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 together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this report contain forward-looking statements based upon current beliefs, plans and expectations related to future events and our future financial performance that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our intentions, plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts and projections. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report.
Overview
Our goal is to discover, develop and deliver therapeutics to defeat degeneration.
Our discovery and development strategy is guided by three overarching principles that we believe will significantly increase the probability of success and accelerate the timing to bring effective therapeutics to people living with neurodegenerative diseases and LSDs:
•Degenogenes: Genetic Pathway Realization – each of our programs addresses a molecular target or biological pathway that is genetically validated to cause or increase the risk for neurodegenerative diseases.
•Brain Delivery: Validation and Optionality – we engineer our product candidates to cross the BBB and act directly in the brain. Our proprietary TV platform technology is designed to effectively deliver large therapeutic molecules, such as enzymes, proteins, antibodies, and oligonucleotides, across the BBB after intravenous administration.
•Biomarker-Driven Development and Approval – we discover, develop and use biomarkers to inform dose selection, assess clinical activity, and identify patients most likely to respond to our therapies. We are actively engaged in discussions with health authorities regarding the potential use of biomarkers as primary clinical endpoints to support faster paths to approval.
Our clinical-stage large molecule programs are as follows:
•Tividenofusp alfa (DNL310, ETV:IDS), our lead ERT program enabled by our ETV, ETV:IDS is designed to cross the BBB and restore IDS and reduce GAGs, both peripherally and in the brain, in patients with MPS II (Hunter syndrome);
•TAK-594/DNL593 (PTV:PGRN), our recombinant PGRN biotherapeutic enabled by our PTV, being developed in collaboration with Takeda, to address certain types of FTD, specifically FTD-GRN caused by PGRN deficiency;
•DNL126 (ETV:SGSH), our second most advanced ETV enabled program, which is designed to restore lysosomal activity of SGSH, an enzyme responsible for degrading heparan sulfates in the lysosome, in patients with MPS IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome Type A).
Our clinical-stage small molecule programs are as follows:
•BIIB122/DNL151 (LRRK2), our LRRK2 inhibitor program, being developed in collaboration with Biogen, to address Parkinson’s disease;
•DNL343 (eIF2B), our eIF2B activator program to address diseases such as ALS and FTD;
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•SAR443820/DNL788 (CNS-penetrant RIPK1 inhibitor), our CNS-penetrant RIPK1 inhibitor program, partnered with Sanofi, to address neurological diseases such as MS and Alzheimer's disease; and
•Eclitasertib (SAR443122/DNL758, peripheral RIPK1 inhibitor), a second non-CNS penetrant RIPK1 inhibitor, partnered with Sanofi, to address peripheral inflammatory diseases such as UC.
The following table summarizes key information about our clinical stage programs:
Program Product Candidate Clinical Study(ies) Indication Operational Control
ETV:IDS Tividenofusp alfa, or DNL310 Ph 1/2 Hunter syndrome (MPS II) Denali
PTV:PGRN TAK-594/DNL593 Ph 1/2 (paused)1 FTD-GRN Joint with Takeda
ETV:SGSH DNL126 Ph 1/2 Sanfilippo syndrome Type A (MPS IIIA) Denali
LRRK2 BIIB122/DNL151 Ph 2a (planned) Parkinson's disease Denali
Ph 2b Joint with Biogen
eIF2B DNL343 Ph 1b ALS Denali
Ph 2/3 ALS Joint with Healey Center
RIPK1 (CNS-penetrant) SAR443820/DNL788 Ph 2 (closing)2 ALS Sanofi
Ph 2 MS Sanofi
RIPK1 (Peripheral) Eclitasertib, or SAR443122/DNL758 Ph 2 UC Sanofi
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(1)Study has been voluntarily paused in order to implement protocol modifications and is expected to resume this year.
(2)Study will be closing as it did not meet its primary endpoint.
Since we commenced operations, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to discovering, acquiring and developing product candidates, building our BBB platform technology and assembling our core capabilities in understanding key neurodegenerative disease pathways.
Key operational and financing milestones for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in 2024 to date include:
•Tividenofusp alfa DNL310 (ETV:IDS)
◦In February 2023, at the WORLDSymposiumTM, we reported additional interim data from the open-label, single-arm Phase 1/2 study of DNL310. Over 49 weeks of DNL310 treatment in the Phase 1/2 study, positive changes across measures of exploratory clinical outcomes including VABS-II (adaptive behavior) and BSID-III (cognitive capabilities) scores and global impression scales were observed. The data also suggested that DNL310 improved hearing, as assessed by auditory brainstem response testing. Additional biomarker data out to 49 weeks continued to demonstrate that DNL310 enabled rapid and sustained normalization of cerebrospinal fluid ("CSF") heparan sulfate to normal healthy levels and improvement in lysosomal function biomarkers. Reduction in urine heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate after switch from standard of care to DNL310 suggested additional sustained peripheral activity of DNL310. The DNL310 safety profile, with up to two years of treatment, remained consistent with standard of care;
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◦In June 2023, we announced a robust reduction in Neurofilament Light ("NfL") with DNL310 treatment in MPS II (Hunter syndrome). Interim results demonstrated average reduction of 64% (p <0.001) from baseline in serum NfL after two years of dosing with DNL310 in the Phase 1/2 study. The FDA has recommended assessment of NfL, a marker of neuroaxonal damage, as a possible biomarker in MPS II;
◦In August 2023, we presented new interim data from the Phase 1/2 study of DNL310 in MPS II in an oral presentation at the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism ("SSIEM") Annual Symposium 2023. The interim clinical outcomes data, safety profile, and biomarker effects, including normalization of CSF heparan sulfate and reduction in NfL, continue to support development of DNL310 in MPS II;
◦In January 2024, we announced that enrollment continues in the global Phase 2/3 COMPASS study and is expected to be completed in 2024. We continue to engage with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on a faster path to approval; and
◦In February 2024, we presented additional interim data from the open-label, single-arm Phase 1/2 study of DNL310 at the 2024 WORLDSymposiumTM. Data out to 104 weeks showed additional improvement and stabilization in multiple measures of clinical outcomes, including those of adaptive behavior, cognition, hearing, and growth trajectory. In addition, robust and sustained responses in biomarkers of neuronal health (e.g., CSF heparan sulfate, neurofilament light (NfL)) and peripheral activity (e.g. urine heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate) were observed. DNL310 continued to be generally well tolerated.
•TAK-594/DNL593 (PTV:PGRN)
◦In March 2023, a $10.0 million milestone payment from Takeda was triggered upon achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the Phase 1/2 study of TAK-594/DNL593 in patients with FTD-GRN, which we received in May 2023;
◦In July 2023, we presented healthy volunteer data from Part A of the Phase 1/2 study of TAK-594/DNL593 at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, which continued to demonstrate that single doses of TAK-594/DNL593 resulted in substantial increases in CSF PGRN levels and were generally well tolerated; and
◦In January 2024, we announced that Part B in the TAK-594/DNL593 Phase 1/2 study in participants with FTD-GRN has been voluntarily paused to implement protocol modifications and is expected to resume this year.
•DNL126 (ETV:SGSH)
◦In February 2024, we announced that dosing had been initiated in the Phase 1/2 study of DNL126 in MPS IIIA; biomarker proof of concept and safety data are expected by the end of 2024. Further, in February 2024, we presented preclinical data at WORLDSymposiumTM demonstrating that DNL126 improves lysosomal and microglial morphology, degeneration, and cognitive behavior in MPS IIIA mice.
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•BIIB122/DNL151 (LRRK2)
◦In June 2023, in conjunction with Biogen, and based on review of portfolio timelines and resource prioritization, we announced plans to revise the clinical development program for BIIB122/DNL151. Prior to the planned revisions, the BIIB122 clinical development program encompassed two global late-stage clinical trials: the Phase 2b LUMA study in participants with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, which commenced in May 2022; and the Phase 3 LIGHTHOUSE study in participants with Parkinson’s disease related to LRRK2 mutations, which commenced in September 2022. In consideration of the LIGHTHOUSE study’s complexity, including the long timeline with anticipated study completion in 2031, Biogen and we plan to refocus our efforts to enable a timely readout on efficacy in idiopathic early-stage Parkinson’s disease while gaining further clinical data in Parkinson’s disease with and without a LRRK2 mutation. The planned revisions to the BIIB122 clinical development program are not based on any safety or efficacy data from studies of BIIB122. Biogen and we plan to modify the LUMA study’s enrollment criteria to allow for inclusion of eligible participants with Parkinson’s disease and a confirmed pathogenic variant of LRRK2, in addition to continuing to enroll eligible participants with idiopathic early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Collectively, data from the LUMA study will inform next steps for the development of BIIB122 in Parkinson’s disease;
◦In August 2023, we executed an amendment to the Definitive LRRK2 Collaboration and License Agreement and Waiver of and Amendment to Right of First Negotiation (ROFN), Option, and License Agreement. As part of the amendment, certain milestone criteria were changed while the total amount of development, regulatory, and commercial milestones across all indications remains the same. In addition, Biogen agreed to waive the remaining option and rights of first negotiation under the ROFN and Option Agreement; and
◦In February 2024, we announced the execution of a Collaboration and Development Funding Agreement in January 2024 with a third party related to a global Phase 2a study of BIIB122/DNL151, which we plan to solely operationalize to evaluate safety and biomarkers associated with BIIB122 in participants with Parkinson’s disease and confirmed pathogenic variants of LRRK2. This agreement includes committed funding of $75.0 million, of which $12.5 million was received in January 2024, and the remainder will be triggered based on time and operational milestones in the study. Biogen will continue to conduct the ongoing global Phase 2b LUMA study in early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Denali and Biogen will co-commercialize BIIB122/DNL151 assuming regulatory approval. The third party will be eligible to receive low single-digit royalties from Denali on annual worldwide net sales of LRRK2 inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, with royalty amounts varying based on the scope of the label.
