Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial
condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included
in Part 1, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026 (this “Quarterly Report”)
and with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2025 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 12, 2026. This discussion contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions,
hopes, beliefs, strategies or projections regarding the future of our pipeline and business and words such as “may,” “will,”,
“should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “project,” “potential,” “seek,” “target,” “goal,”
“intend” and variations of such words and any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of
future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments
affecting us will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some
of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are
not limited to, those discussed in the section of this Quarterly Report entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly
Report. These and many other factors could affect our future financial and operating results. We undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect events after the date of this Quarterly Report. As used in this Quarterly Report, unless the context
suggests otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company,” “Oruka Therapeutics, Inc.,”
“Oruka,” “ARCA biopharma, Inc.,” “ARCA,” refers to Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary,
Oruka Therapeutics Operating Company LLC, taken as a whole.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics for psoriasis (“PsO”) and other inflammatory and immunology
(“I&I”) indications. Our name is derived from or , for “skin,” and arukah , for “restoration,” and
reflects our mission to deliver therapies for chronic skin diseases that provide patients the most possible freedom from their condition.
Our strategy is to apply antibody engineering and format innovations to validated modes of action, which we believe will enable us to
improve meaningfully upon the efficacy and dosing regimens of standard-of-care medicines while significantly reducing technical and biological
risk. Our programs aim to treat and potentially modify disease by targeting mechanisms with proven efficacy and safety involved in disease
pathology and the activity of pathogenic tissue-resident memory T cells (“TRMs”).
Our lead program, ORKA-001,
is designed to target the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (“IL-23p19”) for the treatment of PsO. Our co-lead program, ORKA-002,
is designed to target interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F (“IL-17A/F”) for the treatment of PsO, hidradenitis suppurativa
(“HS”), psoriatic arthritis (“PsA”), and other conditions. These programs each bind their respective targets at
high affinity and incorporate half-life extension technology with the aim to increase exposure and decrease dosing frequency. We believe
that our focused strategy, differentiated portfolio, and deep expertise position us to set a new treatment standard in large I&I markets
with continued unmet need.
Since our inception in February
2024, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to raising capital, organizing and staffing our company, business and scientific
planning, conducting discovery and research activities, establishing and protecting our intellectual property portfolio, establishing
arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of our programs and component materials, developing and progressing our pipeline,
and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated
any revenue from product sales. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from the issuance of convertible preferred
stock, common stock, a convertible note, and pre-funded warrants.
Since our inception, we have
incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from our operations. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve
profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of any programs we may develop. As of March
31, 2026, we had an accumulated deficit of $221.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, we had net losses of $31.8 million,
and we used net cash of $23.6 million for our operating activities.
We had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $496.0
million as of March 31, 2026. In addition, in April 2026, we sold 9,660,000 shares of our common stock in an underwritten public offering
for gross proceeds of $700.4 million before any underwriting discounts and commissions and related issuance expenses. We expect that our
existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operating plans for at least twelve months from
the date of filing of this Quarterly Report. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future, and our transition
to profitability will depend upon successful development, approval and commercialization of our product candidates and upon achievement
of sufficient revenues to support our cost structure.
23
Our Portfolio and Development Plans
ORKA-001
ORKA-001 is a high affinity,
extended half-life monoclonal antibody (“mAb”) designed to target IL-23p19. IL-23 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays
a critical role in the proliferation and development of T helper 17 (“Th17”) cells, which are the primary drivers of several
autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including PsO. IL-23 is composed of two subunits: a p40 subunit that is shared with IL-12
and a p19 subunit that is specific to IL-23. First-generation IL-23 antibodies bound p40 and inhibited both IL-12 and IL-23 signaling,
while more recent IL-23 antibodies targeting the p19 subunit have shown improved efficacy and safety. Based on clinical evidence, we believe
that ORKA-001 could achieve higher response rates than established therapies in PsO while requiring less frequent dosing and maintaining
the favorable safety profile of therapies targeting IL-23p19.
