Exhibit 99.2
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
AEGLEA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Audited Consolidated Financial Statements | ||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (ID 238 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) | 2 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets | 4 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Operations | 5 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss | 6 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity | 7 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 8 | |||
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 9 |
1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive loss, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 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 accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has not generated any product revenues and has not achieved profitable 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 this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (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 audits of these consolidated 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 consolidated 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 audits 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 audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
2
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Accrued Contracted Research and Development Costs
As described in Notes 2 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has entered into various agreements with contract research organizations (CROs), contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), and other outside service providers. Management records accruals based on estimates of services received and efforts expended pursuant to agreements established with CROs, CMOs, and other outside service providers. These estimates are typically based on contracted amounts applied to the proportion of work performed and determined through analysis with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the services. The Company’s research and development expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $59 million, a portion of which relates to contracted research and development costs. Within accrued and other current liabilities, management has accrued $7 million of contracted research and development costs as of December 31, 2022.
The principal consideration for our determination that performing procedures relating to accrued contracted research and development costs is a critical audit matter is a high degree of auditor effort in performing procedures related to management’s estimate of the accrued contracted research and development costs.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for estimating accrued contracted research and development costs, (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the data used to develop the estimate, (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of costs incurred, on a sample basis, by tracing information to the underlying contracts, purchase orders, invoices and information received from certain third party service providers, where applicable, and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the estimated costs incurred for the services which have not been invoiced by tracing to underlying supporting documentation, such as underlying contracts, purchase orders and information received from certain third party service, providers, where applicable.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Austin, Texas
March 2, 2023, except for the effects of the reverse stock split discussed in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is November 15, 2023
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2014.
3
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
ASSETS |
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CURRENT ASSETS | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 34,863 | $ | 15,142 | ||||
Marketable securities | 20,848 | 77,986 | ||||||
Development receivable | 375 | 815 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 6,172 | 4,948 | ||||||
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Total current assets | �� | 62,258 | 98,891 | |||||
Restricted cash | 1,553 | 1,838 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 3,220 | 4,549 | ||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 3,430 | 3,806 | ||||||
Other non-current assets | 683 | 842 | ||||||
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TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 71,144 | $ | 109,926 | ||||
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
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CURRENT LIABILITIES | ||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 677 | $ | 3,319 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities | 625 | 436 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 517 | 2,359 | ||||||
Accrued and other current liabilities | 12,837 | 14,030 | ||||||
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Total current liabilities | 14,656 | 20,144 | ||||||
Non-current operating lease liabilities | 4,004 | 4,608 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion | 2,179 | 1,217 | ||||||
Other non-current liabilities | — | 16 | ||||||
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TOTAL LIABILITIES | 20,839 | 25,985 | ||||||
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9) | ||||||||
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized as of | — | — | ||||||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized as of | 6 | 5 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 475,971 | 425,765 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (48 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | (425,624 | ) | (341,809 | ) | ||||
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TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 50,305 | 83,941 | ||||||
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | 71,144 | $ | 109,926 | ||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||
License | $ | — | $ | 12,000 | $ | — | ||||||
Development fee | 2,329 | 6,739 | — | |||||||||
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Total revenue | 2,329 | 18,739 | — | |||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
Research and development | 58,579 | 57,069 | 59,638 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 28,531 | 27,319 | 21,843 | |||||||||
Total operating expenses | 87,110 | 84,388 | 81,481 | |||||||||
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Loss from operations | (84,781 | ) | (65,649 | ) | (81,481 | ) | ||||||
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Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||
Interest income | 837 | 111 | 593 | |||||||||
Other expense, net | (7 | ) | (122 | ) | (5 | ) | ||||||
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Total other income (expense) | 830 | (11 | ) | 588 | ||||||||
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Loss before income tax expense | (83,951 | ) | (65,660 | ) | (80,893 | ) | ||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) | 136 | (141 | ) | — | ||||||||
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Net loss | $ | (83,815 | ) | $ | (65,801 | ) | $ | (80,893 | ) | |||
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Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (24.86 | ) | $ | (25.02 | ) | $ | (37.89 | ) | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | 3,371,231 | 2,629,784 | 2,134,869 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (83,815 | ) | $ | (65,801 | ) | $ | (80,893 | ) | |||
Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (35 | ) | (1 | ) | 19 | |||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities | 7 | (30 | ) | (59 | ) | |||||||
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Total comprehensive loss | $ | (83,843 | ) | $ | (65,832 | ) | $ | (80,933 | ) | |||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands)
Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Accumulated Deficit | Total Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances—December 31, 2019 | 1,163 | $ | 3 | $ | 255,142 | $ | 51 | $ | (195,115 | ) | $ | 60,081 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants in connection with public and at-the-market offerings, net of offering costs | 747 | 2 | 153,570 | — | — | 153,572 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of stock options | 5 | — | 490 | — | — | 490 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 3 | — | 366 | — | — | 366 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | 6,256 | — | — | 6,256 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | 19 | — | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized loss on marketable securities | — | — | — | (59 | ) | — | (59 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | (80,893 | ) | (80,893 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Balances—December 31, 2020 | 1,918 | $ | 5 | $ | 415,824 | $ | 11 | $ | (276,008 | ) | $ | 139,832 | ||||||||||||
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Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of pre-funded warrants | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of stock options | 13 | — | 1,449 | — | — | 1,449 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 3 | — | 454 | — | — | 454 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | 8,038 | — | — | 8,038 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | (1 | ) | — | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Unrealized loss on marketable securities | — | — | — | (30 | ) | — | (30 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | (65,801 | ) | (65,801 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Balances—December 31, 2021 | 1,974 | $ | 5 | $ | 425,765 | $ | (20 | ) | $ | (341,809 | ) | $ | 83,941 | |||||||||||
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Issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants in connection with registered direct offering, net of offering costs | 430 | 1 | 42,873 | — | — | 42,874 | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of pre-funded warrants | 204 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 6 | — | 222 | — | — | 222 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | 7,111 | — | — | 7,111 | ||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | — | — | — | (35 | ) | — | (35 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities | — | — | — | 7 | — | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — | — | (83,815 | ) | (83,815 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Balances—December 31, 2022 | 2,614 | $ | 6 | $ | 475,971 | $ | (48 | ) | $ | (425,624 | ) | $ | 50,305 | |||||||||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
7
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (83,815 | ) | $ | (65,801 | ) | $ | (80,893 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 7,111 | 8,038 | 6,256 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,567 | 1,576 | 996 | |||||||||
Purchase net (premium) discount on marketable securities | 428 | (344 | ) | (286 | ) | |||||||
Net amortization of premium (accretion of discount) on marketable securities | (327 | ) | 548 | 73 | ||||||||
Non-cash operating lease expense | 397 | 425 | 628 | |||||||||
Other | (2 | ) | 9 | (9 | ) | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Development receivable | 440 | (815 | ) | — | ||||||||
Accounts payable | (2,641 | ) | 1,065 | (544 | ) | |||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (1,144 | ) | (1,216 | ) | (1,101 | ) | ||||||
Deferred revenue | (880 | ) | 3,576 | — | ||||||||
Operating lease liabilities | (435 | ) | (404 | ) | 251 | |||||||
Accrued and other liabilities | (843 | ) | (373 | ) | (1,146 | ) | ||||||
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Net cash used in operating activities | (80,144 | ) | (53,716 | ) | (75,775 | ) | ||||||
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CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (38 | ) | (573 | ) | (4,280 | ) | ||||||
Purchases of marketable securities | (39,500 | ) | (133,079 | ) | (129,000 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds from maturities and sales of marketable securities | 96,546 | 111,033 | 125,676 | |||||||||
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Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 57,008 | (22,619 | ) | (7,604 | ) | |||||||
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CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants | 42,874 | — | 153,716 | |||||||||
Proceeds from employee stock plan purchases and stock option | 222 | 1,903 | 816 | |||||||||
Principal payments on finance lease obligation | (418 | ) | (510 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 42,678 | 1,393 | 154,512 | |||||||||
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Effect of exchange rate on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | (106 | ) | (15 | ) | 51 | |||||||
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NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND | 19,436 | (74,957 | ) | 71,184 | ||||||||
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH | ||||||||||||
Beginning of period | 16,980 | 91,937 | 20,753 | |||||||||
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End of period | $ | 36,416 | $ | 16,980 | $ | 91,937 | ||||||
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Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing | ||||||||||||
Leased assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations | $ | 21 | $ | 872 | $ | 172 | ||||||
Unpaid amounts related to purchase of property and equipment | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 224 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
8
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. The Company and Basis of Presentation
Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (“Aeglea” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human enzyme therapeutics to benefit people with rare metabolic diseases. The Company was formed as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Delaware on December 16, 2013 under the name Aeglea BioTherapeutics Holdings, LLC and was converted from a Delaware LLC to a Delaware corporation on March 10, 2015. The Company operates in one segment and has its principal offices in Austin, Texas.
