Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1.
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Aridis
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company” or “we” or “our” or “us”) was established as a California
limited liability corporation in 2003. The Company converted to a Delaware C corporation on May 21, 2014. Our principal place of business
is in Los Gatos, California. We are a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new breakthrough therapies for infectious
diseases and addressing the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The Company has a deep, diversified portfolio of clinical and pre-clinical
stage non-antibiotic anti-infective product candidates that are complimented by a fully human monoclonal antibody discovery platform
technology. The Company’s suite of anti-infective monoclonal antibodies offers opportunities to profoundly alter the current trajectory
of increasing antibiotic resistance and improve the health outcome of many of the most serious life-threatening infections particularly
in hospital settings.
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the amounts of the Company and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and have
been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information
and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information
and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared
on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated
financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation.
These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto for the preceding fiscal year included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 13, 2022.
The
condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Aridis Biopharmaceuticals,
LLC and Aridis Pharmaceuticals, C.V. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company operates
in one segment. Management uses one measurement of profitability and does not segregate its business for internal reporting. The results
of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other future
period. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2021 has been derived from the audited balance sheet at
December 31, 2021 contained in the above referenced Form 10-K.
COVID-19
The
COVID-19 pandemic has caused business disruption globally. The protracted COVID-19 pandemic has continued to cause an impact on patient
enrollment globally and the rate of clinical site activation. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s future operational
and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the pandemic, and impact on the Company’s
clinical trials, employees and vendors, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. At this point, the extent to which COVID-19
may impact the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations is uncertain.
Going
Concern
The
Company had recurring losses from operations since inception and negative cash flows from operating activities during the three and six
months ended June 30, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021. Management expects to incur operating losses and negative cash flows
from operations in the foreseeable future as the Company continues its product development programs. The forecasted outflow of cash for
at least a one-year period from the expected condensed consolidated financial statement issuance date, is in excess of the cash available
on-hand. In February 2022, the Company received additional proceeds net of issuance cost of $5.0 million from debt financing (see Note
8).
The
Company’s research and development expenses and resulting cash burn during the six months ended June 30, 2022, were largely due
to costs associated with the Phase 3 study of AR-301 for the treatment of ventilator associated pneumonia (“VAP”) caused
by the Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria, the Phase 1/2a study of AR-501 for the treatment of chronic lung infections
associated with cystic fibrosis, the pre-launch activities associated with the Phase 3 study of AR-320 for the prevention of S. aureus
VAP, and the preclinical development of AR-701 COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Current development activities are focused
on AR-301, AR-320, AR-501 and AR-701. We expect our expenses to continue in connection with our ongoing development activities, particularly
as we continue the research, development and clinical trials of, and seek regulatory approval for, our therapeutic candidates.
The
on-going COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the United States and global economies. The pandemic has affected the Company, and is likely
to continue to affect the Company and its third parties, on which the Company relies, by causing disruptions in the clinical trial supplies
for the product candidates and the conduct of current and future clinical trials. Additionally, as the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic
is difficult to assess or predict, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global financial markets may reduce our ability to access
capital, which could negatively impact the Company’s short-term and long-term liquidity. Additionally, the AR-301 clinical trial
currently has sites enrolling in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. To the extent the conflict between Ukraine and Russia adversely impacts
our ability to enroll patients or complete enrollments in process or adversely impacts the ability of our suppliers to produce and distribute
the supplies we need for our AR-301 clinical trial, the timing for completing our AR-301 trial will be adversely impacted. These effects
could have a material impact on the Company’s liquidity, capital resources, operations and business and those of the third parties
on which the Company relies.
The
Company plans to fund its cash flow needs through current cash on hand and future debt and/or equity financings which we may obtain through
one or more public or private equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, strategic alliances and licensing
or collaboration arrangements. If the Company is unable to obtain funding, the Company could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate
its research and development programs or future commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect its future business prospects
and its ability to continue as a going concern. The Company believes that its current available cash and cash equivalents, including
cash received in February 2022 from debt proceeds, will not be sufficient to fund its planned expenditures and meet the Company’s
obligations for at least the one-year period following its condensed consolidated financial statement issuance date.
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis that contemplates the realization
of assets and discharge of liabilities in their normal course of business. There is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability
to continue as a going concern for one year after the date that these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. These condensed
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary from the outcome of this uncertainty.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include those related to the evaluation
of our ability to continue as a going concern, best estimate of standalone selling price of revenue deliverables, useful life of long-lived
assets, classification of deferred revenue, income taxes, assumptions used in the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) model to calculate
the fair value of stock-based compensation, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, and preclinical study and clinical trial accruals.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentrations
Credit
Risk
The
Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions in the United States of America. Deposits held by
these institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits.
Customer
Risk
There
was $0.3 million and $1.5 million in revenue from three customers for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, each individually
contributing 17%, 28% and 55% of revenue for the six-month period accounting for 100% of total revenue. All customers are located in
the United States. There was $1.0 million in accounts receivable as of June 30, 2022 and no accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021.
Cash,
Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash
and cash equivalents consist primarily of checking account and money market fund account balances. Restricted cash consists of deposits
for a letter of credit that the Company has provided to secure its obligations under its facility lease as well as grant funds identified
for the specific grant project.
The
following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash within the condensed consolidated balance sheets
which, in aggregate, represent the amount reported in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):
Schedule Of Cash, Cash Equivalents And Restricted Cash
| |
| | | |
| | |
| |
June 30, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
$ | 6,317 | | |
$ | 18,098 | |
Restricted cash | |
| 1,635 | | |
| 1,888 | |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | |
$ | 7,952 | | |
$ | 19,986 | |
Accounts
Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts
receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company considers the credit worthiness of its customers
but does not require collateral in advance of a sale. The Company evaluates collectability and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts
for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio when necessary. The allowance is based on the Company’s best
estimate of the amount of losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable, which is based on customer creditworthiness, facts
and circumstances specific to outstanding balances, and payment terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all
means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. There was $1.0 million in accounts receivable
as of June 30, 2022 and no accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no allowances
for doubtful accounts.
Operating
Leases
The
Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception by assessing whether the arrangement contains an identified
asset and whether it has the right to control the identified asset. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s
right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments
arising from the lease. Lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of future lease payments
over the lease term. ROU assets are based on the measurement of the lease liability and also include any lease payments made prior to
or on lease commencement and lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred, as applicable.
As
the implicit rate in the Company’s leases is generally unknown, the Company used its incremental borrowing rate of 6% based on
the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future lease payments. Lease costs for the
Company’s operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis within operating expenses over the reasonably assured lease
term. The Company has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for any leases within its existing classes of assets and,
as a result, accounts for any lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
Prior to adoption of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, Leases as of January 1, 2022, the Company evaluated leases
at their inception as either operating or capital leases, and renewal or expansion options, rent holidays, leasehold improvement allowances
and other incentives on such lease agreements. The Company recognized operating lease costs on a straight-line basis over the term of
the agreement.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally between three and five years for lab equipment and computer equipment and software,
and over the shorter of the lease term or useful life for leasehold improvements. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred,
and costs of improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are
removed from the condensed consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the condensed consolidated statement
of operations in the period realized.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets are recorded at cost and amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Intangible assets consist of licenses with various
institutions whereby the Company has rights to use intangible property obtained from such institutions.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The
Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future undiscounted net cash flows
which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the excess of
the carrying amount of the assets over fair value less the costs to sell the assets, generally determined using the projected discounted
future net cash flows arising from the asset. There was approximately $33,000 in impairments of long-lived assets during the three and
six months ended June 30, 2022 and no asset impairments as of June 30, 2021.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company recognizes revenue based on (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), which
applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance,
collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. See Note 6 for details of the development and license agreements.
To
determine revenue recognition for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the
following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii)
determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize
revenue at a point in time, or over time, as the entity satisfies performance obligations. The Company only applies the five-step model
to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers
to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods
or services promised within each contract, determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good
or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective
performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
As
part of the accounting for customer arrangements, the Company must use judgment to determine: a) the number of performance obligations
based on the determination under step (ii) above; b) the transaction price under step (iii) above; and c) the standalone selling price
for each performance obligation identified in the contract for the allocation of the transaction price in step (iv) above. The Company
uses judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration should be included in the transaction price.
The
transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis. In developing the standalone
price for a performance obligation, the Company considers applicable market conditions and relevant entity-specific factors, including
factors that were contemplated in negotiating the agreement with the customer and estimated costs. The Company recognizes revenue as
or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. The Company receives payments from its customers based on payment
schedules established in each contract. The Company records any amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria
as deferred revenue on its condensed consolidated balance sheets. Amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet received or invoiced are
recorded within other receivables on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Amounts are recorded as other receivables on the condensed
consolidated balance sheet when our right to consideration is unconditional. The Company does not assess whether a contract has a significant
financing component if the expectation at contract inception is such that the period between payment by the customer and the transfer
of a majority of the promised goods or services to the customer will be one year or less.