ORKA-001 is engineered with
YTE half-life extension technology, a specific three amino acid change in the fragment crystallizable (“Fc”) domain to modify
the pH-dependent binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (“FcRn”). As a result, it has a pharmacokinetic profile designed to support
a subcutaneous (“SQ”) injection as infrequently as once or twice per year. In addition, emerging evidence suggests that IL-23
blockade can modify the disease biology of PsO, possibly leading to durable remissions and preventing the development of PsA. We believe
that the expected characteristics of ORKA-001 increase its potential to deliver these disease-modifying benefits.
We initiated a Phase 1 trial of ORKA-001 in the fourth quarter of 2024.
In September 2025, we announced interim results and updated those results in April 2026. The data showed that ORKA-001 has a human half-life
of approximately 100 days and was well tolerated at all dose levels, with a favorable safety profile consistent with the anti-IL-23 class. The
Phase 1 trial data support that a single 600mg dose maintained ORKA-001 concentrations well above effective trough levels through Week
52, the last timepoint evaluated with sustained inhibition of IL-23 pathway signaling observed throughout that time period.
In the third quarter of 2025, we commenced dosing in a Phase 2a clinical
trial of ORKA-001 in patients with moderate-to-severe PsO (also known as “EVERLAST-A”). EVERLAST-A enrolled 84 patients randomized
3:1 to receive 600 mg of ORKA-001 at Weeks 0 and 4 or matching placebo. At Week 28, patients who have achieved PASI 100 will be randomized
2:1 to an arm where either (1) they do not receive another dose until disease recurrence (to evaluate the possibility of both yearly dosing
and extended off-treatment remissions) or (2) they receive 300 mg ORKA-001 every six months. We announced Week 16 data for all patients
in April 2026. 40 of 63 participants (63.5%) treated with ORKA-001 achieved the primary endpoint of PASI 100, a 100% reduction from baseline
in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (“PASI”), at Week 16 and identical results were observed for Investigator’s
Global Assessment (“IGA”) 0. Other key secondary endpoints included PASI 90 at Week 16, achieved by 83% of participants, and
IGA 0/1 at Week 16, achieved by 84% of participants. ORKA-001 was well tolerated with a safety profile consistent with prior IL-23p19
inhibitors. There were no serious treatment-emergent adverse events (“TEAEs”) and only one severe TEAE, which occurred in
the placebo group. Additionally, there were no injection site reactions. We plan to share longer-term data, including Week 28 for all
patients and 52-week follow-up for a portion of the cohort, in the second half of 2026.
Additionally, the first patients
were dosed in EVERLAST-B in December 2025. EVERLAST-B is designed to enroll approximately 160 patients into a dose-ranging Phase 2b trial
of ORKA-001 in patients with moderate-to-severe PsO and will evaluate three dose levels of ORKA-001: 37.5 mg at Week 0, 300 mg at Weeks
0 and 4, and 600 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, versus placebo. The primary endpoint is PASI 100 at Week 16. At Week 28, patients who have achieved
PASI 100 will be re-randomized 1:1 to either a 600 mg dose once-yearly or placebo. Patients who have not achieved PASI 100 at Week 28
will receive a 300 mg dose every six months. Building on EVERLAST-A, this design will further test the potential for ORKA-001 to achieve
yearly dosing, higher efficacy and extended off-treatment remissions. We expect to announce data from EVERLAST-B in 2027.
Based on recent precedent
in PsO, we anticipate that the overall development program, from first-in-human studies through biologics license application (“BLA”)
submission, could take as little as six to seven years, based on averages observed for recently approved medicines. However, we have no
control over the duration of the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) review process, and the actual timeline
may vary.
ORKA-002
ORKA-002 is a high affinity,
extended half-life mAb designed to target IL-17A and IL-17F (“IL-17A/F”). IL-17 inhibition has become central to the treatment
of psoriatic diseases, including PsO and PsA, and has also shown efficacy in other I&I indications, such as HS and axial spondyloarthritis
(“axSpA”). More recently, the importance of inhibiting the IL-17F isoform along with IL-17A has become appreciated, and dual
blockade with the recently approved therapy Bimzelx (bimekizumab) has led to higher response rates in patients than blockade of IL-17A
alone. ORKA-002 is designed to bind IL-17A/F at similar epitopes, or binding sites, and affinity ranges as bimekizumab, but incorporates
half-life extension technology that could enable more convenient dosing intervals.
