Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of Kura Oncology, Inc. should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes to those statements appearing in this Annual Report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis include, but are not limited to, those set forth in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report.All forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report are based on information available to us as of the time we file this Annual Report and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements. For the comparison of the financial results for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, see Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024.
References to “Kura Oncology, Inc.,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Kura Oncology, Inc.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Our pipeline consists of small molecule product candidates that target cancer signaling pathways where there is a strong scientific and clinical rationale to improve outcomes and, in general, we intend to pair our product candidates with molecular or cellular diagnostics to identify those patients most likely to respond to treatment.
Our lead product candidate is ziftomenib, a selective investigational inhibitor of the menin-KMT2A protein-protein interaction. We are developing ziftomenib for the treatment of genetically defined subsets of acute leukemias, including AML and ALL. In November 2024, we entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Kyowa Kirin to develop and commercialize ziftomenib for the treatment of patients with AML and other hematologic malignancies, which may be expanded into other indications at the option of Kyowa Kirin, subject to certain conditions. We also are exploring the use of ziftomenib for the treatment of GIST and ziftomenib and our next-generation menin inhibitors for use in other indications, including type 2 diabetes and certain solid tumors.
Our second product candidate is KO-2806, a selective investigational FTI, which we are evaluating as a monotherapy and as a companion inhibitor to certain targeted therapies in large solid tumor indications, including RCC and NSCLC.
Our third product candidate, tipifarnib, is a selective investigational FTI, which we are evaluating in combination with alpelisib, a PI3 kinase alpha inhibitor, in patients with HNSCC whose tumors have HRAS overexpression and/or PIK3CA mutation and/or amplification.
We also have additional programs that are at a discovery stage. We plan to advance our product candidates through a combination of internal development and strategic partnerships while maintaining significant development and commercial rights.
Liquidity Overview
As of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $727.4 million.
On November 20, 2024, we entered into the Kyowa Agreement to develop and globally commercialize ziftomenib for the treatment of patients with AML and other hematologic malignancies, which may be expanded into other indications at the option of Kyowa Kirin, subject to certain conditions. In exchange for the licenses and rights granted to Kyowa Kirin to participate in the development and commercialization of ziftomenib, we received an upfront payment of $330.0 million.
In January 2024, we completed a private placement in which we sold to certain institutional accredited investors an aggregate of 1,376,813 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $17.25 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,318,886 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $17.2499 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $17.25 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share), or the Private Placement. Net proceeds from the Private Placement, after deducting expenses, were approximately $145.8 million. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 559,424 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 6,759,462 remained outstanding.
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In November 2023, we entered into a Sales Agreement with Leerink Partners LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or the ATM Facility, under which we may offer and sell, from time to time, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million. We have not sold any shares of our common stock under the ATM Facility.
In June 2023, we completed a public offering in which we sold an aggregate of 5,660,871 shares of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share as well as pre-funded warrants to purchase 3,034,782 shares of our common stock at a price of $11.4999 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $11.50 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share). Net proceeds from the public offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $93.6 million. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 860,869 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 2,173,913 remained outstanding. On January 16, 2025, the remaining 2,173,913 pre-funded warrants were exercised.
In November 2022, we entered into a loan and security agreement, or the Loan Agreement, with several banks and other financial institutions or entities party thereto, or collectively the Lenders, and Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and the Lenders, providing for up to $125.0 million in a series of term loans, or Term Loans. Upon entering into the Loan Agreement, we borrowed $10.0 million of an initial $25.0 million tranche of Term Loans, or the Tranche 1 Loan. In September 2023, the draw period for the remaining $15.0 million of the Tranche 1 Loan expired without us drawing down such additional loan. In March 2024, the draw period for the $35.0 million second tranche of Term Loans expired without us drawing down such additional loan. In December 2024, the draw period for the (i) $40.0 million third tranche of Term Loans and (ii) $25.0 million fourth tranche of Term Loans each expired without us drawing down such additional loans. No further Term Loans may be drawn under the Loan Agreement.
To date, we have not generated any revenues from product sales, and we do not have any approved products. Since our inception, we have funded our operations primarily through equity and debt financings and revenues under the Kyowa Agreement. We anticipate that we will require significant additional financing in the future to continue to fund our operations as discussed more fully below under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue from Collaborations and Licenses
We generate revenue primarily through collaboration and license agreements. Such agreements may require us to deliver various rights and/or services, including intellectual property rights or licenses and research, development and other services. Under such agreements, we are generally eligible to receive non-refundable upfront payments, funding for research, development and other services, milestone payments, and royalties.
Our collaboration agreements fall under the scope of Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, or Topic 808, when there is a joint operating activity and when both parties are active participants in the arrangement and are exposed to significant risks and rewards. For our arrangements under the scope of Topic 808, we evaluate each promised good or service that is distinct in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Topic 606. (i.e., a unit of account) and apply Topic 606 to those units of account that are determined to be with a customer. For all other units of account that are not within the scope of other relevant accounting topics, we analogize to other authoritative accounting literature, such as Topic 606.
Topic 606 requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers under a five-step model: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when or as a performance obligation is satisfied.
In contracts where we have more than one promise to provide the customer with goods or services, each promise is evaluated to determine whether it is a distinct performance obligation based on whether (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and (ii) the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The evaluation of whether a promised good or service is a distinct performance obligation may require significant judgment and is based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each contract and the nature of the promised goods and services within each contract.
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We are required to make estimates of the transaction price, including variable consideration that is subject to a constraint. Amounts of variable consideration are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur and when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. At the inception of arrangements that include variable consideration, we may be required to exercise significant judgment to estimate the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price. In making such estimates, we generally use the most likely amount method for milestone payments and the expected value method for other forms of variable considerations and take into account relevant development, regulatory, and other factors that can impact the level of uncertainty associated with these estimates. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the estimated amount is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price until those approvals are received. These estimates are re-assessed each reporting period and we adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price as necessary.
The consideration under the contract is allocated between the distinct performance obligations based on their respective relative stand-alone selling prices. The estimated stand-alone selling price of each performance obligation reflects our best estimate of what the selling price would be if the deliverable was regularly sold on a stand-alone basis and is determined by reference to market rates for the good or service when sold to others or by using an adjusted market assessment approach if the selling price on a stand-alone basis is not available. The determination of the stand-alone selling price often requires significant judgment. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for license-related performance obligations may include forecasted revenues and expenses, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical, regulatory and commercial success. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for research and development or other service-related performance obligations generally include forecasting the expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation at market rates. We also exercise significant judgment in allocating variable consideration that relates specifically to our efforts to satisfy one or more, but not all, performance obligations and determining whether such allocation is consistent with the overall allocation objectives within Topic 606.
The consideration allocated to each distinct performance obligation is recognized as revenue when control is transferred to the customer for the related goods or services. For performance obligations satisfied over time, we determine the measure of progress that best represents the transfer of goods or services to the customer. Revenue is recognized by measuring the progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation using an input-based measure. Estimating the progress of the performance obligation requires significant management estimates, such as forecasting costs necessary to satisfy the performance obligation.
Sales-based royalties received in connection with licenses of intellectual property are subject to a specific exception in Topic 606, whereby the consideration is not included in the transaction price and recognized in revenue until the customer’s subsequent sales or usages occur. We may also be entitled to cost-share reimbursements or may be required to share profits related to our collaboration and license agreements. These amounts will be recognized when control of the related goods or services are transferred to the customer. Cost-sharing reimbursements are presented as revenue.
Research and Development Expenses
We focus on the research and development of our pipeline programs. Our research and development expenses consist of costs associated with our research and development activities including salaries, benefits, share-based compensation and other personnel costs, clinical trial costs, manufacturing costs for non-commercial products, fees paid to external service providers and consultants, facilities costs and supplies, equipment and materials used in clinical and preclinical studies and research and development. All such costs are charged to research and development expense as incurred. Payments that we make in connection with in-licensed technology for a particular research and development project that have no alternative future uses in other research and development projects or otherwise and therefore, no separate economic values, are expensed as research and development costs at the time such costs are incurred. As of December 31, 2024, we had no in-licensed technologies that had alternative future uses in research and development projects or otherwise.
We cannot determine with certainty the timing of initiation, the duration or the completion costs of current or future preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates. At this time, due to the inherently unpredictable nature of preclinical and clinical development, we are unable to estimate with any certainty the costs we will incur and the timelines we will require in the continued development of our product candidates and our other pipeline programs. Clinical and preclinical development timelines, the probability of success and development costs can differ materially from expectations. Our future research and development expenses will depend on the preclinical and clinical success of each product candidate that we develop, as well as ongoing assessments of the commercial potential of such product candidates. In addition, we cannot forecast which product candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements.
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Completion of clinical trials may take several years or more, and the length of time generally varies according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. The cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of differences arising during clinical development, including, among others:
•
per patient clinical trial costs;
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the number of clinical trials required for approval;
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the number of sites included in the clinical trials;
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the length of time required to enroll suitable patients;
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the number of doses that patients receive;
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the number of patients that participate in the clinical trials;
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the drop-out or discontinuation rates of patients;
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the duration of patient follow-up;
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potential additional safety monitoring or other studies requested by regulatory agencies;
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the number and complexity of analyses and tests performed during the clinical trial;
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the phase of development of the product candidate; and
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the efficacy and safety profile of the product candidate.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits, share-based compensation and other personnel costs for employees in executive, finance, business development and support functions. Other significant general and administrative expenses include the costs associated with obtaining and maintaining our patent portfolio, professional services for audit, legal, pre-commercial planning, investor and public relations, director and officer insurance premiums, corporate activities and allocated facilities.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net consists primarily of interest income and interest expense.
