Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)]

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2023


☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________________ to __________________

Commission File Number: 001-41008

IO Biotech, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware	87-0909276
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Ole Maaløes Vej 3 DK-2200 Copenhagen N Denmark	NA
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +45 7070 2980

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading
Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

IOBT

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒
		Emerging growth company	☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ☒ No ☐

As of November 10, 2023, the registrant had 65,880,914 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

Table of Contents


		Page
PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	1
Item 1.	Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)	1
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss	2
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	4
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	5
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	15
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	29
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	29
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION	31
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	31
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	31
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	32
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	32
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	32
Item 5.	Other Information	32
Item 6.	Exhibits	33
Signatures		34

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “should,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include:

•

the timing, progress and the success of our clinical trials of IO102-IO103, IO112, and any other product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available and our research and development programs;

•

whether the results of our trials will be sufficient to support domestic or foreign regulatory approvals for IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidates we may develop;

•

regulatory actions with respect to our product candidates or our competitors’ products and product candidates;

•

our ability to obtain, including on an expedited basis, and maintain regulatory approval of IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidates we may develop;

•

the outcomes of our preclinical studies;

•

our ability to enroll patients in our clinical trials at the pace that we project;

•

our ability to establish and conduct our clinical programs on our expected timelines;

•

the costs of development of any of our product candidates or clinical development programs;

•

our expectation about the period of time over which our existing capital resources will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditures;

•

the potential attributes and clinical benefits of the use of IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidate, if approved;

•

our ability to successfully commercialize IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidates we may identify and pursue, if approved;

•

our ability to successfully establish or maintain collaborations or strategic relationships for our product candidates;

•

the rate and degree of market acceptance of IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidates we may identify and pursue;

•

our ability to obtain orphan drug designation, Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD), accelerated or other approval for any of our product candidates we may identify;

•

our expectations regarding government and third-party payor coverage and reimbursement;

•

our ability to manufacture, including through contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidate in conformity with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA’s) requirements and the requirements of other applicable regulatory authorities;

•

our ability to successfully build a sales force and commercial infrastructure;

•

our ability to compete with companies currently producing or engaged in the clinical development of treatments for the disease indications that we pursue and treatment modalities that we develop;

•

our reliance on third parties to conduct our clinical trials;

•

our reliance on third-party CMOs to manufacture and supply our product candidates for us;

•

our ability to retain and recruit key personnel;

•

our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for IO102-IO103, IO112 or any other product candidates we may identify and pursue;

•

our estimates of our expenses, ongoing losses, future revenue, capital requirements and our needs for or ability to obtain additional financing;

•

our expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company (EGC) under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act);

•

our financial performance;

•

the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation efforts and economic effects, on any of the foregoing or any other aspects of our business operations;

•

the impact of laws and regulations, including legislative developments; and

•

developments and projections relating to our competitors or our industry.

These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, Part II, Item 1A - “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and those described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Any forward-looking statement in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q reflects our current view with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, industry, and future growth. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains estimates, projections, and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for certain drugs, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, their projected growth rates, and the incidence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties, and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained these industry, business, market, and other data from reports, research surveys, studies, and similar data prepared by third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data, and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which these data are derived.

Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “we,” “us,” “our,” “IO Biotech,” and the “Company” refer to IO Biotech, Inc. and, where appropriate, its consolidated subsidiaries.

Trademarks

The Company has applied for various trademarks that we use in connection with the operation of its business. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes trademarks, service marks, and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this report may be referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

iii

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)


	September 30, 2023			December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	165,501		$	142,590
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,753			5,629
Total current assets		168,254			148,219
Restricted cash		268			268
Property and equipment, net		797			741
Right of use lease asset		2,367			2,493
Other non-current assets		867			84
Total non-current assets		4,299			3,586
Total assets	$	172,553		$	151,805
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	6,645		$	4,004
Lease liability - current		627			515
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		5,713			6,157
Total current liabilities		12,985			10,676
Lease liability - non-current		1,976			2,275
Total non-current liabilities		1,976			2,275
Total liabilities		14,961			12,951
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders’ equity
Preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022		—			—
Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 65,880,914 and 28,815,267 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		66			29
Additional paid-in capital		405,039			326,705
Accumulated deficit		(237,640	)		(177,739	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(9,873	)		(10,141	)
Total stockholders’ equity		157,592			138,854
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	172,553		$	151,805

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Operating expenses
Research and development	$	17,655		$	10,022		$	46,059		$	32,553
General and administrative		5,829			5,843			17,201			18,482
Total operating expenses		23,484			15,865			63,260			51,035
Loss from operations		(23,484	)		(15,865	)		(63,260	)		(51,035	)
Other income (expense)
Currency exchange loss, net		(342	)		(87	)		(74	)		(392	)
Interest income		1,708			457			3,932			631
Interest expense		—			(78	)		—			(305	)
Total other income (expense), net		1,366			292			3,858			(66	)
Loss before income tax benefit (expense)		(22,118	)		(15,573	)		(59,402	)		(51,101	)
Income tax (benefit) expense		(439	)		115			499			286
Net loss		(21,679	)		(15,688	)		(59,901	)		(51,387	)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders		(21,679	)		(15,688	)		(59,901	)		(51,387	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.54	)	$	(1.66	)	$	(1.78	)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted		50,168,303			28,815,267			36,011,162			28,815,267
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Net loss	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Foreign currency translation		(108	)		(5,400	)		268			(12,427	)
Total comprehensive loss	$	(21,787	)	$	(21,088	)	$	(59,633	)	$	(63,814	)

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)


	Common Stock				Additional Paid-In		Accumulated Other Comprehensive			Accumulated			Total Stockholders’
	Shares		Amount		Capital		Loss			Deficit			Equity
Balance, January 1, 2022		28,815,267	$	29	$	319,665	$	(1,489	)	$	(106,281	)	$	211,924
Equity-based compensation		—		—		5,379		—			—			5,379
Foreign currency translation		—		—		—		(12,427	)		—			(12,427	)
Net loss		—		—		—		—			(51,387	)		(51,387	)
Balance, September 30, 2022		28,815,267	$	29	$	325,044	$	(13,916	)	$	(157,668	)	$	153,489

Balance, January 1, 2023		28,815,267	$	29	$	326,705	$	(10,141	)	$	(177,739	)	$	138,854
Equity-based compensation		—		—		6,501		—			—			6,501
Foreign currency translation		—		—		—		268			—			268
Issuance of common shares and warrants in private placement, net of issuance costs of $3,188		37,065,647		37		71,833		—			—			71,870
Net loss		—		—		—		—			(59,901	)		(59,901	)
Balance, September 30, 2023		65,880,914	$	66	$	405,039	$	(9,873	)	$	(237,640	)	$	157,592

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

IO BIOTECH, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation		156			32
Equity-based compensation		6,501			5,379
Amortization of right of use lease asset		399			318
Foreign currency loss		74			392
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,876			3,624
Other non-current assets		(784	)		(760	)
Accounts payable		2,641			(1,759	)
Lease liability		(460	)		(91	)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(444	)		(2,951	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(48,942	)		(47,203	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment		(211	)		(341	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(211	)		(341	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common shares and warrants		75,058			—
Common shares and warrants issuance costs		(3,188	)		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		71,870			—
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		22,717			(47,544	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		194			(12,819	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		142,858			211,799
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	165,769		$	151,436
Components of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents	$	165,501		$	151,168
Restricted cash		268			268
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	165,769		$	151,436
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable	$	—		$	176

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1. Description of Business, Organization and Liquidity

Business

IO Biotech, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on our T-win technology platform. As used in these financial statements, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to IO Biotech, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Corporate Reorganization

IO Biotech ApS was incorporated in Denmark in December 2014. In November 2021, we completed a corporate reorganization whereby IO Biotech ApS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. In connection with the corporate reorganization, each issued and outstanding Class A ordinary share ($0.16 par value) was exchanged on a one-for-one basis into shares of common stock of the Company ($0.001 par value). Each Class B and Class C preference share of IO Biotech ApS was exchanged on a one-for-one basis into shares of Class B and Class C preferred stock of the Company.

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

In November 2021, we completed our initial public offering (“IPO”), selling an aggregate of 8,222,500 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $14.00 per share, including 1,072,500 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock. We received net proceeds from the IPO, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs of $103.3 million.

Immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO, all outstanding shares of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B and Class C convertible preference shares were converted into 20,592,413 shares of common stock. Upon the closing of the IPO on November 9, 2021, a total of 28,815,267 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on November 5, 2021 under the symbol “IOBT.”

On November 9, 2021, we amended and restated the certificate of incorporation of IO Biotech, Inc. to authorize the issuance of 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The shares of preferred stock are currently undesignated.

August 2023 Private Placement

On August 9, 2023, the Company completed a private placement transaction (the “Private Placement”), pursuant to which we sold an aggregate of 37,065,647 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), and (ii) 37,065,647 warrants to purchase up to 37,065,647 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”) to certain institutional investors and existing shareholders (the “Purchasers”). Each Purchaser’s Warrant is exercisable for a number of shares of Common Stock equal to one hundred percent of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock purchased by such Purchaser. The purchase price per share of Common Stock and Warrant was $2.025 (the “Purchase Price”). The Company received net proceeds from the Private Placement, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs, of $71.9 million. Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” and Note 10, "Ordinary Shares" in the accompanying notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 for additional information on the Private Placement.

At-The-Market Equity Program

On February 15, 2023, we filed a new prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) with respect to the offer and sale of shares of our Common Stock, with an aggregate offering price of up to $19,500,000, establishing an at-the-market equity program. On February 15, 2023, we also entered into a common stock sales agreement, dated February 15, 2023 (the “Sales Agreement”) by and between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC for shares with an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 through which we may, from time to time, sell shares through Cowen and Company, LLC, acting as agent and/or principal. Any shares offered and sold through the at-the-market equity program will be issued pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269569), which was declared effective on February 10, 2023, the prospectus supplement related to the offering that forms a part of the registration statement, and any applicable prospectus supplements that may form a part of the registration statement in the future. The aggregate market value of shares eligible for sale under the prospectus supplement and under the Sales Agreement will be subject to the limitations of General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, to the extent required under such instruction. No shares were sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement during the period ended September 30, 2023.

Risks and Uncertainties

We are subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology, dependence on key personnel, compliance with government regulations and the need to obtain additional financing. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure and extensive compliance reporting capabilities.

Our product candidates are in development. There can be no assurance that our research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for our intellectual property will be obtained, that any products developed will obtain necessary government regulatory approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if our product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, we will generate significant revenue from product sales. We operate in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition, we are dependent upon the services of our employees and consultants.

Liquidity Considerations and Going Concern Basis of Accounting

Since inception, we have devoted substantially all of our efforts to business planning, conducting research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital. We have financed our operations primarily through the issuance of convertible preference shares, convertible notes, our IPO and the Private Placement.

Our continued discovery and development of product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, we will realize significant revenue from product sales.

As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $237.6 million. We have incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception, including net losses of $59.9 million and $71.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively. We expect that our operating losses and negative cash flows will continue for the foreseeable future as we continue to develop our product candidates. We currently expect that our cash and cash equivalents of $165.5 million as of September 30, 2023 will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date the financial statements are issued. On this basis, the condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis of accounting. However, additional funding will be necessary to fund future discovery research, preclinical and clinical activities, as well as commercial launch readiness activities. We will seek additional funding through public financings, debt financings, collaboration agreements, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. Although we have been successful in raising capital in the past, there is no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such additional financing on acceptable terms, or at all, and we may not be able to enter into collaborations or other arrangements. If we are unable to obtain funding, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business prospects, even our ability to continue operations.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Although the World Health Organization has declared that COVID-19 no longer represents a global health emergency and the federal government has terminated the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency, the actual and perceived impact of COVID-19 and any effect on our business cannot be predicted. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will not experience additional negative impacts associated with COVID-19, which could be significant. The COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations causing interruptions or delays in the Company’s programs and services.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Warrants Issued in Connection with Sale of Common Stock

The Company accounts for warrants issued as a separable unit in connection with sale of common stock as either liability or equity in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“ASC 480-10”) or ASC 815-40, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock (“ASC 815-40”). Under ASC 480-10, warrants are considered liabilities if they are mandatorily redeemable and they require settlement in cash or other assets, or a variable number of shares. If warrants do not meet liability classification under ASC 480-10, the Company considers the requirements of ASC 815-40 to determine whether the warrants should be classified as liability or equity. If warrants do not require liability classification under ASC 815-40 or

other applicable generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") the warrants should be classified as equity.

The proceeds received from the sale of equity classified warrants and shares of common stock in a bundled transaction are allocated based on the relative fair values of warrants and shares of common stock with no changes in fair value of warrants recognized after the issuance date. Based on our analysis of the foregoing, the Company's warrants issued in the Private Placement are classified as equity in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Other than the item noted above, there have been no changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 to the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

Unaudited Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the Company’s opinion, the information furnished herein reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the reported interim periods. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or any other interim period. Unaudited interim financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets. In April 2019, the FASB issued clarification to ASU 2016-13 within ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments, or ASU 2016-13. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company has adopted the standard effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of the standard has not had a material impact on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 will simplify the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current U.S. GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (i) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, that meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (ii) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for us beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures, but does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have a material impact on either our financial statements or financial statement disclosures.

Other than the items noted above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements not yet effective or adopted in the current year that we believe have a significant impact, or potential significant impact, to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

3. Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents information about our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—

	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—

(1) Money market funds with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase are included within cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets and are recognized at fair value.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company only held Level 1 financial instruments.

There were no transfers among Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 categories in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022.

4. License and Collaboration Agreements

In February 2018, we entered into a clinical collaboration with MSD International GmbH (MSDIG) to evaluate IO102 in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Under the terms of the collaboration with MSDIG, we will conduct an international Phase 1/2 study to evaluate a combination therapy of IO102 and KEYTRUDA®. We will sponsor the clinical trials and MSDIG will provide KEYTRUDA® to be used in the clinical trials free of charge. We and MSDIG will be responsible for our own internal costs and expenses to support the study and we shall bear all other costs associated with conducting the study, including costs of providing IO102 for use in the study. The rights to the data from the clinical trials will be shared by us and MSDIG and we will maintain global commercial rights to IO102.

In September 2021, we entered into a clinical collaboration with MSDIG and MSD International Business GmbH (MSDIB), another affiliate of Merck (collectively, “MSD”) to evaluate IO102-IO103 in combination with KEYTRUDA® versus KEYTRUDA® alone in treatment of patients with metastatic (advanced) melanoma. Under the terms of the collaboration with MSD, we are conducting an international Phase 3 study to evaluate a combination therapy of IO102-IO103 and KEYTRUDA®. We are the sponsor of the clinical trials and MSD will provide KEYTRUDA® to be used in the clinical trials free of charge. We and MSD are responsible for our own internal costs and expenses to support the study and we will bear all other costs associated with conducting the study, including costs of providing IO102-IO103 for use in the study. The rights to the data from the clinical trials will be shared by us and MSD and we will maintain global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

In December 2021, we entered into a clinical collaboration with MSD to evaluate IO102-IO103 in combination with KEYTRUDA® in previously untreated patients with three different tumor types— metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), and urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). Under the terms of the collaboration with MSD, we are conducting an international Phase 2 study to evaluate a combination therapy of IO102-IO103 and KEYTRUDA®. We are the sponsor of the clinical trials and MSD will provide KEYTRUDA® to be used in the clinical trials free of charge. We and MSD are responsible for our own internal costs and expenses to support the study and we will bear all other costs associated with conducting the study, including costs of providing IO102-IO103 for use in the study. The rights to the data from the clinical trials will be shared by us and MSD and we will maintain global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

In November 2022, we entered into a clinical collaboration with MSD to evaluate IO102-IO103 in combination with KEYTRUDA® as a neo-adjuvant/adjuvant therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma and SCCHN. Under the terms of the collaboration with MSD, we will conduct an international Phase 2 study to evaluate a combination therapy of IO102-IO103 and KEYTRUDA®. We will sponsor the clinical trials and MSD will provide KEYTRUDA® to be used in the clinical trials free of charge. We and MSD will be responsible for our own internal costs and expenses to support the study and we shall bear all other costs associated with conducting the study, including costs of providing IO102-IO103 for use in the study. The rights to the data from the clinical trials will be shared by us and MSD and we will maintain global commercial rights to IO102-IO103.

5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Research and development tax credit receivable	$	780	$	792
Prepaid income taxes		761		124
Prepaid contract research and development costs		180		1,695
Insurance		178		1,716
Value-added tax refund receivable		174		741
Other		680		561
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	2,753	$	5,629

6. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023			December 31, 2022
Laboratory equipment	$	738		$	544
Computer hardware		96			79
Office furniture		234			233
Less: accumulated depreciation		(271	)		(115	)
Total property and equipment, net	$	797		$	741

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.1 million and $0.01 million, respectively, of depreciation expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.2 million and $0.03 million, respectively, of depreciation expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

7. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Accrued contract research and development costs	$	2,287	$	1,936
Professional fees		305		407
Employee compensation costs		2,700		1,863
Other liabilities		421		1,951
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	5,713	$	6,157

8. Leases

On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted ASC 842 using the modified retrospective transition approach allowed under ASU 2018-11 which releases companies from presenting comparative periods and related disclosures under ASC 842 and requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption. The Company had an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2022. As of September 30, 2023, the Company is party to five operating leases for laboratory and office space. The Company’s finance leases are immaterial both individually and in the aggregate. The Company elected to apply the short-term lease exception to all leases of one year or less. Further, the Company has applied the guidance in ASC 842 to our corporate office and laboratory leases and has determined that these should be classified as operating leases. Consequently, as a result of the adoption of ASC 842 on January 1, 2022, we recognized a Right-of-Use (“ROU”) lease asset of $2.3 million with a corresponding lease liability of $2.4 million based on the present value of the minimum rental payments of such leases. In accordance with ASC 842, the beginning balance of the ROU lease asset was reduced by the existing deferred rent liability at inception of $0.1 million. In the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023, the Company has an ROU asset balance of $2.4 million and a current and non-current lease liability of $0.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively, relating to the ROU lease asset. The balance of both the ROU lease asset and the lease liabilities primarily consists of

future payments under the Company’s office and laboratory space leased in New York, New York, Rockville, Maryland and Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Company is party to an operating lease in Copenhagen, Denmark for office space that commenced in March 2021 with the initial term set to expire in January 2025. Base rent for this initial lease was $0.1 million annually. The Company amended its operating lease in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 1, 2022 with a new term set to expire in December 2027. The base rent for the amended lease is $0.2 million annually. The Company is also party to an operating lease in Copenhagen, Denmark for laboratory space that commenced in January 2023 with the term set to expire in December 2027. The base rent for the lease is $0.04 million annually. The Company is party to an operating lease in New York, New York for office space that commenced in October 2021 with the initial term set to expire in January 2027. Base rent for this lease is $0.2 million annually. The Company is party to an operating lease in Rockville, Maryland for office and laboratory space that commenced in December 2021 with the initial term set to expire in May 2027. Base rent for this lease is $0.3 million annually. The Company is party to an immaterial operating lease in Newport, United Kingdom that commenced in June 2023. Rent expense for each of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.2 million, respectively. Rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

Quantitative information regarding the Company’s leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
Lease Cost	September 30, 2023			September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost	$	543		$	437
Operating cash flows paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	537		$	256
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right‑of‑use assets	$	235		$	2,600
Remaining lease term (years)		3.7			4.7
Weighted average discount rate		6.3	%		6.5	%

Future lease payments (undiscounted) under noncancelable leases are as follows at September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


Future Lease Payments	Amount
Remainder of 2023	$	188
2024		782
2025		782
2026		788
2027		392
Thereafter		—
Total	$	2,932

The Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate. Therefore, the Company used its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company used the incremental borrowing rate on January 1, 2022 for operating leases that commenced prior to that date, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We were not subject to any material legal proceedings during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, and, to our knowledge, no material legal proceedings are currently pending or threatened.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

We enter into contracts in the ordinary course of business with third-party service providers for clinical trials, preclinical research studies and testing, manufacturing and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination upon notice of 30 to 90 days, and therefore, we believe that our noncancelable obligations under these agreements are not material and we cannot reasonably estimate whether they will occur. However, in the event of a termination of any contracts with CROs or other institutions and with respect to active patients enrolled in our clinical trials, we may be financially obligated for a period beyond the contractual termination notice periods. We may also enter into additional research, manufacturing, supplier, lease and other agreements in the future, which may require up-front payments and even long-term commitments of cash.

Indemnification Agreements

We enter into certain types of contracts that contingently requires us to indemnify various parties against claims from third parties. These contracts primarily relate to procurement, service, consultancy or license agreements under which we may be required to indemnify vendors, service providers or licensees for certain claims, including claims that may be brought against them arising from our acts or omissions with respect to our products, technology, intellectual property or services. The Company, as permitted under Delaware law and in accordance with its amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and pursuant to indemnification agreements with certain of its officers and directors, indemnifies its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences, subject to certain limits, which the officer or director is or was serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. At the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to, and the Company subsequently amended, its amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the indemnification of officers pursuant to recent amendments to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

From time to time, we may receive indemnification claims under existing contracts in the normal course of business. In the event that one or more of these matters were to result in a claim against us, an adverse outcome, including a judgment or settlement, may cause a material adverse effect on our future business, operating results or financial condition. It is not possible to estimate the maximum amount potentially payable under these contracts since we have no history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular claim will be determinative.

10. Stockholders' Equity

Common and Preferred Stock

Upon the closing of our IPO in November 2021, we filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which authorized us to issue 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The shares of preferred stock are currently undesignated. Common stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held at all meetings of stockholders and written actions in lieu of meetings. Common stockholders are entitled to receive dividends, if and when declared by the Company's board of directors (Board). No dividends have been declared or paid by us through September 30, 2023.

The Private Placement

The Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $2.47 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The Warrants are exercisable until the earlier of (i) February 9, 2027, and (ii) one day prior to the closing of an acquisition, as defined in the Warrants. The Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis if there is no effective registration statement registering the shares underlying the Warrants.

The Private Placement closed on August 9, 2023. The Company received $75.1 million in gross proceeds from the Private Placement, before deducting offering expenses of $3.2 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of $71.9 from the Private Placement for general corporate purposes.

The Warrants were classified as a component of permanent stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in-capital and were recorded at the issuance date using a relative fair value allocation method. The Warrants are equity classified because they are freestanding financial instruments that are legally detachable and separately exercisable from the equity instruments, are immediately exercisable, do not embody an obligation for the Company to repurchase its shares, permit the holders to receive a fixed number of common shares upon exercise, are indexed to the Company’s common stock and meet the equity classification criteria. In addition, such Warrants do not provide any guarantee of value or return. The Company valued the Warrants at issuance using the Black-Scholes valuation model and allocated proceeds from the sale proportionately to the Common Stock and Warrants, of which $29.6 million was allocated to the Warrants and recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had 37,065,647 warrants issued and outstanding at an exercise price of $2.47 per share to purchase shares of the Company's common stock.

In connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Purchasers. Under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC to register for resale the Common Stock issued under the Purchase Agreement and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “Registrable Securities”), which Registration Statement was declared effective on September 8, 2023. The Company may be required to pay certain liquidated damages under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement in the event sales cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had 65,880,914 and 28,815,267 common shares outstanding, respectively.

11. Equity-Based Compensation

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

In November 2021, our Board adopted, and our stockholders approved, the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Equity Plan”), which became effective on November 4, 2021. The 2021 Equity Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Equity Plan is equal to 2,496,934, subject to an annual increase, to be added on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 and continuing until, and including, the fiscal year ending December 31, 2031, equal to the lesser of (i) 4% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding on the first day of such fiscal year or (ii) such other amount determined by our Board. As of September 30, 2023, we had 688,206 shares available for future grant under the 2021 Equity Plan.

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In November 2021, our Board adopted and our stockholders approved the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2021 ESPP), which became effective on November 4, 2021. The number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 ESPP is equal to 257,272, subject to an annual increase, to be added on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning January 1, 2023, equal to the lesser of (1) 1% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding on the first day of such fiscal year; (2) 257,272 shares of our common stock; or (3) such other amount as determined by our Board. As of September 30, 2023, the Board had not yet approved any offering under the 2021 ESPP.

2023 Inducement Award Plan

In September 2023, our Board adopted the 2023 Inducement Award Plan (“2023 Inducement Plan”), which became effective on September 28, 2023. The 2023 Inducement Plan provides for the grant of non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards to eligible employees who satisfy the standards for inducement grants under Nasdaq Global Market rules. The number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2023 Inducement Plan is equal to 1,976,427. As of September 30, 2023, there were 1,976,427 shares available for future grant under the 2023 Inducement Plan.

The following table summarizes our stock options activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


	Number of Options			Weighted- average exercise price per share		Weighted- average remaining contractual term (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
Outstanding, January 1, 2023		3,920,172		$	10.77		8.1	$	—
Granted		2,425,256		$	2.03		—	$	—
Cancelled or forfeited		(588,243	)	$	8.74		—	$	—
Outstanding, September 30, 2023		5,757,185		$	7.30		8.7	$	—
Exercisable, September 30, 2023		1,589,301		$	11.81		7.8	$	—

Equity-Based Compensation

All share-based awards granted are measured based on the fair value on the date of the grant and compensation expense is recognized with respect to those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. Share-based awards generally vest over a three-year period. Forfeitures related to equity-based compensation awards are recognized as they occur, and we reverse any previously recognized compensation cost associated with forfeited awards in the period the forfeiture occurs.