Contract
Assets
The
incremental costs of obtaining a contract under ASC 606 (i.e., costs that would not have been incurred if the contract had not been obtained)
are recognized as an asset in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets if the Company expects to recover them (see Note
6). Capitalized costs will be amortized to the respective expenses using a systematic basis that mirrors the pattern in which the Company
transfers control of the goods and service to the customer. At each reporting date, the Company determines whether or not the capitalized
costs to obtain a contract are impaired by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the remaining amount of consideration that the
Company received and expects to receive less the costs that relate to providing services under the relevant contract. Capitalized contract
assets were $2.0 million at December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2022. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, there was
no amortization of the contract assets and there have been no impairments as of June 30, 2022.
Deferred
Revenue
Amounts
received prior to satisfying the above revenue recognition criteria, or in which the Company has an unconditional right to payment, are
recorded as deferred revenue in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company has estimated the classification
between current and noncurrent deferred revenue related to the respective license agreement within its condensed consolidated balance
sheets at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (see Note 6).
Research
and Development
Research
and development costs are expensed to operations as incurred. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:
|
● |
salaries
and related overhead expenses, which include stock-based compensation and benefits for personnel in research and development functions; |
|
● |
fees
paid to consultants and contract research organizations, or CROs, including in connection with our preclinical studies and clinical
trials and other related clinical trial fees, such as for investigator grants, patient screening, laboratory work, clinical trial
material management and statistical compilation and analyses; |
|
● |
costs
related to acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; |
|
● |
costs
related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and |
|
● |
payments
related to licensed products and technologies. |
Costs
for certain development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using
information and data provided to us by our vendors and clinical sites. Non-refundable advance payments for goods or services to be
received in future periods for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are
then expensed as the related goods are delivered or when the services are performed.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards based on the grant-date estimated fair values, which the Company determines
using the Black-Scholes Model (BSM) option pricing model, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award. The
Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
The
BSM option pricing model incorporates various highly sensitive assumptions, including the fair value of our common stock, expected volatility,
expected term and risk-free interest rates. The weighted average expected life of options was calculated using the simplified method
as prescribed by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin, Topic 14 (“SAB Topic 14”). This decision was based on the lack
of relevant historical data due to our limited historical experience. In addition, due to our limited historical data, the estimated
volatility also reflects the application of SAB Topic 14, incorporating the historical volatility of comparable companies whose stock
prices are publicly available. The risk-free interest rate for the periods within the expected term of the option is based on the U.S.
Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield was zero, as we have never declared or paid dividends and have no plans
to do so in the foreseeable future.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based
on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year
in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred
tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
The
Company assesses all material positions taken in any income tax return, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years
that are still subject to assessment or challenge by the relevant taxing authorities. Assessing an uncertain tax position begins with
the initial determination of the position’s sustainability and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than
50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. At each balance sheet date, unresolved uncertain tax positions must be reassessed,
and the Company will determine whether (i) the factors underlying the sustainability assertion have changed and (ii) the amount of the
recognized benefit is still appropriate. The recognition and measurement of tax benefits requires significant judgment. Judgments concerning
the recognition and measurement of a tax benefit might change as new information becomes available. The Company’s policy is to
recognize interest or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.
Comprehensive
Loss
The
Company has no items of comprehensive income or loss other than net loss.
Loss
Per Share
Basic
loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss for the period by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the
period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by
the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period.
There
have been no dividend shares issued for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022. In March 2021, the Company issued 124,789
dividend shares to certain common stockholders with a fair value of approximately $986,000 (see Note 10) which is included in the net
loss available to common stockholders for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 in the below table.
For
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, there is no difference in the number of shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss
per share due to the Company’s net loss position. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 the number of shares used to
compute basic and diluted net loss per share due to the Company’s net loss position were 11.2 million shares and 10.7 million shares,
respectively. The following table presents the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share to common stockholders (in thousands,
except share and per share data):
Schedule of computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
Three Months Ended | | |
Six Months Ended | |
| |
June 30, | | |
June 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Numerator: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net loss available to common stockholders (basic and diluted) | |
$ | (7,979 | ) | |
$ | (5,490 | ) | |
$ | (15,745 | ) | |
$ | (13,367 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Denominator: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share available
to common stockholders, basic and diluted | |
| 17,701,592 | | |
| 11,233,572 | | |
| 17,701,592 | | |
| 10,734,580 | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net loss per share to common stockholders, basic and diluted | |
$ | (0.45 | ) | |
$ | (0.49 | ) | |
$ | (0.89 | ) | |
$ | (1.25 | ) |
The
following potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented
because including them would have been antidilutive:
Schedule of potentially
dilutive securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
Six Months Ended | |
| |
June 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
| (unaudited) | | |
| (unaudited) | |
Stock options to purchase common stock | |
| 2,105,715 | | |
| 1,746,090 | |
Common stock warrants | |
| 3,592,905 | | |
| 2,052,128 | |
Potentially dilutive securities excluded
from computation of diluted net loss per share | |
| 5,698,620 | | |
| 3,798,218 | |
JOBS
Act Accounting Election
The
JOBS Act permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with
new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We are choosing to take advantage of this provision and, as a result,
we will adopt the extended transition period available under the JOBS Act until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging
growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided under the JOBS Act.
Recently
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
ASU
2016-02 - Accounting for Lease Obligation (“ASU 2016-02”)
In
February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
This guidance requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. ASU
2016-02 establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize an ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet
for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2022, as required, retrospectively
through a cumulative effect adjustment. The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. The Company
elected the “package of practical expedients,” which permits the Company not to reassess, under ASU 2016-02, prior conclusions
about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The new standard also provides practical expedients for an
entity’s ongoing accounting. The Company elected to utilize the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify.
This means, for those short-term leases that qualify, the Company will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities. The Company also
elected to separate lease and non-lease components for facility leases. Adoption of this guidance resulted in the recognition of lease
liabilities of $2.3 million, based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing standards for
the Company’s applicable existing office space operating lease, with corresponding ROU assets of $1.9 million as of adoption date
on January 1, 2022.
ASU
2020-06 - Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”)
In
August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, which simplifies the guidance on the issuer’s accounting for convertible debt instruments
by removing the separation models for (1) convertible debt with a cash conversion feature and (2) convertible instruments with a beneficial
conversion feature. As a result, entities will not separately present in equity an embedded conversion feature in such debt and will
account for a convertible debt instrument wholly as debt, unless certain other conditions are met. The elimination of these models will
reduce reported interest expense and increase reported net income for entities that have issued a convertible instrument that is within
the scope of ASU 2020-06. Also, ASU 2020-06 requires the application of the if-converted method for calculating diluted earnings per
share and treasury stock method will be no longer available. ASU 2020-06 is applicable for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2021, with early adoption permitted no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Adoption of ASU 2020-06 as of January
1, 2022 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting
Standards Update 2016-13
In
June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (ASC 326)”, which is intended to provide
financial statement users with more useful information about expected credit losses on financial assets held by a reporting entity at
each reporting date. The new standard replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that requires consideration
of a broader range of reasonable and supportable forward-looking information to estimate all expected credit losses. For public business
entities, ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2020. As a result
of the Company having elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section
107(b) of the JOBS Act, ASU 2016-13 is effective for the Company for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2022, and all interim periods
within. Adoption of ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2022 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial
statements and disclosures.
Accounting
Standards Update 2019-12
In
December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASC 740)”, which removes
certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves consistent application of and simplifies U.S. GAAP for other areas
of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. For public entities, the ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years and interim
periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2020. As a result of the Company having elected the extended transition period
for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company
for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2022, and all interim periods within. Adoption of ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2022 did not
have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
3.
Fair Value Disclosure
Fair
value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or an exit price paid to transfer a liability 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.
The
fair value hierarchy defines a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements as follows:
|
Level
1 |
Unadjusted
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
|
|
|
|
Level
2 |
Inputs
other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in markets that are not active, or
other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related
assets or liabilities; and |
|
|
|
|
Level
3 |
Unobservable
inputs that are supported by little or no market activity for the related assets or liabilities. |
The
categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to
the fair value measurement. The Company has elected the fair value option for calculating the value of its Note Payable. The carrying
value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, prepaid assets and other current assets, other assets, accounts
payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
4.
Balance Sheet Components
Property
and Equipment, net
Property
and equipment, net consist of the following (in thousands):
Schedule of property and equipment, net
| |
| | | |
| | |
| |
June 30, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
| |
Lab equipment | |
$ | 2,391 | | |
$ | 2,390 | |
Computer equipment and software | |
| — | | |
| 25 | |
Leasehold improvements | |
| 527 | | |
| 527 | |
Total property and equipment | |
| 2,918 | | |
| 2,942 | |
Less: Accumulated depreciation | |
| (1,821 | ) | |
| (1,585 | ) |
Property and equipment, net | |
$ | 1,097 | | |
$ | 1,357 | |
Depreciation
expense was approximately $130,000 and $91,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and approximately $261,000
and $181,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Intangible
Assets, net
Intangible
assets, net consist of the following (in thousands):
Schedule of intangible assets, net
| |
June 30, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
| |
Licenses | |
$ | 81 | | |
$ | 81 | |
Less: Accumulated amortization | |
| (62 | ) | |
| (59 | ) |
Intangible assets, net | |
$ | 19 | | |
$ | 22 | |
Amortization
expense was approximately $1,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and approximately $3,000 for the six
months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Licenses
Broad
Institute of MIT and Harvard — Non-Exclusive Manufacturing License Agreement
In
January 2021, we entered into a non-exclusive manufacturing licensing agreement with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (the “Broad
Institute”) to make and manufacture CRISPR Modified Cell Lines, CRISPR Modified Animals and CRISPR Modified Plants. These license
rights permit the non-exclusive use of the CRISPR Technology for the creation of and improvement of yield from protein and mAb production
cell lines, which is one of the core components of the ʎPEXTM mAb discovery and manufacturing production technology.