Income Taxes
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded current Federal and state tax provisions of $1.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 we did not record a provision for income taxes due to a full valuation against our deferred taxes.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the years presented, in thousands:
Years Ended December 31,
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Collaboration Revenue. We recognized collaboration revenue of $53.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to the license granted and services performed under the Kyowa Agreement entered into in November 2024.
Research and Development Expenses. The following table illustrates the components of our research and development expenses for the years presented, in thousands:
Years Ended December 31,
The increase in ziftomenib-related research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to increases in costs related to our registration-directed clinical trial of ziftomenib and the ziftomenib combination trials. The increase in KO-2806-related research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to increased costs related to our Phase 1 clinical trial. The decrease in tipifarnib-related research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to the closure of our registration-directed trial of tipifarnib. The increase in personnel costs and other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to a retention tax credit recognized in the first quarter of 2023, and increases in headcount costs to support our ongoing clinical trials. We expect our research and development expenses to increase in future periods as we continue clinical development activities for our ziftomenib and FTI programs.
General and Administrative Expenses. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to increases in personnel costs, inclusive of a retention tax credit recognized in the first quarter of 2023, pre-commercial planning expenses, non-cash share-based compensation expense, and professional services. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in future periods to support our planned increase in research and development activities.
Other income, net. The increase in other income, net for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to an increase in interest income.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception, we have funded our operations primarily through equity and debt financings and through revenues under the Kyowa Agreement. We have devoted our resources to funding research and development programs, including discovery research, preclinical and clinical development activities.
On November 20, 2024, we entered into the Kyowa Agreement to develop and globally commercialize ziftomenib for the treatment of patients with AML and other hematologic malignancies, or the Field. In exchange for the licenses and rights granted to Kyowa Kirin to participate in the development and commercialization of ziftomenib, we received an upfront payment of $330.0 million and are eligible to receive up to an additional $933.0 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments for the Field.
On January 26, 2024, we completed the Private Placement in which we sold to certain institutional accredited investors an aggregate of 1,376,813 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $17.25 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,318,886 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $17.2499 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $17.25 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share). Net proceeds from the Private Placement, after deducting expenses, were approximately $145.8 million. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 559,424 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 6,759,462 remained outstanding.
In November 2023, we entered into the ATM Facility under which we may offer and sell, from time to time, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million. We have not sold any shares of our common stock under the ATM Facility.
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In June 2023, we completed a public offering in which we sold an aggregate of 5,660,871 shares of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share as well as pre-funded warrants to purchase 3,034,782 shares of our common stock at a price of $11.4999 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $11.50 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share). Net proceeds from the public offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $93.6 million. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 860,869 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 2,173,913 remained outstanding. On January 16, 2025, the remaining 2,173,913 pre-funded warrants were exercised.
In November 2022, we entered into the Loan Agreement with the Lenders and Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and the Lenders, providing for up to $125.0 million in a series of Term Loans. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, we borrowed $10.0 million of an initial $25.0 million Tranche 1 Loan. In September 2023, the draw period for the remaining $15.0 million of the Tranche 1 Loan expired without us drawing down such additional loan. In March 2024, the draw period for the $35.0 million second tranche of Term Loans expired without us drawing down such additional loan and in December 2024, the draw period for the (i) $40.0 million third tranche of Term Loans and (ii) $25.0 million fourth tranche of term loans expired without us drawing down such additional loans. No further Term Loans may be drawn under the Loan Agreement. All of the Term Loans have a maturity date of November 2, 2027, or the Maturity Date. Repayment of the Term Loans is interest only through (a) May 1, 2025, with the satisfaction of the Interest Only Milestone 1 Conditions (as defined in the Loan Agreement), (b) November 1, 2025, if we satisfy the Interest Only Milestone 2 Conditions (as defined in the Loan Agreement), and (c) November 1, 2026, if we satisfy the Approval Milestone (as defined in the Loan Agreement). After the interest-only payment period, borrowings under the Loan Agreement are repayable in monthly payments of principal and accrued interest until the Maturity Date. The per annum interest rate for the Term Loans is the greater of (i) the prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal minus 6.25% plus 8.65% and (ii) 8.65%.
At our option, we may prepay all or any portion of the outstanding Term Loans at any time. Prepayments made on or prior to the third anniversary of the date of the Loan Agreement will be subject to a prepayment fee equal to 1.50% of the principal amount being prepaid. In addition, we paid a facility charge of approximately $0.1 million upon closing and an additional approximately $0.2 million of facility charges in November 2023 due to the availability of the second tranche of the Term Loans. The Loan Agreement also provides for an end of term fee in an amount equal to the greater of approximately (i) $1.5 million (which is 6.05% of the maximum amount of the first tranche of loans) or (ii) 6.05% of the aggregate principal amount of loan advances actually made under the Loan Agreement, which fee is due and payable on the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date we prepay the outstanding loans in full, and (iii) the date that the secured obligations become due and payable. Our obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets other than our intellectual property, but including proceeds from the sale, licensing or other disposition of our intellectual property. As part of the Loan Agreement, we are subject to certain negative covenants, which, among other things, prohibit us from selling, transferring, assigning, mortgaging, pledging, leasing, granting a security interest in or otherwise encumbering our intellectual property, subject to limited exceptions.
We have incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from operating activities since inception. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $895.4 million. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the research and development of, continue and initiate clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for, our product candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing and distribution are not the responsibility of collaborators or potential collaborators. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.
As of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $727.4 million. Based on our current plans, we believe our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2024 will be sufficient to enable us to fund our current operating expenses into 2027, and combined with anticipated collaboration funding under the Kyowa Agreement, should support our ziftomenib AML program through commercialization in the frontline combination setting. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
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the scope, progress, results and costs of drug discovery, preclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;
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the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;
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the costs of fully developing our sales, marketing and distribution capabilities if we obtain regulatory approvals to market our product candidates;
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the costs of securing and producing drug substance and drug product material for use in preclinical studies, clinical trials and for use as commercial supply;
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the costs of securing manufacturing arrangements for development activities and commercial production;
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the scope, prioritization and number of our research and development programs;
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the extent to which we are obligated to reimburse, or entitled to reimbursement of, clinical trial costs under current or any future collaboration agreements;
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the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;
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the success of our current or future companion diagnostic test collaborations for companion diagnostic tests; and
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the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims.
To date, we have not generated any revenues from product sales, and we do not have any approved products. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenues from product sales. We do not expect to generate significant revenues from product sales unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize one of our current or future product candidates. We are subject to all of the risks incident in the development of new therapeutic products, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. We may need substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of stock offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements, such as the Kyowa Agreement. Additional capital may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all. Subject to limited exceptions, our term loan facility also prohibits us from incurring indebtedness without the prior written consent of the Lenders. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of stock or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include increased fixed payment obligations and covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, declaring dividends, selling or licensing intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements with third parties, such as the Kyowa Agreement, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, including our other technologies, future revenue streams or research programs, or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be unable to carry out our business plan. As a result, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and commercialize our product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and commercialize such product candidates ourselves, and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.
The following table provides a summary of our net cash flow activities for the years presented, in thousands:
Years Ended December 31,
Operating Activities.The increase of $259.1 million in net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to an increase of $278.2 million in contract liabilities related to the Kyowa Agreement, offset by an increase of $21.4 million in net loss.
Investing Activities. The increase of $117.1 million in net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to an increase of $249.2 million in purchases of short-term investments, offset by an increase of $132.4 million in maturities of short-term investments.
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Financing Activities.Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily related to net proceeds of approximately $145.8 million from the sale of shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of our common stock in our January 2024 Private Placement and proceeds of $8.6 million from the issuance of shares of common stock under our equity plans. Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to $93.6 million in net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of our common stock in our June 2023 public offering.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following is a summary of our significant contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2024, in thousands:
Payments Due by Period
Less than 1-3 3-5 More than
Total 1 Year Years Years 5 Years
(1)
Future minimum lease payments under our operating leases in San Diego, California and Boston, Massachusetts.
(2)
Principal payments under our term loan facility.
(3)
Interest payments on our term loan facility. The per annum interest rate for the Term Loans is the greater of (i) the prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal minus 6.25% plus 8.65% and (ii) 8.65%. As of December 31, 2024, the interest rate on the Term Loans was 9.90%. In addition, an end of term fee will be due in an amount equal to the greater of approximately (i) $1.5 million or (ii) 6.05% of the aggregate principal amount of loan advances actually made, payable on the earliest of the maturity date, acceleration or prepayment of the Term Loans.
Subsequent to December 31, 2024, we entered into a new lease agreement for office space in San Diego, California. See Note 16, Subsequent Events, in the Notes to Financial Statements of this Annual Report for further details.
