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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024
OR
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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: 001-39438
Disc Medicine, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
85-1612845 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
321 Arsenal Street, Suite 101 Watertown, Massachusetts |
02472 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(617) 674-9274
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.0001 Par Value |
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IRON |
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The Nasdaq Global Market |
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, a 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.
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Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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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 ☒
As of May 6, 2024 there were 24,721,666 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.
Table of Contents
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Quarterly Report, of Disc Medicine, Inc., or the Company, contains or incorporates statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include, for example, statements about:
•the initiation, timing, progress, results, and cost of our research and development programs and our current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, 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;
•our ability to efficiently discover and develop product candidates;
•our ability and the potential to successfully manufacture our drug substances and product candidates for preclinical use, for clinical trials and on a larger scale for commercial use, if approved;
•our ability to obtain funding for our operations necessary to complete further development and commercialization of our product candidates;
•our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates;
•our ability to commercialize our products, if approved;
•the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;
•the implementation of our business model, and strategic plans for our business and product candidates;
•the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates;
•estimates of our future expenses, revenues, capital requirements, and our needs for additional financing;
•the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements, our ability to enter into strategic collaborations or arrangements, and our ability to attract collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise;
•future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of product candidates and any other approved product;
•the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets;
•our financial performance;
•the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates;
•regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;
•our ability to contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to perform adequately;
•our ability to produce our products or product candidates with advantages in turnaround times or manufacturing cost;
•the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
•our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel;
•the impact of laws and regulations;
•developments relating to our competitors and our industry;
•the impact of global economic and political developments on our business, including rising inflation and capital market disruptions, the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, economic sanctions and economic slowdowns or recessions that may result from such developments which could harm our research and development efforts as well as the value of our common stock and our ability to access capital markets; and
•other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”
These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us at the time of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
•the ability to maintain the listing of our common stock on Nasdaq;
•the price of our securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including the volatility in capital markets, changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which we operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting our business and changes in our capital structure;
•the risk of downturns in the economy and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which we operate;
•the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; and
•the risk that we experience difficulties in managing our growth and expanding operations.
RISK FACTOR SUMMARY
The risk factors detailed in Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the risks that we believe are material to our investors and a reader should carefully consider them. Those risks are not all of the risks we face and other factors not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also affect our business if they occur. The following is a summary of the risk factors detailed in Item 1A:
•Our limited operating history may make it difficult for you to evaluate the success of our business to date and to assess our future viability.
•We have incurred significant net losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.
•We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.
•We will need to raise substantial additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on terms acceptable to us, we may be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate some of our product development programs or commercialization efforts.
•We have only successfully completed one Phase 1 clinical trial and may be unable to successfully complete any additional clinical trials for any product candidates we develop. Certain of our programs are still in preclinical development and may never advance to clinical development.
•Our programs are focused on the development of therapeutics for patients with hematologic diseases, which is a rapidly evolving area of science, and the approach we are taking to discover and develop product candidates is novel and may never lead to approved or marketable products.
•Interim, top-line, initial and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become available and are subject to confirmation, audit, and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.
•If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, our receipt of necessary regulatory approvals could be delayed or prevented.
•Results from early preclinical studies and clinical trials of our programs and product candidates are not necessarily predictive of the results of later preclinical studies and clinical trials of our programs and product candidates. If we cannot replicate the results from earlier preclinical studies and clinical trials of our programs and product candidates in our later preclinical studies and clinical trials, we may be unable to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize our product candidates.
•Our clinical trials or those of our future collaborators may reveal significant adverse events not seen in prior preclinical studies or clinical trials and may result in a safety profile that could inhibit regulatory approval or market acceptance of any of our product candidates.
•Some of our product candidates modulate pathways for which there are currently no approved or effective therapies, which may result in greater research and development expenses, regulatory issues that could delay or prevent approval, or discovery of unknown or unanticipated adverse effects on safety or efficacy.
•We are currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial for bitopertin in Australia and may in the future conduct additional clinical trials of our product candidates outside the United States, and the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data from such trials.
•If we are not able to obtain, or if there are delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals for our product candidates, we will not be able to commercialize, or will be delayed in commercializing, our product candidates, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.
•We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than we do.
•If our current product candidates or any future product candidates do not achieve broad market acceptance, the revenue that we generate from our sales may be limited, and we may never become profitable.
•We rely on third parties to conduct our Phase 2 clinical trials of bitopertin, Phase 1b/2 clinical trials of DISC-0974 and Phase 1 clinical trial of DISC-3405 (formerly MWTX-003) and expect to rely on third parties to conduct other clinical trials for our product candidates, as well as potential investigator-sponsored clinical trials of our product candidates. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements, meet expected deadlines, or if the prior work conducted by these third parties is incomplete, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates and our business could be substantially harmed.
•We might not realize the anticipated benefits of our current collaborations with Mabwell or NIH, or any other collaborations we enter into in the future.
•We contract with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical development and clinical testing and expect to continue to do so for commercialization. This reliance on third parties increases the risk that we will not have sufficient quantities of our product candidates or products or such quantities at an acceptable cost, which could delay, prevent, or impair our development or commercialization efforts.
•If we are unable to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection for our technology and product candidates, or if the scope of the intellectual property protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize technology and drugs similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully commercialize our technology and drugs may be impaired, and we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.
•We may not obtain or grant licenses or sublicenses to intellectual property rights in all markets on equally or sufficiently favorable terms with third parties.