24
In January 2026, we announced
interim findings from the Phase 1 trial of ORKA-002 in healthy volunteers. The results showed that ORKA-002 has a half-life of approximately
75-80 days, which supports the potential for twice-yearly maintenance dosing in PsO and quarterly maintenance dosing in HS. Single doses
of ORKA-002 demonstrated potent and sustained inhibition of IL-17 signaling in an ex vivo assay through 24 weeks. ORKA-002 was well tolerated
at all dose levels, with a favorable safety profile consistent with the anti-IL-17 class. The trial remains blinded, and as of January
6, 2026, which was the data cutoff date, all subjects remained on trial.
Based on these Phase 1 results,
we initiated ORCA-SURGE, a Phase 2 trial of ORKA-002 in patients with moderate-to-severe PsO, in February 2026. ORCA-SURGE is designed
to enroll approximately 160 patients randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive 40 mg, 160 mg or 320 mg of ORKA-002 at Weeks 0 and 4, or matching placebo.
The primary endpoint is PASI 100 at Week 16. Maintenance dosing will evaluate the potential for twice-yearly dosing with ORKA-002. We
expect to announce data from ORCA-SURGE in 2027. Moreover, we also expect to initiate ORCA-SPLASH, a Phase 2 trial of ORKA-002 in patients
with HS in the second half of 2026.
Additional Pipeline Program
We have a third program,
ORKA-003, designed to target an undisclosed pathway. Our strategy as a company is to remain highly focused on I&I diseases, and specifically
on inflammatory dermatology conditions. Our third program provides the potential for indication expansion beyond PsO and may create combination
opportunities with our more advanced programs.
Option Agreements and License Agreements – Paragon Therapeutics
In March 2024, we entered
into two Antibody Discovery and Option Agreements with Paragon and Paruka Holding, LLC (“Paruka”) (each, an “Option
Agreement”), pursuant to which we initiated certain research programs with Paragon focusing on discovering, generating, identifying
and/or characterizing antibodies directed to a particular target, including for IL-23 and IL-17A/F for ORKA-001 and ORKA-002, respectively.
In September 2024, we exercised our exclusive option to acquire certain rights to ORKA-001, and in December 2024, we entered into a corresponding
license agreement with Paragon pursuant to which Paragon granted us a royalty-bearing, world-wide, exclusive license to develop, manufacture,
commercialize or otherwise exploit certain antibodies and products targeting IL-23 in all fields other than the field of inflammatory
bowel disease. In December 2024, we exercised our exclusive option to acquire certain rights to ORKA-002, and in February 2025, we entered
into the corresponding license agreement with Paragon pursuant to which Paragon granted us a royalty-bearing, world-wide, exclusive license
to develop, manufacture, commercialize or otherwise exploit certain antibodies and products targeting IL-17A/F in all fields (collectively,
the “License Agreements”).
Pursuant to each of the License
Agreements, Paragon has agreed not to conduct any new campaigns that generate anti-IL-23 monospecific antibodies or anti-IL-17A/F monospecific
antibodies in the respective agreed-upon fields. Each of the ORKA-001 and ORKA-002 License Agreements may be terminated on 60 days’
notice to Paragon, on material breach without cure, and on a party’s insolvency or bankruptcy to the extent permitted by law.
Pursuant to the terms of
each of the License Agreements, we are obligated to pay Paragon non-refundable milestone payments of up to $12.0 million under each respective
agreement upon the achievement of certain clinical development milestones and up to $10.0 million under each respective agreement upon
the achievement of certain regulatory milestones. In addition, we are obligated to pay Paragon a low single-digit percentage royalty for
antibody products for each of ORKA-001 and ORKA-002. For each of the License Agreements, the royalty term ends on the later of (i) the
last-to-expire licensed patent or our patent directed to the manufacture, use or sale of a licensed antibody in the country at issue or
(ii) 12 years from the date of first sale of our product. There is also a royalty step-down if there is no Paragon patent in effect during
the royalty term for each program.
In December 2025, we entered
into an additional option agreement for an antibody with Paragon and Paruka to enter into a license agreement, which we exercised in December
2025. Per the terms of this option agreement, once we enter into the corresponding license agreement, we will be required to make non-refundable
milestone payments to Paragon of up to $12.0 million under the agreement upon the achievement of certain clinical development milestones,
up to $10.0 million under the agreement upon the achievement of a certain regulatory milestone, as well as a low single-digit percentage
royalty for antibody products beginning on the first commercial sale. As of March 31, 2026, we have not entered into a license agreement
with Paragon and Paruka related to this additional option agreement.
During the quarter ended
March 31, 2026, we incurred and expensed a milestone of $3.0 million related to the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2 trial for
the ORKA-002 License Agreement. Pursuant to the License Agreements, as of March 31, 2026, we have incurred and expensed milestone payments
of $7.0 million for each of ORKA-001 and ORKA-002.
25
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
To date, we have not generated
revenue from any sources, including product sales, and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the foreseeable
future. If our development efforts for our product candidates are successful and result in regulatory approval, we may generate revenue
in the future from product sales or payments from future collaboration or license agreements that we may enter into with third parties,
or any combination thereof. We cannot predict if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale
of our product candidates. We may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
Research and development
expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the development and research of our programs. These expenses include:
● costs of funding research performed by third parties that conduct
research and development activities on our behalf;
● costs incurred, and milestone payments under license and option
agreements;
● expenses incurred in connection with continuing our current
research programs and discovery-phase development of any programs we may identify, including under future agreements with third parties,
such as consultants and contractors;
● expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations
(“CROs”), contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), and with clinical trial sites that conduct research
and development activities on our behalf;
● the cost of development and validating our manufacturing process
for use in our preclinical studies and current and future clinical trials;
● personnel-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, employee
benefits, travel, and stock-based compensation expense; and
● allocated human resource costs, information technology costs,
and facility-related costs, including rent, maintenance, utilities, and depreciation for our leased office space.
We expense research and development
costs as incurred. Non-refundable advance payments that we make for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research
and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the
services are performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered or the services rendered. Our primary focus
since inception has been the identification and development of our pipeline programs. Our research and development expenses primarily
consist of external costs. See Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I - Item 1 of this Quarterly
Report for further details on the Option Agreements.
26
We expect our research and
development expenses will increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities
related to the continued development of our programs, developing any future programs, including investments in manufacturing, as we advance
any program we may identify and continue to conduct clinical trials. The success of programs we may identify and develop will depend on
many factors, including the following:
● timely and successful completion of preclinical studies and
clinical trials;
● effective investigational new drug (“IND”) or comparable
foreign applications that allow commencement of our planned clinical trials or future clinical trials for any programs we may develop;
● successful enrollment and completion of clinical trials;
● positive results from our clinical trials that support a finding
of safety and effectiveness, acceptable pharmacokinetics profile, and an acceptable risk-benefit profile in the intended populations;
● receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
● establishment of arrangements through our own facilities or
with third-party manufacturers for clinical supply and, where applicable, commercial manufacturing capabilities; and
● maintenance of a continued acceptable safety, tolerability,
and efficacy profile of any programs we may develop following approval.
Any changes in the outcome
of any of these variables with respect to the development of programs that we may identify could mean a significant change in the costs
and possible delays in timing associated with the development of such programs. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority
were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical
development of a program, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we
would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. We may never
obtain regulatory approval for any of our programs.
General and Administrative
General and administrative
expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, travel, and stock-based compensation,
for our executive and other administrative personnel. Other significant general and administrative expenses include legal services, including
intellectual property and corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax, insurance, and allocated human resource
costs, information technology costs, and facility-related costs, including rent, utilities, maintenance, and depreciation for our leased
office space.
We expect our general and
administrative expenses will increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we anticipate an increase in our personnel headcount
to support the expansion of research and development activities, as well as to support our operations generally. We also expect to continue
to incur significant expenses associated with being a public company, including costs related to accounting, audit, legal, regulatory,
and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with applicable Nasdaq and SEC requirements; director and officer
insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs. We also expect to incur additional intellectual property-related expenses as
we file patent applications to protect innovations arising from our research and development activities.
27
Other Income (Expense), Net
Total other income (expense),
net, consists of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, and foreign currency transactions gains and
losses.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March
31, 2026 and 2025
The following table summarizes
our results of operations for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Change
2026
2025
$
%
Operating expenses
Research and development (1)
$ 29,145
$ 19,925
$ 9,220
46 %
General and administrative (2)
7,289
5,161
2,128
41 %
Total operating expenses
36,434
25,086
11,348
45 %
Loss from operations
(36,434 )
(25,086 )
(11,348 )
45 %
Other income (expense)
Interest income
4,606
4,092
514
13 %
Other expense, net
8
(5 )
13
*
Total other income, net
4,614
4,087
527
13 %
Net loss
$ (31,820 )
$ (20,999 )
$ (10,821 )
52 %
* Percentage not meaningful
(1) Includes related party amounts of $3,000 and $2,122 for the
three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively
(2) Includes related party amounts of $4 and $110 for the three
months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively
28
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and
development expenses for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Change
2026
2025
$
%
External research and development expenses
$ 18,329
$ 13,610
$ 4,719
35 %
Other research and development expenses:
Personnel-related (excluding stock-based compensation)
6,077
2,463
3,614
147 %
Stock-based compensation
3,579
3,003
576
19 %
Other
1,160
849
311
37 %
Total research and development expenses
$ 29,145
$ 19,925
$ 9,220
46 %
Research and development
expenses increased by $9.2 million, from $19.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $29.1 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2026.
External research and development
expenses, including CROs, CMOs and other third-party preclinical studies and clinical trials expenses increased by $4.7 million, from
$13.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $18.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026. The increase is primarily
related to increased CMO product development and manufacturing expenses, an increase in our CRO expenses related to our ongoing clinical
trials, and $3.0 million milestone pursuant to ORKA-002 License Agreement with Paragon related to the dosing of the first patient in a
Phase 2 trial during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Personnel-related expenses,
excluding stock-based compensation, increased by $3.6 million, from $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $6.1 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as we continue hiring employees in our research and development organization. Stock-based compensation
expense increased by $0.6 million, from $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $3.6 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2026. The increase in stock-based compensation expense is primarily related to a $2.0 million increase related to employee awards
due to an increase in research and development headcount, partially offset by a $1.4 million decrease in Paruka warrant liability under
the Option Agreements.
Other research and development expenses increased by $0.3 million, from $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31,
2025 to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, primarily due to increases to facilities and allocated overhead expenses
as we commenced using our leased Waltham office from April 2025, as well as an increase in our research and development employee count.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and
administrative expenses for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March
31,
Change
2026
2025
$
%
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)
$ 5,506
$ 3,574
$ 1,932
54 %
Professional and consulting services
1,588
1,362
226
17 %
Other
195
225
(30 )
(13 )%
Total general and administrative expenses
$ 7,289
$ 5,161
$ 2,128
41 %
29
General and administrative
expenses increased by $2.1 million, from $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $7.3 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2026.
Personnel-related expenses increased by $1.9 million, from $3.6 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as a result of continued
hiring of executives and administrative employees. Stock-based compensation expense increased by $1.5 million, from $1.9 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2025 to $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 due to additional general and administrative
headcount.
Expenses related to professional
and consulting services increased by $0.2 million, from $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 to $1.6 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2026, due to higher spending on legal and other professional services.
Other general and administrative expenses remained relatively consistent
year over year.
Total Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest income from cash equivalents and marketable
securities was $4.6 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The increase was primarily
due to interest earned on higher cash and marketable securities balances.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2026, we
had $496.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.
Since our inception, we have
incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flow from operations. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses
for the foreseeable future as we continue the preclinical and clinical development of our programs and our early-stage research activities.
We have not yet commercialized any products, and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of products for several years, if
at all. Through March 31, 2026, we had funded our operations primarily with proceeds from issuances of convertible preferred stock, common
stock, a convertible note, and pre-funded warrants.
In October 2025, we entered into a Sales Agreement with TD Securities
(USA) LLC (the “Sales Agreement”), as our sales agent, pursuant to which we may issue and sell, from time to time, shares
of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $200.0 million under an at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program.