We enter into short-term and cancellable agreements in the normal course of operations with clinical sites and CROs for clinical research studies, professional consultants and various third parties for preclinical research studies, clinical supply manufacturing and other services through purchase orders or other documentation. Such short-term agreements are generally outstanding for periods less than one year and are settled by cash payments upon delivery of goods and services. The nature of the work being conducted under these agreements is such that, in most cases, the services may be cancelled upon prior notice of 90 days or less. Payments due upon cancellation generally consist only of payments for services provided and expenses incurred, including non-cancellable obligations of our service providers, up to the date of cancellation. These payments are not included in the table of contractual obligations above.
Excluded from the table above are milestone or contractual payment obligations contingent upon the achievement of certain milestones or events if the amount and timing of such obligations are unknown or uncertain, including $4.8 million of sublicense fees incurred as of December 31, 2024. Our in-license agreements are cancelable by us with written notice within 180 days or less. We may be required to pay up to approximately $80.0 million in milestone payments, plus sales royalties, in the event that regulatory and commercial milestones under the in-license agreements are achieved.
Under the Kyowa Agreement, we will be funding the specified development activities included in the Development Plan that are planned to be conducted prior to the end of 2028, and we will share equally (50/50) with Kyowa Kirin all development costs for all other development activities in the United States included in the Development Plan (including the costs of future trials conducted under the Development Plan in the United States). We will share equally with Kyowa Kirin in any potential profits and losses arising from the commercialization of ziftomenib in the United States for the existing Field and, if Kyowa Kirin exercises the Field Expansion Option, the expanded Field.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Management Estimates
The SEC defines critical accounting policies as those that are, in management’s view, important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and demanding of management’s judgment. Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements required estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue from collaborations and licenses, and clinical trial costs and accruals. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements of this Annual Report, we believe the following accounting policies are critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Revenue from Collaborations and Licenses
Our collaboration agreements fall under the scope of Topic 808, when there is a joint operating activity and when both parties are active participants in the arrangement and are exposed to significant risks and rewards. For our arrangements under the scope of Topic 808, we evaluate each promised good or service that is distinct in accordance with Topic 606 (i.e., a unit of account) and apply Topic 606 to those units of account that are determined to be with a customer. For all other units of account that are not within the scope of other relevant accounting topics, we analogize to other authoritative accounting literature, such as Topic 606.
In applying Topic 808 and Topic 606, we are required to make estimates of the transaction price, including variable consideration that is subject to a constraint. Amounts of variable consideration are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur and when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. At the inception of arrangements that include variable consideration, we may be required to exercise significant judgment to estimate the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price. In making such estimates, we generally use the most likely amount method and take into account relevant development, regulatory, and other factors that can impact the level of uncertainty associated with these estimates. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the estimated amount is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price until those approvals are received. These estimates are re-assessed each reporting period and we adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price as necessary.
The consideration under the contract is allocated between the distinct performance obligations based on their respective relative stand-alone selling prices. The estimated stand-alone selling price of each performance obligation reflects our best estimate of what the selling price would be if the deliverable was regularly sold on a stand-alone basis and is determined by reference to market rates for the good or service when sold to others or by using an adjusted market assessment approach if the selling price on a stand-alone basis is not available. The determination of the stand-alone selling price often requires significant judgment. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for license-related performance obligations may include forecasted revenues and expenses, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical, regulatory and commercial success. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for research and development or other service-related performance obligations generally include forecasting the expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation at market rates. We also exercise significant judgment in allocating variable consideration that relates specifically to our efforts to satisfy one or more, but not all, performance obligations and determining whether such allocation is consistent with the overall allocation objectives within Topic 606.
90
Clinical Trial Costs and Accruals
We accrue clinical trial costs based on work performed. In determining the amount to accrue, we rely on estimates of total costs incurred based on enrollment, the completion of clinical trials and other events. We follow this method because we believe reasonably dependable estimates of the costs applicable to various stages of a clinical trial can be made. However, the actual costs and timing of clinical trials are highly uncertain, subject to risks and may change depending on a number of factors. Differences between the actual clinical trial costs and the estimated clinical trial costs that we have accrued in any prior period are recognized in the subsequent period in which the actual costs become known. Historically, our estimated accrued expenses have approximated actual expenses incurred; however, material differences could occur in the future.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 in the Notes to Financial Statements of this Annual Report.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We hold certain financial instruments for which a change in prevailing interest rates may cause the principal amount of the short-term investments to fluctuate. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We invest our excess cash primarily in U.S. Treasury securities, corporate debt securities, non-U.S. government debt securities, money market funds and U.S. Agency bonds. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to ensure liquidity and to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing the income we receive from our short-term investments without significantly increasing risk. Additionally, we established guidelines regarding approved investments and maturities of investments, which are designed to maintain safety and liquidity. For our short-term investments, we do not believe that an increase or decrease in market rates would have a significant impact on the realized values or the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. We believe that should a 10.0% change in interest rates were to have occurred on December 31, 2024, this change would not have had a material effect on the fair value of our investment portfolio as of that date. Any changes would only be realized if we sold the investments prior to maturity.
We are also subject to interest expense fluctuations through our Term Loans which, as of December 31, 2024, bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal minus 6.25% plus 8.65% and (ii) 8.65%, and are therefore exposed to changes in interest rates through their maturity date in November 2027. For interest expense, we do not believe that an increase or decrease in the interest rate would have a significant impact on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. We believe that should a 10.0% change in the interest rate were to have occurred on December 31, 2024, this change would not have had a material effect on interest expense as of that date.
Inflation Risk
Inflation generally affects us by increasing our clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The financial statements and supplementary data required pursuant to this item are included in Item 15 of this Annual Report and are presented beginning on page F-1.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
91
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports required by the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the timelines specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and in reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive and financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive and financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 31, 2024.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive and financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report, which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, we entered into the Kyowa Agreement and began to recognize revenue. We updated the processes that constitute our internal control over revenue and financial reporting, as necessary, to accommodate related changes to our accounting procedures and business processes.
Except for the changes related to the Kyowa Agreement, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with management’s evaluation of such internal control that occurred during our most recent quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to material affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
92
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Kura Oncology, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Kura Oncology, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Kura Oncology, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and our report dated February 28, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. 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 audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Diego, California
February 28, 2025
93
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
94
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this item and not set forth below will be set forth in the sections headed “Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers” in our definitive proxy statement for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or Proxy Statement, to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a written code of ethics for directors, officers, including our principal executive and financial officer and our principal accounting officer, and employees, known as the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.kuraoncology.com under the Corporate Governance section of our Investors & Media page. Our website and the information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in, and are not considered part of, this Annual Report. We will promptly disclose on our website (i) the nature of any amendment to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and (ii) the nature of any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is granted to one of these specified individuals that is required to be disclosed pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, the name of such person who is granted the waiver and the date of the waiver.
We have adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale and/or other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers and employees that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and listing standards applicable to us. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed with this Annual Report as Exhibit 19.1.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item will be set forth in the sections headed “Executive Compensation” and “Non-Employee Director Compensation” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this item will be set forth in the section headed “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K will be set forth in the section headed “Executive Compensation” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item will be set forth in the sections headed “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” and “Information Regarding the Board of Directors and Corporate Governance” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
The information required by this item will be set forth in the section headed “Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
95
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules.
1. Financial Statements. We have filed the following documents as part of this Annual Report:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-1
Balance Sheets F-4
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-5
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity F-6
Statements of Cash Flows F-7
Notes to Financial Statements F-8
2. Financial Statement Schedules.
There are no financial statement schedules provided because the information called for is either not required or is shown either in the financial statements or the notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
96
97
10.15+ Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. X
98
19.1 Kura Oncology, Inc. Insider Trading Policy X
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. X
24.1 Power of Attorney (see signature page). X
99
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
* Certain portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
** Confidential treatment has been granted with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the SEC.
*** Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.
None.
100
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Kura Oncology, Inc.
Date: February 28, 2025 By: /s/ Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D.
Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D. and Thomas Doyle, and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or their substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name Title Date
Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D. (Principal Executive and Financial Officer)
/s/ Thomas Doyle Senior Vice President, Finance & Accounting February 28, 2025
Thomas Doyle (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Helen Collins, M.D. Director February 28, 2025
Helen Collins, M.D.
/s/ Faheem Hasnain Director February 28, 2025
Faheem Hasnain
/s/ Thomas Malley Director February 28, 2025
Thomas Malley
/s/ Diane Parks Director February 28, 2025
Diane Parks
/s/ Carol Schafer Director February 28, 2025
Carol Schafer
/s/ Mary Szela Director February 28, 2025
Mary Szela
/s/ Michael Vasconcelles, M.D. Director February 28, 2025
Michael Vasconcelles, M.D.
