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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

2021.

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                   

Commission file number001-38129

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

04-3562403

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

840 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA

02139

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (617) 498-0020

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value

MRSN

The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

NONE

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.Yes    No  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.Yes    No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.            Yes    No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).Yes    No  

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§299.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.               

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).Yes    No  

As of June 30, 2018,2021, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates was $262,605,135,$799,836,646, based on the last reported sale price of such stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market as of such date.

As of March 7, 2019,February 25, 2022, the registrant had 47,684,16483,389,806 shares of common stock outstanding at a par value $0.0001 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement that will be filed for the 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders within 120 days of the end of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are incorporated by reference in Part III.

III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent stated herein.






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PART I

REFERENCES TO MERSANA

Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the “Company,” “Mersana,” “we,” “us,” and “our,” except where the context requires otherwise, refer to Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, and “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

AND INDUSTRY DATA

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward‑lookingforward-looking statements. Forward‑lookingForward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, our clinical results and other future conditions. The words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “seek,“on track,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,“seek,“potential,“should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” “possible,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate”“would” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward‑lookingforward-looking statements, although not all forward‑lookingforward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

These forward‑lookingforward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about:

·

the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of our current and future research and development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials;

·

the timing of, and our ability to obtain and maintain, regulatory approvals for our product candidates;

the initiation, cost, timing, progress and results of our current and future research and development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials;

·

our ability to quickly and efficiently identify and develop additional product candidates;

the adequacy of our inventory of upifitamab rilsodotin (UpRi) and XMT-1592 to support our ongoing clinical trials, as well as the outcome of planned manufacturing runs;

·

our ability to advance any product candidate into, and successfully complete clinical trials;

the timing of, and our ability to obtain and maintain, regulatory approvals for our product candidates;

·

our intellectual property position, including with respect to our trade secrets;

unmet need of ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer;

·

the potential benefits of strategic partnership agreement and our ability to enter into selective strategic partnerships; and

our ability to quickly and efficiently identify and develop additional product candidates;

·

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, the sufficiency of our current and expected cash resources and our need for additional financing.

our ability to advance any product candidate into, and successfully complete, clinical trials;

our intellectual property position, including with respect to our trade secrets;
the potential benefits of strategic partnership agreements and our ability to enter into selective strategic partnerships;
our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, the sufficiency of our current and expected cash resources and our need for additional financing; and
the potential impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward‑lookingforward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward‑lookingforward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward‑lookingforward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, particularly in the “Risk factors” section, that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward‑lookingforward-looking statements that we make. Our forward‑lookingforward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect our preclinical and clinical development efforts, business operations and financial results. The forward‑lookingextent of the impact and the value of and market for our common stock will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence at this time, such as the ultimate duration of the pandemic, the emergence of new variants of the virus, travel restrictions, quarantines, physical distancing and business closure requirements in the United States and in other countries, and the effectiveness of actions taken globally to contain and treat the disease.

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The forward-looking statements contained herein represent our views as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.10-Kand we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, although we may elect to update these forward‑looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward‑lookingforward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


This Annual Report on Form 10-K may include industry and market data, which we may obtain from our own internal estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys, and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications, studies, and surveys generally state that they have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. While we believe that such studies and publications are reliable, we have not independently verified market and industry data from third‑party sources.

SUMMARY OF RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to varying degrees of risk and uncertainty. Investors should consider the risks and uncertainties summarized below, as well as the risks and uncertainties discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our business is subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties:
We have incurred net losses since our inception, we have no products approved for commercial sale and we anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future.
We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts.
We have a credit facility that places certain restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility.
We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before, or more successfully than, we do.
We only have two product candidates, upifitamab rilsodotin (UpRi) and XMT-1592, in clinical trials. A failure of any of our product candidates in clinical development could adversely affect our business and may require us to discontinue development of other product candidates based on the same technology.
We can provide no assurance that our clinical product candidates will obtain regulatory approval or that the results of clinical trials will be favorable.
Drug discovery and development is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process that is fraught with risk and a high rate of failure. We can provide no assurance of the successful and timely development of new antibody drug conjugate, or ADC, products.
If we fail to attract and retain senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop our product candidates, conduct our clinical trials and commercialize our product candidates.
We may encounter difficulties in managing our growth and expanding our operations successfully.
Our activities, including our interactions with healthcare providers, third party payors, patients and government officials, are, and will continue to be, subject to extensive regulation involving health care, anti-corruption, data privacy and security and consumer protection laws. Failure to comply with applicable laws could result in substantial penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished revenues and curtailment or restructuring of our operations.
We rely upon patents and other intellectual property rights to protect our technology. We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights, and we may be liable for infringing the intellectual property rights of others.
Our business is subject to risks arising from the outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
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ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Overview
We are a clinical stageclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibody drug conjugates, or ADCs, that offer a clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients with significant unmet need. We have leveraged over 20 years of industry learning in the ADC field to develop proprietary technologiesand differentiated technology platforms that enable us to designdevelop ADCs designed to have improved efficacy, safety and tolerability relative to existing ADC therapies.

We believe that our innovative platforms, including Dolaflexin and Dolasynthen, delivering our proprietary auristatin DolaLock payload, as well as Immunosynthen, which delivers our novel proprietary stimulator of interferon genes, or STING, agonist ImmunoLock payload, together comprise a highly efficient product engine that has enabled a robust discovery pipeline for us and our partners. Our most advanced platform, Dolaflexin, has been used to generate a pipeline of proprietary ADC product candidates to address patient populations that are not currently amenable to treatment with traditional ADC‑based therapies. Our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536,  is an ADC targeting NaPi2b,

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an antigen broadly expressedADCs in ovarian cancer and non small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. The first patient was dosed on XMT‑1536 in late 2017 and the study is currently in Phase 1 dose escalation in ovarian cancer, NSCLC, and other orphan indications where a majority of patients express NaPi2b, including endometrial, papillary renal, papillary thyroid, and salivary duct. We plan to select a dose for use in the Phase 1 expansionpreclinical studies and report data from the dose escalation study in the second quarter of 2019. Following dose escalation and establishment of a go forward dose we plan to expand into patient cohorts aimed at establishing proof of concept in platinum resistant ovarian cancer and NSCLC adenocarcinoma. 

Beyond XMT-1536 andclinical trials include first-in-class molecules that target multiple tumor types with high unmet medical need. Our belief is that our Dolaflexin platform, we continue to work to identify earlier stage product candidates employing the platforms described below, and to advance our ADC platform technologies. We are leveraging our expertise to advance platform innovations that further expand the potential of ournovel ADCs to deliver clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients.

·

Dolasynthen is designed to be a novel, proprietary, homogeneous payload platform enabling the creation of ADCs with the ability to provide drug to antibody ratios, or DARs, ranging from 2-24.

·

Immunosynthen, our emerging platform, is designed to be a novel, proprietary, immunostimulatory payload platform with the potential to create ADCs that can ideally address the challenge of systemic delivery and tolerability of immunomodulatory payloads.

·

Alkymer, our DNA alkylation platform, has the potential to provide a broad therapeutic index for a DNA  alkylating payload mechanism, and broaden addressable tumor indications to include those that are not responsive to anti-tubulin agents.

We plan to disclose the progress on the development of our platforms throughout 2019 and expect to announce our next ADC clinical candidate in the second half of 2019.

In addition, wemay have established strategic research and development partnerships with Merck KGaA and Asana Biosciences for the development and commercialization of additional ADC product candidates against a limited number of targets selected by our partners based on our Dolaflexin platform. We believe the potential of our ADC technologies, supported by our world‑class management team and protected by our robust intellectual property portfolio, will allow us to develop targeted and highly tailored therapies to help cancer patients become cancer survivors.

