Replimune Group, Inc. 10-Q

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 consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or this Quarterly Report, and with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended March 31, 2023, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. In addition to historical information, some of the statements contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. The following information and any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of factors discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, particularly including those risks identified in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and our other filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, or SEC. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. Statements made herein are as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report with the SEC and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods. We disclaim any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the SEC, to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Overview General We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to applying our leading expertise in the field of oncolytic immunotherapy to transform the lives of cancer patients through our novel oncolytic immunotherapies. Our proprietary oncolytic immunotherapy product candidates are designed and intended to maximally activate the immune system against cancer. Oncolytic immunotherapy is an emerging drug class, which we intend to establish as the second cornerstone of immune-based cancer treatments, alongside checkpoint blockade. Oncolytic immunotherapy exploits the ability of certain viruses to selectively replicate in and directly kill tumors, as well as induce a potent, patient-specific, anti-tumor immune response. Our product candidates incorporate multiple mechanisms of action into a practical “off-the-shelf” approach that is intended to maximize the immune response against a patient’s cancer and to offer significant advantages over other approaches to inducing anti-tumor immunity, including personalized vaccine approaches. We believe that the bundling of multiple approaches for the treatment of cancer into single therapies will increase clinical efficacy and simplify the development path of our product candidates, while also improving patient outcomes at a lower cost to the healthcare system than the use of multiple different drugs. Our proprietary RPx platform is based on a novel, engineered strain of herpes simplex virus 1, or HSV-1, backbone with payloads added to maximize immunogenic cell death and the induction of a systemic anti-tumor immune response. The RPx platform has a dual local and systemic mechanism of action, or MOA, consisting of direct selective virus-mediated killing of the tumor resulting in the release of tumor-derived antigens and altering of the tumor microenvironment to ignite a strong and durable systemic response. This MOA is expected to be synergistic with most established and experimental cancer treatment modalities, and, with an attractive safety profile the RPx platform is expected to have the versatility to be developed alone or combined with a variety of other treatment options. We currently have three RPx product candidates in our development pipeline, RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec), our lead product candidate, RP2 and RP3. Although our fiscal year ends March 31 st , our programs and program updates are reported on a calendar year basis. We are conducting a number of clinical trials of RP1, both as a monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy, with a focus on establishing a major skin cancer franchise. We have completed enrolling patients in a randomized, controlled Phase-2 clinical trial of RP1 with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, or CSCC, RP1’s lead indication, which is referred to herein as CERPASS or the CERPASS trial, under an agreement with our partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 24 Table of Contents or Regeneron. CERPASS is a registration directed clinical trial evaluating RP1 in combination with cemiplimab, an anti-PD-1 therapy developed by Regeneron, versus cemiplimab alone. Regeneron has granted to us a non-exclusive royalty-free license to cemiplimab for use in this trial, is supplying cemiplimab at no cost and funded one-half of the clinical trial costs up to the amount agreed in the first study plan. CERPASS enrolled 211 patients with locally advanced or metastatic CSCC who are naïve to anti-PD1 therapy. An additional 20 patients were also dosed with RP1 made at our in-house manufacturing facility. The CERPASS protocol evaluates complete response, or CR rate, and overall response rate, or ORR, as its two independent primary efficacy endpoints as assessed by independent review, as well as duration of response, progression-free survival, or PFS, and overall survival, or OS, as secondary endpoints. As previously reported, we met with the FDA in the first quarter and discussed the rationale for the changes to the study design we made in 2020 reducing the study size from 240 to 180 patients and adding CR as a dual independent primary endpoint (the study subsequently over enrolled with 211 patients randomized, as reported in November 2022). No changes were made to the protocol as a result of the meeting. The independent review process is expected to complete shortly triggering a defined timeline to data release in early December. Assuming positive primary analysis data is generated, including demonstrating overall clinical benefit, we continue to expect to make a Biologics License Application submission for RP1 in Q2 2024. We continue our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb Company, or BMS, under which BMS has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to, and is supplying at no cost, its anti-PD-1 therapy, nivolumab, for use in combination with RP1 in a multi-cohort Phase 1/2 clinical trial which is referred to herein as IGNYTE, or the IGNYTE trial. The leading tumor specific cohort in the IGNYTE trial is our registration directed Phase 2 expansion cohort enrolling 125 patients with anti-PD-1 failed cutaneous melanoma who are being treated with RP1 in combination with nivolumab. We are also continuing enrollment into the cohorts of patients with anti-PD-1 failed non-melanoma skin cancers, or NMSC, which includes patients with both naïve and anti-PD-1 failed disease, including CSCC. We initiated the registration directed Phase 2 expansion cohort in the IGNYTE trial enrolling 125 patients with anti-PD-1 failed cutaneous melanoma after completing enrollment in a prior Phase 2 cohort in the same clinical trial of approximately 30 patients with melanoma, which demonstrated the tolerability and clinical activity of the combination of RP1 and nivolumab in patients with melanoma, including those who had failed prior anti-PD-1 when given alone or in combination with CTLA-4 blockade. In March 2021, we held a Type B meeting with the FDA to discuss the design of the 125 patient expansion cohort in the IGNYTE trial. In this meeting, the FDA expressed that while a randomized controlled clinical trial would always be preferred for registration purpose, that in this patient population with no clear standard of care, if the clinical data is sufficiently compelling then the data could be considered for submission by the FDA under the accelerated approval pathway. The FDA also indicated that a randomized confirmatory trial would also be needed as is required under the accelerated approval pathway. In December 2022, we reported data from the first 75 patients with at least six months follow-up. The data snapshot based on investigator response showed a 20% CR rate and a 36% ORR with activity across all disease stages and strong durability. In January 2023, we completed target enrollment of 125 patients with patients in screening at that time continuing to be enrolled. We completed enrollment in this cohort in March 2023, ultimately enrolling 140 patients. In June 2023, further updated data from the initial 75 patients was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, showing RP1 combined with nivolumab continued to demonstrate deep and durable responses with a well-tolerated safety profile and no progression in responding patients since the prior data snapshot. The updated data also showed overall response rate (ORR) of 37.4%, with clinically meaningful activity across the range of anti-PD1 failed cutaneous melanoma settings enrolled, including in patients with moderate-high tumor burden and visceral disease. We remain on track to announce snapshot data for all patients (N=140) in early December 2023 by which point all patients will have had at least 6 months follow up and at which time we also expect to present the design of a confirmatory study agreed with the FDA to support the potential approval of RP1 in anti-PD1 failed melanoma via the accelerated approval pathway. Planning for the confirmatory study is underway to ensure it has commenced ahead of any BLA submission. The per protocol primary analysis will take place 12 months post the last patient enrolled and, accordingly, we plan to submit a BLA in Q3 2024. In NMSC, enrollment in the anti-PD-1 naïve NMSC cohort has completed, included patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, or CSCC, basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, merkel cell carcinoma, or MCC, and angiosarcoma. Updated data from the CSCC patients in the anti-PD-1 naïve NMSC cohort, presented in March 2022, continued to show nearly half of the patients achieving a complete response and nearly 65% achieving a complete or partial response. We are currently enrolling an extension of the NMSC cohort of RP1 in combination with nivolumab in NMSC patients who have failed prior treatment with anti-PD(L)-1. In March 2022, we reported initial data (N=12) from this extension cohort where responses had been observed in anti-PD(L)-1 failed CSCC, MCC and angiosarcoma tumors. We believe the activity of RP1 combined with nivolumab in this anti-PD(L)-1 failed cohort represents a new potential therapeutic option for these patients and supports the broad potential for RP1 in anti-PD(L)-1 failed skin cancers beyond melanoma. Recruitment remains ongoing, with a data update expected from the first 30 patients with at least 6 months follow up in December 2023. We also have open for enrollment a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of single agent RP1 in solid organ transplant recipients with skin cancers, including CSCC, which is referred to herein as ARTACUS or the ARTACUS trial, which we believe to be potentially registrational (in its own right or, subject to discussion with regulatory authorities, following enrollment of additional patients, including as a potential label expansion after an initial approval of RP1 in a different indication). We are currently enrolling up to 65 patients in the ARTACUS trial to assess the safety and efficacy of RP1 in liver, kidney, heart, lung, and hematopoietic cell transplant patients transplant recipients with skin cancers. In November 2023 we presented initial data 25 Table of Contents from the ARTACUS clinical trial of RP1 monotherapy in solid organ transplant recipients with skin cancers at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC) 38th Annual Meeting. The data included 23 evaluable patients with CSCC (n=20) and Merkel cell carcinoma (n=3), demonstrating an overall response rate (ORR) of 34.5% and a confirmed complete response rate of 21% (CR). RP1 monotherapy was well tolerated in these patients and the safety profile was similar to that observed in our other RP1 clinical trials in patients who are not immune suppressed. No immune-mediated adverse events or evidence of allograft rejection were observed. We are also developing additional product candidates, RP2 and RP3, that have been further engineered to enhance anti-tumor immune responses and are intended to address additional tumor types, including traditionally less immune responsive tumor types. In addition to the expression of GALV-GP R(-) and human GM-CSF as in RP1, RP2 has been engineered to express an antibody-like molecule intended to block the activity of CTLA-4, a protein that inhibits the full activation of an immune response, including to tumors. RP3 has been engineered with the intent to further stimulate an anti-tumor immune response through activation of immune co-stimulatory pathways through the additional expression of the ligands for CD40 and 4-1BBL, as well as anti-CTLA-4 and GALV-GP R(-), but without the expression of GM-CSF. We initiated a Phase-1 clinical trial of RP2 alone and in combination with nivolumab in the second half of 2019. This clinical trial is also being conducted as part of our collaboration with BMS, under which BMS has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to, and will supply at no cost, nivolumab, for use in combination with RP2. We have presented data from the single agent RP2 portion of this clinical trial that showed deep and durable responses, including demonstration of tumor response in uninjected lesions and in patients with difficult to treat advanced cancers. We believe that this data supports the hypothesis that anti-CTLA-4 delivered intra-tumorally through oncolytic virus replication, with accompanying antigen release and presentation, can provide potent anti-tumor effects. We have also presented combination data from both the clinical trial that showed compelling activity in patients with immune insensitive tumors and with anti-PD-1 failed disease. In the second half of 2021, we reported full enrollment in the initial 30 patient combination with nivolumab part of the Phase 1 clinical trial following which a protocol amendment was made to expand this clinical trial to enroll additional patients who are required to have specific tumor types of interest, including gastro-intestinal cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer and uveal melanoma, rather than any type of tumor as were eligible for the initial 30 patient group. We plan to present updated data from this cohort of metastatic uveal melanoma patients during a Plenary Session at the 20th Annual International Society for Melanoma Research Congress on November 8, 2023. Enrollment continues in our clinical trial designed to evaluate RP3 alone and combined with anti-PD-1 therapy in advanced solid tumor patients, focusing on enrolling patients with gastro-intestinal cancers, breast cancer, lung cancer and head and neck cancer. In December 2022, the Company presented data from its Phase 1 trial of RP3 in combination with nivolumab (N=5) in patients with multiple soft tissue sarcomas including in leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and epithelioid sarcomas who have all failed standard of care. At the data cut-off date, 3 of 5 patients had sufficient follow-up for response assessment, and all three were responding to therapy in settings with no viable alternative treatment option, indicating the potential utility of RP3 in treating this difficult to treat tumor type. Enrollment in the Phase 1 program with both RP2 and RP3 is materially complete. Any additional Phase 2 development programs not already announced which are driven by data from the full Phase 1 data and other opportunistic considerations are expected to be announced in early 2024. We continue to plan for, and are initiating and conducting, our previously announced Phase 2 development program for RP2 and/or RP3. As previously announced, our initial signal finding single arm Phase 2 clinical trials are addressing the following tumor types: squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, or SCCHN, locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic; hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, both first and second line; and colorectal cancer, or CRC, third line; with additional studies in other tumor types intended to follow. As we announced in December 2022, our signal finding studies in HCC and CRC are being developed in combination with atezolizumab and bevacizumab under a supply and cost share clinical collaboration arrangement with Roche Holding AG, or Roche. Our signal finding studies in SCCHN are planned to be developed in combination with nivolumab under our collaboration agreement with BMS. – In CRC, we have initiated the clinical trial investigating two signal finding cohorts of 30 patients each in collaboration with Roche. The first cohort is enrolling 3L patients to be treated with atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab and RP2 and the second cohort is enrolling 3L patients to be treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab and RP3. We believe that data with both RP2 and RP3 in CRC will allow the comparative efficacy of RP2 and RP3 to be evaluated in a particularly difficult to treat patient population. – In HCC, two signal finding cohorts of 15 patients each will be enrolled in collaboration with Roche. The first cohort will enroll 2L patients treated with standard of care, or SOC, atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab and RP3, and the second cohort will enroll 2L patients treated with atezolizumab combined with bevacizumab and RP2. This clinical trial has recently initiated. – In SCCHN, the trial will be conducted under our collaboration with BMS. This study is intended to include two cohorts of patients, the first with locally advanced disease is planned to enroll approximately 100 patients 26 Table of Contents randomized 1:1 to either SOC chemotherapy combined with radiation, or SOC combined with RP3 followed by adjuvant nivolumab therapy. The second, signal finding cohort, will enroll 30 patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN with low PD-L1 levels (CPS<20) who will be treated with chemotherapy, nivolumab and RP3. Due to the global shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin, initiation of this study has been on hold. RP1, RP2 and RP3 are administered by direct injection into solid tumors, guided either visually or by ultrasound, computerized tomography, or CT, or other imaging methods. We believe that direct injection maximizes virus-mediated tumor cell death, provides the most efficient delivery of virus-encoded immune activating proteins into the tumor with the goal of activating systemic immunity, and limits the systemic toxicities that could be associated with intravenous administration. Activation of systemic immunity through local administration is intended to lead to the induction of anti-tumor immune responses leading to clinical response of tumors that have not themselves been injected. Financial Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to developing our proprietary RPx platform, building our intellectual property portfolio, conducting research and development of our product candidates, business planning, raising capital and providing general and administrative support for our operations. To date, we have incurred significant operating losses and we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the sale of equity securities and to a lesser extent, the proceeds from the issuance of debt securities. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Since our initial public offering, or IPO, on July 20, 2018, we have raised an aggregate of approximately $849.1 million in net proceeds to fund our operations, of which $101.2 million was from our IPO, $706.0 million was from four separate follow-on offerings, or the Public Offerings, that we closed in November 2019, June 2020, October 2020 and December 2022, respectively, and $41.9 million was from at-the-market offerings. We sold 7,407,936 shares of common stock in our IPO, an aggregate of 20,430,480 shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase 9,484,238 shares of common stock in the Public Offerings, and 2,313,997 shares of common stock through our at-the-market facilities. Our net losses were $60.0 million and $43.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $595.1 million. These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred in connection with research and development activities and general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for at least the next several years. We anticipate that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and clinical trials of our product candidates, and if and as we: • conduct our current and future clinical trials with RP1, RP2 and RP3; • further preclinical development of our platform; • operate our in-house manufacturing facility; • seek to identify and develop additional product candidates; • seek marketing approvals for any of our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any; • establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval; • until our manufacturing facility is fully validated, continued limited manufacturing by third parties for clinical development; • maintain, expand, protect and defend our intellectual property portfolio; • hire and retain additional clinical, quality control, scientific and general and administration personnel; • acquire or in-license other drugs, technologies or intellectual property rights; and 27 Table of Contents • add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our research and development programs, any future commercialization efforts and operations as a public company. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with pharmaceutical product development, we are unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations. As of September 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $496.8 million. Based on our current operating plan, w e believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least 12 months from the issuance of the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report. See “—Liquidity and capital resources” and “Risk factors—Risks related to our financial position and need for additional capital.” Components of our results of operations Revenue To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales as we do not have any approved products and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the near future. If our development efforts for RP1 or any other product candidates that we may develop in the future are successful and result in regulatory approval, or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from a combination of product sales or payments from those collaborations or license agreements. Operating expenses Our expenses since inception have consisted solely of research and development costs and general and administrative costs. Research and development expenses Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities, including our discovery efforts and the development of our product candidates, and include: • expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, including clinical research organizations, or CROs, that conduct research, preclinical activities and clinical trials on our behalf as well as contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, that manufacture our product candidates for use in our preclinical and clinical trials; • salaries, benefits and other related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel engaged in research and development functions; • costs of outside consultants engaged in research and development functions, including their fees, stock-based compensation and related travel expenses; • the costs of laboratory supplies and acquiring, developing and manufacturing preclinical study and clinical trial materials; • costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements in connection with the development of our product candidates; and • facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs. These costs may be partially offset by cost-sharing arrangements under collaboration agreements that we may enter from time to time. 28 Table of Contents We expense research and development costs as incurred. We recognize external development costs based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information provided to us by our service providers. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in our consolidated financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expenses. Our direct external research and development expenses are tracked on a program-by-program basis and consist of costs, such as fees paid to consultants, contractors, CMOs, and CROs in connection with our preclinical and clinical development activities. We do not allocate personnel costs, costs associated with our discovery efforts, laboratory supplies or other indirect costs, to specific product development programs because these costs are deployed across multiple product development programs and, as such, are not separately classified. Non-employee costs associated with our manufacturing facility including depreciation, amortization and facility costs are appropriately allocated to development programs based on the percentage of time spent per program. Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increase for the foreseeable future as we continue enrollment and initiate additional clinical trials and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates. The successful development and commercialization of our product candidates is highly uncertain. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development and commercialization, including the following: • the scope, rate of progress, expense and results of our ongoing clinical trials, as well as future clinical trials or other product candidates and other research and development activities that we may conduct; • the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue; • our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new ones; • uncertainties in clinical trial design; • the rate of enrollment in clinical trials; • the successful completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability, and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority; • the receipt of regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities; • our success in operating our manufacturing facility, or securing manufacturing supply through relationships with third parties; • our ability to obtain and maintain patents, trade secret protection, and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally; • our ability to maintain, expand, protect and defend our rights in our intellectual property portfolio; • the commercialization of our product candidates, if and when approved; • the acceptance of our product candidates, if approved, by patients, the medical community, and third-party payors; • our ability to successfully develop our product candidates for use in combination with third-party products or product candidates; • negative developments in the field of immuno-oncology; • competition with other products; and • significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance. 29 Table of Contents A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of a product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant trial delays due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. We may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in our executive, finance, corporate, commercial and business development and administrative functions. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include professional fees for legal, patent, accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services, pre-commercial planning, travel expenses, and facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs. We expect that our selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase in the future as we increase our selling, general and administrative headcount to support our continued research and development and pre-launch activities to prepare for potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also expect to continue to incur increased expenses, including accounting, audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements; director and officer insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs. Other income (expense), net Research and development incentives Research and development incentives consists of reimbursements of research and development expenditures. We participate, through our subsidiary in the United Kingdom, in the research and development program provided by the United Kingdom tax relief program, such that a percentage of up to 14.5% of our qualifying research and development expenditures are reimbursed by the United Kingdom government, and such incentives are reflected as other income. Investment income Investment income consists of income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Interest expense on debt obligations Interest expense on debt obligations consists of the amortization of debt discount and cash paid for interest under the loan agreement with Hercules. Interest expense on finance lease liability Interest expense on finance lease liability consists of amortization of finance charges under our financing lease. Other (expense) income, net Other income (expense), net consists primarily of realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Income taxes During the six months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company has not recorded any income tax provision (benefit) for the losses we incurred based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the Company’s losses will not be realized. The Company’s tax provision and the resulting effective tax rate for interim periods is determined based upon its estimated annual effective tax rate (“AETR”), adjusted for the effect of discrete items arising in that quarter. The impact of such inclusions could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter, based upon the mix and timing of actual earnings or losses versus annual projections. In each quarter, the Company updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if the estimated annual tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made in that quarter. 30 Table of Contents The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon its ability to realize its deferred tax assets both in the United States and United Kingdom, which primarily consist of net operating loss carryforwards. The Company has considered its history of cumulative net losses, estimated future taxable income as well as prudent and feasible tax planning strategies and has concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets. As a result, as of September 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. Results of operations Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 The following chart summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022: Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 Change (Amounts in thousands) Operating expenses: Research and development $ 49,101 $ 28,834 $ 20,267 Selling, general and administrative 14,730 12,745 1,985 Total operating expenses 63,831 41,579 22,252 Loss from operations (63,831) (41,579) (22,252) Other income (expense): Research and development incentives 443 574 (131) Investment income 6,049 1,112 4,937 Interest expense on finance lease liability (542) (550) 8 Interest expense on debt obligations (955) — (955) Other (expense) income (1,409) (2,659) 1,250 Total other income (expense), net 3,586 (1,523) 5,109 Loss before income taxes $ (60,245) $ (43,102) $ (17,143) Income tax (benefit) $ (201) $ — $ (201) Net loss $ (60,044) $ (43,102) $ (16,942) Research and development expenses Research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 were $49.1 million, compared to $28.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022: Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 Change Direct research and development expenses by program: RP1 16,623 9,531 7,092 RP2 2,895 552 2,343 RP3 4,156 2,482 1,674 Unallocated research and development expenses: — Personnel related (including stock-based compensation) 20,677 12,495 8,182 Other 4,750 3,774 976 Total research and development expenses $ 49,101 $ 28,834 $ 20,267 The increase in RP1 is primarily the result of an increase in our number of clinical trial sites and patient enrollment as compared to the prior year. In addition, during the second quarter, the Company focused approximately two-thirds of 31 Table of Contents manufacturing efforts on RP1 drug product fills. Clinical development expenses increased versus the prior year in preparation of primary data release and a potential BLA filing. More specifically, CRO and investigator costs, as well as RP1 imaging costs, account for approximately $7.8 million of the increase in clinical development costs year over year. In addition, the changes in our direct research and development expenses between our product candidates is primarily associated with process development, qualification and comparability of our in-house manufactured materials compared to our third-party manufactured materials in readiness for utilizing our product candidates made at our in-house manufacturing facility in our clinical development programs and preparation for potential commercial manufacture, if approved. The increase of $9.2 million in our unallocated expenses was due to a $8.2 million increase in personnel-related costs and $1.0 million increase in other expenses. The increase in personnel-related costs included a $6.3 million increase in payroll and fringe benefits and a stock-based compensation increase of $1.9 million. The increase in personnel-related costs largely reflected the hiring of additional personnel in our research and development functions as we continue to expand the development plan in multiple indications. Personnel related costs for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 included stock-based compensation expense of $4.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Furthermore, the change in other expenses is primarily driven by an increase of approximately $0.4 million in consulting costs, a $0.4 million increase in conferences and exhibitions, and a $0.2 million net increase in operating and lab supplies during the quarter as compared to the prior year. These costs are somewhat offset by a decrease in other variable costs of $0.3 million. These changes are in line with increased overall clinical development costs and clinical trial activities. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses were $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $12.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $2.0 million is primarily the result of an increase of $1.1 million in personnel related costs, including a stock-based compensation increase of $0.2 million, and an increase of $0.9 million in payroll and fringe benefits. The increase in personnel related costs was driven by the continued hiring of additional personnel in our selling, general and administrative functions, focusing on additional pre-launch planning and initial build of the Company's commercial infrastructure. Additionally, there is a net increase of $0.9 million in sales and marketing and other variable costs, which is driven by external spend increases in building and preparation for sales and marketing programs, and market research. Total other income (expense), net Other net income was $3.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to a net expense of $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The net change of $5.1 million is primarily attributable to an increase in investment income of $4.9 million as a result of higher interest rates during the quarter, as well as a decrease in expense of $1.2 million in the current year compared to the prior year due to exchange rate fluctuations related to the changes in foreign exchange rates of the British Pound Sterling to the United States Dollar, specifically on intercompany and other non-functional currency transactions. This income is partially offset by an increase in interest expense of approximately $1.0 million on debt obligations related to the Hercules Loan Agreement which we did not incur in the prior year. Income tax (benefit) provision The income tax (benefit) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 was $0.2 million compared to $0.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The income tax (benefit) booked during the three months ended September 30, 2023 directly offsets the income tax provision booked during the three months ended June 30, 2023 primarily due to a decrease in forecasted income in the United States. The Company has not recorded any income tax provision (benefit) for the losses incurred based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that our losses will not be realized. Comparison of the six months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 The following chart summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022: 32 Table of Contents Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 Change (Amounts in thousands) Operating expenses: Research and development $ 89,538 $ 58,312 $ 31,226 Selling, general and administrative 29,941 24,143 5,798 Total operating expenses 119,479 82,455 37,024 Loss from operations (119,479) (82,455) (37,024) Other income (expense): Research and development incentives 836 1,425 (589) Investment income 12,235 1,455 10,780 Interest expense on finance lease liability (1,086) (1,102) 16 Interest expense on debt obligations (2,070) — (2,070) Other (expense) income (35) (4,678) 4,643 Total other income (expense), net 9,880 (2,900) 12,780 Loss before income taxes (109,599) (85,355) (24,244) Income tax provision — — — Net loss $ (109,599) $ (85,355) $ (24,244) Research and development expenses Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 2022 Change Direct research and development expenses by program: RP1 28,919 15,492 13,427 RP2 4,181 2,420 1,761 RP3 8,096 7,490 606 Unallocated research and development expenses: — Personnel related (including stock-based compensation) 38,704 25,000 13,704 Other 9,638 7,910 1,728 Total research and development expenses $ 89,538 $ 58,312 $ 31,226 Research and development expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2023 were $89.5 million, compared to $58.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $31.2 million was due to an increase of approximately $15.8 million in direct research costs related to our ongoing clinical trials for RP1, RP2 and RP3. During the first half of the year, the Company focused on drug substance batches for RP1, as well as drug product fills for RP1 and RP2. Furthermore, clinical development costs continued to increase over the prior year primarily in the areas of CRO costs, investigator costs, and RP1 imaging costs, making up for approximately $10.5 million of the increase in development expenses. The increases in development expenses are being driven by costs related to preparation of primary data release and a potential BLA filing. In addition, the changes in our direct research and development expenses between our product candidates is primarily associated with process development, qualification and comparability of our in-house manufactured materials compared to our third-party manufactured materials in readiness for utilizing our product candidates made at our in-house manufacturing facility in our clinical development programs and preparation for potential commercial manufacture, if approved. In addition, there is an increase of approximately $15.4 million in unallocated research and development costs, mainly attributable to a $13.7 million in personnel-related costs, including a $11.1 million increase in payroll and fringe benefits and a stock-based compensation increase of $2.6 million. The increase in personnel-related costs largely reflected the hiring of additional personnel in our research and development functions as we expanded the development plan in multiple indications. 33 Table of Contents Personnel related costs for the six months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 included stock-based compensation expense of $7.7 million and $5.1 million, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses were $29.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $24.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $5.8 million is primarily the result of an increase of $3.8 million in personnel related costs, including a stock-based compensation increase of $1.2 million, and an increase of $2.7 million in payroll and fringe benefits. The increase in personnel related costs was driven by the continued hiring of personnel within our selling, general and administrative functions, specifically focusing on commercial planning and building of the Company's initial commercial infrastructure. Personnel related costs for the six months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 included stock-based compensation expense of $10.2 million and $9.0 million, respectively. Total other income (expense), net Other income (expense) was $9.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $(2.9) million for the six months ended September 30, 2022. The net change of $12.8 million is primarily attributable to an increase in investment income of approximately $10.8 million as a result of higher interest rates during the first half of the year as compared to the prior year, as well as a decrease in expense of approximately $4.6 million compared to the prior year due to exchange rate fluctuations related to the changes in foreign exchange rates of the British Pound Sterling to the United States Dollar. These increases in income are partially offset by approximately $2.1 million in expense for debt obligations related to the Hercules Loan Agreement which we did not incur during the first six months in the prior year. Liquidity and capital resources Since our inception, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We have not yet commercialized any of our product candidates, which are in various phases of preclinical and clinical development, and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products for the foreseeable future, if at all. Sources of liquidity To date, we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the sale of equity securities and, to a lesser extent, proceeds from borrowing under a secured loan facility. Through September 30, 2023, we had received net proceeds of $935.9 million through the sale of shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants exercisable for common stock in public offerings and at-the-market offerings, as well as net $27.8 million from our incurrence of debt under the term loan agreement with Hercules. As of September 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $496.8 million. Cash flows The following table summarizes our cash flows for each of the periods presented: Six Months Ended September 30, 2023 2023 2022 (Amounts in thousands) Net cash used in operating activities $ (92,178) $ (66,665) Net cash provided by investing activities 20,044 5,351 Net cash provided by financing activities 1,543 39,945 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (3) 4,351 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents $ (70,594) $ (17,018) Operating activities During the six months ended September 30, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $92.2 million, primarily resulting from our net loss of $109.6 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $13.3 million, which primarily consist of 34 Table of Contents stock-based compensation expense of $18.0 million, somewhat offset by net amortization of premiums and discounts on short-term investments of $6.5 million, and an increase in cash of $4.1 million related to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the six months ended September 30, 2023 consisted primarily of a $7.0 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a $2.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets, a net $1.2 million change in operating and financing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, a $1.0 million decrease in accounts payable, and a $0.8 million increase in research and development incentives receivable from the United Kingdom government due to the timing and amount of our qualifying expenditures. During the six months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $66.7 million, primarily resulting from our net loss of $85.4 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $15.3 million, primarily consisting of stock-based compensation expense of $14.2 million, and an increase in cash of $3.4 million related to changes in our operating assets and liabilities. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the six months ended September 30, 2022 consisted primarily of a $2.8 million increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a $1.4 million increase in research and development incentives receivable from the United Kingdom government due to the timing and amount of our qualifying expenditures, a net $1.2 million change in operating and financing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, a $0.7 million increase in accounts payable, as well as a $0.2 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets. Investing activities During the six months ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $20.0 million, consisting of $303.5 million in proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments, partially offset by $281.2 million in purchases of available for sale securities, and $2.2 million in purchases of property, plant and equipment and capitalized software. During the six months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by investing activities was $5.4 million, consisting of $200.5 million in proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments, partially offset by $193.7 million in purchases of available for sale securities and $1.5 million in purchases of property, plant and equipment. Financing Activities During the six months ended September 30, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $1.5 million, consisting primarily of $1.8 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. During the six months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $39.9 million, consisting primarily of $37.4 million from the issuance of common stock through sales under our at-the-market facilities, as well as approximately $2.7 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. Funding requirements Our plan of operation is to continue implementing our business strategy, continue research and development of RP1 and our other product candidates and continue to expand our research pipeline and our internal research and development capabilities. We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and clinical trials of our product candidates and if and as we: • conduct our current and future clinical trials with RP1, RP2 and RP3; • further preclinical development of our RPx platform; • operate, qualify and maintain our in-house manufacturing facility and qualify and maintain our product candidates made therein for use in our clinical trials; • seek to identify and develop additional product candidates; • seek marketing approvals for any of our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any; • establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval; 35 Table of Contents • until our planned manufacturing facility is fully validated, continued limited manufacturing by third parties for clinical development. • maintain, expand, protect and defend our intellectual property portfolio; • hire and retain additional clinical, quality control, scientific and general and administration personnel; • acquire or in-license other drugs, technologies or third-party intellectual property; and • add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our research and development programs, any future commercialization efforts and operations as a public company. As of September 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $496.8 million. Based on our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of September 30, 2023, will enable us to fund operations into the second half of 2025. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development of RP1 and other product candidates and programs, and because the extent to which we may enter into collaborations with third parties for development of our product candidates is unknown, we are unable to estimate the timing and amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the research and development of our product candidates. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including those described in this section and above under “—Operating expenses—Research and development expenses.” Developing novel biopharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval for any product candidates or generate revenue from the sale of any products for which we may obtain marketing approval. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of therapies that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if ever. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funds to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. We do not currently have any committed external source of funds. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of our equity or convertible debt securities, our shareholders’ interest may be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences and anti-dilution protections that could adversely affect the rights of our common stockholder. Additional debt or preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring debt adversely impact our ability to conduct our business, and may require the issuance of warrants, which could potentially dilute your ownership interest. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technology, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings or collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce and/or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Contractual obligations and commitments During the three months ended September 30, 2023, there were no material changes to our contractual obligations and commitments from those described under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations and Commitments” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on May 18, 2023. Collaborations BMS 36 Table of Contents In February 2018, we entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with BMS. Pursuant to the agreement, BMS is providing to us, at no cost, nivolumab, its anti-PD-1 therapy, for use in combination with RP1 in our ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Under the agreement, we will sponsor, fund and conduct the clinical trial in accordance with an agreed-upon protocol. BMS granted us a non-exclusive, non-transferrable, royalty-free license (with a right to sublicense) under its intellectual property to use nivolumab in the clinical trial and has agreed to supply nivolumab, at no cost to us, for use in the clinical trial. Both parties will own the study data produced in the clinical trial, other than study data related solely to nivolumab, which will belong solely to BMS, or study data related solely to RP1, which will belong solely to us. In January 2020, this agreement was expanded to cover an additional cohort of 125 patients with anti-PD-1 failed melanoma. Unless earlier terminated, the agreement will remain in effect until (i) the completion of the clinical trial, (ii) all related clinical trial data have been delivered to both parties and (iii) the completion of any statistical analyses and bioanalyses contemplated by the clinical trial protocol or any analysis otherwise agreed upon by the parties. The agreement may be terminated by either party (x) in the event of an uncured material breach by the other party, (y) in the event the other party is insolvent or in bankruptcy proceedings or (z) for safety reasons. Upon termination, the licenses granted to us to use nivolumab in the clinical trial will terminate. The agreement contains representations, warranties, undertakings and indemnities customary for a transaction of this nature. In April 2019, we entered into a separate agreement with BMS on terms similar to the terms set forth in the agreement described above, pursuant to which BMS will provide, at no cost to us, nivolumab for use in our Phase 1 clinical trial of RP2 in combination with nivolumab. Regeneron In May 2018, we entered into a Master Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Regeneron. Pursuant to the agreement we agreed to undertake one or more clinical trials with Regeneron for the administration of our product candidates in combination with cemiplimab, an anti-PD-1 therapy developed by Regeneron, across multiple solid tumor types, the first of which, agreed in June 2018, is our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial testing RP1 in combination with cemiplimab versus cemiplimab alone in patients with CSCC. Each clinical trial will be conducted pursuant to an agreed study plan which, among other things, will identify the name of the sponsor and which party will manage the particular study, and include the protocol, the budget and a schedule of clinical obligations. The first study plan related to the Phase 2 clinical trial in CSCC has been agreed. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, each party granted the other party a non-exclusive license of their respective intellectual property and agreed to contribute the necessary resources needed to fulfill their respective obligations, in each case, under the terms of agreed study plans. Development costs of an agreed study plan will be split equally. In July 2022, Regeneron informed the Company that the costs of the study have reached the initial budget for the initial study plan of June 2018 and that Regeneron's reimbursement of CERPASS study costs to the Company have completed in the period ending June 30, 2022 in relation to the initial study budget. As a result of this notice from, and the ongoing communications with, Regeneron, we have not recorded any cost-sharing reimbursements from Regeneron in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet or as an offset to research and development expense within the consolidated statement of operations since Regeneron informed us that Regeneron’s reimbursement of CERPASS study costs have completed. The Company does not expect any further reimbursements from Regeneron related to the initial study plan of June 2018. The agreement contains representations, warranties, undertakings and indemnities customary for a transaction of this nature. The agreement also contains certain time-based covenants that restrict us from entering into a third-party arrangement with respect to the use of our product candidates in combination with an anti-PD-1 therapy and that restrict Regeneron from entering into a third-party arrangement with respect to the use of cemiplimab in combination with an HSV-1 virus, in each case, for the treatment of a tumor type that is the subject of a clinical trial to which the covenants apply. Unless otherwise mutually agreed in a future study plan, these covenants are only applicable to our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial in CSCC. The agreement may be terminated by either party if (i) there is no active study plan for which a final study report has not been completed and the parties have not entered into a study plan for an additional clinical trial within a period of time after the delivery of the most recent final study report or (ii) in the event of a material breach. Roche In December 2022, we announced entering into a Master Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Roche in relation to our RP2 and RP3 programs in colorectal cancer, or CRC, and hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate in two 30 patient cohort signal finding studies in third-line, or 3L, CRC and in two 15 patient cohort signal finding studies in second-line, or 2L, HCC. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will share 37 Table of Contents costs and Roche will supply its currently approved drugs, atezolizumab and bevacizumab for 2L HCC and 3L CRC combined with RP3. Roche will also supply atezolizumab and bevacizumab for 2L HCC and 3L CRC combined with RP2. We have retained the responsibility of operating the clinical trials as well as retaining all the rights to the development and commercialization of our product candidates. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other party. Incyte In July 2023, we entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Incyte Corporation, or Incyte. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate in a signal finding study in which Incyte will initiate and sponsor a clinical trial of INCB99280 (oral PD-L1 inhibitor) and RP1 in approximately 40 patients with unresectable, high risk CSCC in the neoadjuvant setting. Under the terms of the agreement, we will supply Incyte with RP1 for the study and share costs of the study equally with Incyte. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon (i) a material breach not reasonably cured within thirty (30) days; (ii) the discontinuation of development of its clinical drug candidate; (iii) the unethical or illegal business practices of the other party; or (iv) if the parties have not agreed on the protocol or budget within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the agreement. In addition, the Company may terminate the agreement upon the inappropriate or unsafe use of the RP1 product candidate. Critical accounting policies and estimates Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, costs and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. While our significant accounting policies are described in greater detail in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Accrued research and development expenses As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual costs. The majority of our service providers invoice us in arrears for services performed, on a pre-determined schedule or when contractual milestones are met; however, some require advanced payments. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include fees paid to: • CROs in connection with performing research activities and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf; • CMOs in connection with the production of preclinical and clinical trial materials; • investigative sites or other service providers in connection with clinical trials; • vendors in connection with preclinical and clinical development activities; and • vendors related to product manufacturing and development and distribution of preclinical and clinical supplies. We base our expenses related to preclinical studies and clinical trials on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with multiple CMOs and CROs that supply, conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to 38 Table of Contents contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we adjust the accrual or the amount of prepaid expenses accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. To date, there have not been any material adjustments to our prior estimates of accrued research and development expenses. Stock-based compensation We issue stock-based awards to employees, directors, consultants and non-employees in the form of stock options and restricted stock units. We measure such stock-based awards in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, which requires all stock-based awards to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on their fair value on the date of the grant and the related compensation expense for those awards is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. We have, to date, only issued stock-based awards with service-based vesting conditions and record the expense for these awards using the straight-line method. The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the expected term of the option, and our expected dividend yield. See Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for more information. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The fair value of each stock-based award is estimated on the date of grant based on the fair value of our common stock on that same date. We classify stock-based compensation expense in our consolidated statements of operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified. Recently issued accounting pronouncements A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Emerging growth company status As an “emerging growth company,” the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards when they are required to be adopted by public companies that are not emerging growth companies. Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks. Not applicable.