101
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Kura Oncology, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Kura Oncology, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, 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, 2024, 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 28, 2025 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 Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate 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 matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
F-1
Clinical Trial Research and Development Expenses and Accruals
F-2
Accounting for the Kyowa Kirin collaboration and license agreement
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
San Diego, California
February 28, 2025
F-3
KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value data)
December 31,
Assets
Current assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 17,434 8,524
Operating lease right-of-use assets 5,803 6,993
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 49,953 $ 33,757
Current operating lease liabilities 1,881 1,506
Current portion of long-term debt 2,607 —
Current portion of contract liabilities 24,271 —
Long-term debt, net of current portion 6,916 9,332
Long-term operating lease liabilities 5,190 6,362
Other long-term liabilities 1,795 705
Long-term contract liabilities 253,906 —
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Stockholders’ equity
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 764 (1,271 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 760,159 $ 448,935
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-4
KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Years Ended December 31,
Revenue
Collaboration revenue $ 53,883 $ — $ —
Operating Expenses
Other Income (Expense)
Income tax expense 2,018 — —
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (2.02 ) $ (2.08 ) $ (2.03 )
Comprehensive Loss
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments 2,035 6,761 (6,243 )
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-5
KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
Accumulated
Additional Other Total
Common Stock Paid-In Comprehensive Accumulated Stockholders’
Shares Par Value Capital Income (Loss) Deficit Equity
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs 1,370 — 24,721 — — 24,721
Share-based compensation expense — — 26,318 — — 26,318
Issuance of common stock under equity plans 372 — 4,419 — — 4,419
Issuance of warrants in connection with debt facility — — 294 — — 294
Other comprehensive loss — — — (6,243 ) — (6,243 )
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs 5,661 — 60,919 — — 60,919
Share-based compensation expense — — 28,082 — — 28,082
Issuance of common stock under equity plans 375 — 1,206 — — 1,206
Other comprehensive income — — — 6,761 — 6,761
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs 1,377 — 23,087 — — 23,087
Share-based compensation expense — — 33,897 — — 33,897
Exercise of pre-funded warrants 1,420 1 — 1
Issuance of common stock under equity plans 1,082 — 8,604 — — 8,604
Other comprehensive income — — — 2,035 — 2,035
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-6
KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Years Ended December 31,
Operating Activities
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (8,910 ) (1,960 ) (2,935 )
Contract liabilities 278,178 — —
Operating lease right-of-use and other long-term assets 947 (685 ) 571
Investing Activities
Purchases of property and equipment (472 ) (168 ) (626 )
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of stock under equity plans 8,604 1,206 4,419
Proceeds from long-term debt — — 10,000
Payment of fees related to issuance of long-term debt — — (575 )
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Supplemental non-cash disclosures
Warrants issued in connection with debt facility $ — $ — $ 294
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
F-7
KURA ONCOLOGY, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Description of Business
Kura Oncology, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Our pipeline consists of small molecule product candidates that target cancer signaling pathways where there is a strong scientific and clinical rationale to improve outcomes and, in general, we intend to pair our product candidates with molecular or cellular diagnostics to identify those patients most likely to respond to treatment. We are conducting clinical trials of three product candidates: ziftomenib, KO-2806 and tipifarnib. We also have additional programs that are at a discovery stage. We plan to advance our product candidates through a combination of internal development and strategic partnerships while maintaining significant development and commercial rights.
References in these Notes to Financial Statements to “Kura Oncology, Inc.,” “we,” “our” or “us,” refer to Kura Oncology, Inc.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Reported amounts and note disclosures reflect the overall economic conditions that are most likely to occur and anticipated measures management intends to take. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. All revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of checking, money market and highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to cash and that have an original maturity of three months or less from date of purchase. The carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these instruments.
Short-Term Investments
Short-term investments are marketable securities with maturities greater than three months from date of purchase that are specifically identified to fund current operations. These investments are classified as current assets, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date, which reflects management’s intention to use the proceeds from sales of these securities to fund our operations, as necessary. The cost of short-term investments is adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts to maturity, and such amortization or accretion is included in interest income. Dividend and interest income is included in interest and other income, net on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss when earned. Short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale securities and carried at fair value with unrealized gains and non-credit related losses recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific identification basis and included in interest and other income, net on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
F-8
Allowance for Credit Losses
For available-for-sale securities in an unrealized loss position, we first assess whether we intend to sell, or if it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through earnings. For available-for-sale securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, we evaluate whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, we consider the severity of the impairment, any changes in interest rates, market conditions, changes to the underlying credit ratings and forecasted recovery, among other factors. The credit-related portion of unrealized losses, and any subsequent improvements, are recorded in interest and other income, net on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss through an allowance account. Any impairment that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit losses is included in other comprehensive income (loss) on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
We elected the practical expedient to exclude the applicable accrued interest from both the fair value and amortized costs basis of our available-for-sale securities for purposes of identifying and measuring an impairment. Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities is recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets on our balance sheets. Our accounting policy is to not measure an allowance for credit loss for accrued interest receivable and to write-off any uncollectible accrued interest receivable as a reversal of interest income in a timely manner, which we consider to be in the period in which we determine the accrued interest will not be collected by us.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. We maintain deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. We have established guidelines to limit our exposure to credit risk by placing investments with high credit quality financial institutions, diversifying our investment portfolio and placing investments with maturities that maintain safety and liquidity. We periodically review and modify these guidelines to maximize trends in yields and interest rates without compromising safety and liquidity.
Employee Retention Credit
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, or CARES Act, we were eligible to claim the employee retention credit, which is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized $2.8 million of employee retention credits related to wages paid to our employees from July 2020 through September 2021 within operating expenses as a reduction to personnel costs in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. We filed for the credit with the Internal Revenue Service in the first quarter of 2023. As of December 31, 2024, an employee retention credit receivable of $2.8 million was included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheets.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the 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 such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
•
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
•
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable;
•
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.
F-9
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Computer software and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives of three to five years. Laboratory equipment is depreciated over its estimated useful life of five years. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over their estimated useful lives of five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the term of the related lease or the useful life of the asset.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. If such circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows produced by the long-lived asset, including its eventual residual value, is compared to the carrying value to determine whether impairment exists. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written-down to their estimated fair values. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, there were no impairments of the value of long-lived assets.
Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease or contains lease components at inception. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. For operating leases with an initial term greater than 12 months, we recognize operating lease right-of-use, or ROU, assets and operating lease liabilities based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets are comprised of the lease liability plus any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate when we are reasonably certain that the options will be exercised. We do not separate lease components from non-lease components. For our operating leases, we generally cannot determine the interest rate implicit in the lease, in which case we use our incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for the lease. We estimate our incremental borrowing rate for our operating leases based on what we would normally pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
If a lease is modified, the modified contract is evaluated to determine whether it is or contains a lease. If a lease continues to exist, the lease modification is determined to be a separate contract when the modification grants the lessee an additional ROU that is not included in the original lease and the lease payments increase commensurate with the standalone price for the additional ROU. A lease modification that results in a separate contract will be accounted for in the same manner as a new lease. For a modification that is not a separate contract, we reassess the lease classification using the modified terms and conditions and the facts and circumstances as of the effective date of the modification and recognize the amount of the remeasurement of the lease liability for the modified lease as an adjustment to the corresponding operating lease ROU asset.
Collaboration Arrangements
We assess whether our licensing and other agreements are collaborative arrangements within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements, or Topic 808, based on whether they involve joint operating activities wherein both parties actively participate in the arrangement and are exposed to significant risks and rewards of the arrangement. For arrangements that we determine are collaborations under the Scope of Topic 808, we identify each unit of account by determining which promised goods or services are distinct in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Topic 606, and then determine whether a customer relationship exists for that unit of account. If we determine a unit of account within the collaborative arrangement to be with a customer, we apply our revenue recognition accounting policy as further described below. For units of account within the collaborative arrangement under Topic 808 that are not with a customer in its entirety and are not within the scope of other relevant accounting topics, we apply recognition and measurement principles based on an analogy to authoritative accounting literature or, if there is no appropriate analogy, a reasonable, rational and consistently applied accounting policy election. See Note 8, Kyowa Kirin Collaboration and License Agreement, for more details.
Revenue from Collaborations and Licenses
We recognize revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope of Topic 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the
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transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
For enforceable contracts with our customers, we evaluate the promises in the contract that are based on goods and services that will be transferred to the customer and determine whether those promises are both (i) capable of being distinct and (ii) distinct in the context of the contract. Arrangements that include rights to additional goods or services that are exercisable at the customer’s discretion are generally considered customer options. We assess if these customer options provide a material right to the customer and, if so, these customer options are considered performance obligations.
The transaction price may comprise of payments received under our commercial arrangements, such as licensing technology rights, and may include non-refundable fees at the inception of the arrangements, cost reimbursements, milestone payments for specific achievements designated in the agreements, and royalties on the sale of products. Profit-sharing payments to our customers are generally not for a distinct good or service and, as such, are included as a reduction of the transaction price. At the inception of arrangements that include variable consideration, we use judgment to estimate the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price generally using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the estimated amount is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price until those approvals are received. At the end of each reporting period, we re-evaluate estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and any related constraint and, as necessary, we adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price. Any adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which affects revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.
We develop estimates of the stand-alone selling price for each distinct performance obligation, which involve assumptions that may require significant judgment. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for license-related performance obligations may include forecasted revenues and expenses, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical, regulatory and commercial success. Our estimates of the stand-alone selling price for research and development or other service-related performance obligations generally include forecasting the expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation at market rates. We allocate the transaction price, including any unconstrained variable consideration, to the performance obligations within the arrangement based on the relative stand-alone selling prices. When the variable consideration relates specifically to our efforts to satisfy one or more, but not all, performance obligations and allocating the consideration specifically to those performance obligations is consistent with the overall allocation objectives within Topic 606, we allocate the consideration entirely to those performance obligations.
