock Market notifying the Company that it has regained compliance with the annual meeting requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620.

On March 11, 2024, the Company and Manuel C. Alves-Aivado, M.D., Ph.D., agreed that his employment with the Company would cease and he would resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective as of March 11, 2024 (the “Separation Date”). Dr. Aivado will remain a member of the Company’s Board. Dr. Aivado’s resignation from the Company was requirednot the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to revalue deferred tax assets and liabilities existing at December 31, 2017its operations, policies or practices.

In connection with Dr. Aivado’s separation from the 34% federal rate in effect through the end of 2017, to the new 21% rate. This revaluation resulted in a reduction to the Company’s net deferred tax asset of $15.6 million. This amount was offset by a corresponding reduction to the Company’s deferred tax asset valuation allowance. The other provisions of the TCJA did not have a material impact on the December 31, 2017 financial statements. Estimates used to prepare the Company’s income tax expense are based on its initial analysis of the TCJA. Given the complexity of the TCJACompany, and anticipated guidance from the U. S. Treasury regarding implementation of the TCJA, these estimates may be adjusted during fiscal 2018 in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118,the severance agreement, dated as of September 6, 2018, between the Company and Dr. Aivado, Dr. Aivado is entitled to reflect any such guidance provided.

14. 401(k) Plan

The Company has a 401(k) plan availablereceive his base salary for participating employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. Eligible employees may defer a portioneighteen months of their salary as defined by$881 following the plan. Company contributions to the plan may be made at the discretionseparation date, payments on Dr. Aivado’s behalf of the Company’s boardmonthly premiums for medical insurance coverage under COBRA until the earlier of directors. The Company has not electedthe date that is eighteen months following the separation date or the date on which Dr. Aivado becomes eligible to make anyreceive group health insurance coverage through another employer, contributionsa lump sum payment of $441 equal to one and one-half times Dr. Aivado’s target bonus for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 or 2015.

F-26


15. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

The following table contains selected quarterly financial information for 20172024 calendar year, and 2016. The Company believes that the following information reflects all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statementacceleration in full of the information forvesting of any unvested equity awards. Dr. Aivado’s receipt of these post-separation benefits under the periods presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicativeseverance agreement is conditioned upon his execution of results for any future period.a severance and release of claims agreement with the Company.

F-35

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

2017

 

 

June 30,

2017

 

 

September 30,

2017

 

 

December 31,

2017

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

2,942

 

 

 

3,161

 

 

 

3,825

 

 

 

4,311

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,647

 

 

 

1,791

 

 

 

2,601

 

 

 

2,730

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

4,589

 

 

 

4,952

 

 

 

6,426

 

 

 

7,041

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(4,589

)

 

 

(4,952

)

 

 

(6,426

)

 

 

(7,041

)

Interest income

 

 

32

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

167

 

 

 

176

 

Net loss

 

 

(4,557

)

 

 

(4,923

)

 

 

(6,259

)

 

 

(6,865

)

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value

 

 

(20

)

 

 

(21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(4,577

)

 

$

(4,944

)

 

$

(6,259

)

 

$

(6,865

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

 

$

(10.58

)

 

$

(10.98

)

 

$

(0.45

)

 

$

(0.47

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted

 

 

432,728

 

 

 

450,495

 

 

 

13,939,950

 

 

 

14,720,734

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(4,557

)

 

$

(4,923

)

 

$

(6,259

)

 

$

(6,865

)

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(27

)

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(27

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(4,557

)

 

$

(4,923

)

 

$

(6,265

)

 

$

(6,892

)

F-27


 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

2016

 

 

June 30,

2016

 

 

September 30,

2016

 

 

December 31,

2016

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

2,493

 

 

 

2,086

 

 

 

2,605

 

 

 

3,092

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,446

 

 

 

3,464

 

 

 

1,627

 

 

 

1,356

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

3,939

 

 

 

5,550

 

 

 

4,232

 

 

 

4,448

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(3,939

)

 

 

(5,550

)

 

 

(4,232

)

 

 

(4,448

)

Interest income

 

 

14

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

6

 

Net loss

 

 

(3,925

)

 

 

(5,534

)

 

 

(4,222

)

 

 

(4,442

)

Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value

 

 

(18

)

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(19

)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

 

$

(3,943

)

 

$

(5,553

)

 

$

(4,241

)

 

$

(4,461

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

 

$

(9.25

)

 

$

(12.95

)

 

$

(9.84

)

 

$

(10.31

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted

 

 

426,487

 

 

 

428,870

 

 

 

430,929

 

 

 

432,413

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,925

)

 

$

(5,534

)

 

$

(4,222

)

 

$

(4,442

)

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $0

 

 

7

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

1

 

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

7

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(3

)

 

 

1

 

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(3,918

)

 

$

(5,539

)

 

$

(4,225

)

 

$

(4,441

)

F-28