Pursuant
to this agreement, the Company is obligated to pay to the Broad Institute an issue fee of $25,000, an annual license maintenance fee
of $50,000 in 2022, and fees of $100,000 in 2023 and each year thereafter. Additionally, the Company is obligated to pay a royalty of
7% of all service income received from a customer for the manufacture, sale or transfer of CRISPR modified cell line, CRISPR Modified
Animals and CRISPR Modified Plants or end products, as well as 0.5% of end product net sales from use of any commercialized product that
contains any small or large molecule made through the use of a CRISPR modified cell line, CRISPR Modified Animals and CRISPR Modified
Plants. The term of the license agreement continues until all patents and filed patent applications, included within the licensed Broad
Institute patents, have expired or been abandoned.
MedImmune
Limited — License Agreement
In
July 2021, the Company executed a license agreement effective July 12, 2021 and entered into an amendment to the license agreement on
August 9, 2021 (collectively the “MedImmune License Agreement”) with MedImmune Limited (“MedImmune”), pursuant
to which MedImmune granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license for the development and commercialization of suvratoxumab, a Phase
3 ready fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the S. aureus alpha toxin (the “Licensed Product”). As consideration
for the MedImmune License Agreement, the Company issued 884,956 shares of its common stock to MedImmune and a $5.0 million cash payment
is due to MedImmune upon the earlier of (i) a registered direct offering in which the Company receives third-party funding or (ii) December
31, 2021. The $5.0 million liability has not been paid and therefore has been included in accrued liabilities within the Company’s
consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2021 and recorded as research and development expense within its consolidated statement of
operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. The fair value of the 884,956 shares of the Company’s common stock issued in connection
with the MedImmune License agreement is approximately $6.5 million (see Note 10) which the Company recognized as research and development
expense within its consolidated statement of operations and additional paid-in capital within equity in its consolidated balance sheet
during the year ended December 31, 2021.
As
additional consideration, the Company will pay MedImmune milestone payments upon the achievement of certain regulatory approvals, for
one licensed product, up to a total aggregate amount of $30.0 million and sales related milestone payments of up to $85.0 million. There
are no development milestone payments. MedImmune is entitled to royalty payments based on aggregate net sales ranging from 12.5% to 15%
dependent on net sales volume. Further, until delivery of an interim data readout, or an interim futility analysis, from the first Phase
3 clinical study for any indication, MedImmune has a right of first negotiation regarding any commercial rights that the Company intends
to sub-license. The term of the MedImmune License Agreement continues until the expiration of the last royalty term for the last licensed
product as defined in the license agreement.
Accrued
Liabilities
Accrued
liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities
| |
June 30, | | |
December 31, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
| |
Research and development services | |
$ | 7,011 | | |
$ | 5,939 | |
Payroll related expenses | |
| 466 | | |
| 416 | |
Professional services and other | |
| 50 | | |
| 109 | |
Accrued liabilities | |
$ | 7,527 | | |
$ | 6,464 | |
5.
Equity Method Investment
On
February 11, 2018, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement (the “JV Agreement”) with Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical
Group Co., Ltd., a related party, principal shareholder of the Company, and a Chinese entity (“Hepalink”), to develop and
commercialize products for infectious diseases. Under the terms of the JV Agreement, the Company contributed $1.0 million and the license
of its technology relating to the Company’s AR-101 and AR-301 product candidates for use in the joint venture company named Shenzhen
Arimab BioPharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (the “JV Entity”) in the territories of the Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
(the “Territory”) and initially owns 49% of the JV Entity. On July 2, 2018, the JV Entity received final approval from the
government of the People’s Republic of China. It was agreed by the parties that the Company shall be reimbursed for certain legal
and contract manufacturing expenses related to the clinical drug supply for a Phase 3 clinical study of AR-301 and the clinical drug
supply for a clinical study of AR-105 (see Note 12).
On
August 6, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to the JV Agreement with Hepalink whereby the Company agreed to additionally contribute
an exclusive, revocable, and royalty-free right and license to its AR-105 product candidate in the Territory. Pursuant to the JV Agreement
and the amendment, Hepalink initially owns 51% of the JV Entity and is obligated to contribute the equivalent of $7.2 million to the
JV Entity. Additionally, Hepalink is obligated to make an additional equity investment of $10.8 million or more at the time of the JV
Entity’s first future financing.
The
Company evaluated the accounting for the JV Agreement entered into noting that it did not meet the accounting definition of a joint venture
and instead meets the definition of a variable interest entity. The Company concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of the JV
Entity and therefore is not required to consolidate the entity. This conclusion was based on the fact that the equity-at-risk is insufficient
to support operations without additional investment and that the Company does not hold decision-making power over activities that significantly
impact the JV Entity’s operations. The Company accounted for its investment in the JV Entity as an equity method investment. The
Company recorded the equity method investment at $1.0 million which represents the Company’s contribution into the JV Entity. The
Company’s license contributed to the JV Entity was recorded at its carryover basis of $0. The Company recognized no losses from
the operations of the JV Entity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30 2021, respectively. As of June 30, 2022
and December 31, 2021, the Company’s equity method investment in the JV Entity was $0.
6.
Development and License Agreements
Agreement
with Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking
In
March 2021, the Company entered into an agreement (the IMI JU Agreement) with the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) funded consortium
COMBACTE-NET to collaborate with other participants in a joint undertaking (the IMI JU) to combat bacterial resistance in Europe. The
project facilitates a pan-European clinical trial network to test antibiotics and other drugs to prevent and treat various infections.
This project commenced on January 1, 2013 with an initial duration of seven years. It has since been extended to October 31, 2023. The
project has 46 participants including European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) companies, universities,
research organizations, public bodies, non-profit groups, subject matter experts, and third parties.
The
Company’s primary role in the project is to help lead a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate
efficacy of suvratoxumab in the prevention of S. aureus Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) patients. We are acting as study sponsor for Phase 3 clinical study to be conducted and assume responsibility for ensuring
that all studies are conducted according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
This study will be conducted in approximately 200 sites distributed globally across European Union (EU) and non-EU sites (50% EU and
50% non-EU). To help facilitate these trials, we make in-kind contributions of materials and services to the project at non-EU sites.
The
academic COMBACTE-NET consortium partners initially pay for all costs incurred at EU clinical sites and subsequently bills the Company
for 25% of such costs. Specifically, we are billed for 25% of eligible costs during the entire fiscal year six to seven months following
the fiscal year. The work at these sites is performed entirely by third-party subcontractors. As such, we reimburse the 25% at the passed-through
invoice amounts. There is no reimbursement for costs incurred at non-EU sites. After October 31, 2023, the Company is committed to continuing
the trials whether or not a renewal is executed with the IMI JU. If no renewal is executed, the trials will continue without any form
of reimbursement.
Under
the IMI JU Agreement, the Company will own all results, findings, and intellectual property generated by the project and is entitled
to receive any benefits these items bring. As such, these costs are deemed research and development expenditures. Considering our obligation
to repay a portion of costs incurred, we determined this agreement is under the scope of ASC Subtopic 730-20, Research and Development
Arrangements. Further, as the parties in the IMI JU Agreement are active participants and are exposed to significant risks and rewards
dependent on the commercial success of the research, this agreement is also under the scope of ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements.
For
research and development costs incurred at non-EU sites, we recognize these expenses as incurred. We recognized research and development
expense of $0.1 million and $1.4 million at non-EU sites for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.
For
research and development costs incurred at EU sites, we recognize a liability for the 25% of these costs we are obligated to repay. This
amount reflects gross expenditures incurred net of contributed services to be received from the IMI JU. Research and development expense
of approximately $0.5 million and $1.2 million were incurred at EU sites for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.
Of this gross expense amount, the EU has contributed services of 75%, or $0.4 and $0.9 million for the three and six months ended June
30, 2022, respectively. Thus, our liability presented on the balance sheet is $0.3 million as of June 30, 2022.
In-kind
contributions we make to the program will be expensed as R&D at their fair value when made. If the fair value of an in-kind contribution
we make to the IMI JU differs from its carrying amount, we will recognize a gain or loss on disposition. No gain or loss on disposition
was recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation Development Agreement
In
December 2016, the Company received an award from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (“CFF”), which was executed under the Development
Program Letter Agreement (the “CFF Agreement”), for approximately $2.9 million. Under the CFF Agreement, CFF made an upfront
payment of $200,000 and will make milestone payments to the Company as certain milestones defined in the agreement are met. The milestones
relate to pre-clinical and clinical research activities. The agreement also specifies that we are obligated to cumulatively spend on
the development program at least an equal amount that the Company receives from the CFF. In the event that we do not spend as much as
we received under the agreement, we are obligated to return any overage to the CFF. In November 2018, the CFF increased the award to
approximately $7.5 million.
As
of the adoption date of ASC 606 on January 1, 2019 (the “Adoption Date”), the Company identified the following promises with
regards to the clinical research activities under the CFF Agreement that represent an initial contract of: a) Phase 1 single ascending
dose (“SAD”) clinical trial, which consists of the satisfied development-based milestones and one development-based milestone
in progress which was accounted for as a single performance obligation; and contingent promises of: b) Phase 1 multiple ascending dose
(“MAD”) clinical trial, which consists of one development-based milestone that had not yet been started, and c) Phase 2a
clinical trial, which consists of four development-based milestones that had not yet been started. Of these promises, the Phase 1 SAD
clinical trial was determined to be a distinct performance obligation as of the Adoption Date. For the clinical research activities related
to the Phase 1 MAD clinical trial and the Phase 2a clinical trial that had not yet been started, the Company was contingently obligated
to perform these clinical research activities only after the previous milestones, which achievement was uncertain, had been met.
The
clinical research activities related to the Phase 1 MAD clinical trial and the Phase 2a clinical trial that had not been started were
evaluated to determine if they should be considered variable consideration or contingent promises akin to optional purchases under ASC
606. The Company concluded that these two promises that have not been started are contingent promises because there is substantive uncertainty
about the contingent event occurring (i.e. milestones being achieved) and the contingent event requires additional distinct services
and incremental payments from the CFF. The Company determined that these contingent promises did not provide the CFF with any material
rights. The Phase 1 MAD clinical trial and the Phase 2a clinical trial will be accounted for as separate contracts at the time the Company
is obligated to perform the underlying clinical research activities.
The
Company determined that the consideration for the Phase 1 SAD clinical trial contract included several development-based milestones,
which had been achieved as of the Adoption Date, totaling approximately $1.7 million, and the one development-based milestone in progress
as of the Adoption Date of $1.0 million became probable during the quarter ended March 31, 2019. Additionally, the Company determined
the consideration for the Phase 1 MAD clinical trial contract included one development-based milestone of $1.0 million which was achieved
during the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
The
Company determined the consideration for the Phase 2a clinical trial contract totals approximately $3.8 million which includes four development-based
milestones. The Company determined as of June 30, 2022, the transaction price for the Phase 2a clinical trial contract was $2.0 million
as achievement of two of the development-based milestones was achieved. As of June 30, 2022, the amount of the remaining two development-based
milestones could not be included in the transaction price for this contract as it was contingent on successful completion of the remaining
two milestones, and it was not probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur if those milestones
were included in the transaction price.
The
milestones under the CFF Agreement are development-based milestones related to pre-clinical and clinical research activities and the
realization of or recognition of revenue associated with the milestones as determined by the completion of the milestones and, if applicable,
review and approval of the achievement by the CFF. Each development-based milestone payment has specific criteria that needs to be met,
some examples of which include, the completion of certain study activities and approval to move to the next activity. At every reporting
period, the Company evaluates the individual facts and circumstances of the development-based milestone to assess whether the revenue
attributable to the development-based milestone in progress should be constrained. The constraint assessment by the Company includes
an analysis of the key judgements and considerations used for each milestone which include, but are not limited to, the nature and amount
of work to be performed, if the work is subject to the approval of the CFF, clinical data and uncertainty with regards to the results
of the clinical studies, and the probability of successful clinical studies. The constraint will be removed once the Company achieves
the development-based milestone or has determined that there is probable completion of the development-based milestone, and it has also
concluded that it is not probable that revenue recognized attributable to the development-based milestone will result in a significant
reversal of revenue in the future.
The
Company determined that the clinical research activities under the CFF Agreement should be recognized over time by calculating the amount
of revenue to recognize in any given period by accumulating the total related costs incurred for the respective clinical research activities
related to that distinct performance obligation using the input method (cost-to-cost) and applies that percentage of completion to the
transaction price at each reporting period. The Company believes this method best depicts the transfer of control to the customer, which
occurs as the costs related to the clinical research activities are incurred.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized revenue from the CFF Agreement of approximately $36,000 and
$815,000, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company did not recognize any revenue from the CFF Agreement.
Gates
Foundation Grant Agreement
On
October 15, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (“Gates Foundation” or
“BMGF”) by executing a grant agreement identified as Investment ID INV-033376 (“Grant Agreement”). The goal of
the Grant Agreement is to develop durable approaches to block the infection and transmission of pathogens. For providing research and
development services under the Grant Agreement, the Gates Foundation has agreed to compensate the Company $1.93 million due upon execution
of the Grant Agreement. In return, we agreed to conduct a proof-of-concept study seeking to demonstrate that inhaled neutralizing antibodies
are effective for preventing viral infection and transmission. We are required to ensure global access which means that the knowledge
and information gained from the project will be promptly and broadly disseminated, and that the products, technologies, materials, processes
and other intellectual property resulting from the proof-of-concept study (collectively referred to as the Funded Developments) will
be made available and accessible at an affordable price (i) to people most in need within developing countries or (ii) in support of
the U.S. educational system and public libraries.
Under
the Grant Agreement, the Gates Foundation made an upfront payment of $1.93 million. The Agreement specifies that we may not use funds
provided under the Grant Agreement for any purpose other than the project. The Company is required to repay any portion of the funds
used or committed in material breach of the Grant Agreement. Any grant funds, plus any income, that have not been used for, or committed
to, the Project upon expiration or termination of the Agreement, must be returned promptly to the Gates Foundation.
The
Company will conduct research and development services up until the proof-of-concept study is completed, at which point the Gates Foundation
will determine whether to approve further grant funding for transmission studies or end the study in which case the Company will no longer
provide any significant goods or services. The Company will partner with three main subcontractors to deliver the scope of work described
in the investment document.
The
Grant Agreement is considered within the scope of ASC 606 as the parties have a customer/vendor relationship and are not exposed equally
to the risks and rewards of the research and development services contemplated in the Grant Agreement. The Company identified the following
promises under the Agreement: 1) research and development services, 2) global access commitment, 3) humanitarian license, 4) publication
if requested by the Gates Foundation, and 5) intellectual property reporting upon request. The Company determined that these promises
are not distinct from each other, and therefore represent one performance obligation.
Since
the Company is required to update the Gates Foundation on technical progress during each stage of the Funded Development, the ability
to access research and development results represents the Gates Foundation’s consumption of the benefits from the Company’s
research and development activities. As such, research and development services revenue are recognized over time. At each reporting period,
the amount of revenue to recognize is calculated using the input method (cost-to-cost), by comparing cumulative costs incurred to the
total estimated costs to perform the research and development services and applying that percentage of completion to the transaction
price. The Company believes this method best depicts the transfer of control to the customer, which occurs as the costs related to the
research and development services are incurred.
For
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized revenue of approximately $132,000 and $252,000 from the Grant Agreement,
based on expenses incurred and paid to partners to assist with the research and development services. The Company reduced the contract
liability for the remaining consideration to approximately $1,136,000 in deferred revenue, current, on its condensed consolidated balance
sheet as of June 30, 2022.
Serum
License Agreement
In
July 2019, the Company and Serum International B.V. (“SIBV”), an affiliate of Serum Institute of India Private Limited, entered
into an option agreement which granted SIBV the option to license multiple programs from the Company and access the Company’s MabIgX®
platform technology for asset identification and selection. The Company received an upfront cash payment of $5 million upon execution
of this option agreement. In connection with the option agreement, SIBV made an equity investment whereby the Company issued 801,820
shares of its restricted common stock in a private placement to SIBV for total gross proceeds of $10 million. As a result of this transaction,
SIBV and its affiliates, are considered related parties to the Company.
In
September 2019, the Company and Serum AMR Products (“SAMR”), a party under common ownership of SIBV, entered into a License,
Development and Commercialization Agreement (the “License Agreement”). Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company granted
to SAMR exclusive licenses, and rights to sublicense, certain patent rights and technology related know-how to the Company’s products
AR-301, AR-105, AR-101 (i.e. exclusive rights to, among other things, develop, distribute, market, promote, sell, import and otherwise
commercialize) in (a) the country of India, and (b) all other countries of the world except the USA, Canada, EU Territory, UK, China,
Australia, South Korea, Brazil, New Zealand, and Japan (products AR-105 and AR-101 countries do not exclude South Korea and Brazil) (the
“Limited Territory”); and AR-201 (i.e. exclusive rights to, among other things, develop, manufacture, make, distribute, market,
promote, sell, import and otherwise commercialize) in all countries of the world except China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (the “Worldwide
Territory”) (the “licenses and know-how”). Further, the License Agreement grants SAMR an option for the Company to
provide research services using its MabIgX® platform technology for the identification of up to five (5) candidates including product
development of these identified candidates and an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, make, distribute, market, promote, sell,
import and otherwise commercialize these development products in the Worldwide Territory (the “research and development option”).