We use judgment to assess the nature of the performance obligation to determine whether the performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue related to the performance obligation. If the performance obligation is satisfied over time, we evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion of over-time performance obligations is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. Our over-time performance obligations generally involve research and development or other services provided to the customer, and we generally use a cost-to-cost measure of progress because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer. Under a cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date compared to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation (an “input method” under Topic 606). We use judgment to estimate the total cost expected to complete the research and development or other service-related performance obligations, which include subcontractors’ costs, labor, materials, other direct costs and an allocation of indirect costs. We evaluate these cost estimates and the progress each reporting period and, as necessary, we adjust the measure of progress and related revenue recognition.
For arrangements that include sales-based or usage-based royalties, we recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied or partially satisfied. For arrangements that include cost-share reimbursements or obligations to share profits, we will recognize such payments when control of the related goods or services are transferred to the customer.
Consideration received or invoices issued as stipulated in contracts prior to revenue recognition are recorded as contract liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets, classified as either current or long-term contract liabilities based on our best estimate of when such amounts will be recognized. Amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet invoiced are generally recognized as contract assets in other current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.
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Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of costs associated with our research and development activities including salaries, benefits, share-based compensation and other personnel costs, clinical trial costs, manufacturing costs for non-commercial products, fees paid to external service providers and consultants, facilities costs and supplies, equipment and materials used in clinical and preclinical studies and research and development. All such costs are charged to research and development expense as incurred when these expenditures have no alternative future uses. We are obligated to make upfront payments upon execution of certain research and development agreements. Advance payments, including nonrefundable amounts, for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are deferred. Such amounts are recognized as expense as the related goods are delivered or the related services are performed or such time when we do not expect the goods to be delivered or services to be performed. Payments that we make in connection with in-licensed technology for a particular research and development project that have no alternative future uses in other research and development projects or otherwise, and therefore have no separate economic value, are expensed as research and development costs at the time such costs are incurred. As of December 31, 2024, we had no in-licensed technologies that have alternative future uses in research and development projects or otherwise.
Clinical Trial Costs and Accruals
A significant portion of our clinical trial costs relate to contracts with contract research organizations, or CROs. The financial terms of our CRO contracts may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided to us under such contracts. Our objective is to reflect the appropriate clinical trial expenses in our financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services and efforts are expended. As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we rely on cost information provided by our CROs concerning monthly expenses as well as reimbursement for pass through costs. We are also required to estimate certain of our expenses resulting from our obligations under our CRO contracts. Accordingly, our clinical trial expense accrual is dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of CROs and other third-party vendors. If the contracted amounts are modified, for instance, as a result of changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed, we modify our accruals accordingly on a prospective basis. Revisions in the scope of a contract are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become reasonably certain. Historically, we have had no material changes in clinical trial expense that had a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.
Patent Costs
We expense all costs as incurred in connection with patent applications, including direct application fees, and the legal and consulting expenses related to making such applications, and such costs are included in general and administrative expenses on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Share-Based Compensation
Our share-based awards are measured at fair value on the date of grant based upon the estimated fair value of common stock. The fair value of awards expected to vest are recognized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award less actual forfeitures. The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, or Black-Scholes model, that requires the use of assumptions including volatility, expected term, risk-free rate and the fair value of the underlying common stock. We estimate the fair value of restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units granted based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. Actual forfeitures are applied as they occur, and any compensation cost previously recognized for awards for which the requisite service has not been completed is reversed in the period that the award is forfeited.
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Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded if, based upon the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. For uncertain tax positions that meet “a more likely than not” threshold, we recognize the benefit of uncertain tax positions in the financial statements.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity during the period from transactions and other events and non-owner sources. For the periods presented, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of unrealized gains and losses on short-term investments.
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, which includes the shares related to outstanding pre-funded warrants, but excludes other potential common stock equivalents. Pre-funded warrants are considered outstanding for the purposes of computing basic and diluted net loss per share because shares may be issued for little additional consideration, and are fully vested and exercisable. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. As we have reported net loss for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, dilutive net loss per common share is the same as basic net loss per common share for those periods. Common stock equivalents outstanding are comprised of stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units, warrants and employee stock purchase plan rights and are only included in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share when net income is reported and their effect is dilutive. Common stock equivalents outstanding as of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 totaling approximately15,430,000, 12,642,000 and 9,266,000, respectively, were excluded from the computation of dilutive weighted-average shares outstanding because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
Segment Reporting
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. We operate in a single industry segment which is the discovery and development of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Troy E. Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., our president and chief executive officer, who serves as the Chief Operating Decision-Maker, or CODM, reviews the operating results on an aggregate basis and manages the operations as a single operating segment in the U.S.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2023-07 – Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which improves segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosure requirements for significant segment expenses. The improved disclosure requirements apply to all public entities that are required to report segment information, including those with only one reportable segment. We adopted the guidance for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. There was no impact on our reportable segments identified and additional required disclosures have been included in Note 15, Segment Reporting.
Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 – Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740), which improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring disaggregated information about our effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. For each annual period, we will be required to disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold
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(if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5% of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income or loss by the applicable statutory income tax rate). ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. We plan to adopt the standard on December 31, 2025, and are currently evaluating the effect of the standard on our financial statements.
3. Investments
We invest in available-for-sale securities consisting of U.S. Treasury securities, money market funds, corporate debt securities, non-U.S. government debt securities and U.S. Agency bonds. Available-for-sale securities are classified as either cash and cash equivalents or short-term investments on the balance sheets.
The following tables summarize, by major security type, our short-term investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, in thousands:
Cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Short-term investments are classified as current assets, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date, which reflects management’s intention to use the proceeds from sales of these securities to fund our operations, as necessary. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, short-term investments of $393.1 million and $336.6 million, respectively, had maturities less than one year, short-term investments of $97.3 million and $50.0 million, respectively, had maturities between one to two years, and short-term investments of $12.5 million and zero, respectively, had maturities between two to three years. Realized gains and losses were de minimis for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, twoavailable-for-sale securities with a fair market value of $10.0 million and 16 available-for-sale securities with a fair market value of $155.2 million, respectively, were in gross unrealized loss positions, none and $105.0 million of which were in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months, respectively. We do not intend to sell these available-for-sale securities, and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of their amortized cost basis. We have no allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Unrealized gains and losses that are not credit-related are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Accrued interest receivable on available-for-sale securities were $3.3 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which were included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheets. We have not written off any accrued interest receivables for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
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4. Fair Value Measurements
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had cash equivalents and short-term investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
Available-for-sale securities consist of money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities, which are measured at fair value using Level 1 inputs, and corporate debt securities, non-U.S. government debt securities, and U.S. Agency bonds which are measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs. We determine the fair value of Level 2 related securities with the aid of valuations provided by third parties using proprietary valuation models and analytical tools. These valuation models and analytical tools use market pricing or prices for similar instruments that are both objective and publicly available, including matrix pricing or reported trades, benchmark yields, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids and/or offers. We validate the fair values of Level 2 financial instruments by comparing these fair values to a third-party pricing source. We did not reclassify any investments between levels in the fair value hierarchy during the periods presented.
The following tables summarize, by major security type, our cash equivalents and short-term investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy, in thousands:
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Non-U.S. government debt securities 14,727 — 14,727 —
We believe that our term loan facility bears interest at a rate that approximates prevailing market rates for instruments with similar characteristics and, accordingly, the carrying value of the term loan facility approximates fair value. The fair value of our term loan facility is determined using Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 6, Long-Term Debt, for further discussion of our term loan facility.
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5. Balance Sheet Detail
Property and equipment consisted of the following, in thousands:
December 31,
Laboratory and computer equipment $ 2,004 $ 1,657
Property and equipment, gross 4,957 4,311
Less: accumulated depreciation (3,275 ) (2,452 )
Property and equipment, net $ 1,682 $ 1,859
Depreciation expense was $0.8 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following, in thousands:
December 31,
Accrued clinical trial research and development expenses 14,267 7,737
Accrued other research and development expenses 11,938 9,265
Income taxes payable 2,061 —
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 49,953 $ 33,757
6. Long-Term Debt
On November 2, 2022, we entered into a loan and security agreement, or Loan Agreement, with several banks and other financial institutions or entities party thereto, or collectively Lenders, and Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and the Lenders, or in such capacity, Agent, providing for up to $125.0 million in a series of term loans, or Term Loans. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, we borrowed $10.0 million of an initial $25.0 million tranche of term loans, or the Tranche 1 Loan. On September 15, 2023, the draw period for the remaining $15.0 million of the Tranche 1 Loan expired without us drawing down the additional loan. In March 2024, the draw period for the $35.0 million second tranche of Term Loans expired without us drawing down such additional loan and in December 2024, the draw period for the (i) $40.0 million third tranche of Term Loans and (ii) $25.0 million fourth tranche of Term Loans each expired without us drawing down such additional loans. No further Term Loans may be drawn under the Loan Agreement. All of the Term Loans have a maturity date of November 2, 2027, or the Maturity Date. Repayment of the Term Loans is interest only through (a) May 1, 2025, with the satisfaction of the Interest Only Milestone 1 Conditions (as defined in the Loan Agreement), (b) if we satisfy the Interest Only Milestone 2 Conditions (as defined in the Loan Agreement), November 1, 2025, and (c) if we satisfy the Approval Milestone (as defined in the Loan Agreement), November 1, 2026. After the interest-only payment period, borrowings under the Loan Agreement are repayable in monthly payments of principal and accrued interest until the Maturity Date. The per annum interest rate for the Term Loans is the greater of (i) the prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal minus 6.25% plus 8.65% and (ii) 8.65%. As of December 31, 2024, the interest rate on the Term Loans was 9.90%.
