ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this Annual Report contain forward-looking statements based upon our current plans and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and beliefs. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. You should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section of this Annual Report to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Also see the section titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future. For convenience of presentation, some of the numbers have been rounded in the text below.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company on a mission to revolutionize the current treatment paradigm for cystic fibrosis (“CF”) by developing novel medicines that normalize the function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”) protein to deliver clinically meaningful benefit to people with CF. Our goal is to deliver differentiated medicines for people with CF that can restore their CFTR function to as close to normal as possible by directly stabilizing CFTR’s nucleotide binding domain 1 (“NBD1”). We believe stabilizing NBD1 is central to unlocking dramatic improvements in clinical outcomes and quality of life for people with CF. We are also advancing a portfolio of complementary CFTR modulator candidates designed to work synergistically with our NBD1 stabilizers to improve CFTR function, as seen in preclinical models.
We believe our robust pipeline provides multiple potential pathways to achieve our mission, either through development of an NBD1 stabilizer and a complementary modulator in combination with each other to produce a proprietary dual combination, or an NBD1 stabilizer administered in combination with the standard of care for CF. While we have prioritized development of a proprietary dual combination, we believe both development pathways offer attractive commercial opportunities.
In June 2025, we announced positive topline data from our two randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating SION-719 and SION-451, our lead NBD1 stabilizer product candidates, in healthy volunteers, and our plans to advance both compounds to the next phase of clinical development. The trials assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics ("PK") of single and multiple ascending doses of each product candidate, as well as food effect and tablet bioequivalence.
Both SION-719 and SION-451 were generally well tolerated in these trials, with no serious adverse events, treatment emergent adverse events that led to discontinuation of drug, or dose-limiting toxicities observed. The Phase 1 data also supported the use of a tablet formulation in future trials and indicated that both compounds could be dosed in a fed or fasted state. Both NBD1 stabilizers met target exposure thresholds. Based on the Phase 1 data and our preclinical CF human bronchial epithelial ("CFHBE") model, we believe our NBD1 stabilizers have the potential to provide clinically meaningful benefit to people with CF when SION-719 is administered as an add-on to the standard of care or when SION-451 is used in proprietary dual combinations with one of our complementary modulators.
In October 2025, we announced the initiation of a Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in CF patients evaluating SION-719 as an add-on to the standard of care. The Phase 2a trial, called PreciSION CF, is
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designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and PK of SION-719 when administered with the standard of care for CF, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Trikafta, and to assess change in CFTR function as measured by sweat chloride levels. Additionally, in August 2025, we announced the initiation of a Phase 1 dual combination trial in healthy volunteers evaluating SION-451 in dual combinations with each of SION-2222 and SION-109, two of our complementary CFTR modulators. The trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and PK of varying doses of the dual combinations and will inform selection of a dual combination for further development. Topline data from both trials are anticipated in mid-2026.
Liquidity and Financial Condition
Since our inception, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from private placements of convertible preferred stock and through net proceeds from our IPO. During 2025, we completed our IPO and raised aggregate net proceeds of $199.6 million from the sale of 12,176,467 shares of common stock, which included 1,588,234 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters' full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares. As of December 31, 2025, we have raised aggregate net proceeds of $530.0 million. We have not generated any revenue from product sales or other sources.
Due to our significant research, development and manufacturing expenditures, we have accumulated substantial losses and negative cash flows since our inception, including net losses of $75.3 million and $61.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $256.4 million.
We expect our expenses and operating losses will increase substantially as we:
•continue to advance the clinical development of our current and future product candidates;
•continue to advance our research activities and seek to discover and develop additional product candidates to expand our pipeline;
•pursue regulatory approvals for any current or future product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials;
•continue to utilize third parties to manufacture our product candidates;
•continue to develop, maintain, expand, enforce, defend and protect our intellectual property portfolio (including intellectual property obtained through license agreements) and provide reimbursement of third-party expenses related to our patent portfolio;
•attract, hire and retain additional qualified personnel;
•add operational, financial and management information systems;
•undertake pre-commercial activities, and scale-up external commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities, to commercialize any current or future product candidates which may obtain regulatory approval;
•ultimately establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any current or future product candidates which may receive regulatory approval; and
•incur additional audit, legal, regulatory, tax and other expenses associated with being a public company.
In addition, we have several clinical development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, as well as royalty payment obligations under our licensing arrangements. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year, depending on the timing of our ongoing and planned clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities.
We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. We will not generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete clinical development and obtain regulatory approval for our current or any future product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years or may never occur. As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, potentially including collaborations, licenses or other strategic
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arrangements. See the section titled “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as, and when, needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates, or grant rights to develop and market our product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and market such product candidates ourselves.
Due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or the timing of when, or if, we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.
As of December 31, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $310.3 million. Based upon our current operating plans, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, will be sufficient to fund our operations into 2028. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect. In addition, we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect. See the sections titled “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Condition and Need for Additional Capital” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
License and Collaboration Agreements
Below is a summary of the key terms for certain of our license and collaboration agreements. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see the section titled “Business—License and Collaboration Agreements.”
Sanofi License Agreement
In December 2019, we entered into a license agreement, which has been subsequently amended (as amended, the “Sanofi License Agreement”), with Sanofi, pursuant to which we have been granted an exclusive, worldwide, sublicensable, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize products using the licensed compounds and know-how for CFTR modulator therapies. The licensed and derived rights are being utilized in SION-719, SION-109 and SION-451.
As initial consideration for the license, we paid a non-refundable, upfront payment of $1.5 million, as well as a reimbursement of $0.3 million for Sanofi’s research and development expenses, which was previously recorded as research and development expense because the acquired license represented in-process research and development with no alternative future use. In addition, we are required to pay Sanofi a total of up to $40.0 million upon achievement of certain late-stage developmental and commercial milestones. As of December 31, 2025, no milestones were achieved. We are also required to pay royalties to Sanofi in the low single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary reductions and offsets. Such royalty payments shall be reduced for products covered by derived patents.
CFF Payment Agreement
In December 2019, we entered into a payment agreement (the “CFF Payment Agreement”) with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”), pursuant to which we agreed to provide CFF with compensation in exchange for the grant of, or forbearance from exercising, certain of CFF’s rights existing under the license agreement, by and between CFF (through an assignment by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc.) and Genzyme Corporation, an affiliate of Sanofi (the “CFFT-Genzyme Agreement”). Under the CFF Payment Agreement, we are obligated to compensate CFF in connection with our development and commercialization of licensed products under the Sanofi License Agreement.