•SAR443820/DNL788 and Eclitasertib (SAR443122/DNL758) (RIPK1)
◦In January 2023, our collaboration partner Sanofi commenced dosing in the Phase 2 study of SAR443820/DNL788in patients with MS, triggering a $25.0 million milestone payment, which was received in January 2023. In November 2023 we announced that Sanofi has completed enrollment in this study;
◦In August 2023, we announced that Sanofi had completed enrollment in the global Phase 2 HIMALAYA study of SAR443820/DNL788in ALS in July;
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◦In August 2023, we announced that Sanofi completed a Phase 2 study of eclitasertib, also known as SAR443122/DNL758, in patients with CLE in June. In October 2023, Sanofi announced that the development of eclitasertib in CLE is being discontinued because the Phase 2 proof-of-concept study did not meet its primary endpoint (percent change from baseline in CLASI-A at week 12). Eclitasertib was found to be generally well-tolerated. Sanofi continues to recruit the Phase 2 study of eclitasertib in patients with UC; and
◦In February 2024, we announced that the Phase 2 HIMALAYA study evaluating SAR443820/DNL788 in participants with ALS did not meet the primary endpoint of change in ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R). Sanofi intends to present the detailed efficacy and safety results of the ALS Phase 2 HIMALAYA study at a future scientific forum. Sanofi is evaluating SAR443820/DNL788 in another Phase 2 clinical trial in participants with MS, and the outcome of HIMALAYA study has no impact on the ongoing MS study.
•DNL343 (eIF2B)
◦In April 2023, we presented final data from the 28-day treatment period of the Phase 1b study of DNL343 in participants with ALS at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology ("AAN"). The results continued to demonstrate that once-daily oral dosing with DNL343 for 28 days was generally well tolerated and demonstrated extensive CSF penetration. In addition, robust inhibition of biomarkers associated with the ISR pathway was observed in blood samples from study participants; and
◦In May 2023, the first patient was dosed with DNL343 in the Phase 2/3 HEALEY ALS Platform Trial. Recruitment of participants continues for this trial.
•Other
◦In March 2023, a contingent consideration payment of $30.0 million associated with our acquisition of F-star Gamma was triggered upon the achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the ETV:IDS program. This payment fully satisfies our clinical contingent consideration obligations under the Purchase Agreement;
◦In April 2023, we entered into a new operating lease in Salt Lake City, Utah for a 59,336 square foot laboratory (the "Utah site"), office and warehouse premises, after terminating our previous SLC lease in March 2023, decreasing future lease payments by $6.1 million while increasing the lease term by approximately five and a half years. The Utah site will expand our clinical manufacturing capabilities for biologic therapeutics (large molecules) as we plan to use the premises for the manufacture of materials for toxicology studies and drug substance for early human clinical studies with the goal of increasing flexibility and speed in advancing new investigational therapies into clinical trials;
◦In April 2023, our collaboration partner Biogen exercised its option to develop and commercialize our ATV program targeting amyloid-beta, triggering an option exercise payment of $5.0 million, which we received in May 2023;
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◦In August 2023 we announced that, in agreement with Takeda, the companies will discontinue clinical development of TAK-920/DNL919 in Alzheimer’s disease. This is a strategic decision based on the totality of clinical data emerging from the single ascending dose Phase 1 study of TAK-920/DNL919 in healthy volunteers and in consideration of the rapidly evolving treatment landscape for Alzheimer's disease whereby an understanding of drug combinations with newly approved therapies will be important. A preliminary analysis of Phase 1 data indicates robust target engagement and effects on microglial biomarkers (e.g., CSF1R, SPP1, IL1RA, IP10, MIP1b, MCP-1), which were consistent with preclinical studies that demonstrate that ATV:TREM2 induces robust changes to a responsive microglial cell state (van Lengerich B, et al. Nat Neurosci. 2023). In the Phase 1 study, TAK-920/DNL919 was clinically well tolerated at doses with demonstrated changes in CSF biomarkers and there were no serious adverse events or severe treatment emergent adverse events; however, safety signals of moderate, reversible hematologic effects were observed at the highest dose tested, suggesting a narrow therapeutic window for the Alzheimer’s disease patient population. The Phase 1 safety findings are believed to be specific to properties of TAK-920/DNL919 and TREM2 biology. Denali and Takeda will continue to focus research efforts on back-up molecules in preclinical development, including exploration of potential combination therapy given recent new drug approvals in Alzheimer's disease;
◦In January 2024, we announced our intention to spin out our preclinical small molecule portfolio. We will maintain ownership of, and continue to advance, our current portfolio of clinical stage small molecule programs. The decision was made based on clinical validation and prioritization of our TV-enabled platforms for brain delivery of large molecules; and
◦In February 2024, we announced that on February 27, 2024 we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain existing accredited investors for the private placement of 3,244,689 shares of our common stock at a price of $17.07 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 26,046,065 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $17.06 per pre-funded warrant, resulting in anticipated gross proceeds of approximately $499.7 million. The pre-funded warrants will have an exercise price of $0.01 per share of Common Stock, be immediately exercisable and remain exercisable until exercised in full. The private placement is expected to close on February 29, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any product revenue since our inception. We have funded our operations primarily from the issuance and sale of convertible preferred stock, the sale of common stock in public offerings, and payments received from our collaboration agreements with Takeda, Sanofi and Biogen.
We have incurred significant operating losses to date and expect to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future. Our ability to generate product revenue will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. We had net losses of $145.2 million, $326.0 million, and $290.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $1.12 billion. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses as we advance our current clinical stage programs through healthy volunteer and patient trials; broaden and improve our BBB platform technology; acquire, discover, validate and develop additional product candidates; obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property portfolio; and hire additional personnel.
We currently rely on third-party contract manufacturers to manufacture and supply our preclinical and clinical materials to be used during the development of our product candidates. We currently do not need commercial manufacturing capacity.
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License and Collaboration Agreements
Collaborations and partnering are central components of our strategy to build, develop and commercialize our portfolio of product candidates. We have numerous arrangements with biopharmaceutical companies, technology companies, academic institutions, foundations, and patient-focused data companies.
Biogen
In October 2020, we entered into the LRRK2 Agreement with Biogen pursuant to which we granted Biogen a license to co-develop and co-commercialize our small molecule LRRK2 Program, in addition to the ROFN and Option Agreement pursuant to which we granted an option and a right of first negotiation to certain of our programs utilizing our TV technology platform; collectively the "Biogen Collaboration Agreement." In connection with our collaboration with Biogen, we also entered into a common stock purchase agreement pursuant to which we sold 13,310,243 shares of our common stock to BIMA for an aggregate purchase price of $465.0 million. Under the terms of the Biogen Collaboration Agreement, we received $560.0 million in upfront payments in October 2020.
In April 2023, Biogen exercised its option to license our ATV:Abeta program and we received additional consideration of $5.0 million for an option exercise fee. In August 2023, we executed an Amendment (the “Biogen Amendment”) to the LRRK2 Agreement and ROFN and Option Agreement with Biogen. Pursuant to the Biogen Amendment, the schedule of potential LRRK2 Agreement milestones was amended, while maintaining the same total value of milestones that Denali is eligible to receive. In addition, Biogen waived its option right to the second option program and waived its rights of first negotiation for two other TV-enabled programs under the ROFN and Option Agreement. Further details regarding the terms of the agreements between us and Biogen are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in the section titled "Business - Licenses and Collaborations."
In relation to the Biogen Collaboration Agreement, we have recognized related party collaboration revenue of $295.5 million, $3.1 million, and $3.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related party research and development expense of $17.7 million and $8.2 million for cost sharing payments to Biogen in the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and a related party offset to research and development expense as a result of cost sharing reimbursements from Biogen of $6.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2021. We have recorded cost sharing payables of $3.2 million and $4.4 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Through December 31, 2023, we had earned $5.0 million in option fee payments but had not recorded any milestone revenue or product sales under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement.
Sanofi
In October 2018, we entered into the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement with Sanofi pursuant to which certain small molecule CNS and peripheral RIPK1 inhibitors contributed by Sanofi and by us are being, or will be developed and commercialized. Further details regarding the terms of the agreement between us and Sanofi, and historic payments between the parties under the agreement, are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in the section titled "Business - Licenses and Collaborations."
We have recognized collaboration revenue of $25.0 million, $53.4 million and $15.0 million associated with the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and recorded no receivable from Sanofi on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Through December 31, 2023, we had received milestone payments of $100.0 million and we had not recorded any product sales under the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement.
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Takeda
In January 2018, we entered into the Takeda Collaboration Agreement pursuant to which we granted Takeda an option to develop and commercialize, jointly with us, our ATV:TREM2, PTV:PGRN and ATV:BACE1/Tau programs, the latter of which was later replaced with our ATV:Tau program. Pursuant to the terms of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, we also entered into the Purchase Agreement with Takeda in January 2018, pursuant to which we sold 4,214,559 shares of our common stock to Takeda for an aggregate purchase price of $110.0 million.
In November 2021 and December 2021, Takeda exercised its options for the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 programs, respectively, subsequent to which we have shared equally in the development costs for the programs. In March 2022, we mutually agreed under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement to terminate activity on the ATV:Tau program. Further details regarding the terms of the agreement between us and Takeda, and historic payments between the parties under the agreements, are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in the section titled "Business - Licenses and Collaborations."
We recognized collaboration revenue of $10.0 million, $51.9 million and $29.9 million associated with the Takeda Collaboration Agreement in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and offsets to research and development expense for cost sharing reimbursements of $12.2 million, $18.2 million and $13.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. We recorded receivables of $2.7 million and $8.9 million from Takeda as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Through December 31, 2023, we have received $65.0 million in milestone payments and $10.0 million of option exercise fees from Takeda, and we have not recorded any product sales under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement.
F-star
In August 2016, we entered into the F-star Collaboration Agreement with the F-star entities. The goal of the collaboration was the development of Fcabs to enhance delivery of therapeutics across the BBB into the brain. In connection with the entry into the F-star Collaboration Agreement, we also purchased an option to acquire all of the outstanding shares of F-star Gamma pursuant to a pre-negotiated buy-out option agreement. In May 2018, we exercised such buy-out option and entered into the F-star Purchase Agreement with the shareholders of F-star Gamma and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, pursuant to which we acquired all of the outstanding shares of F-star Gamma. As a result of the Acquisition, F-star Gamma became our wholly-owned subsidiary and the entity's name was changed to Denali BBB Holding Limited. In addition, we became a direct licensee of certain intellectual property of F-star Ltd by way of our assumption of F-star Gamma’s license agreement with F-star Ltd, dated August 24, 2016. Further details regarding the terms of the arrangements between us and the F-star entities, and historic payments between the parties under the agreements, are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in the section titled "Business - Licenses and Collaborations."
Through December 31, 2023 we have recognized consideration paid under the F-star Purchase Agreement of $49.8 million as research and development expenses consisting of up-front, preclinical and clinical contingent consideration payments, of which $30.0 million of research and development expense was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2023 for a contingent consideration payment triggered in March 2023 upon the achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the ETV:IDS program. There was no contingent consideration research and development expense recognized in the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2021. We recognized $0.1 million of research and development expense related to the funding of F-star research costs for the year ended December 31, 2021, but none for the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
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Genentech
In June 2016, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with Genentech. The agreement gives us access to Genentech’s LRRK2 inhibitor program. Our collaboration partner in the LRRK2 program, Biogen, is responsible for 50% of any payment obligation to Genentech under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement.