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At our option, we may prepay all or any portion of the outstanding Term Loans at any time. Prepayments made on or prior to the third anniversary of the date of the Loan Agreement will be subject to a prepayment fee equal to 1.50% of the principal amount being prepaid. In addition, we paid a facility charge of approximately $0.1 million upon closing and an additional approximately $0.2 million of facility charges in November 2023 due to the availability of the second tranche of Term Loans.The Loan Agreement also provides for an end of term fee in an amount equal to the greater of approximately (i) $1.5 million (which is 6.05% of the maximum amount of the first tranche of loans) or (ii) 6.05% of the aggregate principal amount of loan advances actually made under the Loan Agreement, which fee is due and payable on the earliest to occur of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date we prepay the outstanding loans in full, and (iii) the date that the secured obligations become due and payable. Our obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets other than our intellectual property, but including proceeds from the sale, licensing or other disposition of our intellectual property. As part of the Loan Agreement, we are subject to certain negative covenants, which, among other things, prohibit us from selling, transferring, assigning, mortgaging, pledging, leasing, granting a security interest in or otherwise encumbering our intellectual property, subject to limited exceptions.
The Loan Agreement also contains a minimum cash covenant, which commenced on June 1, 2024, requiring us to hold cash in the United States and subject to a first-priority perfected security interest in favor of the Lenders in an amount greater than or equal to (x) 55.0% of the outstanding loan obligations if we have not received FDA approval for ziftomenib, or (y) 35.0% of the outstanding loan obligations if we have received FDA approval for ziftomenib, provided that neither (x) nor (y) will apply at any time our market capitalization is equal to or greater than $1,250.0 million. Additionally, the Loan Agreement contains minimum cash requirements in the event of (i) any Corporate Collaborations (as defined in the Loan Agreement) or (ii) any cash payment in respect of permitted convertible debt subject to the satisfaction of the Redemption Conditions (as defined in the Loan Agreement).
In addition, the Loan Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and customary affirmative and negative covenants, including, among other things, restrictions on indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers, dispositions, prepayment of other indebtedness, and dividends and other distributions, subject to certain exceptions. The Loan Agreement also contains events of default that are customary for financings of this type relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of covenants, material adverse effects, breach of representations and warranties, cross-default to material indebtedness, bankruptcy-related defaults, judgment defaults, breach of the financial covenants described above, and the occurrence of certain change of control events. Following an event of default and any applicable cure period, a default interest rate equal to the then-applicable interest rate plus 5.0% may be applied to the outstanding principal balance, and the Lenders will have the right upon notice to terminate any undrawn commitments and may accelerate all amounts outstanding under the Loan Agreement, in addition to other remedies available to them as our secured creditors. We were in compliance with all covenants of the Loan Agreement as of December 31, 2024.
In addition, in connection with the entry into the Loan Agreement, we issued warrants to certain of the Lenders, or collectively, the Warrants, to purchase up to 26,078 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $14.38 per share, or the Warrant Shares. The Warrants may be exercised through the earlier of (i) the seventh anniversary of November 2, 2022 and (ii) the consummation of certain acquisition transactions involving us, as set forth in the Warrants. The number of Warrant Shares for which the Warrants are exercisable and the associated exercise price are subject to certain customary proportional adjustments for fundamental events, including stock splits and reverse stock splits, as set forth in the Warrants.The initial tranche 1 borrowing of $10.0 million and the warrants issued upon closing to purchase 26,078 shares of our common stock are accounted for as freestanding debt and equity financial instruments, respectively, as they are legally detachable and separately exercisable. In connection with the Loan Agreement, we recognized the initial 26,078 issued warrants at their relative fair value of approximately $0.3 million, and we incurred debt issuance costs of $0.6 million, which were recorded as debt discounts. The fair value of the warrants, debt issuance costs and end of term fee are being amortized and accreted into interest expense using the effective interest rate method over the term of the loan. As of December 31, 2024, none of the Warrants had been exercised.
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The following table summarizes maturities of principal obligation payments under the term loan facility as of December 31, 2024, in thousands:
Years Ending December 31,
Total principal outstanding 10,000
Less: unamortized discounts (477 )
Long-term debt, net $ 9,523
7. License Agreements
The University of Michigan License Agreement
In December 2014, we entered into a license agreement with the Regents of the University of Michigan, or the University of Michigan, which was amended in March 2015, July 2015, September 2016, February 2017, May 2017 and August 2017, under which we received certain license rights for a non-refundable upfront license, annual maintenance fees and payments upon achievement of certain development and sales-based milestones. The licensed asset consists of several compounds, including our development candidate ziftomenib. As between us and the University of Michigan, all future development, regulatory and commercial work on the asset will be completed fully and at our sole expense. The University of Michigan retains the right to use the asset for non-commercial research, internal and/or educational purposes, with the right to grant the same limited rights to other non-profit research institutions.
The agreement will terminate upon the last-to-expire patent rights, or may be terminated by us at any time with 90 days written notice of termination or terminated by the University of Michigan upon a bankruptcy by us, payment failure by us that is not cured within 30 days or a material breach of the agreement by us that is not cured within 60 days.
Janssen License Agreement
In December 2014, we entered into a license agreement with Janssen which was amended in June 2016, under which we received certain intellectual property rights related to tipifarnib in all indications other than virology for a non-refundable $1.0 million upfront license fee and payments upon achievement of certain development and sales-based milestones. Tipifarnib is a clinical-stage compound and all ongoing development, regulatory and commercial work will be completed fully and at our sole expense.
The agreement will terminate upon the last-to-expire patent rights or last-to-expire royalty term, or may be terminated by us with 180 days written notice of termination. Either party may terminate the agreement in the event of material breach of the agreement that is not cured within 45 days. Janssen may also terminate the agreement due to our lack of diligence that is not cured within a three-month period.
Payments under License Agreements
Collectively, our license agreements provide for specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments up to a total of $80.2 million payable upon occurrence of each stated event, of which $0.5 million relates to the initiation of certain development activities, $28.9 million relates to the achievement of specified regulatory approvals for the first indication and up to $50.8 million relates to the achievement of specified levels of product sales. Additional payments will be due for each subsequent indication if specified regulatory approvals are achieved. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred sublicense fees of $4.8 million. As of December 31, 2024, we have paid milestone payments totaling $0.3 million and incurred sublicense fees totaling $4.8 million. Furthermore, if all the programs are successfully commercialized, we will be required to pay tiered royalties on annual net product sales ranging from the low single digits to the low teens, depending on the volume of sales and the respective agreement.
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8. Kyowa Kirin Collaboration and License Agreement
On November 20, 2024, we and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. and Kyowa Kirin, Inc., or together Kyowa Kirin, entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement, or the Kyowa Agreement, to develop and commercialize globally our product candidate, ziftomenib, a potent, selective oral menin inhibitor, for the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and other hematologic malignancies, and if Kyowa Kirin exercises the Field Expansion Option (as defined below), the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of all cancers, or collectively the Field.
We will lead all development, manufacturing, and regulatory activities and commercial strategy development for ziftomenib in the United States based on a development plan and budget mutually agreed upon with Kyowa Kirin and under the oversight of a joint steering committee and applicable subcommittees. In accordance with the development plan, we plan to conduct multiple phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials of ziftomenib, as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies, in AML and other hematologic malignancies over the next several years. The activities required by the development plan will be allocated to and conducted by both us and Kyowa Kirin. We will fund the specified development activities set forth in the initial development plan that are planned to be conducted prior to the end of 2028, and we will share with Kyowa Kirin equally (50/50) all development costs for all other development activities in the United States that are to be included in the development plan, including clinical trials and post-marketing commitments that are reasonably necessary for obtaining or maintaining regulatory approval of ziftomenib in the United States, or Development Services. In addition, we will conduct certain specified development and manufacturing activities outside the scope of the development plan at our sole cost and expense. Following regulatory approval, we will commercialize and record sales of ziftomenib in the United States, and Kyowa Kirin will have the right and responsibility to co-promote ziftomenib for up to a certain percentage of the details in the United States. In collaboration with Kyowa Kirin, we will perform commercialization activities, or Commercialization Services, in accordance with a co-created U.S. territory commercialization plan and budget. The parties will share equally all costs and expenses for, and profits or losses from, the commercialization of ziftomenib in the United States.
