Item 7. 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 consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in this Form 10-K under “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Overview
We are a biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting serious viral diseases with the potential to improve the lives of patients worldwide. Our pipeline includes two helicase-primase inhibitors (HPI) targeting recurrent genital herpes, an orally bioavailable hepatitis delta virus (HDV) entry inhibitor, a clinical stage capsid assembly modulator (CAM) designed to disrupt the replication cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) at several key points with the aim of achieving finite treatment and functional cures and research programs focused on the discovery of therapeutics to treat devastating viral diseases, including a non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor (NNPI) targeting transplant-related herpesviruses and a small molecule interferon-α (IFN-α) receptor (IFNAR) agonist targeting HBV and HDV.
Our Strategy
We have recruited an accomplished leadership team and research and development organization, with a collective team track record of over 15 approved drugs in viral diseases, including hepatitis. Our collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead and the Gilead Collaboration) also brings us an industry leading partner with a shared vision of providing differentiated antiviral treatments to patients. For additional information regarding the Gilead Collaboration, see “Collaboration and License Agreements—Gilead Sciences, Inc.”
Our Clinical Programs and CTA-Enabling Programs
Recurrent Genital Herpes/HSV-1 and HSV-2
In August 2022, we introduced our first programs outside of hepatitis. Among our new viral targets is recurrent genital herpes. Genital herpes can be caused by either herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 and HSV-2 are acquired by oral or genital contact either during symptomatic or asymptomatic reactivation of the virus. Both viruses replicate in neurons, where they can remain latent for the rest of the patient’s life and periodically reactivate, with the virus spreading and replicating in epithelial tissues. Initial infection can be asymptomatic or can be marked by symptoms, including localized pain and painful lesions. Genital herpes recurrence is common and can cause painful genital lesions that can lead to increased transmission and debilitate patients, and symptoms may become more serious with additional episodes. Additional complications include increased risk of HIV infection, as well as associated psychological stress and isolationary thoughts, depression and suicidal ideation. Immunocompromised patients may experience more severe and prolonged symptoms due to increased recurrence rates. While genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2, recurrences are more likely to be experienced by patients infected by HSV-2.
There are an estimated 800 million people globally with HSV-2, with an estimated 32 million in the United States and 31 million in France, Germany, Italy and Spain (collectively, the EU4) and the United Kingdom (UK). Only approximately 13% of that population is aware of the infection and have been diagnosed. Awareness and diagnostic rates are impacted due to asymptomatic infections and low screening rates in adults and adolescents due to high false positive rates with current diagnostic assays.
HPIs are antiviral agents in development for HSV-1 and HSV-2, with a clinically validated mechanism of action. HPIs inhibit the HSV helicase-primase complex, which is a unique viral enzyme complex without a human homolog, consisting of helicase, primase and cofactor subunits. Both of these subunits have functions that are essential for viral DNA replication and are conserved across HSV-1 and HSV-2. Unlike nucleoside analogs, these compounds do not require phosphorylation by the HSV thymidine kinase (TK) and ongoing viral replication to become active drugs. As a result, HPIs are active immediately upon reactivation of latent HSV-1 and HSV-2. Furthermore, HPIs are active
35
against TK-deficient HSV-1 and HSV-2, which is a major mechanism of resistance to nucleoside analogs. In February 2023, we announced the nomination of our first herpesvirus development candidate, ABI-5366 (5366), a long-acting HPI for treatment of recurrent genital herpes, to progress toward CTA-enabling studies. In connection with the Gilead Collaboration, in October 2023, we acquired the rights to ABI-1179 (1179), Gilead’s HPI program, which is structurally differentiated from 5366.
Currently, there are three antiviral drugs (all nucleoside analogs) that have been approved in the United States and the EU4/UK for the treatment of genital herpes. No new drugs have been approved to treat genital herpes for more than 25 years. In addition to the approved nucleoside analogs, agents such as local anesthetics or analgesics may be used to alleviate local symptoms of minor pain and discomfort.
Nucleoside analogs can be administered as episodic therapy as individual outbreaks arise or daily as chronic suppressive therapy for those with high post-exposure recurrences. However, these agents are only partially effective at controlling the infection or reducing transmission risk. With current nucleoside analog therapies, only one out of three recurrent genital herpes patients with six or more recurrences per year are able to make it through a year of treatment without a recurrence. There are still high titer (greater than 104 HSV-2 DNA copies/mL) shedding episodes under this current standard of care for HSV-2, which can lead to recurrences and transmission of genital herpes.
Based on the limitations of current therapies, we see a path to advancing the treatment paradigm for patients suffering from recurrent genital herpes. To reach that goal, we identified an opportunity to develop a potent, long-acting HPI for recurrent genital herpes, 5366, which has demonstrated a strong nonclinical profile, with low nanomolar potency in vitro against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 clinical isolates, exceptionally low plasma clearance rates in multiple nonclinical models and a projected human half-life of more than seven days. This nonclinical profile has led us to target 5366 for development as a long-acting treatment with the potential to be administered orally or as an injectable.
To date, 5366 has also demonstrated a favorable nonclinical safety profile in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicology studies, with high safety margins and minimal potential for off-target effects. We currently anticipate the initiation of clinical studies with 5366 by mid-2024.
In addition, we are also advancing 1179, a second, structurally-differentiated HPI with single digit nM potency against HSV-1 and HSV-2 and a nonclinical pharmacokinetics (PK) profile strongly supporting a potential long-acting treatment by oral and injectable administration. GLP toxicology studies are underway and clinical studies are expected to begin by the end of 2024.
Our HBV and HDV Programs
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 296 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HBV as of 2019, and 1.5 million new infections occur each year. HBV is a leading global cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplants, and the WHO estimates that 820,000 people died in 2019 from HBV, mostly due to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the 296 million people living with chronic HBV infection, only approximately 30.4 million, or 10.5%, were aware of their infection, and only approximately 6.6 million, or 22%, of those diagnosed received treatment. HBV is a highly prevalent disease that infects more than three times the number of people infected with hepatitis C virus and HIV infections combined, according to the WHO.
HDV is a “satellite virus,” because it can only infect people (1) who are already infected with HBV or (2) at the same time as a person is infected with HBV. HDV affects a subset of approximately 12 million HBV infected patients. These patients, which comprise an estimated 4.5% of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive patients, experience a substantially increased disease burden, as they account for 18% of cirrhosis and 20% of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HBV. HDV is considered the most severe form of hepatitis, as 70% of HDV patients progress to cirrhosis within ten years. While HDV is less prevalent in the United States, it is a significant and serious health problem with inadequate treatment in many parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, East Asia and parts of South America. HDV may be significantly underdiagnosed, because there were no HDV-targeted therapies approved until very recently, and the first therapy approved is only approved in the European Union. HDV is known to accelerate disease progression and increase the incidence of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which results in higher morbidity and mortality rates than HBV alone.
36
The current standard of care for chronic HBV infection, nucleos(t)ide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NrtIs), are taken life-long and reduce, but do not eliminate, the virus and result in very low cure rates. No new mechanisms of action (MOA) have been approved for chronic HBV infection in over 25 years. The focus of our HBV program is to improve outcomes and increase the number of patients diagnosed and treated through the development of finite and curative therapies targeting an orthogonal MOA.
The current standard of care treatment for HDV is off-label pegylated IFN-α injected weekly or, in some regions, a large, complex molecule that requires daily injections. There are no approved HDV treatments in the United States, and there is only one approved HDV treatment in Europe. We believe a safe and effective oral small molecule entry inhibitor would be a significant innovation for patients living with HDV, which face a significant and immediate disease burden.
HDV Entry Inhibitor
HDV is a small RNA virus that encodes just two viral proteins and relies on host enzymes as well as the HBsAg from HBV to replicate, which limits the number of HDV-specific antiviral targets. Similar to HBV, HDV utilizes HBsAg to enter hepatocytes by binding the cellular transmembrane protein sodium taurocholate co-transporting peptide (NTCP). NTCP is highly expressed on human hepatocytes, where it serves as one of several proteins involved in the transport of bile acids. The binding of specific small or large molecules to NTCP has been shown to effectively inhibit the interaction of HBsAg with NTCP, which prevents HBV and HDV from infecting hepatocytes.
The inhibition of HBV and HDV infection by molecules that bind NTCP has been demonstrated in vitro, in animal models and clinically. Notably, Bulevirtide, a peptide blocker of NTCP, is the only approved therapy for HDV (approved in the European Union (the EU). The binding of NTCP-targeted HBV/HDV entry inhibitors to NTCP has also been shown to inhibit the transport of certain bile acids into cells, which results in plasma elevations of bile acids; this effect has been well tolerated clinically and may serve as a biomarker of pharmacologically active concentrations of drug in the plasma.
We believe a safe and effective oral small molecule entry inhibitor would be a significant innovation for patients living with HDV and could significantly improve treatment uptake and diagnosis rates, especially when compared with currently available injectable products.
In March 2022, we announced our research program focused on a novel, orally bioavailable small molecule approach to inhibit entry of HBV and HDV by targeting NTCP, and in September 2023, we nominated ABI-6250 (6250). In nonclinical studies, 6250 demonstrated low nanomolar potency against all HBV/HDV genotypes, favorable selectivity for NTCP versus other bile acid transporters, good oral bioavailability and a PK profile in nonclinical species projected to support once-daily oral dosing.
