Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM 7 - 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 in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.
Company Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated therapies to treat chronic inflammatory and immune-mediated conditions with high unmet need.
We have exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop and commercialize products containing small molecule bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (“BET”) inhibitors for the treatment of any disease, disorder or condition in humans, which we licensed from Tay Therapeutics Ltd., formerly known as In4Derm Ltd ("Tay"). BET proteins are epigenetic enablers of transcription that regulate the expression of specific genes. Each BET protein consists of two bromodomains (“BD1” and “BD2”) and one end terminal (“ET”) domain. Through our transaction with Tay, we obtained access to a library of new small molecule BET inhibitor compounds including those that inhibit both BD1 and BD2 (“pan-BD” BET inhibitor) and that selectively inhibit BD2 (“BD2-selective” BET inhibitor). Through our access to this library of new BET inhibitors, which comprise our InhiBET™ portfolio, we plan to develop product candidates for a diverse set of therapeutic indications. We have chosen to initially focus our development efforts with these molecules on immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, which are not being targeted by current BET inhibitors in development.
Our lead program is repibresib gel (also known as VYN201), a topically administered, small molecule pan-BD BET inhibitor designed as a “soft” drug to address diseases involving multiple, diverse inflammatory cell signaling pathways while providing low systemic exposure. In preclinical testing, repibresib produced consistent reductions in pro-inflammatory and disease-related biomarkers and improvements in disease severity across a variety of inflammatory and fibrotic preclinical models. In November 2022, we initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating a topical formulation of repibresib first in healthy volunteers (Phase 1a) and then in subjects (Phase 1b) with nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV), an immune-mediated condition that has a high unmet need and only one approved therapy. In the first quarter of 2023, we announced positive preliminary safety and tolerability, including hematology data, and predicted pharmacokinetic results (minimal systemic exposures) from the Phase 1a portion of the trial. We initiated the Phase 1b portion of the trial in NSV subjects in January 2023 and announced positive data from the Phase 1b trial in October 2023. We showed significant clinical improvements in vitiligo involving the face, which has the greatest psychosocial impact on patients, after 16 weeks of treatment which was assessed using the Facial-Vitiligo Area Scoring Index ("F-VASI"), a measure of severity of the condition on the face. We initiated a Phase 2b trial with repibresib gel in NSV subjects in June 2024. The Phase 2b trial is a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of once-daily repibresib gel in NSV subjects in three dose cohorts (1%, 2% or 3% concentrations) compared to vehicle over 24 weeks, followed by a 28-week active treatment extension with subjects on vehicle crossing over to active doses. We enrolled approximately 45 patients in each arm and expect to report top-line results from the 24-week double-blind portion of the trial in mid-2025.
Our second program is VYN202, an oral, small molecule BD2-selective BET inhibitor. Prior studies have shown that while BD1 modulates cell-cycling and homeostatic functions, BD2 regulates gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in cells. VYN202 has been designed to achieve potential class-leading potency and selectivity for BD2 vs. BD1. By maximizing BD2 selectivity, we believe VYN202 has the potential to be a potent oral immunomodulator option for both acute control and chronic management of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, without the hematologic and gastrointestinal adverse effects associated with earlier generation systemic pan-BD BET inhibitors that were being developed in oncologic settings. We
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have completed a Phase 1a single ascending dose/multiple ascending dose ("SAD/MAD") trial of VYN202 in healthy volunteers and announced positive data from this trial in December 2024. We observed that VYN202 had a favorable safety and tolerability profile with no drug-related adverse events historically associated with earlier generation, less BD2-selective BET inhibitors. VYN202 also demonstrated robust pharmacodynamic activity including evidence of target engagement and inhibition of several inflammatory biomarkers relevant to immune-mediated disorders in ex vivo stimulation assays. We initiated a Phase 1b trial in February 2025 in adult subjects with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The Phase 1b trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of once daily treatment with VYN202 capsules dosed for 12 weeks, to primarily evaluate the safety of VYN202 across four cohorts (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg doses and placebo), with secondary objectives that include pharmacokinetics and preliminary evidence of efficacy via endpoints evaluating improvements from baseline in PASI scores. The trial will also include a 4-week safety follow-up visit after completion of the 12-week dosing period. We expect to enroll approximately 80 subjects with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and to report top-line results from the placebo-controlled trial by the end of 2025. Additionally, we anticipate that the data from the Phase 1b trial in plaque psoriasis subjects will provide key insights into VYN202's potential activity across a range of immune-mediated diseases.
We intend to advance our product candidates through further phases of clinical development toward regulatory approval. As part of our strategy to maximize the value of our pipeline, we may partner with larger pharmaceutical companies to expand and accelerate the development of our programs and explore other indications and therapeutic areas outside of our core focus in immune-mediated diseases.
Sale of Legacy Commercial Business
In January 2022, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Journey Medical Corporation ("Journey") pursuant to which we sold our Molecule Stabilizing Technology franchise, including our former products AMZEEQ, ZILXI, and FCD105, referred to collectively as the MST Franchise, to Journey. The assets included certain contracts, including license agreements, inventory and intellectual property related to the MST Franchise. We have classified the results of the MST Franchise as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and cash flows for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We received an upfront payment of $20.0 million at the closing of the sale of the MST franchise and an additional $5.0 million deferred payment in January 2023. We are also eligible to receive sales milestone payments of up to $450.0 million in the aggregate upon the achievement of specified levels of net sales on a product-by-product basis, beginning with annual net sales exceeding $100.0 million, as well as certain payments from any licensing or sublicensing of the purchased assets by Journey outside of the United States.
Known Trends, Events and Uncertainties
Business and Macroeconomic Conditions
Uncertainty in the global economy presents significant risks to our business. We are subject to continuing risks and uncertainties in connection with the current macroeconomic environment, including inflation, interest rates, financial market volatility and uncertainty, the impact of war or military conflict, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising tensions between China and Taiwan and the response thereto, public health pandemics, and supply chain disruptions. Adverse effects of these large macroeconomic conditions have been prevalent in many of the areas where we, our CROs, suppliers or third-party business partners conduct business and as a result, we have experienced disruptions and may continue to experience more pronounced disruptions in our operations. In addition, financial markets have experienced a period of high volatility due to these macroeconomic factors. The persistence of this volatility may impact our ability to engage in capital market activities and adequately fund our operations. As of the filing date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the extent to which these macroeconomic events and conditions may impact our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity is uncertain. The effect of these macroeconomic events and conditions may not be fully reflected in our results of operations and overall financial performance until future periods. See “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” for further discussion of the possible impact of these macroeconomic conditions on our business.
Development and License Agreements
Agreements with Tay Therapeutics
Evaluation and Option Agreement
In April 2021, we entered into an Evaluation and Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Tay. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Tay granted us an exclusive option to obtain certain exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop and commercialize products containing Tay’s BET inhibitor compounds for the treatment of any disease, disorder or condition in
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humans. Pursuant to the Option Agreement, we agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and manufacture a product with a pan-BD BET inhibitor as its active ingredient, and Tay agreed to provide a mutually agreed data package and select a new chemical entity development candidate from its Oral BETi Compounds. We paid a $1.0 million non-refundable cash payment to Tay upon execution of the Option Agreement.
Under the terms of the Option Agreement, our option (the "Oral Option") with respect to the Oral BETi Compounds was to expire on June 30, 2022, but in June 2022, we and Tay entered into a letter agreement to extend the option term to February 28, 2023. In February 2023, we and Tay entered into an additional letter agreement pursuant to which the option term was further extended to April 30, 2023. We exercised the Oral Option for VYN202 on April 28, 2023.
License for Locally Administered Pan-BD BET Inhibitor Program (Repibresib)
In August 2021, we exercised our option with respect to the repibresib program and entered into a License Agreement (the "Repibresib License Agreement") granting us a worldwide, exclusive license that is sublicensable through multiple tiers to exploit certain of Tay’s pan-BD BET inhibitor compounds in all fields. We have the sole responsibility for development, regulatory, marketing and commercialization activities to be conducted for the licensed products at our sole cost and discretion. We are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and, if approved, commercialize such products. Pursuant to the Repibresib License Agreement, a joint development committee consisting of one representative from each party reviews the progress of the development plan for the licensed products. Pursuant to the Repibresib License Agreement, we may develop a product that contains or incorporates a specific BET inhibitor, whether alone or in combination with other active ingredients, in any form, formulation, presentation, or dosage, and for any mode of administration.
We made a $0.5 million cash payment to Tay in 2021 in connection with entering into the Repibresib License Agreement. Pursuant to the Repibresib License Agreement, we agreed to make cash payments to Tay upon the achievement of specified clinical development and regulatory approval milestones with respect to each licensed topical product in the United States of up to $15.75 million for all indications, of which $1.8 million has been paid or accrued through December 31, 2024. Tay is entitled to additional milestone payments upon the achievement of regulatory approvals in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. In addition, with respect to any products we commercialize under the Repibresib License Agreement, we will pay tiered royalties to Tay on net sales of such licensed products by us, our affiliates, or sublicensees, of 5%, 7.5% and 10% based on tiered annual net sales of licensed products under the Repibresib License Agreement and the VYN202 License Agreement, subject to specified reductions. We are obligated to pay royalties until the latest of (1) the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale of the relevant licensed product, (2) the expiration of the last valid claim of the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product in such country and (3) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for the relevant licensed product in the relevant country, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis.
Pursuant to the Repibresib License Agreement, we were granted a sublicense under certain intellectual property which was licensed to Tay by the University of Dundee (“Dundee”) pursuant to a certain license agreement between Tay and Dundee effective as of July 24, 2020 and amended and restated on October 8, 2021 (the “Head License”). On February 13, 2025, Tay and Dundee entered into an agreement for the termination of the Head License and assignment of such intellectual property from Dundee to Tay. Upon termination of the Head License, the Repibresib License Agreement was accordingly amended to reflect the assignment of the intellectual property to Tay upon its payment in full to Dundee. The amendment does not change any of Tay’s or VYNE’s rights or obligations under the Repibresib License Agreement, except that any obligations owed by VYNE to Dundee with respect to repibresib are now owed to Tay.
License for Selective BET Inhibitor Program (VYN202)
On April 28, 2023, we exercised the Oral Option and entered into a license agreement (the "VYN202 License Agreement") with Tay granting us a worldwide, exclusive license that is sublicensable through multiple tiers to exploit certain of Tay’s Oral BETi Compounds in all fields. We have the sole responsibility for development, regulatory, marketing and commercialization activities to be conducted for the licensed products at our sole cost and discretion, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and, if approved, commercialize such products. We may sublicense our rights to a third party without Tay’s consent. Pursuant to the VYN202 License Agreement, a joint development committee consisting of one representative from each party reviews the progress of the development plan for the licensed products.
We made a cash payment of $3.75 million to Tay in connection with entering into the VYN202 License Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the VYN202 License Agreement, we agreed to make cash payments to Tay of up to $43.75 million upon the achievement of specified clinical development and regulatory approval milestones with respect to each licensed oral product in the United States for all indications, of which $1.3 million has been paid or accrued through December 31, 2024. Tay is entitled to additional milestone payments upon the achievement of regulatory approvals in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. In addition,
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with respect to any products we commercialize under the VYN202 License Agreement, we will pay tiered royalties to Tay on net sales of such licensed products by us, our affiliates, or sublicensees, of 5%, 7.5% and 10% based on tiered annual net sales of licensed products under the VYN202 License Agreement and the Repibresib License Agreement, subject to specified reductions. We are obligated to pay royalties until the latest of (1) the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale of the relevant licensed product, (2) the expiration of the last valid claim of the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product in such country and (3) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for the relevant licensed product in the relevant country, on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis.
Components of Results of Operations
Segment Results
As of December 31, 2024, we adopted ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The Company has identified and reports as one operating segment. See "Note 15—Segment Information" for further details.
Revenues
Historically, we have generated revenues under development and license agreements, including royalty payments from sales of Finacea foam. We previously licensed the rights to Finacea to LEO Pharma A/S ("LEO Pharma"). This license was not part of the sale of our commercial business to Journey. Royalty revenues for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, from LEO Pharma in connection with sales of Finacea.
Operating Expenses
Research and development expenses
Our research and development expenses relate primarily to the development of repibresib and VYN202. We charge all research and development expenses to operations as they are incurred.
Our total research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $30.9 million and $16.3 million, respectively.
Research and development expenses consist primarily of:
• employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and related expenses, including share-based compensation expenses, for research and development personnel;
• expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, including CROs, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants that conduct regulatory activities, clinical trials and preclinical studies;
• expenses incurred to acquire, develop and manufacture clinical trial materials;
• expenses and milestone payments incurred under licensing agreements;
• costs associated with the creation, development and protection of intellectual property; and
• other costs associated with preclinical and clinical activities and regulatory operations.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $13.2 million and $13.4 million, respectively.
Our general and administrative expenses consist principally of:
• employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and related expenses, including share-based compensation expenses;
• professional fees for legal, auditing, tax and other consulting expenses; and
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• facility, insurance, information technology, travel, and depreciation expenses.
Other Income, net
Other income, net primarily consists of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Income Taxes and Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
We have incurred significant net operating losses (“NOLs”) since our inception. We expect to continue to incur NOLs until such a time when we generate adequate revenues for us to reach profitability. As of December 31, 2024, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $343.4 million and $53.6 million, respectively, of which $44.3 million will begin to expire in 2031 for federal and $53.6 million will begin to expire in 2040 for state purposes. As of December 31, 2024, we had federal research and development tax credit carryforwards of $7.2 million which will begin to expire in 2031. We have no state research and development tax credit carryforwards. As of December 31, 2024, we had $299.1 million in federal and state NOLs with no limited period of use.
NOLs and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in the ownership interest of significant stockholders over a three-year period in excess of 50%, as defined under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of our company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership changes may further affect the limitation in future years. State NOLs and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to similar limitations under state laws. We have not completed a 382 study through December 31, 2024, however, w e may have experienced ownership changes in the past, including in connection with the 2020 merger between Menlo (our predecessor company) and Foamix. Our private placement transaction in November 2023 also likely resulted in an ownership change for purposes of Section 382. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of the subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may be outside of our control. As a result, even if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use the NOL and tax credit carryforwards may be materially limited, which could harm our future operating results by effectively increasing our future tax obligations.
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023
Year Ended December 31, Increase/(Decrease) Increase/(Decrease)
(in thousands, except %) 2024 2023 $ %
Revenues
Royalty revenues $ 501 $ 424 $ 77 18.2 %
Total revenues 501 424 77 18.2 %
Operating expenses
Research and development 30,946 16,307 14,639 89.8 %
General and administrative 13,192 13,375 (183) (1.4) %
Total operating expenses 44,138 29,682 14,456 48.7 %
Operating loss (43,637) (29,258) 14,379 49.1 %
Other income, net 3,834 1,386 2,448 176.6 %
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (39,803) (27,872) 11,931 42.8 %
Income tax expense 4 — 4 *
Loss from continuing operations (39,807) (27,872) 11,935 42.8 %
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
(27) (580) (553) (95.3) %
Net loss $ (39,834) $ (28,452) $ 11,382 40.0 %
*percentage not meaningful
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Revenues
Revenues totaled $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, consisting of royalty revenue from our royalty agreement with LEO Pharma.
Research and development expenses
Our research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $30.9 million, representing an increase of $14.6 million, or 89.8%, compared to $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $11.7 million in expenses for repibresib, an increase of $2.5 million in expenses for VYN202 and an increase of $0.8 million of employee-related expenses following the hiring of additional research and development personnel. The $11.7 million increase in expenses for repibresib primarily relates to preparatory activity and clinical trial costs incurred for our ongoing Phase 2b trial of repibresib in subjects with NSV. The $2.5 million increase in expenses for VYN202 is primarily associated with costs incurred for our Phase 1a SAD/MAD trial which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. Both trials were initiated in June 2024. These increases were partially offset by lower consulting expenses of $0.4 million.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $13.2 million, representing a decrease of approximately $0.2 million, or 1.4%, compared to $13.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by $0.9 million of employee related expenses, partially offset by increased consulting and professional fees of $0.8 million.
Other Income, net
Other income, net for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $3.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively, primarily related to interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
Due to the sale of the MST Franchise during the first quarter of 2022, in accordance with ASC 205, Discontinued Operations, we have classified the results of the MST Franchise as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for all periods presented. See "Note 4—Discontinued Operations" in the consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since the sale of the MST Franchise in January 2022, we have not generated any revenue from product sales. In addition, we have incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses until such a time when our product candidates, if approved, are commercially successful, if at all. We will not generate any revenue from any current or future product candidates unless and until we obtain regulatory approval and commercialize such products. As a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional equity or debt financings, collaborations, licensing arrangements or other sources. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
As of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $61.5 million and an accumulated deficit of $731.2 million. We had no outstanding debt as of December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred a net loss of $39.8 million and used $34.0 million of cash in operations. Based on our current operating plan, we believe our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities are sufficient to fund our operating and capital expenditure requirements for a period of at least 12 months from the date of issuance of the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
If our available cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may need to raise additional capital to fund our operations. No assurance can be given as to whether additional needed financing will be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If sufficient funds on acceptable terms are not available when needed, we may be required to suspend or forego certain planned activities. Failure to manage discretionary spending or raise additional financing, as needed, would adversely impact our ability to achieve our intended business objectives and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and future prospects.
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Our sources of funding for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are further evaluated in the cash flow section below. Other than our obligations pursuant to the Tay License Agreements, we have no ongoing material financial commitments that may affect our liquidity over the next five years. See the section titled “Development and License Agreements—Agreements with Tay” for additional discussion of our financial obligations under the Tay License Agreements.
Future Funding Requirements
We do not expect to generate any product revenue unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize any of our product candidates, and we do not know when, or if, that will occur. Until we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we will continue to require substantial additional capital to develop our current and future product candidates and fund operations for the foreseeable future. We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and studies and initiate clinical trials. We are subject to all the risks incident in the development of new biopharmaceutical products, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays, and other unknown factors that may harm our business.
In order to complete the development of repibresib and VYN202 (including making milestone payments pursuant to the repibresib License Agreement and VYN202 License Agreement), or any future product candidates, we will require substantial additional capital. Accordingly, we expect to seek to raise any necessary additional capital through private or public equity or debt financings, loans or other capital sources, which could include income from collaborations, partnerships or other marketing, distribution, licensing or other strategic arrangements with third parties, or from grants. To the extent that we raise additional capital through equity financings or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be or could be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation, voting or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing and equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, including restricting our operations and limiting our ability to incur liens, issue additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments or engage in merger, consolidation, licensing, or asset sale transactions. If we raise capital through collaborations, partnerships, and other similar arrangements with third parties, we may be required to grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. We may be unable to raise additional capital from these sources on favorable terms, or at all.
In addition, the amount of proceeds we may be able to raise pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3 is limited. As of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are subject to the general instructions of Form S-3 known as the "baby shelf rules." Under these rules, the amount of funds we can raise through primary public offerings of securities in any 12-month period using our registration statement on Form S-3 is limited to one-third of the aggregate market value of the shares of our common stock held by our non-affiliates. Therefore, we will be limited in the amount of proceeds we are able to raise by selling shares of common stock using our Form S-3 until such time as our public float exceeds $75.0 million.
Our ability to raise additional capital may also be adversely impacted by global economic conditions and disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from bank failures, other general macroeconomic conditions and otherwise. The failure to obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition, including requiring us to delay, reduce or curtail our research or product development efforts. We cannot provide assurance that we will ever generate positive cash flow from operating activities.
Our present and future funding requirements will depend on a number of factors, including the following:
• the scope, timing, progress, results, and costs of researching and developing repibresib and VYN202 and conducting clinical trials, including larger and later-stage trials;
• the scope, timing, progress, results, and costs of preclinical studies and clinical trials for any other current and future programs;
• the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approval for our other pipeline product candidates and any delays we may encounter as a result of evolving regulatory requirements or adverse results with respect to any of these product candidates;
• terms and timing of any acquisitions, collaborations or other arrangements;
• the cost and timing of attracting, hiring, and retaining skilled personnel to support our operations;
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• the number of potential new products we identify and decide to develop;
• the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent applications and obtaining, maintaining and enforcing patents or defending against claims or infringements raised by third parties, and license royalties or other amounts we may be required to pay to obtain rights to third party intellectual property rights; and
• the costs associated with operating as a public company.
Our operating plan may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us, and any such change may affect our funding requirements. We may therefore need to seek additional capital sooner than planned, through public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic collaborations or additional license arrangements. Such financings may result in dilution to stockholders, imposition of debt covenants and repayment obligations or other restrictions that may affect our business.
For more information as to the risks associated with our future funding needs, see “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” included herein.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
2024 2023
Net cash (used in) / provided by: (in thousands)
Operating activities $ (33,972) $ (25,341)
Investing activities 23,365 (57,354)
Financing activities (141) 82,394
Net cash used in operating activities
During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash used in operating activities was $34.0 million and primarily reflected our net loss of $39.8 million adjusted for non-cash share-based compensation expense of $3.3 million, partially offset by the amortization of premium on marketable securities of $2.4 million. The remainder of the cash used in operations was due to net changes in assets and liabilities, which was largely driven by a $6.0 million increase in trade payables, accrued expenses, employee related obligations and other long-term liabilities. This increase was primarily comprised of accruals related to fees for contract research organizations, investigative sites, and other service providers that assist in conducting preclinical research studies and clinical trials.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $25.3 million and primarily reflected our net loss of $28.5 million adjusted for non-cash items of $3.1 million primarily related to share-based compensation expense. The remainder of the cash used in operations was driven by net changes in assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash provided by investing activities was $23.4 million and consisted of $84.0 million of proceeds received from the sale and maturity of marketable securities, partially offset by $60.5 million paid for the purchase of marketable securities and $0.1 million paid for the purchase of property and equipment.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was driven by the purchase of marketable securities of $62.4 million, partially offset by the receipt of the deferred payment from Journey in January 2023 of $5.0 million in connection with the sale of the MST Franchise.
Net cash (used in) provided by fina ncing activities
During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash used in financing activities related to $0.1 million of withholdings from the exercise of options and issuance of shares for share-based compensation arrangements.
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During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $82.4 million and consisted primarily of net proceeds of $82.7 million from our issuance and sale of common stock and pre-funded warrants and $0.2 million of proceeds received from the sales of common stock under our at-the-market equity offering program, partially offset by $0.4 million paid for the redemption of previously outstanding convertible preferred stock.
Cash and Funding Sources
Our sources of funding in the year ended December 31, 2024 consisted primarily of $84.0 million of proceeds received from the sale and maturity of marketable securities.
Our sources of funding in the year ended December 31, 2023 totaled $87.8 million and consisted primarily of net proceeds of $82.7 million from our issuance and sale of common stock and pre-funded warrants, $5.0 million in proceeds from the deferred payment from the sale of the MST Franchise and $0.2 million in net proceeds from the issuance of common stock pursuant to our at-the-market offering program.
Contractual Obligations
Lease Commitments
In November 2022, we transitioned to a smaller corporate headquarters and signed a Sublease Agreement (the “Sublease”) to sublease approximately 5,755 square feet of office space (the “Leased Premises”) in Bridgewater, New Jersey through September 30, 2023. We signed a Lease Agreement (the “Master Lease”) to lease the Leased Premises following the termination of the Sublease through September 30, 202 5. We have aggregate operating lease obligations of $0.1 million at December 31, 2024 .
R&D Commitments
We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs, contract manufacturing organizations and other service providers for clinical trials, preclinical studies and testing, manufacturing and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination upon notice, and therefore we believe that our non-cancelable obligations under these agreements are not material.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2024, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of consolidated financial statements also requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ significantly from the estimates made by our management. To the extent that there are differences between our estimates and actual results, our future financial statement presentation, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will be affected.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies,” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical to assist stockholders and investors reading the consolidated financial statements in fully understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations. These policies relate to significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates and that require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Research and Development Expenses
We make estimates of our accrued research and development expenses as of each balance sheet date in our consolidated financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. There may also be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of service provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. In accruing expenses, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the
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actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we adjust the accrual or the amount of the prepaid expense accordingly. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reporting higher or lower amounts 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
Certain recently issued accounting pronouncements are discussed in “Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies,” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide quantitative or qualitative disclosures about market risk.
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