Kyowa Kirin will lead development, regulatory activities and commercialization for ziftomenib outside of the United States and will be solely responsible for the conduct and funding of such activities that are specific to the exploitation of ziftomenib outside of the United States. Following regulatory approval, Kyowa Kirin will be solely responsible for the conduct and funding of commercialization of ziftomenib outside of the United States (including recording sales). Kyowa Kirin is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the development of ziftomenib outside the United States in accordance with an ex-U.S. territory development plan, to achieve the development milestone events outside the United States that entitle us to receive corresponding development milestone payments, and to commercialize ziftomenib in each country outside of the United States where it has received regulatory approval. Development and commercialization activities outside of the United States will also be under the oversight of the joint steering committee and applicable subcommittees.
We will be responsible for the global manufacture and supply of ziftomenib necessary for the development and commercialization activities described above, pursuant to the terms of a supply agreement to be negotiated by the parties. Kyowa Kirin has the right to request that we conduct a manufacturing technology transfer and to take over the responsibility of commercial supply of ziftomenib outside the United States.
We granted Kyowa Kirin an exclusive license to enable or allow Kyowa Kirin to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ziftomenib within the Field outside of the United States, or the License. We also granted Kyowa Kirin rights to fulfill their responsibilities related to the Development Services and Commercialization Services as part of the joint development and commercialization of ziftomenib in the United States. In addition, Kyowa Kirin has an option to expand the licensed Field to include the development and commercialization of ziftomenib, or Field Expansion Option, which option can be exercised within a specified time period after receipt of clinical data from the planned proof-of-concept study evaluating ziftomenib and imatinib in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST, who are not successfully treated with imatinib. After Kyowa Kirin’s exercise of the Field Expansion Option, the Field would include the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of all cancers, including GIST and other solid tumors.
In exchange for the License and Kyowa Kirin’s rights to participate in the development and commercialization activities described above, we received an upfront payment of $330.0 million. We are eligible to receive, if Kyowa Kirin exercises the Field Expansion Option, up to an aggregate of $1.161 billion in development, regulatory, commercial milestone and additional upfront payments for the existing Field and the expanded Field, totaling up to $1.491 billion in upfront and milestone payments in the aggregate. We are also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalties on sales of ziftomenib outside of the United States on a country-by-country basis until the latest of expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim of our patent rights licensed to Kyowa Kirin in such country, expiration of the last-to-expire regulatory exclusivity in such country and ten years after first commercial sale in such country, or the Royalty Term.
F-19
The Kyowa Agreement will remain in effect in the United States until the latest of expiration of all valid claims of our patent rights licensed to Kyowa Kirin, expiration of the last-to-expire regulatory exclusivity or ten years after first commercial sale. The Kyowa Agreement will remain in effect outside the United States until the expiration of the last-to-expire Royalty Term. Either party may terminate the Kyowa Agreement for uncured material breach by or insolvency of the other party. Kyowa Kirin may terminate the Agreement for convenience upon twelve months’ prior written notice. In addition, Kyowa Kirin has the right to terminate the Kyowa Agreement with a shorter specified notice period upon the occurrence of a material adverse regulatory event or certain other specified events. We may terminate the Kyowa Agreement if Kyowa Kirin or any of its affiliates or sublicensees challenges the validity or enforceability of any of the patent rights licensed to Kyowa Kirin by us.
Based on our analysis of the key terms and activities required by the Kyowa Agreement summarized above and given the involvement by both parties, we assessed the criteria under Topic 808 and concluded that both parties participate in a joint operating activity, are active participants, and are exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activities. Therefore, the Kyowa Agreement was determined to be within the scope of Topic 808.
We evaluated each of the required promised goods and services and determined the Kyowa Agreement contains multiple units of account comprised of the License, Development Services related to monotherapy and in combination with other therapies, and Commercialization Services. The License is a unit of account under the scope of Topic 606 as it is reflective of a typical vendor-customer relationship, while the Development Services and Commercialization Services are under the scope of Topic 808 due to the joint participation in the services being performed and these services not being reflective of a typical vendor-customer relationship. However, we determined that Topic 606 was the most appropriate accounting model to apply by analogy to the recognition and measurement of these units of account.
We determined the upfront fixed payment amount of $330.0 million should be included in the transaction price. All variable consideration related to milestones has been fully constrained due to development, regulatory, or other factors that caused us to determine that it was not probable that a significant reversal of revenue would not occur at the contract inception date and as of December 31, 2024. We will recognize any royalties or sales-based milestones related to the License granted to Kyowa Kirin when the associated sales occur, and relevant sales-based thresholds are met. As of December 31, 2024, no royalties or sales-based milestones have been recognized.
We allocated the transaction price comprised of the upfront fixed payment to each unit of account based on their relative stand-alone selling price. Variable consideration that relates specifically to our efforts to satisfy specific performance obligations, such as certain milestones, is allocated entirely to those performance obligations. Other components of variable consideration that do not relate specifically to our efforts to satisfy specific performance obligations are allocated based on the relative stand-alone selling price. We are entitled to cost-sharing reimbursements from Kyowa Kirin for certain development and commercialization activities we perform and determined that such reimbursements are specifically related to our efforts to satisfy the respective performance obligations while satisfying the overall allocation objective required by Topic 606.
We recognized revenue allocated to the License at a point in time and upon transfer in November 2024, resulting in $49.8 million of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The consideration allocated to the Development Services for monotherapy and in combination with other therapies was $12.6 million and $90.2 million, respectively, and to Commercialization Services was $177.4 million. The allocated consideration is being recognized over time using a cost-to-cost measure of progress. We estimated the total cost expected to perform the required activities and measured the progress towards completion of each of these obligations at the reporting period. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recognized $0.8 million of revenue from Development Services for monotherapy, $0.5 million of revenue from Development Services in combination with other therapies, and $0.7 million of revenue from Commercialization Services. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we also recognized $2.1 million of revenue from cost-share reimbursements owed to us by Kyowa Kirin, and the related receivable was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, the contract liability amount of $278.2 million represents the aggregate transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied under the Kyowa Agreement, $24.3 million was classified as current contract liabilities, which represents the portion of the Development Services and Commercialization Services expected to be provided over the next year, and the remaining contract liability balance of $253.9 million was classified as long-term contract liabilities.
F-20
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Leases
We currently have three operating leases for administrative and research and development office and lab space in San Diego, California and Boston, Massachusetts that expire between August 2025 and July 2031. Under the terms of the operating leases, we are required to pay our proportionate share of property taxes, insurance and normal maintenance costs. Two of our leases include renewal options for an additional five years, which were not included in the determination of the ROU asset or lease liability as the renewal was not reasonably certain at the inception of the lease. Our San Diego corporate headquarters lease and our San Diego lease for lab and office space provided for $1.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in reimbursements for allowable tenant improvements, which effectively reduced the total lease payments owed.
In August 2023, we entered into an amendment to the lease agreement for office space in Boston, Massachusetts, or the Amendment, pursuant to which the term of the lease was extended by seven years, or the Extended Term, such that the lease will now expire in July 2031. The minimum rent payable during the Extended Term was approximately $0.1 million per month for the first year, which amount increases by 2% per year over the Extended Term. The Amendment provided (i) a rent credit in the amount of approximately $0.5 million which was applied as a credit against the rent payments due for the months of August 2023 through July 2024, inclusive, and (ii) a tenant improvement allowance in an amount not to exceed approximately $0.8 million, in each case subject to certain conditions. We elected to apply the tenant improvement allowance as a credit against the rent payments due for the months of August 2024 through March 2025, inclusive. Prior to the Amendment, we were required to maintain a standby letter of credit of approximately $0.2 million during the term of the lease. Under the terms of the Amendment, we are required to maintain a cash deposit of approximately $0.2 million during the term of the lease which was included within other long-term assets in the balance sheets.
Maturities of our lease liabilities as of December 31, 2024 are as follows, in thousands:
Years Ending December 31,
Total lease payments 9,816
Less: imputed interest (2,745 )
Total operating lease liabilities $ 7,071
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the weighted-average discount rate was 11.4% and 10.4%, respectively, and the weighted-average remaining lease term was 5.9 years and 6.2 years, respectively.
Total cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities, net of tenant improvement reimbursements, was $1.5 million, $2.1 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Operating lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities were $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. There were no operating lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for operating liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2022.
Total operating lease expense and rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $1.9 million, $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
F-21
Litigation
From time to time, we may be involved in disputes, including litigation, relating to claims arising out of operations in the normal course of our business. Any of these claims could subject us to costly legal expenses and, while we generally believe that we have adequate insurance to cover many different types of liabilities, our insurance carriers may deny coverage or our policy limits may be inadequate to fully satisfy any damage awards or settlements. If this were to happen, the payment of any such awards could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. Additionally, any such claims, whether or not successful, could damage our reputation and business. We currently are not a party to any legal proceedings, the adverse outcome of which, in management’s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial position.
10. Stockholders’ Equity
In January 2024, we completed a private placement in which we sold to certain institutional accredited investors an aggregate of 1,376,813 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $17.25 per share and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 7,318,886 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $17.2499 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $17.25 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share), or the Private Placement. Net proceeds from the Private Placement, after deducting expenses, were approximately $145.8 million. The common stock and pre-funded warrants met the accounting standards guidance for equity classification, and proceeds were allocated between common stock and pre-funded warrant based on their relative fair value. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 559,424 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 6,759,462 remained outstanding.