We are not obligated to make any sales of shares under the Sales Agreement. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, we issued and
sold an aggregate of 1,167,895 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the ATM offering program for total net proceeds
of $38.9 million after deducting sales agents’ commissions. In addition, in April 2026, we sold 9,660,000 shares of our common stock
in an underwritten public offering for gross proceeds of $700.4 million before any underwriting discounts and commissions and related
issuance expenses.
Our primary use of cash is
to fund the development of our product candidates and advance our pipeline. This includes both the research and development costs and
the general and administrative expenses required to support those operations. Since we are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company,
we have incurred significant operating losses since our inception and we anticipate such losses, in absolute dollar terms, to increase
as we continue to pursue clinical development of our product candidates, prepare for the potential commercialization of our product candidates,
and expand our development efforts in our pipeline of nonclinical candidates. We expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and
marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operating plans for at least twelve months from the date of filing of this Quarterly
Report. We will need to secure additional financing in the future to fund additional research and development, and before a commercial
drug can be produced, marketed, and sold. If we are unable to obtain additional financing or generate license or product revenue, the
lack of liquidity could have a material adverse effect on our company.
30
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes
our cash flows for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2026
2025
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (23,578 )
$ (20,869 )
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(14,437 )
42,866
Net cash provided by financing activities
40,600
—
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
$ 2,585
$ 21,997
Operating Activities
For the three months ended
March 31, 2026, net cash used in operating activities was $23.6 million, which was primarily attributable to a net loss of $31.8 million,
partially offset by net non-cash charges of $6.7 million and net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $1.5
million. Net cash used by changes in our operating assets and liabilities were primarily comprised of an increase of $3.0 million in related
party accounts payable and other current liabilities and an increase of $0.5 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets, partially
offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in accrued expenses and other liabilities and a decrease of $0.5 million in accounts payable. Net
non-cash charges primarily comprised of $7.0 million in stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by $0.4 million in net accretion
of premiums and discounts on marketable securities.
For the three months ended
March 31, 2025, net cash used in operating activities was $20.9 million, which was primarily attributable to a net loss of $21.0 million
and net changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $3.0 million, partially offset by net non-cash charges of $3.1 million. Net
changes in our operating assets and liabilities were primarily comprised of a decrease of $5.2 million in related party accounts payable
and other current liabilities and an increase of $2.3 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Net non-cash charges
primarily comprised of $4.9 million in stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by $1.8 million in net accretion of premiums
and discounts on marketable securities.
Investing Activities
For the three months ended
March 31, 2026, net cash used in investing activities was $14.4 million, which included $90.8 million in purchases of marketable securities,
$0.1 million in purchases of property and equipment, partially offset by $76.5 million in proceeds from maturities of marketable securities.
For the three months ended
March 31, 2025, net cash provided by investing activities was $42.9 million, which included $87.2 million in proceeds from maturities
of marketable securities, partially offset by $44.3 million in purchases of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
For the three months ended
March 31, 2026, net cash provided by financing activities was $40.6 million due to $38.9 million of net proceeds from the ATM offering
program and $1.7 million of proceeds from the issuance of shares of common stock in connection with exercises of stock options and employee
warrants.
For the three months ended
March 31, 2025, no cash was used in or provided by financing activities.
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We enter into contracts in
the normal course of business with CROs, CMOs and with other vendors for preclinical research studies, clinical trials, manufacturing,
and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice or may have a
potential termination fee if the contract is cancelled within a specified time, and therefore, are cancelable contracts. We do not expect
any such contract terminations and did not have any non-cancellable obligations under these agreements as of March 31, 2026. See Notes
10 and 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I - Item 1 of this Quarterly Report for further information
on our contractual lease obligations for our headquarters in Menlo Park, California, and our office in Waltham, Massachusetts, and other
commitments, including the commitments under the Option and License Agreements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our management’s discussion
and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance
with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements, as well as the reported revenues recognized and expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are
based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of
which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our significant accounting
policies are described in more detail in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I - Item 1 of
this Quarterly Report. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, there were no changes to our critical accounting policies and significant
judgments and estimates as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2026, we
did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting
company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and in Item
10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K, and are not required to provide the information under this item.
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