Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
1. Organization and operations
The Company
Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company that was incorporated in Delaware on August 16, 2006 and has a principal place of business in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Company seeks to discover and develop novel cancer immunotherapies using its ATLASTM proprietary discovery platform. The ATLAS platform profiles each patient's CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune responses to every potential target or “antigen” in that patient's tumor. The Company believes that this approach optimizes antigen selection for immunotherapies such as cancer vaccines and cellular therapies. Consequently, the Company believes that ATLAS could lead to more immunogenic and efficacious cancer immunotherapies.
The Company’s most advanced program is GEN-009, a personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine, for which it is conducting a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. The GEN-009 program uses ATLAS to identify neoantigens, or immunogenic tumor mutations unique to each patient, for inclusion in each patient's GEN-009 vaccine. The Company is also advancing GEN-011, a neoantigen-specific adoptive T cell therapy program that also relies on ATLAS. In September 2020, the Company received notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) that it has accepted the Company's Investigational New Drug (“IND”) Application for GEN-011 to initiate a Phase 1/2a clinical trial. The Company is currently initiating sites for this clinical trial.
The Company is devoting substantially all of its efforts to product research and development, initial market development, and raising capital. The Company has not generated any product revenue related to its primary business purpose to date and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties common to companies in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, including, but not limited to, the risks associated with the uncertainty of success of its preclinical and clinical trials; the challenges associated with gaining regulatory approval of product candidates; the risks associated with commercializing pharmaceutical products, if approved for marketing and sale; the potential for development by third parties of new technological innovations that may compete with the Company’s products; the dependence on key personnel; the challenges of protecting proprietary technology; the need to comply with government regulations; the high cost of drug development; competition from other companies; the uncertainty of being able to secure additional capital when needed to fund operations; and the challenges and uncertainty associated with the outbreak of the coronavirus, or referred to as COVID-19, that have arisen in the global economy, that could adversely impact the Company's operations, supply chain, preclinical development work, clinical trials and ability to raise capital.
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (“ASC 205-40”), requires the Company to evaluate whether conditions and/or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to meet its future financial obligations as they become due within one year after the financial statements are issued. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $359.7 million and anticipates that it will continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future as it continues to develop its product candidates. Until such time, if ever, as the Company can generate substantial product revenue and achieve profitability, the Company expects to finance its cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, strategic transactions, or other sources of funding. If the Company is unable to raise additional funds when needed, the Company may be required to implement further cost reduction strategies, including ceasing development of GEN-009, GEN-011 or other corporate programs and activities.
As reflected in the consolidated financial statements, the Company had available cash and cash equivalents of $87.6 million at September 30, 2020. In addition, the Company had cash used in operating activities of $32.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The Company’s available cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2020 are expected to fund operations to mid-2022.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”). The Company's accounting policies are described in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the Company's 2019 Form 10-K and updated, as necessary, in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The December 31, 2019 condensed consolidated balance sheet data presented for comparative purposes were derived from the Company's audited financial statements but do not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year or for any other subsequent interim period.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include those accounts of the Company and a wholly owned subsidiary after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. The Company operates as one segment, which is discovering, researching, developing and commercializing novel cancer immunotherapies.
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, which include, but are not limited to, estimates related to clinical trial accruals, estimates related to prepaid and accrued manufacturing and research and development expenses, revenue recognition, and warrant liabilities, which could change period to period based on changes in facts and circumstances. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.
Significant accounting policies
There were no changes to significant accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the those disclosed in the 2019 Form 10-K, except as set forth below.
Foreign Currency Translation
Realized and unrealized gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are reflected as other (expense) income, net in the consolidated statements of operations in accordance with ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC 830”).
Revenue Recognition
In accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for these goods and services. To achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five steps: 1) identify the customer contract; 2) identify the contract’s performance obligations; 3) determine the transaction price; 4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and 5) recognize revenue when or as a performance obligation is satisfied.
Licensing arrangements are analyzed to determine whether the promised goods or services, which include licenses and research and development materials and services, are distinct or whether they must be accounted for as part of a combined performance obligation. If the license is considered not to be distinct, the license would then be combined with other promised goods or services as a combined performance obligation. Certain contracts contain options to obtain future goods or services at a discount, which would not be provided without entering into the contract. These options are considered material rights, and therefore, are accounted for as separate performance obligations.