As consideration to date, we have paid Genentech $25.0 million in the aggregate, including an upfront fee, a technology transfer fee and three clinical milestone payments, with $18.8 million of this recorded as research and development expense as incurred, net of cost sharing reimbursements from Biogen. Included within this amount, in the year ended December 31, 2022, we paid Genentech a $7.5 million clinical milestone payment triggered upon the commencement of dosing in the global Phase 2b LUMA study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BIIB122/DNL151 by Biogen, and a further $5.0 million clinical milestone payment triggered upon the commencement of dosing in the global Phase 3 LIGHTHOUSE study to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of BIIB122/DNL151 by Biogen. Of these milestones, we recognized $6.3 million as research and development expense as incurred after cost sharing reimbursements from Biogen inthe year ended December 31, 2022. We recognized no expenses under this agreement in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021.
Components of Operating Results
Collaboration Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future. All revenue recognized to date has been collaboration and license revenue from our collaboration agreements with Takeda, Sanofi and Biogen.
Future revenue may be recognized from the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, Sanofi Collaboration Agreement, and Biogen Collaboration Agreement, and may be generated from product sales or milestone payments, royalties and profit sharing reimbursement from other collaboration agreements, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. We expect that our revenue will fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year as a result of the timing and amount of license fees, option exercise fees, milestone payments, profit sharing reimbursement, other payments and product sales, to the extent any are successfully commercialized. If we fail to complete the development of our product candidates in a timely manner or obtain regulatory approval for them, our ability to generate future revenue, and our results of operations and financial position, would be materially adversely affected.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
Research and development activities account for a significant portion of our operating expenses. We record research and development expenses as incurred. Research and development expenses incurred by us for the discovery and development of our product candidates and BBB platform technology include:
• external research and development expenses, including:
–expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations ("CROs"), preclinical testing organizations, contract development and manufacturing organizations ("CDMOs"), academic and non-profit institutions and consultants;
–expenses to acquire technologies to be used in research and development that have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use;
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–fees related to our license and collaboration agreements;
•personnel related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense; and
•other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for laboratory, facilities and other costs.
A portion of our research and development expenses are direct external expenses, which we track on a program-specific basis once a program has commenced late-stage IND-enabling studies.
Program expenses include expenses associated with our most advanced product candidates and the discovery and development of backup or next-generation molecules. We also track external expenses associated with our TV platform. These expenses include external expenses incurred by us relating to our Takeda Collaboration Agreement, Sanofi Collaboration Agreement and Biogen Collaboration Agreement. All external costs associated with earlier stage programs, or that benefit the entire portfolio, are tracked as a group. We also incur personnel and other operating expenses for our research and development programs which are presented in aggregate. These expenses primarily relate to salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation, facility expenses including rent and depreciation, and lab consumables. Where we share costs with our collaboration partners, such as in our Biogen Collaboration Agreement and Takeda Collaboration Agreement, research and development expenses may include cost sharing reimbursements from, or payments to, our collaboration partners.
It is challenging to predict the nature, timing and estimated long-range costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of, and obtain regulatory approval for, any of our product candidates. This is made more challenging by events outside of our control, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and increased geopolitical uncertainty. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from sales or licensing of our product candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, including the uncertainty of:
•our ability to add and retain key research and development personnel;
•our ability to establish an appropriate safety profile with IND-enabling toxicology studies;
•our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and then successfully commercialize, our product candidates;
•our successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;
•the costs associated with the development of any additional product candidates we identify in-house or acquire through collaborations;
•our ability to discover, develop and utilize biomarkers to demonstrate target engagement, pathway engagement and the impact on disease progression of our molecules;
•our ability to establish agreements with third-party manufacturers for clinical supply for our clinical trials and commercial manufacturing, if our product candidates are approved;
•the terms and timing of any collaboration, license or other arrangement, including the terms and timing of any milestone payments thereunder;
•our ability to obtain and maintain patent, trade secret and other intellectual property protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates if and when approved;
•our receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
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•our ability to commercialize products, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and
•the continued acceptable safety profiles of the product candidates following approval.
A change in any of these variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates would significantly change the costs, timing and viability associated with the development of that product candidate. We expect our research and development expenses to increase at least over the next several years as we continue to implement our business strategy, advance our current programs, expand our research and development efforts, seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, access and develop additional product candidates and incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. In addition, product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally incur higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses include personnel related expenses, such as salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense, expenses for outside professional services and allocated expenses. Outside professional services consist of legal, accounting and audit services and other consulting fees. Allocated expenses consist of rent, depreciation and other expenses related to our office and research and development facility not otherwise included in research and development expenses. We expect to increase our administrative headcount as we advance our product candidates through clinical development, which will increase our general and administrative expenses.
Interest and Other Income, Net
Interest and other income, net, consists primarily of interest income and investment income earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, and sublease income.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table sets forth the significant components of our results of operations (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, Change
Collaboration revenue:
Operating expenses:
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*Percentage is not meaningful.
Collaboration revenue. Collaboration revenue was $330.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $108.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in collaboration revenue of $222.0 million was primarily due to $293.9 million in revenue recognized in April 2023 under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement as a result of Biogen exercising its option to license our ATV:Abeta program, partially offset by a decrease of $41.9 million in revenue earned under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, as well as a decrease of $28.4 million in milestone revenue earned under the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement. The decreases in revenues from the Sanofi and Takeda Collaboration Agreements are due to the timing of underlying activities and achievement of milestones under the collaboration agreements.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses were $423.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $358.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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The following table summarizes our research and development expenses by program and category (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, Change
_________________________________________________
*Percentage is not meaningful.
(1)Personnel-related expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $62.9 million and $60.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, reflecting an increase of $2.7 million.
(2)Net cost sharing payments (reimbursements) details are broken down as shown in the table below. The underlying costs for reimbursements are included with the specified external expenses line and personnel related expenses in the table above. ATV:TREM2 program external expenses are presented within the TV platform and other program external expenses line.
Year Ended December 31,
Takeda: net reimbursements for ATV:TREM2 program $ (5,100) $ (6,954)
Takeda: net reimbursements for PTV:PGRN program (7,065) (11,276)
Biogen: net payments for LRRK2 program 17,678 8,187
Net cost sharing payments (reimbursements) $ 5,513 $ (10,043)
The increase in research and development expenses of approximately $65.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to the following:
•An increase of $53.2 million in ETV:IDS program external expenses primarily due to the contingent consideration payment of $30.0 million recorded in the first quarter of 2023 related to the acquisition of F-star Gamma, which was triggered in March 2023 upon the achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the ETV:IDS program. Further, the increase reflects the continued progress of this program in clinical trials during 2023, including costs related to our ongoing Phase 1/2 study and our potentially registrational Phase 2/3 study;
•An increase of $9.6 million in eIF2B program external expenses reflecting the continued progress of the Phase 2/3 HEALEY ALS Platform Trial in 2023;
•An increase of $15.6 million in net cost sharing payments primarily due to an increase in payments to Biogen for LRRK2 program expenses, and a decrease in costs and associated reimbursements from Takeda in the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 programs;
•An increase of $9.3 million in other unallocated research and development expenses primarily due to increased facility costs as a result of accelerated depreciation on leasehold improvements associated with the termination of the previous SLC Lease as well as other general research costs;
•An increase of $16.4 million in personnel-related expenses, consisting of $13.7 million in employee compensation and $2.7 million in stock-based compensation expense in stock-based compensation expense pertaining to additional salaries, related expenses, and equity award grants driven by an increase in our research and development headcount.
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These increases were partially offset by decreases of $14.2 million in LRRK2 program external expenses due to the transition of LRRK2 clinical activities to Biogen, $10.5 million in TV platform and other program external expenses as a result of discontinuation of clinical development of TAK-920/DNL919, and $7.0 million in other external research and development expenses and $7.2 million in PTV:PGRN program external expenses due to the timing of significant external research and manufacturing related activities year over year.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $103.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $90.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $12.9 million was primarily attributable to the following:
•An increase of $9.5 million of personnel-related expenses consisting of employee compensation and stock-based compensation expense associated with additional salary expenses and equity award grants driven primarily by higher general and administrative headcount;
•An increase of $3.4 million in professional services, facilities and other corporate costs.
Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of Operations” in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in the amount of $1.03 billion. We fund our operations primarily with the proceeds from the sale of common stock and payments received from collaboration partners, including those received under agreements with Takeda, Sanofi, and Biogen. We have sold common stock in public offerings and stock purchase agreements with Takeda and Biogen. Through December 31, 2023 we have obtained aggregate net proceeds of approximately $754.4 million from public offerings of our common stock, including $296.2 million obtained through the sale of 11.9 million shares of common stock in October 2022. Under stock purchase agreements with collaboration partners we have received a further $575.0 million through December 31, 2023.
In February 2022, we established a registered “at-the-market” facility for the sale of up to 400.0 million of shares of common stock from time to time by entering into an equity distribution agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, SVB Securities LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as sales agents. To date, no shares have been sold under the equity distribution agreement.
Pursuant to our collaboration agreements with Takeda, Sanofi and Biogen, through December 31, 2023 we have received upfront, option and milestone payments of $115.0 million, $225.0 million, and $560.0 million, respectively, and have also received $41.3 million and $16.2 million of gross cost sharing reimbursements from Takeda and Biogen, respectively, and $13.7 million in specified reimbursements from Sanofi.
Future Funding Requirements and Commitments
To date, we have not generated any product revenue. We do not expect to generate any product revenue unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize any of our product candidates, and we do not know when, or if, either will occur.
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We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect the losses to increase as we expand our research and development activities and continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. Further, we expect general and administrative expenses to increase as we continue to incur additional costs associated with supporting our growing operations. We are subject to all of the risks typically related to the development of new product candidates, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. We anticipate that we will need substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.
Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenue from the commercialization of our product candidates or from our existing collaboration agreements, or future agreements with other third parties, if ever, we expect to finance our future cash needs through public or private equity or debt financings. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of additional debt or equity securities, it could result in dilution to our existing stockholders, increased fixed payment obligations and the existence of securities with rights that may be senior to those of our common stock. If we incur indebtedness, we could become subject to covenants that would restrict our operations and potentially impair our competitiveness, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Additionally, any future collaborations we enter into with third parties may provide capital in the near term but limit our potential cash flow and revenue in the future. Any of the foregoing could significantly harm our business, financial condition and prospects.
Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations. We have an accumulated deficit of $1.12 billion through December 31, 2023. We expect to incur substantial additional losses in the future as we conduct and expand our research and development activities. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to enable us to fund our projected operations through at least the twelve months following the filing date of this Form 10-K, including our existing commitments as outlined below. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In the longer term, we anticipate that we will need substantial additional resources to fund our operations and meet future commitments.
Our existing commitments primarily relate to our obligations under existing lease agreements, and certain clinical and manufacturing agreements, including the DMSA with Lonza Sales AG ("Lonza") for the development and manufacture of biologic products. As of December 31, 2023, operating lease liabilities were $52.2 million. Under the SLC lease which was executed in April 2023, we have future undiscounted lease payments totaling approximately $13.4 million. Under the DMSA with Lonza, and certain other clinical and manufacturing agreements, we had total non-refundable purchase commitments of $74.0 million as of December 31, 2023, with certain amounts subject to cost sharing with Takeda. Further, in the normal course of business, we enter into various firm purchase commitments primarily related to research and development activities. While the lease obligations span multiple years, the majority of the purchase commitments with Lonza and other clinical and manufacturing agreements are due within twelve months, with some spanning several years. These commitments are more fully described in Note 8, "Commitments and Contingencies" to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our future funding requirements, including changes to and new commitments, will depend on many factors, including:
•the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities;
•the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
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•the progress of the development efforts of third parties with whom we have entered into license and collaboration agreements;
•our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new research and development, license or collaboration arrangements;
•our ability and success in securing manufacturing relationships with third parties or in establishing and operating a manufacturing facility;
•the costs involved in prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property claims;
•the cost and timing of regulatory approvals;
•our efforts to enhance operational, financial and information management systems and hire additional personnel, including personnel to support development of our product candidates; and
•the costs and ongoing investments to in-license and/or acquire additional technologies.
A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such operating plans.
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented below (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities was $358.0 million, which consisted of a net loss of $145.2 million, adjusted by non-cash items primarily related to stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, net amortization of premiums and (discounts) on marketable securities and non-cash rent expenses. Cash used in operating activities was also driven by changes in our operating assets and liabilities, the most significant of which was the reduction in our related-party contract liability as a result of Biogen's option exercise during the second quarter of 2023.
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $249.3 million, which consisted of $2.1 billion in proceeds from the maturities and sales of marketable securities, partially offset by $1.8 billion of purchases of marketable securities, and $12.9 million capital expenditures to purchase property and equipment.
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Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $17.8 million, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of options to purchase common stock and purchases of ESPP shares.
Years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Critical Accounting Estimates
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported revenues recognized and expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Our significant accounting policies are described in detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report. We believe that the following accounting estimates involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty which could have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue associated with our collaboration arrangements, which may require us to exercise considerable judgment in estimating revenue to be recognized, including judgments made on day one accounting and judgments associated with the amount of revenue to be recognized over time as performance obligations are satisfied.
Significant judgment is required to apply the authoritative accounting guidance at the outset of a collaboration arrangement, and over time, as detailed below:
•Identification of performance obligations - there is judgment involved in identifying the promised goods or services in the collaboration agreement, determining whether these are distinct in the context of the contract, and determining if these represent a performance obligation to a customer. These determinations are highly subjective and can differ between arrangement based on specific contractual terms. The identified performance obligations will impact most significantly the timing of revenue recognition, and is a point-in-time assessment performed at the outset of a collaboration arrangement.
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•Measurement of the transaction price - determining the transaction price includes varying levels of judgment. Where amounts are fixed and paid, such as upfront payments, estimation is not required. However, other elements of the transaction price do require estimation or assumptions by management. The calculation of a share issuance premium requires the use of a valuation model for purposes of determining the fair value of the shares for financial reporting purposes, with any resulting premium impacting the transaction price. An assumption needs to be made regarding whether future variable consideration, such as milestone payments, are constrained, which also requires management judgment. The measurement of transaction price impacts the measurement of revenue, and is performed both at the outset of a collaboration arrangement and at each reporting period. To date, we have not recognized any adjustments to revenue as a result of an adjustment to variable consideration constraint.
•Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations - there is significant judgment required to allocate the transaction price to performance obligations. Generally, this is done by estimating the standalone selling price of identified performance obligations, and allocating on a relative value basis. The estimate of standalone selling price includes several assumptions that cannot be observed, which may include forecasted revenue (for products not yet on the market), development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success. The standalone selling price of performance obligations can be very sensitive to many of these underlying assumptions, which are based on management estimates since they cannot be observed. This is a point-in-time assessment performed at the outset of a collaboration arrangement.
•Recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation - determining the timing of revenue recognition includes varying levels of judgment. For revenue types recognized at a point in time, such as functional IP, there can be some judgment as to when the performance obligation has been satisfied. For revenue recognized over time, this is often based on an underlying measure deemed to approximate the progress towards satisfaction of performance obligations. These underlying measures, such as costs incurred to date compared with total forecasted costs for a service, may include inherent estimates, which in turn can impact the timing of revenue recognition. The satisfaction of performance obligations assessment is performed at each reporting period. To date, there have been no material true ups to revenue as a result of changes in the satisfaction of performance obligations.
Research and Development Expenses
A significant portion of our research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss are external costs, which we track on a program-specific basis once a program has commenced a late-stage IND-enabling study. These research and development expenses include the conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials, contract manufacturing activities and consulting services. The measurement of these research and development expenses can impact the measurement of research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss, and of prepaid assets and accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The level of judgment required to estimate research and development expenses varies based on the nature of the services being performed and the underlying support obtained. We estimate the amount of work completed through discussions with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. As actual costs become known, we adjust our accrued estimates. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, incomplete or inaccurate data from vendors could impact our understanding of the status and timing of services performed which could result in us reporting expenses that are too high or too low in any particular period.
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In some cases, expense is recorded using an underlying assumption of the progress to completion of specific activities. For example, costs may be recognized based on the passage of time for activities that span reporting periods. If the provision of services is not linear then this assumption could impact the amount of expense recognized. For other activities, such as for certain clinical trials, expense is recorded based on information obtained from vendors as an intermediary to those performing the underlying services, such as contract research organizations. These estimates are inherently more judgmental since the quality and availability of the underlying data may vary. To date, there have been no material true ups from estimated to actual external research and development expenses. However, we expect that the level of judgment in estimating research and development expenses may increase over time as we are entering later stage, more extensive, clinical trials.
Research and development expenses also include reimbursements owed or owing to a collaboration partner to satisfy cost sharing requirements. These reimbursement amounts are estimated based, in part, on data received from our collaboration partner, which may include a certain level of estimation or judgments made by that partner. They also reflect our estimates of research and development expense as discussed above. As such, a change in estimates or judgments by either our partner or us can result in a change to a reimbursement amount. To date, there have been no material true ups from estimated to actual reimbursements owed or owing.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of recent accounting pronouncements applicable to our business.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business, primarily related to interest rate and foreign currency sensitivities.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. We had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.03 billion as of December 31, 2023, which consisted primarily of money market funds and marketable securities, largely composed of investment grade, short-term fixed income securities.
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve capital to fund our operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming significant risk. To achieve our objectives, we maintain a portfolio of investments in a variety of securities of high credit quality and short-term duration, according to our board-approved investment policy. Our investments are subject to interest rate risk and could fall in value if market interest rates increase. A hypothetical 10% relative change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Foreign Currency Sensitivity
The majority of our transactions occur in U.S. dollars. However, we do have certain transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Euro and British Pound, and we therefore are subject to foreign exchange risk. The fluctuation in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies affects the reported amounts of expenses, assets and liabilities primarily associated with a limited number of preclinical, clinical and manufacturing activities.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) 147
Consolidated Balance Sheets 149
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss 150
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity 151
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 152
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 153
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Denali Therapeutics Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three 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 three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 27, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
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 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. 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.
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Accrued and prepaid research and development costs
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
San Mateo, California
February 27, 2024
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Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Assets
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 29,626 36,104
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Cost sharing payments due to related party — 4,388
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 68,499 66,691
Related party contract liability, current — 290,053
Related party contract liability, less current portion — 479
Operating lease liability, less current portion 44,981 53,032
Other non-current liabilities — 379
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Stockholders’ equity:
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 643 (6,886)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
Collaboration revenue:
Other collaboration revenue — 3,398 4
Operating expenses:
Income tax benefit (expense) (30) (21) 575
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (1.06) $ (2.60) $ (2.39)
__________________________________________________
(1)Includes related-party collaboration revenue from customers of $295.5 million, $3.2 million, and $3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 respectively.
(2)Includes expense for cost sharing payments to a related party of $17.7 million and $8.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and an offset to expense from related-party cost reimbursements of $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share amounts)
Shares Amount
Vesting of restricted stock units 634,336 6 (6) — — —
Other comprehensive loss — — — (2,254) — (2,254)
Vesting of restricted stock units 837,096 8 (8) — — —
Other comprehensive loss — — — (4,387) — (4,387)
Vesting of restricted stock units 1,187,054 13 (13) — — —
Other comprehensive income — — — 7,529 — 7,529
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Non-cash adjustment to operating lease expense (3,719) (3,351) (2,984)
Other non-cash items 2 63 —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other non-current liabilities (379) — (322)
Investing activities
Financing activities
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs — 296,215 —
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for income taxes $ 3 $ 47 $ 210
Issuance costs incurred but not yet paid $ — $ 224 $ —
Property and equipment purchases accrued but not yet paid $ 553 $ 1,464 $ 593
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Significant Accounting Policies
Organization and Description of Business
Denali Therapeutics Inc. ("Denali" or the “Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company, incorporated in Delaware, that discovers and develops therapeutics to defeat neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For the Company and its subsidiaries, the functional currency has been determined to be U.S. dollars. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are remeasured at period-end exchange rates, non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are remeasured at historical rates, and transactions in foreign currencies are remeasured at average exchange rates. Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from remeasurement are recognized in interest and other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited in accounts with financial institutions that management believes are of high credit quality. Such deposits have and will continue to exceed federally insured limits. The Company maintains its cash with accredited financial institutions and accordingly, such funds are subject to minimal credit risk.
The Company’s investment policy limits investments to certain types of securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies, as well as institutions with investment-grade credit ratings and places restrictions on maturities and concentration by type and issuer. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and issuers of marketable securities to the extent recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk.
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The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies, including, but not limited to, the need to obtain adequate additional funding, possible failure of current or future preclinical testing or clinical trials, its reliance on third parties to conduct its clinical trials, the need to obtain regulatory and marketing approvals for its product candidates, competitors developing new technological innovations, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, its right to develop and commercialize its product candidates pursuant to the terms and conditions of the licenses granted to the Company, protection of proprietary technology, the ability to make milestone, royalty or other payments due under any license or collaboration agreements, and the need to secure and maintain adequate manufacturing arrangements with third parties. If the Company does not successfully commercialize or partner any of its product candidates, it will be unable to generate product revenue or achieve profitability. Further, the company is also subject to broad market risks and uncertainties resulting from recent events, such as bank failures or instability in the financial services sector, the COVID-19 pandemic, war and armed conflicts, inflation, rising interest rates, and recession risks as well as supply chain and labor shortages.
Convertible Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 40.0 million shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating option or other rights thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption terms, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series, without any further vote or action by the Company’s shareholders. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Segments
The Company has one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on a consolidated basis for the purposes of allocating resources.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
ASC 820 identifies fair value as the exchange price, or exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between the following:
Level 1 – inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 – inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
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To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.
The carrying amounts reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are reported at fair value.
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is composed of cash and cash equivalents reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and $1.6 million and $1.5 million of restricted cash for the letter of credit for the Company’s headquarters building lease which is included within other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Marketable Securities
The Company generally invests its excess cash in money market funds and investment grade short to intermediate-term fixed income securities. Such investments are included in cash and cash equivalents, or short-term marketable securities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, are considered available-for-sale, and are reported at fair value with net unrealized gains and losses included as a component of stockholders’ equity.
The Company classifies investments in securities with remaining maturities of less than one year, or where its intent is to use the investments to fund current operations or to make them available for current operations, as short-term investments. The Company classifies investments in securities with remaining maturities of over one year as long-term investments, unless intended to fund current operations. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, which is included in interest and other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Realized gains and losses and declines in value determined to be due to credit losses on marketable securities, if any, are included in interest and other income, net.
The Company periodically evaluates the need for an allowance for credit losses. This evaluation includes consideration of several qualitative and quantitative factors, including whether it has plans to sell the security, whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell any marketable securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis, and if the entity has the ability and intent to hold the security to maturity, and the portion of any unrealized loss that is the result of a credit loss. Factors considered in making these evaluations include quoted market prices, recent financial results and operating trends, implied values from any recent transactions or offers of investee securities, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, expected cash flows from securities, other publicly available information that may affect the value of the marketable security, duration and severity of the decline in value, and the Company's strategy and intentions for holding the marketable security.
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Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounts receivable balance represents amounts receivable from the Company's collaboration partners, excluding related parties, net of an allowance for credit losses, if required.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful lives as presented in the table below. Significant additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.
Asset Estimated useful life
Leasehold improvements shorter of life of asset or lease term
Computer equipment and purchased software three years
Laboratory equipment five years
Furniture and fixtures five years
Manufacturing equipment eight years
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company periodically evaluates property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment may have occurred. If such events or changes in circumstances arise, the Company compares the carrying amount of the long-lived assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived assets. If the estimated aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the long-lived assets, an impairment charge, calculated as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets, is recorded. The fair value of the long-lived assets is determined based on the estimated discounted cash flows expected to be generated from the long-lived assets. The Company has not recorded any material impairment charges during the years presented.
Leases
The Company leases real estate, and certain equipment for use in its operations. A determination is made as to whether an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized for identified operating leases in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The changes in operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are presented net within non-cash adjustment to operating lease expense in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments due over the lease term, with the ROU assets adjusted for lease incentives received. When determining the present value of lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate on the date of lease commencement, or the rate implicit in the lease, if known. The Company does not assume renewals in its determination of the lease term unless the renewals are deemed by management to be reasonably certain at lease inception.
Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, unless they include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company recognizes lease expenses on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has leases with lease and non-lease components, which the Company has elected to account for as a single lease component.
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Revenue Recognition
License, Option and Collaboration Revenue
The Company analyzes its collaboration arrangements to assess whether they are within the scope of ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements (“ASC 808”) to determine whether such arrangements 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. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement. For collaboration arrangements within the scope of ASC 808 that contain multiple elements, the Company first determines which elements of the collaboration are deemed to be within the scope of ASC 808 and those that are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and, therefore, within the scope of Topic 606. For elements of collaboration arrangements that are accounted for pursuant to ASC 808, an appropriate recognition method is determined and applied consistently, generally by analogy to Topic 606. The accounting treatment pursuant to Topic 606 is outlined below.
The terms of license, option and collaboration agreements entered into typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; option exercise fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; payments for manufacturing supply and research and development services and royalties on net sales of licensed products. Each of these payments results in license, collaboration and other revenue, except for revenues from royalties on net sales of licensed products, which are classified as royalty revenue. The core principle of Topic 606 is to recognize revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The Company may also receive reimbursement or make payments to a collaboration partner to satisfy cost sharing requirements. These payments are accounted for pursuant to ASC 808 and are recorded as an offset or increase to research and development expenses, respectively.
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the Company fulfills its obligations under each of its agreements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation.
Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as contract liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. If the related performance obligation is expected to be satisfied within the next twelve months this will be classified in current liabilities. Amounts recognized as revenue prior to the Company having an unconditional right (other than a right that is conditioned only on the passage of time) to receipt are recorded as contract assets in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. If the Company expects to have an unconditional right to receive the consideration in the next twelve months, this will be classified in current assets. A net contract asset or liability is presented for each contract with a customer.
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised in a contract with a customer and identifies those distinct goods and services that represent a performance obligation. A promised good or service may not be identified as a performance obligation if it is immaterial in the context of the contract with the customer, if it is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contract (either because it is not capable of being separated or because it is not separable in the context of the contract), or if the promised good or service does not provide the customer with a material right.
The Company considers the terms of the contract to determine the transaction price. The transaction price is the amount of consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer. The consideration promised in a contract with a customer may include fixed amounts, variable amounts, or both. Variable consideration will only be included in the transaction price when it is not considered constrained, which is when it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.
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If it is determined that multiple performance obligations exist, the transaction price is allocated at the inception of the agreement to all identified performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling prices ("SSP"). The relative SSP for each deliverable is estimated using external sourced evidence if it is available. If external sourced evidence is not available, the Company uses its best estimate of the SSP for the deliverable.
Revenue is recognized when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. An asset is transferred when, or as, the customer obtains control of that asset, which for a service is considered to be as the services are received and used. The Company recognizes revenue over time by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the relevant performance obligation using an appropriate input or output method based on the nature of the service promised to the customer.
After contract inception, the transaction price is reassessed at every period end and updated for changes such as resolution of uncertain events. Any change in the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations on the same basis as at contract inception, or to a single performance obligation as applicable. The Company accounts for the exercise of a material right as either a contract modification or as a continuation of the existing contract, as is most appropriate based on the facts and circumstances.
Management may be required to exercise considerable judgment in estimating revenue to be recognized. Judgment is required in identifying performance obligations, estimating the transaction price, estimating the SSP of identified performance obligations, which may include forecasted revenue, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success, and estimating the progress towards satisfaction of performance obligations.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist of salaries and other personnel related expenses, including associated stock–based compensation, consulting fees, lab supplies, and facility costs, as well as fees paid to other entities that conduct certain research, development and manufacturing activities on behalf of the Company. Where the Company shares costs with collaboration partners, such as in the Biogen Collaboration Agreement and the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, research and development expenses may include cost sharing reimbursements from or payments to the collaboration partner, respectively.
Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used or received in future research and development activities are deferred and recognized as expense in the period in which the related goods are delivered or services are performed. There can be judgment involved in measuring the research and development expenses to be recognized in a particular period. In some cases, expense is recorded using an underlying assumption of the progress to completion of specific activities. For example, costs may be recognized based on the passage of time for activities that span reporting periods. If the provision of services is not linear then this assumption could impact the amount of expense recognized. The level of judgment varies based on the nature of the services being performed and the underlying support obtained. For some activities, such as for certain clinical trials, expense is recorded based on information obtained from vendors as an intermediary to those performing the underlying services, such as contract research organizations. These estimates are inherently more judgmental since the quality and availability of the underlying data may vary.
The Company has acquired and may continue to acquire the rights to develop and commercialize new product candidates from third parties. The upfront payments to acquire license, product or rights, as well as any future milestone payments, are immediately recognized as research and development expense provided that there is no alternative future use of the rights in other research and development projects.
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Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock-based compensation programs grant awards that have included stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, and shares issued under its employee stock purchase plan. Grants are awarded to employees, directors, and non-employee service providers.
The Company measures compensation expense for all stock-based awards at the grant date based on the fair value measurement of the award. The expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, for the entire award. Expense is adjusted for actual forfeitures of unvested awards as they occur. The Company calculates the fair value measurement of stock options subject solely to service-based vesting requirements using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company uses the fair value of its common stock to determine the fair value of restricted stock awards.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and consideration is given to net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.
The Company assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and a valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not expected to be realized.
The Company recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions using a two–step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken by determining whether the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that 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. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not threshold are derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met.
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is composed of net loss and certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net loss, primarily unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s marketable securities.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. 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.
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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this Update are effective for all public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires that an entity, on an annual basis, disclose additional income tax information, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendments in this Update are effective to be applied prospectively for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its income tax disclosures.
2. Fair Value Measurements
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value at each balance sheet date are as follows (in thousands):
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents:
Short-term marketable securities:
U.S. government agency securities — 7,086 — 7,086
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents
Short-term marketable securities:
U.S. government agency securities — 16,861 — 16,861
The Company’s Level 2 securities are valued using third-party pricing sources. 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.
The Company has not transferred any assets or liabilities between the fair value measurement levels during the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
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3. Marketable Securities
All marketable securities were considered available-for-sale at December 31, 2023 and 2022. On a recurring basis, the Company records its marketable securities at fair value using Level 1 or Level 2 inputs as discussed in Note 2, "Fair Value Measurements". The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains or losses, and fair value of the Company’s marketable securities by major security type at each balance sheet date are summarized in the tables below (in thousands):
Short-term marketable securities:
U.S. government agency securities(1) 7,089 — (3) 7,086
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(1)Unrealized holding losses on 2 securities with an aggregate fair value of $7.1 million.