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had working capital of $47.6 million, an accumulated deficit of $425.6 million, and cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash of $57.3 million. The Company has not generated any product revenues and has not achieved profitable operations. There is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and, if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, development activities, clinical and nonclinical testing, and commercialization of the Company’s products will require significant additional financing.
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other life science companies, including, but not limited to, risks related to the successful discovery, development, and commercialization of product candidates, raising additional capital, development of competing drugs and therapies, protection of proprietary technology and market acceptance of the Company’s products. As a result of these and other factors and the related uncertainties, there can be no assurance of the Company’s future success.
In accordance with ASC 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are issued. Based upon the Company’s current operating plans, the Company believes that it has sufficient resources to fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2023 with its existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Accordingly, based on its recurring losses from operations incurred since inception, the expectation of continued operating losses, and the need to raise additional capital to finance its future operations, the Company determined that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within twelve months of the issuance date of these financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty and assumes the Company will continue as a going concern through the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. The Company plans to address this condition through the sale of common stock in public offerings and/or private placements, debt financings, or through other capital sources, including collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions.
Although the Company has been 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, nor is it considered probable under the accounting standards. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient funding on acceptable terms, it could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs or commercialization activities, which could materially adversely affect its business prospects or its ability to continue operations.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other market-specific and relevant assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgements about the carrying value of assets, liabilities, and equity and the amount of revenues and expenses. Estimates are used in accounting for, among other items, accrued research and development costs and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
9
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of money market funds and debt securities and are stated at fair value.
Marketable Securities
All investments have been classified as available-for-sale and are carried at estimated fair value as determined based upon quoted market prices or pricing models for similar securities. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt securities at the time of purchase. The Company may hold securities with stated maturities greater than one year until maturity. All available-for-sale securities are considered available to support current operations and are classified as current assets. The Company presents credit losses as an allowance rather than as a reduction in the amortized cost of the available-for-sale securities.
For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value and recognized in other income (expense) in the results of operations. For available-for-sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, management considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, an allowance is recorded for the difference between the present value of cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis of the security. Impairment losses attributable to credit loss factors are charged against the allowance when management believes an available-for-sale security is uncollectible or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.
Any unrealized losses from declines in fair value below the amortized cost basis as a result of non-credit loss factors is recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, along with unrealized gains. Realized gains and losses and declines in fair value, if any, on available-for-sale securities are included in other income (expense) in the results of operations. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash consists of money market accounts held by financial institutions as collateral for the Company’s obligations under a credit agreement and a facility lease for the Company’s corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash. The Company’s investment policy limits investments to high credit quality securities issued by the U.S. government, U.S. government-sponsored agencies, highly rated banks, and corporate issuers, subject to certain concentration limits and restrictions on maturities. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash are held by financial institutions that management believes are of high credit quality. Amounts on deposit may at times exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and its accounts are monitored by management to mitigate risk. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institutions holding its cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, and bond issuers.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Repairs and maintenance that do not extend the life or improve an asset are expensed as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of disposed assets and their related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the balance sheet. Any gain or loss is credited or charged to operations.
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The useful lives of the property and equipment are as follows:
Laboratory equipment | 5 years | |
Furniture and office equipment | 5 years | |
Computer equipment | 3 years | |
Software | 3 years | |
Leasehold improvements | Shorter of remaining lease term or estimated useful life |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for indications of possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to these assets. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent an asset group is not recoverable, and the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. There were no impairments of long-lived assets for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Accrued Research and Development Costs
The Company records the costs associated with research nonclinical studies, clinical trials, and manufacturing development as incurred. These costs are a significant component of the Company’s research and development expenses, with a substantial portion of the Company’s on-going research and development activities conducted by third-party service providers, including contract research and manufacturing organizations.
The Company accrues for expenses resulting from obligations under agreements with contract research organizations (“CROs”), contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and other outside service providers for which payment flows do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided to the Company. Accruals are recorded based on estimates of services received and efforts expended pursuant to agreements established with CROs, CMOs, and other outside service providers. These estimates are typically based on contracted amounts applied to the proportion of work performed and determined through analysis with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the services. The Company makes significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrual balance in each reporting period. In the event advance payments are made to a CRO, CMO, or outside service provider, the payments will be recorded as a prepaid asset which will be amortized as the contracted services are performed. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accruals. Inputs, such as the services performed, the number of patients enrolled, or the study duration, may vary from the Company’s estimates, resulting in adjustments to research and development expense in future periods. Changes in these estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s accruals could materially affect the Company’s results of operations. Historically, the Company has not experienced any material deviations between accrued and actual research and development expenses.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. 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 arising from the lease. The classification of the Company’s leases as operating or finance leases along with the initial measurement and recognition of the associated ROU assets and lease liabilities is performed at the lease commencement date. The measurement of lease liabilities is based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future lease payments. To determine the incremental borrowing rate, the Company uses the lease-term appropriate current treasury bond rates adjusted for collateral and inflation risks combined with quoted bank financing rates. The ROU asset is based on the measurement of the lease liability and also includes any lease payments made prior to or on lease commencement and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred, as applicable. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain the Company will exercise any such options. Rent expense for the Company’s operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Amortization expense for the ROU asset associated with its finance leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and interest expense associated with its finance leases is recognized on the balance of the lease liability using the effective interest method based on the estimated incremental borrowing rate.