The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled. The consideration promised may include fixed amounts, variable amounts, or both. For milestone payments, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration by using the most likely amount method. In making this assessment, the Company evaluates factors such as the clinical, commercial and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the milestone. The Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such variable consideration and any related constraints at each reporting period. The Company includes variable consideration in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.
If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price among the performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis unless the transaction price is variable and meets the criteria to be allocated entirely to a performance obligation or to a distinct good or service that forms part of a single performance obligation.
The Company allocates the transaction price based on the estimated standalone selling price of the underlying performance obligations. The Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the standalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company utilizes key assumptions to determine the standalone selling price, which may include other comparable transactions, pricing considered in negotiating the transaction and the estimated costs to complete the respective performance obligation. Certain variable consideration is allocated specifically to one or more performance obligations in a contract when the terms of the variable consideration relate to the satisfaction of the performance obligation and the resulting amounts allocated to each performance obligation are consistent with the amount the Company would expect to receive for each performance obligation. The transaction price is generally allocated to each separate performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.
When a performance obligation is satisfied, revenue is recognized for the amount of the transaction price allocated to that performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis, which excludes estimates of variable consideration that are constrained. Significant management judgment is required in determining the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which the Company is expected to complete its performance obligations under an arrangement.
For performance obligations consisting of licenses and other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and the recognition pattern of non-refundable, up-front fees.
Contract liabilities
The Company records a contract liability, classified as deferred revenue on its condensed consolidated balance sheet, when it has received payment but has not yet satisfied the related performance obligations. In the event of an early termination of a contract with customer, any contract liabilities would be recognized in the period in which all Company obligations under the agreement have been fulfilled.
New Accounting Pronouncements
The following new accounting pronouncements were adopted by the Company on January 1, 2020:
In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which amends the impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables and available-for-sale debt securities. The Company early adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. Based on the composition of the Company's investment portfolio, which includes only money market funds, and the insignificance of the Company's other financial assets, current market conditions, and historical credit loss activity, the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The new standard requires public entities to disclose certain new information and modifies some disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the standard on the required effective date of January 1, 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company's disclosures.
In 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (“ASU 2018-15”). ASU 2018-15 requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance in Accounting Standards Codification 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to defer and recognize as an asset. The Company adopted the standard on the required effective date of January 1, 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
The following new accounting pronouncement has been issued but is not yet effective:
In 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes and will be effective beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2019-12 in the consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems.
3. Revenue
In May 2020, the Company entered into a material transfer agreement (the “MTA”) with Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (“Shionogi”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to transfer certain HSV-2 antigens from its GEN-003 program to Shionogi to evaluate the potential development of a novel HSV-2 vaccine. In connection with the agreement, the Company provided Shionogi with an option to negotiate an exclusive development and commercialization license for the HSV-2 antigens.
Under the terms of the MTA, Shionogi paid the Company a total of $3.0 million in non-refundable, creditable (with respect to the up-front fee pursuant to a development and commercialization agreement) fees. Prior to the expiration of the MTA, Shionogi has the option to negotiate a development and commercialization agreement. If executed, the terms of the development and commercialization agreement are expected to include an upfront payment, regulatory and sales milestones, and tiered royalties. Final terms of the development and commercialization agreement will be based on evaluation of the HSV-2 assets and overall diligence. If licensed, Shionogi will assume responsibility for global development and commercialization of an HSV-2 vaccine product.
Management evaluated the promised goods and services within the MTA and determined those which represented separate performance obligations. As a result, management concluded there were two separate performance obligations at the inception of the MTA: (i) a combined performance obligation consisting of a limited use research license and the delivery of the initial antigen materials and (ii) the right to negotiate a license prior to expiration of the MTA, which was deemed to be a material right. The Company determined that the exclusive limited use research license and the delivery of the initial antigen materials should be combined as they are not capable of being distinct. A third party would not be able to provide the initial antigen materials as it contains the Company’s proprietary intellectual property and Shionogi could not benefit from the research license without the initial antigen materials. The Company determined that the option to negotiate the development and commercialization agreement prior to the expiration of the MTA is a material right. The $3.0 million fee associated with the MTA is creditable against the upfront fee for the development and commercialization agreement and represents a discount that would otherwise not be available to the customer without entering into the MTA.