In November 2023, we entered into a Sales Agreement with Leerink Partners LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or the ATM Facility, under which we may offer and sell, from time to time, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million. We have not sold any shares of our common stock under the ATM Facility.
In June 2023, we completed a public offering in which we sold an aggregate of 5,660,871 shares of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share as well as pre-funded warrants to purchase 3,034,782 shares of our common stock at a price of $11.4999 per pre-funded warrant (representing the $11.50 per share purchase price less the exercise price of $0.0001 per warrant share). Net proceeds from the public offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $93.6 million. As of December 31, 2024, pre-funded warrants to purchase 860,869 of such shares of common stock had been exercised and 2,173,913 remained outstanding. On January 16, 2025, the remaining 2,173,913 pre-funded warrants were exercised.
In November 2022, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, or BMS, pursuant to which BMS purchased an aggregate of 1,370,171 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of approximately $18.25 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million.
In November 2022, in connection with the Loan Agreement, we issued warrants to certain of the Lenders to purchase up to 26,078 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $14.38 per share, which remained outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
In February 2022, we entered into a Sales Agreement with SVB Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or the 2022 Sales Agreement, under which we could offer and sell, from time to time, at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150.0 million. We did not sell any shares of our common stock under the 2022 Sales Agreement. In November 2023, we terminated the 2022 Sales Agreement.
In connection with a loan and security agreement with Oxford Finance LLC and Silicon Valley Bank in 2016, we issued a warrant to Oxford Finance LLC to purchase up to 33,988 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $3.31 per share, which remained outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
F-22
11. Share-Based Compensation
Equity Incentive Plan
In March 2015, our board of directors adopted our Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, which was most recently amended in June 2024, or 2014 Plan, to, among other things, increase the shares available for future grant by 5,500,000 shares. The 2014 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance-based stock awards and other forms of equity compensation to our employees, consultants and members of our board of directors. We issue shares of common stock upon the exercise of options and vesting of restricted stock unit awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards with the source of those shares of common stock being newly issued shares. As of December 31, 2024, 29,827,686 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance and 5,725,119 shares of common stock were available for grant under the 2014 Plan.
Inducement Option Plan
In December 2023, our board of directors adopted the 2023 Inducement Option Plan, which was most recently amended in December 2024, or Inducement Plan, to increase the shares available for future grant by 1,900,000 shares. The terms and conditions of the Inducement Plan are substantially similar to our 2014 Plan. As of December 31, 2024, 2,500,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance and 1,948,600 shares of common stock were available for grant under the Inducement Plan.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In March 2015, our board of directors adopted the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP. The ESPP permits eligible employees to purchase our common stock at a discount through payroll deductions during defined six-month offering periods. Eligible employees may elect to withhold up to 15% of their base earnings to purchase shares of our common stock at a price equal to 85% of the fair market value on the first day of the offering period or the purchase date, whichever is lower. As of December 31, 2024, we had issued345,817 shares of common stock, and558,608 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under the ESPP. Share-based compensation expense related to the ESPP for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $0.5 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
Stock Options, Restricted Stock Unit Awards and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
Stock Options
The exercise price of all stock options granted was equal to the fair market value of such stock on the date of grant. Stock options generally vest over a four-year period. The maximum contractual term for all stock options is ten years. The following is a summary of stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2024, in thousands (except per share and years data):
The aggregate intrinsic value in the above table is calculated as the difference between the closing price of our common stock as of December 31, 2024 of $8.71 per share and the exercise price of stock options that had strike prices below the closing price.
F-23
The following summarizes certain information regarding stock options, in thousands (except per share data):
Years Ended December 31,
Cash received from options exercised $ 7,655 $ 534 $ 3,756
Intrinsic value of options exercised $ 4,722 $ 280 $ 701
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share $ 10.05 $ 6.99 $ 8.90
As of December 31, 2024, unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to stock options was $44.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of approximately2.5 years.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
Restricted stock unit awards, or RSUs, are share awards that, upon vesting, will deliver to the holder shares of our common stock. The RSUs generally vest annually over four years.
The following is a summary of RSU activity for the year ended December 31, 2024, in thousands (except per share and years data):
As of December 31, 2024, unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to RSUs was $11.2 million, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of approximately 2.5 years.
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards
In May 2023, upon approval by our stockholders of our amended 2014 Plan, we granted an aggregate of 1,313,100 performance-based restricted stock units, or PSUs, to certain executives. The PSUs vest in six equal tranches upon the achievement of certain milestones and service conditions.
As of December 31, 2024, we determined that the vesting of the PSUs was not probable and therefore have not included them in share-based compensation expense or unrecognized estimated compensation expense.
Share-Based Compensation Expense
Total share-based compensation expense included on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss was comprised of the following, in thousands:
Years Ended December 31,
F-24
We estimated the fair value of stock options and ESPP stock purchase rights using the Black-Scholes model based on the date of grant with the following assumptions:
Options ESPP
Years Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,
Expected dividend yield — — — — — —
Expected term. The expected term of stock options represents the period that the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. We determined our expected term assumption using our own historical exercise experience. The expected term of the ESPP stock purchase rights is six months, which represents the length of each purchase period.
Expected volatility. Expected volatility for stock options and ESPP stock purchase rights was calculated based on our historical volatility.
Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rates are based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the award being valued.
Expected dividend yield. The expected dividend yield of zero reflects that we have not paid cash dividends since inception and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
12. Related Party Transactions
Our president and chief executive officer is also the sole managing member and a significant stockholder of Araxes Pharma LLC, or Araxes. We had a management services agreement with Araxes pursuant to which Araxes paid us monthly fees for management services calculated based on costs incurred by us in the provision of services to Araxes, plus a reasonable mark-up. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we recorded management fee income of approximately $0.1 million each year, which is included in interest and other income, net on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In addition, the agreement allowed for Araxes to reimburse us an amount equal to the number of full-time equivalents performing research and development services for Araxes, plus actual expenses as reasonably incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we did not record any reimbursements for research and development expenses provided to Araxes. The management services agreement with Araxes was terminated on December 31, 2024.
13. Employee Benefit Plan
We have a defined contribution 401(k) plan for all employees. Under the terms of the plan, employees may make voluntary contributions as a percentage or defined amount of compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we provided a safe harbor contribution of 5%, 4% and 4%, respectively, of the employee’s compensation, not to exceed eligible limits. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we incurred approximately $1.9 million, $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in expenses related to the safe harbor contribution.
F-25
14. Income Taxes
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded current Federal and state tax provisions of $1.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 we did not record a provision for income taxes due to a full valuation against our deferred taxes.
Our effective income tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate of 21% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, due to the following, in thousands:
Years Ended December 31,
State income tax, net of federal benefit (2,826 ) (11,027 ) (9,721 )
Income tax expense $ 2,018 $ — $ —
Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are shown below, in thousands:
December 31,
Deferred tax assets
Contract liabilities 66,821 —
Research and development tax credit carryforwards 41,831 31,816
Other comprehensive income — 373
Deferred tax liabilities
Other comprehensive income (184 ) —
Total deferred tax liabilities (1,657 ) (2,198 )
Net deferred tax assets $ — $ —
As of December 31, 2024, we had federal net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards of $252.8 million, that can be carried forward indefinitely. As of December 31, 2024, we had state loss carryforwards of $641.0 million, which will begin to expire in 2030, unless previously utilized. We also have federal and state research and development credit carryforwards of $50.0 million and $7.9 million, respectively. The federal research and development credits will begin to expire in 2040, unless previously utilized. Of the state research and development credits, $2.9 million will carryforward indefinitely and approximately $5.1 million will begin to expire in 2033, unless previously utilized.
We file tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our tax years since inception are subject to examination by the federal and state jurisdictions due to the carryforward of unutilized net operating losses and research and development credits. We have not been, nor are we currently, under examination by the federal or any state tax authority.
F-26
Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use existing deferred tax assets. Based on the weight of the evidence, including our limited existence and losses since inception, management has determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized and therefore has recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred taxes. The valuation allowance increased by $54.7 million from December 31, 2023.
Pursuant to Sections 382 and 383 of the IRC annual use of our NOL or research and development credit carryforwards may be limited in the event a cumulative change in ownership of more than 50% occurs within a three-year period. We completed a study to assess whether an ownership change, as defined by IRC Section 382, has occurred from our formation through December 31, 2024. We determined that an ownership change occurred in 2015, but concluded the annual utilization limitation would be sufficient to utilize our pre-ownership change NOLs and research and development credits prior to expiration. Therefore we do not expect any material limitations to the utilization of NOL’s or research and development credits. Future ownership changes may limit our ability to utilize remaining tax attributes. Any carryforwards that will expire prior to utilization as a result of such additional limitations will be removed from deferred tax assets, with a corresponding reduction of the valuation allowance.
In accordance with authoritative guidance, the impact of an uncertain income tax position is recognized at the largest amount that is “more likely than not” to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.
The following table summarizes the activity related to our unrecognized tax benefits, in thousands:
December 31,