As initial consideration for CFF’s grant of, and forbearance from exercising, its rights under the CFFT-Genzyme Agreement, we paid an upfront fee of $0.2 million and issued CFF shares of our preferred stock, valued at $1.0 million, which were previously recorded as research and development expenses. In addition, we agreed to pay CFF a sub-teen double-digit percentage of any amounts paid by us to Sanofi under the Sanofi
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License Agreement, other than milestone, royalty or reimbursement payments. We are required to pay CFF a total of up to $40.0 million upon achievement of certain late-stage developmental and commercial milestones. As of December 31, 2025, no milestones were achieved. We are also required to pay revenue-shares of royalty payments to CFF in the low single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary reductions and offsets. Such milestone and royalty payments shall be reduced for products covered by derived patents. Further, a side letter was executed between us and Sanofi, which clarifies the relationship between us, Sanofi and CFF, under which we are obligated to pay Sanofi 20% of the milestones it would have been obligated to pay CFF, net of the milestone amounts it is obligated to pay under the Sanofi License Agreement.
AbbVie License Agreement
In July 2024, we entered into a license agreement (the “AbbVie License Agreement”) with AbbVie, pursuant to which we have been granted a license to research, develop and commercialize certain CFTR compounds. The licensed rights are directed, among other things, to three clinical-stage CFTR modulator therapies: SION-2222, SION-2851 and SION-3067. The license granted to us under the AbbVie License Agreement is subject to certain preexisting rights held by AbbVie and Galapagos NV (“Galapagos”). In particular, certain of the licensed patents and other intellectual property rights were developed by or on behalf of Galapagos and are sublicensed to us subject to the terms of the second amended and restated collaboration agreement between Galapagos and AbbVie in October 2018 (the “Galapagos License Agreement”), as amended by a side letter between Galapagos and AbbVie in July 2024.
As initial consideration for the license, we paid a non-refundable, upfront payment of $5.0 million and issued shares of our common stock with a fair value of $8.6 million to AbbVie. We determined that the AbbVie License Agreement represented an asset acquisition as it did not meet the definition of the business. We recorded the total initial consideration of $13.6 million as research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2024, because the acquired license represented in-process research and development with no alternative future use. In addition, we are required to pay AbbVie a total of up to $360.0 million upon achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, consisting of up to $70.0 million in late-stage development milestones and up to $290.0 million in commercial milestones. We are also required to pay royalties to AbbVie in the low to mid single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary reductions and offsets.
In addition, we are required to pay AbbVie up to $130.0 million in commercial and sales-based milestone payments, mid to high single-digit royalties on the licensed products or other payments due to Galapagos pursuant to the Galapagos License Agreement, to the extent such payments are triggered by our use of the licensed rights owned by Galapagos under the AbbVie License Agreement. There were no milestones achieved under the AbbVie License Agreement and Galapagos License Agreement as of December 31, 2025.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue. In the future, we may generate revenue from product sales from any approved product, which approval we do not expect to occur for at least the next several years, if ever, as well as collaboration or license agreements we may enter into with respect to our current or future product candidates. We cannot predict if, when or to what extent we will generate revenue as we may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. If we fail to complete preclinical and clinical development of our current or future product candidates or fail to obtain regulatory approval for any that successfully complete clinical trials, our ability to generate future revenues, and our results of operations and financial position would be adversely affected.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of (i) research and development expenses and (ii) general and administrative expenses.
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Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs associated with the preclinical and clinical development of our current and potential future product candidates. In particular, our research and development expenses include:
•personnel-related costs, including salaries, payroll tax, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation for employees engaged in research and development functions;
•the costs to acquire in-process research and development with no alternative future use acquired in an asset acquisition;
•external expenses, including expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations (“CROs”), contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CDMOs”), consultants and our scientific advisors;
•the cost of manufacturing our product candidates, including costs for laboratory supplies, research materials and reagents;
•facility costs, depreciation and other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses; and
•the cost of obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection for our product candidates.
We recognize research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Most of our research and development expenses have been related to identifying and developing our product candidates. Typically, external expenses are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information obtained from (i) internal personnel regarding the services that have been performed on the Company's behalf and estimating the associated cost incurred for those services or (ii) information provided to us by our service providers as of each reporting date. Advance payments that we make for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses, which are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued or prepaid expense balances at the end of any reporting period.
External costs represent a significant portion of our research and development expenses, which we track on a program-by-program basis following the nomination of a product candidate. Our internal research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation expenses and allocated expenses. We do not track our internal research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis as they either relate to early-stage research expenses, such as lab supplies or our personnel expenses, consulting fees or other costs that are deployed across multiple programs.
Product candidates in later stages of development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages resulting from larger and more complex clinical trials, manufacturing scale-up and an increase in research and development headcount to oversee these activities. As a result, management expects that our research and development expenses will increase substantially over the next several years as we potentially advance our product candidates into later-stage development efforts.
Our future development costs may vary significantly based on a variety of factors, including:
•the timing, complexity and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities;
•the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
•the extent to which we in-license or acquire other product candidates and technologies to further develop our pipeline;
•the successful initiation and completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to domestic and foreign regulatory authorities;
•receipt of marketing approvals, if any, from applicable regulatory authorities;
•the development of commercial-scale manufacturing and distribution processes for our current and any future product candidates;
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•our ability to obtain, maintain and protect patent, trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates, both in the U.S. and internationally;
•our ability to successfully recruit and retain additional employees;
•the timing and amount of milestones, royalties or other payments we must make to our licensing partners; and
•the commercialization of our product candidates, if and when approved.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any current or future product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") or another regulatory authority were to delay a planned start of a clinical trial or require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate would be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to slower than expected patient enrollment or other reasons, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development of that product candidate. We do not have control over many of these factors, including certain aspects of clinical development, the regulatory submissions process, potential threats to our intellectual property rights and general political and economic conditions that may negatively impact our business in the future. We may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, and, even if we do, drug commercialization takes several years and millions of dollars in development costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, payroll tax, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation charges for those individuals in executive, legal, finance, human resources, business development, information technology and other administrative functions. Other significant costs include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters, professional fees for auditing, accounting, tax and consulting services. Lastly, corporate overhead expenses such as information technology, insurance, facilities, and depreciation that are not allocated to the Company’s research and development activities are included in general and administrative expenses. We recognize general and administrative expenses in the periods in which they are incurred.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future to support our increased research and development activities, pre-commercial preparation activities for our product candidates and any future product candidates and, if any product candidate receives marketing approval, commercialization activities. These increases will likely include increased costs related to the hiring of additional personnel and fees paid to outside consultants, among other expenses. We also anticipate increased expenses related to audit, accounting, legal and regulatory services associated with public company reporting and compliance, director and officer insurance premiums, investor and public relations costs and other administrative and professional services associated with operating as a public company.
Interest Income
Interest income consists primarily of interest earned and the amortization of discount or premiums on our cash equivalents and marketable securities. Interest income increased in 2025 primarily due to the investment of proceeds from our IPO. We expect interest income to decrease in future periods as our investment balances are reduced through operating activities.