The Company estimated the standalone selling price of the initial antigen materials based on the expected cost plus a margin approach. The Company developed its standalone selling price for the material right by applying a probability-weighted likelihood that Shionogi will exercise its option to license the HSV-2 assets.
At inception, the transaction price was comprised of fixed and variable consideration. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company determined a constraint was no longer required. As a result, the Company revised its initial relative sales price analysis to include the variable consideration so that the total transaction price is $3.0 million.
The initial amount allocated to the limited use research license and the delivery of the initial antigen materials, or $0.9 million, was recognized upon delivery of the materials to Shionogi in the three months ended June 30, 2020. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded an additional $0.5 million of license revenue attributable to the variable consideration that is now included in the transaction price. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded $1.4 million in license revenue related to the MTA with Shionogi. The $1.6 million allocated to the material right is considered a contract liability and is recorded as deferred revenue on the Company's condensed balance sheet. Revenue associated with the material right will be recognized upon either (i) the execution of a development and commercialization agreement or (ii) the termination of the MTA.
4. Fair value of financial instruments
The Company has certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value which have been classified as Level 1, 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy as described in the accounting standards for fair value measurements.
•Level 1—Fair values are determined by utilizing quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access;
•Level 2—Fair values are determined by utilizing quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other market observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves and foreign currency spot rates; and
•Level 3—Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
The Company's financial assets consist of cash equivalents and the Company's financial liabilities consist of warrant liabilities.
The fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents is determined using quoted prices in active markets. The Company's cash equivalents consist of money market funds that are classified as Level 1.
The fair value of the Company’s warrant liabilities is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation. See Note 9. Warrants for assumptions used and methodologies utilized in calculating the estimated fair value. The Company’s warrant liabilities are classified as Level 3.
The following table sets forth the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
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Quoted prices in active markets
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Significant other observable inputs
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Significant unobservable inputs
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Total
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(Level 1)
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(Level 2)
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(Level 3)
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September 30, 2020
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|
|
Assets:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents
|
$
|
87,278
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|
|
$
|
87,278
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Total assets
|
$
|
87,278
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|
|
$
|
87,278
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrant liabilities
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$
|
53,237
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|
|
$
|
—
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
53,237
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Total liabilities
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$
|
53,237
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|
|
$
|
—
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
53,237
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|
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|
|
|
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|
December 31, 2019
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Assets:
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Cash equivalents
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$
|
39,971
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|
|
$
|
39,971
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Total assets
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$
|
39,971
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|
|
$
|
39,971
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Liabilities:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Warrant liabilities
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$
|
2,486
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
2,486
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Total liabilities
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$
|
2,486
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|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
2,486
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|
The following table reflects the change in the Company’s Level 3 warrant liabilities (in thousands):
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|
|
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|
|
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Warrant Liabilities
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Balance at December 31, 2019
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|
$
|
2,486
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Issuance of Warrants
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|
62,521
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Change in fair value
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|
(11,770)
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|
|
|
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Balance at September 30, 2020
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|
$
|
53,237
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5. Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
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|
|
September 30,
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December 31,
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2020
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2019
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Payroll and employee-related costs
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$
|
2,429
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|
|
$
|
2,245
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Research and development costs
|
2,110
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|
|
1,607
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|
Other current liabilities
|
1,245
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|
|
759
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Total
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$
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5,784
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|
|
$
|
4,611
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6. Commitments and contingencies
Operating leases
As of September 30, 2020, the Company has a lease for two floors of lab and office space in a multi-tenant building in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), (“ASC 842”), using the required retrospective approach and utilizing the effective date as the date of initial application. The Company's lease contains both an extension of an existing lease and an expansion for additional office and lab space. Both the extension and the expansion expire in February 2025. The Company's right to use and control the expansion space began in March 2020. As a result, the Company recognized an increase in the right of use (“ROU”) assets of $5.9 million and associated lease liabilities of $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2020. The Company has the option to extend the lease term for an additional five years, which is not included in the Company's ROU assets and associated lease liabilities as of September 30, 2020.
For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 lease expense, net of sublease income, was $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 lease expense, net of sublease income, was $2.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
The weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate of the Company's operating leases are as follows:
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2020
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Weighted average remaining lease term in years
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|
4.42
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|
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Weighted average discount rate
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|
8.13
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%
|
|
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Finance lease
In December 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to lease lab equipment for a term of 15 months. The Company determined that the agreement qualifies as a finance lease based on the criteria that the Company holds the option to purchase the asset and is reasonably certain to exercise at the end of the lease term. The ROU asset and lease liability were calculated using an incremental borrowing rate of 7.95%. Lease payments on this lease began in January 2020.