Short-term marketable securities:
__________________________________________________
(1)Unrealized holding losses on 51 securities with an aggregate fair value of $683.4 million.
(2)Unrealized holding losses on 16 securities with an aggregate fair value of $54.2 million.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, some of the Company's marketable securities were in an unrealized loss position. The Company has not recognized an allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2023 or 2022. The Company determined that it had the ability and intent to hold all marketable securities that have been in a continuous loss position until maturity or recovery. Further, a majority of these securities are held in U.S. government securities, and the remainder were held with investment grade, high credit quality institutions. All marketable securities with unrealized losses as of each balance sheet date have been in a loss position for less than twelve months or the loss is not material.
As of December 31, 2023 all of the Company’s marketable securities have an effective maturity of less than one year.
4. Acquisition
In August 2016, the Company entered into a License and Collaboration Agreement (“F-star Collaboration Agreement”) with F-star Gamma Limited (“F-star Gamma”), F-star Biotechnologische Forschungs-und Entwicklungsges M.B.H ("F-star GmbH") and F-star Biotechnology Limited ("F-star Ltd") (collectively, “F-star”) to leverage F-star’s modular antibody technology and the Company’s expertise in the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Under the F-star Collaboration Agreement, the Company made payments to F-star totaling $11.5 million. In connection with the entry into the F-star Collaboration Agreement, the Company also purchased an option for an upfront option fee of $0.5 million (the “buy-out-option”), to acquire all of the outstanding shares of F-star Gamma pursuant to a pre-negotiated buy-out option agreement (the “Option Agreement”).
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In May 2018, the Company exercised the Option Agreement and entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the shareholders of F-star Gamma and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, pursuant to which the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of F-star Gamma (the “Acquisition”).
As a result of the Acquisition, F-star Gamma became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the Company changed the entity’s name to Denali BBB Holding Limited. In addition, the Company became a direct licensee of certain intellectual property of F-star Ltd by way of the Company’s assumption of F-star Gamma’s license agreement with F-star Ltd, dated August 24, 2016, (the “F-star Gamma License”). The Company made initial exercise payments under the Purchase Agreement and the F-star Gamma License, in the aggregate, of $17.8 million. In addition, the Company is required to make contingent payments, to F-star Ltd and the former shareholders of F-star Gamma, up to a maximum amount following completion of the research phase of the F-star collaboration of $243.0 million in the aggregate upon the achievement of certain defined preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones. These include up to $3.0 million in preclinical contingent payments, $30.0 million in clinical contingent payments, $60.0 million in regulatory contingent payments and $150.0 million in commercial contingent payments.
The Company concluded that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed upon the exercise of the Option Agreement did not meet the accounting definition of a business, and as such, the acquisition was accounted for as an asset purchase. As the transaction was accounted for as an asset purchase rather than a business combination, the Company didnot recognize any contingent consideration liability on the acquisition date. To date, the Company has paid consideration of $49.8 million in the aggregate, consisting of up-front and preclinical contingent consideration, all of which was recorded as research and development expense as incurred. This amount includes a $30.0 million contingent consideration payment which was triggered and recorded as research and development expense in March 2023 upon the achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the ETV:IDS program. This contingent consideration payment fully satisfies the Company's clinical contingent consideration obligations under the Purchase Agreement. There was no contingent consideration expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2021.
Under the F-star Collaboration Agreement, the Company was responsible for certain research costs incurred by F-star Ltd in conducting activities under an agreed development plan for each Fcab, for up to 24 months after the target Fcab is accepted. In July 2021, a side letter was executed to the Company's agreements with F-star, which confirmed the completion of the research services performed by F-star Ltd that were funded by the Company. The Company has not recognized research and development expense related to the funding of F-star Ltd activities under development plans during the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022, respectively, and recognized $0.1 million in research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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5. Collaboration Agreements
Biogen
In August 2020, the Company entered into a binding Provisional Collaboration and License Agreement (“Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement”) with Biogen Inc.’s subsidiaries, Biogen MA Inc. (“BIMA”) and Biogen International GmbH (“BIG”) (BIMA and BIG, collectively, “Biogen”) pursuant to which the Company granted Biogen a license to co-develop and co-commercialize Denali’s small molecule LRRK2 inhibitor program (the “LRRK2 Program”), an option in respect of each of (i) the Company’s amyloid beta program utilizing the Company's Transport Vehicle ("TV") technology platform to cross the blood-brain barrier ("BBB") and (ii) one other unnamed program also utilizing the Company's TV technology platform (the “Option Programs”), and a right of first negotiation with respect to two additional unnamed programs for indications within Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS") and multiple sclerosis ("MS") utilizing the Company's TV technology platform (the “ROFN Programs”), should the Company decide to seek a collaboration with a third party for such programs. The Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement was a binding agreement, which became effective on the closing of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement ("SPA"), as described further below. The Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement expired in October 2020 upon the execution of a Definitive LRRK2 Collaboration and License Agreement (“LRRK2 Agreement”) with Biogen on October 4, 2020 and a Right of First Negotiation, Option and License Agreement (the “ROFN and Option Agreement”) on October 6, 2020 (collectively, the "Biogen Collaboration Agreement"). Biogen made an upfront payment of $560.0 million upon execution of the Biogen Collaboration Agreement in October 2020, which was included in the transaction price at inception. In August 2023, the Company and Biogen executed an Amendment (the “Biogen Amendment”) to the LRRK2 Agreement and ROFN and Option Agreement.
LRRK2 Agreement
With respect to the LRRK2 Program, Biogen is required to make milestone payments up to approximately $1.125 billion upon achievement of certain development and sales milestone events. Such milestone payments include $375.0 million in development, $375.0 million upon first commercial sale, and $375.0 million in net sales-based milestones. Pursuant to the Biogen Amendment, the schedule of potential LRRK2 Agreement milestones was amended, while maintaining the same total value of milestones that Denali is eligible to receive. The Company will share 50% of the profits and losses with Biogen for LRRK2 Products in the United States, and 40% of such profits and losses in China. The Company will be entitled to receive royalties in the high teens to low twenties percentages on net sales for LRRK2 Products outside of the United States and China.
The Company and Biogen are jointly developing LRRK2 Products pursuant to a clinical development plan set forth within the LRRK2 Agreement. The parties share responsibility and costs for global development of LRRK2 Products pursuant to a mutually agreed development plan and budget ("LRRK2 Development Activities"), with Biogen funding 60% and the Company funding 40% of such costs.
The Company may opt out of development cost sharing worldwide and upon such election, from any further profit-sharing from the LRRK2 Program. The Company also has the right to opt-out of the profit sharing arrangement for the LRRK2 Program or for only those LRRK2 Products that do not penetrate the BBB (“Peripheral LRRK2 Products”), in each of the United States and China. After such an opt out, the Company will no longer be obligated to share in the development and commercialization costs for, or be entitled to share in the applicable revenues from, such LRRK2 Program (or from the Peripheral LRRK2 Products) for such country, as applicable. If the Company chooses to exercise its opt out rights, the Company will be entitled to receive tiered royalties on net sales of the applicable LRRK2 Program in the relevant country (or countries). The royalty rates for the applicable LRRK2 Program will be a percentage in the high teens to low twenties, but may increase to the mid-twenties if the Company has met certain co-funding thresholds or there has been a first commercial sale at the time of the Company's election.
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Stock Purchase Agreement
In connection with the Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") with BIMA on August 5, 2020, pursuant to which the Company sold 13,310,243 shares of common stock (the “Shares”) to BIMA for an aggregate purchase price of $465.0 million. Management determined that it was appropriate to account for the Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement and the SPA as one arrangement because they were entered into at the same time with interrelated financial terms. This stock issuance resulted in a $44.9 million premium paid to the Company above the estimated fair value of the Company's common stock, which forms part of the transaction price at inception for the Biogen Collaboration Agreement. The shares of common stock owned by Biogen as of December 31, 2022 and through September 30, 2023, represented approximately 10% of the voting interest of the Company, and as such, Biogen was considered a related party as defined in ASC 850. As of December 31, 2023, the percentage voting interest has declined such that Biogen is no longer considered a related party as defined in ASC 850.
ROFN and Option Agreement
Under the ROFN and Option Agreement, Biogen received an exclusive option to license two preclinical programs enabled by the Company's TV technology platform, which platform aims to improve brain uptake of biotherapeutics, including its ATV-enabled anti-amyloid beta program ("ATV:Abeta program") and a second program utilizing the Company's TV technology for an unnamed target ("TV program"). In April 2023, Biogen exercised its option to license the Company's ATV:Abeta program and made a $5.0 million option exercise fee payment. Further, in August 2023, Biogen waived its option to the second option program upon execution of the Biogen Amendment.
Further, Biogen had the right of first negotiation ("ROFN") on two additional TV-enabled therapeutics within Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and MS should the Company decide to seek a collaboration with a third party for such programs, but this did not include any of the Company’s small molecule, AAV or oligonucleotide programs. In August 2023, Biogen waived its ROFN rights upon execution of the Biogen Amendment.
Under the amended ROFN and Option Agreement, with respect to the ATV:Abeta license granted by the Company to Biogen, Biogen is obligated to pay an aggregate of up to $142.5 million in development milestone payments, an aggregate of up to $180.0 million upon first commercial sale, and up to $190.0 million of net sales-based milestone payments, following the achievement of certain prespecified milestone events. Furthermore, Biogen is obligated to pay royalties in the mid-single digit percentages, upon the achievement of certain sales thresholds.
The Biogen Collaboration Agreement was considered to be a contract modification to the Provisional Biogen Collaboration Agreement and was accounted for as a termination of the provisional agreement and commencement of a new contract. The Biogen Amendment was considered to be a continuation of the Biogen Collaboration Agreement.
The Company identified the following distinct performance obligations associated with the Biogen Collaboration Agreement that had not yet been delivered under the original contract: the LRRK2 Program license, the research services for the ATV:Abeta and TV programs (“Option Research Services”) which include option joint steering committee ("JSC") participation, and a material right for an option under the ROFN and Option Agreement. Further, the LRRK2 Development Activities which includes LRRK2 JSC and joint development committee (“JDC”) participation was identified as a unit of account under ASC 808. The LRRK2 Development Activities, JSC and JDC participation are considered to be a single unit of account since the development activities are highly interrelated with the JSC and JDC involvement and these are not distinct in the context of the contract. Further, the same was considered to be true for the option research services and option JSC participation performance obligation.