Other Income
Other income consists of sublease income through our subleasing agreement which is further discussed within Note 7, “Leases” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Income Taxes
Since our inception, we have not recorded any income tax benefits for the net losses we have incurred in each period or for our earned research and development tax credits, as we believe, based upon the weight of
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available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all of our net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits will not be realized.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had $148.0 million and $65.6 million of federal net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards, and $155.4 million and $68.2 million of state NOL carryforwards, respectively. The federal NOLs are not subject to expiration and the state NOLs begin to expire in 2045. These loss carryforwards are available to reduce future federal taxable income, if any. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, Change
Operating expenses:
Other income:
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Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, Change
Direct research and development expenses by program:
Unallocated research and development expenses:
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation) 14,668 9,128 5,540
(1)NBD1 and combination development program costs include NBD1 stabilizer activities and development of our proprietary combination therapy.
(2)Complementary modulator program costs include manufacturing expenses for the complementary modulators.
Research and development expenses increased by $3.0 million to $60.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $57.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to:
•direct research and development expenses increased by $10.1 million primarily due to an increase in clinical programs and combination development activities; and
•unallocated research and development expenses decreased by $7.1 million primarily due to IPR&D acquisition costs incurred in connection with our license agreement with AbbVie of $13.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, partially offset by a $5.5 million increase in personnel-related expenses including stock-based compensation, driven by an increase in the size of our workforce to support our clinical pipeline, and a $1.3 million increase in other R&D related costs, primarily driven by the use of third parties.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, Change
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation) $ 18,898 $ 7,842 $ 11,056
General and administrative expenses increased by $15.5 million to $28.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to:
•$11.1 million increase in personnel-related expenses including stock-based compensation, driven by an increase in the size of our workforce; and
•$4.0 million increase in fees related to the use of third parties, including consultants and professional service organizations.
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Interest Income
Interest income increased by $5.1 million to $13.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, primarily driven by an increased investment in debt securities due to the proceeds received from the initial public offering.
Other Income
Other income was $0.4 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, and 2024, respectively, due to sublease income in connection with our subleasing agreement.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since our inception, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we advance the clinical development of our product candidates and any future product candidates. As such, we expect our research and development and general and administrative costs will continue to increase significantly, including the costs associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional equity or debt financings or strategic agreements.
As of December 31, 2025, we had $310.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash flow activity (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Net cash used in operating activities $ (66,297) $ (52,787)
Operating Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2025, net cash used in operating activities was $66.3 million primarily due to our net loss of $75.3 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $2.7 million, partially offset by $11.6 million of non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation, depreciation, non-cash operating lease expense and amortization of discounts on marketable securities.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash used in operating activities was $52.8 million primarily due to our net loss of $61.7 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.1 million, partially offset by $12.0 million of non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation, depreciation, non-cash operating lease expense and amortization of discounts on marketable securities.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $118.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2025, which was primarily driven by purchases of marketable securities of $325.0 million and purchases of property and equipment of $0.4 million, partially offset by maturities of marketable securities of $206.7 million.
Net cash used in investing activities was $126.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, which was primarily driven by purchases of marketable securities for $182.8 million, partially offset by maturities of marketable securities of $56.0 million.
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Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $205.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2025, primarily due to net proceeds of $202.1 million received when the Company closed its IPO plus exercise proceeds totaling $3.6 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $179.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, during which time the Company closed its Series C Financing.
Future Funding Requirements
As of December 31, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $310.3 million. Based upon our current operating plans, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our operations into 2028. However, our forecast for the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary materially. Additionally, conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress and expenses in these studies and trials is uncertain. We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future.
Our future funding requirements will depend largely on:
•the type, number, scope, progress, expansions, results, costs and timing of, discovery, preclinical studies and clinical trials of our current and future product candidates;
•the costs and timing of manufacturing for our current and future product candidates and commercial manufacturing;
•the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our current and future product candidates;
•the timing and amount of milestones, royalties, or other payments we may be required to make to third parties, including Sanofi, CFF and AbbVie, and the terms and timing of establishing and maintaining any other similar arrangements we may enter in the future;
•the legal costs of obtaining, maintaining and enforcing our patents and other intellectual property rights;
•our efforts to enhance operational systems and hire additional personnel to satisfy our obligations as a public company;
•the costs associated with hiring additional personnel and consultants as our clinical and pre-commercial activities increase;
•the costs and timing of establishing or securing sales and marketing capabilities if any current or future product candidate is approved;
•our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share and revenue for any approved products;
•the financial terms of any such agreement that we may enter into, including if we in-license or acquire additional product candidates or intellectual property; and
•costs to add additional operational, financial, clinical, quality and management information systems.
We have no committed sources of capital. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue to support our cost structure, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, potentially including collaborations, licenses or other strategic arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity 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 existing common stockholders. In addition, debt financing and equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through a strategic agreement, we may have to grant rights to develop and market our current and future product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and market such product candidates ourselves. Our failure to raise capital or enter
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into such other arrangements when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies.
If we are unable to raise additional funds, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Research and Development and Manufacturing Agreements
We enter into contracts in the ordinary course of business with CROs, CDMOs and other vendors to assist in the research and development activities and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination at any time upon a certain amount of prior notice.
Leases
In May 2022, we executed a non-cancelable operating lease in Waltham, Massachusetts (the “Waltham Lease”) to rent out 24,051 square feet of laboratory and office space and relocated our headquarters to Waltham in January 2023. Total expected cash payments in connection with the Waltham Lease will be $9.7 million over the term of the agreement ending in 2030. This excludes our share of facility operating expenses, real-estate taxes and other costs that are reimbursable to the landlord under the lease. For additional information regarding the lease obligations see Note 7, “Leases” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
License Agreements
Our agreements with certain third parties to license intellectual property include potential milestone fees, sublicense fees and royalty fees. The milestone fees are dependent upon the development of products using the intellectual property licensed under the arrangements and contingent upon the achievement of development or regulatory approval milestones, as well as commercial milestones. These potential obligations are contingent upon the occurrence of future events and the timing and likelihood of such potential obligations are not known with certainty. For further information regarding these agreements, please see “Business—Licenses and Collaboration Agreements.”
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report, we believe that our critical accounting estimates are as follows.
Research and Development Expenses and Accruals
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued research and development expenses as of each balance sheet date. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. This process involves reviewing open contracts, communicating with internal personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the
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service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with our service providers and make adjustments, if necessary. The majority of our service providers invoice in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. The financial terms of agreements with these service providers are subject to negotiation, vary from contract-to-contract and may result in uneven payment flows. In circumstances where amounts have been paid in excess of costs incurred, we record a prepaid expense.
Contingent developmental and regulatory milestone payments will be recognized when the milestone is achieved, and commercial milestones, such as sales-based milestone payments, and royalties will be recognized when the underlying sale(s) occur.
Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts incurred, if our estimates of the status and timing of services performed differ from the actual status and timing of services performed, it could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. To date, there have been no material differences between our estimates of such expenses and the amounts incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
We measure all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to employees, directors and non-employees based on their fair value on the date of the grant. We recognize compensation expense for awards to employees and directors over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. Compensation expense for awards to non-employees with service-based vesting conditions is recognized in the same manner as if we had paid cash in exchange for the goods or services, which is generally over the vesting period of the award. Our stock-based payments include stock options and grants of restricted common stock awards. For stock-based awards with service-based vesting conditions, we recognize compensation expense using the straight-line method. The fair value of each restricted common stock award is estimated on the date of grant based on the fair value of our common stock on that same date. The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, the expected term of the option, the risk-free interest rate for a period that approximates the expected term of the option and our expected dividend yield. Changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value and ultimately how much stock-based compensation expense is recognized. These inputs are subjective and generally require judgment to develop. See Note 12, “Stock-based Compensation” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report for information concerning certain of the specific assumptions we used in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the estimated fair value of our stock options granted for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. For awards to non-employees, the expected term of the option is equal to the contractual term of the non-employees’ service agreement.
Determination of Fair Value of Common Stock Valuations
Prior to the completion of our IPO, there was no public market for our common stock. As a result, the estimated fair value of our common stock was determined by our board of directors as of the date of each option grant with input from management, considering our most recently available third-party valuations of common stock, and our board of directors’ assessment of additional objective and subjective factors that it believed were relevant and which may have changed from the date of the most recent valuation through the date of the grant. These third-party valuations were performed in accordance with the guidance outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, including the option pricing method and the probability-weighted expected return method. These methodologies required the use of significant management judgment and assumptions.
Since completion of our IPO in February 2025, the fair value of our common stock has been determined based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of equity grant.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
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Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period afforded by the JOBS Act for the implementation of new or revised accounting standards. We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards and as a result of this election, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We may take advantage of these exemptions up until the time that we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC, which means, among other things, the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until for so long as either (i) our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a "smaller reporting company," as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and pursuant to Item 305 of Regulation S-K we are not required to provide quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
As a "smaller reporting company," as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and pursuant to Item 305 of Regulation S-K we are not required to provide quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 34) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Sionna Therapeutics, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sionna Therapeutics, Inc., and subsidiary (the "Company") as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for the years then ended, 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 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 2, 2026
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
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SIONNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Assets
Current assets:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,537 3,455
Operating lease right-of-use asset 6,926 7,832
Liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
Current liabilities:
Operating lease liability, current 1,269 1,072
Other current liabilities 6 —
Operating lease liability, noncurrent 7,408 8,677
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Total convertible preferred stock — 330,368
Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Accumulated other comprehensive income 540 368
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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SIONNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Operating expenses:
Other income:
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (1.88) $ (15.99)
Comprehensive loss:
Unrealized gain on marketable securities 172 368
Total other comprehensive gain 172 368
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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SIONNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(in thousands, except share amounts)
Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Common Stock
Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount
Exercise of common stock options — — — — — — — — 71,264 1 140 — — 141
Vesting of restricted common stock awards — — — — — — — — 186,191 — — — — —
Stock-based compensation expense — — — — — — — — — — 3,708 — — 3,708
Unrealized gain on marketable debt securities — — — — — — — — — — — 368 — 368
Vesting of restricted common stock awards — — — — — — — — 75,958 — — — — —
Stock-based compensation expense — — — — — — — — — — 12,066 — — 12,066
Unrealized gain on marketable debt securities — — — — — — — — — — — 172 — 172
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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SIONNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Non-cash operating lease expense 1,962 1,962
Amortization of discount on marketable securities (3,052) (3,001)
Non-cash expense related to IPR&D acquisition — 8,639
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (2,082) (2,760)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 1,975 1,080
Operating lease liability (2,128) (1,897)
Other assets — 35
Net cash used in operating activities (66,297) (52,787)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment (377) (27)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of deferred offering costs — (2,502)
Exercise of common stock options 3,639 141
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 38,750 39,483
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 59,414 $ 38,750
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Offering costs transferred to additional paid in capital 4,265 —
Deferred offering costs in accrued expenses — 492
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $ 59,414 $ 38,750
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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SIONNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Nature of the Business
Organization
Sionna Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), formerly known as Sling Therapeutics, Inc., was incorporated in Delaware in August 2019 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Company is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company on a mission to revolutionize the current treatment paradigm for cystic fibrosis (“CF”) patients by developing novel medicines that normalize the function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (“CFTR”) protein to deliver clinically meaningful benefit to CF patients.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company is subject to a number of risks common to other companies in the biotechnology industry, including but not limited to, development by competitors of new technological innovations, risks of failure of preclinical studies and clinical trials, risks related to development and manufacturing of product candidates, obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates, competition from substitute products, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of its product candidates, protection of proprietary technology, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract and retain qualified employees, reliance on third party organizations, compliance with government regulations, and the need to obtain additional financing. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts will require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales.
Initial Public Offering
In February 2025, the Company completed its initial public offering ("IPO"), in which the Company sold an aggregate of 10,588,233 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $18.00 per share and sold an additional 1,588,234 shares of its common stock to the underwriters of the IPO pursuant to the full exercise of their option to purchase additional shares, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $199.6 million, after deducting underwriter discounts, commissions and other offering expenses. Immediately prior to the closing of the IPO, the Company's outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 27,149,206 shares of common stock. Following the closing of the IPO, no shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock were outstanding.
In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Company's certificate of incorporation was amended and restated to authorize 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The Company has incurred annual net operating losses and has generated negative operating cash flows in every year since inception. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $256.4 million. The Company expects its operating losses to continue into the foreseeable future as it continues to pursue its research and development efforts.
The Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that these consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $310.3 million as of December 31, 2025 will be sufficient to allow the Company to fund operations beyond twelve months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
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2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sionna Therapeutics, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sionna Therapeutics Securities Corporation. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected within the consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, research and development expenses and accruals and the valuation of the Company’s common shares in connection with the accounting for stock-based awards. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions 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. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, as there are changes in circumstances and facts. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of ninety days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents typically include cash held in deposit accounts and money market funds.
Cash accounts with any type of restriction are classified as restricted cash. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had restricted cash of $1.0 million held to secure a letter of credit associated with the Company’s leased corporate headquarters. The restricted funds are maintained in a money market account. The Company classified this amount as restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based on the release date of the restrictions.
Marketable Securities
The Company classifies marketable securities with a remaining maturity greater than three months at the time of purchase and less than one year from the balance sheet date as current. Marketable securities are classified as long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets if the maturity exceeds one year, and the Company does not intend to utilize the marketable securities to fund current operations.
The Company classifies all of its investments as available-for-sale securities. Accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value. Realized gains and losses and amortization of discounts and premiums are included in interest income, which is a component of other income. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in accumulated other comprehensive gain as a component of stockholders’ equity (deficit) until realized. Interest receivables earned on marketable securities are recorded as a component of prepaid expenses and other current assets.