The following table summarizes the presentation in the Company's consolidated balance sheets:
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Leases (in thousands)
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Classification
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|
September 30, 2020
|
|
December 31, 2019
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Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
Lease ROU asset
|
|
$
|
10,677
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|
|
$
|
6,156
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|
Finance
|
|
Lease ROU asset
|
|
60
|
|
|
150
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|
Total lease assets
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|
|
|
$
|
10,737
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|
|
$
|
6,306
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|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
$
|
2,036
|
|
|
$
|
990
|
|
Finance
|
|
Lease liabilities
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|
44
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|
|
127
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|
Non-current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
Lease liabilities, net of current portion
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|
8,941
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|
|
5,373
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|
Finance
|
|
Lease liabilities, net of current portion
|
|
—
|
|
|
22
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|
Total lease liabilities
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|
|
|
$
|
11,021
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|
|
$
|
6,512
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|
The minimum lease payments related to the Company's operating and finance leases in accordance with ASC 842 as of September 30, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
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|
|
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Operating leases
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Finance lease
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Total
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2020
|
$
|
703
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|
|
$
|
22
|
|
|
$
|
725
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|
2021
|
2,871
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|
|
23
|
|
|
2,894
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|
2022
|
2,943
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|
|
—
|
|
|
2,943
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|
2023
|
3,017
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|
|
—
|
|
|
3,017
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2024 and thereafter
|
3,609
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|
|
—
|
|
|
3,609
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Total lease payments
|
$
|
13,143
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|
|
$
|
45
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|
|
$
|
13,188
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Less imputed interest
|
(2,166)
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|
|
(1)
|
|
|
(2,167)
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Total
|
$
|
10,977
|
|
|
$
|
44
|
|
|
$
|
11,021
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|
At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had an outstanding letter of credit of $0.6 million, with a financial institution related to a security deposit for the office and lab space lease, which is secured by cash on deposit and expires in February 2025.
Contractual obligations
The Company has entered into certain agreements with various universities, contract research organizations (“CROs”) and contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), which generally include cancellation clauses.
Harvard University License Agreement
The Company has an exclusive license agreement with Harvard University (“Harvard”), granting the Company an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to three patent families, to develop, make, have made, use, market, offer for sale, sell, have sold and import licensed products and to perform licensed services related to the ATLAS discovery platform. The Company is also obligated to pay Harvard milestone payments up to $1.6 million in the aggregate upon the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has paid $0.3 million in aggregate milestone payments. The Company is obligated under this license agreement to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, market and sell licensed products in compliance with an agreed upon development plan. In addition, the Company is obligated to achieve specified development milestones and in the event the Company is unable to meet its development milestones for any type of product or service, absent any reasonable proposed extension or amendment thereof, Harvard has the right, depending on the type of product or service, to terminate this agreement with respect to such products or to convert the license to a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable license with respect to such products and services.
Upon commercialization of our products covered by the licensed patent rights or discovered using the licensed methods, the Company is obligated to pay Harvard royalties on the net sales of such products and services sold by the Company, the Company's affiliates, and the Company's sublicensees. This royalty varies depending on the type of product or service but is in the low single digits. The sales-based royalty due by the Company’s sublicensees is the greater of the applicable royalty rate or a percentage in the high single digits or the low double digits of the royalties the Company receives from such sublicensee, depending on the type of product. Based on the type of commercialized product or service, royalties are payable until the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim under the licensed patent rights or for a period of 10 years from first commercial sale of such product or service. The royalties payable to Harvard are subject to reduction, capped at a specified percentage, for any third-party payments required to be made. In addition to the royalty payments, if the Company receives any additional revenue (cash or non-cash) under any sublicense, the Company must pay Harvard a percentage of such revenue, excluding certain categories of payments, varying from the low single digits to up to the low double digits depending on the scope of the license that includes the sublicense.
The license agreement with Harvard will expire on a product-by-product or service-by-service and country-by-country basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim under the licensed patent rights. The Company may terminate the agreement at any time by giving Harvard advance written notice. Harvard may also terminate the agreement in the event of a material breach by the Company that remains uncured; in the event of our insolvency, bankruptcy, or similar circumstances; or if the Company challenges the validity of any patents licensed to us.
Oncovir License and Supply Agreement
In January 2018, the Company entered into a License and Supply Agreement with Oncovir, Inc. (“Oncovir”). The agreement provides the terms and conditions under which Oncovir will manufacture and supply an immunomodulator and vaccine adjuvant, Hiltonol® (poly-ICLC) (“Hiltonol”), to the Company for use in connection with the research, development, use, sale, manufacture, commercialization and marketing of products combining Hiltonol with the Company's technology (the “Combination Product”). Hiltonol is the adjuvant component of GEN-009, which will consist of synthetic long peptides or neoantigens identified using the Company's proprietary ATLAS platform, formulated with Hiltonol.
Oncovir granted the Company a non-exclusive, assignable, royalty-bearing worldwide license, with the right to grant sublicenses through one tier, to certain of Oncovir’s intellectual property in connection with the research, development, or commercialization of Combination Products, including the use of Hiltonol, but not the use of Hiltonol for manufacturing or the use or sale of Hiltonol alone. The license will become perpetual, fully paid-up, and royalty-free on the later of January 25, 2028 or the date on which the last valid claim of any patent licensed to the Company under the agreement expires.
Under this agreement, the Company is obligated to pay Oncovir low to mid six figure milestone payments upon the achievement of certain clinical trial milestones for each Combination Product and the first marketing approval for each Combination Product in certain territories, as well as tiered royalties in the low-single digits on a product-by-product basis based on the net sales of Combination Products.
The Company may terminate the agreement upon a decision to discontinue the development of the Combination Product or upon a determination by the Company or an applicable regulatory authority that Hiltonol or a Combination Product is not clinically safe or effective. The agreement may also be terminated by either party due to a material uncured breach by the other party, or due to the other party’s bankruptcy, insolvency, or dissolution.
7. Debt
In April 2018, the Company entered into an amended and restated loan and security agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc (“Hercules”), which was subsequently amended in November 2019 (as amended, the “2018 Term Loan”). The 2018 Term Loan provides a $14.0 million term loan. The 2018 Term Loan matures on May 1, 2021 and accrues interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) 8.00%, or (ii) the sum of 3.00% plus the prime rate. The 2018 Loan Agreement provides for interest-only payments until January 1, 2021. Thereafter, payments will include equal installments of principal and interest through maturity. The 2018 Term Loan may be prepaid subject to a prepayment charge. The Company is obligated to pay an additional end of term charge of $1.0 million at maturity.
The 2018 Term Loan is secured by a lien on substantially all assets of the Company, other than intellectual property. Hercules has a perfected first-priority security interest in certain cash, cash equivalents and investment accounts. The 2018 Term Loan contains non-financial covenants, representations and a Material Adverse Effect provision, as defined herein. There are no financial covenants. A “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon: (i) the business, operations, properties, assets or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company; (ii) the ability of the Company to perform the secured obligations in accordance with the terms of the loan documents, or the ability of agent or lender to enforce any of its rights or remedies with respect to the secured obligations; or (iii) the collateral or agent’s liens on the collateral or the priority of such liens. Any event that has a Material Adverse Effect or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is an event of default under the Loan Agreement and repayment of amounts due under the Loan Agreement may be accelerated by Hercules under the same terms as an event of default. As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all covenants of the 2018 Term Loan. The 2018 Term Loan is automatically redeemable upon a change in control. At September 30, 2020, the entire debt balance is current based on the contractual payment terms.
In connection with the 2018 Term Loan, the Company issued common stock warrants to Hercules (the “Hercules Warrant”). See Note 9. Warrants.
As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $13.7 million and $13.4 million, respectively. Interest expense was $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Future principal payments of $14.0 million, including the end of term charges, are due in 2021.
8. Stockholders' equity
Effective June 2, 2020, the Company increased the number of authorized shares of common stock from 85.0 million shares to 170.0 million shares.
2020 Private Placement
In July 2020, the Company completed a private placement (the “2020 Private Placement”) and received net cash proceeds of approximately $74.5 million. In connection with the 2020 Private Placement, the Company issued approximately 21.4 million shares of its common stock, approximately 12.2 million pre-funded warrants to purchase additional shares of its common stock (the “2020 Pre-Funded Warrants”) and warrants to purchase approximately 33.6 million shares of its common stock (the “2020 Warrants”). See Note 9. Warrants.