Pursuant
to the License Agreement the Company will provide development support related to the licensed products above in order to assist SAMR
in its efforts to develop, receive regulatory approval, and manufacture and sell the licensed products in SAMR’s authorized territories
which will be performed under the direction of a Joint Steering Committee (“JSC”) which the Company will participate in (collectively,
“development support services”). In addition, under the License Agreement, SAMR was granted an exclusive manufacturing license
option as the initial license granted above for AR-301, AR-105 and AR-101 does not allow for manufacturing. This manufacturing option
provides incremental rights related to these products beyond what is granted as part of the licensing discussed above (the “manufacturing
rights option”). If this option is exercised, after SAMR has met certain requirements to exercise the option as defined in the
License Agreement, it would provide for an exclusive license for use by SAMR to manufacture and supply the products for SAMR’s
own use in the Limited Territory and to manufacture and supply these products to the Company, or their affiliates, for the Company’s
use outside the Limited Territory. Should SAMR exercise the development and research option or the manufacturing rights option discussed
above, SAMR and the Company shall negotiate in good faith the economic terms around these arrangements. If a third party sublicensee
of AR-301, AR-105 and AR-101 wishes to manufacture these products by itself for the territory for which it has a license from the Company,
then the Company shall have the right to buy back the manufacturing rights for all territories outside of the Limited Territory by paying
to SAMR $5 million.
Under
the License Agreement, the Company received upfront payments totaling $15 million, of which $5 million was received in July 2019 through
the option agreement referred to above. The Company is also entitled to additional payments from SAMR of up to $42.5 million, conditioned
upon the achievement of specified milestones related to completion of certain trials and regulatory approvals as defined in the License
Agreement. Further, the Company may receive additional royalty-based payments from SAMR if certain sales levels on licensed products
are achieved as defined in the License Agreement.
Given
the equity investment by SIBV was negotiated in conjunction with the option agreement, which resulted in the execution of the
License Agreement, all arrangements were evaluated as a single agreement and amounts were allocated to the elements of the
arrangement based on their fair value. The Company recorded approximately $5.0
million, which represented the fair value of the restricted common stock issued of $5.4
million, net of $441,000 of issuance costs, to stockholders’ equity within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December
31, 2019. The Company allocated the net $4.6 million from the equity investment, after deducting commissions and offering costs, to
the License Agreement. Therefore, the Company recorded approximately $19.6 million to deferred revenue based on the $15.0 million
from upfront payments under the License Agreement and approximately $4.6 million from the equity allocation.
The
License Agreement is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, as the transaction represents a contract with a customer where the
participants function in a customer/vendor relationship and are not exposed equally to the risks and rewards of the activities contemplated
under the License Agreement. Using the concepts of ASC 606, the Company identified the following performance obligations under the License
Agreement: 1) the transfer of licenses of the intellectual property for AR-301, AR-101, AR-105 and AR-201, inclusive of the related technology
know-how conveyance (referred to as the license and know-how above); and 2) the Company to deliver ongoing development support services
related to the licensed products and the Company’s participation in the JSC (referred to as the development support services above);
and identified the following material promises under the License Agreement: 3) SAMR was granted a research and development option of
up to five identified product candidates for the Company to perform including specific development services (the research and development
option referred to above); and 4) SAMR was granted an exclusive manufacturing license option which would provide for incremental manufacturing
rights related to AR-301, AR-105 and AR-101 beyond what is granted in the License Agreement (the manufacturing rights option referred
to above). The Company concluded that the performance obligations and material promises identified are separate and distinct from each
other.
The
Company is also entitled to additional payments from SAMR of up to $42.5 million, conditioned upon the achievement of specified milestones
related to completion of certain trials and regulatory approvals as defined in the License Agreement. Further, the Company may receive
additional royalty-based payments from SAMR if certain sales levels on licensed products are achieved as defined in the License Agreement.
The Company concluded that these milestones and royalty payments each contain a significant uncertainty associated with a future event.
As such, these milestone and royalty payments are constrained at contract inception and are not included in the transaction price as
the Company could not conclude that it is probable a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur
surrounding these payments. At the end of each reporting period, the Company will update its assessment of whether the milestone and
royalty payments are constrained by considering both the likelihood and magnitude of the potential revenue reversal. At June 30, 2022
and December 31, 2021 the Company performed an assessment and determined that these milestone and royalty payments are constrained.
The
Company determined that the transaction price under the License Agreement was $19.6 million, consisting of the $15.0 million from upfront
payments under the License Agreement and approximately $4.6 million from the equity allocation as noted above, which was allocated among
the performance obligations and material promises based on their respective related standalone selling prices. The Company allocated
the $19.6 million transaction price to the following: approximately $14.5 million to the licenses and know-how; approximately $79,000
to the development support services; approximately $892,000 to the research and development option; and approximately $4.1 million to
the manufacturing rights option.
The
Company determined that the intellectual property licensed under the License Agreement represents functional intellectual property and
it has significant standalone functionality and therefore should be recognized at a point in time upon satisfying the performance obligations.
The Company will satisfy the performance obligations upon transfer of the licenses and know-how to SAMR and expects to satisfy these
performance obligations by the end of the third quarter of 2022.
The
Company determined that no performance obligations or material promises were satisfied as of June 30, 2022, and therefore, no revenue
related to the License Agreement was recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. The Company has recorded contract
liabilities resulting from the License Agreement of approximately $18.8 million and $18.7 million to deferred revenue, current, and approximately
$796,000 and $854,000 to deferred revenue, noncurrent, on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December
31, 2021, respectively. The Company capitalized a contract asset resulting from the License Agreement of approximately $2.1 million related
to the incremental costs of obtaining the License Agreement on its condensed consolidated balance sheets, of which approximately $2.0
million and $2.0 million is classified as current, and approximately $84,000 and $96,000 is classified as noncurrent, as of June 30,
2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Kermode
Licensing and Product Discovery Agreement
In
February 2021, the Company entered into an out-licensing and product discovery agreement with Kermode Biotechnologies, Inc.
(“Kermode”) and a statement of work (the “Kermode Agreement”). Under the terms of this agreement, Kermode
will fund for one year the discovery of product candidates for African Swine Fever Virus (“ASFV”) with an option to
include the discovery of product candidates for swine influenza virus (“SIV”). Kermode also received exclusive rights to
all mAbs and vaccines discovered for veterinary uses and rights to a non-exclusive license to use the Company’s ʎPEX
technology platform for further development activities. The Company retained exclusive rights to mAbs and vaccines discovered for
human uses. In March 2021, the Company received a non-refundable upfront payment of $500,000
and received one milestone payment of $250,000
in December 2021. The Company will receive one more milestone payment of $250,000
from Kermode after certain research and development phases in the agreement are completed. The Kermode Agreement defines four phases
of research and development activities. The Company is also entitled to royalty payments based on future net sales if Kermode is
ultimately successful in commercializing product candidates.
The
Kermode Agreement is within the scope of ASC 606 as the parties have a customer/vendor relationship and are not exposed equally to the
risks and rewards of the activities contemplated in the Kermode Agreement. The Company identified the following promises under the Kermode
Agreement: 1) research and development services, and 2) license rights of the ʎPEX Platform and mAbs and vaccines (“Program
IP”). The Company determined that these promises are not distinct from each other, and therefore represent one performance obligation.
As
of June 30, 2022, the transaction price of the Kermode Agreement was $1,000,000,
consisting of the non-refundable upfront payment of $500,000
and the two milestone payments, totaling $500,000.
Potential royalty payments were not included in the transaction price, as it was not probable that a significant reversal of
cumulative revenue recognized would not occur if these amounts were included. At the end of each reporting period, the Company will
update its assessment of whether the milestone payments and royalties are constrained by considering both the likelihood and
magnitude of the potential revenue reversal.
The
Company determined that the one performance obligation under the Kermode Agreement should be recognized over time. At each reporting
period, the amount of revenue to recognize will be calculated using the input method (cost-to-cost), by comparing cumulative costs incurred
to the total estimated costs to perform all four phases of the research and development activities, and applying that percentage of completion
to the transaction price. The Company believes this method best depicts the transfer of control to the customer, which occurs as the
costs related to the research and development activities are incurred.
For
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized approximately $125,000 and $413,000 in revenue respectively related
to the Kermode Agreement. The Company has recorded the remaining portion of the transaction price of $122,000 to deferred revenue, current,
on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2022.
7.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
The
Company applied for and received a loan, which is in the form of a note dated May 1, 2020, from Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”)
in the aggregate amount of approximately $715,000 (the “Loan”), pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”).
The PPP, established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), provides for loans to
qualifying businesses for amounts up to 2.5 times of the average monthly payroll expenses of the qualifying business.
In
May 2021, the Company received confirmation that the PPP Loan was forgiven by the SBA and was legally released from its financial obligation
by the lender, SVB. As such, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recognized in its condensed consolidated statement
of operations a gain on extinguishment of PPP Loan of approximately $722,000, which includes the PPP Loan principal of approximately
$715,000 and accrued interest of approximately $7,000. At June 30, 2022, the Company had no liabilities related to the PPP Loan recorded
in its condensed consolidated balance sheet.
8.
Notes Payable
Note
Purchase Agreement
On
November 23, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement (“Note Purchase Agreement”) with Streeterville Capital, LLC (Lender),
pursuant to which we issued to the Lender a secured promissory note (Note) in the aggregate principal amount of $5,250,000. Closing occurred
on November 23, 2021 (Issuance Date). The Note carries an original issue discount of $250,000. The Note bears interest at the rate of
6% per annum and matures on November 23, 2023. Beginning on May 23, 2022, the Lender has the right to redeem all or any portion of the
Note up to the Maximum Monthly Redemption Amount which is $450,000. Pursuant to the terms agreed in the Note Purchase Agreement, the
Company issued a second Note to the Lender on February 21, 2022 in the aggregate principal amount of $5,250,000 with terms substantially
similar to the first Note except the maturity date is February 21, 2024. As of June 30, 2022 the Lender has exercised their right to
redeem one of the Maximum Monthly Redemption Amounts and the Company has requested a payment deferral.
Payments
of each redemption amount must be made in cash. Pursuant to the Note, the Company can defer all redemption payments that the Lender could
otherwise elect to make during any calendar month on three (3) separate occasions by providing written notice to Lender at least three
(3) trading days prior to the first day of each such calendar month for which it wishes to defer redemptions for that month. In the event
the Company elects to defer, the aggregate principal amount plus accrued but unpaid interest (Outstanding Amount) shall automatically
be increased by (a) 0.5% for the first exercise; (b) 1% for the second exercise and (c) 1.5% for the third exercise. The Company can
prepay all or any portion of the Outstanding Amount at a rate of (a) 105% of the portion of the Outstanding Balance the Company elects
to prepay if prepayment occurs on or before the three-month anniversary of the Issuance Date; (b) 107.5% of the portion of the Outstanding
Balance the Company elects to prepay if prepayment occurs after the three-month anniversary of the Issuance Date but on or before the
six-month anniversary of the Issuance Date and (c) 110% of the Outstanding Balance if the prepayment occurs after the six-month anniversary
of the Issuance Date.
Pursuant
to the Note Purchase Agreement, we are subject to certain covenants, including the obligations to: (i) timely file all reports required
to be filed under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and not terminate
its status as an issuer required to file reports under the Exchange Act; (ii) maintain listing of our common stock on a securities exchange;
and (iii) avoid trading in our common stock from being suspended, halted, chilled, frozen or otherwise ceased. The Note is secured by
the Company’s MabIgX assets.
The
Company elected to apply the fair value option to the measurement of this note. The total initial fair value at issuance was $5,250,000
for each Note. The Company remeasured the fair value as of June 30, 2022 and recognized an expense of $273,000 as the fair value of note
had increased, which included $27,000 related to 0.5% additional interest on deferral of first payment. The fair value measurement includes
interest, at the stated rate, and thus separate amount is not reflected in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company
has recorded a liability of approximately $10,921,000 to Note Payable, non-current for both Notes, as of June 30, 2022.
Fair
value of notes payable, non-current (in thousands):
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments
| |
| | |
Balance as of December 31, 2021 | |
$ | 5,282 | |
Addition of notes payable | |
| 5,000 | |
Original issuance discount | |
| 250 | |
Change in fair value of notes payable | |
| 389 | |
Balance as of June 30, 2022 | |
$ | 10,921 | |
Insurance
Financing
The
Company obtained financing for certain Director & Officer liability insurance policy premiums. The agreement assigns First Insurance
Funding (Lender) a first priority lien on and security interest in the financed policies and any additional premium required in the financed
policies including (a) all returned or unearned premiums, (b) all additional cash contributions or collateral amounts assessed by the
insurance companies in relation to the financed policies and financed by Lender, (c) any credits generated by the financed policies,
(d) dividend payments, and (e) loss payments which reduce unearned premiums. If any circumstances exist in which premiums related to
any Financed Policy could become fully earned in the event of loss, Lender shall be named a loss-payee with respect to such policy.
The
total premiums, taxes and fees financed is approximately $1,645,000 with an annual interest rate of 3.67%. In consideration of the premium
payment by Lender to the insurance companies or the Agent or Broker, the Company unconditionally promises to pay Lender the amount Financed
plus interest and other charges permitted under the Agreement. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the balance of insurance financing
note payable was $0 and approximately $696,000 on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company paid the insurance financing
through installment payments with the last payment being on May 14, 2022.
9.
Warrants
In
August 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “August 2021 Securities Purchase Agreement”) with
an institutional investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to offer, issue and sell to this investor, in a registered direct offering,
1,300,000 shares of its Common Stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,647,556 shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded
Warrants”), and warrants to purchase up to 2,473,778 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). The combined purchase
price of each share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants is $5.053 per share. The combined purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant
and accompanying Warrant is $5.052 (equal to the combined purchase price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant, minus $0.001).
The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million, and after deducting the placement agent fees and expenses and offering
costs, net proceeds were approximately $22.6 million (see Note 9).
Each
Warrant is exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The Warrants are immediately exercisable
and will expire seven years from the original issuance date, or August 4, 2028. The Pre-Funded Warrants were offered in lieu of shares
of Common Stock to the Purchaser whose purchase of shares of Common Stock in the Offering would otherwise result in the Purchaser, together
with its affiliates and certain related parties, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the Purchaser, 9.99)% of
the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately following the consummation of this Offering. Each Pre-Funded Warrant is exercisable
for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share. The Pre-Funded Warrants are immediately exercisable and may be
exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. A holder (together with its affiliates) may not exercise
any portion of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, to the extent that the holder would own more than 4.99% (or, at the
holder’s option upon issuance, 9.99)% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock immediately after exercise, as such percentage
ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrant or Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable. The exercise price of the Warrants
and the Pre-Funded Warrants are subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividends and splits, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
reorganization or similar transaction, as described in the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants. Each of the Warrants and the Pre-Funded
Warrants may be exercised on a “cashless” basis under certain circumstances set forth in the Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants.
The
Company measured the fair value of the Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants based on the Company’s closing stock price on the date
the August 2021 Purchase Agreement was entered into and the fair value of the Warrants was based upon a BSM valuation model. The BSM
valuation model used the following assumptions: expected term of seven years, expected volatility of approximately 97%, risk-free interest
rate of 0.96%, and dividend yield of 0%. The Company used the relative fair value method to allocate the net proceeds received from the
sale of the Common Stock, the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Warrants of approximately $22.6 million. The Company recorded approximately
$4.4 million, $12.2 million and $6 million, which represented the relative fair value of the Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants,
respectively, to stockholders’ deficit within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.
In
December 2021, all of the Pre-Funded Warrants were exercised. A total of 3,647,556 shares of Common Stock were issued in exchange for
approximately $4,000 in cash as a result of the exercise.
10.
Common Stock
As of June 30, 2022 (unaudited), the Company
had reserved the following common stock for future issuance:
Schedule of Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance
Shares reserved for exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase common stock | |
| 3,592,905 | |
Shares reserved for exercise of outstanding options to purchase common stock | |
| 2,105,715 | |
Shares reserved for issuance of future options | |
| 777,843 | |
Total | |
| 6,476,463 | |
Securities
Purchase Agreement
In
March 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “March 2021 Securities Purchase Agreement”) with
certain institutional and individual investors (the “Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to offer, issue and
sell to the Purchasers, in a registered direct offering, an aggregate of 1,037,405 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $7.0
million, and after deducting commissions and offering costs, net proceeds were approximately $6.4 million.
In
October 2020, shares of Common Stock were sold in a registered direct offering in which each share contains a price based anti-dilution
rights. If the Company issues additional securities at a purchase price less than the purchase price paid by these respective holders,
the Company shall issue additional common shares equal to the difference of the number of common shares that each respective shareholder
would have received if they paid the subsequent lower price, and the number of shares each respective shareholder originally received.
As a result of the March 2021 registered direct offering price per share being less than the October 2020 registered direct offering
price per share, the Company was obligated to issue an additional 124,789 shares of unregistered Common Stock to the investors in the
Company’s October 2020 registered direct offering pursuant to the anti-dilutive provisions of the October 2020 Securities Purchase
Agreement. In March 2021, the Company issued 124,789 dividend shares to its common stockholders with a fair value of approximately $986,000,
which the Company recorded as a credit to additional paid-in capital, and since the Company had an accumulated deficit, the corresponding
debit to additional paid-in capital, resulting in no dollar impact within the Company’s consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’
deficit for the year ended December 31, 2021.
MedImmune
Limited License Agreement
Effective
July 12, 2021, the Company entered into the MedImmune License Agreement, pursuant to which MedImmune granted the Company an exclusive
worldwide license for the development and commercialization of suvratoxumab, a Phase 3 ready fully human monoclonal antibody targeting
S. aureus, alpha toxin (see Note 4). As part of the consideration for the MedImmune License Agreement, the Company issued 884,956
shares of its common stock to MedImmune. The fair value of the 884,956 shares of the Company’s common stock issued in connection
with the MedImmune License agreement is approximately $6.5 million. The Company measured the fair value of the common stock issued to
MedImmune based on the Company’s closing stock price on the effective date of the MedImmune License Agreement. The Company recognized
the $6.5 million as research and development expense within its consolidated statement of operations and additional paid-in capital within
equity in its consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2021.
August
2021 Securities Purchase Agreement
In
August 2021, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “August 2021 Securities Purchase Agreement”) with
an institutional investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to offer, issue and sell to this investor, in a registered direct offering,
1,300,000 shares of its Common Stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 3,647,556 shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded
Warrants”), and warrants to purchase up to 2,473,778 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrants”). The combined purchase
price of each share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrants is $5.053 per share. The combined purchase price of each Pre-Funded Warrant
and accompanying Warrant is $5.052 (equal to the combined purchase price per share of Common Stock and accompanying Warrant, minus $0.001).
The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $25.0 million, and after deducting the placement agent fees and expenses and offering
costs, net proceeds were approximately $22.6 million (see Note 10).
As
a result of this registered direct offering price per share being less than the October 2020 and March 2021 registered direct offerings
price per share, the Company was obligated to issue an additional 634,600 shares of unregistered Common Stock to the investors in the
Company’s October 2020 and March 2021 registered direct offerings pursuant to the anti-dilutive provisions of the October 2020
and March 2021 Securities Purchase Agreements. In August 2021, the Company issued 634,600 dividend shares to certain common stockholders
with a fair value of approximately $3.1 million, which the Company recorded as a credit to additional paid-in capital, and since the
Company has an accumulated deficit, the corresponding debit to additional paid-in capital, resulting in no dollar impact within the Company’s
consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ deficit for the year ended December 31, 2021. The company has fulfilled the
obligation and no further anti-dilutive provisions are available.
ATM
Agreement
On
January 19, 2022, the Company entered into an At-the-Market Sales Agreement (“Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu”),
as sales agent. Pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company may issue and sell from time-to-time shares of its common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share, through Virtu, acting as its sales agent, or directly to Virtu, acting as principal. Pursuant to the Company’s
prospectus supplement filed on January 19, 2022, the Company may issue and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering
price of up to $25.0 million.
Under
the Sales Agreement, Shares will be offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-233601) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 3, 2019, declared effective by the
SEC on September 5, 2019. In addition, under the Sales Agreement, sales of Shares may be made by any method permitted by law deemed to
be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The
Company will pay Virtu a commission rate of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of Shares and has agreed to provide Virtu
with customary indemnification and contribution rights. The Company will also reimburse Virtu for certain specified expenses in connection
with entering into the Sales Agreement. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares under the Sales Agreement and may at
any time suspend the offering of its common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions. The Sales Agreement contains customary
representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions.
During
the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2022, the Company had not sold any shares of common stock under the ATM Sales Agreement.
The ATM Sales Agreement facility currently cannot be used without the Company updating certain required conditions that are expired.
The Company presently has no plans to update such required conditions.
11.
Stock-Based Compensation
Equity
Incentive Plan
In
May 2014, the Company adopted and the shareholders approved the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2014 Plan). Under the 2014 Plan, 233,722
shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for the issuance of stock options to employees, directors, and consultants,
under terms and provisions established by the Board of Directors. Under the terms of the 2014 Plan, options may be granted at an exercise
price not less than fair market value. For employees holding more than 10% of the voting rights of all classes of stock, the exercise
prices for incentive stock options may not be less than 110% of fair market value, as determined by the Board of Directors. The terms
of options granted under the 2014 Plan may not exceed ten years.
In
June 2020, the adoption of an amendment to the 2014 Plan to eliminate the evergreen provision and set the number of shares of common
stock reserved for issuance thereunder to 2,183,692 shares was approved by the Company’s stockholders.
In
June 2022, the shareholder approved an additional 750,000 shares to be reserved for the issuance of stock options to employees, directors,
and consultants, under terms and provisions established by the Board of Directors.
Stock
Options
The
number of shares, terms, and vesting periods are determined by the Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof on an option
by option basis. Options generally vest ratably over service periods of up to four years and expire ten years from the date of grant.
Stock
option activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is represented in the following table:
Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity
| |
| | |
Options Outstanding | |
| |
Shares Available | | |
Number of | | |
Weighted-
Average | |
| |
for Grant | | |
Shares | | |
Exercise Price | |
Balances at December 31, 2021 | |
| 228,099 | | |
| 1,905,459 | | |
$ | 9.43 | |
Options granted | |
| (85,635 | ) | |
| 85,635 | | |
$ | 1.92 | |
Options cancelled | |
| 42,064 | | |
| (42,064 | ) | |
$ | 5.80 | |
Balances at March 31, 2022 | |
| 184,528 | | |
| 1,949,030 | | |
$ | 8.24 | |
Additional shares reserved | |
| 750,000 | | |
| — | | |
$ | — | |
Options granted | |
| (258,934 | ) | |
| 258,934 | | |
$ | 1.08 | |
Options cancelled | |
| 102,249 | | |
| (102,249 | ) | |
$ | 6.88 | |
Balances at June 30, 2022 | |
| 777,843 | | |
| 2,105,715 | | |
$ | 7.42 | |
The
Company estimated the fair value of options using the BSM option valuation model. The fair value of options is being amortized on a straight-line
basis over the requisite service period of the awards. The fair value of the options granted during the three and six months ended June
30, 2022 and 2021 were estimated using the following assumptions:
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions
| |
Three Months Ended | | |
Six Months Ended | |
| |
June 30, | | |
June 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
Expected term (in years) | |
| 6.00 | | |
| 6.00 | | |
| 6.00 | | |
| 6.00 | |
Expected volatility | |
| 99%-100 | % | |
| 99%-100 | % | |
| 99%-
100 | % | |
| 99%- 100 | % |
Risk-free interest-rate | |
| 2.44% - 3.03 | % | |
| 1.07%
- 1.14 | % | |
| 1.72%
- 3.03 | % | |
| 0.75% - 1.14 | % |
Dividend yield | |
| 0 | % | |
| 0 | % | |
| 0 | % | |
| 0 | % |
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company granted options to purchase 258,934 shares and 334,569 shares with a weighted-average
grant date fair value of $0.84 and $0.95 per share, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company granted
options to purchase 145,000 shares and 173,500 shares with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $4.83 and $4.63 per share, respectively.
There
were no options exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. There were no options exercised during the three months
ended June 30, 2021. There were 1,559 options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2021, and the aggregate intrinsic value
of these options exercised was approximately $5,000.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
following table presents stock-based compensation expense related to stock options (in thousands):
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
Three Months Ended | | |
Six Months Ended | |
| |
June 30, | | |
June 30, | |
| |
2022 | | |
2021 | | |
2022 | | |
2021 | |
| |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | | |
(unaudited) | |
Research and development | |
$ | 169 | | |
$ | 172 | | |
$ | 332 | | |
$ | 332 | |
General and administrative | |
| 287 | | |
| 381 | | |
| 480 | | |
| 788 | |
Total | |
$ | 456 | | |
$ | 553 | | |
$ | 812 | | |
$ | 1,120 | |
As
of June 30, 2022, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expenses related to unvested stock options was approximately $1.7 million,
which is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.4 years.
12.
Related Parties
Joint
Venture
On
February 11, 2018, the Company entered into a Joint Venture (“JV”) Agreement with Hepalink which is a related party and principal
shareholder in the Company, pursuant to which the Company formed a JV Entity for developing and commercializing products for infectious
diseases in the greater China territories. It was agreed by the parties that the Company shall be reimbursed for certain legal and contract
manufacturing expenses related to the clinical drug supply for a Phase 3 clinical study of AR-301 and the clinical drug supply for a
clinical study of AR-105. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded approximately $16,000 and $14,000,
respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded approximately $33,000 and $47,000, respectively,
as a reduction to operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for amounts reimbursed to the Company by
the JV Entity under this arrangement. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company recorded approximately $48,000 and $15,000,
respectively, in other receivables on the condensed consolidated balance sheets for amounts owed to the Company by the JV Entity under
this arrangement and the Company expects the amounts to be collectable and as a result, no reserve for uncollectability was established.
Serum
International B.V.
In
July 2019, the Company issued 801,820 shares of its restricted common stock in a private placement to Serum International B.V. (“SIBV”),
an affiliate of Serum Institute of India Private Limited, for total gross proceeds of $10 million. As a result of this transaction, SIBV
and its affiliates are considered related parties to the Company. In September 2019, the Company and Serum AMR Products (“SAMR”),
a party under common ownership of SIBV, entered into a License, Development and Commercialization Agreement (the “License Agreement”)
(see Note 6).
The
Company determined that no performance obligations or material promises were satisfied as of June 30, 2022, and therefore, no revenue
related to the License Agreement was recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and, 2021. The Company has recorded
contract liabilities resulting from the License Agreement of approximately $18.8 million and $18.7 million to deferred revenue, current,
and approximately $796,000 and $854,000 to deferred revenue, noncurrent, on its condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30,
2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The Company capitalized a contract asset resulting from the License Agreement of approximately
$2.1 million related to the incremental costs of obtaining the License Agreement on its condensed consolidated balance sheets, of which
approximately $2.0 million and $2.0 million is classified as current, and approximately $84,000 and $90,000 is classified as noncurrent,
as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
13.
Commitments and Contingencies
Facility
Lease
The
Company determines if an arrangement is a finance lease, operating lease or short-term lease at inception, or as applicable, and accounts
for the arrangement under the relevant accounting literature. Currently, the Company is only party to a non-cancelable office space operating
lease. Under the relevant guidance, the Company recognizes operating lease ROU assets and liabilities based on the present value of the
future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date, using the Company’s assumed incremental borrowing rate
of 6%, and amortizes the ROU assets and liabilities over the lease term. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line
basis over the lease term.