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At each balance sheet date, the Company assesses available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the unrealized loss or any potential credit losses should be recognized. The Company evaluates whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. The Company also evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the severity of the impairment, any changes in interest rates, 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 other income. There have been no impairment or credit losses recognized during any of the periods presented.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. Periodically, the Company may maintain deposits in financial institutions in excess of government insured limits. The Company believes that it is not exposed to significant credit risk as its deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality and the Company has not experienced any losses on these deposits.The Company regularly invests excess cash with major financial institutions in money market funds, U.S. Treasury securities and government agency securities, corporate bonds, and commercial paper, all of which can be readily purchased and sold using established markets. The Company believes that the market risk arising from its holdings of these financial instruments is mitigated based on the fact that many of these securities are either government-backed or of high credit rating.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Certain assets and liabilities of the Company are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:
Level 1—Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted market prices, interest rates and yield curves.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 inputs include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of the fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The Company does not currently have recurring fair value measurements classified within Level 3.
The carrying values of prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
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Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment is stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Costs of major additions and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs to an asset that do not improve or extend its life are expensed in the period incurred. Depreciation expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset as follows:
Estimated Useful Life (in years)
Lab equipment 5
Furniture & fixtures 5
Hardware & software 3
Leasehold improvements Shorter of useful life or remaining lease term
When an item is sold or retired, the costs and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated, and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is credited or charged to the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Property and equipment held for disposal are carried at fair value less costs to sell.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets consist primarily of property and equipment and right-of-use assets. The Company continually evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate that the estimated remaining useful life of its long-lived assets may warrant revision or that the carrying value of these assets may be impaired. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use or disposition of an asset group are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset group over its fair value, determined based on discounted cash flows. 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 fair values. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Leases
At the inception of an arrangement the Company determines whether the arrangement contains a lease. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use lease asset (“ROU asset”), operating lease liability, current, and operating lease liability, noncurrent, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Assets subject to finance leases are included in property and equipment, and the related lease obligation is included in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as an operating expense. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did not have any finance leases. The Company has elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for short-term leases, which allows the Company not to recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets on the consolidated balance sheets for leases with an original term of twelve months or less.
ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease obligations represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are initially recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the expected remaining lease term. When determining the lease term, the Company includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. Certain adjustments to the ROU asset may be required for items such as incentives received from the lessor. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. Therefore, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate reflects the fixed rate at which the Company could borrow, on a collateralized basis, the amount of the lease payments in the same currency, for a similar term, in a similar economic environment. Leases generally provide for payments of non-lease components, such as common area maintenance, real estate taxes and other costs associated with the leased property. The Company accounts for non-lease components together with lease components. Variable lease payments, such as periodic adjustments for inflation, reimbursement of real estate taxes, and variable common area maintenance are expensed as incurred as variable lease costs and are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets.
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Sublease income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the sublease agreement and is recorded within Other Income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Research and Development Expenses and Accruals
Research and development costs include (i) employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense; (ii) external research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, such as contract research organizations (“CRO”) agreements, contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CDMOs”), consultants and scientific advisors; (iii) costs associated with preclinical and clinical activities and (iv) lab supplies, lab expenses and an allocation of rent, depreciation, and infrastructure.
The Company recognizes research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred because these activities have no alternative future use. Typically, external expenses are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information obtained from (i) internal personnel regarding the services that have been performed on the Company's behalf and estimating the associated cost incurred for those services or (ii) information provided to the Company by their service providers as of each reporting date. Advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses, which are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed, or when it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining accrued or prepaid expense balances at the end of any reporting period.
Asset Acquisitions and Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expense
The Company accounts for acquisitions of assets or a group of assets that do not meet the definition of a business as asset acquisitions based on the cost to acquire the asset or group of assets, which include certain transaction costs. In an asset acquisition, the cost to acquire is allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair values as of the acquisition date. No goodwill is recorded in an asset acquisition. Assets that are acquired in an asset acquisition for use in research and development activities that have an alternative future use are capitalized as in process research and development (“IPR&D”). Acquired IPR&D that has no alternative future use as of the acquisition date is recognized as research and development expense as of the acquisition date. The costs to acquire IPR&D are presented as operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows in the period acquired.
The Company will recognize additional research and development expenses in the future if and when the Company becomes obligated to make contingent milestone or royalty payments which are governed by the terms of the agreements by which it acquired the IPR&D assets. Developmental and regulatory milestone payments will be recorded when the milestone is achieved, and commercial milestones, such as sales-based milestone payments, and royalties will be recorded when the underlying sale(s) occur.
Patent Costs
All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications such as direct application fees, and legal and consulting expenses are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Patent-related costs are classified as general and administrative expenses within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are direct and incremental costs associated with in-process equity financings as deferred offering costs until such financing is consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds generated as a result of the offering within additional paid-in capital. In the event that the equity financing is abandoned, the deferred offering costs will be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
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Convertible Preferred Stock
Prior to the completion of the Company's IPO, the Company had outstanding convertible preferred stock, which was classified as temporary equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Upon the completion of the IPO, all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converted into shares of common stock, and the carrying value of the convertible preferred stock was reclassified to stockholder's equity. As of December 31, 2025, no shares of convertible preferred stock were outstanding.
Fair Value of Common Stock
Prior to the completion of the Company's IPO, the Company determined the estimated fair value of common stock based on a number of objective and subjective factors, including, but not limited to, external market conditions affecting the biotechnology industry sector, the prices at which the Company sold shares of convertible preferred stock and the superior rights and preferences of securities senior to the Company’s common stock at the time, and the likelihood and potential timing of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering, in light of prevailing market conditions. The Company utilized valuation methodologies to estimate the fair value of common stock that were in accordance with the guidance outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Accounting and Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, including the option pricing method and the probability-weighted expected return method. These methodologies required the use of significant management judgment and assumptions.
Since completion of the IPO, the fair value of the Company's common stock has been determined based on the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of equity grant.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures all stock options and other stock-based awards granted to employees, non-employees, and directors based on the fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company’s stock-based payments include stock options and grants of restricted common stock awards. Generally, the Company issues stock-based awards with only service-based vesting conditions.The Company’s policy is to account for forfeitures when they occur. Stock-based compensation expense is classified in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipients service payments are classified.
Restricted common stock awards are subject to repurchase rights until such awards meet all vesting conditions. Accordingly, the Company recorded the proceeds from the issuance of restricted common stock awards as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The restricted common stock liability was reclassified into stockholders’ equity as the restricted common stock vested.
The fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Due to the lack of Company-specific historical and implied volatility information, the Company estimates its expected stock volatility based on the historical volatility of a publicly traded set of peer companies and expects to continue to do so until it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. The Company uses the simplified method as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment, to estimate the expected term for options granted to employees and non-employees as the Company does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is zero because the Company has never paid cash dividends on common shares and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Income Taxes
The Company’s provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits reflect management's best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid.