As of September 30, 2023, there was $12.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized a one time charge of $1.4 million in equity-based compensation for an executive of the Company within research and development in our condensed consolidated statements of operations in accordance with Exhibit Number 10.3, "Severance agreement between the Registrant and Eva Ehrnrooth, dated August 10, 2023" within Item 6. Exhibits in this accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The fair values of the stock options granted during the period ended September 30, 2023 were estimated based on the Black-Scholes model, using the following assumptions:


		September 30, 2023
Expected volatility		89.8% - 102.2%
Risk-free interest rate		3.5% - 4.4%
Expected term (in years)		5.5 - 6.1
Expected dividend yield		0%

Equity-based compensation expense recorded as research and development and general and administrative expenses is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Research and development	$	2,070	$	1,034	$	3,660	$	2,257
General and administrative		919		1,367		2,841		3,122
Total equity-based compensation	$	2,989	$	2,401	$	6,501	$	5,379

We did not recognize any tax benefits for stock-based compensation during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

12. Income Taxes

We are subject to taxes for earnings generated in multiple jurisdictions, both inside and outside of the United States and our tax expense is primarily affected by unrecognized tax benefits in Denmark. We recorded (benefit) expense for income taxes of $(0.4) million and $0.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.5 million and $0.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The provision for income taxes includes a benefit for R&D credits claimed on the tax return filed for the year-ended December 31, 2022 as well as the expected benefit for continuing to claim this credit in the year-ended December 31, 2023 tax return. The Company recognized a $0.8 million benefit for R&D credits during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against all of our deferred tax assets in IO Biotech ApS, IO Bio US, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of IO Biotech ApS that was incorporated in Delaware in May 2021, and IO Biotech, Inc.

We have evaluated the positive and negative evidence involving our ability to realize our deferred tax assets. We have considered our history of cumulative net losses incurred since inception and our lack of any commercial products. We have concluded that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefits of our deferred tax assets in IO Biotech ApS, IO Bio US, Inc. and IO Biotech, Inc. We reevaluate the positive and negative evidence at each reporting period.

13. Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is calculated as follows (in thousands except share and per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net loss	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.54	)	$	(1.66	)	$	(1.78	)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted		50,168,303			28,815,267			36,011,162			28,815,267

The following outstanding potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share, as their effect is anti-dilutive:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock options to purchase common stock		5,757,185		3,570,258		5,757,185		3,570,258
Warrants issued in Private Placement		37,065,647		—		37,065,647		—

14. Subsequent Events

We have evaluated subsequent events through the date on which the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Company has concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that require disclosure to the consolidated financial statements.

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 financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Some of the information 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 and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2023, 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. You should carefully read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating therapeutic cancer vaccines based on our T-win technology platform. Our T-win vaccine candidates are designed to kill both tumor cells and immune-suppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment by stimulating the activation and expansion of T cells specific to target our targets. We believe this could represent a paradigm shift in the management of cancer and that our product candidates have the potential to become an important part of the treatment regimens across multiple tumor types. Our lead therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate, IO102-IO103, is designed to target the immunosuppressive mechanisms mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and programmed death ligand (PD-L1). In a single-arm Phase 1/2 clinical trial of 30 patients with metastatic melanoma IO102-IO103 in combination with nivolumab, an anti PD-1 check point inhibitor, demonstrated proof of concept by increasing the overall response rate of what is reported with an anti-PD-1 antibody alone. The combination induced meaningful tumor regression and achieved rapid, deep and durable responses with favorable safety and tolerability profile without adding systemic toxicity to what is seen with an anti-PD-1 monotherapy in this patient population. Safety was the primary endpoint of this trial, immune response was the secondary endpoint and clinical efficacy was the tertiary endpoint. The clinical efficacy endpoints in this trial included objective response (OR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In this trial, we observed a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 73% as per RECIST 1.1 a complete response rate (CRR) of 50% and 25.6 months of PFS. Based on these results, IO102-IO103, in combination with pembrolizumab, was granted BTD by the FDA for treatment of unresectable/metastatic melanoma and we initiated a global Phase 3 trial.

We enrolled the first patient in a potentially registrational Phase 3 trial for IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab as a potential first-line treatment in advanced melanoma, the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial, in May of 2022. We randomized 225 patients as of June 2023 and fully enrolled the trial in November 2023. On June 14, 2023, we announced that we increased the number of patients to be enrolled in the Phase 3 trial to 380 patients, which could potentially accelerate the time to reach the primary endpoint of PFS, which is an event-based driven analysis and will be assessed when 226 events (progression or death) are registered in the trial. The primary endpoint is powered at 89% to detect a hazard ratio of 0.65. The Phase 3 trial protocol calls for an interim analysis of ORR one year after 225 patients have been randomized; if the investigational arm demonstrates a highly statistically significant improvement in ORR compared to the control arm, with a p-value<0.005, then the interim analysis could allow for potential submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for accelerated approval in the US. When we designed the interim analysis, we assumed that patients treated with IO102-IO103 + pembrolizumab would show an ~18-point improvement in ORR compared to the patients treated with pembrolizumab alone. The trial design and discussions with FDA are aimed at potentially pursuing accelerated approval, if the trial data are favorable, based on the interim analysis of ORR, supported by other data. If the data are supportive, we also plan to file a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) based on the primary endpoint of PFS after the data are available in the second half of 2025.

Our T-win platform is a novel approach to cancer vaccines designed to activate pre-existing T cells to target immunosuppressive mechanisms. Our T-win product candidates are designed to employ a dual mechanism of action: (1) direct killing of immunosuppressive cells, including both tumor cells and genetically stable cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), that express IDO and/or PD-L1 or Arginase 1 and (2) modulation of the TME into a more pro-inflammatory, anti-tumor environment. Our T-win technology is built upon our team’s deep understanding of both TME and a tumor’s ability to evade surveillance and destruction by the immune system. Our approach is in contrast to previous methods that have sought to either block singular immunosuppressive pathways or to direct the immune system against specific identified antigens expressed by tumor cells.

We are developing a pipeline of product candidates that leverage our T-win technology platform to address targets within the TME. In addition to melanoma, we plan to evaluate IO102-IO103 in multiple solid tumor indications to potentially expand the market opportunity for IO102-IO103. We are also focusing on additional targets that play key roles in immunosuppression and that are expressed in a broad range of solid tumors. Our current pipeline of product candidates and expected upcoming milestones are summarized in the tables below.

(1) In combination with pembrolizumab

(2) NSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer, SCCHN = squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Our lead product candidate, IO102-IO103, combines our two fully-owned, novel immune-modulating vaccines, IO102 and IO103, which are designed to target IDO+ and PD-L1+ target cells, respectively. IDO and PD-L1 are often dysregulated and over-expressed in a wide range of solid tumors, and result in the inhibition of the body’s natural pro-inflammatory anti-tumor response within the TME. IO102-IO103 is designed to employ our novel dual mechanism of action approach. This is in contrast to previous approaches which have sought to block singular immunosuppressive pathways or to direct the immune system against specific identified antigens expressed by tumor cells. By combining IO102 and IO103 in a single treatment regimen, we also aim to provide a synergistic therapeutic effect on tumors.

On December 14, 2020, the FDA granted us BTD for the IO102-IO103 cancer vaccine in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma based on data from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial, MM1636. A BTD enables us to solicit more frequent and intensive guidance from the FDA as to how to conduct an efficient development program for IO102-IO103. The MM1636 trial was an investigator-initiated, single-arm Phase 1/2 trial of 30 anti PD-1/PD-L1 naïve patients with metastatic melanoma receiving IO102-IO103 and nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. In this trial, investigators initially observed an ORR of 80% (24 out of 30 patients) and confirmed best ORR of 73% based on RECIST 1.1. 50% of patients achieved a complete response (CR), or complete elimination of their tumors. Overall safety and tolerability of the combination was favorable, with no significant added systemic toxicity from what has been reported with nivolumab alone. While a total of five patients (17%) experienced a treatment-related high-grade adverse event (grade 3-5), and 17% discontinued treatment with both nivolumab and IO102-IO103, data from this trial suggests a manageable tolerability profile for patients. In addition, we have observed treatment-induced infiltration of CD3+/CD8+ T cells into the tumor site in responding patients and detected IO102 and/or IO103-specific T cells in tumors after treatment in correlative biomarker data where this was analyzed. Consistent with the earlier reported data, with an additional 15 months of patient follow-up, results from the January 5, 2023 data cut as published in the May 2023 Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer from this study continue to be encouraging. As of that data cut-off date, 30 PD-1 naïve patients were enrolled with a minimum follow-up time of 49.8 months. Median OS was not reached, median PFS was 25.5 months, and 50% of patients (15/30) achieved a CR, or complete disappearance of their tumors and the ORR was 80% (73% confirmed ORR per RECIST 1.1). Patients who were anti-PD-1 antibody therapy resistant and enrolled in cohort B in this study had no response to therapy, which we believe shows that our vaccine works best in front-line metastatic melanoma patients, as we expected in this setting.

In November 2023, we fully enrolled a Phase 3 potentially registrational trial for IO102-IO103, the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial, in combination with pembrolizumab in anti PD-1/PD-L1 treatment naïve patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. While the MM1636 trial investigated IO102-IO103 in combination with nivolumab, we have made the commercial decision to investigate IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in the Phase 3 trial. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are both IgG4 subclass

antibodies that target the PD-1 receptor. In a comparative data analysis by Moser (Annals of Oncology 2020), researchers found no difference between the effectiveness of frontline pembrolizumab and nivolumab in patients with advanced melanoma. The Phase 3 trial also includes a concurrent evaluation of the initial participants to allow for an assessment of safety (a safety run-in) for the combination of IO102-IO103 and pembrolizumab. The pembrolizumab for this trial is being supplied by Merck pursuant to a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement that we entered into in September 2021. The independent data monitoring committee for the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial convened its third meeting in September 2023 and recommended that the trial continue without modifications.

We are also investigating the IO102-IO103 cancer vaccine in several other solid tumor indications. We are conducting a Phase 2 basket trial, the IOB-022 trial, which will enable us to investigate multiple first-line solid tumor indications treatment naïve patients for metastatic disease. This basket trial is designed to investigate the safety and efficacy of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), adenocarcinoma histology, with PD-L1 TPS ≥ 50% (cohort A) or recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with CPS ≥ 20 (cohort B). We initiated the IOB-022 trial in April 2022 and as of August 21st, 2023, 42 patients were enrolled (28 in cohort A and 14 in cohort B). Consistent with the earlier reported data, results from the IOB-022/KN-D38 Phase 1/2 study of IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in metastatic NSCLC or recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN continue to be encouraging as of August 2023. Of the 28 patients enrolled in cohort A, 18 were efficacy evaluable per protocol having received at least two full cycles of treatment. Among the 18 evaluable patients, 10 patients had a partial response as their best overall response while 5 had stable disease and 3 patients had progressive disease. Of the 14 patients enrolled in cohort B, 6 were efficacy evaluable per protocol having received at least two full cycles of treatment. Among the 6 evaluable patients, 3 patients had a partial response as their best overall response while 3 patients had progressive disease. The safety profile observed to date in this study is consistent with prior clinical experience with IO102-IO103.

In addition to first-line cancer indications, we have initiated a trial to investigate IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in a perioperative setting and used before or after surgery as a neo-adjuvant/adjuvant therapy. In April 2023, the FDA cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for the evaluation of IO102-IO103 in the neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment of solid tumors, the IOB-032 trial. As with our targeted first-line cancer indications, we are conducting this Phase 2 basket trial to investigate IO102-IO103 in combination with pembrolizumab in multiple solid tumor indications in anti PD-1/PD-L1 naïve settings focused initially on melanoma and SCCHN.

Our development of the IO102-IO103 combination is based on our prior separate development of IO102 and IO103. IO102 is our fully owned novel product candidate containing a single IDO-derived peptide sequence designed to engage and activate IDO-specific human T cells. IDO small molecule inhibitors have shown clinical potential in combination with PD-1 antibodies in early clinical trials, but have not been able to demonstrate the same level of efficacy in later-stage clinical trials. Our Phase 1 non-randomized trial of IO101, our first-generation IDO therapy, in NSCLC resulted in proof of concept for our approach, with 47% of patients displaying clinical benefit and an OS of 26 months in the treatment arm compared to 8 months in the group receiving standard of care. There were no grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs). We have completed testing of IO102 in a randomized Phase 1/2 trial in combination with pembrolizumab standard-of-care in first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC. IO103 is our fully owned, novel product candidate containing a single PD-L1-derived peptide designed to engage and activate PD-L1 specific human T cells. Continued clinical development of IO102 and IO103 will be focused on their use in our dual- and multi-antigen approaches.

IO112 is our fully owned, novel product candidate containing a single Arginase 1-derived peptide designed to engage and activate Arginase 1-specific human T cells. IO112 is designed to target T cells that recognize epitopes derived from Arginase 1, which is an immunoregulatory enzyme highly expressed in difficult-to-treat tumors associated with high levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) including colorectal, breast, prostate and pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Arginase overexpression is a well-documented tumor escape mechanism. IO112 is currently being tested in a single arm first-in-human Phase 1 trial in patients with Arginase-positive solid tumors conducted in an investigator-initiated trial at the University of Copenhagen. We plan to continue IND-enabling activities for IO112.

In addition to IO102, IO103 and IO112, we are evaluating additional product candidates that we believe have potential for use in solid tumors. All our compounds in preclinical development are designed to target well-documented immunosuppressive molecules that are known to be overexpressed in the TME across a wide range of tumors. These targets provide additional opportunities across multiple cancer indications.

Targeting TGFβ1 expressing cells in the TME via a vaccine approach presents a novel and attractive way to modulate the pathway and drive therapeutic benefit in cancer setting. We are developing and characterizing TGFβ1-selective peptide vaccines capable of inducing strong immune responses. Preliminary evidence in mouse models showed that treatment with a TGFβ1 vaccine drives T cell infiltration in the TME and might promote in vivo targeted cell killing. Further experimental work to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of a TGFβ1 vaccine is ongoing to support further development of a TGFβ1 vaccine (IO170) to modulate the TME for therapeutic benefit in a wide range of cancer indications. We plan to continue pre-clinical studies for IO170.

IO Biotech was established in December 2014 as a spin-off of the National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy at Herlev University Hospital in Denmark. We have assembled a seasoned management team and Board with extensive experience in developing novel oncology therapies, including advancing product candidates from preclinical research through to clinical development and ultimately to regulatory approval and commercialization. Our team is led by our founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D., who has close to 20 years of experience as a biotech executive. Amy Sullivan, our Chief Financial Officer, joined us in October 2022 and brings 30 years of public company industry experience to IO Biotech. Qasim Ahmad, MD, our Chief Medical Officer, is a trained internist and clinical oncologist and has more than 20 years of experience in strategic clinical development, medical affairs, and obtaining marketing authorizations. Mads Hald Andersen, Ph.D., our scientific founder and advisor, is a Professor and director at the National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Herlev University Hospital and an internationally recognized immunology researcher. Our Board has deep expertise in the fields of immuno-oncology, business and finance.

On August 9, 2023, the Company completed the Private Placement, issuing (i) 37,065,647 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, and (ii) 37,065,647 Warrants to purchase up to 37,065,647 shares of Common Stock. The Purchase Price for the Common Stock and Warrant was $2.025 per share. The Company received $71.9 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

Since inception, we have had significant operating losses. Our net loss was $59.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and $71.5 million and $67.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $237.6 million and $165.5 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Our ability to generate revenue from product sales sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. Our operations to date have been financed primarily by aggregate net proceeds of $288.7 million from the issuance of convertible preference shares, convertible notes, ordinary shares and our IPO. In addition, the $71.9 million in net proceeds raised through the Private Placement will continue to allow us to finance our operations.

Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our accounts payable and accrued expenses. We expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect our research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and capital expenditures will continue to increase. In particular, we expect our expenses to increase as we continue our development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, as well as hire additional personnel, pay fees to outside consultants, lawyers and accountants, and incur other increased costs associated with being a public company. In addition, if and when we seek and obtain regulatory approval to commercialize any product candidate, we will also incur increased expenses in connection with commercialization and marketing of any such product. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities.

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents of $165.5 million as of September 30, 2023, will be sufficient to continue funding our development activities into the fourth quarter of 2025. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect. To finance our operations beyond that point we will need to raise additional capital, which, though we were successful in raising additional capital through the Private Placement, cannot be assured and which we may not be able to pursue successfully again in the future.

To date, we have not had any products approved for sale and, therefore, have not generated any product revenue. We do not expect to generate any revenues from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution, and associated regulatory and compliance costs. As a result, until such time, if ever, that we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including collaborations, licenses or similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed or on favorable terms, if at all. Any failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies, including our research and development activities. If we are unable to raise capital, we will need to delay, reduce or terminate planned activities to reduce costs.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Components of Operating Results

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses since inception have consisted primarily of research and development expenses and general and administrative costs.

Research and Development

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the development of our product candidates and our drug discovery efforts, which include:

•

personnel costs, which include salaries, benefits and equity-based compensation expense;

•

expenses incurred under agreements with outside consultants and advisors, including their fees and related travel expenses;

•

expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, including CROs that conduct research, preclinical activities and clinical trials on our behalf as well as CMOs that manufacture our product candidates for use in our preclinical and clinical trials and perform chemistry, manufacturing and control activities;

•

laboratory and vendor expenses related to the execution of preclinical studies and planned and ongoing clinical trials;

•

expenses related to research conducted by institutions, universities and hospitals as part of collaborations;

•

filing and maintenance of patents and intellectual property rights, including payment to third parties for assignment of patent rights and licensing fees and milestone payments incurred under product license agreements where no alternative future use exists;

•

laboratory supplies and equipment used for internal research and development activities; and

•

facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.

We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain research and development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and third-party service providers.

From time to time, we obtain grants from public and private funds for our research and development projects. The grant income for a given period is recognized as a cost reimbursement and is typically based on the time and the costs that we have spent on the specific project during that period.

We have historically met the requirements to receive a tax credit in Denmark of up to 5.5 million Danish Kroner per year for losses resulting from research and development costs of up to 25 million Danish Kroner per year. The tax credit is presented as a reduction to research and development expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

We use our personnel and infrastructure resources across multiple research and development programs directed toward identifying and developing product candidates. We generally have not tracked our research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis. Substantially all of our direct research and development expenses in the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were on IO102-IO103 and consisted primarily of external costs, such as consultants, third-party contract organizations that conduct research and development activities on our behalf, costs related to production of preclinical and clinical materials, including fees paid to contract manufacturers, and laboratory and vendor expenses related to the execution of our ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials.

We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to developing our product candidates, including investments in conducting clinical trials, manufacturing and otherwise advancing our programs. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development and the current stage of development of our product candidates and programs, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs necessary to complete the remainder of the development of our product candidates or programs. We are also unable to predict if, when, or to what extent we will obtain approval and generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of our product candidates. The duration, costs and timing of preclinical studies and clinical trials and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including:

•

successful completion of preclinical studies and of clinical trials for IO102-IO103, IO112, and our other current product candidates and any future product candidates;

•

successful enrollment and completion of our Phase 3 clinical trial for IO102-IO103, Phase 2 IO102-IO103 basket trials, and any clinical trials for future product candidates;

•

data from our clinical programs that support an acceptable risk-benefit profile of our product candidates in the intended patient populations;

•

acceptance by the FDA, regulatory authorities in Europe, or other regulatory agencies of the IND applications, clinical trial applications and/or other regulatory filings for IO102-IO103, our other current product candidates and any future product candidates;

•

expansion and maintenance of a workforce of experienced scientists and others to continue to develop our product candidates;

•

successful application for and receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;

•

obtainment and maintenance of intellectual property protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates;

•

arrangements with third-party manufacturers for, or establishment of, commercial manufacturing capabilities;

•

establishment of sales, marketing and distribution capabilities and successful launch of commercial sales of our products, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others;

•

acceptance of our products, if and when approved, by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;

•

effective competition with other therapies;

•

obtainment and maintenance of coverage, adequate pricing and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors, including government payors;

•

maintenance, enforcement, defense and protection of our rights in our intellectual property portfolio;

•

avoidance of infringement, misappropriation or other violations with respect to others’ intellectual property or proprietary rights; and

•

maintenance of a continued acceptable safety profile of our products following receipt of any marketing approvals.

We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. We may obtain unexpected results from our preclinical studies and clinical trials. We may elect to discontinue, delay or modify clinical trials of some product candidates or focus on others. A change in the outcome of any of these factors could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of our current and future preclinical and clinical product candidates. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development, or if we experience significant delays in execution of or enrollment in any of our preclinical studies or clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of preclinical and clinical development.

Research and development activities account for a significant portion of our operating expenses. We expect our research and development expenses to increase for the foreseeable future as we continue to implement our business strategy, which includes advancing IO102-IO103 through clinical development and other product candidates further into clinical development, expanding our research and development efforts, including hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts, and seeking regulatory approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials. In addition, product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally incur higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. As a result, we expect our research and development expenses to increase as our product candidates advance into later stages of clinical development. However, we do not believe that it is possible at this time to accurately project total program-specific expenses through commercialization. There are numerous factors associated with the successful commercialization of any of our product candidates, including future trial design and various regulatory requirements, many of which cannot be determined with accuracy at this time based on our stage of development.

General and Administrative Expenses

Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs, depreciation expense and other expenses for outside professional services, including legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters, human resources, audit and accounting services and facility-related fees not otherwise included in research and development expenses. Personnel costs consist of salaries, benefits and equity-based compensation expense, for our personnel in executive, finance and accounting, business operations and other administrative functions. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase over the next several years to support our continued research and development activities, manufacturing activities, increased costs of expanding our operations and operating as a public company. These increases will likely include increases related to the hiring of additional personnel, fees to outside consultants, lawyers and accountants, and increased costs associated with being a public company such as expenses related to services associated with maintaining compliance with Nasdaq listing rules and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations costs.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Our other income (expense), net is comprised of:

•

Foreign currency exchange: The functional currency of our subsidiary in Denmark is the Euro. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the Euro result in exchange gains and losses that are recorded in our statements of operations.

•

Interest expense: For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we incurred interest expense on account balances with banks and vendors. We did not incur interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

•

Interest income: For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we recognized interest income on account balances invested in money market funds and on account balances with banks.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

The following sets forth our results of operations:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2023			2022			Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Operating expenses
Research and development	$	17,655		$	10,022		$	7,633			76.2	%
General and administrative		5,829			5,843			(14	)		(0.2	)%
Total operating expenses		23,484			15,865			7,619			48.0	%
Loss from operations		(23,484	)		(15,865	)		(7,619	)		48.0	%
Other income		1,366			292			1,074			367.8	%
Loss before income tax benefit (expense)		(22,118	)		(15,573	)		(6,545	)		42.0	%
Income tax (benefit) expense		(439	)		115			(554	)		(481.7	)%
Net loss	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(5,991	)		38.2	%

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were comprised of:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				Change
	2023		2022		Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Preclinical studies and clinical trial-related activities	$	10,050	$	3,821	$	6,229			163.0	%
Chemistry, manufacturing and control		1,706		1,105		601			54.4	%
Personnel		5,123		4,251		872			20.5	%
Consultants and other costs		776		845		(69	)		(8.2	)%
Total research and development expenses	$	17,655	$	10,022	$	7,633			76.2	%

Research and development expenses were $17.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $7.6 million was primarily related to an increase in preclinical studies and clinical trial-related activities for our IO102-IO103 therapeutic vaccine candidate, including the continued execution of our Phase 3 clinical trial of $6.2 million, an increase in costs for chemistry, manufacturing and control activities of $0.6 million related to manufacturing activities of our IO102-IO103 product candidate and an increase in personnel costs of $0.9 million primarily related to a one time charge in equity-based compensation that were offset by a decrease in consultants and other costs of $0.1 million.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were comprised of:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				Change
	2023		2022		Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Personnel	$	2,547	$	1,932	$	615			31.8	%
Professional services		878		920		(42	)		(4.6	)%
Consultants and other costs		2,404		2,991		(587	)		(19.6	)%
Total general and administrative expenses	$	5,829	$	5,843	$	(14	)		(0.2	)%

General and administrative expenses were $5.8 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. The increase in personnel costs of $0.6 million were due to an increase in head count that were offset by a decrease in consultants and other costs of $0.6 million primarily related to a decrease in consultant spend and insurance premiums.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net was comprised of:


	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2023			2022			Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Currency exchange loss, net	$	(342	)	$	(87	)	$	(255	)		293.1	%
Interest income		1,708			457			1,251			273.7	%
Interest expense		—			(78	)		78			(100.0	)%
Other income (expense), net	$	1,366		$	292		$	1,074			367.8	%

Other income (expense), net was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $1.1 million was primarily due to the increase in interest income recognized on our money market fund.

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

The following sets forth our results of operations:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2023			2022			Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Operating expenses
Research and development	$	46,059		$	32,553		$	13,506			41.5	%
General and administrative		17,201			18,482			(1,281	)		(6.9	)%
Total operating expenses		63,260			51,035			12,225			24.0	%
Loss from operations		(63,260	)		(51,035	)		(12,225	)		24.0	%
Other income (expense)		3,858			(66	)		3,924			(5,945.5	)%
Loss before income tax expense		(59,402	)		(51,101	)		(8,301	)		16.2	%
Income tax expense		499			286			213			74.5	%
Net loss	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)	$	(8,514	)		16.6	%

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were comprised of:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,				Change
	2023		2022		Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Preclinical studies and clinical trial-related activities	$	22,679	$	13,632	$	9,047			66.4	%
Chemistry, manufacturing and control		9,457		5,729		3,728			65.1	%
Personnel		12,718		11,428		1,290			11.3	%
Consultants and other costs		1,205		1,764		(559	)		(31.7	)%
Total research and development expenses	$	46,059	$	32,553	$	13,506			41.5	%

Research and development expenses were $46.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $32.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $13.5 million was primarily related to an increase in preclinical studies and clinical trial-related activities for our IO102-IO103 therapeutic vaccine candidate, including the continued execution of our Phase 3 clinical trial of $9.0 million, an increase in costs for chemistry, manufacturing and control activities of $3.7 million related to manufacturing activities of our IO102-IO103 product candidate and an increase in personnel costs of $1.3 million primarily related to a one-time charge in equity-based compensation that were offset by a decrease in consultants and other costs of $0.6 million.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were comprised of:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,				Change
	2023		2022		Amount			Percent
	(in thousands)
Personnel	$	7,398	$	5,519	$	1,879			34.0	%
Professional services		3,335		3,584		(249	)		(6.9	)%
Consultants and other costs		6,468		9,379		(2,911	)		(31.0	)%
Total general and administrative expenses	$	17,201	$	18,482	$	(1,281	)		(6.9	)%

General and administrative expenses were $17.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $18.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease of $1.3 million was primarily related to a decrease in consultants and other costs of $2.9 million primarily related to a decrease in consultant spend and insurance premiums, which was offset by an increase in personnel costs of $1.9 million primarily related to an increase in headcount.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net was comprised of:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,						Change
	2023			2022			Amount		Percent
	(in thousands)
Currency exchange loss, net	$	(74	)	$	(392	)	$	318		(81.1	)%
Interest income		3,932			631			3,301		523.1	%
Interest expense		—			(305	)		305		(100.0	)%
Other income (expense), net	$	3,858		$	(66	)	$	3,924		(5,945.5	)%

Other income (expense), net was $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $(0.1) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increase of $3.9 million was primarily due to the increase in interest income recognized on our money market fund.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

Our operations to date have been financed primarily by aggregate net proceeds of $288.7 million from the issuance of convertible preference shares, convertible notes, class A ordinary shares, and our IPO. In addition, on August 9, 2023, we completed the Private Placement, pursuant to which we raised an additional $71.9 million in net proceeds after deducting estimated offering expenses.

On November 9, 2021, we completed an IPO of our common stock and issued and sold 8,222,500 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $14.00 per share, including 1,072,500 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $103.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Since inception, we have had significant operating losses. Our net loss was $59.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $71.5 million and $67.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $237.6 million and $165.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. 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. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable and accrued expenses.

On August 7, 2023, the Company entered into the Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and issue (i) 37,065,647 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, and (ii) 37,065,647 Warrants in the Private Placement. Each Purchaser’s Warrant is exercisable for a number of shares of Common Stock equal to one hundred percent of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock purchased by such Purchaser. The purchase price for each share of Common Stock and Warrant was $2.025. The Warrants are exercisable at an exercise price of $2.47 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The Warrants are exercisable until the earlier of (i) February 9, 2027, and (ii) one day prior to the closing of an acquisition, as defined in the Warrants. The Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis if there is no effective registration statement registering the shares underlying the Warrants. The Private Placement closed on August 9, 2023. The Company received $75.1 million in gross proceeds from the Private Placement, before deducting offering expenses of $3.2 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of $71.9 million from the Private Placement for general corporate purposes.

In addition, on February 15, 2023, we filed a new prospectus supplement with the SEC with respect to the offer and sale of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, with an aggregate offering price of up to $19,500,000, establishing an at-the-market equity program. On February 15, 2023, we also entered into a Sales Agreement by and between the Company and Cowen and Company, LLC for shares with an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 through which we may, from time to time, sell shares through Cowen and Company, LLC, acting as agent and/or principal. Any shares offered and sold through the at-the-market equity program will be issued pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269569), which was declared effective on February 10, 2023, the prospectus supplement related to the offering that forms a part of the registration statement, and any applicable prospectus supplements that may form a part of the registration statement in the future. The aggregate market value of shares eligible for sale under the prospectus supplement and under the Sales Agreement will be subject to the limitations of General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, to the extent required under such instruction. We have not currently issued any shares pursuant to our at-the-market equity program.

We currently expect that our cash and cash equivalents of $165.5 million as of September 30, 2023, will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital requirements into the fourth quarter of 2025. However, additional funding will be necessary to fund our future clinical and preclinical activities. If we are unable to obtain funding, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our

research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business prospects and our ability to continue operations.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022
	(in thousands)
Net cash used in operating activities	$	(48,942	)	$	(47,203	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(211	)		(341	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		71,870			—
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	22,717		$	(47,544	)

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities of $48.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily attributable to our net loss of $59.9 million, partially offset by a net increase of $3.9 million in our working capital accounts and an increase in non-cash items of $7.1 million primarily due to equity-based compensation.

Cash used in operating activities of $47.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was primarily attributable to our net loss of $51.4 million and a net decrease of $1.9 million in our working capital accounts, partially offset by non-cash items of $6.1 million primarily due to equity-based compensation.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, was related to the purchase of property and equipment.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities of $71.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was related to the net proceeds obtained from the issuance of common stock and warrants as part of the August 2023 private placement. We had no cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Funding Requirements

Any product candidates we may develop may never achieve commercialization and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We expect that our research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and capital expenditures will continue to increase. As a result, until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potentially collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. Our primary uses of capital are, and we expect will continue to be, compensation and related expenses; costs related to third-party clinical research, manufacturing and development services; costs relating to the build-out of our headquarters and our other offices, laboratories and manufacturing facility; license payments or milestone obligations that may arise; laboratory expenses and costs for related supplies; clinical costs; manufacturing costs; legal and other regulatory expenses; and general overhead costs.

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents of $165.5 million as of September 30, 2023, will be sufficient to continue funding our development activities into the fourth quarter of 2025. To finance our operations beyond that point we will need to raise additional capital, which, though we were successful in raising additional capital through the Private Placement, cannot be assured and which we may not be able to pursue successfully again in the future. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. We will continue to require additional financing to advance our current product candidates through clinical development, to develop, acquire or in-license other potential product candidates and to fund operations for the foreseeable future. We will continue to seek funds through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, potentially including collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. If we do raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.

Any failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies. If we are unable to raise capital, we may need to delay, reduce or terminate planned activities to reduce costs.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our operating capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

•

the progress, costs and results of our ongoing and planned clinical trials of IO102-IO103, as well as our planned trials for our other product candidates;

•

the scope, progress, results and costs of discovery research, preclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates, including our ongoing clinical trials of IO102-IO103 and preclinical studies of IO112;

•

the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic;

•

the number of, and development requirements for, other product candidates that we may pursue;

•

the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

•

our ability to enter into contract manufacturing arrangements for supply of active pharmaceutical ingredient (“API”), and manufacture of our product candidates and the terms of such arrangements;

•

our ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such arrangements;

•

the payment or receipt of milestones and receipt of other collaboration-based revenues, if any;

•

the costs and timing of any future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we may receive marketing approval;

•

the amount and timing of revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;

•

the costs and timing of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property and proprietary rights and defending any intellectual property-related claims;

•

the extent to which we acquire or in-license other products, product candidates, technologies or data referencing rights;

•

enrollment for our upcoming Phase 3 registration trial, the IOB-013/KN-D18 trial;

•

the ability to receive additional non-dilutive funding, including grants from organizations, public institutions and foundations;

•

addition of operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our drug development, any future commercialization efforts and our transition to a public company; and

•

the costs of operating as a public company.

Further, our operating plans may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for clinical trials and other research and development activities. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated product development programs.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

In March 2021, we entered into a new lease for our office space in Copenhagen, Denmark that was amended in September 2022 and is set to expire in December 2027. The lease for our office space in Copenhagen, Denmark is terminable upon six months’ notice. In January 2023, we entered into a new lease for laboratory space in Copenhagen, Denmark that expires in December 2027. In August 2021, we entered into a new lease for laboratory facilities and office space in Rockville, Maryland that expires in April 2027. In October 2021, we entered into a new lease for office space in New York, New York that expires in January 2027. In June 2023, we entered into a new lease for office space in Newport, United Kingdom that expires in May 2025.

CROs or other institutions and with respect to active patients enrolled in our clinical trials, we may be financially obligated for a period beyond the contractual termination notice periods.

We may also enter into additional research, manufacturing, supplier, lease and other agreements in the future, which may require up-front payments and even long-term commitments of cash.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates.

Going Concern

Our evaluation of our ability to continue as a going concern requires us to evaluate our future sources and uses of cash sufficient to fund our currently expected operations in conducting research and development activities. We evaluate the probability associated with each source and use of cash resources in making our going concern determination. The research and development of pharmaceutical products is inherently subject to uncertainty. We currently expect that our cash and cash equivalents of $165.5 million as of September 30, 2023 will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.

Research and Development Costs

We incur substantial expenses associated with clinical trials. Accounting for clinical trials relating to activities performed by CMOs, CROs and other external vendors requires management to exercise significant estimates in regard to the timing and accounting for these expenses. We estimate costs of research and development activities conducted by service providers, which include costs associated with the conduct of sponsored research, preclinical studies, contract manufacturing activities and pass-through costs. The diverse nature of services being provided under CRO and other arrangements, the different compensation arrangements that exist for each type of service and the lack of timely information related to certain clinical activities complicates the estimation of accruals for services rendered by CROs and other vendors in connection with clinical trials. We record the estimated costs of research and development activities based upon the estimated amount of services provided but not yet invoiced and include these costs in the accrued and other current liabilities or prepaid expenses on the balance sheets and within research and development expense on the statements of operations. In estimating the duration of a clinical study, we evaluate the start-up treatment and wrap-up periods, compensation arrangements and services rendered attributable to each clinical trial. Fluctuations are regularly tested against payment plans and trial completion assumptions.

We estimate these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and budget provided and in accordance with agreements established with our collaboration partners and third-party service providers. We make significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued liabilities and prepaid expense balances in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, we adjust our accrued liabilities or prepaid expenses. We have not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred since our inception.

Our expenses related to clinical trials are based on estimates of patient enrollment and related expenses at clinical investigator sites as well as estimates for the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions, CMOs and CROs that may be used to conduct and manage clinical trials, chemistry and testing and manufacturing services on our behalf. We generally accrue expenses related to clinical trials based on contracted amounts applied to the level of patient enrollment and activity. If timelines or contracts are modified based upon changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed, we modify our estimates of accrued expenses accordingly on a prospective basis.

Equity-based Compensation

We issued stock-based compensation awards through the granting of warrants and stock options, which generally vest over a four-year period. We issued 1,211,155 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $5.34 to certain employees, board members and advisors during the year ended December 31, 2022. We also issued 2,077,103 stock options with a weighted average exercise price of $2.06 under our 2021 Equity Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. In July 2023, we issued 348,153 options with a weighted average exercise price of $1.86 as inducement grants.

We account for equity-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (718). In accordance with ASC 718, compensation cost is measured at estimated fair value and is included as compensation expense over the vesting period during which service is provided in exchange for the award. The Company reverses any previously recognized compensation cost associated with forfeited awards in the period of the forfeiture occurs.

We use a Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine fair value of our warrants and stock options. The Black-Scholes option pricing model includes various assumptions, including the fair value of common shares, expected life of warrants and stock options, the expected volatility and the expected risk-free interest rate. These assumptions reflect our best estimates, but they involve inherent uncertainties based on market conditions generally outside our control. As a result, if other assumptions had been used, equity-based compensation cost could have been materially impacted. Furthermore, if we use different assumptions for future grants, share-based compensation cost could be materially impacted in future periods.

We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the assumptions utilized for our equity-based compensation expense calculations on a prospective basis. In addition to the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model, the amount of equity-based compensation expense we recognize in our financial statements includes warrant forfeitures as they occurred.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating losses and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted statutory tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the jurisdictions and years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Based on the level of historical operating results and projections for the taxable income for the future, we have determined that it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets will not be realized. Accordingly, we have recorded a full valuation allowance to reduce our net deferred tax assets in IO Biotech ApS, IO Bio US, Inc. and IO Biotech, Inc.

We recognize tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if, based on the technical merits of the position, it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authority. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are measured based on the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for taxes in our statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

We operate in Denmark and the United States and may be subject to audits from various tax authorities. Management’s judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, liabilities for uncertain tax positions, and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We will monitor the extent to which our deferred tax assets may be realized and adjust the valuation allowance accordingly.

Warrants Issued in Connection with Sale of Common Stock

The proceeds received from sale of equity classified warrants and shares of common stock in a bundled transaction are allocated based on the relative fair values of warrants and shares with no changes in fair value of warrants recognized after the issuance date.

Recently Adopted Significant Accounting Policies

Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the periods presented, we did not have, nor do we currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under SEC rules.

Emerging Growth Company (“EGC”) Status

As an EGC under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (the “JOBS Act”), we may delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (1) are no longer an emerging growth company or (2) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act for EGCs include presentation of only two years of audited financial statements in a registration statement for an IPO, an exemption from the requirement to provide an auditor’s report on internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, an exemption from any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regarding mandatory audit firm rotation, and less extensive disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements.

We may remain classified as an EGC until December 31, 2026, although if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30 of any year before that time, or if we have annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more in any fiscal year, we would cease to be an EGC as of December 31 of the applicable year. We also would cease to be an EGC if we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company on the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including, our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2023, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2023.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting as defined under the Exchange Act and by the PCAOB, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The Company previously disclosed a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 in Item 9A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to our financial statement close process, primarily related to the lack of required finance capacity, knowledge or expertise to perform the financial statement close in a timely and accurate manner or to account for certain complex areas of U.S. GAAP. The material weakness was remediated effective

December 31, 2022 through processes described in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Changes in Internal Control

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

From time to time, we may be a party to litigation or subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we currently believe that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business is subject to risks and events that, if they occur, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and the trading price of our securities. In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors described in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 14, 2023, Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023 and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2023. Other than the risk factor noted below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in those reports.

Global economic and political instability and conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our business could be adversely affected by unstable economic and political conditions within the United States and foreign jurisdictions and geopolitical conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. While we do not have any operations in Russia or Ukraine at this time, the current military conflict, and related sanctions, as well as export controls or actions that may be initiated by nations including the United States, the European Union or Russia (e.g., potential cyberattacks, disruption of energy flows, disruptions to supply chains, etc.) and other potential uncertainties could adversely affect our business. Certain of our clinical trial sites are located in the Middle East and conflicts there may delay, limit or hinder on-going, planned or future trials and affect enrollment and retention of patients. Inability to enroll or retain patients and limitations or delays in clinical trials could increase costs and cause setbacks in product development. In the event geopolitical tensions fail to abate or deteriorate further, additional governmental sanctions may be enacted adversely impacting the global economy, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

On August 9, 2023, we completed the Private Placement in which we issued and sold (i) an aggregate of 37,065,647 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value, and (ii) 37,065,647 Warrants to purchase up to 37,065,647 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, to the Purchasers. The offer and sale of securities in the Private Placement were exempt from registration under the Securities Act under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. The Purchasers acquired the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in the Private Placement. Each of the Purchasers was an accredited person and had adequate access to information about the Company. The co-placement agents in connection with the Private Placement were Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC & Piper Sandler & Co.

We raised $71.9 in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and other issuance costs of $3.2 million in the Private Placement. No underwriting discounts and commissions or offering expenses were paid directly or indirectly to any of our directors of officers (or their associates) or persons owning ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities or to any other affiliates.

Use of Proceeds From Registered Securities

On November 9, 2021, we completed our IPO in which we issued and sold 8,222,500 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, including 1,072,500 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters’ exercise of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock. The offer and sale of the shares in the IPO was registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-260301), which was filed with the SEC on October 15, 2021 and subsequently amended and declared effective on November 4, 2021, and the prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”). The underwriters of the IPO were Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Kempen & Co U.S.A, Inc.

We raised $103.3 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of $8.0 million and other offering expenses of $3.8 million payable by us. No underwriting discounts and commissions or offering expenses were paid directly or indirectly to any of our directors of officers (or their associates) or persons owning ten percent or more of any class of our equity securities or to any other affiliates.

There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our IPO, as described in the Prospectus.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.


Exhibit Number		Description
10.1		Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 7, 2023, by and among the Company and the Purchasers (filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 7, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2		Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 7, 2023, by and among the Company and the Purchasers (filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 7, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.3*		Severance agreement between the Registrant and Eva Ehrnrooth, dated August 10, 2023
31.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*		Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*		Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

* Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	IO Biotech, Inc.

Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Mai-Britt Zocca
		Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D.
		Chief Executive Officer and Director
		(Principal Executive)

Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Amy Sullivan
		Amy Sullivan
		Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 10.3

Severance Agreement

This severance agreement (the "Severance Agreement") is entered into 10.8.2023 between:

IO Biotech ApS

c/o COBIS

Ole Maaløes Vej 3

2200 Copenhagen

CVR-nr.36474483

(the “Company")

and

Eva Ehrnrooth

(the "Employee")

(together the “Parties”)

Termination of employment

1.1.

Following the negotiations on changes to the Employee’s role in the Company, the Company and the Employee have amicably agreed to enter into the Severance Agreement, according to which the Employee's employment will terminate on 31 January 2024 (the "Termination Date"). Termination of the employment has taken place at the initiative of the Company and is due to circumstances related to the Company. The Employee has not in any way given reason for the dismissal and hence the Employee is a "good leaver".

Obligation to work until the Termination Date

2.1.

The Employee has been released from her duty to work on 2 August 2023. The Employee acknowledges that the Company has provided the Employee with six-months’ notice in accordance with the terms of the Services Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2017, between the Employee and the Company, as amended by the Addendum to the Services Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2017 (the “Services Agreement”).

2.2.

Until the Termination Date, the Employee shall be entitled to take up other employment or to start an independent business, provided that it is not in competition with the activities of the Company.

Return of property

3.1.

No later than on the Termination Date, the Employee shall return all materials and items belonging to the Company or relating to the business of the Company.

3.2.

The Employee is entitled to keep the mobile phone and her phone number free of charge after the Termination Date. Further, the Employee may – if sufficient IT guarantees can be reached - keep the laptop free of charge, provided the laptop does not contain any Company data, after the Termination Date. Any tax consequences will be of no concern to the Employee.

3.3.

The Employee shall not delete, modify or copy any business-related data belonging to the Company or relating to the business of the Company.

3.4.

Katrine Hall-Andersen will contact the Employee in order to arrange transfer the Private emails and private files in Outlook and/or the Company's drives and/or BOX to a medium solely controlled by the Employee. Furthermore, the parties will check the laptop referred to in Clause 3.2 in order to transfer or delete any Company files as the case may be.

Remuneration

4.1.

Until the Termination Date, the Employee's remuneration shall be paid as usual.

4.2.

The Employee's bonus entitlement, if any will be calculated and paid in accordance with the usual principles applied, however, only for the period until the Termination Date.

Set-off

5.1.

The Company waives the right to set-off any other income earned by the Employee after the Release Date, provided this waiver of the right to set-off only relates to other non-competing employment.

Share-based incentive programmes

6.1.

The Employee is entitled to keep warrants already granted and exercise them in accordance with the terms of the incentive programme. The Parties agree that the Company's termination of the Employee as a "good leaver" is subject to the terms in Appendix 2.6 § 2(1) (i) of the Articles of Association.

6.2.

The Employee will not be granted further warrants.

6.3.

The Employee shall keep the Company informed of the Employee’s current address as long as the Employee holds warrants in the Company or any group-affiliated companies.

Holidays

7.1.

Holidays accrued up to and including December 2023 and all special days off shall be considered taken during the period up to the Termination Date. It is agreed that untaken holidays of holiday accrued in the holiday year 2022/2023 shall be carried over to the following holiday period (in Danish: ferieafholdelsesperiode). If the Employee obtains other employment or starts an independent business after the Release Date, holiday allowance from this will be set-off against the holiday allowance from the Company. The Employee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such other employment or independent business, and at the same time document remuneration and other terms. Failure to do so will be regarded as a material breach of the Severance Agreement.

Extraordinary severance pay

8.1.

The Employee will receive an extraordinary severance pay of DKK 792,000 which will be paid together with the last monthly salary. There will be no set-off against the extraordinary severance pay and it does not entail any additional obligation to work for the Company.

8.2.

The extraordinary severance pay does not generate pension contributions or holiday allowance.

8.3.

Payment of the extraordinary severance pay is conditional upon the Employee not raising any claims against the Company relating to the employment or the termination hereof. In the event of summary dismissal with just cause, the Employee’s right to the extraordinary severance allowance will lapse.

Duty of loyalty and confidentiality

9.1.

The Employee’s duty of loyalty continues until the Termination Date. This e.g. means that the Employee:

is not entitled to start any kind of business or in any way be engaged in any business which, directly or indirectly, competes with the Company’s activities, and

may not be professionally engaged in the activities and interests of the Company’s customers except as necessary for the performance of the Employee’s duties.

9.2.

In the event of inquiries from customers, suppliers, business partners or others with regard to the Company's affairs/business, the Employee must immediately refer to Mai-Britt Zocca – even if the enquiry is made via social media, for example LinkedIn.

9.3.

The Employee has a duty of confidentiality in respect of all information received in connection with the performance of the Employee’s duties. The duty of confidentiality remains in force after the Termination Date. Failure to observe the duty of confidentiality may have legal consequences for the Employee’s employment.

9.4.

Regardless of the duty of confidentiality, the Employee may report information about actual or potential breaches, including reasonable suspicions hereof, that are covered by the Company’s whistleblower scheme. The reporting shall be made to the Company’s whistleblower scheme and in accordance with the Company’s applicable guidelines.

9.5.

The Employee is not prevented from reporting information about the Company’s breaches or potential breaches of the Danish Act on Measures to Prevent Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (in Danish: hvidvaskloven) and rules issued pursuant thereto to the public authorities.

9.6.

The Employee is not entitled to use or disclose the Company's trade secrets, cf. Section 4 of the Danish Act on Trade Secrets (in Danish: lov om forretningshemmeligheder), and may not take any action that is contrary to good marketing practice, cf. Section 3 of the Danish Marketing Practices Act (in Danish: markedsføringsloven).

10.

Employment Clauses

10.1.

The combined non-competition and non-solicitation clause lapses. The non-solicitation clause part is terminated to expire on the Termination Date. The Employee is entitled to receive the Lump Sum referred to in Clause 18.1 (a) in the Service Agreement. The Lump Sum must be paid by the Company to the Employee on the Termination Date. The Employee is not entitled to further compensation.

11.

Full and final settlement

11.1.

The Parties agree that the Severance Agreement is entered into in full and final settlement of all existing and potential claims which the Parties may have against each other including claims under the Danish Contracts Act (in Danish: aftaleloven), the Danish Salaried Employees Act, the Danish Holiday Act, the Employment Clauses Act (in Danish: ansættelsesklausulloven), the Act on Employment Certificates (in Danish: ansættelsesbevisloven), the equal treatment and non-discrimination legislation as well as any other claims for payments made by the Employee except for payments specifically agreed in this Severance Agreement. The Employee acknowledges that the Employee shall have no further rights to compensation or benefits under the terms of the Service Agreement.

11.2.

The Severance Agreement is conditional upon the Employee not raising any claims against the Company relating to the employment or the termination hereof.

11.3.

It is a prerequisite for the Company’s entering into this Severance Agreement that the Employee has not before entering into this Severance Agreement or before the Termination Date, acted in a manner that would entitle the Company to summarily dismiss the Employee.

11.4.

When effecting payments under the Severance Agreement, the Company shall deduct income tax and social and labour market contributions incumbent on the Employee. The Company shall not be liable for any tax consequences arising out of or in connection with this Severance Agreement.

11.5.

Before entering into this Severance Agreement, the Employee has had sufficient time to consult legal counsel at the Employee’s own expense.

12.

Confidentiality etc.

12.1.

The content of the Severance Agreement and the Parties’ discussions are confidential. Thus, the existence and content of the Severance Agreement may not be disclosed by the Parties unless required by applicable law and/or applicable stock market rules.

12.2.

The Parties undertake an obligation of loyalty towards each other in any way when referring to or speaking of each other to third parties or to the general public.

12.3.

All communications regarding the termination of employment shall be made both internally and externally in accordance with the Company's instructions.

13.

Governing law and venue

13.1.

The governing law and venue clause in the Employee's employment agreement also apply to the Severance Agreement.

Date: ____________ Date: ____________

For the Company:

______________________ ______________________

Name: Eva Ehrnrooth

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mai-Britt Zocca, certify that:

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of IO Biotech, Inc.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)

Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Mai-Britt Zocca
		Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer and Director
		(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Amy Sullivan, certify that:

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of IO Biotech, Inc.;

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(a)

(b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Amy Sullivan
		Amy Sullivan Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of IO Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Mai-Britt Zocca
		Mai-Britt Zocca, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer and Director
		(Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.


Date: November 13, 2023	By:	/s/ Amy Sullivan
		Amy Sullivan Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 06, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Registrant Name	IO Biotech, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001865494
Entity File Number	001-41008
Entity Tax Identification Number	87-0909276
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	Ole Maaløes Vej 3
Entity Address, City or Town	Copenhagen N
Entity Address, Country	DK
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	DK-2200
City Area Code	+45
Local Phone Number	7070 2980
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	IOBT
Name of each exchange on which registered	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Bankruptcy Proceedings, Reporting Current	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		65,880,914
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 165,501	$ 142,590
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,753	5,629
Total current assets	168,254	148,219
Restricted cash	268	268
Property and equipment, net	797	741
Right of use lease asset	2,367	2,493
Other non-current assets	867	84
Total non-current assets	4,299	3,586
Total assets	172,553	151,805
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	6,645	4,004
Lease liability - current	627	515
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	5,713	6,157
Total current liabilities	12,985	10,676
Lease liability - noncurrent	1,976	2,275
Total non-current liabilities	1,976	2,275
Total liabilities	14,961	12,951
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022
Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 65,880,914 and 28,815,267 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively	66	29
Additional paid-in capital	405,039	326,705
Accumulated deficit	(237,640)	(177,739)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,873)	(10,141)
Total stockholders' equity	157,592	138,854
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 172,553	$ 151,805

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	65,880,914	28,815,267
Common stock, shares outstanding	65,880,914	28,815,267
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Operating expenses
Research and development	$ 17,655	$ 10,022	$ 46,059	$ 32,553
General and administrative	5,829	5,843	17,201	18,482
Total operating expenses	23,484	15,865	63,260	51,035
Loss from operations	(23,484)	(15,865)	(63,260)	(51,035)
Other income (expense)
Currency exchange loss, net	(342)	(87)	(74)	(392)
Interest income	1,708	457	3,932	631
Interest expense		(78)		(305)
Total other income (expense), net	1,366	292	3,858	(66)
Loss before income tax benefit (expense)	(22,118)	(15,573)	(59,402)	(51,101)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(439)	115	499	286
Net loss	(21,679)	(15,688)	(59,901)	(51,387)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$ (21,679)	$ (15,688)	$ (59,901)	$ (51,387)
Net loss per common share, basic	$ (0.43)	$ (0.54)	$ (1.66)	$ (1.78)
Net loss per common share, diluted	$ (0.43)	$ (0.54)	$ (1.66)	$ (1.78)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic	50,168,303	28,815,267	36,011,162	28,815,267
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, diluted	50,168,303	28,815,267	36,011,162	28,815,267
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Net loss	$ (21,679)	$ (15,688)	$ (59,901)	$ (51,387)
Foreign currency translation	(108)	(5,400)	268	(12,427)
Total comprehensive loss	$ (21,787)	$ (21,088)	$ (59,633)	$ (63,814)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 211,924	$ 29	$ 319,665	$ (1,489)	$ (106,281)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021		28,815,267
Equity-based compensation	5,379		5,379
Foreign currency translation	(12,427)			(12,427)
Net loss	(51,387)				(51,387)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	153,489	$ 29	325,044	(13,916)	(157,668)
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2022		28,815,267
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	211,924	$ 29	319,665	(1,489)	(106,281)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021		28,815,267
Net loss	(71,500)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	138,854	$ 29	326,705	(10,141)	(177,739)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2022		28,815,267
Equity-based compensation	6,501		6,501
Foreign currency translation	268			268
Issuance of common shares and warrants in private placement, net of issuance costs	71,870	$ 37	71,833
Issuance of common shares and warrants in private placement, net of issuance costs, shares		37,065,647
Net loss	(59,901)				(59,901)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 157,592	$ 66	$ 405,039	$ (9,873)	$ (237,640)
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2023		65,880,914

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Common shares and warrants issuance costs	$ 3,188

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$ (59,901)	$ (51,387)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation	156	32
Equity-based compensation	6,501	5,379
Amortization of right of use lease asset	399	318
Foreign currency loss	74	392
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,876	3,624
Other non-current assets	(784)	(760)
Accounts payable	2,641	(1,759)
Lease liability	(460)	(91)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(444)	(2,951)
Net cash used in operating activities	(48,942)	(47,203)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment	(211)	(341)
Net cash used in investing activities	(211)	(341)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common shares and warrants	75,058
Common shares and warrants issuance costs	(3,188)
Net cash provided by financing activities	71,870
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	22,717	(47,544)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	194	(12,819)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	142,858	211,799
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	165,769	151,436
Components of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents	165,501	151,168
Restricted cash	268	268
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$ 165,769	151,436
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable		$ 176

Description of Business, Organization and Liquidity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Description of Business, Organization and Liquidity

1. Description of Business, Organization and Liquidity

Business

Corporate Reorganization

Initial Public Offering (IPO)

August 2023 Private Placement

At-The-Market Equity Program

Risks and Uncertainties

Liquidity Considerations and Going Concern Basis of Accounting

Coronavirus Pandemic

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Warrants Issued in Connection with Sale of Common Stock The Company accounts for warrants issued as a separable unit in connection with sale of common stock as either liability or equity in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“ASC 480-10”) or ASC 815-40, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock (“ASC 815-40”). Under ASC 480-10, warrants are considered liabilities if they are mandatorily redeemable and they require settlement in cash or other assets, or a variable number of shares. If warrants do not meet liability classification under ASC 480-10, the Company considers the requirements of ASC 815-40 to determine whether the warrants should be classified as liability or equity. If warrants do not require liability classification under ASC 815-40 or other applicable generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") the warrants should be classified as equity. The proceeds received from the sale of equity classified warrants and shares of common stock in a bundled transaction are allocated based on the relative fair values of warrants and shares of common stock with no changes in fair value of warrants recognized after the issuance date. Based on our analysis of the foregoing, the Company's warrants issued in the Private Placement are classified as equity in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Other than the item noted above, there have been no changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 to the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Unaudited Financial Information The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the Company’s opinion, the information furnished herein reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the reported interim periods. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or any other interim period. Unaudited interim financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets. In April 2019, the FASB issued clarification to ASU 2016-13 within ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments, or ASU 2016-13. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company has adopted the standard effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of the standard has not had a material impact on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 will simplify the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current U.S. GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (i) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, that meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (ii) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for us beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures, but does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have a material impact on either our financial statements or financial statement disclosures. Other than the items noted above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements not yet effective or adopted in the current year that we believe have a significant impact, or potential significant impact, to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

3. Fair Value Measurements


	September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—

	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company only held Level 1 financial instruments.

There were no transfers among Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 categories in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022.

License and Collaboration Agreements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

License and Collaboration Agreements

4. License and Collaboration Agreements

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Research and development tax credit receivable	$	780	$	792
Prepaid income taxes		761		124
Prepaid contract research and development costs		180		1,695
Insurance		178		1,716
Value-added tax refund receivable		174		741
Other		680		561
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	2,753	$	5,629

Property and Equipment, Net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property and Equipment, Net

6. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023			December 31, 2022
Laboratory equipment	$	738		$	544
Computer hardware		96			79
Office furniture		234			233
Less: accumulated depreciation		(271	)		(115	)
Total property and equipment, net	$	797		$	741

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

7. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Accrued contract research and development costs	$	2,287	$	1,936
Professional fees		305		407
Employee compensation costs		2,700		1,863
Other liabilities		421		1,951
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	5,713	$	6,157

Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

8. Leases

future payments under the Company’s office and laboratory space leased in New York, New York, Rockville, Maryland and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Quantitative information regarding the Company’s leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
Lease Cost	September 30, 2023			September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost	$	543		$	437
Operating cash flows paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	537		$	256
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right‑of‑use assets	$	235		$	2,600
Remaining lease term (years)		3.7			4.7
Weighted average discount rate		6.3	%		6.5	%

Future lease payments (undiscounted) under noncancelable leases are as follows at September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


Future Lease Payments	Amount
Remainder of 2023	$	188
2024		782
2025		782
2026		788
2027		392
Thereafter		—
Total	$	2,932

Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Indemnification Agreements

Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Class of Stock Disclosures [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

10. Stockholders' Equity

Common and Preferred Stock

The Private Placement

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had 65,880,914 and 28,815,267 common shares outstanding, respectively.

Equity-Based Compensation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Equity-Based Compensation

11. Equity-Based Compensation

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

2023 Inducement Award Plan

The following table summarizes our stock options activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


	Number of Options			Weighted- average exercise price per share		Weighted- average remaining contractual term (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
Outstanding, January 1, 2023		3,920,172		$	10.77		8.1	$	—
Granted		2,425,256		$	2.03		—	$	—
Cancelled or forfeited		(588,243	)	$	8.74		—	$	—
Outstanding, September 30, 2023		5,757,185		$	7.30		8.7	$	—
Exercisable, September 30, 2023		1,589,301		$	11.81		7.8	$	—

Equity-Based Compensation

The fair values of the stock options granted during the period ended September 30, 2023 were estimated based on the Black-Scholes model, using the following assumptions:


		September 30, 2023
Expected volatility		89.8% - 102.2%
Risk-free interest rate		3.5% - 4.4%
Expected term (in years)		5.5 - 6.1
Expected dividend yield		0%

Equity-based compensation expense recorded as research and development and general and administrative expenses is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Research and development	$	2,070	$	1,034	$	3,660	$	2,257
General and administrative		919		1,367		2,841		3,122
Total equity-based compensation	$	2,989	$	2,401	$	6,501	$	5,379

We did not recognize any tax benefits for stock-based compensation during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

12. Income Taxes

Net Loss Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Loss Per Share

13. Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is calculated as follows (in thousands except share and per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net loss	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.54	)	$	(1.66	)	$	(1.78	)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted		50,168,303			28,815,267			36,011,162			28,815,267

The following outstanding potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share, as their effect is anti-dilutive:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock options to purchase common stock		5,757,185		3,570,258		5,757,185		3,570,258
Warrants issued in Private Placement		37,065,647		—		37,065,647		—

Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

14. Subsequent Events

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Warrants Issued in Connection with Sale of Common Stock	Warrants Issued in Connection with Sale of Common Stock The Company accounts for warrants issued as a separable unit in connection with sale of common stock as either liability or equity in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480-10, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“ASC 480-10”) or ASC 815-40, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock (“ASC 815-40”). Under ASC 480-10, warrants are considered liabilities if they are mandatorily redeemable and they require settlement in cash or other assets, or a variable number of shares. If warrants do not meet liability classification under ASC 480-10, the Company considers the requirements of ASC 815-40 to determine whether the warrants should be classified as liability or equity. If warrants do not require liability classification under ASC 815-40 or other applicable generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") the warrants should be classified as equity. The proceeds received from the sale of equity classified warrants and shares of common stock in a bundled transaction are allocated based on the relative fair values of warrants and shares of common stock with no changes in fair value of warrants recognized after the issuance date. Based on our analysis of the foregoing, the Company's warrants issued in the Private Placement are classified as equity in our condensed consolidated financial statements. Other than the item noted above, there have been no changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 to the Company’s annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.
Unaudited Financial Information	Unaudited Financial Information The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the Company’s opinion, the information furnished herein reflects all adjustments, all of which are of a normal and recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the reported interim periods. The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or any other interim period. Unaudited interim financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets. In April 2019, the FASB issued clarification to ASU 2016-13 within ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments, or ASU 2016-13. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company has adopted the standard effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of the standard has not had a material impact on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. ASU 2020-06 will simplify the accounting for convertible instruments by reducing the number of accounting models for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock. Limiting the accounting models results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with current U.S. GAAP. Convertible instruments that continue to be subject to separation models are (i) those with embedded conversion features that are not clearly and closely related to the host contract, that meet the definition of a derivative, and that do not qualify for a scope exception from derivative accounting and (ii) convertible debt instruments issued with substantial premiums for which the premiums are recorded as paid-in capital. ASU 2020-06 also amends the guidance for the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. ASU 2020-06 will be effective for us beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have on our financial statements or financial statement disclosures, but does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2020-06 will have a material impact on either our financial statements or financial statement disclosures. Other than the items noted above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements not yet effective or adopted in the current year that we believe have a significant impact, or potential significant impact, to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value


	September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	152,101	$	152,101	$	—	$	—

	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets
Money market funds(1)	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	87,971	$	87,971	$	—	$	—

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Research and development tax credit receivable	$	780	$	792
Prepaid income taxes		761		124
Prepaid contract research and development costs		180		1,695
Insurance		178		1,716
Value-added tax refund receivable		174		741
Other		680		561
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	2,753	$	5,629

Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023			December 31, 2022
Laboratory equipment	$	738		$	544
Computer hardware		96			79
Office furniture		234			233
Less: accumulated depreciation		(271	)		(115	)
Total property and equipment, net	$	797		$	741

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Summary of Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2023		December 31, 2022
Accrued contract research and development costs	$	2,287	$	1,936
Professional fees		305		407
Employee compensation costs		2,700		1,863
Other liabilities		421		1,951
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	5,713	$	6,157

Leases (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Quantitative Information Regarding Leases

Quantitative information regarding the Company’s leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
Lease Cost	September 30, 2023			September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost	$	543		$	437
Operating cash flows paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	537		$	256
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right‑of‑use assets	$	235		$	2,600
Remaining lease term (years)		3.7			4.7
Weighted average discount rate		6.3	%		6.5	%

Schedule of Future Lease Payments (Undiscounted) under Noncancelable Leases

Future lease payments (undiscounted) under noncancelable leases are as follows at September 30, 2023 (in thousands):


Future Lease Payments	Amount
Remainder of 2023	$	188
2024		782
2025		782
2026		788
2027		392
Thereafter		—
Total	$	2,932

Equity-Based Compensation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Schedule of Stock Options Activity

The following table summarizes our stock options activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023:


	Number of Options			Weighted- average exercise price per share		Weighted- average remaining contractual term (in years)		Aggregate intrinsic value (in thousands)
Outstanding, January 1, 2023		3,920,172		$	10.77		8.1	$	—
Granted		2,425,256		$	2.03		—	$	—
Cancelled or forfeited		(588,243	)	$	8.74		—	$	—
Outstanding, September 30, 2023		5,757,185		$	7.30		8.7	$	—
Exercisable, September 30, 2023		1,589,301		$	11.81		7.8	$	—

Summary of Assumptions for Estimated Fair Value of Options

The fair values of the stock options granted during the period ended September 30, 2023 were estimated based on the Black-Scholes model, using the following assumptions:


		September 30, 2023
Expected volatility		89.8% - 102.2%
Risk-free interest rate		3.5% - 4.4%
Expected term (in years)		5.5 - 6.1
Expected dividend yield		0%

Schedule of Equity-based Compensation Expense

Equity-based compensation expense recorded as research and development and general and administrative expenses is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Research and development	$	2,070	$	1,034	$	3,660	$	2,257
General and administrative		919		1,367		2,841		3,122
Total equity-based compensation	$	2,989	$	2,401	$	6,501	$	5,379

Net Loss Per Share (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2023

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

Basic and diluted net loss per common share is calculated as follows (in thousands except share and per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Net loss	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$	(21,679	)	$	(15,688	)	$	(59,901	)	$	(51,387	)
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted	$	(0.43	)	$	(0.54	)	$	(1.66	)	$	(1.78	)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic and diluted		50,168,303			28,815,267			36,011,162			28,815,267

Schedule of Potentially Dilutive Securities Excluded from Calculation of Diluted Net Loss per Share

The following outstanding potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share, as their effect is anti-dilutive:


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Stock options to purchase common stock		5,757,185		3,570,258		5,757,185		3,570,258
Warrants issued in Private Placement		37,065,647		—		37,065,647		—

Description of Business, Organization and Liquidity - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 09, 2023	Aug. 07, 2023	Nov. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022	Feb. 15, 2023	Nov. 09, 2021
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, par value				$ 0.001		$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Accumulated deficit				$ (237,640,000)		$ (237,640,000)		$ (177,739,000)
Net losses				(21,679,000)	$ (15,688,000)	(59,901,000)	$ (51,387,000)	(71,500,000)
Cash and cash equivalents				$ 165,501,000	$ 151,168,000	$ 165,501,000	$ 151,168,000	$ 142,590,000
Net proceeds from IPO, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering costs			$ 103,300,000
Convertible preference share issued upon conversion										20,592,413
Common stock shares issued				65,880,914		65,880,914		28,815,267		28,815,267
Common stock shares outstanding				65,880,914		65,880,914		28,815,267		28,815,267
Common stock shares authorized				300,000,000		300,000,000		300,000,000		300,000,000
Preferred stock shares authorized				5,000,000		5,000,000		5,000,000
Proceeds from private placement	$ 71,900,000
Class A Ordinary Shares
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, par value			$ 0.16
Common stock conversion basis			one-for-one
Class B Preference Shares
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, par value			$ 0.001
Common stock conversion basis			one-for-one
Class C Preference Shares
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, par value			$ 0.001
Common stock conversion basis			one-for-one
Undesignated Preferred Stock
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Preferred stock shares authorized				5,000,000		5,000,000				5,000,000
Underwriters
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Shares issued			1,072,500
IPO
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Shares issued			8,222,500
Common stock shares sold, price per share			$ 14
At-The-Market Equity Program
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, maximum aggregate offering price									$ 19,500,000
At-The-Market Equity Program \| Sales Agreement
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Shares issued						0
Common stock, maximum aggregate offering price									$ 75,000,000
Private Placement
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001
Shares issued	37,065,647
Warrants Issued	37,065,647
Purchase price per share of common stock and warrant	$ 2.025
Private Placement \| Securities Purchase Agreement
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Warrants Issued		37,065,647				37,065,647
Purchase price per share of common stock and warrant		$ 2.025
Proceeds from private placement	$ 75,100,000
Private Placement \| Securities Purchase Agreement \| Common Stock
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Shares issued		37,065,647
Private Placement \| Maximum \| Common Stock
Description Of Business Organization And Liquidity [Line Items]
Shares issued	37,065,647

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adopted [true false]	true
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, adoption date	Jan. 01, 2023
Change in accounting principle, accounting standards update, immaterial effect [true false]	true
Accounting standards update [extensible enumeration]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Assets Measured at Fair Value (Details) - Recurring - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Assets
Total assets measured at fair value	$ 152,101	$ 87,971
Money Market Funds
Assets
Total assets measured at fair value	152,101	87,971
Level 1
Assets
Total assets measured at fair value	152,101	87,971
Level 1 \| Money Market Funds
Assets
Total assets measured at fair value	$ 152,101	$ 87,971

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Measured On Recurring And Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value, Liabilities, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	$ 0	$ 0
Fair Value, Liabilities, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	$ 0	$ 0

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets - Summary of Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Research and development tax credit receivable	$ 780	$ 792
Prepaid income taxes	761	124
Prepaid contract research and development costs	180	1,695
Insurance	178	1,716
Value-added tax refund receivable	174	741
Other	680	561
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 2,753	$ 5,629

Property and Equipment, Net - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 100	$ 10	$ 200	$ 30

Property and Equipment, Net - Schedule of Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Less: accumulated depreciation	$ (271)	$ (115)
Total property and equipment, net	797	741
Laboratory equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	738	544
Computer hardware
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	96	79
Office furniture
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 234	$ 233

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities - Summary of Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued contract research and development costs	$ 2,287	$ 1,936
Professional fees	305	407
Employee compensation costs	2,700	1,863
Other liabilities	421	1,951
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 5,713	$ 6,157

Leases - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Leases - Additional Information (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) Lease	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2022 USD ($)
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Rent expense	$ 200	$ 200	$ 500	$ 400
Number of operating leases \| Lease			5
Right of use lease asset	2,367		$ 2,367		$ 2,493	$ 2,300
Lease liability						2,400
Operating lease liability, current	627		627		515
Operating lease, liability, non-current	$ 1,976		1,976		$ 2,275
Deferred rent						$ 100
Office and Laboratory \| Denmark
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease amended base rent			200
Office and Laboratory \| New York, NY
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease annual base rent			200
Office and Laboratory \| Maryland
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease annual base rent			300
Office \| Denmark
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease annual base rent			100
Laboratory \| Denmark
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease annual base rent			$ 40

Leases - Schedule of Quantitative information Regarding Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Operating lease cost	$ 543	$ 437
Operating cash flows paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	537	256
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets	$ 235	$ 2,600
Remaining lease term (years)	3 years 8 months 12 days	4 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted average discount rate	6.30%	6.50%

Leases - Schedule of Future Lease Payments (Undiscounted) under Noncancelable Leases (Details) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Remainder of 2023	$ 188
2024	782
2025	782
2026	788
2027	392
Thereafter	0
Total	$ 2,932

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023
Minimum
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Contractual obligations termination notice period	30 days
Maximum
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Contractual obligations termination notice period	90 days

Convertible Preference Shares - Additional information (Details) - shares	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Nov. 09, 2021
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Preference shares authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preference shares issued	0	0
Preference shares outstanding	0	0
Convertible preference share issued upon conversion			20,592,413

Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)			9 Months Ended
Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)	Aug. 09, 2023 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Aug. 07, 2023 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) Vote $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2022 shares	Nov. 09, 2021 shares
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock shares authorized			300,000,000	300,000,000	300,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized			5,000,000	5,000,000
Number of votes per share \| Vote			1
Common stock shares outstanding			65,880,914	28,815,267	28,815,267
Proceeds from private placement \| $	$ 71,900,000
Private Placement
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Shares issued	37,065,647
Warrants issued	37,065,647
Purchase price per share of common stock and warrant \| $ / shares	$ 2.025
Private Placement \| Securities Purchase Agreement
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Warrants issued		37,065,647	37,065,647
Purchase price per share of common stock and warrant \| $ / shares		$ 2.025
Proceeds from private placement \| $	$ 75,100,000
Purchase Price of Common Stock and Warrants \| $ / shares		$ 2.47	$ 2.47
Net Proceeds From Issuance Of Private Placement \| $	71,900,000
Offering expenses \| $	$ 3,200,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants \| $			$ 29,600,000
Common Stock \| Private Placement \| Securities Purchase Agreement
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Shares issued		37,065,647
Undesignated Preferred Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized			5,000,000		5,000,000
Dividend Declared
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends \| $			$ 0
Dividend Paid
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends \| $			$ 0

Equity-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 04, 2021	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost		$ 12,700,000		$ 12,700,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, recognition period				2 years 8 months 12 days
Tax benefits for stock-based compensation		0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Equity-based compensation expense		2,989,000	2,401,000	6,501,000	5,379,000
Research and Development Expense
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense		2,070,000	$ 1,034,000	$ 3,660,000	$ 2,257,000
Executive of the company \| Research and Development Expense
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Equity-based compensation expense		$ 1,400,000
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of warrants available for future grant		688,206		688,206
Common stock reserved for issuance	2,496,934
Maximum percentage of shares that may be issued under the plan as a proportion of outstanding capital stock	4.00%
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock reserved for issuance	257,272
2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum percentage of shares that may be issued under the plan as a proportion of outstanding capital stock	1.00%
2023 Inducement Incentive Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of warrants available for future grant		1,976,427		1,976,427
Common stock reserved for issuance		1,976,427		1,976,427

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Stock Options Activity (Details) - Warrant - $ / shares	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Warrants, Beginning balance	3,920,172
Number of Warrants, Granted	2,425,256
Number of Warrants, Cancelled or forfeited	(588,243)
Number of Warrants, Ending balance	5,757,185	3,920,172
Number of Warrants, Exercisable	1,589,301
Weighted-average exercise price per share, Beginning balance	$ 10.77
Weighted-average exercise price per share, Granted	2.03
Weighted-average exercise price per share, Cancelled or forfeited	8.74
Weighted-average exercise price per share, Ending balance	7.3	$ 10.77
Weighted-average exercise price per share, Exercisable	$ 11.81
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years), Outstanding	8 years 8 months 12 days	8 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-average remaining contractual term (in years), Exercisable	7 years 9 months 18 days

Equity-Based Compensation - Summary of Assumptions for Estimated Fair Value of Options (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility minimum	89.80%
Expected volatility maximum	102.20%
Risk-free interest rate minimum	3.50%
Risk-free interest rate maximum	4.40%
Expected dividend yield	0.00%
Minimum
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (in years)	5 years 6 months
Maximum
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected term (in years)	6 years 1 month 6 days

Equity-Based Compensation - Schedule of Equity-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total equity-based compensation	$ 2,989	$ 2,401	$ 6,501	$ 5,379
Research and Development Expense
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total equity-based compensation	2,070	1,034	3,660	2,257
General and Administrative Expense
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total equity-based compensation	$ 919	$ 1,367	$ 2,841	$ 3,122

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax (benefit) expense	$ (439)	$ 115	$ 499	$ 286
Provision for income taxes, R&D credits	$ 800		$ 800

Net Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Ordinary Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (21,679)	$ (15,688)	$ (59,901)	$ (51,387)	$ (71,500)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	$ (21,679)	$ (15,688)	$ (59,901)	$ (51,387)
Net loss per common share, basic	$ (0.43)	$ (0.54)	$ (1.66)	$ (1.78)
Net loss per common share, diluted	$ (0.43)	$ (0.54)	$ (1.66)	$ (1.78)
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, basic	50,168,303	28,815,267	36,011,162	28,815,267
Weighted-average number of shares used in computing net loss per common share, diluted	50,168,303	28,815,267	36,011,162	28,815,267

Net Loss Per Share - Schedule of Potentially Dilutive Securities Excluded from Calculation of Diluted Net Loss per Share (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Stock Options to Purchase Common Stock
Earnings Per Share Basic [Line Items]
Outstanding potentially dilutive securities	5,757,185	3,570,258	5,757,185	3,570,258
Warrants Issued in Private Placement
Earnings Per Share Basic [Line Items]
Outstanding potentially dilutive securities	37,065,647		37,065,647