•Intellectual property rights do not guarantee commercial success of current or future product candidates or other business activities. Numerous factors may limit any potential competitive advantage provided by our intellectual property rights.
•Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in other jurisdictions.
•Our future success depends on our ability to retain key executives and experienced scientists and to attract, retain, and motivate qualified personnel.
•Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, such as actual events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults, or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect the Company’s current and projected business operations and its financial condition and results of operations.
•Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
•The market price of our common stock is expected to be volatile.
•We will incur additional costs and increased demands upon management as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies.
•Once we are no longer an emerging growth company, a smaller reporting company or otherwise no longer qualify for applicable exemptions, we will be subject to additional laws and regulations affecting public companies that will increase our costs and the demands on management and could harm our operating results.
•Provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us more difficult and may discourage any takeover attempts our stockholders may consider favorable, and may lead to entrenchment of management.
This section contains forward-looking statements. You should refer to the explanation of the qualifications and limitations on forward-looking statements beginning on page 1.
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DISC MEDICINE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
342,615 |
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$ |
360,382 |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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9,333 |
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5,280 |
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Total current assets |
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351,948 |
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365,662 |
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Property and equipment, net |
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211 |
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170 |
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Right-of-use assets, operating leases |
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1,788 |
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1,930 |
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Other assets |
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235 |
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234 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
354,182 |
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$ |
367,996 |
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Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
5,269 |
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$ |
12,629 |
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Accrued expenses |
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8,816 |
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8,145 |
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Operating lease liabilities, current |
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767 |
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665 |
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Total current liabilities |
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14,852 |
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21,439 |
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Operating lease liabilities, non-current |
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1,259 |
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1,436 |
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Total liabilities |
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16,111 |
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22,875 |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) |
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Stockholders’ equity: |
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Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023; 24,695,885 and 24,360,233 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively |
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2 |
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2 |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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553,663 |
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533,764 |
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Accumulated deficit |
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(215,594 |
) |
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(188,645 |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
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338,071 |
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345,121 |
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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$ |
354,182 |
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$ |
367,996 |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
DISC MEDICINE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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$ |
23,704 |
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$ |
20,180 |
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General and administrative |
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7,758 |
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4,945 |
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Total operating expenses |
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31,462 |
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25,125 |
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Loss from operations |
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(31,462 |
) |
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(25,125 |
) |
Other income (expense), net: |
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Interest income |
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4,519 |
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2,367 |
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Other expense |
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(1 |
) |
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— |
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Total other income (expense), net |
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4,518 |
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2,367 |
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Loss before income taxes |
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(26,944 |
) |
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(22,758 |
) |
Income tax expense |
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(5 |
) |
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(23 |
) |
Net loss and comprehensive loss |
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$ |
(26,949 |
) |
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$ |
(22,781 |
) |
Net loss attributable to common stockholders-basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(26,949 |
) |
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$ |
(22,781 |
) |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic and diluted |
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24,809,869 |
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18,954,914 |
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Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders-basic and diluted |
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$ |
(1.09 |
) |
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$ |
(1.20 |
) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
DISC MEDICINE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock $0.0001 Par Value |
|
|
Additional Paid-In |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Total Stockholders’ |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
Deficit |
|
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
|
|
17,403,315 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
288,814 |
|
|
$ |
(112,216 |
) |
|
$ |
176,600 |
|
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options |
|
|
74,753 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,067 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,067 |
|
Vesting of restricted common stock |
|
|
958 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,024 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,024 |
|
Sale of common stock in registered direct offering, net of issuance costs of $80 |
|
|
1,488,166 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
34,148 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
34,148 |
|
Sale of pre-funded warrants in registered direct offering, net of issuance costs of $66 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
28,206 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
28,206 |
|
Sale of common stock in at-the-market offerings, net of issuance costs of $408 |
|
|
608,050 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,591 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,591 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(22,781 |
) |
|
|
(22,781 |
) |
Balance at March 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
19,575,242 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
367,850 |
|
|
$ |
(134,997 |
) |
|
$ |
232,855 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock $0.0001 Par Value |
|
|
Additional Paid-In |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Total Stockholders’ |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
Equity |
|
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
24,360,233 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
533,764 |
|
|
$ |
(188,645 |
) |
|
$ |
345,121 |
|
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options |
|
|
95,467 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
806 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
806 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,058 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,058 |
|
Sale of common stock in at-the-market offerings, net of issuance costs of $518 |
|
|
234,449 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,790 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,790 |
|
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
5,736 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
245 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(26,949 |
) |
|
|
(26,949 |
) |
Balance at March 31, 2024 |
|
|
24,695,885 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
553,663 |
|
|
$ |
(215,594 |
) |
|
$ |
338,071 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
DISC MEDICINE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(26,949 |
) |
|
$ |
(22,781 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
4,058 |
|
|
|
1,024 |
|
Noncash lease expense |
|
|
142 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
(4,112 |
) |
|
|
(908 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(7,360 |
) |
|
|
(10,750 |
) |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
671 |
|
|
|
(2,084 |
) |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(75 |
) |
|
|
(76 |
) |
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
(33,599 |
) |
|
|
(35,466 |