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Significant judgments and estimates based on interpretations of existing tax laws or regulations in the United States are required in determining our provision for income taxes. Changes in tax laws, statutory tax rates, and estimates of our future taxable income could impact the deferred tax assets and liabilities provided for in the consolidated financial statements and would require an adjustment to the provision for income taxes.
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.
The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, which are considered appropriate as well as the related net interest and penalties.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, and if dilutive, the weighted-average number of potential common shares outstanding. Potentially dilutive securities consist of stock options, restricted stock awards, and other common stock equivalents.
In periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share, as the inclusion of potentially dilutive common shares would be antidilutive.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholder’s equity (deficit) that result from transactions and events other than those with stockholders. The Company’s unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities represent the only component of other comprehensive gain that are excluded from the reported net loss and that are presented in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Segment Information
The Company is managed as one operating segment, and thus reports as a single reportable segment. This operating segment is focused on the research and development of cystic fibrosis therapies. Management assessed the financial information routinely reviewed by the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), its President and Chief Executive Officer, to monitor the Company's operating performance and support decision making regarding allocation of resources to its operations, and determined that performance is continuously monitored at the consolidated level. The measure of segment assets is reported on the consolidated balance sheet as total consolidated assets. The measure used by the CODM in assessing
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performance and deciding how to allocate resources is based on consolidated net loss, as reported on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The CODM uses consolidated net loss, as reported in the consolidated statement of operations, to assess performance and allocate resources by evaluating operating results against expectations.
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures) (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 provides more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and incomes taxes paid information. For public companies, the amendments were effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company adopted the amendments retrospectively for the year-ended December 31, 2025. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses ("ASU 2024-03"), which requires entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2024-03 may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-07, Derivatives Scope Refinement, ("ASU 2025-07"). ASU 2025-07 creates a scope exception within ASC 815 for certain contracts with underlyings tied to a party's operations or activities (such as regulatory approval, clinical, or earnings milestones), which may cause some arrangements that previously met the derivative definition to no longer be accounted for as derivatives. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may adopt prospectively for new or modified contracts after the adoption date, or modified retrospectively for contracts outstanding at adoption with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company expects to adopt prospectively and does not expect a material impact, though this guidance may affect the accounting for future milestone-linked arrangements executed after adoption.
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3. Marketable Securities
The following table summarizes the amortized cost and estimated fair value of the Company’s current and noncurrent marketable securities (in thousands):
Amortized Cost Unrealized Gain Unrealized Loss Fair Value
Marketable securities, current:
Marketable securities, noncurrent:
Amortized Cost Unrealized Gain Unrealized Loss Fair Value
Marketable securities, current:
Marketable securities, noncurrent:
The Company has determined that there were no material changes in the credit risk, therefore the Company has not recognized any allowance for credit losses on its debt securities. As of December 31, 2025, the Company holds marketable securities with an aggregate fair value of$74.4 million that had remaining maturities between one and two years. All other securities had a contractual maturity of less than a year. There were no realized gains or losses during the years ended December 31, 2025, or 2024.
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4. Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents information about the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets
Cash equivalents:
Marketable securities:
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets
Cash equivalents:
Marketable securities:
During the year ended December 31, 2025, there were no transfers or reclassifications between fair value measurement levels of assets or liabilities. The carrying values of prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
5. Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Less: accumulated depreciation (2,122) (1,571)
Property and equipment, net $ 2,225 $ 2,466
Depreciation expense was $0.6 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
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6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
Accrued compensation and benefits $ 4,740 $ 2,972
Accrued research and development 4,305 3,961
Accrued professional fees 522 737
Accrued other 101 —
Accrued deferred offering costs — 492
7. Leases
Operating Leases Summary
Waltham, Massachusetts
In May 2022, the Company entered into a noncancelable facility lease agreement to lease 24,051 square feet of office and laboratory space in Waltham, Massachusetts (“Waltham Lease”), which became the Company headquarters in January 2023 following the completion of construction of the prebuilt office and lab space, and when the Company received full access and control over the leased space. At commencement of the lease the right-of-use asset was $9.5 million, which was reduced by $0.4 million of lease incentives, offset by $0.2 million of lease prepayments, and the lease liability was $9.7 million.
The original term for the Waltham Lease is for the period from January 2023 through November 2030, and the Company has the option to extend the Waltham Lease for an additional five-year term at market-based rates. The renewal option is not reasonably certain to occur, and as such, it was not considered in the measurement of the right-of-use asset and lease liability. The Waltham Lease has escalating base rent payments, which commenced in September 2023 and continue through the expiration of the lease. The Company received eight months of free rent and five additional months of 50% rent abatement. The Company is responsible for other fixed and variable payments including operating expenses and property taxes.
Sublease Agreement
In June 2023, the Company entered into a sublease agreement to sublet 6,399 square feet of its office and laboratory space under the Waltham Lease (the “Sublease”). The Company was not relieved of its obligation to the lessor for the head lease as a result of its entry into the Sublease. The Sublease is classified as an operating lease and commenced in July 2023 and expired in August 2025. Sublease income was recognized on a straight-line basis. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of sublease income within other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Operating Lease Tables
The following table presents inputs used in the calculation of the Company’s right of use asset and lease liabilities at the end of each reporting period:
December 31,
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) 4.9 5.9
Weighted-average discount rate 11.0 % 11.0 %
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The components of lease costs were as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
Lease commitments
Future minimum lease payments were as follows (in thousands):
Year ended December 31, Amount
Total future minimum lease payments 11,394
Less imputed interest (2,717)
Present value of operating lease liability $ 8,677
8. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The Company was not subject to any material legal proceedings during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the Company is not aware of any material legal proceedings that are currently pending or threatened.
Other Contracts
The Company is party to various contracts with CROs and CDMOs in the ordinary course of business. These agreements generally provide for termination at any time upon a certain amount of prior notice. Payments upon termination, if any, are based on the timing of the termination and the terms of the agreement.
Indemnification Agreements
In the ordinary course of business the Company may provide indemnification of varying scope and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including arising out of the relationship between such parties and the Company. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with members of its board of directors and senior management that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited.
To date the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications nor experienced any losses related to them. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company was not aware of any claims under indemnification arrangements and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations.
9. License Agreements
Sanofi License Agreement
In December 2019, the Company entered into a license agreement, which has been subsequently amended (as amended, the “Sanofi License Agreement”), with Sanofi SA (f/k/a Genzyme) (“Sanofi”), pursuant
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to which the Company has been granted an exclusive, sub-licensable, royalty-bearing, worldwide license to develop and commercialize products using the licensed compounds and know-how for CFTR correctors.
As initial consideration for the license, the Company paid a non-refundable, upfront payment of $1.5 million, as well as a reimbursement of $0.3 million for Sanofi’s research and development expenses, which was previously recorded as research and development expense because the acquired license represented in-process research and development with no alternative future use. In addition, the Company is required to pay Sanofi a total of up to $40.0 million upon achievement of certain late-stage developmental and commercial milestones. As of December 31, 2025, no milestones have been achieved. The Company is also required to pay royalties to Sanofi in the low single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary reductions and offsets. Such royalty payments shall be reduced for products covered by derived patents.