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The Company believes that the Biogen Collaboration Agreement is a collaboration arrangement as defined in ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements. The Company also believes that Biogen meets the definition of a customer as defined in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers for all of the performance obligations identified at inception except for the LRRK2 Development Activities. Since ASC 808 does not address recognition and measurement, the Company looked to other accounting literature for guidance where the performance obligation does not fall under ASC 606, and determined that for the interim LRRK2 development activities subject to cost sharing provisions, the guidance in ASC 730, Research and Development should be applied.
The respective standalone value for each of the performance obligations was determined at inception by applying the SSP method and the transaction price of $604.9 million at inception was allocated based on the relative SSP method with revenue recognition timing to be determined either by delivery, resolution of an option, or the provision of services.
The Company used an adjusted market assessment approach to estimate the selling price for the LRRK2 Program license, an expected cost plus margin approach for estimating the Option Research Services and estimated the intrinsic value of the material right for the option, taking into account the likelihood that an option would be exercised. The LRRK2 Program license was delivered on or around the effective date of the Biogen Collaboration Agreement and the revenue allocated to this performance obligation was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2020. The Option Research Services were delivered over time as the services are performed, with revenue being recognized over time based on costs incurred to perform the services. As of December 31, 2023, all revenue allocated to the Option Research Services has been recognized since, after Biogen's ATV:Abeta option exercise, and the waiving of the second option right in the Biogen Amendment, the underlying performance obligations have been fully satisfied. The $288.9 million of revenue allocated to the material right for an option under the ROFN and Option Agreement was initially deferred as a contract liability, and was recognized in full during the year ended December 31, 2023, upon Biogen's ATV:Abeta option exercise, along with the $5.0 million option exercise fee which was fully allocated to the material right. The LRRK2 Development Activities cost sharing reimbursements or expenses are being recognized over time as earned or incurred, since this is believed to directly correlate to the value of the services performed.
No related-party contract liability remains on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023. A related-party contract liability of $290.5 million was recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2022. The Company recorded $17.7 million and $8.2 million of cost sharing payments to Biogen for LRRK2 development activities in research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, of which $3.2 million was recorded as cost sharing payments included within accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023, and $4.4 million was recorded as cost sharing payments due to related party on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2022. The Company recorded $6.5 million of cost sharing reimbursements for LRRK2 Development Activities as an offset to research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2021.
In assessing the Biogen Collaboration Agreement, management exercised considerable judgment in estimating revenue to be recognized, specifically related to estimating the discount for lack of marketability associated with the stock issuance, determining the separate performance obligations under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement, and estimating the standalone selling price of those performance obligations.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had earned $5.0 million in option fee payments, but had not recorded milestone revenue or product sales under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement.
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Sanofi
In October 2018, the Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement ("Sanofi Collaboration Agreement") with Genzyme Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sanofi S.A. ("Sanofi") pursuant to which certain small molecule CNS and peripheral receptor interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 ("RIPK1") inhibitors contributed by Sanofi and by the Company will be developed and commercialized. The Sanofi Collaboration Agreement became effective in November 2018 at which time Sanofi paid the Company an upfront payment of $125.0 million which was included in the transaction price at inception. Under the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement, the Company is eligible to receive milestone payments from Sanofi up to approximately $1.1 billion upon achievement of certain clinical, regulatory and sales milestone events. Such milestone payments include $215.0 million in clinical milestone payments and $385.0 million in regulatory milestone payments for CNS Products, as defined, that are developed and approved in the United States, by the European Medicines Agency ("EMA") and in Japan for three indications, including Alzheimer's disease. These milestones also include $120.0 million in clinical milestone payments, $175.0 million in regulatory milestone payments and $200.0 million in commercial milestone payments for Peripheral Products, as defined, that are developed and approved in the United States, Europe and Japan for three indications.
The Company will share profits and losses equally with Sanofi for CNS Products sold in the United States and China, and receive variable royalties on net sales for CNS Products sold outside of the United States and China and for Peripheral Products sold worldwide.
The Company and Sanofi are jointly developing CNS Products pursuant to a global development plan. The Company is responsible, at its own cost, for conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for CNS Products in Alzheimer’s disease and any activities required to support such clinical trials and specific for Alzheimer’s disease ("Denali CNS Development Activities"). Other than the Denali CNS Development Activities, Sanofi is responsible, at its cost, for all other Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for CNS Products, including ALS and MS. Sanofi will lead the conduct of all Phase 3 and later stage development trials for CNS Products, with Sanofi and the Company funding 70% and 30% of such costs, respectively. Sanofi will also lead the commercialization activities globally for CNS Products, subject to certain options that the Company has to conduct co-commercialization activities with respect to each CNS Product in the United States and China.
Sanofi will be responsible, at its cost, for conducting activities relating to the development and commercialization of all Peripheral Products. Denali will be entitled to receive tiered royalties in the low- to mid- teen percentages on net sales of Peripheral Products.
The Company identified the following distinct performance obligations associated with the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement upon inception: the CNS program license, the Peripheral program license, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for CNS Products for Alzheimer’s disease ("Alzheimer's Disease Services"), and the Phase 1b trial for DNL747 for ALS and associated activities ("Retained Activities").
The Company believes that the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement is a collaboration arrangement as defined in ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements. The Company also believes that Sanofi meets the definition of a customer as defined in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers for three of the performance obligations identified at inception, but does not meet the definition of a customer for the Alzheimer's Disease Services. Further, Sanofi does not meet the definition of a customer for all Phase 3 and later stage development trials for CNS Products led by Sanofi for which the Company will fund 30% of total costs. Since ASC 808 does not address recognition and measurement, the Company looked to other accounting literature for guidance where the performance obligation does not fall under ASC 606, and determined that for the Alzheimer's Disease Services, the guidance in ASC 606 should be analogized for the recognition, measurement and reporting of this performance obligation, and for the cost sharing provisions, the Company determined that the guidance in ASC 730, Research and Development should be applied.
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The respective standalone value for each of the performance obligations was determined by applying the SSP method and the transaction price at inception was allocated based on the relative SSP method with revenue recognition timing to be determined either by delivery or the provision of services. During the year ended December 31, 2023, a $25.0 million milestone payment was triggered upon the commencement of dosing in a Phase 2 study of SAR443820/DNL788, in individuals with MS. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company earned clinical milestones of $50.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively. These milestones were recognized in collaboration revenue from customers in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss during for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, since the associated performance obligation has been satisfied.
The Company used an adjusted market assessment approach to estimate the selling price for the program licenses, and an expected cost plus margin approach for estimating the Alzheimer’s Disease Services and the Retained Activities. The program licenses and existing know-how were delivered on the effective date of the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement, and as such upfront revenue allocated to these performance obligations were recognized at this time. Further, clinical milestones are recognized as earned since these relate to the underlying program licenses previously delivered. The Alzheimer’s Disease Services and the Retained Activities were expected to be delivered over time as the services are performed. For the Alzheimer's Disease Services, revenue was recognized over time using the input method, based on costs incurred to perform the services, since the level of costs incurred over time was thought to best reflect the transfer of services to Sanofi. For the Retained Activities, revenue was recognized over time using the output method, based on amounts invoiced to Sanofi, since this is believed to directly correlate to the value of the services performed. The Company has no remaining performance obligations under the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement, and nocontract liability remains on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 or 2022. The Company did not record any receivable associated with the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.
In assessing the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement, management exercised considerable judgment in estimating revenue to be recognized. Management applied judgment in determining the separate performance obligations, in estimating the selling price, in determining when control was transferred to Sanofi for the licenses, and in estimating total future costs when using the input method.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had earned milestone payments of $100.0 million and hadnot recorded any product sales under the Sanofi Collaboration Agreement.
Takeda
Takeda Collaboration Agreement
In January 2018, the Company entered into a Collaboration and Option Agreement ("Takeda Collaboration Agreement") with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda"), pursuant to which the Company granted Takeda an option to develop and commercialize, jointly with the Company, certain biologic products that are enabled by the Company's BBB delivery technology and intended for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The programs subject to the Takeda Collaboration Agreement were the Company’s ATV:BACE1/Tau, ATV:TREM2 and PTV:PGRN programs. The Takeda Collaboration Agreement became effective in February 2018, at which time Takeda paid the Company an upfront payment of $40.0 million. In February 2019, the agreement was amended to replace the ATV:BACE1/Tau program with the ATV:Tau program. The amendment did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements. In March 2022, Takeda and the Company agreed to terminate activity on the ATV:Tau program over which Takeda had an option to develop and commercialize jointly with the Company. Subsequent to the ATV:Tau termination, total preclinical milestone payments that Takeda owed under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement was $55.0 million for all three programs, all of which had been earned and received as of December 31, 2022.
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Pursuant to the terms of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement with Takeda on January 3, 2018, pursuant to which Takeda purchased 4,214,559 shares of the Company’s common stock on February 23, 2018 for an aggregate purchase price of $110.0 million, which included a $15.6 million stock premium.
Under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement and unless otherwise agreed jointly between both parties, the Company was responsible, at its cost, for conducting activities relating to pre-IND development of biologic products directed to the three identified targets and enabled by its BBB delivery technology targeting TfR during the applicable research period.
Subsequent to Takeda exercising its option with respect to a particular target and collaboration program (i.e., the biologic products directed to the target for which Takeda has exercised its option), Takeda has the right to develop and commercialize, jointly with the Company, a specified number of biologic products enabled by its BBB delivery technology that were developed during the research period and which are directed to the relevant target, and the Company grants to Takeda a co-exclusive license under the intellectual property the Company controls related to those biologic products.
The Company believes that the Takeda Collaboration Agreement is a collaboration arrangement as defined in ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements. Further, during the research period, the Company believes that the arrangement was a contract with a customer as defined in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers. The Takeda Collaboration Agreement and the Stock Purchase Agreement were accounted for as one arrangement because they were entered into at the same time with interrelated financial terms.
The Company identified performance obligations during the research period consisting of the license, the development options, and joint steering committee ("JSC") participation together with the research services for each collaboration program. The license rights, JSC involvement, option and research services were considered to be a single performance obligation for each program since the research services were highly interrelated with the option and JSC involvement and significantly modify the license. The performance obligations under each of the three programs are separate since the activities and risks under the programs are distinct. The Company determined that all other goods or services which were contingent upon Takeda exercising its option for each program were not performance obligations at the inception of the Takeda Collaboration Agreement.
The transaction price at inception included fixed consideration consisting of the upfront fee of $40.0 million, the $15.6 million premium on the sale of common stock, and the first preclinical milestone payment of $5.0 million. The transaction price also included variable consideration of $26.0 million relating to future milestones that were not constrained upon inception and have since all been met and received. Transaction price has also subsequently increased by $24.0 million since inception pertaining to further preclinical milestones earned that had previously been constrained. Revenue was recognized over time using the input method, based on costs incurred to perform the research services, and all revenue under the Takeda Collaboration Agreement was recognized prior to December 31, 2022.
The Company did not record any product sales and there are no remaining performance obligations under the initial Takeda Collaboration Agreement. The Takeda Collaboration Agreement was superseded by the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements subsequent to opt-in for the two programs, recognition of all preclinical milestones, and termination of the ATV:Tau program.
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PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements
In November and December 2021, Takeda exercised its options to jointly develop and commercialize the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 programs, respectively, triggering the option fee of $5.0 million for each program, which formed the transaction price at contract inception for each contract. Management determined that the opt-in by Takeda on the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 programs represent two new contracts with a customer for accounting purposes (the "PTV:PGRN Collaboration Agreement" and the "ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreement"), both effective in December 2021 upon payment of the respective option fees. From inception of the PTV:PGRN Collaboration Agreement and the ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreement through December 31, 2023, there was no change to the terms of either agreement. For each contract, the Company identified a single performance obligation under ASC 606, and initially one unit of account under ASC 808 associated with each of the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements. The performance obligation is the delivery of a co-exclusive license under the intellectual property the Company controls related to the PTV:PGRN or ATV:TREM2 program ("PTV:PGRN Technology License" or "ATV;TREM2 Technology License"), and the unit of account is the obligation to share in responsibility and costs for global development of PTV:PGRN or ATV:TREM2 Products pursuant to a mutually agreed upon development plan and budget ("PTV:PGRN Development Activities" or "ATV:TREM2 Development Activities"), which both include JSC involvement. The PTV:PGRN Development Activities and JSC participation, and the ATV:TREM2 Development Activities and JSC participation are each considered to be single units of account since the activities are highly interrelated with the JSC involvement and these are not distinct in the context of the contract.
The Company believes that the PTV:PGRN and ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements are both collaboration arrangements as defined in ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements. The Company also believes that Takeda meets the definition of a customer as defined in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers for the PTV:PGRN Technology License and the ATV:TREM2 Technology License performance obligations delivered in these collaboration agreements, respectively. Since ASC 808 does not address recognition and measurement, the Company looked to other accounting literature for the PTV:PGRN Development Activities and ATV:TREM2 Development Activities units of account, and determined that the guidance in ASC 730, Research and Development should be applied.
Takeda may be obligated to pay the Company up to an aggregate of $280.0 million upon achievement of certain clinical milestone events and up to an aggregate of $200.0 million in regulatory milestone events relating to receipt of regulatory approval in the United States, certain European countries and Japan. Takeda may also be obligated to pay the Company up to $75.0 million per biologic product upon achievement of a certain sales-based milestone, or an aggregate of $150.0 million if one biologic product from each program achieves this milestone.
The entire transaction price of $5.0 million on inception was allocated to the underlying Technology License in each Collaboration Agreement, which was delivered on or around the effective date of the respective Collaboration Agreement, with the revenue allocated to this performance obligation recognized during the year ended December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2023, a $10.0 million milestone was triggered upon achievement of a specified clinical milestone in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of TAK-594/DNL593 in patients with FTD-GRN, which was recognized in collaboration revenue from customers in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the year ended December 31, 2023 since the associated performance obligation has been satisfied.
The Development Activities cost sharing reimbursements or expenses will be recognized over time as earned or incurred, since this is believed to directly correlate to the value of the services performed. The Company recorded $7.1 million,$11.3 million, and $7.7 million of cost sharing reimbursements for PTV:PGRN, and $5.1 million,$6.9 million, $6.0 million of cost sharing reimbursements for ATV:TREM2 Development Activities for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively, as offsets to research and development expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Cost sharing reimbursements of $2.7 million and $8.9 million are recorded as receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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In assessing the Takeda Collaboration Agreement and the PTV:PGRN and the ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements, management was required to exercise considerable judgment in estimating revenue to be recognized. Management applied judgment in determining whether opt-in resulted in a modification to an existing contract or a new contract, in determining the separate performance obligations in the research period, and estimating variable consideration.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had earned $10.0 million in option fee payments and $10.0 million in milestone payments from Takeda under the PTV:PGRN and the ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreements, and had not recorded any product sales under either agreement.
Collaboration Revenue
Revenue disaggregated by collaboration agreement and performance obligation is as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Takeda Collaboration Agreement:
Takeda Collaboration Agreement Services(1) $ — $ 51,916 $ 19,921
PTV:PGRN Collaboration Agreement 10,000 — 5,000
ATV:TREM2 Collaboration Agreement — — 5,000
Sanofi Collaboration Agreement:
Alzheimer's Disease Services(2) — 3,398 4
Biogen Collaboration Agreement:
ATV:Abeta Program License(3) 293,912 — —
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(1)Revenue of $27.9 million and $15.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year.
(2)Revenue for all periods presented was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the respective year.
(3)Revenue of $288.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 was included in the related-party contract liability balance at the beginning of the period.
6. License Agreements
Genentech
In June 2016, the Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with Genentech, Inc. (“Genentech”). This agreement gives the Company access to Genentech’s LRRK2 inhibitor small molecule program for Parkinson's disease. Under the agreement, Genentech granted the Company (i) an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license under Genentech’s rights to certain patents and patent applications directed to small molecule compounds which bind to and inhibit LRRK2 and (ii) a non-exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable license to certain related know-how, in each case, to develop and commercialize certain compounds and licensed products incorporating any such compound.
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The Company may owe Genentech milestone payments upon the achievement of certain development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, up to a maximum of $315.0 million in the aggregate. These milestones include up to $37.5 million in clinical milestone payments, $102.5 million in regulatory milestone payments and $175.0 million in commercial milestone payments. In addition, the Company may owe royalties on net sales of licensed products ranging from low to high single-digit percentages. In the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company paid Genentech two clinical milestone payments of $7.5 million and $5.0 million, triggered upon the commencement of dosing in the global Phase 2b LUMA study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BIIB122/DNL151, and the commencement of dosing in the global Phase 3 LIGHTHOUSE study to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of BIIB122/DNL151, respectively, by the Company's collaboration partner Biogen. Biogen is responsible for 50% of any payment obligation to Genentech under the Biogen Collaboration Agreement, including these clinical milestones, and accordingly $6.3 million of research and development expense was recognized in the year ended December 31, 2022 in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. No expenses were recognized under the Genentech License Agreement in the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2021.
To date, the Company has made payments to Genentech of $25.0 million in the aggregate, including an upfront fee, a technology transfer fee and three clinical milestone payments, with $18.8 million of this recorded as research and development expense as incurred, net of cost sharing reimbursements from Biogen.
7. Balance Sheet Components
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consists of the following (in thousands):
As of December 31,
Accounts receivable and other receivables $ 3,420 $ 9,282
Prepaid clinical research & development costs 10,178 8,895
Prepaid manufacturing and other research & development costs 12,192 13,834
Other prepaid assets and other current assets 3,836 4,093
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets $ 29,626 $ 36,104
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):
As of December 31,
Manufacturing equipment 9,722 —
Computer equipment and purchased software 1,741 1,605
Total property and equipment, net $ 45,589 $ 44,087
Depreciation expense was $16.7 million, $10.4 million and $8.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes $7.9 million of accelerated depreciation on leasehold improvements due to the Company terminating the previous SLC Lease in March 2023.
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Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consists of the following (in thousands):
As of December 31,
Accrued clinical and other research & development costs 19,035 16,297
Operating lease liability, current 7,260 7,318
Other accrued costs and current liabilities 5,152 3,682
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities $ 68,499 $ 66,691
8. Commitments and Contingencies
Lease Obligations
In May 2018, the Company entered into an operating lease for its corporate headquarters in South San Francisco (the "Headquarters Lease"), a 148,020 rentable square feet building in South San Francisco, California (the "Headquarters"). The Headquarters Lease has a contractual term of 10 yearsfrom the legal commencement date, which was April 1, 2019 when the building was ready for occupancy. For accounting purposes, the lease commencement date was determined to be August 1, 2018, which was the date at which the Company was deemed to have obtained control over the property. The Company has an option to extend the lease term for a period of ten years by giving the landlord written notice of the election to exercise the option at least nine months, but not more than twelve months, prior to the expiration of the Headquarters Lease Amendment lease term. The Company determined that this renewal was not reasonably certain at lease inception.
The Headquarters Lease provides for monthly base rent amounts escalating over the term of the lease. In addition, the Headquarters Lease provided a tenant improvement allowance ("TIA") of up to $25.9 million, which was fully utilized, of which $4.4 million will be repaid to the landlord in the form of additional monthly rent. This is recorded as leasehold improvement assets and an offset to the lease ROU asset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company is also required to pay the operating expenses for the Headquarters, such as taxes and insurance, which are treated as variable lease payments.
In August 2021, the Company entered into an operating lease for laboratory, office and warehouse facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah. In March 2023, the Company terminated this operating lease, which resulted in the recognition of $7.9 million of accelerated depreciation on leasehold improvements during the year ended December 31, 2023. The lease had not commenced for accounting purposes.
In April 2023, the Company entered into a new operating lease in Salt Lake City for a 59,336 square foot laboratory, office and warehouse premises (the "SLC Lease") with a contractual term of approximately 15 years upon commencement, and future undiscounted lease payments of approximately $13.4 million, which was subsequently amended in October 2023. The Company has the option to extend the lease term for a period of ten years at the end of the lease term. For accounting purposes, the SLC Lease, as amended, had not commenced as of December 31, 2023 since the landlord had not yet made the underlying asset available for use by the Company, and as such, no lease liability or ROU asset has been recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023, and no operating lease expense has been recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023.
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Management exercised judgment in applying the requirements of ASC 842, including the determination as to whether certain contracts contain a lease, the lease consideration, and the commencement date of the lease, and for leases identified under the standard, the discount rate used to determine the measurement of the lease liability. The discount rates of our operating leases are an approximation of the Company's incremental borrowing rate and are dependent upon the term and economics of the agreement. To estimate the incremental borrowing rate, management considers observable debt yields of comparable market instruments, as well as benchmarks within the lease agreement that may be indicative of the rate implicit in the lease. There were no changes to the terms of the leases recognized under ASC 842 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Operating lease costs, including variable lease costs recognized under ASC 842, were $12.4 million, $12.0 million, and $11.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The following table contains a summary of other information pertaining to the Company’s operating leases for the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,