) |
Cash flow from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
(29 |
) |
Cash flow from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of common stock in offerings, net of issuance costs paid |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
34,217 |
|
Proceeds from sale of pre-funded warrants in offerings, net of issuance costs paid |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
28,262 |
|
Proceeds from sale of common stock in at-the-market offerings, net of issuance costs paid |
|
|
14,849 |
|
|
|
14,605 |
|
Proceeds from stock option exercises |
|
|
806 |
|
|
|
222 |
|
Contributions from employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
245 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
15,900 |
|
|
|
77,306 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
(17,766 |
) |
|
|
41,811 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
|
360,616 |
|
|
|
194,788 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
|
$ |
342,850 |
|
|
$ |
236,599 |
|
Supplemental cash flow information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
8 |
|
Receivable for proceeds from stock option exercises included in other current assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
845 |
|
Deferred issuance costs on sale of common stock and pre-funded warrants in offerings included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
222 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
DISC MEDICINE, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Organization and Nature of the Business
Disc Medicine, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases. The Company has assembled a portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates that aim to modify fundamental biological pathways associated with the formation and function of red blood cells, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. The Company’s current pipeline includes, bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias (“EPs”) including erythropoietic protoporphyria (“EPP”), and X-linked protoporphyria (“XLP”), and Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (“DBA”); DISC-0974 for the treatment of anemia of myelofibrosis (“MF”), and anemia of chronic kidney disease (“CKD”); and DISC-3405 for the treatment of polycythemia vera (“PV”), and other hematologic disorders. In addition, the Company’s preclinical programs also include DISC-0998, for the treatment of anemia associated with inflammatory diseases. The Company’s approach to product candidate development leverages well-understood molecular mechanisms that have been validated in humans. The Company believes that each of its product candidates, if approved, has the potential to improve the lives of patients suffering from hematologic diseases. The Company was founded in October 2017. The Company’s principal offices are in Watertown, Massachusetts.
The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties common to development stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, risks associated with completing preclinical studies and clinical trials, receiving regulatory approvals for product candidates, development by competitors of new biopharmaceutical products, dependence on key personnel, reliance on third-party organizations, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, the impact of public health crises such as pandemics and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. The Company’s research and development programs will require significant additional research and development efforts, including preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize revenue from product sales.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the Company continuing as a going concern. The Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 of $342.6 million will enable the Company to fund its planned operating expense and capital expenditure requirements for at least twelve months from the date of issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $215.6 million. The Company expects its operating losses and negative operating cash flows to continue into the foreseeable future. The future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to generate cash from operating activities or to raise additional capital to finance its operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever earn revenues or achieve profitability, or if achieved, that the revenues or profitability will be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, the Company’s preclinical and clinical development activities, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company’s product candidates, if approved, will require significant additional financing.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The significant accounting policies used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as found in the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Information
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2024 and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited. The financial data and other information contained in the notes hereto as of March 31, 2024 and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are also unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2023 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements, and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2024 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the notes thereto, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full years, or any other interim periods, or any future year or period.
The preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to accrued research and development expenses; stock-based compensation expense; the fair value determinations for instruments accounted for at fair value including contingent amounts payable to third parties upon the consummation of specified transactions; the fair value of the contingent value right (“CVR”) (see Note 3); the incremental borrowing rate for determining lease liabilities and right-of-use assets and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that it has concluded to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates as there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates or assumptions.
Concentration of Credit Risk and of Significant Suppliers
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits and limits its exposure to cash risk by placing its cash with high credit quality accredited financial institutions. The Company has concluded that it is not subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.
The Company relies, and expects to continue to rely, on a small number of vendors to manufacture supplies and to process its product candidates for its development programs. These programs could be adversely affected by a significant interruption in the manufacturing process or supply chain.
Deferred Transaction Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred transaction costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of an equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds from the transaction, either as a reduction of the carrying value of the preferred stock or in stockholders’ equity (deficit) as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the transaction. Should the in-process equity financing be abandoned, the deferred transaction costs would be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
3. Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are regularly measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company
utilized to determine such fair value, which is described further within Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money market funds |
|
$ |
57,712 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
U.S. Treasury notes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
264,004 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
$ |
57,712 |
|
|
$ |
264,004 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money market funds |
|
$ |
55,001 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
U.S. Treasury notes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
255,419 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
$ |
55,001 |
|
|
$ |
255,419 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
The fair value of the Company’s Level 1 cash equivalents, consisting of money market funds, is based on quoted market prices in active markets with no valuation adjustment. The fair value of the Company’s Level 2 cash equivalents, consisting of U.S. Treasury notes with original maturities of three months or less, is determined through third-party pricing services. The amortized cost of the U.S. treasury notes approximates the fair value. There have been no impairments of the Company’s assets measured and carried at fair value during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. In addition, there were no changes in valuation techniques or transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 financial assets during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company did not have any non-recurring fair value measurements on any assets or liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
On August 9, 2022, Gemini Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Gemini”), Gemstone Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Gemini (“Merger Sub”), and Disc Medicine, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Private Disc”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (the “Merger Agreement”). The merger was completed on December 29, 2022. As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, in connection with the merger, the stockholders of Gemini at the effective time of the merger received a CVR to receive consideration from the Company upon its receipt of certain proceeds, resulting from a disposition of Gemini’s pre-merger assets within one year after the closing of the merger, calculated in accordance with the CVR Agreement. The disposition period ended December 29, 2023 and no dispositions of Gemini's pre-merger assets were made during the disposition period. Therefore, the CVR obligation no longer existed as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The change in fair value of the CVR liability was de minimis for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
4. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
342,615 |
|
|
$ |
360,382 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
|
235 |
|
|
|
234 |
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as shown on the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows |
|
$ |
342,850 |
|
|
$ |
360,616 |
|
5. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Computer equipment |
|
$ |
231 |
|
|
$ |
231 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
251 |
|
|
|
184 |
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(271 |
) |
|
|
(245 |
) |
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
211 |
|
|
$ |
170 |
|
6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Accrued research and development |
|
|
5,749 |
|
|
|
1,986 |
|
Accrued employee-related expenses |
|
|
2,159 |
|
|
|
5,790 |
|
Accrued professional fees |
|
|
709 |
|
|
|
317 |
|
Accrued other |
|
|
199 |
|
|
|
52 |
|
Total accrued expenses |
|
$ |
8,816 |
|
|
$ |
8,145 |
|
7. Development and License Agreements
License and Stock Purchase Agreement with AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (“AbbVie”)
In September 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with AbbVie, pursuant to which AbbVie granted the Company an exclusive license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to certain AbbVie intellectual property.
Under this agreement, the Company paid a non-refundable, non-creditable upfront fee of $0.6 million. The Company is also obligated to make future payments upon the achievement of certain development, commercialization and sales-based milestones up to $18.0 million, $45.0 million and $87.5 million, respectively on a licensed product-by-licensed product basis. In addition, the Company is also obligated to pay royalties based on net sales of the licensed products on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis. As of March 31, 2024, none of the milestones had been achieved.
The Company’s royalty obligation expires on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis upon the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim under the licensed intellectual property rights in such country. Unless terminated earlier, the agreement expires upon the expiration of the Company’s royalty obligation for all licensed products. AbbVie can terminate the agreement if the Company fails to make any payments within a specified period after receiving written notice of such failure, or in the event of a material breach by the Company and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time.
License Agreement with Roche
In connection with the Roche Agreement, the Company paid Roche an upfront, non-refundable exclusivity payment of $0.5 million in March 2021. Upon execution of the Roche Agreement in May 2021, the Company paid Roche an additional upfront, non-refundable payment of $4.0 million.
The Company is obligated to make contingent payments to Roche up to an aggregate of $50.0 million in development and regulatory milestone payments for development and approval in a first indication and up to an aggregate of $35.0 million in development and regulatory milestone payments for development and approval in a second indication. The Company is also obligated to make contingent payments to Roche up to an aggregate of $120.0 million based on achievement of certain thresholds for annual net sales of licensed products. As of March 31, 2024, none of the milestones had been achieved. Roche is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales of commercialized products, at rates ranging from high single-digits to high teens.
License Agreement with Mabwell
In January 2023, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Mabwell Therapeutics, Inc. (“Mabwell”), pursuant to which Mabwell granted the Company an exclusive and sublicensable license to certain Mabwell intellectual property.
In connection with the agreement, the Company paid Mabwell an upfront payment of $10.0 million in March 2023. In October 2023, the Company dosed the first patient in the Phase 1 clinical trial for DISC-3405, resulting in a milestone payment of $5.0 million due to Mabwell. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay certain development and regulatory milestone payments for
the licensed products, for up to three indications, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $127.5 million, as well as certain commercial milestone payments for certain licensed product net sales achievements, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $275.0 million. The Company is further obligated to pay a tiered percentage of revenue that the Company receives from its sublicensees ranging from a low third decile percentage to a low first decile percentage. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay Mabwell a royalty on annual net sales of all licensed products at a tiered rate ranging from low single-digits to high single-digits.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded research and development expense related to its arrangement with Mabwell of zero and $10.0 million, respectively.
8. Convertible Preferred Stock
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company was authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock at a par value of $0.0001, with no shares issued or outstanding.
9. Common Stock
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the authorized capital stock of the Company included 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of March 31, 2024, the Company has 2,948,273 shares of common stock reserved for the exercise of stock options and 204,081 shares of common stock reserved for the exercise of pre-funded warrants.
ATM Program
In January 2023, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which covered the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units (the “January 2023 Shelf”). Subsequently in January 2023, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with SVB Securities LLC, as sales agent, to provide for the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s common stock from time to time in “at-the-market” (“ATM”) offerings under the January 2023 Shelf. Effective June 12, 2023, the ATM program with SVB Securities LLC was suspended. Following the date of the ATM suspension, the Company did not make any further sales of its common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement. The Sales Agreement was terminated effective September 28, 2023. In connection with the ATM suspension, the Company recognized the remaining capitalized issuance costs of $0.3 million as general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company sold an aggregate of 608,050 shares of common stock in ATM offerings under the January 2023 Shelf and pursuant to the Sales Agreement. Aggregate gross proceeds from the transactions were $15.0 million and the Company received $14.6 million in net proceeds, after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.
In October 2023, the Company entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement with Jefferies LLC as sales agent (the “ATM Agreement”) to provide for the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to $59.7 million of the Company’s common stock from time to time in ATM offerings under the January 2023 Shelf.
In November 2023, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which covered the offering, issuance and sale by the Company of up to an aggregate of $400.0 million of the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units (the “November 2023 Shelf”). On December 5, 2023, the Company and Jefferies LLC entered into an amendment to the ATM Agreement to increase the aggregate offering price of the shares of common stock that the Company may offer under the ATM Agreement from $59.7 million to $200.0 million. The material terms and conditions of the ATM Agreement otherwise remained unchanged.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company sold an aggregate of 234,449 shares of common stock in ATM offerings under the November 2023 Shelf and pursuant to the ATM Agreement. Aggregate gross proceeds from the transactions were $15.3 million and the Company received $14.8 million in net proceeds, after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had sold an aggregate of 376,363 shares of common stock in ATM offerings under the November 2023 Shelf for aggregate net proceeds of $21.7 million.
Registered Direct Offering
In February 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement, with certain investors. Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, the Company sold an aggregate of 1,488,166 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $23.00 per share, and with respect to a certain investor, in lieu of shares of the Company’s common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,229,224 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price of $22.9999 per pre-funded warrant, for aggregate net proceeds of $62.4 million, after deducting offering expenses of $0.1 million.
The pre-funded warrants provide that the holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of its warrants if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”); provided, however, that the
holder may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation by giving 61 days’ notice, but not to any percentage in excess of 19.99%. The investors or their affiliates are beneficial holders of more than 5% of the Company’s capital stock. The pre-funded warrants meet the condition for equity classification and were therefore recorded as a component of stockholders’ equity within additional paid-in capital at the time of their issuance. In September 2023, all of the pre-funded warrants were exercised in a cashless transaction which resulted in 1,229,221 shares of common stock being issued to the investor.
10. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company grants stock-based awards under its 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which was approved by its stockholders in February 2021 and amended and restated in January 2023. The Company also has outstanding stock option awards under its 2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the “Private Disc Plan”), the 2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the “Gemini 2017 Plan”), and the 2021 Inducement Plan, but is no longer granting awards under these plans. The Company also grants awards under its 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”), which was approved by the Company's stockholders in July 2021 and amended and restated in January 2023. In addition, subject to approval by the Company's board of directors, the Company may grant stock-based awards outside of the 2021 Plan as an inducement to its executives.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense recorded as research and development and general and administrative expenses, respectively, for employees, directors and non-employees is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
1,543 |
|
|
$ |
345 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
679 |
|
Total stock-based compensation expense |
|
$ |
4,058 |
|
|
$ |
1,024 |
|
The following table summarizes unrecognized stock-based compensation expense as of March 31, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrecognized Expense (In Thousands) |
|
|
Weighted-Average Remaining Period of Recognition (In Years) |
|
Restricted stock units |
|
$ |
22,595 |
|
|
|
3.87 |
|
Stock options |
|
|
30,753 |
|
|
|
3.37 |
|
Total unrecognized equity-based compensation expense |
|
$ |
53,348 |
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock Units
For purposes of calculating stock-based compensation, the Company determines the fair value of the restricted stock units based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of grant.
On February 7, 2024, the Company granted a restricted stock unit award for 36,666 shares of common stock outside of the 2021 Plan to its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, Jean Franchi, as an inducement for entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The restricted stock unit award vests with respect to 25% of the underlying shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the vesting date as set by the Company policy, subject to Ms. Franchi’s continued employment with the Company.
On February 26, 2024, the Company granted a restricted stock unit award for 36,666 shares of common stock outside of the 2021 Plan to its newly appointed Chief Commercial Officer, Pamela Stephenson, as an inducement for entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The restricted stock unit award vests with respect to 25% of the underlying shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the vesting date as set by the Company policy, subject to Ms. Stephenson’s continued employment with the Company.
The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Units |
|
|
Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|
Restricted stock units as of December 31, 2023 |
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Granted |
|
|
371,034 |
|
|
$ |
64.14 |
|
Forfeited |
|
|
(2,320 |
) |
|
$ |
63.90 |
|
Restricted stock units as of March 31, 2024 |
|
|
368,714 |
|
|
$ |
64.14 |
|
Stock Options
For purposes of calculating stock-based compensation, the Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model incorporates various assumptions, including the expected volatility, expected term, and interest rates.
On February 7, 2024, the Company granted an option to purchase 55,000 shares of common stock outside of the 2021 Plan to its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, Jean Franchi, as an inducement for entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option award has a ten-year term, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting and becoming exercisable on February 7, 2025, and the balance of the option award vesting in equal monthly installments over 36 months thereafter, subject to Ms. Franchi’s continued employment with the Company, and has an exercise price of $65.25.
On February 26, 2024, the Company granted an option to purchase 55,000 shares of common stock outside of the 2021 Plan to its newly appointed Chief Commercial Officer, Pamela Stephenson, as an inducement for entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option award has a ten-year term, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting and becoming exercisable on February 26, 2025, and the balance of the option award vesting in equal monthly installments over 36 months thereafter, subject to Ms. Stephenson’s continued employment with the Company, and has an exercise price of $64.66.
The following table summarizes stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Options |
|
|
Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
|
|
Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (In Years) |
|
|
Aggregate Intrinsic Value (In Thousands) |
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
2,459,037 |
|
|
$ |
13.82 |
|
|
|
7.81 |
|
|
$ |
109,078 |
|
Granted |
|
|
616,871 |
|
|
|
64.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
|
(95,467 |
) |
|
|
8.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited |
|
|
(30,924 |
) |
|
|
50.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired |
|
|
(1,244 |
) |
|
|
14.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2024 |
|
|
2,948,273 |
|
|
$ |
24.23 |
|
|
|
8.05 |
|
|
$ |
114,368 |
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2024 |
|
|
1,329,424 |
|
|
$ |
10.67 |
|
|
|
6.99 |
|
|
$ |
69,546 |
|
The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the common stock as of the end of the period. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $5.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
The weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Risk-free interest rate |
|
|
4.01 |
% |
|
|
3.86 |
% |
Expected term (in years) |
|
|
6.03 |
|
|
|
6.05 |
|
Expected volatility |
|
|
58 |
% |
|
|
62 |
% |
Expected dividend yield |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
Fair value per share of common stock |
|
$ |
64.59 |
|
|
$ |
23.10 |
|
The total fair value of options vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
Shares of Restricted Common Stock
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had issued 63,061 shares of restricted common stock to the founders of Disc Medicine, Inc. prior to the merger (now known as Disc Medicine OpCo, Inc.), pursuant to subscription agreements and to certain key employees pursuant to the Private Disc Plan at $0.0001 per share. The stock restrictions relate to the sale and transferability of the stock and lapse over the defined vesting period in the restricted stock agreement. The vesting period is generally contingent upon continued employment or consulting services being provided to the Company. In the event of termination, the Company has the right, but not the obligation to repurchase the unvested shares at the original purchase price. As of March 31, 2024, these awards of restricted common stock were fully vested.
A summary of restricted common stock activity is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Unvested at the beginning of the year |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,916 |
|
Vested |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(958 |
) |
Unvested at the end of the period |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
958 |
|
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, 5,736 shares and zero shares, respectively, of common stock were issued under the 2021 ESPP.
11. Income Taxes
The Company did not record a provision or benefit for federal income taxes during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company recorded state income tax expense of less than $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, due to interest income. The Company continues to maintain a full valuation allowance against all of its deferred tax assets.
The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence involving its ability to realize its deferred tax assets and has considered its history of cumulative net losses incurred since inception and its lack of any commercially ready products. The Company has concluded that it is more likely than not that it will not realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets. The Company reevaluates the positive and negative evidence at each reporting period.
The Company has never been examined by the Internal Revenue Service or any other jurisdiction for any tax years and, as such, all years within the applicable statutes of limitations are potentially subject to audit.
12. Net Loss Per Share
Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding. The weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the basic and diluted net loss per share calculation includes the pre-funded warrants issued in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering in June 2023 of 204,081 and registered direct offering in February 2023 of 1,229,224, as the pre-funded warrants are exercisable for nominal cash consideration. In September 2023, 1,229,224 of the pre-funded warrants were exercised in a cashless transaction which resulted in 1,229,221 shares of common stock being issued to the investor. As of March 31, 2024, 204,081 pre-funded warrants were outstanding.
The Company has generated a net loss in all periods presented, so the basic and diluted net loss per share are the same, as the inclusion of the potentially dilutive securities would be anti-dilutive. The Company excluded the following from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
Unvested restricted common stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
958 |
|
Restricted stock units |
|
|
368,714 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Options to purchase common stock |
|
|
2,948,273 |
|
|
|
2,527,513 |
|
Employee stock purchase program |
|
|
1,919 |
|
|
|
— |
|
13. Commitments and Contingencies
Indemnification Agreements
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to its vendors, lessors, contract research organizations, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its Board that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. The Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications and is not currently aware of any indemnification claims.
Legal Proceedings
The Company, from time to time, may be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company was not subject to any material legal proceedings during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 and, to the best of its knowledge, no material legal proceedings are currently pending or threatened.
Payments Upon Termination
The Company enters into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs, CDMOs and other third parties for preclinical studies, clinical trials and manufacturing services. These contracts typically do not contain minimum purchase commitments and are generally cancelable by the Company upon written notice. Payments due upon cancellation consist of payments for services provided or expenses incurred, including noncancelable obligations of the Company’s service providers, up to the date of cancellation and, in the case of certain arrangements with CROs and CDMOs, may include noncancelable fees. Under such agreements, the exact amounts owed by the Company in the event of termination will be based on the timing of the termination and the exact terms of the agreement. As of March 31, 2024, the Company has not recognized any amounts related to these contingencies as the amount and timing of such payments are not fixed and estimable.
14. Leases
The Company is a tenant under a lease and sublease of office space in Watertown, Massachusetts, both operating leases. There have been no material changes to the Company’s leases during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. For additional information, please refer to Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
15. Related Party Transactions
In February 2023, certain existing investors participated in the Company’s registered direct offering (see Note 9).
In March 2023, the Company executed a promissory note for an aggregate principal amount of $0.5 million from an existing investor. The Company did not use these funds and repaid the note four days later, recording a de minimis amount of interest expense based on the then Federal funds rate for short term loans of 4.5% per annum.
In June 2023, an existing investor participated in the Company’s follow-on offering. For a description of the follow-on public offering, please refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
16. Subsequent Events
The Company has completed an evaluation of all subsequent events after the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet date of March 31, 2024 through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued to ensure that these condensed consolidated financial statements include appropriate disclosure of events both recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2024, and events which occurred subsequently but were not recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company had no non-recognizable subsequent events.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing at the beginning of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments for patients suffering from serious hematologic diseases. We have assembled a portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates that aim to modify fundamental biological pathways associated with the formation and function of red blood cells, specifically heme biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. Our current pipeline includes bitopertin for the treatment of erythropoietic porphyrias, or EPs, including erythropoietic protoporphyria, or EPP, and X-linked protoporphyria, or XLP, and Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, or DBA; DISC-0974 for the treatment of anemia of myelofibrosis, or MF, and anemia of chronic kidney disease, or CKD; and DISC-3405 (formerly MWTX-003) for the treatment of polycythemia vera, or PV, and other hematologic disorders. In addition, our preclinical programs also include DISC-0998, for the treatment of anemia associated with inflammatory diseases. Our approach to product candidate development leverages well-understood molecular mechanisms that have been validated in humans. We believe that each of our product candidates, if approved, has the potential to improve the lives of patients suffering from hematologic diseases.