CFF Payment Agreement
In December 2019, the Company entered into a payment agreement (the “CFF Payment Agreement”) with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide CFF with compensation in exchange for the grant of, or forbearance from exercising, certain of CFF’s rights existing under the license agreement by and between CFF (through an assignment by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc.) and Genzyme Corporation, an affiliate of Sanofi (the “CFFT-Genzyme Agreement”). Under the CFF Payment Agreement, the Company is obligated to compensate CFF in connection with the Company’s development and commercialization of licensed products under the Sanofi License Agreement.
As initial consideration for CFF’s grant of, and forbearance from exercising, its rights under the CFFT-Genzyme Agreement, the Company paid an upfront fee of $0.2 million and issued CFF shares of preferred stock, valued at $1.0 million which were previously recorded as research and development expenses. In addition, the Company agreed to pay CFF a sub-teen double-digit percentage of any amounts paid by it to Sanofi under the Sanofi License Agreement, other than milestone, royalty or reimbursement payments. In addition, the Company is required to pay CFF a total of up to $40.0 million upon achievement of certain late-stage developmental and commercial milestones. In conjunction with the execution of the agreements with Sanofi and CFF in December 2019, a side letter was executed between the Company and Sanofi, which clarifies the relationship between the Company, Sanofi and CFF, under which the Company is obligated to pay Sanofi 20% of the milestones it would have been obligated to pay CFF, net of the milestone amounts it is obligated to pay under the Sanofi License Agreement.
As of December 31, 2025, no milestones have been achieved. The Company is also required to pay revenue-shares of royalty payments to CFF in the low single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products subject to customary reductions and offsets. Such milestone and royalty payments shall be reduced for products covered by derived patents.
AbbVie Agreement
In July 2024, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “AbbVie License Agreement”) with AbbVie Global Enterprises Ltd. (“AbbVie”), pursuant to which the Company has been granted an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license to research, develop and commercialize certain CFTR compounds. The licensed rights are directed, among other things, to three clinical-stage CFTR modulator assets. The license granted under the AbbVie License Agreement are subject to certain preexisting rights held by AbbVie and Galapagos NV (“Galapagos”). In particular, certain of the licensed patents and other intellectual property rights were developed by or on behalf of Galapagos and are sublicensed to the Company subject to the terms of the second amended and restated collaboration agreement between Galapagos and AbbVie in October 2018 (the “Galapagos License Agreement”), as amended by a side letter between Galapagos and AbbVie in July 2024.
As initial consideration for the license, the Company paid a non-refundable, upfront payment of $5.0 million and issued shares of its common stock with a fair value of $8.6 million to AbbVie. The Company determined that the AbbVie License Agreement represented an asset acquisition as it did not meet the definition of the business. The Company previously recorded the total initial consideration of $13.6 million as research and development expense, because the acquired license represented in-process research and development
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with no alternative future use. In addition, the Company is required to pay AbbVie a total of up to $360.0 million upon achievement of certain development and commercial milestones, consisting of up to $70.0 million in late-stage development milestones and up to $290.0 million in commercial milestones. The Company is also required to pay royalties to AbbVie in the low to mid single-digit percentage range based on net sales of licensed products, subject to customary reductions and offsets.
In addition, the Company is required to pay AbbVie up to $130.0 million in commercial and sales-based milestone payments, mid to high single-digit royalties on the licensed products, or other payments due to Galapagos pursuant to the Galapagos License Agreement, to the extent such payments are triggered by the Company’s use of the licensed rights owned by Galapagos under the AbbVie License Agreement. As of December 31, 2025, none of such milestones under the AbbVie License Agreement and Galapagos License Agreement have been achieved.
10. Convertible Preferred Stock
Series Seed
In December 2019, the Company issued and sold 2,762,762 shares of Series Seed convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series Seed Preferred Stock”) to certain investors at a purchase price of $3.33 per share, for gross proceeds of $8.2 million (the “Series Seed Financing”). As disclosed in Note 9, the Company issued Series Seed Preferred Stock to CFF in connection with the CFF Payment Agreement. One investor was also issued 684,415 shares of common stock in connection with the initial Series Seed Financing closing. The proceeds from that investor were allocated between the Series Seed Preferred Stock and common stock on a relative fair value basis. There were no material issuance costs incurred related to this financing.
In June 2020, the Company issued an additional 1,201,202 shares of Series Seed Preferred Stock to an additional investor at $3.33 per share for gross proceeds of $4.0 million. The Company incurred $38,887 of issuance costs in connection with this issuance.
Series A
In September 2020, the Company issued and sold 5,704,161 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $4.43 per share, for gross proceeds of $25.3 million (the “Series A Financing”). The Company incurred $0.1 million of issuance costs in connection with the Series A Financing.
Series B
In February 2022, the Company issued and sold 11,370,621 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series B Preferred Stock”), at a purchase price of $9.76 per share, for gross proceeds of $111.0 million (the “Series B Financing”). The Company incurred $0.2 million of issuance costs in connection with the Series B Financing.
Series C
In March 2024, the Company issued and sold 18,628,970 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series C Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price of $9.76 per share, for gross proceeds of $181.9 million (the “Series C Financing”). The Company incurred $0.5 million of issuance costs in connection with the Series C Financing.
Upon issuance of the Series Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C convertible preferred stock (collectively, the “Preferred Stock”), the Company evaluated the embedded conversion and liquidation features and determined that separate accounting was not required.
Upon completion of the Company’s IPO, all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock automatically converted into shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2025, no shares of convertible preferred stock were outstanding.
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The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock and may fix the price, rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the preferred stock without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The Board may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding and preferred stock is classified within stockholders’ equity.
11. Common Stock & Equity Incentive Plans
Common Stock Rights
The holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, subject to applicable law. The holders of common stock are also entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Company’s board of directors, and to share ratably in the Company’s assets legally available for distribution upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company.
Equity Incentive Plans
2020 Stock Option and Grant Plan
The Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Grant Plan, as amended (the “2020 Plan”), previously provided for the Company to sell or issue common stock or restricted common stock, or to grant incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options for the purchase of common stock, to employees, members of the Board and consultants of the Company. The 2020 Plan was administered by the Board.
As of December 31, 2025, no shares of common stock remained available for future grants under the 2020 Plan. Outstanding stock options and restricted common stock awards granted under the 2020 Plan generally vest over four years and expire ten years after the date of grant, and certain awards provide for accelerated vesting upon a change in control.
2025 Stock Option and Grant Plan
In January 2025, the Board of Directors and the Company’s stockholders adopted and approved the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2025 Plan”), which became effective on February 5, 2025, immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 for its IPO. The 2025 Plan initially reserved 5,060,000 shares of common stock for issuance and includes an evergreen provision pursuant to which the number of shares reserved for issuance may be automatically increased on an annual basis. Beginning in 2026, the number of shares reserved under the 2025 Plan shall automatically increase annually on January 1 by up to 4% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise.
The shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Stock Option and Grant Plan ceased to be available for issuance upon the effectiveness of the 2025 Plan. Any shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2020 Plan that subsequently expire, are forfeited, cancelled, repurchased, or withheld will become available for issuance under the 2025 Plan.
As of December 31, 2025, 2,393,345 shares of common stock remained available for future grants under the 2025 Plan. Outstanding stock options and restricted common stock awards granted under the 2025 Plan generally vest over four years and expire ten years after the date of grant, and certain awards provide for accelerated vesting upon a change in control.
2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In January 2025, the Board of Directors and the Company’s stockholders adopted and approved the 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2025 ESPP”), which became effective on February 5, 2025, immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 for its IPO. The 2025 ESPP initially reserved 390,127 shares of common stock for issuance and includes an evergreen provision pursuant to which the number of shares reserved for issuance may be automatically increased on an annual basis. Beginning in 2026, the number of shares reserved under the 2025 Plan shall automatically
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increase annually on January 1 by up to 1% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, but not to exceed 780,254 shares.
As of December 31, 2025, no offering periods had commenced under the 2025 ESPP.
Shares Reserved for Issuance
The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Company's equity incentive plans is as follow:
Year Ended December 31,
Unvested restricted common stock — 75,958
12. Stock-Based Compensation
Restricted Common Stock
A summary of the Company’s restricted common stock activity during the year ended December 31, 2025, is presented below:
Number of Restricted Shares Weighted-Average Per-Share Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2025 — $—
The Company did not issue shares of restricted common stock to founders and officers during the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the liability related to the payments received for shares of unvested restricted common stock was de minimis. The aggregate fair value of restricted common stock awards that vested during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, was $1.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The final vesting conditions for the restricted common stock awards were met in June 2025.
Stock Option Valuation
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine the fair values of stock options granted to employees and directors during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, are presented as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
Expected term (in years) 6.2 6.0
Interest rate 4.2 % 4.2 %
Dividend yield — —
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Stock Option Activity
The following table summarizes the Company’s common stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2025:
(in years) (in thousands)
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock.
The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, was $13.94 and $4.61, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, was $14.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded stock-based compensation in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Research and development expense $ 4,116 $ 1,500
General and administrative expense 7,950 2,208
As of December 31, 2025, there was $35.3 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for common stock option awards that are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years. The stock-based compensation expense for restricted common stock awards was de minimis and fully recognized as of June 30, 2025, when the final vesting conditions were met.
13. Income Taxes
The Company’s loss is attributable to domestic activity, and the Company does not have foreign operations. The Company had no current or deferred federal or state income tax expense due to operating losses incurred for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the full valuation allowance recorded on net deferred tax assets.
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A reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations to the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to the net loss from continuing operations is summarized as follows (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect(1) — — % — — %
Tax credits
Research and development tax credits (1,969) 2.6 % (1,452) 2.4 %
Nontaxable or nondeductible Items
Limitations on executive compensation 1,068 (1.4 %) — — %
Other permanent differences (54) 0.1 % 25 — %
Other adjustments (43) 0.1 % — — %
Effective tax rate $ — 0.0 % $ — 0.0 %
(1)State taxes in Massachusetts make up the majority of the tax effect in this category.
The components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Other temporary differences 23 21
Other deferred tax liabilities (119) (81)
Total deferred tax liabilities $ (1,976) $ (2,164)
Net deferred tax asset (liability) $ — $ —
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $148.0 million and $65.6 million, respectively, which may be available to offset future income tax liabilities. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) will generally allow losses incurred after 2017 to be carried over indefinitely but will generally limit the net operating loss deduction to the lesser of the net operating loss carryover or 80% of a corporation’s taxable income (subject to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”)). Also, there is no carry back for losses incurred after 2017. All net operating loss carryforwards were generated after 2017.
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In addition, the Company has state net operating loss carryforwards of $155.4 million and $68.2 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which will expire at various dates through 2045.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had federal research and development tax credit (“Federal R&D Tax Credit”) carryforwards of $4.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, available to reduce future tax liabilities, which will expire at various dates through 2045.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had state research and development credit (“State R&D Tax Credit”) carryforwards of approximately $2.7 million and $1.7 million, respectively, available to reduce future tax liabilities, which will expire at various dates through 2040.
The Company has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon its ability to realize its deferred tax assets, which are comprised primarily of net operating loss carryforwards, the capitalization of research and experimental expenditures, and tax credits. Management has considered the Company’s history of cumulative net losses in the United States, estimated future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies and has concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets. Accordingly, a full valuation allowance of $76.1 million and $51.6 million has been established against these net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company reevaluates the positive and negative evidence at each reporting period. The Company’s valuation allowance increased during 2025 by approximately $24.5 million, primarily due to the increase in net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
Under the provision of the Internal Revenue Code, the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative change in the ownership interest of significant shareholders over a three-year period in excess of 50%, as defined under Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, respectively, as well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership change may further affect the limitation in future years. The Company has not yet completed a change in control analysis, as defined under Section 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, through December 31, 2025, and the Company has not determined whether the future utilization of net operating loss carryforwards may be materially limited based on past financings. In addition, the Company may complete future financings that could result in a change in control in the future which may limit the amount of tax attributes available to offset future tax liabilities.
The Company accounts for income taxes by evaluating a probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.
The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2025 or 2024, respectively. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company’s balance of interest and penalties was zero.
The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In a normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by U.S. federal and states. The Company’s tax years are still open since inception. To the extent that the Company has tax attribute carryforwards, the tax year in which the attributes were generated may still be adjusted upon examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Services or state tax authorities to the extent utilized in a future period. The Company is not currently under examination by any tax authorities.
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14. Segment Information
The following table presents segment net loss, including significant expense categories (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Research and development expenses:
External research and development expenses(1) $ 43,535 $ 31,873
Personnel-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation 10,553 7,628
Facility and information technology allocated expenses 1,826 1,838
General and administrative expenses:
Personnel-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation 10,947 5,634
General corporate and facility expenses(3) 8,401 4,222
(1)External research and development expenses consist primarily of costs paid to third-parties including CROs, CDMOs, consultants, advisors and lab-related vendors.
(2)Fees paid to licensors consists primarily of upfront and annual licensing fees paid pursuant to the Company's license agreements.
(3)General corporate and facility expenses consists primarily of professional services fees for legal, finance, human resources, medical affairs in addition to information technology expenses and rent expense, net of sublease income.
(4)Other segment items consists primarily of interest income, partially offset by taxes and non-cash expenses, such as stock-based compensation, depreciation, the fair value of equity issued pursuant to the AbbVie License Agreement (Note 9) recognized in 2024, and amortization of discounts and premiums on marketable securities.
15. Net Loss Per Share
The Company excluded the following shares from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect: