(3) | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Any references in these notes to applicable guidance are meant to refer to GAAP as found in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Significant areas that require management’s estimates include the fair value of the Company’s common stock prior to its initial public offering, and accrued research and development expenses. (c) | Fair Value Measurements |
The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels: | • | Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date. |
| • | Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. |
| • | Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
Management believes that the carrying amounts of cash equivalents and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The Company evaluates transfers between levels at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The Company considers all highly liquid investment instruments with a remaining maturity when purchased of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Investments qualifying as cash equivalents consist of money market funds, including money market funds held in a sweep account. Cash equivalents are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. The amount of cash equivalents included in cash and cash equivalents was approximately $69.3 million and $124.3 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. (e) Investments The Company classifies all of its investments as available-for-sale based upon its intent with regard to such investments. The Company classifies investments as short-term when their remaining contractual maturities are one year or less from the balance sheet date, and as long-term when the investment has a remaining contractual maturity of more than one year from the balance sheet date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities in this category is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is included in interest and investment income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary on available-for-sale securities, are included in interest and investment income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest and investment income. To determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment exists, the Company considers whether it has the ability and intent to hold the investment until a market price recovery, and whether evidence indicating the recoverability of the cost of the investment outweighs evidence to the contrary. (f) Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments. The Company maintains its balances at high quality, accredited financial institutions and, accordingly, it believes such funds are subject to minimal credit risk. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to significant risk on these balances. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss. The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease, its classification, and its term at the lease commencement date. Leases with a term greater than one year will be recognized on the balance sheet as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current lease liabilities, and if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company has elected certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance to not record short-term leases (terms less than 12 months). Lease liabilities and the corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present values of lease payments over the lease term. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rates, which are the rates that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis, over similar terms, amounts equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Payments for non-lease components or that are variable in nature that do not depend on a rate or index are not included in the lease liability and are typically expensed as incurred. If significant events, changes in circumstances, or other events indicate that the lease term or other inputs have changed, the Company would reassess lease classification, remeasure the lease liability using revised inputs as of the reassessment date, and adjust the ROU assets. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term for operating-classified leases. (h) | Research and Development Costs |
Research and development costs are recorded as expense as incurred and principally consist of contract research organization costs as well as personnel costs, and amounts paid to third parties for up-front and milestone payments made under license and collaboration agreements. When third-party service providers’ billing terms do not coincide with the Company’s period-end, the Company is required to make estimates of its obligations to those third parties, including clinical trial costs, contractual services costs and costs for supply of its drug candidates, incurred in a given accounting period and record accruals at the end of the period. The Company bases its estimates on the completion status of the research and development programs and the associated estimate of unbilled costs. (i) | Stock-Based Compensation Expense |
The Company measures stock-based awards, including stock options, at their grant-date fair value and records compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period of the awards. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Estimating the fair value of stock options requires the use of subjective assumptions, including the fair value of the Company’s common stock (prior to its initial public offering in January 2024), the expected term of the option and expected stock price volatility. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value its stock option awards. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and management uses different assumptions, stock-based compensation expense could be materially different for future awards. The fair value of the Company’s common stock, prior to its initial public offering, was estimated by the Company’s board of directors, with input from management considering the most recently available third-party valuation of the Company’s common stock. Subsequent to its initial public offering on January 26, 2024, the fair value of common stock is based on the closing market price of common stock on the date of grant. The expected term of stock options for employees is estimated using the “simplified method,” as the Company has limited historical information to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior for its stock option grants. The simplified method is the midpoint between the vesting date and the contractual term of the option. The contractual term is used as the expected term for stock options granted to non-employees. For stock price volatility, the Company uses comparable public companies as a basis for the expected volatility to calculate the fair value of option grants. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve commensurate with the expected term of the option. The expected dividend yield is zero given the Company does not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted net loss per share of common stock includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible preferred stock and stock options, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of common stock is the same for basic net loss per share since when a net loss exists, potentially dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as their impact is anti-dilutive. The Company’s convertible preferred stock entitled the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the Company, and, if the Company had recognized net income, it would have used the two-class method to calculate earnings per share. The two-class method was not applicable during periods with a net loss, as the holders of the convertible preferred stock had no obligation to fund losses. The following table sets forth the computation of net loss per share, basic and diluted (in thousands, except share and per share data): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Year Ended December 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | Numerator: | | | | | | | Net loss | | $ | (80,488) | | $ | (69,333) | Denominator: | | | | | | | Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | | | 31,469,328 | | | 2,633,907 | Less: Weighted-average shares of common stock subject to repurchase | | | — | | | (492,956) | Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted | | | 31,469,328 | | | 2,140,951 | | | | | | | | Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted | | $ | (2.56) | | $ | (32.38) |
The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive: | | | | | | | | | | | | December 31, | | | 2024 | | 2023 | Series A convertible preferred stock (as converted to common stock) | | — | | 9,861,923 | Series B convertible preferred stock (as converted to common stock) | | — | | 9,705,383 | Stock options | | 2,531,144 | | 1,683,156 | | | 2,531,144 | | 21,250,462 |
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. 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 reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the provision for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not-to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, that are considered appropriate as well as the related net interest and penalties. The Company will recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense (benefit). (l) | Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted |
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements through incremental disclosures about significant segment expenses, including for companies with a single reportable segment. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with retrospective application required. The Company adopted this standard in fiscal year 2024. See Note 12, Segment Information. (m) | Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted |
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This standard includes the requirement that public business entities, on an annual basis, disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold (if the effect of those reconciling items is equal to or greater than 5% of the amount computed by multiplying pretax income (or loss) by the applicable statutory income tax rate). It also requires that all entities disclose, on an annual basis, the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes and the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid (net of refunds received) is equal to or greater than 5% of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received) and requires that all entities disclose income (or loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense (or benefit) disaggregated between domestic and foreign and income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign. Lastly, this standard eliminates the requirement for all entities to disclose the nature and estimate of the range of the reasonably possible change in the unrecognized tax benefits balance in the next 12 months or make a statement that an estimate of the range cannot be made. This standard is effective for the Company for the annual period beginning January 1, 2026 (or January 1, 2025 if the Company loses its status as an emerging growth company within 2025). Early adoption is permitted. This standard should be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard may have on its financial statements. In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03 Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This standard requires an entity to disclose on an annual and interim basis, disaggregated information about specific income statement expense categories. It also requires an entity to include certain amounts that are already required to be disclosed under current GAAP in the same disclosure. Additionally, it requires an entity to disclose a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, and to disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, an entity’s definition of selling expenses. This standard is effective for the Company for the annual period beginning January 1, 2027 and interim periods beginning January 1, 2028. Early adoption is permitted. This standard can be applied prospectively for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard may have on its financial statements. On January 23, 2024, the Company filed an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation and effected a 15.21-for-1 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock. All common stock share and per-share amounts presented in the financial statements and related notes have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split. (o) | License and Collaboration Agreements |
The Company analyzes its license and collaborative agreements to assess whether they are within the scope of ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements (“ASC 808”) to determine whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of such activities. To the extent the arrangement is within the scope of ASC 808, the Company assesses whether aspects of the arrangement are within the scope of other accounting literature. If the Company concludes that some or all aspects of the arrangement represent a transaction with a customer, it accounts for those aspects of the arrangement within the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. None of the license and collaboration agreements discussed in Note 11 represent transactions with customers. If the Company concludes that some or all aspects of the arrangement are within the scope of ASC 808 and do not represent a transaction with a customer, it recognizes costs incurred as a component of the related expense in the period incurred. The arrangements may also require the Company to make payments on achievement of certain milestones, including clinical, regulatory, and development milestones. Clinical, regulatory, and development milestones are recognized as research and development expense only when such milestones are deemed probable of being achieved.
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