At the European Association for the Study of the Liver's (EASL) International Liver CongressTM in June 2023 and the International HBV Meeting in September 2023, we presented nonclinical characterization of the potencies and properties of our novel class of highly potent, small molecule, orally-bioavailable entry inhibitors. We expect to initiate Phase 1a clinical studies of 6250 by the end of 2024.
Capsid Assembly Modulator
HBV is a DNA virus that infects hepatocytes and establishes a reservoir of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), a unique viral DNA moiety that resides in the nucleus of HBV-infected hepatocytes and is associated with viral persistence and chronic infection. No currently approved oral therapies target cccDNA activity directly, which makes molecules that can modulate cccDNA generation or disrupt its function. As a result, we have worked to discover and develop compounds targeting the core protein, a viral protein involved in numerous aspects of the HBV replication cycle, including the generation of HBV cccDNA.
A benchmark for therapeutic agents aiming to decrease cccDNA levels is the use of several key viral antigens as surrogate biomarkers of active cccDNA. The same biomarkers can be used in both primary human hepatocytes and patients. On this basis, our next-generation CAM, ABI-4334 (4334), has shown nonclinical proof of principle. In a variety of cell culture models, 4334 has demonstrated the ability to reduce production of viral HBV DNA levels as
37
well as the surrogate markers for cccDNA establishment: HBV e antigen (HBeAg), HBV core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and viral pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA).
As a next-generation CAM, 4334 has been optimized to potently disrupt viral replication (MOA #1) and prevent the establishment and replenishment of new cccDNA (MOA #2). In contrast, while active against MOA #1, first-generation CAMs have not demonstrated adequate potency to sufficiently block cccDNA formation (MOA #2). Further, the current standard of care, NrtIs, impacts the viral life cycle after establishment of cccDNA and can only inhibit production of new viral particles, and it does so incompletely. In mid-2021, we announced the selection of 4334, which was internally discovered, for clinical development. The chemical scaffold of 4334 is novel and distinct from all our prior CAM candidates.
We believe that 4334 has a best-in-class nonclinical profile, with single-digit nanomolar potency against MOA #1 and MOA #2, pan-genotypic activity, an improved resistance profile and a favorable safety profile. Through mechanistic studies presented at multiple conferences, we have demonstrated that 4334 promotes the formation of empty capsids by acceleration of capsid assembly, prevents the formation of cccDNA by disrupting incoming capsids, and prematurely disrupts capsids containing duplex linear DNA, the precursor for integrated HBV DNA.
We expect to initiate Phase 1b clinical studies of 4334 by mid-2024.
Research Programs
Transplant-Associated Herpesviruses
In August 2022, in connection with our announcement of our HPI program, we also introduced our NNPI research program, targeting transplant-associated herpesviruses. In a transplant setting, when patients are experiencing immunosuppression, they are at high risk of uncontrolled viral replication and severe disease brought on by one or more herpesviruses, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), HSV-1, HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Each of these herpesviruses are highly prevalent, as approximately (1) 60% of transplant patients are CMV-positive; (2) 60% of transplant patients are HSV-positive; and (3) 80% of transplant patients are VZV-positive. These viruses establish lifelong latent infections and frequently reactivate in transplant patients due to the use of immunosuppressive drugs following the transplant. These uncontrolled viral infections increase the risk of severe disease and serious complications, including organ rejection, graft loss and death, and impacted approximately 60,000 patients in 2018 in the United States and EU4/UK.
While there are approved antivirals that are administered in a transplant setting. However, currently approved antivirals are not broad spectrum and pose the risk of potentially serious side effects and drug-drug interactions. As a result of these limitations, we identified an opportunity to develop an oral pan-herpes NNPI for these transplant-associated herpesvirus infections, which could greatly advance treatment. Our research team has discovered multiple chemical series of potent, broad-spectrum herpesvirus polymerase inhibitors. In addition, Gilead exclusively licensed us its NNPI program, and we believe the combined effort will speed candidate nomination and enhance our chance of clinical success.
IFNAR Agonist
In July 2022, we introduced our new research program advancing a novel, small molecule IFNAR agonist designed to selectively activate the IFN-α pathway within the liver and offer the convenience of oral dosing. IFN-α is a subcutaneous injectable immune modulatory therapy approved for HBV that has demonstrated functional cure in some HBV patients, but its poor tolerability profile significantly limits its use. Substantial side effects include flu-like symptoms, cytopenias, serious depression and psychiatric effects. In addition, multiple contraindications limit its use, and it requires weekly injections that result in systemic exposure for up to a year.
By focusing exposure on the liver, our investigational IFNAR agonist program aims to engage IFN-α’s validated antiviral and immune modulatory mechanisms, retaining the efficacy of IFN-α while reducing systemic exposure to improve tolerability. Lead optimization of multiple IFNAR agonists is in progress.
38
Collaboration and License Agreements
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
On October 15, 2023, we entered into an Option, License and Collaboration agreement (the Gilead Collaboration Agreement) with Gilead pursuant to which Gilead (1) exclusively licensed to us its HPI program and its NNPI program, while retaining opt-in rights to these programs and (2) has an option to take an exclusive license, on a program-by-program basis, to all of our other current and future pipeline programs. During the 12-year collaboration term (subject to payment of certain extension fees) and for a specified period thereafter, Gilead may exercise its opt-in rights, on a program-by-program basis, at one of two timepoints—completion of a certain Phase 1 study or completion of a certain Phase 2 study for the first product within the program—upon payment of an opt-in fee ranging from $45.0 million to $125.0 million per program depending on the type of program and when the option is exercised. Pursuant to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, Gilead made an $84.8 million upfront cash payment to us.
If Gilead exercises its opt-in right to any current or future program under the collaboration, we are eligible to receive up to $330.0 million in potential regulatory and commercial milestones on that program, in addition to royalties ranging from the high single-digits to high teens, depending on the clinical stage of the program at the time of the opt-in. Following Gilead’s exercise of its option for each of our programs, we may opt in to cover 40% of the research and development costs in the United States and share 40% of the profits and operating loss in the United States for products within the program in lieu of receiving milestones and royalties for that program in the United States, unless we later opt out of the cost/profit share for the program. Prior to Gilead’s potential exercise of its opt-in, we will be primarily responsible for all discovery, research and development on both our programs and the two Gilead-contributed programs. Following Gilead’s opt-in, Gilead will control the further discovery, research, development, and commercialization on any optioned programs. During the term, Gilead will continue to support the collaboration through extension fees of $75.0 million in each of the third, fifth and seventh years of the collaboration.
The Gilead Collaboration Agreement is subject to termination by either party for the other party’s uncured, material breach or insolvency. Subject to certain limitations, we and Gilead both have certain termination for convenience rights, upon sufficient prior written notice, with respect to programs that one party in-licenses from the other (subject to Gilead’s option rights), and with respect to Gilead, for programs it has option rights to subject to certain time limitations with respect to existing Company programs). Gilead also has a right to terminate the collaborative activities under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement at certain specified points during the collaboration term. Other customary termination rights are further provided in the Gilead Collaboration Agreement.
We and Gilead also entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement and an Investor Rights Agreement (together, the Gilead Equity Agreements), pursuant to which Gilead made an upfront equity investment of $15.2 million by purchasing from us 1,089,472 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $13.92 per share. If we complete an equity financing (or series of financings) by July 15, 2024 that results in at least $30 million of proceeds to us, then, subject to approval by our stockholders (which was obtained on January 31, 2024), we may require Gilead to purchase additional shares of common stock from us in an amount that results in Gilead owning 29.9% of our then-outstanding voting capital stock. If we do not complete the equity financing or do not require Gilead to purchase the additional shares, Gilead may elect to purchase additional shares of common stock from us in an amount that results in Gilead owning 29.9% of our then-outstanding voting capital stock. The purchase price per share for additional shares purchased by Gilead will be equal to the lesser of (1) a 35% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price immediately prior to the date of purchase or (2) a 35% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price immediately prior to delivery by Gilead of notice of the anticipated closing date. The Gilead Equity Agreements also include a three-year standstill provision and two-year lockup provision, each with customary exceptions, and provide Gilead with certain other stock purchase rights and registration rights, as well as the right to designate two directors (or, alternatively, board observers at Gilead’s election) to our board of directors. In December 2023, Gilead designated Tomas Cihlar, Ph.D. to serve on our board of directors, and in March 2024, Gilead designated Robert D. Cook II to serve on our board of directors.
BeiGene, Ltd.
In July 2020, we entered into a Collaboration Agreement (the BeiGene Agreement) with BeiGene, Ltd. (BeiGene), granting BeiGene an exclusive, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize products containing vebicorvir
39
(VBR), ABI-H2158 (2158) and ABI-H3733 (3733) in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau (the Territory).
Under the BeiGene Agreement, we and BeiGene will collaborate on development activities with respect to the licensed products in accordance with a mutually agreed upon development plan.
Pursuant to the terms of the BeiGene Agreement, BeiGene paid us an upfront amount of $40.0 million, and we were eligible to receive up to approximately $500.0 million in milestone payments, comprised of up to $113.8 million in development and regulatory and $385.0 million in net sales milestone payments. In September 2021, we discontinued development of 2158 following the observation of elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in the Phase 2 clinical study consistent with drug-induced hepatotoxicity, in July 2022, we discontinued VBR because it did not achieve functional cure or finite treatment in our two- and three-drug combination studies and in March 2023, we prioritized 4334 over 3733 based on data from clinical Phase 1 studies of both candidates and chronic toxicology observation for 3733 and announced that we would seek partnering opportunities for the CAMs. In conjunction with the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, we elected to no longer seek partnering or further development of 3733. As of our discontinuation of 3733 development, there are no remaining products in development that have been licensed to BeiGene.
The BeiGene Agreement also contains provisions such as representations and warranties of the parties, terms as to governance of the collaboration, commercialization and regulatory responsibilities of the parties, and manufacturing and supply, including potential adjustments in the event supply costs exceed certain levels. In addition, during the term of the BeiGene Agreement, neither party will commercialize any competing products in the Territory.
BeiGene may terminate the BeiGene Agreement for convenience at any time upon 90 days’ advance written notice to us. The BeiGene Agreement also contains customary provisions for termination by either party, including in the event of breach of the BeiGene Agreement, subject to cure.
Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
In September 2013, we entered into an exclusive license agreement (the IURTC License Agreement) with Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation (IURTC) pursuant to which we acquired, with rights to sublicense, the rights to develop and commercialize products associated with multiple patents and patent applications covering aspects of our HBV program held by IURTC. As part of this agreement, we were obligated to make milestone payments based upon the successful accomplishment of clinical and regulatory milestones. The aggregate amount of all performance milestone payments under the IURTC License Agreement, should all performance milestones through development be met, was $0.8 million, with a portion related to the first performance milestone having been paid. Under the IURTC License Agreement, we were also obligated to pay IURTC royalties based on net sales of the licensed technology ranging from 0.5% to 1.75%. In addition, under the IURTC License Agreement, we paid annual diligence maintenance fees of $0.1 million. Milestone payments received by IURTC were fully creditable against the annual diligence maintenance fee for the year in which the milestone payments were received.
In January 2024, we notified the Indiana University Innovation and Commercialization Office and IURTC that we had decided to terminate the IURTC License Agreement. The termination of the License Agreement will be effective on April 11, 2024, 90 days following the delivery of the termination notice.
Operations
We currently have corporate and administrative offices and research laboratory space in South San Francisco, California as well as a registrational office, but no employees, in China.
Since our inception, we have had no revenue from product sales and have funded our operations principally through debt financings prior to our initial public offering in 2010 and through equity financings and collaborations since then. Our operations to date have been primarily limited to organizing and staffing our company, licensing our product candidates, discovering and developing our product candidates, maintaining and improving our patent portfolio and raising capital.
We have generated significant losses to date, and we expect to continue to generate losses as we develop our product candidates. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $785.7 million primarily as a result of research
40
and development expenses and general and administrative expenses. Because we do not generate revenue from any of our product candidates, our losses will continue as we further develop and seek regulatory approval for, and commercialize, our product candidates. Additionally, we expect our research and development expenses to increase over the coming years as we continue the development of our product candidates. As a result, our operating losses are likely to be substantial over the next several years and thereafter if none of our product candidates are approved or successfully launched. We are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those described in greater detail below, on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Revenue Recognition from Collaboration
We analyze our collaboration arrangements to assess whether such arrangements, or transactions between arrangement participants, involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities or are more akin to a vendor-customer relationship. In making this evaluation, we consider whether the activities of the collaboration are considered to be distinct and deemed to be within the scope of the collaborative arrangement accounting standard and those that are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and, therefore, within the scope of the revenue with contracts with customers accounting standard. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement.
For arrangements or transactions between arrangement participants determined to be within the scope of the contracts with customers accounting standard, we evaluate the term of the arrangement and recognize revenue when the customer obtains control of promised goods or services in a contract for an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. For contracts with customers, we apply the following five-step model, each of which requires judgment, in order to determine this amount: (1) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (2) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (3) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation.
We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to the customer. As part of the accounting for contracts with customers, we must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the estimated relative standalone selling price (SSP) of each performance obligation identified in the contract. We then allocate the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on its SSP and recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when or as the performance obligation is satisfied.
For recognition of revenue relating to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, we determined the transaction price and allocated it to a single combined performance obligation, the discovery, research and development services during the collaboration term. We estimated the SSP of extension fees and opt-in rights pursuant to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement using significant estimates, including forecasted revenues and costs, development timelines, discount rates, and probabilities of technical and regulatory success. We concluded none of the options in the contract are performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement as they are contingent upon option exercise, are capable of being distinct from the research and development services and are not offered at a discount to their SSP. We evaluate each performance obligation to determine if it can be satisfied at a point in time or over time, and we measure the services delivered to the customer, which we periodically review based on the progress of the related program. We recognize revenue under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement over time using a cost-based input method. Revenue related to certain performance obligations that are satisfied over time could be materially impacted as a result of changes in the estimated total research effort required to satisfy those obligations. A 10% change in the total estimated
41
effort required to satisfy the single combined performance obligation related to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement would have changed the related revenue recognized during the year ended December 31, 2023 by as much as $0.5 million. The effect of any change made to an estimated input component and, therefore revenue recognized, would be recorded as a change in estimate. Such changes in estimate could have a material impact on the revenue recognized in a future period. In addition, variable consideration (including regulatory and commercial milestones) must be evaluated to determine if it is constrained and, therefore, excluded from the transaction price.
Research and Development Expense and Accruals
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate certain research and development expenses. This process involves reviewing quotations and contracts, reviewing the terms of our license agreements, communicating with our vendors and applicable personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are capitalized until the goods or services are received. Such payments are evaluated for current or long-term classification based on when they will be realized or consumed. Examples of estimated amortized or accrued research and development expenses include fees to:
•
contract research organizations (CROs) and other service providers in connection with clinical studies;
•
contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) in connection with the production of clinical trial materials; and
•
vendors in connection with nonclinical development activities.
We base our expenses related to clinical studies on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions and CROs that conduct and manage clinical studies on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows and expense recognition. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In either amortizing or accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we adjust the related prepayment or accrual accordingly. Our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in our reporting changes in estimates in any particular period. Adjustments to prior period estimates have not been material for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
We have and may continue to enter into license agreements to access and utilize certain technology. In each case, we evaluate if the license agreement results in the acquisition of an asset or a business. To date, none of our license agreements have been considered to be acquisitions of businesses. For asset acquisitions, the upfront payments to acquire such licenses, as well as any future milestone payments, are immediately recognized as research and development expense when paid, provided there is no alternative future use of the rights in other research and development projects. These license agreements may also include contingent consideration in the form of cash payments to be made for future milestone events. We assess whether such contingent consideration meets the definition of a derivative and to date we have determined that such contingent consideration are not derivatives.
42
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Collaboration Revenue
The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes in our collaboration revenue (in thousands, except for percentages):
Year Ended December 31, $ Change % Change
Collaboration revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes the recognition of $4.4 million for services performed under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement entered into in October 2023. Additionally, collaboration revenue includes the recognition of $2.7 million of deferred revenue allocated to 3733 under the BeiGene Agreement upon discontinuing development of 3733, following entering into the Gilead Collaboration, as we prioritize 4334. There was no revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses, fees paid to CROs and CMOs, lab supplies and other third-party expenses that support our research and discovery, nonclinical and clinical activities. External costs represent a significant portion of our research and development expenses, which we track on a program-by-program basis following the nomination of a development candidate. We use our employee and infrastructure resources, as well as certain third-party costs, across multiple research and development programs, and we do not specifically allocate these costs to our programs.
The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes in our research and development expenses (in thousands, except for percentages):
Year Ended December 31, $ Change % Change
External expenses:
Research and development expenses were $48.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $70.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $21.1 million decrease in research and development expenses was primarily driven by decreases in external expenses due to pausing further development of our CAMs as we sought partnering opportunities after the completion of the Phase 1b trial for 3733 and Phase 1a trial for 4334 and our discontinuation of the VBR and 2158 programs. We also experienced decreases in employee and contractor-related expenses of $8.1 million due to the termination of employees as part of the reorganization announced in July 2022. This was partially offset by increases in external expenses generated from the advancement of 5366 and 6250.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, business development, information technology, legal and human resources functions. Other
43
significant costs include facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, insurance costs, legal fees relating to patents and corporate matters and fees for accounting and consulting services.
The following table summarizes the period-over-period change in our general and administrative expenses (in thousands, except for percentages):
Year Ended December 31, $ Change % Change
General and administrative expenses were $22.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $24.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease of $1.2 million in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $2.2 million decrease in salaries and benefits due to a decrease in headcount, largely attributable to the reorganization announced in July 2022. This was partially offset by an increase in legal expenses incurred with entering into the Gilead Collaboration.
Interest and Other Income, Net
Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities.
The following table summarizes the period-over-period changes in our interest and other income, net (in thousands, except for percentages):
Year Ended December 31, $ Change % Change
Interest and other income, net was $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $2.4 million was primarily due to more interest income earned on marketable securities caused by multiple interest rate increases in 2023 and a larger portfolio balance after the receipt of $100.0 million upon entering into the Gilead Collaboration in October 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
As a result of our significant research and development expenditures and the lack of any FDA-approved products to generate product sales revenue, we have not been profitable and have generated operating losses since we were incorporated in October 2005. We have funded our operations through December 31, 2023 principally through equity financings, raising an aggregate of $618.8 million in net proceeds, and strategic collaborations, raising an aggregate of $185.7 million through upfront payments.
Future Funding Requirements
We expect our future operating expenses to increase substantially over the coming years as we continue to advance our candidates into the clinic. We monitor our cash needs and the status of the capital markets on a continuous basis. From time to time, we opportunistically raise capital and have done so numerous times since our initial public offering by issuing equity securities. We expect to continue to raise capital when and as needed and at the time and in the manner most advantageous to us.
We expect our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the second half of 2025. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we may utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Our contractual obligations include operating lease obligations totaling $2.3 million as of December 31, 2023, of which $1.2 million are short-term. We also enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs for clinical trials and CMOs for clinical supply manufacturing and with vendors for nonclinical research studies and other services and products for operating purposes, which generally provide for termination within 30 days of notice.
44
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
•
the scope, progress, results and costs of our ongoing drug discovery, nonclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical studies of our product candidates and any additional clinical studies we may conduct in the future;
•
our ability to raise capital despite macroeconomic and geopolitical events impacting financial markets, such as rising inflation, market volatility and risk of recession;
•
our ability to realize future potential benefits pursuant to the Gilead Collaboration and maintain the collaboration;
•
our ability to manufacture, and to contract with third parties to manufacture, adequate supplies of our product candidates for our clinical studies and any eventual commercialization;
•
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates; and
•
the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications in the United States and abroad, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims.
Identifying potential product candidates and conducting nonclinical testing and clinical studies is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will likely be derived from sales of medicines that we do not expect to be commercially available for years, if at all. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financings to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financings may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be required to reduce staff, delay, scale back or discontinue our product development and clinical studies or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents $ (32,577 ) $ 6,791
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $22.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This was primarily due to proceeds of $90.7 million from the upfront payment under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement. This was partially offset by our net loss of $61.2 million, adjusted for $5.1 million recognized for stock-based compensation expense.
Net cash used in operating activities was $84.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This was primarily due to our net loss of $93.1 million, adjusted for $6.6 million recognized for stock-based compensation expense.
45
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $69.1 million primarily due to purchases of marketable securities, net of maturities.
Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $90.6 million. This was due to proceeds of $89.2 million from sales and maturities of marketable securities, net of purchases, and proceeds of $1.5 million received in 2022 from the sale of Microbiome assets in 2021.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $13.8 million resulting from the net proceeds of $9.1 million from the sale of 1,089,472 shares of our common stock in accordance with the Gilead Equity Agreements, $4.5 million from the sale of 261,170 shares of our common stock under our "at-the-market" offering program (the 2020 ATM) and $0.1 million from the issuance of 14,453 shares of common stock under the Assembly Biosciences Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2018 ESPP).
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $0.6 million resulting from the net proceeds of $0.3 million from the sale of 25,068 shares of our common stock under the 2020 ATM and $0.3 million from the issuance of 18,819 shares of common stock under the 2018 ESPP.
46
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Not applicable.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
(a)
Financial Statements
The financial statements required to be filed pursuant to this Item 8 are appended to this report. An index of those financial statements is found on page F-1.
(b)
Supplementary Data
Not applicable.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information, which is required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely manner. At the end of fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision, and with the participation of, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and President, who serves as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and President concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures for the fiscal year ending as of December 31, 2023 were effective at reasonable assurance levels.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of these inherent limitations, management does not expect that our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and President, who serves as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting in the fourth quarter of 2023 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
47
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Except as set forth below, the information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Proxy Statement) within 120 days after the conclusion of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference.
Code of Ethics
Our Board has adopted a Code of Ethics for our principal executive officer and all senior financial officers and a Code of Conduct applicable to all of our employees and our directors. Both Codes are available under the “Investors—Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.assemblybio.com. If we make any substantive amendments to, or grant any waivers from, the Code of Ethics for our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller or persons performing similar functions, or any officer or director, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Except for the table regarding equity compensation plans, the information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth the indicated information as of December 31, 2023 with respect to our equity compensation plans.
(1)
The weighted average exercise price is calculated solely based on the exercise prices of the outstanding stock options and does not reflect the shares that will be issued upon the vesting of outstanding awards of restricted stock units (RSUs), which have no exercise price.
(2)
This number includes the following: 19,863 shares subject to stock options granted under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (2010 Plan); 211,244 shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (2014 Plan), of which 209,591 were subject
48
to outstanding stock options and 1,653 were subject to outstanding RSUs; 520,707 shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. 2018 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (2018 Plan), of which 429,157 were subject to outstanding stock options and 91,550 were subject to outstanding RSUs; and 38,853 options assumed by us in connection with our merger with Assembly Pharmaceuticals. This number excludes purchase rights currently accruing under the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2018 ESPP).
(3)
This number includes: no shares under the 2010 Plan, which has been frozen; 554 shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan; 264,627 shares available for issuance under the 2018 Plan; and 53,687 shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 ESPP. As of March 22, 2024, assuming each participant purchases the maximum number of shares in the current offering period, no more than 12,896 shares are subject to purchase in the current offering, which ends on May 14, 2024.
(4)
This number includes 65,035 shares subject to stock options granted under the 2017 Inducement Award Plan (2017 Inducement Plan); 41,666 shares subject to stock options granted under the 2019 Inducement Award Plan (2019 Inducement Plan); and 60,725 shares subject to outstanding awards granted under the 2020 Inducement Award Plan (2020 Inducement Plan), of which 58,746 were subject to outstanding stock options and 1,979 were subject to outstanding RSUs.
(5)
This number includes: 6 shares available for issuance under the 2017 Inducement Plan, no shares under the 2019 Inducement Plan and 4 shares available for issuance under the 2020 Inducement Plan.
Our stockholder-approved equity compensation plans consist of the 2018 Plan, 2014 Plan, the 2010 Plan, stock options assumed in our merger with Assembly Pharmaceuticals and the 2018 ESPP. Effective on June 2, 2016, the 2010 Plan was frozen, and no further grants will be made under the 2010 Plan. Shares that are forfeited under the 2010 Plan on or after June 2, 2016 will become available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. An “Award” under the 2018 Plan, 2014 Plan or 2010 Plan is any right to receive our common stock consisting of non-statutory stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, RSUs, or any other stock award.
In May 2018, our stockholders approved the 2018 ESPP and it was amended and restated in May 2021. The 2018 ESPP provides for the purchase by employees of up to an aggregate of 108,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. Eligible employees can purchase shares of our common stock at the end of a predetermined offering period at 85% of the lower of the fair market value at the beginning or end of the offering period.
Our outstanding equity compensation arrangements that have not been approved by our stockholders consist of the 2017 Inducement Plan, the 2019 Inducement Plan and the 2020 Inducement Plan. In April 2017, our board of directors adopted the 2017 Inducement Plan and reserved 66,666 shares of our common stock for issuance under the 2017 Inducement Plan. In August 2019, our board of directors adopted the 2019 Inducement Plan and reserved 41,666 shares of our common stock for issuance under the 2019 Inducement Plan. In March 2020, our board of directors adopted the 2020 Inducement Plan and reserved 66,666 shares of our common stock for issuance under the 2020 Inducement Plan. The only persons eligible to receive grants of awards under the 2017 Inducement Plan, the 2019 Inducement Plan or the 2020 Inducement Plan are individuals who satisfy the standards for inducement grants under Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4) and the related guidance under Nasdaq IM 5635-1-that is, generally, a person not previously an employee or director of ours, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to the individual's entering into employment with us. An “Award” is any right to receive our common stock pursuant to the Inducement Plan, consisting of nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, RSUs, or any other stock award.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference.
49
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
4.2 Description of Securities. X
50
51
21.1 List of Subsidiaries of Assembly Biosciences, Inc. X
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. X
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page). X
97.1 Clawback Policy. X
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase Document.
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
* Certain information in this exhibit has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a confidential treatment request.
† The schedules to this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K.
‡ Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
# Represents management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
** The certification attached as Exhibit 32.1 that accompanies this Annual Report on Form 10-K is to be deemed furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Assembly Biosciences, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
52
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Date: March 28, 2024 By: /s/ Jason A. Okazaki
Name: Jason A. Okazaki
Title: Chief Executive Officer and President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jason A. Okazaki and John O. Gunderson, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
Jason A. Okazaki (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
Jeanette M. Bjorkquist (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ William R. Ringo, Jr. Chairman of the Board March 28, 2024
William R. Ringo, Jr.
/s/ Anthony E. Altig Director March 28, 2024
Anthony E. Altig
/s/ Tomas Cihlar, Ph.D. Director March 28, 2024
Tomas Cihlar, Ph.D.
/s/ Gina Consylman Director March 28, 2024
Gina Consylman
/s/ Robert D. Cook II Director March 28, 2024
Robert D. Cook II
/s/ Sir Michael Houghton, Ph.D. Director March 28, 2024
Sir Michael Houghton, Ph.D.
/s/ Lisa R. Johnson-Pratt, M.D. Director March 28, 2024
Lisa R. Johnson-Pratt, M.D.
/s/ Susan Mahony, Ph.D. Director March 28, 2024
Susan Mahony, Ph.D.
/s/ John G. McHutchison, A.O., M.D. Director March 28, 2024
John G. McHutchison, A.O., M.D.
53
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 F-4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-8
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Assembly Biosciences, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company‘s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
F-2
Collaboration Agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
San Jose, California
March 28, 2024
F-3
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands except for share amounts and par value)
December 31, December 31,
ASSETS
Current assets
Accounts receivable from collaboration 43 944
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,497 4,413
Property and equipment, net 385 743
Operating lease right-of-use (ROU) assets 2,339 3,195
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accrued research and development expenses 885 3,122
Deferred revenue - short-term ($30,915 and $− to a related party) 30,915 —
Operating lease liabilities - short-term 1,220 3,364
Deferred revenue - long-term ($55,379 and $− to a related party) 55,379 2,733
Operating lease liabilities - long-term 1,122 101
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (81 ) (803 )
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 136,823 $ 101,794
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-4
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands except for share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
Collaboration revenue ($4,430 and $− from a related party) $ 7,163 $ —
Operating expenses
Other income
Interest and other income, net 3,451 1,022
Income tax expense (33 ) —
Other comprehensive loss
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities 722 (384 )
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (13.38 ) $ (23.08 )
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-5
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands except for share amounts)
Shares Amount Capital Loss Deficit Equity
Unrealized loss on marketable debt securities — — — (384 ) — (384 )
Stock-based compensation — — 6,597 — — 6,597
Issuance of common stock under ESPP 14,453 — 129 — — 129
Issuance of common stock for settlement of RSUs 43,105 — — — — —
Unrealized gain on marketable debt securities — — — 722 — 722
Stock-based compensation — — 5,121 — — 5,121
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-6
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 450 498
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 139 —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable from collaboration 901 (608 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 916 1,328
Accrued research and development expenses (2,237 ) (278 )
Operating lease liabilities (3,774 ) (3,670 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 22,743 (84,463 )
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 65,015 88,000
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 24 —
Purchases of property and equipment (255 ) (102 )
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities — 28,825
Proceeds from the sale of Microbiome assets — 1,500
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (69,138 ) 90,640
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under ESPP 129 289
Net cash provided by financing activities 13,818 614
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (32,577 ) 6,791
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 52,418 45,627
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period $ 19,841 $ 52,418
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities
Operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining ROU assets $ 2,442 $ 171
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
ASSEMBLY BIOSCIENCES, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 - Nature of Business
Overview
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, Assembly or the Company), incorporated in Delaware in October 2005, is a biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics. The Company's pipeline includes two helicase-primase inhibitors (HPI) targeting recurrent genital herpes, an orally bioavailable hepatitis delta virus (HDV) entry inhibitor, a clinical stage capsid assembly inhibitor (CAM) candidate designed to disrupt the replication cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) at several key points with the aim of achieving finite treatment and functional cures and research programs focused on the discovery of therapeutics to treat devastating viral diseases, including a non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor (NNPI) targeting transplant-related herpesviruses and a small molecule interferon-α (IFN-α) receptor (IFNAR) agonist targeting HBV and HDV. The Company operates in one segment and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
Liquidity
The Company has not derived any revenue from product sales to date and currently has no approved products. Once a product has been developed, it will need to be approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or an applicable foreign regulatory agency. Since inception, the Company’s operations have been financed through the sale of equity securities, the proceeds from the exercise of warrants and stock options, the issuance of debt, and upfront payments related to collaboration agreements. The Company has incurred losses from operations since inception and expects to continue to incur substantial losses for the next several years as it continues its product development efforts. In October 2023, the Company received $100.0 million upon entering into the Option, License and Collaboration Agreement (the Gilead Collaboration Agreement) and the Common Stock Purchase Agreement and an Investor Rights Agreement (collectively, the Gilead Equity Agreements) with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead). Management believes the Company currently has sufficient funds to meet its operating requirements for at least the next twelve months following the date these consolidated financial statements are issued.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
On January 31, 2024, following approval by the Company's stockholders, the Company's board of directors approved the implementation of a reverse stock split at a ratio of 1-for-12 shares of the Company's common stock (the Reverse Stock Split). The Reverse Stock Split was effective as of February 9, 2024 (see Note 15). All share and per share amounts of the Company's common stock presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-12 Reverse Stock Split, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of common stock to additional paid-in capital.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements include estimates for revenue recognition, including the standalone selling price (SSP) for the allocation of transaction price to performance obligations and cost-based inputs, as well as estimates of costs incurred but not yet invoiced for research and development accruals.
F-8
The Company’s estimates could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to the Company and general economic conditions. It is reasonably possible these external factors could have an effect on the Company’s estimates and could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimates and assumptions.
Other Risks and Uncertainties
The Company relies on contract research organizations (CROs), including one located in Ukraine that temporarily shut down operations due to Russia’s invasion. Though this CRO has resumed operations and the Company continues to utilize this CRO, the Company has reallocated certain work to other global CROs in case the CRO shuts down operations again.
U.S. and global financial markets have experienced volatility and disruption due to other macroeconomic and geopolitical events such as rising inflation, rising interest rates to combat inflation, the risk of a recession, the war between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. The Company cannot predict at this time to what extent, if at all, it and its employees, CROs, vendors and/or collaborators could potentially be negatively impacted by these events.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments, including money market funds, with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. All of the Company’s cash equivalents have liquid markets and high credit ratings. The Company maintains its cash in bank deposits and other accounts, the balances of which, at times as of and during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, exceeded federally insured limits.
Investments in Marketable Securities
The Company invests its excess cash in debt securities with high credit ratings, including, but not limited to, money market funds classified as cash equivalents, securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies, corporate debt securities and commercial paper. The Company has designated its investments in marketable securities as available-for-sale and measures these securities at their respective fair values. The Company reviews all available-for-sale securities at each period end to determine if they remain available-for-sale based on their current intent and ability to sell the security if it is required to do so. Marketable securities are classified as short-term or long-term based on the maturity date and their availability to meet current operating requirements. Marketable securities that mature in one year or less from the consolidated balance sheet date are classified as short-term available-for-sale securities, while marketable securities with maturities in one year or beyond one year from the consolidated balance sheet date are classified as long-term.
The Company periodically reviews its marketable securities for declines in fair value below the amortized cost basis to determine whether the impairment, if any, is due to credit-related or other factors. This review includes the credit worthiness of the security issuers, the severity of the unrealized losses, whether the Company has the intent to sell the securities and whether it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of the amortized cost basis. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported in other comprehensive loss, and as a component of stockholders' equity until their disposition, with the exception of unrealized losses believed to be related to credit losses which are recognized as an allowance for credit losses on the consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding charge in other income in the period the impairment occurs. Impairment assessments are made at the individual security level each reporting period. The Company elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of its available-for-sale debt securities and to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. To date, there have been no credit-related declines in value or other impairments of the Company’s investments in marketable securities. Realized gains and losses from the sale of marketable securities, if any, are calculated using the specific-identification method.
Leases
All of the Company’s leases are operating leases for facilities and equipment. The Company recognizes a lease asset for its right to use the underlying asset and a lease liability for the corresponding lease obligation. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at contract inception. Operating leases with a duration greater than one year are included in operating lease ROU assets, operating lease liabilities - short-term, and operating lease liabilities - long-term in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company elected
F-9
the short-term lease exception policy, permitting it to not apply the recognition requirements to leases with terms of less than one year (short-term leases) for all classes of assets. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the net present value of lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. The incremental borrowing rate represents the interest rate the Company would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of a lease. The Company considers a lease term to be the noncancelable period that it has the right to use the underlying asset, including any periods where it is reasonably assured the Company will exercise the option to extend the contract. Periods covered by an option to extend are included in the lease term if the lessor controls the exercise of that option.
The operating lease ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. Variable lease expenses are recorded when incurred. The Company has elected not to separate lease and non-lease components for its leased assets and accounts for all lease and non-lease components of its agreements as a single lease component.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets, including ROU operating lease assets, for potential impairment and tests the recoverability of such assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If a change in circumstance occurs, the Company performs a test of recoverability by comparing the carrying value of the asset or asset group to its undiscounted expected future cash flows. If cash flows cannot be separately and independently identified for a single asset, the Company will determine whether impairment has occurred for the group of assets for which the Company can identify the projected cash flows. If the carrying values are in excess of undiscounted expected future cash flows, the Company measures any impairment by comparing the fair value of the asset or asset group to its carrying value. There was no impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are stated at cost and consist of lab and office equipment and leasehold improvements. The Company records depreciation under the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of its property and equipment ranging from two to seven years.
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the remaining terms of the respective leases or the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvements, whichever is less. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company follows accounting guidance on fair value measurements for financial instruments measured on a recurring basis, as well as for certain assets and liabilities that are initially recorded at their estimated fair values. Fair value is defined as the exit price, or the amount that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses the following three-level hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to value its financial instruments:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments.
Level 2: Quoted prices for similar instruments that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.
Financial instruments measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires the Company to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability. The use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on estimated fair values. Accordingly, the fair value estimates disclosed or initial amounts recorded may not be indicative of the amount the Company or holders of the instruments could realize in a current market exchange.
F-10
The carrying amounts of cash equivalents and marketable securities approximate their fair value based upon quoted market prices. Certain of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts which approximate their fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature, such as cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses.
The following tables present the fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the above input categories (in thousands):
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Fair Value
Cash equivalents
Short-term marketable securities
U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities — 17,633 — 17,633
U.S. and foreign commercial paper — 15,755 — 15,755
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Fair Value
Cash equivalents
Short-term marketable securities
U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities — 18,597 — 18,597
U.S. and foreign commercial paper — 8,851 — 8,851
Total short-term marketable securities — 39,192 — 39,192
Money market funds are highly liquid and actively traded marketable securities that generally transact at a stable $1.00 net asset value representing its estimated fair value. The Company estimates the fair value of its U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities, U.S. treasury securities and U.S. and foreign commercial paper by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models, including both income and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, to estimate fair value. These inputs include reported trades of and broker/dealer quotes on the same or similar securities, issuer credit spreads; benchmark securities; prepayment/default projections based on historical data; and other observable inputs.
There have been no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 for any of the periods presented. See Note 4 for further information regarding the carrying value of the Company’s investments in marketable securities.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable from Collaboration
The Company analyzes its collaboration arrangements to assess whether such arrangements, or transactions between arrangement participants, involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities or are more akin to a vendor-customer relationship. In making this evaluation, the Company considers whether the activities of the collaboration are considered to be distinct and deemed to be within the scope of the collaborative arrangement accounting standard and those that are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and, therefore, within the scope of the revenue with contracts with customers accounting standard. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement.
For elements of collaboration arrangements that are not accounted for pursuant to the revenue from contracts with customers accounting standard, an appropriate recognition method is determined and applied consistently, generally by analogy to the revenue from contracts with customers accounting standard. Amounts related to transactions with a
F-11
counterparty in a collaborative arrangement that is not a customer are presented on a separate line item from revenue recognized from contracts with customers, if any, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Under certain collaborative arrangements, the Company has been reimbursed for a portion of its research and development expenses or participates in the cost-sharing of such research and development expenses. Such reimbursements and cost-sharing arrangements are reflected as a reduction of research and development expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
For arrangements or transactions between arrangement participants determined to be within the scope of the contracts with customers accounting standard, the Company evaluates the term of the arrangement and recognizes revenue when the customer obtains control of promised goods or services in a contract for an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. For contracts with customers, the Company applies the following five-step model in order to determine this amount: (1) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (2) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (3) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.
The Company has provided standard indemnification and protection of licensed intellectual property for its customers. These provisions are part of assurance the licenses meet the agreements, representations and are not obligations to provide goods or services.
The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. As part of the accounting for contracts with customers, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the estimated relative SSP of each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company then allocates the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on the SSP of each performance obligation. The Company recognizes the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when the performance obligation is satisfied or as it is satisfied as revenue.
Licenses
If a license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenues from nonrefundable, upfront license fees based on the relative value prescribed to the license compared to the total value of the arrangement. The revenue is recognized when the license is transferred to the collaborator and the collaborator is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are not distinct from other obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time. If the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time, the Company applies an appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from nonrefundable, upfront license fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
Research and Development Services
The promises under the Company’s agreements may include research and development services to be performed by the Company on behalf of the counterparty. If these services are determined to be distinct from the other promises or performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes the transaction price allocated to these services as revenue over time based on an appropriate measure of progress when the performance by the Company does not create an asset with an alternative use and the Company either has received or has an enforceable right to payment for the performance completed to date. If these services are determined not to be distinct from the other promises or performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes the transaction price allocated to the combined performance obligation as the related performance obligations are satisfied.
Customer Options
If an arrangement contains customer options, the Company evaluates whether the options are material rights because they allow the customer to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount. If the customer options are determined to represent a material right, the material right is recognized as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. The identification of a material right, and if identified as a material right, the allocation of the transaction price to it, is based on the SSP, which is determined using assumptions regarding estimated costs,
F-12
discount rates, post-option development timeline, the probability of technical and regulatory success and the probability the customer will exercise the option. Amounts allocated to a material right are not recognized as revenue until, at the earliest, the option is exercised or expires. If the options are deemed not to be a material right, they are considered marketing offers which are excluded as performance obligations at the outset of the arrangement.
Development and Regulatory Milestone Payments
Depending on facts and circumstances, the Company may record revenues from certain milestones in a reporting period before the milestone is achieved if the Company concludes achievement of the milestone is probable and recognition of revenue related to the milestone will not result in a significant reversal in amounts recognized in future periods. The Company records a corresponding contract asset when this conclusion is reached. Milestone payments that have not been included in the transaction price to date are fully constrained. The Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such milestones and any related constraint each reporting period. The Company adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price, including the amount of collaborative revenue that was recorded, if necessary.
Sales-based Milestone and Royalty Payments
The Company’s customers may be required to pay the Company sales-based milestone payments or royalties on future sales of commercial products. The Company recognizes revenues related to sales-based milestone and royalty payments upon the later to occur of (i) achievement of the collaborator’s underlying sales or (ii) satisfaction of any performance obligation(s) related to these sales, in each case assuming the Company’s licensed intellectual property is deemed to be the predominant item to which the sales-based milestones and/or royalties relate.
The Company receives payments from its customers based on billing schedules established in the contract. Upfront payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due until the Company performs its obligations under the arrangement. If the related performance obligation is expected to be satisfied within the next twelve months, these amounts will be classified in current liabilities. The Company recognizes a contract asset relating to its conditional right to consideration that is not subject to a constraint. Amounts are recorded as accounts receivable when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional.
A net contract asset or liability is presented for each contract with a customer. The Company does not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment by the customer and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the customer will be one year or less.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, all accounts receivable from collaboration are deemed collectible.
Contract Liabilities
The following tables present changes in the Company’s contract liabilities (in thousands):
Balance atBeginningof Period Additions Deductions Balance atEnd ofPeriod
Contract liabilities:
Balance atBeginningof Period Additions Deductions Balance atEnd ofPeriod
Contract liabilities:
F-13
Year Ended December 31,
Collaboration revenue recognized in the period from
Amounts included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period $ 2,733 $ —
Performance obligations satisfied in previous period $ — $ —
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures stock-based compensation to employees, consultants, board members, and non-employees at fair value on the grant date of the award. The fair value of RSUs is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. If stock-based awards are granted in contemplation of or shortly before a planned release of material nonpublic information, and such information is expected to result in a material increase in the Company’s share price, the Company considers whether an adjustment to the observable market price is required when estimating fair values. Compensation cost is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award. Stock-based awards with graded vesting schedules are recognized using the accelerated attribution method on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. For awards that have a performance condition, compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the award on the grant date, the date performance targets are established, and is expensed over the requisite service period for each separately vesting tranche when achievement of the performance condition becomes probable. The Company assesses the probability of the performance conditions being met on a continuous basis. For awards that have a market condition, compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and is expensed over the derived service period regardless of whether the underlying market condition is met. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.
The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants that do not contain market-based vesting conditions using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The assumptions used in estimating the fair value of these awards, such as expected term, expected dividend yield, volatility and risk-free interest rate, represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. The Company uses the Monte-Carlo model to calculate the fair value on the date of grant of awards which contain market-based vesting conditions. This pricing model uses multiple simulations to evaluate the probability of achieving the market condition to calculate the fair value of the awards, which includes the recent market price and volatility of the Company's shares.The Company is also required to make estimates as to the probability of achieving the specific performance conditions. If actual results are not consistent with the Company’s assumptions and judgments used in making these estimates, the Company may be required to increase or decrease compensation expense, which could be material to the Company’s consolidated results of operations.
Research and Development Expense and Accruals
Research and development costs include personnel-related costs, outside contracted services including clinical study costs, facilities costs, fees paid to consultants, milestone payments prior to FDA approval, license fees prior to FDA approval, professional services, travel costs, dues and subscriptions, depreciation and materials used in clinical trials and research and development and costs incurred under the Company’s collaboration agreements. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred unless there is an alternative future use in other research and development projects. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are capitalized until the goods or services are received. Such payments are evaluated for current or long-term classification based on when they will be realized or consumed.
The Company records expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing development activities based on its estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple CROs and manufacturing vendors that conduct and manage these activities on its behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to the Company’s vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the expense. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of clinical study milestones. In amortizing or accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of subjects, number of sites activated and the level of effort expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the Company’s estimate, the Company will adjust the accrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly. To date, there have been no material differences from the Company’s estimates to the amounts actually incurred.
F-14
The Company has entered and may continue to enter into license agreements to access and utilize certain technology. In each case, the Company evaluates if the license agreement results in the acquisition of an asset or a business. To date, none of the Company’s license agreements have been considered to be acquisitions of businesses. For asset acquisitions, the upfront payments to acquire such licenses, as well as any future milestone payments, are immediately recognized as research and development expense when paid, provided there is no alternative future use of the rights in other research and development projects. These license agreements may also include contingent consideration in the form of cash payments to be made for future milestone events. The Company assesses whether such contingent consideration meets the definition of a derivative and to date the Company has determined that such contingent consideration are not derivatives.
Restructuring Charges
The Company recognizes restructuring charges related to reorganization plans that have been committed to by management and when liabilities have been incurred. In connection with these activities, the Company records restructuring charges at fair value for (1) contractual employee termination benefits when obligations are associated to services already rendered, rights to such benefits have vested, and payment of benefits is probable and can be reasonably estimated, (2) one-time employee termination benefits when management has committed to a plan of termination, the plan identifies the employees and their expected termination dates, the details of termination benefits are complete, it is unlikely changes to the plan will be made or the plan will be withdrawn and communication to such employees has occurred, and (3) contract termination costs when a contract is terminated before the end of its term.
One-time employee termination benefits are recognized in their entirety when communication has occurred, and future services are not required. If future services are required, the costs are recorded ratably over the remaining period of service. Contract termination costs to be incurred over the remaining contract term without economic benefit are recorded in their entirety when the contract is canceled.
The recognition of restructuring charges requires the Company to make certain judgments and estimates regarding the nature, timing and amount of costs associated with the reorganization plan. To the extent the Company’s actual results differ from its estimates and assumptions, the Company may be required to revise the estimates of future accrued restructuring liabilities, requiring the recognition of additional restructuring charges or the reduction of accrued restructuring liabilities already recognized. Such changes to previously estimated amounts may be material to the consolidated financial statements. Changes in the estimates of the restructuring charges are recorded in the period the change is determined. There were no restructuring charges incurred during the year ended December 31, 2023. Changes to previous estimates for restructuring charges were not material during the year ended December 31, 2022.
At the end of each reporting period, the Company evaluates the remaining accrued restructuring balances to ensure that no excess accruals are retained, and the utilization of the provisions are for their intended purpose in accordance with developed restructuring plans.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company reviews agreements it enters into with third party entities, pursuant to which it may have a variable interest in the entity, in order to determine if the entity is a variable interest entity (VIE). If the entity is a VIE, the Company assesses whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of that entity. In determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of an entity, the Company applies a qualitative approach that determines whether it has both (1) the power to direct the economically significant activities of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to that entity. If the Company were to determine it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company would consolidate the statements of operations and financial condition of the VIE into its consolidated financial statements.
The Company’s determination about whether it should consolidate such VIEs is made continuously as changes to existing relationships or future transactions may result in a consolidation event.
F-15
Income Taxes
The Company records income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company establishes a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized based on an evaluation of objective verifiable evidence. For tax positions that are more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company recognizes the largest amount of the benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. For tax positions that are not more likely than not of being sustained upon audit, the Company does not recognize any portion of the benefit.
The Company recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions using a two-step approach set forth in authoritative guidance. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken by determining whether the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained in an audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Significant judgment is required to evaluate uncertain tax positions. The Company evaluates uncertain tax positions on a regular basis. The evaluations are based on a number of factors, including changes in facts and circumstances, changes in tax law, correspondence with tax authorities during the course of the audit, and effective settlement of audit issues. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any accruals which the Company believes are appropriate. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. No interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions has been incurred or accrued for any periods presented.
Pursuant to Section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code (Sec. 174), expenses associated with research conducted in the United States are capitalized and amortized over a five-year period. For expenses associated with research outside of the United States, Sec. 174 expenses are capitalized and amortized over a 15-year period.
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per common share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity unless inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share, since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive given the net loss for each period presented.
A reconciliation of the numerators and the denominators of the basic and diluted net loss per common share computations is as follows (in thousands, except for share and per share amounts):
Year Ended December 31,
Numerator:
Denominator:
Net loss per share - basic and diluted $ (13.38 ) $ (23.08 )
Securities excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because including them would have been antidilutive are as follows:
December 31,
Common stock subject to purchase under ESPP 13,730 5,971
F-16
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and adjustments for the change in unrealized gains and losses on investments in available-for-sale marketable securities. The Company displays comprehensive loss and its components in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, net of tax effects if any.
Concentrations of Risk
Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company holds these investments in highly rated financial institutions, and, by policy, limits the amounts of credit exposure to any one financial institution. These amounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any credit losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds. The Company has no off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk, such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements.
Supplier Risk
Certain materials and key components the Company utilizes in its operations are obtained through single suppliers. Since the suppliers of key components and materials must be named in a New Drug Application (NDA) filed with the FDA for a product, significant delays can occur if the qualification of a new supplier is required. If delivery of material from the Company’s suppliers were interrupted for any reason, the Company may be unable to supply any of its product candidates for clinical trials.
Customer Risk
During the year ended December 31, 2023, 62% of the Company's collaboration revenue was recognized from a related party, Gilead, under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement (see Note 10). If the collaboration with Gilead does not result in the successful development and commercialization of products or if Gilead terminates the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, the Company may not receive any future payments under the collaboration.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13), which requires expected credit losses relating to financial assets measured on an amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. ASU 2016-13 limits the amount of credit losses to be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. The FASB issued additional amendments to the new guidance related to transition and clarification and deferred the effective date of this standard for all entities except SEC filers that are not smaller reporting companies to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2023 on a modified retrospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements to Be Adopted
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which is intended to provide enhanced segment disclosures. The standard will require disclosures about significant segment expenses and other segment items and identifying the Chief Operating Decision Maker and how they use the reported segment profitability measures to assess segment performance and allocate resources. These enhanced disclosures are required for all entities on an interim and annual basis, even if they have only a single reportable segment. The standard is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating this standard to determine the impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The update requires a public business entity to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation
F-17
using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. Adoption of the ASU allows for either the prospective or retrospective application of the amendment and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2023-09 to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 - Related Party
In October 2023, Gilead purchased 1,089,472 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $13.92 per share for total proceeds of $15.2 million under the Gilead Equity Agreements (see Note 8). As of December 31, 2023, Gilead held 19.9% of the Company's outstanding voting common stock. In addition to the Gilead Equity Agreements, the Company entered into the Gilead Collaboration Agreement pursuant to which the Company received total proceeds of $84.8 million as an upfront payment (see Note 10). The Company recognized revenue of $4.4 million under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Additionally, Gilead may, at the Company’s or Gilead's option, subject to certain conditions, purchase additional shares to increase its holdings up to a maximum of 29.9% of the Company's then-outstanding voting common stock. Under the Investor Rights Agreement, Gilead has the right to designate two directors to the Company's board of directors. The Company appointed each of Gilead's designees to its board of directors in December 2023 and February 2024.
Note 4 - Investments in Marketable Securities
Investments in marketable available-for-sale securities consisted of the following (in thousands):
AmortizedCost GrossUnrealizedGain GrossUnrealizedLoss Fair Value
Cash equivalents
Short-term marketable securities
AmortizedCost GrossUnrealizedGain GrossUnrealizedLoss Fair Value
Cash equivalents
Short-term marketable securities
U.S. and foreign commercial paper 8,851 — — 8,851
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 89,398 $ — $ (530 ) $ 88,868
Short-term marketable securities held as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 had contractual maturities of less than one year.
F-18
There were no realized gains and losses for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, investments which were in an unrealized loss position were not material and generally due to interest rate fluctuations, as opposed to declines in credit quality. The Company determined it has the intent and ability to hold all marketable securities that have been in a continuous loss position until recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be until maturity. As a result, the Company did not recognize any credit losses related to its investments and all unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Accrued interest receivable was $0.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and was recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company did not write off any accrued interest receivable during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
See Note 2 for further information regarding the fair value of the Company's investments in marketable securities.
Note 5 - Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Total property and equipment 595 2,430
Less: Accumulated depreciation (210 ) (1,687 )
Property and equipment, net $ 385 $ 743
Depreciation expense for both the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $0.5 million and was recorded in both research and development expense and general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Note 6 – Other Accrued Expenses
Other accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Accrued expenses:
Accrued restructuring charges — 599
Accrued professional fees and other 260 490
Note 7 – Restructurings
In July 2022, the Company and its board of directors approved a strategic plan to align with its refocused pipeline on its next generation capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) and research programs and reduced its workforce by approximately 30%. The Company incurred cumulative restructuring charges of $1.1 million representing all costs to be incurred. These restructuring charges consisted solely of employee severance and related benefits, including $1.0 million in severance payments to executive officers impacted by the restructuring, $0.8 million in one-time termination severance payments and other employee-related costs associated with the restructuring and a reversal of $0.7 million for previously recognized stock-based compensation expense related to forfeited awards based on the Company's policy of recognizing stock-based awards with graded vesting schedules using an accelerated attribution method on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award and to recognize forfeitures when they occur.
F-19
There were no restructuring charges incurred during the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company incurred $1.1 million in restructuring charges during the year ended December 31, 2022, $0.9 million of which were included in research and development expenses and $0.2 million in general and administrative expenses.
The following table presents the activity in accrued restructuring charges, included as a component of other accrued expenses on the Company's consolidated balance sheet, during the period (in thousands):
Accrued balance as of December 31, 2021 $ —
Reductions for cash payments (1,280 )
Reductions for cash payments (599 )
Accrued balance as of December 31, 2023 $ —
Note 8 - Stockholders’ Equity
The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. In May 2022, the Company's stockholders approved the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which increased the authorized number of shares of common stock to 150,000,000. The Company is authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Reverse Stock Split
In February 2024, the Reverse Stock Split became effective. All share and per share amounts of the Company's common stock presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-12 Reverse Stock Split, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of common stock to additional paid-in capital (see Note 15). The Company's authorized shares of common stock remain at 150,000,000 and its authorized shares of preferred stock remain at 5,000,000.
Sale of Common Stock
In August 2020, the Company entered into a sales agreement under which the Company may offer and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100.0 million through “at-the-market” offerings (2020 ATM), pursuant to its shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the SEC. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued and sold 261,170 shares of common stock under the 2020 ATM, for which the Company received net proceeds of $4.5 million, after deducting commissions, fees and expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company issued and sold 25,068 shares of common stock under the 2020 ATM, for which the Company received net proceeds of $0.3 million, after deducting commissions, fees and expenses.
In October 2023, the Company entered into the Gilead Equity Agreements pursuant to which Gilead purchased 1,089,472 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $13.92 per share for total proceeds of $15.2 million. Of the $15.2 million in proceeds received under the Gilead Equity Agreements, $5.9 million was determined to be a premium on the purchase of the Company’s common stock and allocated to the single combined performance obligation under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement (see Note 10). The fair value of Gilead's common stock purchase was $9.3 million and total proceeds from the issuance of common stock under the Gilead Equity Agreements was $9.1 million, net of $0.2 million in issuance costs. Pursuant to the terms of the Gilead Equity Agreements, if the Company completes equity financing by July 15, 2024, which results in at least $30.0 million of proceeds to the Company, then, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders (which was obtained on January 31, 2024), the Company may require Gilead to purchase additional shares of common stock from the Company in an amount that results in Gilead owning 29.9% of the Company’s then-outstanding voting capital stock. If the Company does not complete the equity financing or does not require Gilead to purchase the additional shares, Gilead may elect to purchase additional shares of common stock from the Company in an amount that results in Gilead owning 29.9% of the Company’s then-outstanding voting capital stock. The purchase price per share for additional shares purchased by Gilead will be equal to the lesser of a 35% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price immediately prior to the date of purchase or a 35% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price immediately prior to delivery by Gilead of notice of the anticipated closing date. The Gilead Equity Agreements also include a three-year standstill provision and two-year lockup provision, with customary exceptions, and provide Gilead with certain other stock purchase rights and
F-20
registration rights, as well as the right to designate two directors to the Company’s board of directors. The Company appointed each of Gilead's designees to its board of directors in December 2023 and February 2024.
Note 9 - Stock-Based Compensation
Equity Incentive Plans
In May 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2018 Plan), which increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved under the 2018 Plan to 716,666.
In May 2023, the Company's stockholders approved an amendment to the 2018 Plan, which increased the aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved under the 2018 Plan to 883,333.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had awards outstanding under the following shareholder approved plans: 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2010 Plan), which has been frozen; the Amended and Restated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2014 Plan); and the 2018 Plan. Shares of common stock underlying awards that are forfeited under the 2010 Plan on or after June 2, 2016 will become available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had awards outstanding under the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. 2017 Inducement Award Plan, the 2019 Inducement Award Plan, and the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. 2020 Inducement Award Plan. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had outstanding options it assumed in connection with its merger with Assembly Pharmaceuticals.
The Company issues new shares of common stock to settle options exercised or vested RSUs. The Company also issues new shares of common stock in connection with purchases of shares of common stock by eligible employees under the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the 2018 ESPP).
In February 2024, the Reverse Stock Split became effective. All outstanding stock options and restricted stock units, as well as the Company's equity incentive plans presented have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the 1-for-12 Reverse Stock Split (see Note 15).
Stock Plan Activity
Stock Options
The following table summarizes the stock option activity and related information for 2023:
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted was $7.68 and $17.76 during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no options exercised in 2023 or 2022.
F-21
RSUs
The following table summarizes RSU activity and related information for 2023:
Numberof RSUs WeightedAverage FairValue Per RSUat Grant Price
The total fair value of RSUs vested and settled during 2023 and 2022 was $2.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value of RSUs vested and settled during both 2023 and 2022 was $0.5 million.
In July 2021, the Company granted 26,981 RSUs with performance-based vesting conditions upon the achievement of clinical milestones to the majority of employees, including executive officers. The awards had a grant date fair value of $1.2 million and vest upon performance conditions which were deemed probable of being met as of December 31, 2022. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 millionand $0.7 million for these RSUs during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
In March 2022, the Company granted 21,248 RSUs with market-based vesting conditions to members of management, including its executive officers. The awards had a grant date fair value of $0.4 million and are being recognized over the derived service period of 1.5 years and vest upon the achievement of certain market-based conditions which have not been achieved as of December 31, 2023. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.1 million and $0.2 million for these RSUs during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
In August 2022, the Company granted 43,748 RSUs with performance-based vesting conditions upon the achievement of clinical milestones to its executive officers. The awards had a grant date fair value of $1.1 million. Some of the performance conditions were deemed probable of being met as of December 31, 2022, with the remaining performance conditions deemed probable of being met as of December 31, 2023. The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $0.6 million and $0.1 million for these RSUs during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2018 ESPP provides for the purchase by employees of up to an aggregate of 108,333 shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount to the market price. Eligible employees may participate through payroll deductions of up to 15% of such employee’s compensation for each pay period subject to annual statutory limits and the 2018 ESPP’s limit of 208 shares of common stock per offering.
Eligible employees can purchase the Company’s common stock at the end of a predetermined offering period at 85% of the lower of the fair market value at the beginning or end of the offering period. Under the 2018 ESPP, the offering periods end on the last business day occurring on or before May 14 or November 14. The ESPP is compensatory and results in stock-based compensation expense.
In May and November 2023, employees purchased 7,534 and 6,919 shares of common stock, respectively, under the 2018 ESPP. In May and November 2022, employees purchased 11,240 and 7,579 shares of common stock, respectively, under the 2018 ESPP. As of December 31, 2023, 53,687 shares of common stock are available for future sale under the Company’s 2018 ESPP. Stock-based compensation expense recorded in connection with the 2018 ESPP was $0.1 million for both the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
F-22
Valuation Assumptions
The Company used the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for determining the estimated fair value and stock-based compensation related to stock options and ESPP purchase rights.
A summary of the assumptions used to estimate the fair values of stock options grants for the years presented is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
Expected term (years) 5.5 - 7.5 5.5 - 7.5
Expected dividend yield 0% 0%
The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the rates for U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the stock option being valued. The expected dividend yield was zero as the Company currently does not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The weighted average expected term of options was calculated using the simplified method as prescribed by accounting guidance for stock-based compensation due to the Company’s limited history of relevant stock option exercise activity. The expected volatility was calculated based on the Company’s historical stock prices.
The fair value of ESPP purchase rights and stock appreciation rights were not material for any period presented.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the years presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Total stock-based compensation expense $ 5,119 $ 6,593
As of December 31, 2023, there was $2.9 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to outstanding equity awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining amortization period of 1.5 years.
Note 10 - Collaboration Agreements
The following table summarizes the collaboration revenue recognized from the Company's collaboration agreements in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the years presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
BeiGene, Ltd. (BeiGene) 2,733 —
Total collaboration revenue $ 7,163 $ —
Gilead Agreement
In October 2023, the Company entered into the Gilead Collaboration Agreement pursuant to which Gilead will exclusively license to the Company its HPI program and NNPI program, while retaining opt-in rights to these programs and have an option to take an exclusive license, on a program-by-program basis, to all of the Company’s other current and future pipeline programs for a 12-year collaboration term. In addition to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, the Company and Gilead entered into the Gilead Equity Agreements, pursuant to which Gilead purchased 1,089,472 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $13.92 per share (see Note 8). The Company
F-23
received total proceeds of $100.0 million, consisting of $84.8 million as an upfront payment under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement and $15.2 million under the Gilead Equity Agreements.
Pursuant to the terms of the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, during the term and for a specified period thereafter, Gilead may exercise its opt-in rights, on a program-by-program basis, at one of two timepoints – completion of a certain Phase 1 study or completion of a certain Phase 2 study for the first product within the program – and upon payment of an opt-in fee ranging from $45.0 million to $125.0 million per program depending on the type of program and when the option is exercised. If Gilead exercises its opt-in right to any current or future program under the collaboration, the Company is eligible to receive up to $330.0 million in potential regulatory and commercial milestones on that program, in addition to royalties ranging from the high single-digits to high teens, depending on the clinical stage of the program at the time of the opt-in. Following Gilead’s exercise of its option for each Company program, the Company may opt in to cover 40% of the research and development costs in the United States and share 40% of the profits and operating loss in the United States for products within the program in lieu of receiving milestones and royalties for that program in the United States, unless the Company later opts out of the cost/profit share for the program. Prior to Gilead’s potential exercise of its opt-in, the Company will be primarily responsible for all discovery, research and development on both the Company’s programs and the two Gilead-contributed programs. Gilead may conduct certain development activities related to the Gilead Collaboration Agreement which will be reimbursed by the Company. Following Gilead’s opt-in, Gilead will control the further discovery, research, development, and commercialization on any optioned programs. During the term, Gilead will continue to support the collaboration through extension fees of $75.0 million in each of the third, fifth and seventh years of the collaboration.
The Gilead Collaboration Agreement is subject to termination by either party for the other party’s uncured, material breach or insolvency. Subject to certain limitations, the Company and Gilead both have certain termination for convenience rights, upon sufficient prior written notice, with respect to programs that one party in-licenses from the other (subject to Gilead’s option rights), and with respect to Gilead, for programs it has option rights to subject to certain time limitations with respect to existing Company programs). Gilead also has a right to terminate the collaborative activities under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement at certain specified points during the collaboration term.
The Company concluded Gilead is a customer and accordingly, the Gilead Collaboration Agreement is within the scope of the revenue from contracts with customers guidance. The Company identified a single combined performance obligation for the discovery, research and development services during the collaboration term (the R&D Services). The Company concluded the R&D Services are distinct from Gilead's right to obtain an exclusive license to any of the Company's programs as Gilead benefits from the knowledge and expertise gained from the R&D Services and the Company's know-how is not highly specialized in nature. Gilead could perform the R&D Services themselves, particularly considering Gilead contributed its HPI and NNPI programs and Gilead may continue to conduct development activities on programs being developed under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement. None of the options in the contract were deemed to be separate performance obligations as the options did not provide any discounts or other rights which would be considered a material right in the arrangement.
The Company determined the Gilead Collaboration Agreement and Gilead Equity Agreements should be assessed as a single combined transaction because the agreements were negotiated and entered into together, with a single commercial objective. The Company accounted for the agreements based on the fair values of the assets and services exchanged. Of the $15.2 million in proceeds received under the Gilead Equity Agreements, $5.9 million was determined to be a premium on the purchase of the Company’s common stock and allocated to the single combined performance obligation under the Gilead Collaboration Agreement. As of the effective date of the Gilead Collaboration Agreement, the total transaction price was determined to be $90.7 million. The value the Company received from the licenses Gilead contributed are not material within the context of the contract and accordingly, the Company made no adjustments to the transaction price for them.