The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. As allowed under Topic 842, the Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for any leases involving real estate and office equipment classes of assets and, as a result, accounts for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The Company has also elected to not apply the recognition requirement of Topic 842 to leases with a term of 12 months or less for all classes of assets.
11
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial and non-financial assets and liabilities and to determine fair value disclosures. The accounting standards define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value, and require disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact are considered along with assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance.
The accounting standard for fair value establishes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, the first two of which are considered observable and the last unobservable, that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1: | Observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | |
Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. | |
Level 3: | Valuations based on unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology and including data about assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available under the circumstances. |
Financial instruments carried at fair value include cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash. The carrying amounts of accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.
Revenue Recognition
Under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“Topic 606”), an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price, including variable consideration, if any; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
The Company assesses its license arrangements within the scope of Topic 606 in accordance with this framework as follows:
License revenue
The Company assesses whether the goods or services promised within each contract are distinct to identify those that are performance obligations. This assessment involves subjective determinations and requires management to make judgments about the individual promised goods or services and whether such are separable from the other aspects of the contractual relationship. In assessing whether a promised good or service is distinct, and therefore a performance obligation, the Company considers factors such as the research, stage of development of the licensed product, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities of the customer and the availability of the associated expertise in the general marketplace. The Company also considers the intended benefit of the contract in assessing whether a promised good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. If a promised good or service is not distinct, the Company is required to combine that good or service with other promised goods or services until it identifies a bundle of goods or services that is distinct. Arrangements that include rights to additional goods or services that are exercisable at a customer’s discretion are generally considered options. The Company assesses if these options provide a material right to the customer and if so, they are considered performance obligations.
12
The transaction price is determined and allocated to the identified performance obligations in proportion to their stand-alone selling prices (“SSP”) on a relative SSP basis. SSP is based on observable prices of the performance obligations or, when such prices are not observable, are estimated. The estimation of SSP may include factors such as forecasted revenues or costs, development timelines, discount rates, probabilities of technical and regulatory success, and considerations such as market conditions and entity-specific factors. In certain circumstances, the Company may apply the residual method to determine the SSP of a good or service if the SSP is considered highly variable or uncertain. The Company validates the SSP for performance obligations by evaluating whether changes in the key assumptions used to determine the SSP will have a significant effect on the allocation of arrangement consideration between multiple performance obligations.
If the consideration promised in a contract includes a variable amount, the Company estimates the amount of consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods or services to a customer. The Company determines the amount of variable consideration by using the expected value method or the most likely amount method. The Company includes the amount of estimated variable consideration in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis in the period of adjustment.
If an arrangement includes development, regulatory or commercial milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered likely of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant cumulative revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are generally not considered likely of being achieved until those approvals are received.
In determining the transaction price, the Company adjusts consideration for the effects of the time value of money if the timing of payments provides the Company with a significant benefit of financing. The Company does not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment by the licensee and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the licensees will be one year or less. For arrangements with licenses of intellectual property that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and if the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes royalty revenue and sales-based milestones at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied.
The Company recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time, and if over time, recognition is based on the use of an output or input method.
The Company’s contracts may be modified for changes in the customer’s requirements. If contract modifications are for additional goods and services that are distinct from the existing contract, the modification will be accounted for as either a separate contract or a termination of the existing contract, depending on whether the additional goods or services reflects the SSP.
If the additional goods or services in a contract modification are not distinct from the existing contract, they are accounted for as if they were part of the original contract. The effect of the contract modification on the transaction price and the measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. The cumulative catch-up adjustment is calculated using an updated measure of progress applied to the sum of (1) the remaining consideration allocated to the partially satisfied performance obligation and (2) the revenue already recognized on that performance obligation. The revenue recognized for fully satisfied goods or services and distinct from the remaining performance obligations is not altered by the modification.
13
Collaborative arrangements
The Company analyzes its license arrangements to assess whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities and therefore within the scope of ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (“Topic 808”). This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement. For arrangements within the scope of Topic 808 that contain multiple elements, the Company first determines which elements of the collaboration are deemed to be within the scope of Topic 808 and which elements of the collaboration are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and therefore within the scope of Topic 606. For elements of collaboration arrangements that are accounted for pursuant to Topic 808, an appropriate recognition method is determined and applied consistently, either by analogy to authoritative accounting literature or by applying a reasonable and rational policy election. For those elements of the arrangement that are accounted for pursuant to Topic 606, the Company applies the five-step model described above.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include, but are not limited to, salaries, benefits, travel, stock-based compensation, consulting costs, contract research service costs, laboratory supplies and facilities, contract manufacturing costs, and costs paid to other third parties that conduct research and development activities on the Company’s behalf. Amounts incurred in connection with license agreements are also included in research and development expense.
Advance payments for goods or services to be rendered in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as a prepaid asset and expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes the cost of stock-based awards granted to employees and non-employees based on the estimated grant-date fair values of the awards. The fair values of stock options are estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair values of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The value of the award is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur, which may result in the reversal of compensation costs in subsequent periods as the forfeitures arise. Compensation expense for employee and non-employee share-based payment awards with performance conditions is recognized when the performance condition is deemed probable.
Income Taxes
The Company and its ten wholly owned subsidiary corporations use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statements and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Additionally, any changes in income tax laws are immediately recognized in the year of enactment.
A valuation allowance is established against the deferred tax assets to reduce their carrying value to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as noncurrent along with the related valuation allowance. Due to a lack of earnings history, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.
The Company recognizes benefits of uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that such positions will be sustained upon examination based solely on the technical merits, as the largest amount of benefits that is more likely than not to be realized upon the ultimate settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense, if applicable. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and there were no interest or penalties incurred by the Company in the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, or 2020.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is the change in stockholders’ equity from transactions and other events and circumstances other than those resulting from investments by stockholders and distributions to stockholders. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) is currently comprised of changes in unrealized losses and gains on available-for-sale securities and foreign currency translation adjustments reflecting the cumulative effect of changes in exchange rates between the foreign entity’s functional currency and the reporting currency.