In
October 2020, the Company entered into a new lease agreement (the “Lease Agreement”) with Boccardo Corporation (the “Landlord”)
pursuant to which the Company leased approximately 15,129 square feet of office and laboratory space in Los Gatos, California. In December
2020, the Company moved into the new facility which serves as the Company’s corporate headquarters and the Company has made leasehold
improvements to the new facility of which approximately $378,000 may be reimbursed by the Landlord as certain criteria are met as defined
in the Lease Agreement. The lease commenced in December 2020 and has an approximate five-year term with a three-year renewal option.
Rental payments by the Company commenced on February 1, 2021. In connection with the Lease Agreement, the Company was required to deliver
a security deposit in the form of a letter of credit of $500,000 to the Landlord, which is classified as restricted cash, noncurrent,
in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.
As
of January 1, 2022, the company adopted ASC 842, Leases. The company recognizes ROU assets and lease liabilities at the adoption
date based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term. The discount rate used was the incremental borrowing
rate of 6% in determining the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The company recognized ROU assets of $1.9 million and
lease liabilities of $2.3 million as of adoption date. As of June 30, 2022, the Company’s ROU assets and liabilities related to
the Lease are as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of Operating Lease Assets and Liabilities
ROU assets | |
$ | 1,647 | |
| |
| | |
Current portion of lease liabilities (included in current liabilities) | |
| 514 | |
Lease liabilities, less current portion | |
| 1,565 | |
Total lease liabilities | |
$ | 2,079 | |
The
future minimum lease payments for the new facility as of June 30, 2022 are as follows (in thousands):
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases
| |
| | |
Period ending: | |
| |
Six months ending December 31, 2022 | |
$ | 306 | |
Year ending December 31, 2023 | |
| 628 | |
Year ending December 31, 2024 | |
| 646 | |
Year ending December 31, 2025 | |
| 666 | |
Thereafter | |
| 57 | |
Future minimum lease payments | |
| 2,303 | |
Interest remaining | |
| (224 | ) |
Total | |
$ | 2,079 | |
Indemnification
In
the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts and agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties
and provide for general indemnifications. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves claims that
may be made against the Company in the future but have not yet been made. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required
to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. However, the Company may incur charges in the future as a result of
these indemnification obligations.
License
Agreements
The
Company has entered into various collaboration and licensing agreements that provide it with access to certain technology and patent
rights. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company may be required to make milestone payments upon achievement of certain development
and regulatory activities. None of these events occurred as of June 30, 2022.
Contingencies
From
time to time, the Company may have certain contingent liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. The Company
accrues a liability for such matters when it is probable that a potential loss will be incurred and such amount can be reasonably estimated.
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, no accruals have been made related to commitments and contingencies.
From
time to time, the Company may be involved in various legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business.
See below Legal Proceedings ongoing at December 31, 2021, and as of June 30, 2022.
Legal
Proceedings
A
complaint was filed in February 2020 in the New York State Supreme Court against the Company by an investor who invested in the Company’s
preferred stock in July 2017 prior to the Company’s IPO in August 2018. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the Company
breached its contract and fiduciary duty, by not issuing additional securities to the investor as a result of the Company’s IPO.
The plaintiff is asking for approximately $277,000 in compensatory damages. The parties are currently in fact discovery. The Company
believes that the claims in this complaint are without merit and intends to defend vigorously against them.
The
Company submitted an amended complaint in Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara, against our former landlord
on February 4, 2022, asserting claims for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrongful eviction/constructive
eviction and unjust enrichment and violation of the unfair competition law. The claims arise from rent increases and the termination
of the tenancy that we allege were not permitted by the agreement with the landlord. We seek to recover rent paid under protest, our
deposit, moving and relocation expenses and consequential damages arising from disruption to our operations. The landlord has filed a
cross-complaint for damage to property and attorneys’ fees. The Company believes that the cross- complaint is without merit and
intends to defend against it.
The
Company accrues a liability for such matters when it is probable that potential loss will be incurred and such amount can be reasonably
estimated. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, no liability has been recognized in relation to these matters.
Grant
Income
The
Company receives various grants that are subject to audit by the grantors or their representatives. Such audits could result in requests
for reimbursement for expenditures disallowed under the terms of the grant. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, management has
complied with all of the required grant terms. There are no grant audits currently in process.
Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation Agreement
In
December 2016, the Company received an award for up to $2.9 million from the CFF to advance research on potential drugs utilizing inhaled
gallium citrate anti-infective. In November 2018, the CFF increased the award to $7.5 million. Under the award agreement, the CFF will
make payments to the Company as certain milestones are met. The award agreement also contains a provision whereby if the Company spends
less on developing a potential drug utilizing inhaled gallium citrate anti-infective than the Company actually receives under this award
agreement, the Company will be required to return the excess portion of the award to the CFF. At the end of any reporting period, if
the Company determines that the cumulative amount spent on this program is less than the cumulative cash received from the CFF, the Company
will record the excess amount received as a liability. No liability related to this excess amount was recorded by the Company as of June
30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
In
the event that development efforts are successful and the Company commercializes a drug from these related development efforts, the Company
will be subject to paying to CFF a one-time amount over time equal to nine times the actual net award received from CFF. Such amount
shall be paid in not more than five annual installments, as follows: within ninety days of the end of the calendar year in which the
first commercial sale occurs, and within ninety days of the end of each subsequent calendar year until the net amount received from CFF
is repaid. The Company shall pay 15% of net sales for that calendar year up to the amount of the net award received from CFF (except
that in the fifth installment, if any, the Company shall pay the remaining unpaid portion of the net award received from CFF).
In
the event that the Company licenses rights to the product in the field to a third-party, sells the product, or consummates a change of
control transaction prior to the first commercial sale, the Company shall pay to CFF an amount equal to 15% of the amounts received by
the Company and its shareholders in connection with such disposition (whether paid upfront or in accordance with subsequent milestones
and whether paid in cash or property) up to nine times the actual net award received from CFF. The payment shall be made within sixty
days after the closing of such a transaction.
In
the event that the development efforts are delayed, which result from events within the Company’s control, for more than one hundred
eighty (180) consecutive days at any time before the first commercialization of the drug from the related development efforts, the CFF
may provide an interruption notice to the Company, or in lieu of the interruption license, pay to the CFF an amount greater than two
times the award received plus interest up to the time of such election. The Company then has thirty (30) days to respond to such notice.
If the Company does not respond within thirty (30) days, an interruption license shall be effective. The interruption license to the
CFF is an exclusive, worldwide license under the development program technology to manufacture, have manufactured, license, use, sell,
offer to sell, and support the product in the field and includes financial conditions for both parties.
None
of these events have occurred as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Kermode
Agreement
In
February 2021, the Company entered into the Kermode Agreement, in which the Company received an upfront payment of $500,000 and received
one milestone payment of $250,000 in December 2021. The Company will receive one more milestone payment of $250,000 from Kermode after
certain research and development phases in the agreement are completed. The Company is also entitled to additional payments from Kermode
for royalty payments on future net sales (see Note 6). In the event that the research and development efforts under the agreement are
successful and if the Company elects to develop and commercialize products under certain provisions contained in the agreement, the Company
shall pay to Kermode a 5% royalty of net sales from those products. None of these events occurred as of June 30, 2022.
14.
Subsequent Events
There
were no subsequent events as of the filing date of this 10-Q.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report are forward-looking
statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,”
“expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,”
“predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Our
operations and business prospects are always subject to risks and uncertainties including, among others:
|
● |
the
timing of regulatory submissions; |
|
● |
our
ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our existing product candidates and any other product candidates we may develop,
and the labeling under any approval we may obtain; |
|
● |
approvals
for clinical trials may be delayed or withheld by regulatory agencies; |
|
● |
preclinical
and clinical studies will not be successful or confirm earlier results, meet expectations, meet regulatory requirements, or meet
performance thresholds for commercial success; |
|
● |
risks
relating to the timing and costs of clinical trials, the timing and costs of other expenses; |
|
● |
risks
associated with obtaining third-party funding; |
|
● |
risks
associated with delays, increased costs and funding shortages caused by or resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; |
|
● |
risks
associated with delays, increased costs and funding shortages caused by or resulting from geopolitical disruptions, such as the conflict
between Ukraine and Russia; |
|
● |
management
and employee operations and execution risks; |
|
● |
loss
of key personnel; |
|
● |
competition; |
|
● |
risks
related to market acceptance of products; |
|
● |
intellectual
property risks; |
|
● |
assumptions
regarding the size of the available market, benefits of our products, product pricing, and timing of product launches; |
|
● |
risks
associated with the uncertainty of future financial results; |
|
● |
our
ability to attract collaborators and partners; and |
|
● |
risks
associated with our reliance on third-party organizations. |
Any
forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial
performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under
Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Given these uncertainties, you should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking
statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.
This
Quarterly Report also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for
certain diseases, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, and the incidence and prevalence of certain medical conditions.
Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties
and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise
expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data
prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources.