Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analys is of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a robust pipeline of T cell receptor (TCR)-engineered T cell, or TCR-T, therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer. Our approach is based on the central premise that we can learn from patients who are winning their fight against cancer to treat those who are not. Over the past several years, we have built our ImmunoBank, a repository of therapeutic TCRs that recognize diverse targets and are associated with multiple human leukocyte antigen, or HLA, types. These TCRs are then used to manufacture enhanced TCR-T therapies to treat a broad population of patients with both heme and solid tumor malignancies. Every TCR in our ImmunoBank has come from our proprietary platform technologies, and we are continuing to expand our ImmunoBank. Using TargetScan, we analyze the T cells of cancer patients with exceptional responses to immunotherapy to discover how the immune system naturally recognizes and eliminates tumor cells in these patients. This allows us to precisely identify the targets of TCRs that are driving these exceptional responses. We then use these anti-cancer TCRs to treat patients by genetically engineering T cells to recognize and eliminate their cancer. In addition to discovering TCRs against novel targets, we are using our ReceptorScan technology to identify high affinity naturally occurring TCRs for known targets. Once we identify therapeutic candidates using these technologies, we reduce the safety risk of clinical development by comprehensively screening these TCRs against the human proteome using SafetyScan to identify potential off-target interactions. We then eliminate any TCR-T candidates that cross-react with proteins expressed at high levels in normal tissues.
We are advancing a robust pipeline of TCR-T candidates for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Our lead product candidates, TSC-100 and TSC-101, are in development for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies to eliminate residual disease and prevent relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). TSC-100 and TSC-101 target the antigens HA-1 and HA-2, respectively, which are well-recognized TCR targets that were first identified in patients with exceptional responses to HCT-associated immunotherapy. We have initiated a multi-arm Phase 1 "umbrella" clinical study of TSC-100 and TSC-101 with over ten clinical sites activated, and we plan to add more sites in 2024.
In addition, we are developing multiple TCR-T candidates for the treatment of solid tumors. One of the challenges of treating solid tumors is that they are heterogeneous - not every tumor cell expresses a given target and some tumor cells lose half their HLA genes. To address this challenge, we are developing what we refer to as multiplexed TCR-T therapy - treating a patient with more than one TCR-T candidate at a time. We are designing these multiplexed therapies to be a simultaneous administration of up to three highly active TCR-T therapy candidates, selected from our ImmunoBank, that are customized for each patient based on which targets are expressed in their tumors and which HLA genes are still intact. We continue to prioritize expanding the ImmunoBank with TCRs for multiple targets and multiple HLA types for each target. We have now advanced six TCR-T therapy candidates into Phase 1 development for solid tumors: TSC-203-A0201 (PRAME, HLA-A*02:01); TSC-200-A0201 (HPV16, HLA-A*02:01); TSC-201-B0702 (MAGE-C2, HLA-B*07:02); TSC-204-A0201 (MAGE-A1, HLA-A*02:01); TSC-204-C0702 (MAGE-A1, HLA-C*07:02); and TSC-204-A0101 (MAGE-A1, HLA-A*01:01). In addition to clearing these six solid-tumor investigational new drug (IND) applications, the FDA has cleared our IND application for T-Plex, enabling us to treat patients with multiplexed TCR-T therapy. We plan to further expand the ImmunoBank in 2024 by filing IND applications for additional TCR-Ts.
Since our inception in 2018, we have devoted our efforts to raising capital, obtaining financing, filing, prosecuting and maintaining intellectual property rights, organizing and staffing our Company and incurring research and development costs related to the identification of novel targets for TCRs and development of TCR-Ts to target and eliminate cancer cells. We do not have any therapies approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from sales of capital stock, revenue received under our collaboration agreements, as well as a debt facility with K2HV.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
To date, our revenue has primarily been derived from our collaboration and licensing agreements, which have been in the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . We have not generated any revenue from the sale of therapies to date, nor do we expect to generate revenues therefrom in the near future, if at all. If our development efforts for our product candidates are successful and result in regulatory approval or if we enter into additional license or collaboration agreements with third parties, we may generate
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additional revenue in the future from sales of our therapies, payments from license or collaboration agreements that we may enter into with third parties, or any combination thereof. However, there can be no assurance as to when we will generate such revenue, if at all. We expect that our revenue for at least the next several years will be derived primarily from collaborations and licenses that we may enter into in the future, if any.
Collaboration Revenue
Novartis
In March 2020, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the Novartis Agreement) with Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. (Novartis), to collaborate on their research efforts to discover and develop novel TCR-T therapies. Under the Novartis Agreement, we identified and characterized TCRs in accordance with a research plan and transferred data arising from the research plan. The collaboration included an upfront fee and research funding together totaling $30.0 million. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recognized $5.8 million and $13.5 million, respectively, of revenue associated with the Novartis Agreement, of which $1.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, related to cost reimbursements under the Novartis Agreement that offset costs incurred within research and development expenses in the statements of operations. In March 2023, all performance obligations were considered fulfilled, and the arrangement was completed.
Amgen
On May 8, 2023, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Amgen Inc. (the Amgen Agreement) to identify antigens recognized by T cells in patients with Crohn’s disease in accordance with a research plan. Under the terms of the Agreement, Amgen will retain all global development and commercialization rights.
The collaboration included an upfront fee of $30.0 million. We have identified performance obligations for research and development activities, the license, data reporting and participation in joint steering and research committees, which were determined to be a single combined performance obligation due to the services and licenses being highly interrelated. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized $14.2 million of revenue associated with the Amgen Agreement. The research term of the Amgen Agreement is expected to be approximately 3 years.
See Note 9, Collaboration and License Agreements, to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with our research activities, including our therapeutic discovery efforts, preclinical and clinical trials, and the development of our proprietary platform technologies and product candidates. We expense research and development costs as incurred, which include:
• employee-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, stock-based compensation, and other related costs for those employees involved in research and development efforts;
• expenses incurred in connection with our research programs, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants and contract research organizations, or CROs;
• the cost of raw materials, developing and scaling our manufacturing process, and manufacturing our product candidates for use in our research and preclinical studies, including under agreements with third parties, such as consultants, contractors, and contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs;
• laboratory supplies and research materials;
• facilities, depreciation, and other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and insurance; and
• payments made under third-party licensing agreements.
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. Upfront payments under license agreements are expensed upon receipt of the license, and annual maintenance fees under license agreements are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Milestone payments under license agreements are accrued, with a corresponding expense being recognized, in the period in which the milestone is determined to be probable of achievement and the related amount is reasonably estimable.
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Our direct external research and development expenses consist of costs that include fees, reimbursed materials, direct material costs, and other costs paid to consultants, contractors, CMOs and CROs in connection with our development and manufacturing activities. We do not allocate employee costs, general laboratory supplies, and facilities expenses, including depreciation or other indirect costs, to specific product development programs because these costs are deployed across multiple programs and our platform technology and, as such, are not separately classified.
Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in preclinical and earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due increased size and duration of later stage clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially in connection with our planned preclinical and clinical development activities in the near term and in the future. At this time, we cannot accurately estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the preclinical and clinical development of any of our 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 therapeutic development and commercialization, including the following:
• the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
• the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities for each program;
• our ability to raise additional funds necessary to complete preclinical and clinical development of and commercialize our product candidates;
• the progress of the development efforts of parties with whom we may enter into collaboration arrangements;
• our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new ones;
• our ability to establish new licensing or collaboration arrangements;
• the successful initiation and completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, or any comparable foreign regulatory authority;
• the receipt and related terms of regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
• the availability of raw materials for use in the manufacture of our product candidates;
• our ability to consistently manufacture our product candidates for use in clinical trials;
• our ability to establish and operate a manufacturing facility, or secure manufacturing supply through relationships with third parties;
• our ability to obtain and maintain patents, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the U.S. and internationally;
• our ability to protect our rights in our intellectual property portfolio;
• the commercialization of our product candidates, if and when approved;
• obtaining and maintaining third-party insurance coverage and adequate reimbursement;
• the acceptance of our product candidates, if approved, by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;
• competition with other products and therapies; and
• a continued acceptable safety profile of our therapies following approval.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of these product candidates. We may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any of our product candidates or in establishing market acceptance for any product candidates that may be approved.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, for our personnel in executive, legal, finance and accounting, human resources, and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to corporate matters; professional fees paid for accounting, auditing, consulting, and tax services; insurance costs; travel expenses; and facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued research activities and development of our product candidates. We have incurred significantly increased accounting, audit,
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legal, regulatory, compliance and director and officer insurance costs as well as investor and public relations expenses associated with operating as a public company and anticipate these expenses to increase in 2024 as we continue to expand the business. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate and do not enter into a third-party commercialization collaboration, we expect to incur significant expenses related to building a sales and marketing team to support sales, marketing and distribution activities.
As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding options, inclusive of research and development and general and administrative, was $18.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.24 years.
Income Taxes
Since our inception, we have not recorded any U.S. federal or state income tax benefits for the net losses we have incurred in any year or for our earned research and development tax credits, due to the uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items. As of December 31, 2023, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $84.8 million and $85.3 million, respectively, which may be used to offset future taxable income, if any. The state amounts expire at various dates through 2042. The federal net operating losses generated in and after 2018 can be carried forward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2023, we had federal and state tax credit carryforwards of $11.7 million and $6.7 million, which expire at various dates through 2042 and 2037, respectively. Due to the degree of uncertainty related to the ultimate use of the deferred tax assets, we have fully reserved these tax benefits, as the determination of the realization of the deferred tax benefits was not determined to be more likely than not.
Results of Operations
Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
Change
Revenue
Collaboration and license revenue
$
21,049
$
13,535
$
7,514
Operating expenses:
Research and development
88,153
59,819
28,334
General and administrative
26,354
20,352
6,002
Total operating expenses
114,507
80,171
34,336
Loss from operations
(93,458
)
(66,636
)
(26,822
)
Other (expense) income:
Interest and other income, net
7,999
1,591
6,408
Interest expense
(3,759
)
(1,176
)
(2,583
)
Total other income
4,240
415
3,825
Net Loss
$
(89,218
)
$
(66,221
)
$
(22,997
)
Revenue
We had $21.0 million in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $13.5 million of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily related to the recognition of revenue associated with the Amgen Agreement, which commenced in May 2023. We have recognized $14.2 million of deferred revenue related to the Amgen Agreement. Additionally in 2023, we recognized the remaining revenue associated with the Novartis Agreement totaling $5.8 million, of which $3.9 million was based on completion of performance obligations and $1.9 million was associated with cost reimbursements.
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Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
Change
Laboratory supplies, research materials and studies
$
30,101
$
25,626
$
4,475
Personnel
27,041
20,285
6,756
Facility-related and other
20,797
11,746
9,051
Clinical studies
10,214
2,162
8,052
Total research and development expenses
$
88,153
$
59,819
$
28,334
Research and development expenses increased $28.3 million and was primarily attributable to a $9.1 million increase for the expansion of our facilities and equipment associated with the ramp up of clinical and related manufacturing activities, as well as an $8.1 million increase in clinical studies expense due to Phase 1 study start-up activities and enrollment for TSC-100 and TSC-101 and Phase 1 study start-up activities for the solid tumor clinical trial. In support of the expanded research and development activities, personnel expenses increased by $6.8 million and laboratory expenses increased by $4.5 million.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
Change
Personnel expenses (including stock-based compensation)
$
11,397
$
11,654
$
(257
)
Facility-related and other
7,838
4,953
2,885
Legal and professional fees
7,119
3,745
3,374
Total general and administrative expenses
$
26,354
$
20,352
$
6,002
General and administrative expenses increased by $6.0 million and was primarily due to a $3.4 million increase in legal and professional fees associated with certain financing and strategic transactions entered into during 2023. Facilities-related costs increased $2.9 million primarily related to depreciation expense and facilities maintenance costs.
Other (Expense) Income
Other income has increased $3.8 million primarily due to a $6.4 million increase in interest income attributable to higher cash balances available for investment, offset by a $2.6 million increase in interest expense due to 2023 being the first full year of interest payments after the commencement of the Loan Agreement with K2HV in September 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
We have not generated any revenue from product sales and have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses, which consist primarily of research and development expenditures, and to a lesser extent, general and administrative expenditures. Under the terms of the Amgen Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $30.0 million in July 2023. In addition, we are eligible to earn success-based milestone payments of over $500 million, based upon the achievement of certain clinical development and commercial milestones, as well as tiered single-digit royalty payments on net sales of products developed from the collaboration, subject to reductions set forth in the Amgen Agreement.
Pursuant to the Loan Agreement with K2HV (the Loan Agreement), K2HV may provide us with convertible term loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $60 million, of which $30 million gross proceeds was provided on the closing date. We have the option to draw the remaining tranches subject to certain conditions, including certain clinical milestones. See “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Risk factors—The terms of our loan agreement place restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, the terms of any new debt could further restrict our operating and financial flexibility” for additional details regarding the Loan Agreement.
On June 1, 2023, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of (a) 23,287,134 shares of the Company's Voting Common Stock, inclusive of the underwriters’ 30-day option to purchase 297,660 additional shares of Voting Common Stock, at a price
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of $2.00 per share, and (b) the Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 47,010,526 shares of the Voting Common Stock, at a price of $1.9999 per warrant with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The Company received aggregate net proceeds from the offering of $134.7 million after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering expenses.
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $192.0 million, excluding restricted cash of $5.0 million.
Funding requirements
We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance our research programs into preclinical and clinical development. The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend largely on:
• the identification of additional research programs and product candidates;
• the scope, progress, results and costs of research and development for our current and future product candidates, including our current and planned clinical trials, and ongoing preclinical development for our current and future product candidates;
• the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of any product candidates we may develop;
• our decision to initiate a clinical trial, not to initiate a clinical trial or to terminate a clinical trial;
• our decision to develop and expand our manufacturing capabilities;
• our decision to invest in facilities to enable growth;
• investing in next-generation T cell engineering capabilities;
• changes in laws or regulations applicable to any product candidates we may develop, including but not limited to clinical trial requirements for approvals;
• the cost and timing of obtaining materials to produce adequate supply for any preclinical or clinical development of any product candidate we may develop;
• the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for any product candidate we may develop for which we obtain marketing approval;
• the legal costs involved in prosecuting patent applications and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property claims;
• additions or departures of key scientific or management personnel;
• our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all, as well as the costs and timing of any collaboration, license or other arrangement, including the terms and timing of any milestone payments thereunder; and
• the costs of continuing to operate as a public company.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will enable us to fund our planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2026. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a common stockholder. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making acquisitions or capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through additional collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, 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 other arrangements when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our research, product development or future commercialization efforts, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We have not yet received regulatory approval for or commercialized any of our product candidates and do not expect to generate revenue from product sales for several years, if at all. We do not expect to generate any product revenue unless and until we (1) complete development of any of our product candidates; (2) obtain applicable regulatory approvals; and (3) successfully commercialize or enter
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into collaborative agreements for our product candidates. We do not know with certainty when, or if, any of these items will ultimately occur. We expect to incur continuing significant losses for the foreseeable future and our losses to increase as we ramp up our preclinical and clinical development programs. We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other currently unknown factors that could adversely affect our business.
While we remain an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company, we are not required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. However, as we continue to evolve as a business, we will incur increased costs related to legal and financial compliance.
We will require additional capital to develop our product candidates and fund our operations into the foreseeable future. We anticipate that we will eventually need to raise substantial additional capital, the requirements for which will depend on many factors, including:
• the scope, timing, rate of progress and costs of our drug discovery efforts, preclinical development activities, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;
• the number and scope of clinical programs we decide to pursue;
• the cost, timing and outcome of preparing for and undergoing regulatory review of our product candidates;
• the scope and costs of development and manufacturing activities;
• the cost and timing associated with commercializing our product candidates, if they receive marketing approval;
• the amount of revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval;
• the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments under any collaboration agreements we might have at such time;
• the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;
• the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;
• our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;
• our efforts to enhance operational systems and our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel, including personnel to support the development of our product candidates and, ultimately, the sale of our products, following FDA approval;
• our implementation of various computerized information systems;
• impact of health crises and other external disruptions on our clinical development or operations; and
• the costs associated with being a public company.
A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we will continue to require additional capital to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such operating plans. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us additional covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments or engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions, in addition to those contained in our Loan Agreement. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to us or our stockholders.
Adequate funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to raise capital when needed it could have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategies. If we are unable to raise additional funds as required, we may need to delay, reduce, or terminate some or all development programs and clinical trials. We may also be required to sell or license our rights to product candidates in certain territories or indications that we would otherwise prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves. If we are required to enter into collaborations and other arrangements to address our liquidity needs, we may have to give up certain rights that limit our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. See Part 2, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
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Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
Change
Net cash used in operating activities
$
(61,358
)
$
(66,503
)
$
5,145
Net cash used in investing activities
(60,759
)
(4,225
)
(56,534
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
135,443
29,356
106,087
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
13,326
$
(41,372
)
$
54,698
Operating Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities of $61.4 million was primarily driven by our net loss of $89.2 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $10.3 million related to depreciation expense, accretion of marketable securities, stock-based compensation, and non-cash interest expense related to note payable. During 2023, working capital changes contributed $17.6 million to our cash flows. The change in working capital was primarily driven by changes in deferred revenue arising from the Amgen and Novartis arrangements as well as the timing of payments related to our vendors.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities of $66.5 million was primarily driven by our net loss of $66.2 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $9.9 million related to depreciation expense, stock-based compensation, and non-cash interest expense related to note payable. During 2023, working capital changes resulted in a use of $10.2 million. The change in working capital was primarily driven by changes in deferred revenue arising from the Novartis arrangement and the recognition of the new lease upon commencement.
Investing Activities
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $60.8 million and $4.2 million, respectively, primarily related to the purchases of property and equipment, and purchases and maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $135.4 million, consisting of net proceeds of $134.7 million from our follow-on public offering in June 2023 and $0.7 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities was $29.4 million, consisting primarily of net proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt under the Loan Agreement with K2HV.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Revenue recognition
To date, our revenues have primarily consisted of consideration related to the Novartis Agreement and the Amgen Agreement, which we are accounting for under ASC 606. In accordance with ASC 606, we recognize revenue when our customers obtain control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.
To determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized for arrangements determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether
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the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the assessment of the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when, or as we satisfy each performance obligation.
As part of the accounting for arrangements under ASC 606, we must use significant judgment to determine the performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above. We also use judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration, except for royalties and sales-based milestones, should be included in the transaction price as described below. We recognize revenue based on those amounts when, or as, the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied.
We utilize judgment to assess the nature of the performance obligation to determine whether the performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. The measure of progress, and the resulting periods over which revenue should be recognized, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the arrangement, which are subject to review by the joint steering committee, or JSC. Such a change could have a material impact on the amount of revenue we record in future periods. We concluded that the transfer of control to the customer for the performance obligation occurs over the time period that the research and development services are provided by us. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation as those services are provided using an input method, based on the cumulative costs incurred compared to the total estimated costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligation. The cost-to-cost method is, in management’s judgment, the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance condition.
At the inception of each arrangement that includes research, development or regulatory milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered likely to be met and estimate the amount to be considered for inclusion in the transaction price using the most-likely-amount method. If it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. For milestone payments due upon events that are not within our control, such as regulatory approvals, we are not able to assert that it is likely that the regulatory approval will be granted and that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur until those approvals are received. In making this assessment, we evaluate factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur.
We reevaluate the transaction price and our total estimated costs expected to be incurred at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events, such as changes to the expected timing and cost of certain research, development and manufacturing activities that we are responsible for, are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur. If necessary, we will adjust our estimate of the transaction price or our estimates of the total costs expected to be incurred. To date, we have not had any significant changes in our estimates.
Accrued research and development expenses
As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses. This process involves 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 advance payments. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. At each period end, we corroborate the accuracy of these estimates with the service providers and make adjustments, if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued research and development expenses include those related to fees paid to:
• Vendors in connection with discovery and preclinical development activities;
• CROs in connection with preclinical and clinical studies and testing; and
• CMOs in connection with the process development and scale up activities and the production of materials.
We record the expense and accrual related to contract research and manufacturing based on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended considering a number of factors, including our knowledge of the progress towards completion of the research, development, and manufacturing activities; invoicing to date under contracts; communication from the contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations and other companies of any actual costs incurred during the period that have not yet been invoiced; and the costs included in the contracts and purchase orders. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. 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 expense accordingly. Although
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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.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently adopted or 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected not to “opt out” of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until such time that we either (i) irrevocably elect to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. We may choose to early adopt any new or revised accounting standards whenever such early adoption is permitted for private companies.
We are also a “smaller reporting company”, meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates plus the aggregate amount of gross proceeds to us as a result of the IPO is less than $700 million and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitat ive Disclosures About Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not required to provide the information required under this item.