In connection with the 2020 Private Placement, the Company incurred approximately $5.4 million of issuance costs. The Company allocated approximately $1.2 million of the issuance costs to the common stock and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants within additional paid-in capital and immediately expensed approximately $4.2 million of the issuance costs allocated to the liability classified 2020 Warrants as other expenses.
Agreement with Lincoln Park Capital
In October 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital (“LPC”) pursuant to which LPC purchased $2.5 million of shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price of $2.587 per share. In addition, for a period of 30 months, the Company has the right, at its sole discretion, to sell up to an additional $27.5 million of the Company's common stock based on prevailing market prices of its common stock at the time of each sale. In consideration for entering into the purchase agreement, the Company issued approximately 0.3 million shares of its common stock to LPC as a commitment fee. The purchase agreement limits the Company's sales of shares of common stock to LPC to approximately 5.2 million shares of common stock, representing 19.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding on the date of the purchase agreement. The purchase agreement also prohibits the Company from directing LPC to purchase any shares of common stock if those shares, when aggregated with all other shares of the Company's common stock then beneficially owned by LPC and its affiliates, would result in LPC and its affiliates having beneficial ownership, at any single point in time, of more than 9.99% of the then total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company sold approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock resulting in approximately $3.5 million of net proceeds. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had approximately $24.0 million remaining under its agreement with LPC.
At-the-market equity offering program
In 2015, the Company entered into an agreement, as amended, with Cowen and Company, LLC to establish an at-the-market equity offering program (“ATM”) pursuant to which it was able to offer and sell up to $50.0 million of the Company's common stock at prevailing market prices. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company sold approximately 1.0 million shares under the ATM program and received net proceeds of $2.7 million, after deducting commissions. Through September 30, 2020, the Company has sold an aggregate of approximately 1.5 million shares under the ATM and received approximately $6.7 million in net proceeds. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had approximately $43.1 million in gross proceeds remaining under the ATM.
2019 Public Offering
In June 2019, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement relating to the public offering of 10.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $3.50 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $36.8 million (the “2019 Public Offering”). The Company also granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to approximately an additional 1.6 million shares of common stock (“Overallotment Option”). The underwriters exercised this option in full. The Company received approximately $5.5 million in gross proceeds from the underwriters’ exercise of the Overallotment Option. In connection with the 2019 Public Offering, inclusive of the Overallotment Option, the Company received net proceeds of $38.4 million.
2019 Private Placement
In February 2019, the Company completed a private placement (the “2019 Private Placement”) and received net cash proceeds of $13.8 million. In connection with the 2019 Private Placement, the Company issued approximately 3.2 million shares of common stock, prefunded warrants to purchase approximately 0.5 million shares of common stock (the “2019 Pre-Funded Warrants”), and warrants to purchase up to approximately 0.9 million shares of common stock (the “2019 Warrants”). See Note 9. Warrants.
The Company had the option to issue additional shares of common stock in a second closing (the “Second Closing”) for gross proceeds of up to $24.2 million. The occurrence of the Second Closing was conditioned on top-line results from Part A of the Company's Phase 1/2a clinical trial for GEN-009 and a decision by the Company's board of directors to proceed with the Second Closing. In June 2019, the Company announced top-line results from this trial but elected not to proceed with the Second Closing. In lieu of the Second Closing, the Company proceeded with the 2019 Public Offering.
9. Warrants
As of September 30, 2020, the Company had the following potentially issuable shares of common stock related to unexercised warrants outstanding (shares in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
Expiration date
|
|
Classification
|
Hercules Warrant
|
|
41
|
|
|
$
|
6.80
|
|
|
Q2 2023
|
|
Equity
|
2018 Warrants
|
|
3,617
|
|
|
$
|
9.60
|
|
|
Q1 2023
|
|
Liability
|
2019 Warrants
|
|
933
|
|
|
$
|
4.52
|
|
|
Q1 2024
|
|
Equity
|
2019 Pre-Funded Warrants
|
|
531
|
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
Q1 2039
|
|
Equity
|
2020 Warrants
|
|
33,613
|
|
|
$
|
2.25
|
|
|
Q3 2024
|
|
Liability
|
2020 Pre-Funded Warrants
|
|
12,223
|
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
50,958
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hercules Warrant
The exercise price and the number of shares are subject to adjustment upon a merger event, reclassification of the shares of common stock, subdivision or combination of the shares of common stock or certain dividends payments. The Company determined that the Hercules Warrant should be equity classified in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) for all periods presented.
2018 Warrants
In January 2018, the Company entered into two underwriting agreements, the first relating to the public offering of approximately 6.7 million shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and accompanying warrants to purchase up to approximately 3.3 million shares of common stock (“2018 Warrants”). The exercise price and the number of shares are subject to adjustment upon a merger event, reclassification of the shares of common stock, subdivision or combination of the shares of common stock or certain dividends payments. In the event of an “Acquisition,” defined generally to include a merger or consolidation resulting in the sale of 50% or more of the voting securities of the Company, the sale of all, or substantially all, of the assets or voting securities of the Company, or other change of control transaction, as defined in the 2018 Warrants, the Company will be obligated to use its best efforts to ensure that the holders of the 2018 Warrants receive new warrants from the surviving or acquiring entity (the “Acquirer”). The new warrants to purchase shares in the Acquirer shall have the same expiration date as the 2018 Warrants and a strike price that is based on the proportion of the value of the Acquirer’s stock to the Company’s common stock. If the Company is unable, despite its best efforts, to cause the Acquirer to issue new warrants in the Acquisition as described above, then, if the Company’s stockholders are to receive cash in the Acquisition, the Company will settle the 2018 Warrants in cash and if the Company’s stockholders are to receive stock in the Acquisition, the Company will issue shares of its common stock to each Warrant holder.
The Company determined that the 2018 Warrants should be liability classified in accordance with ASC 480. As the 2018 Warrants are liability-classified, the Company remeasures the fair value at each reporting date. The Company initially recorded the 2018 Warrants at their estimated fair value of approximately $18.2 million. In connection with the Company's remeasurement of the 2018 Warrants to fair value, the Company recorded expense of $0.3 million and income of $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and income of $0.7 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The fair value of the warrant liability related to the 2018 Warrants is approximately $1.8 million and $2.5 million as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
The following table details the assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation models used to estimate the fair value of the 2018 Warrants as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2020
|
|
December 31, 2019
|
Stock price
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
|
$
|
2.07
|
|
Volatility
|
|
50.0% - 98.6%
|
|
50.0% - 116.6%
|
Remaining term (years)
|
|
2.3
|
|
3.1
|
Expected dividend yield
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Risk-free rate
|
|
0.15
|
%
|
|
1.62
|
%
|
Annual acquisition event probability
|
|
25.0
|
%
|
|
20.0
|
%
|
2019 Warrants and 2019 Pre-Funded Warrants
The exercise price of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, subdivisions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or a change of control affecting our common stock. The Company determined that the 2019 Warrants and the 2019 Pre-Funded Warrants should be equity classified in accordance with ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”) for all periods presented. The Company also determined that the 2019 Pre-Funded Warrants should be included in the determination of basic earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings per Share.
2020 Warrants and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants
In July 2020, in connection with the 2020 Private Placement, the Company issued common stock, 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2020 Warrants. The exercise price of the 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants and the 2020 Warrants is subject to adjustment in the event of stock dividends, subdivisions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or a change of control affecting the Company's common stock. The Company determined that the 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants should be equity classified in accordance with ASC 815. The Company also determined that the 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants should be included in the determination of basic earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260.
The holders of the 2020 Warrants are entitled to down round protection until July 24, 2021. For one year after the closing of the 2020 Private Placement, the Company is required to obtain shareholder approval for the adjustment to the exercise price as a result of any common stock issuance at a price per share less than $2.25. As a result, the Company determined that the 2020 Warrants should be liability classified in accordance with ASC 815 for the period from issuance through July 2021. As the 2020 Warrants are liability-classified, the Company remeasures the fair value at each reporting date. The Company initially recorded the 2020 Warrants at their estimated fair value of approximately $62.5 million. In connection with the Company's remeasurement of the 2020 Warrants to fair value, the Company recorded income of approximately $11.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. The fair value of the warrant liability related to the 2020 Warrants is approximately $51.4 million as of September 30, 2020.