Bitopertin is the lead product candidate in our heme biosynthesis modulation portfolio. Bitopertin was previously evaluated by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., or collectively, Roche, in a comprehensive clinical program in over 4,000 individuals in other indications which demonstrated the activity of bitopertin as a glycine transporter 1, or GlyT1, inhibitor and its effect on heme biosynthesis. We are initially developing bitopertin for the treatment of EPs, including EPP and XLP. In July 2022, we initiated BEACON, a Phase 2 open-label, parallel-dose clinical trial of bitopertin in EPP and XLP patients that is being conducted at sites in Australia. In October 2022, we initiated AURORA, a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of bitopertin in EPP patients that is being conducted at sites in the United States. We presented interim data from BEACON in June and December 2023, and we presented topline data from AURORA in April 2024. Additional analyses of the BEACON and AURORA trials are anticipated to be presented in the second quarter of 2024. We expect to have regulatory interactions to define optimal registrational endpoints moving forward in EPP in the second half of 2024. We entered into a collaborative research and development agreement with the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to conduct an NIH-sponsored clinical trial of bitopertin in DBA. The FDA authorized the clinical trial to proceed and the trial began in July 2023. We are planning additional trials of bitopertin in other indications.
DISC-0974 is the lead product candidate in our iron homeostasis portfolio and was in-licensed from AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, or AbbVie. DISC-0974 is designed to suppress hepcidin production and increase serum iron levels. We submitted an IND to the FDA for DISC-0974 in June 2021, received clearance in July 2021, and participants completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers in the U.S. in June 2022 with results showing an acceptable tolerability profile and evidence of target engagement, iron mobilization and augmented erythropoiesis. We initiated a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in June 2022 in patients with anemia of MF, and initiated a separate Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in February 2023 in patients with non-dialysis dependent CKD and anemia. We presented interim data from both of these trials in December 2023 and anticipate presenting additional interim data for anemia of MF in the second quarter of 2024, including safety and changes in hepcidin, iron, and hemoglobin levels for additional patients, as well as longer follow-up. We anticipate presenting additional interim data for non-dialysis dependent CKD and anemia in second half of 2024. In addition, we are developing a preclinical anti-hemojuvelin, or HJV, monoclonal antibody, DISC-0998, which also targets hepcidin suppression and was in-licensed from AbbVie. DISC-0998 is designed to increase serum iron levels and has an extended serum half-life as compared to DISC-0974. We believe this profile may be desirable in certain subsets of patients with anemia associated with inflammatory diseases.
Lastly, we are developing DISC-3405, a monoclonal antibody against Transmembrane Serine Protease 6, or TMPRSS6, that we licensed from Mabwell Therapeutics, Inc., or Mabwell. DISC-3405 is part of our iron homeostasis portfolio and is designed to induce hepcidin production and reduce serum iron levels. An IND for DISC-3405 was cleared by the FDA, and a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adult volunteers was initiated in October 2023. Interim data is anticipated to be presented in the first and second halves of 2024. We expect to develop DISC-3405 for the treatment of PV and other hematologic disorders.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue since our inception and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the near future, if at all. If our development efforts are successful and result in commercialization of one or more product candidates or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales, payments from such collaboration or license agreements or a combination thereof.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the research and development of our product candidates. These expenses include:
•employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense, for personnel engaged in research and development functions;
•expenses incurred in connection with our research and development activities, including under agreements with third parties such as consultants, contractors and CROs;
•costs related to contract development and manufacturing organizations, or CDMOs, that are primarily engaged to provide drug substance and product for our preclinical studies, clinical trials and research and development programs, as well as investigative sites and consultants that conduct our clinical trials, preclinical studies and other scientific development services;
•the costs of acquiring and manufacturing preclinical study and clinical trial materials, including manufacturing registration and validation batches;
•costs related to compliance with quality and regulatory requirements; and
•payments made under third-party licensing agreements.
We expense research and development costs as incurred. Costs incurred for external development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information provided to us by our vendors. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and may be reflected in our condensed consolidated financial statements as prepaid or accrued expenses. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered or the services rendered.
We typically use our employee and infrastructure resources across product candidates and development programs. We track external development costs by product candidate or development program, but we do not allocate personnel costs or other internal costs to specific product candidates or development programs.
We expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially as we advance our programs into and through clinical development. At this time, we cannot accurately estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the preclinical and clinical development of any product candidates we may develop. A change in the outcome of any number of variables with respect to product candidates we may develop could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. We may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any product candidates we may develop. The successful development of any product candidate is highly uncertain. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, including the following:
•the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities;
•the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
•the ability to raise additional funds necessary to complete clinical development of and commercialize our product candidates;
•our ability to establish new licensing or collaboration arrangements and the progress of the development efforts of third parties with whom we may enter into such arrangements;
•our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new programs;
•the successful initiation, enrollment and completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority;
•the receipt and related terms of regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities for any product candidates;
•the availability of raw materials for use in production of our product candidates;
•establishing agreements with third-party manufacturers for supply of product candidate components for our clinical trials;
•our ability to obtain and maintain patents, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity, both in the United States and internationally;
•our ability to protect our other rights in our intellectual property portfolio;
•commercializing product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and
•obtaining and maintaining third-party insurance coverage and adequate reimbursement for any approved products.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs for personnel in executive, finance, commercial, corporate and business development, and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters, including noncapitalizable transaction costs; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax compliance and administrative consulting services; investor and public relations expenses; commercial planning; director and officer insurance costs and other insurance costs; and facility related expenses including maintenance and allocated expenses for rent and other operating costs.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase substantially in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued research and development and potential commercialization of our product candidates.
Other Income
Interest Income
Interest income primarily consists of interest earned on cash equivalents, consisting of money market funds, U.S. treasury notes and certificates of deposit.
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Value Right Liability
In December 2022, we entered into the CVR agreement, described in more detail in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Note 3 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which provided a CVR to Gemini’s pre-merger common stockholders to receive common stock from the Company upon its receipt of certain proceeds, calculated in accordance with the CVR agreement, resulting from a disposition of Gemini’s pre-merger assets within one year after the closing of the merger. The disposition period ended December 29, 2023 and no dispositions of Gemini’s pre-merger assets were made during the disposition period. Therefore, there were no CVR payments made to the holders and there will not be any future CVR payments to the holders. Prior to December 29, 2023, the CVR liability was measured at fair value as of each reporting date and the change in the fair value for the period, if any, was recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the change in fair value of contingent value right liability. The change in fair value of the CVR liability was de minimis for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development |
|
$ |
23,704 |
|
|
$ |
20,180 |
|
|
$ |
3,524 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
7,758 |
|
|
|
4,945 |
|
|
|
2,813 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
31,462 |
|
|
|
25,125 |
|
|
|
6,337 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(31,462 |
) |
|
|
(25,125 |
) |
|
|
(6,337 |
) |
Other income (expense), net: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
|
|
4,519 |
|
|
|
2,367 |
|
|
|
2,152 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
4,518 |
|
|
|
2,367 |
|
|
|
2,151 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
(26,944 |
) |
|
|
(22,758 |
) |
|
|
(4,186 |
) |
Income tax expense |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
18 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(26,949 |
) |
|
$ |
(22,781 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,168 |
) |
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
Bitopertin |
|
$ |
6,369 |
|
|
$ |
2,582 |
|
|
$ |
3,787 |
|
DISC-3405 |
|
|
4,701 |
|
|
|
10,042 |
|
|
|
(5,341 |
) |
DISC-0974 |
|
|
3,771 |
|
|
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
1,256 |
|
Other research programs and expenses |
|
|
2,429 |
|
|
|
1,921 |
|
|
|
508 |
|
Personnel-related (including equity-based compensation) |
|
|
6,434 |
|
|
|
3,120 |
|
|
|
3,314 |
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
23,704 |
|
|
$ |
20,180 |
|
|
$ |
3,524 |
|
Research and development expenses were $23.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $20.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase of $3.5 million in research and development expenses was primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in bitopertin development expense related to increased clinical study and drug manufacturing activity, and a $3.3 million increase in personnel-related costs related to higher research and development headcount, including an increase of $1.2 million in stock-based compensation driven by the Company's annual grant to employees in January 2024; partially offset by a $5.3 million decrease related to the DISC-3405 program which incurred $10.0 million in an upfront license fee in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
Personnel-related (including equity-based compensation) |
|
$ |
4,815 |
|
|
$ |
2,082 |
|
|
$ |
2,733 |
|
Legal, consulting and professional fees |
|
|
2,138 |
|
|
|
1,928 |
|
|
|
210 |
|
Other expenses |
|
|
805 |
|
|
|
935 |
|
|
|
(130 |
) |
Total general and administrative expenses |
|
$ |
7,758 |
|
|
$ |
4,945 |
|
|
$ |
2,813 |
|
General and administrative expenses were $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase of $2.8 million in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase of $2.7 million in personnel-related costs due to higher general and administrative headcount, including an increase of $1.8 million in stock-based compensation driven by the Company's annual grant to employees in January 2024.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income, net was $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to other income, net of $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The change of $2.2 million in other income (expense), net was primarily due to an increase in interest income based on a larger cash and cash equivalents balance and higher interest rates.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023. This expense relates to state income tax resulting from interest income.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since our inception, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and have incurred significant operating losses. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses in the foreseeable future as we advance the clinical development of our product candidates. We expect that our research and development and general and administrative costs will continue to increase significantly, including in connection with conducting clinical trials and manufacturing for our product candidates to support commercialization and providing general and administrative support for our operations, including the costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional equity or debt financings, collaborations, licensing arrangements or other sources. See “Risk Factors” for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from the sale of our convertible preferred stock and common stock, the proceeds from the merger with Gemini, proceeds from at-the-market offerings, proceeds from a registered direct offering and proceeds from a follow-on public offering. Through March 31, 2024, we have received net proceeds of $144.5 million from sales of our Series Seed, Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock, $89.5 million from the merger with Gemini, $53.5 million from sales of common stock in a pre-closing private financing, $62.4 million from sales of common stock and pre-funded warrants in a registered direct offering, $147.9 million from sales of common stock and pre-funded warrants in a public follow-on offering and $41.3 million from at-the-market offerings. As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $342.6 million.
We have incurred significant operating losses since incepti