14
3. Fair Value Measurements
The Company measures and reports certain financial instruments as assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. The following tables sets forth the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based on the three-tier fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Financial Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 15,250 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15,250 | ||||||||
Commercial paper | — | 23,641 | — | 23,641 | ||||||||||||
U.S. government securities | — | 4,230 | — | 4,230 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | — | 3,732 | — | 3,732 | ||||||||||||
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| |||||||||
Total financial assets | $ | 15,250 | $ | 31,603 | $ | — | $ | 46,853 | ||||||||
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December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Financial Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 8,888 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 8,888 | ||||||||
Commercial paper | — | 65,412 | — | 65,412 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | — | 12,574 | — | 12,574 | ||||||||||||
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Total financial assets | $ | 8,888 | $ | 77,986 | $ | — | $ | 86,874 | ||||||||
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The Company measures the fair value of money market funds on quoted prices in active markets for identical asset or liabilities. The Level 2 assets include U.S. government agency securities, commercial paper and corporate bonds, and are valued based on quoted prices for similar assets in active markets and inputs other than quoted prices that are derived from observable market data.
The Company evaluates transfers between levels at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the periods presented.
4. Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
The following tables summarize the estimated fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities and the gross unrealized gains and losses (in thousands):
December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||||||
Cash equivalents: | ||||||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 15,250 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 15,250 | ||||||||
Commercial paper | 7,021 | 1 | (2 | )�� | 7,020 | |||||||||||
U.S. government securities | 3,736 | — | (1 | ) | 3,735 | |||||||||||
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Total cash equivalents | 26,007 | 1 | (3 | ) | 26,005 | |||||||||||
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Marketable securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper | 16,644 | 2 | (25 | ) | 16,621 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 3,738 | — | (6 | ) | 3,732 | |||||||||||
U.S. government securities | 495 | — | — | 495 | ||||||||||||
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Total marketable securities | $ | 20,877 | $ | 2 | $ | (31 | ) | $ | 20,848 | |||||||
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December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||||||
Cash equivalents: | ||||||||||||||||
Money market funds | $ | 8,888 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 8,888 | ||||||||
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Total cash equivalents | 8,888 | — | — | 8,888 | ||||||||||||
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Marketable securities: | ||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper | 65,443 | 3 | (34 | ) | 65,412 | |||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 12,581 | — | (7 | ) | 12,574 | |||||||||||
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Total marketable securities | $ | 78,024 | $ | 3 | $ | (41 | ) | $ | 77,986 | |||||||
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The following table summarizes the available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, aggregated by major security type and length of time in a continuous unrealized loss position:
December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or Longer | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | 17,699 | $ | (27 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 17,699 | $ | (27 | ) | ||||||||||
U.S. government securities | 3,735 | (1 | ) | — | — | 3,735 | (1 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 3,732 | (6 | ) | — | — | 3,732 | (6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total marketable securities | $ | 25,166 | $ | (34 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 25,166 | $ | (34 | ) | ||||||||||
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December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Than 12 Months | 12 Months or Longer | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | Unrealized Losses | |||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper | $ | 47,425 | $ | (34 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 47,425 | $ | (34 | ) | ||||||||||
Corporate bonds | 12,573 | (7 | ) | — | — | 12,573 | (7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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Total marketable securities | $ | 59,998 | $ | (41 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 59,998 | $ | (41 | ) | ||||||||||
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The Company evaluated its securities for credit losses and considered the decline in market value to be primarily attributable to current economic and market conditions and not to a credit loss or other factors. Additionally, the Company does not intend to sell the securities in an unrealized loss position and does not expect they will be required to sell the securities before recovery of the unamortized cost basis. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, an allowance for credit losses had not been recognized. Given the Company’s intent and ability to hold such securities until recovery, and the lack of significant change in credit risk of these investments, the Company does not consider these marketable securities to be impaired as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
There were no realized gains or losses on marketable securities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. Interest on marketable securities is included in interest income. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale debt securities totaled $0.1 million and $0.1 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and is excluded from the estimate of credit losses.
The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s marketable securities at estimated fair value (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Due in one year or less | $ | 20,848 | $ | 77,986 | ||||
Due in 1 - 2 years | — | — | ||||||
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Total marketable securities | $ | 20,848 | $ | 77,986 | ||||
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The Company may sell investments at any time for use in current operations even if they have not yet reached maturity. As a result, the Company classifies marketable securities, including securities with maturities beyond twelve months as current assets.
5. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Laboratory equipment | $ | 2,257 | $ | 2,245 | ||||
Furniture and office equipment | 520 | 520 | ||||||
Computer equipment | 73 | 54 | ||||||
Software | 121 | 139 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | 4,393 | 4,393 | ||||||
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Property and equipment, gross | 7,364 | 7,351 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (4,144 | ) | (2,802 | ) | ||||
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Property and equipment, net | $ | 3,220 | $ | 4,549 | ||||
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Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 was $1.4 million, $1.4 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. All of the Company’s long-lived assets are located in the United States.
6. Accrued and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Accrued compensation | $ | 4,589 | $ | 4,988 | ||||
Accrued contracted research and development costs | 6,972 | 5,995 | ||||||
Accrued professional and consulting fees | 946 | 2,264 | ||||||
Other | 330 | 783 | ||||||
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Total accrued and other current liabilities | $ | 12,837 | $ | 14,030 | ||||
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7. Leases
The Company leases certain office space, laboratory facilities, and equipment. These leases require monthly lease payments that may be subject to annual increases throughout the lease term. Certain of these leases also include renewal options at the election of the Company to renew or extend the lease for an additional three to five years. These optional periods have not been considered in the determination of the right-of-use assets or lease liabilities associated with these leases as the Company did not consider it reasonably certain it would exercise the options. The Company performed evaluations of its contracts and determined it has both operating and finance leases. Variable lease expense for these leases primarily consists of common area maintenance and other operating costs.
In April 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement (the “Las Cimas Lease”) for its corporate headquarters and laboratory space located in Austin, Texas. The Las Cimas Lease includes approximately 30,000 square feet and commenced on April 30, 2019, with an expiration on April 30, 2028. The Company posted a customary letter of credit in the amount of $1.5 million as security, which is subject to automatic reductions per the terms of the Las Cimas Lease. A tenant allowance of up to $1.0 million was provided by the lessor and fully reimbursed to the Company.
17
The following table summarizes the Company’s recognition of its operating and finance leases (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||||
Classification | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||
Operating | Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | 3,430 | $ | 3,806 | |||||
Finance | Other non-current assets | 597 | 798 | |||||||
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Total leased assets | 4,027 | 4,604 | ||||||||
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Leases | ||||||||||
Current | ||||||||||
Operating | Operating lease liabilities | 625 | 436 | |||||||
Finance | Accrued and other current liabilities | 16 | 418 | |||||||
Non-current | ||||||||||
Operating | Non-current operating lease liabilities | 4,004 | 4,608 | |||||||
Finance | Other non-current liabilities | — | 16 | |||||||
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Total lease liabilities | $ | 4,645 | $ | 5,478 | ||||||
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The following table summarizes the weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rates for the Company’s operating and finance leases:
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Lease term (years) | ||||||||
Operating leases | 5.3 | 6.3 | ||||||
Finance leases | 0.6 | 0.5 | ||||||
Discount rate | ||||||||
Operating leases | 10.6 | % | 10.7 | % | ||||
Finance leases | 10.2 | % | 6.7 | % |
The following table summarizes the lease costs pertaining to the Company’s operating leases (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Operating lease cost | $ | 910 | $ | 991 | $ | 1,258 | ||||||
Variable lease cost | 472 | 519 | 665 | |||||||||
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Total lease cost | $ | 1,382 | $ | 1,510 | $ | 1,923 | ||||||
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Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and was included within net cash used in operating activities in the cash flows.
The maturities of the Company’s operating and finance lease liabilities as of December 31, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
Operating Leases | Finance Leases | |||||||
2023 | $ | 1,078 | $ | 16 | ||||
2024 | 1,103 | — | ||||||
2025 | 1,129 | — | ||||||
2026 | 1,163 | — | ||||||
2027 | 1,198 | — | ||||||
Thereafter | 403 | — | ||||||
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Total lease payments | 6,074 | 16 | ||||||
Less: | ||||||||
Imputed interest | (1,445 | ) | — | |||||
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Total | $ | 4,629 | $ | 16 | ||||
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8. Stockholders’ Equity
The Company is authorized to issue 30,000,000 shares of capital stock of which 20,000,000 shares are designated as common stock and 10,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock, all with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held. The Company’s common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights, and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions. Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if the board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that the board of directors may determine. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, no common stock dividends had been declared by the board of directors and there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Registered Direct Offering
In May 2022, the Company issued and sold 430,107 shares of common stock at an offering price of $40.00 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 694,892 shares of common stock at an offering price of $39.9975 per warrant (representing the price per share of common stock sold in the offering minus the $0.0025 exercise price per warrant) in a registered direct offering pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3. The net proceeds to the Company from this offering were approximately $42.9 million, after deducting placement agent fees and offering costs of $2.1 million.
Follow-on Public Offerings
In February 2019, the Company issued and sold 185,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $200.00 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 160,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $199.9975 per warrant in an underwritten public offering pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3. This includes the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 45,000 additional shares of common stock. The net proceeds to the Company from this public offering were $64.5 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $4.1 million and offering costs of $0.4 million.
In April 2020, the Company issued and sold 617,692 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $118.75 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 544,413 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $118.7475 per warrant in an underwritten public offering pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3. This includes the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 151,578 additional shares of common stock. The net proceeds to the Company from this public offering were $129.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $8.2 million and offering costs of $0.8 million.
Pre-Funded Warrants
In February 2019, April 2020 and May 2022, the Company issued pre-funded warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock in underwritten public offerings at the offering price of the common stock, less the $0.0025 per share exercise price of each warrant. The warrants were recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in capital and have no expiration date. Per the terms of the warrant agreements, the outstanding warrants to purchase shares of common stock may not be exercised if the holder’s ownership of the Company’s common stock would exceed 4.99% (“Maximum Ownership Percentage”) or 9.99% for certain holders. By written notice to the Company, each holder may increase or decrease the Maximum Ownership Percentage to any other percentage (not in excess of 19.99% for the majority of such warrants). The revised Maximum Ownership Percentage would be effective 61 days after the notice is received by the Company.
As of December 31, 2022, the following pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock were issued and outstanding:
Issue Date | Expiration Date | Exercise Price | Number of Warrants Outstanding | |||||||||
February 2019 | None | $ | 0.0025 | 150,000 | ||||||||
April 2020 | None | $ | 0.0025 | 474,413 | ||||||||
May 2022 | None | $ | 0.0025 | 531,250 | ||||||||
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Total pre-funded warrants | 1,155,663 | |||||||||||
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At-The-Market Offering
In April 2020, the Company entered into a new sales agreement with JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC, as sales agent, to issue and sell shares of its common stock for an aggregate offering price of $60.0 million under an at-the-market (“2020 ATM”) offering program. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company issued and sold 129,803 shares of common stock under the 2020 ATM for gross proceeds of $25.3 million, resulting in net proceeds of $24.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering costs.
9. Strategic License Agreements
Immedica Pharma AB License and Development Agreement
On March 21, 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive license and supply agreement with Immedica Pharma AB (“Immedica”). By entering into this agreement, the Company agreed to provide Immedica the following goods and services:
i. | Deliver an exclusive, sublicensable, license and know-how (the “License”) to develop and commercialize pegzilarginase (the “Product”) in the territory comprising the members states of the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman (the “Territory”); |
ii. | Complete the global pivotal PEACE (Pegzilarginase Effect on Arginase 1 Deficiency Clinical Endpoints) Phase 3 trial (“PEACE Trial”) and related Biologics License Application (“BLA”) package to file with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), which will be leveraged by Immedica in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals in the Territory; and |
iii. | Perform a Pediatric Investigation Plan trial (“PIP Trial”) in order for Immedica to be able to receive certain regulatory approvals within the Territory. |
In addition, the Company and Immedica formed a Joint Steering Committee (“JSC”) to provide oversight to the activities performed under the agreement; however, the substance of the Company’s participation in the JSC does not represent an additional promised service, but rather, a right of the Company to protect its own interests in the arrangement.
Further, the Company agreed to supply to Immedica, and Immedica agreed to purchase from the Company, substantially all commercial requirements of the Product. The terms of the agreement do not provide for either (i) an option to Immedica to purchase the Product from the Company at a discount from the standalone selling price or (ii) minimum purchase quantities. Finally, Immedica will bear (i) all costs and expenses for any development or commercialization of the Product in the Territory subject to the License exclusive of the Company’s promised goods and services summarized above and (ii) all costs and fees associated with applying for regulatory approval of the Product in the Territory. In July 2021, the Company modified the agreement with Immedica to provide certain additional services in relation to the PEACE Phase 3 Trial and BLA package performance obligation in exchange for the reimbursement of up to $3.0 million of the actual costs incurred in relation to such incremental services.
The Company received a non-refundable payment of $21.5 million and Immedica agreed to provide payment of 50% of the Company’s costs incurred in performing the PIP Trial up to a maximum of $1.8 million. In addition, the Company has the ability to receive additional payments under the agreement of up to approximately $120.8 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments, assuming an exchange rate of $1.07 to €1.00. The Company is also entitled to receive royalties in the mid-20 percent range on net sales of the Product in the Territory.
The Company concluded that Immedica meets the definition to be accounted for as a customer because the Company is delivering intellectual property and other services within the Company’s normal course of business, in which the parties are not jointly sharing the risks and rewards. Therefore, the Company concluded that the promises summarized above represent transactions with a customer within the scope of ASC 606. The Company determined that the following promises represent distinct promised services, and therefore, performance obligations: (i) the License, (ii) the PEACE Trial and BLA package, and (iii) the PIP Trial.
Specifically, in making these determinations, the Company considered the following factors:
• | As of inception of the agreement, the Company had completed the Phase 1/2 clinical trial related to the Product and were conducting the ongoing PEACE Trial. Accordingly, the Company is not promising, nor expecting, to perform additional research and development activities pursuant to the agreement that would either significantly modify, customize or be considered highly interdependent or interrelated with pegzilarginase. |
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• | The License represents functional intellectual property given the functionality of the License is not expected to change substantially as a result of the company’s ongoing activities. |
• | The services necessary to complete the PEACE Trial, BLA package and PIP Trial could be performed by other parties. |
Given that Immedica is not obligated to purchase any minimum amount or quantities of the Product, the supply of the Product for commercial use to Immedica was determined to be an option for Immedica, rather than a performance obligation of the Company at contract inception and will be accounted for if and when exercised. The Company also determined that Immedica’s option to purchase the Product does not create a material right as the expected pricing is not at a discount.
The Company determined that the upfront fixed payment amount of $21.5 million must be included in the transaction price. Additionally, the Company determined at inception of the arrangement that 50% of the estimated costs to be incurred in relation to the PIP Trial exceeded $1.8 million and included the full reimbursement amount of $1.8 million in the transaction price. Upon subsequent re-evaluation due to changing facts and circumstances, the Company determined the estimated costs are now less than the maximum allowable reimbursement and a portion of the variable consideration was constrained, which did not materially impact the revenue recognized to date. Additionally, upon the modification of the agreement in July 2021, the Company determined that the estimated costs to perform the additional services related to the PEACE Trial and BLA package exceeds the maximum allowable reimbursement of $3.0 million. Therefore, the Company included an estimated total of $3.6 million that will be due in relation to the PIP Trial, PEACE Trial, and BLA package in the transaction price and it is probable that a significant reversal will not occur in the future. In total, the modified transaction price was determined to be $25.1 million.
The Company has allocated $9.6 million and $3.5 million of the modified transaction price to the PEACE Trial and BLA package and PIP Trial performance obligations, respectively, based on the stand-alone selling prices (“SSP”), which was based on the estimated costs that a third-party would charge in performing such services on a stand-alone basis. The SSP for the License was established at inception of the arrangement using a residual value approach due to the uniqueness of and lack of observable data related to the License, and without a specific analog from which to make reliable estimates, resulting in an allocation of $12.0 million.
The potential regulatory milestone payments that the Company is eligible to receive were excluded from the transaction price, as the milestone amounts were fully constrained based on the probability of achievement, since the milestones relate to successful achievement of certain regulatory approvals, which might not be achieved. The Company determined that the royalties and commercial milestone payments relate predominantly to the license of intellectual property and are therefore excluded from the transaction price under the sales- or usage-based royalty exception of ASC 606. The Company will reevaluate the transaction price, including all constrained amounts, at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur, the Company will adjust its estimate of the transaction price as necessary. The Company will recognize the royalties and commercial milestone payments as revenue when the associated sales occur, and relevant sales-based thresholds are met. The Company assessed the arrangement with Immedica and concluded that a significant financing component does not exist.
The Company recognized revenue allocated to the License performance obligation at a point in time and upon transfer of the License. The Company completed the transfer of the know-how necessary for Immedica to benefit from the License in June 2021 and recognized $12.0 million of revenue at that time. The development fee allocated to the PEACE Trial, BLA package and PIP Trial performance obligations will be recognized over time using an input method of costs incurred related to the performance obligations.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized revenue of $2.3 million related to the PEACE Trial and BLA package performance obligation using a cost to cost model. The Company recognized revenue of $6.7 million related to the PEACE Trial and BLA package performance obligation using a cost to cost model and $12.0 million related to the transfer of the License for the year ended December 31, 2021 and no revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has recorded deferred revenue of $2.7 million associated with the license and supply agreement with Immedica, of which $0.5 million is classified as current. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had recorded deferred revenue of $3.6 million associated with the license and supply agreement with Immedica, of which $2.4 million was classified as current.
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Contract Balances from Customer Contract
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in contract assets and contract liabilities on the balance sheets. The Company recognizes license and development receivables based on billed services, which are derecognized upon reimbursement. When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue after control of the goods or services is transferred to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.
The following table presents changes in the Company’s contract liabilities for the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2021 | Additions | Deductions | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||
Contract liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred revenue | $ | 3,576 | $ | 1,449 | $ | (2,329 | ) | $ | 2,696 | |||||||
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The Company had no contract assets during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 and no contract liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2020.
University of Texas at Austin License Agreement
In December 2013, two of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries AECase, Inc. and AEMase, Inc. each entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement, including the right to grant sublicenses, with the University of Texas at Austin (the “University”) for certain intellectual property owned by the University related to cystinase and methioninase. In January 2017, the Company and the University entered into an Amended and Restated Patent License Agreement (the “Restated License”), which consolidated the two license agreements, revised certain obligations, and licensed additional patent applications and invention disclosures to us. The Restated License was amended in August 2017, December 2017, and December 2018 to revise diligence milestones and license additional patent applications, including our program candidates under the pegtarviliase and Cystinuria Programs.
Pursuant to the terms of the Restated License, the Company may be required to pay the University up to $6.4 million in milestone payments based on the achievement of certain development milestones, including clinical trials and regulatory approvals, the majority of which are due upon the achievement of later development milestones, including a $5.0 million payment due on regulatory approval of a product and a $0.5 million payment payable on final regulatory approval of a product for a second indication. In addition, the Company is required to pay the University a low single-digit royalty on worldwide-net sales of products covered under the Restated License, together with a revenue share on non-royalty consideration received from sublicensees. The rate of the revenue share ranges from 6.5% to 25% depending on the date the sublicense agreement is signed.
In the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid $0.1 million in milestone payments pursuant to the Restated License. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company paid $0.1 million in license fees annually.
10. Stock-Based Compensation
2015 Equity Incentive Plan
In March 2015, the Company adopted the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“2015 Plan”), administered by the board of directors, and provides for the Company to sell or issue common stock or restricted common stock, or to grant incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options for the purchase of common stock, to employees, members of the board of directors and consultants of the Company. Under the terms of the 2015 Plan, the exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions may be determined at the discretion of the board of directors, or their committee if so delegated, 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, the term of stock options may not be greater than ten years for all grants, and for grantees holding more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, the term may not be greater than five years.
The Company granted options under the 2015 Plan until April 2016 when it was terminated as to future awards, although it continues to govern the terms of options that remain outstanding under the 2015 Plan.
As of December 31, 2022, a total of 3,785 shares of common stock are subject to options outstanding under the 2015 Plan and will become available under the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (“2016 Plan”) to the extent the options are forfeited or lapse unexercised.
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2016 Equity Incentive Plan
The 2016 Plan became effective in April 2016 and serves as the successor to the 2015 Plan. Under the 2016 Plan, the Company may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, and stock bonuses. The 2016 Plan provides for an initial reserve of 44,000 shares of common stock, plus 20,394 shares of common stock remaining under the 2015 Plan, and any share awards that subsequently are forfeited or lapse unexercised under the 2015 Plan. The shares reserved exclude shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan.
In October 2018, the 2016 plan was amended to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 70,384 shares, extend the term of the 2016 Plan through August 7, 2028, and provide for an automatic increase in the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder on January 1 of each year for the remaining term of the plan equal to (a) 4.0% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock on December 31 of the immediately preceding year, or (b) a lesser amount as approved by the board each year. As a result of the operation of each of these provisions, on January 1, 2022, 2021, and 2020, an additional 78,968, 76,734, and 46,535 shares, respectively, became available for issuance under the 2016 Plan.
As of December 31, 2022, the total number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan was 432,725, of which 319,122 shares were subject to outstanding option awards and restricted unit awards.
2018 Equity Inducement Plan
In February 2018, the board of directors approved and adopted the 2018 Equity Inducement Plan (“2018 Plan”), which became effective on the same date. The board of directors approved an initial reserve of 44,000 shares of common stock to be used exclusively for individuals who were not previously employees or directors, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to the individual entering into employment with the Company. Nonqualified stock options or restricted stock units may be granted under the 2018 Plan at the discretion of the Compensation Committee or the board of directors. The Company did not seek stockholder approval of the 2018 Plan pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).
As of December 31, 2022, the total number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 Plan was 44,000, of which 12,440 shares were subject to outstanding option awards.
Under the 2016 Plan and 2018 Plan, the Company may grant stock-based awards with service conditions (“service-based” awards), performance conditions (“performance-based” awards), and market conditions (“market-based” awards). Service-based awards granted under the 2018 Plan, 2016 Plan, and 2015 Plan generally vest over four years and expire after ten years, although awards have been granted with vesting terms less than four years.
CEO Inducement Grant
In November 2022, the Company granted 75,393 non-qualified stock options to the new Chief Executive Officer in a stand alone inducement grant. The first 25% of these options vest on the one year anniversary of the grant, and the remaining 75% vest in equal amounts over 48 months following the one year anniversary date and are exercisable for a term of ten years.
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The following table summarizes employee and non-employee stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Shares Issuable Under Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
(in years) | (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2021 | 264,303 | $ | 189.00 | 7.90 | $ | 328 | ||||||||||
Granted | 235,199 | 45.00 | ||||||||||||||
Exercised | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Forfeited | (94,421 | ) | 153.50 | |||||||||||||
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Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 | 405,081 | $ | 113.75 | 6.72 | $ | 2 | ||||||||||
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Options vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2022 | 397,772 | $ | 112.50 | 6.78 | $ | 2 | ||||||||||
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Options exercisable as of December 31, 2022 | 163,450 | $ | 171.00 | 4.93 | $ | — | ||||||||||
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The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding, exercisable, vested and expected to vest were calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock as of the reporting date.
For the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted was $45.00, $124.00, and $117.00, respectively. No options were exercised in the year ended December 31, 2022. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2021, and 2020 was $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
There were no stock options issued to non-employees during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2020, 66 non-employee stock options vested in the period. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, no non-employee stock options vested in the period.
2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“2016 ESPP”) became effective in April 2016. A total of 6,600 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2016 ESPP. Eligible employees may purchase shares of common stock under the 2016 ESPP at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock as of the first or the last day of each offering period. Employees are limited to contributing 15% of the employee’s eligible compensation and may not purchase more than $25,000 of stock during any calendar year. The 2016 ESPP will terminate ten years from the first purchase date under the plan, unless terminated earlier by the board of directors.
In June 2018, the 2016 ESPP was amended to provide for an automatic annual increase in the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder on January 1 of each year for the remaining term of the year equal to (a) 1.0% of the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock on December 31 of the immediately preceding year, or (b) a lesser amount as approved by the board of directors each year. As a result of the operation of this provision, on January 1, 2022, 2021 and 2020, an additional 19,742, 19,183, and 11,633 shares, respectively, became available for issuance under the 2016 ESPP. As of December 31, 2022, the reserve remaining and available for future issuance under the 2016 ESPP was 48,665 shares.
In February 2023, the 2016 ESPP was amended to increase the maximum shares purchased during any one period from 80 shares to 400 shares or a lesser amount determined by the board of directors.
Restricted Common Stock Units
The Company granted 9,128 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) during the year ended December 31, 2020 to certain employees with regulatory, commercial, and clinical milestones in addition to a service condition. There were no RSUs granted for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
As of December 31, 2022, the performance conditions of the granted RSUs were not probable of being achieved. If and when the performance milestones are deemed probable of being achieved within the required time frame, the Company may recognize up to $1.2 million of stock-based compensation for the remaining unvested RSUs as of December 31, 2022.
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The following table summarizes employee restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Shares | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||||
Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2021 | 7,600 | $ | 203.25 | |||||
Granted | — | — | ||||||
Vested | — | — | ||||||
Forfeited | (1,940 | ) | 203.25 | |||||
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Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2022 | 5,660 | $ | 203.25 | |||||
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There were no RSUs granted to non-employees during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense recognized from the Company’s equity incentive plans, 2018 Plan, and the 2016 ESPP for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 was as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Employees | Non- Employees | Employees | Non- Employees | Employees | Non- Employees | |||||||||||||||||||
Research and development | $ | 2,591 | $ | — | $ | 2,723 | $ | — | $ | 2,168 | $ | 36 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | 4,520 | — | 5,315 | — | 4,052 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
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Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | 7,111 | $ | — | $ | 8,038 | $ | — | $ | 6,220 | $ | 36 | ||||||||||||
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No related tax benefits were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 (see Note 11).
The employee and non-employee awards contain both performance and service-based vesting conditions. No expense was recognized for the unvested employee and non-employee awards with only a performance condition for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020. The performance-based vesting conditions represent specific performance targets. Compensation expense for employee and non-employee share-based payment awards with performance conditions is recognized when the performance condition is deemed probable of achievement.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had an aggregate of $11.6 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for options outstanding, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
In determining the fair value of the stock-based awards, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment to determine.
Expected Term
The Company’s expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method (based on the midpoint between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term). The Company utilizes this method due to lack of historical exercise data and the plain-vanilla nature of the Company’s stock-based awards.
Expected Volatility
Since the Company was privately held through April 2016, it alone does not have the relevant company-specific historical data to support its expected volatility. As such, the Company has used an average of expected volatilities based on the volatilities of a representative group of publicly traded biopharmaceutical companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. Subsequent to the Company’s initial public offering, it began to consider the Company’s own historic volatility. However, due to its limited history as a public company, the Company still uses peer company data to assist in this analysis. For purposes of identifying comparable companies, the Company selected companies with comparable characteristics to it, including enterprise value, risk profiles, position within the industry, and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the stock-based awards. The historical volatility data was computed using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the equivalent period of the calculated expected term of the stock-based awards. The Company intends to consistently apply this process using the same or similar comparable entities until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of the Company’s own share price becomes available.
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Risk-Free Interest Rate
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of option.
Expected Dividend
The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and has no plans to pay dividends on its common stock. Therefore, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero.
Valuation of Stock Options and 2016 ESPP
The fair value of the stock options granted under the 2018 Plan, 2016 Plan, 2015 Plan and the CEO inducement grant, as well as the shares available for purchase under the 2016 ESPP were determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the awards:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Stock Options Granted | ||||||||||||
Expected term (in years) | 6.00 | 5.99 | 6.10 | |||||||||
Expected volatility | 84 | % | 83 | % | 76 | % | ||||||
Risk-free interest | 2.93 | % | 0.88 | % | 1.06 | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||
2016 ESPP | ||||||||||||
Expected term (in years) | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.50 | |||||||||
Expected volatility | 84 | % | 86 | % | 76 | % | ||||||
Risk-free interest | 1.95 | % | 0.08 | % | 0.75 | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % |
11. Defined Contribution Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) retirement plan in which substantially all of its full-time employees are eligible to participate. Participants may contribute a percentage of their annual compensation to this plan, subject to statutory limitations. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, the Company provided $0.6 million, $0.6 million, and $0.5 million, respectively, in contributions to the plan.
12. Income Taxes
The following table summarizes the (loss) income before income tax expense by jurisdiction for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Domestic | $ | (84,113 | ) | $ | (65,940 | ) | $ | (80,893 | ) | |||
Foreign | 162 | 280 | — | |||||||||
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Loss before income tax expense | $ | (83,951 | ) | $ | (65,660 | ) | $ | (80,893 | ) | |||
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For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized an income tax expense of $0.1 million, related to foreign subsidiaries refund from research client and foreign subsidiaries income tax expense. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized an income tax expense of $0.1 million, related to foreign subsidiaries income tax expense and the Texas margins tax. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized no provision or benefit from income taxes. The difference between the Company’s provision for income taxes and the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes is as follows (in thousands):
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Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Tax provision derived by applying the federal statutory | $ | (17,630 | ) | $ | (13,789 | ) | $ | (16,988 | ) | |||
Permanent differences and other | 1,042 | 1,002 | 482 | |||||||||
Federal tax credits | (3,559 | ) | (3,815 | ) | (3,905 | ) | ||||||
State tax credits | (640 | ) | (152 | ) | (251 | ) | ||||||
Effect of tax rate on foreign jurisdiction | 42 | (5 | ) | — | ||||||||
Change in the valuation allowance | 20,609 | 16,900 | 20,662 | |||||||||
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Income tax (benefit) expense | $ | (136 | ) | $ | 141 | $ | — | |||||
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The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforward | $ | 68,917 | $ | 64,531 | ||||
Intangible assets | 11,149 | 57 | ||||||
Deferred revenue | 566 | — | ||||||
Accrued expense | 668 | 846 | ||||||
Stock-based compensation | 3,293 | 2,767 | ||||||
Federal tax credits | 21,914 | 18,579 | ||||||
State tax credits | 1,631 | 991 | ||||||
Other | 190 | 220 | ||||||
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Total deferred tax assets | 108,328 | 87,991 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities | ||||||||
Depreciable assets | (676 | ) | (948 | ) | ||||
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Total deferred tax liabilities | (676 | ) | (948 | ) | ||||
Less: Valuation allowance | (107,652 | ) | (87,043 | ) | ||||
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Deferred tax assets, net | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
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The Company has established a full federal and state valuation allowance equal to the net deferred tax assets due to uncertainties regarding the realization of the deferred tax asset based on the Company’s lack of earnings history. The valuation allowance increased by $20.6 million, $16.9 million, and $20.7 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, primarily due to continuing loss from operations.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had U.S. net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL”) of $328.2 million and $307.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $21.9 million and $18.6 million, respectively, and state tax credit carryforwards of $1.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, $58.4 million and $21.9 million, respectively, will expire in 2033, if not utilized. Any remaining net operating loss will carry forward indefinitely and can be utilized to offset up to 80% of the taxable income in any tax year. The net operating loss and credit carryforwards are subject to Internal Revenue Service adjustments until the statute closes on the year the net operating loss or tax credits are utilized.
The Company has not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since the Company’s formation due to the complexity and cost associated with such a study, and the fact that there may be additional such ownership changes in the future. If the Company has experienced an ownership change at any time since its formation, utilization of the NOL or research and development credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382 or 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, 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. Additionally, the separate return limitation year (“SRLY”) rules may apply to losses of the Company’s eight wholly owned U.S. subsidiary corporations. The SRLY rules limit the consolidated group’s use of a subsidiary corporation’s net operating losses to the amount of income generated by the subsidiary corporation after it becomes a member of the group. Any limitation may result in expiration of a portion of the NOL or research and development credit carryforwards before utilization. Further, until a study is completed and any limitation known, no amounts are being considered as an uncertain tax position or disclosed as an unrecognized tax benefit. Additionally, the Company does not expect any unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next twelve
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months. Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, future changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits will not impact its effective tax rate. Any carryforwards that will expire prior to utilization as a result of such limitations will be removed from deferred tax assets with a corresponding reduction of the valuation allowance.
The Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities in its significant jurisdictions for the 2018 and subsequent years. However, due to NOL and tax attribute carryovers, the taxing authorities have the ability to adjust the NOLs and other tax attributes related to closed years. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2022, undistributed earnings of the Company’s newly incorporated foreign subsidiaries are immaterial. Under the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, U.S. income taxes have been incurred on the undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries and therefore, the tax impact upon distribution is limited to state income and withholding taxes and is not material.
13. Net Loss Per Share
Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common stock and pre-funded warrants outstanding during the period. The pre-funded warrants are included in the computation of basic net loss per share as the exercise price is negligible and they are fully vested and exercisable. For periods in which the Company generated a net loss, the Company does not include the potential impact of dilutive securities in diluted net loss per share, as the impact of these items is anti-dilutive.
The following weighted-average equity instruments were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Options to purchase common stock | 346,331 | 264,858 | 201,977 | |||||||||
Unvested restricted stock units | 6,982 | 7,975 | 4,239 |
The following is a reconciliation of the shares used as the denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
Weighted average common shares | 2,307,668 | 1,956,933 | 1,608,952 | |||||||||
Weighted average pre-funded warrants | 1,063,563 | 672,851 | 525,917 | |||||||||
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Total basic and diluted weighted average shares | 3,371,231 | 2,629,784 | 2,134,869 | |||||||||
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14. Reverse Stock Split
On September 8, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split of its common stock at a ratio of 1-for-25 (the “Reverse Split”). Upon the effectiveness of the Reverse Split, (i) every 25 shares of outstanding common stock were reclassified and combined into one share of common stock, (ii) the number of shares of common stock for which each outstanding option and warrant to purchase common stock is exercisable was proportionally decreased and the exercise price of each outstanding option and warrant to purchase common stock proportionally increased, and (iii) the total number of authorized shares of common stock was proportionally decreased. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Split. Accordingly, all share and per share amounts for all periods presented in these financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect the Reverse Split and adjustment of the exercise price of each outstanding option and warrant as if the transaction had occurred as of the beginning of the earliest period presented.
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