The following table details the assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation models used to estimate the fair value of the 2020 Warrants as of September 30, 2020, respectively:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2020
|
|
Issuance Date
|
Stock price*
|
|
$
|
2.29
|
|
|
$
|
2.69
|
|
Volatility
|
|
115.6
|
%
|
|
110.6
|
%
|
Remaining term (years)
|
|
3.8
|
|
4.0
|
Expected dividend yield
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
Risk-free rate
|
|
0.23
|
%
|
|
0.22
|
%
|
Annual acquisition event probability
|
|
40.0
|
%
|
|
40.0
|
%
|
*The stock price input at the issuance date was adjusted to reflect a discount for lack of marketability.
10. Employee benefit plans
In June 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved an increase of 2.8 million shares to the Company's Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. As of September 30, 2020, there were approximately 2.5 million shares remaining for future issuance.
The Company issues stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to employees, which generally vest ratably over a four year service period. The Company measures the fair value of stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company measures the fair value of RSUs on the date of grant using the underlying common stock fair value.
Stock-based compensation expense
Total stock-based compensation expense recognized for stock options and RSUs is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Research and development
|
|
$
|
222
|
|
|
$
|
182
|
|
|
$
|
600
|
|
|
$
|
534
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
311
|
|
|
308
|
|
|
803
|
|
|
858
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
533
|
|
|
$
|
490
|
|
|
$
|
1,403
|
|
|
$
|
1,392
|
|
Stock options
The following table summarizes stock option activity (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual
Term (years)
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
|
1,323
|
|
|
$
|
11.65
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Granted
|
1,322
|
|
|
$
|
2.09
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
(4)
|
|
|
$
|
1.66
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited/cancelled
|
(256)
|
|
|
$
|
3.72
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at September 30, 2020
|
2,385
|
|
|
$
|
7.21
|
|
|
8.3
|
|
$
|
404
|
|
Exercisable at September 30, 2020
|
829
|
|
|
$
|
14.70
|
|
|
6.7
|
|
$
|
39
|
|
RSUs
The following table summarizes RSU activity (shares in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
|
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Granted
|
|
601
|
|
|
$
|
2.11
|
|
Vested
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Forfeited/cancelled
|
|
(56)
|
|
|
$
|
1.89
|
|
Outstanding as of September 30, 2020
|
|
545
|
|
|
$
|
2.13
|
|
Employee stock purchase plan
In February 2014, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and subsequently amended the plan in June 2018 (the “ESPP”). The ESPP authorizes the issuance of up to approximately 0.3 million shares of common stock to participating eligible employees and provides for two six-month offering periods. As of September 30, 2020, there were approximately 0.2 million shares remaining for future issuance under the plan.
11. Net loss per share
Basic and diluted net loss per share was calculated as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended September 30,
|
|
Nine months ended September 30,
|
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(4,555)
|
|
|
$
|
(7,532)
|
|
|
$
|
(28,729)
|
|
|
$
|
(29,594)
|
|
Add: remeasurement to fair value of the warrant liability of 2020 Warrants
|
|
(11,092)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
(11,092)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Adjusted net loss
|
|
$
|
(15,647)
|
|
|
$
|
(7,532)
|
|
|
$
|
(39,821)
|
|
|
$
|
(29,594)
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average common stock outstanding – basic
|
|
55,492
|
|
|
26,681
|
|
|
37,657
|
|
|
18,297
|
|
Dilutive effect of shares of common stock equivalents resulting from warrants
|
|
5,638
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
1,893
|
|
|
—
|
|
Weighted average common stock outstanding – diluted
|
|
61,130
|
|
|
26,681
|
|
|
39,550
|
|
|
18,297
|
|
Net loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.08)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.28)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.76)
|
|
|
$
|
(1.62)
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.26)
|
|
|
$
|
(0.28)
|
|
|
$
|
(1.01)
|
|
|
$
|
(1.62)
|
|
The following potential common shares were excluded from the calculation of net loss per share due to their anti-dilutive effect for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
2020
|
|
2019
|
Warrants
|
4,591
|
|
|
4,600
|
|
Stock options
|
2,385
|
|
|
1,398
|
|
RSUs
|
545
|
|
|
—
|
|
Total
|
7,521
|
|
|
5,998
|
|
The 2020 Warrants have been included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share as the warrants are both liability-classified and in-the-money. The Company used the treasury stock method to determine the number of dilutive shares.