Our current pipeline is summarized in the chart below:

Picture 11

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ADC Background

ADCs are an established therapeutic approach in oncology used to selectively deliver a highly potent chemotherapeutic payload directly to tumors thereby minimizing toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue. An ADC consists of an antibody attached to a “payload” via a molecule known as a linker. The antibody provides targeting capability against a distinct antigen expressed preferentially on a tumor cell, which results in the ADC binding only to those cells that express the target antigen. Upon binding to the tumor cell antigen, the ADC is internalized by the tumor cell and the payload is released, killing the cell in a targeted manner.

Despite the promise of ADCs, companies in the field have faced certain challenges in developing product candidates that achieve the optimal therapeutic index, or the balance between efficacy and tolerability. These challenges are characterized as follows:

·

Linker stability:  Linkers must be stable in the bloodstream to ensure that free payload is not released into circulation prior to delivery into the tumor. Free payload in circulation causes toxicity. Efforts to design better linkers to increase stability have, in turn, reduced the efficiency of payload release once the ADC is internalized in the tumor cell, resulting in decreased efficacy.

·

Drug‑to‑antibody ratio:  Increases in the number of payload molecules delivered per antibody internalization event increases potency. However, the DAR, has typically been limited to three to four payload molecules per antibody due to aggregation, poor pharmacokinetics and loss of drug‑like properties of the ADC at levels above this threshold. Other attempts to increase efficacy have involved the introduction of ultra‑potent payloads, however these efforts appear to face safety and tolerability challenges, necessitating even further reduced DAR to maintain acceptable pharmacokinetics and drug‑like properties.

·

Target antigen expression level:  Tumor cells typically require a threshold number of payload molecules to be internalized in order to kill the cell. Antigens with lower levels of expression have proven less desirable as targets for ADCs, as a result of fewer binding, internalization and payload delivery events to drive cell‑killing activity. In turn, this has limited the number of cancers amenable to treatment with ADC‑based approaches, as the use of ADCs requires antigen targets to be highly expressed on tumor cells.

·

Bystander effect:  A released payload that is able to diffuse into and kill neighboring tumor cells, irrespective of antigen expression, is known as having a “bystander effect.” While the bystander effect has been shown to improve efficacy by killing adjacent tumor cells, it is also associated with indiscriminate healthy cell killing, which leads to dose limiting toxicities, such as neutropenia.

Our proprietary and highly differentiated Dolaflexin platform is designed to overcome these challenges and potentially achieve improved efficacy,more favorable safety and tolerability, hence improving the therapeutic index,efficacy compared to more traditional ADC technologies. Unlike traditionalexisting ADCs where the payload is attached directly to the antibody via a linker, our ADCs feature antibodies attached to multiple units of Dolaflexin, which each consist of our Fleximer polymer scaffold conjugated to several proprietary auristatin payload molecules. As a result, we believe our ADCs have the potential to offer the following benefits relative to traditional ADCs:

·

Improved linker stability:  Fleximer is a biodegradable, highly biocompatible and highly water soluble polymer scaffold. Fleximer creates a highly hydrophilic microenvironment, which protects the linker and the payload and results in a highly stable ADC in circulation. We have demonstrated in non‑human primates that an ADC utilizing Dolaflexin is highly stable, with less than 0.05% of free payload detected in circulation.

developed using first-generation technology.

·

Higher drug‑to‑antibody ratio:  The hydrophilic microenvironment of Fleximer shields the highly hydrophobic payload molecules and allows the ADC to achieve a DAR of 10 to 15 while maintaining acceptable pharmacokinetics and drug‑like properties in animal models. In multiple preclinical models, our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536, which is based on the Dolaflexin platform, has demonstrated that higher DAR results in


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a significant increase in efficacy relative to traditional ADCs administered at comparable or even higher dose levels.

·

Expanded range of addressable target antigen expression levels:  As a result of higher DAR, our ADCs can deliver more payload to the tumor cell per antibody binding and internalization event. As a result, in preclinical models we have shown efficacy against tumors with lower levels of antigen expression. Our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536, has demonstrated efficacy in animal models of low antigen‑expressing tumors where alternative ADC platforms have shown either weak or no efficacy.

·

Controlled bystander effect:  We have designed our proprietary auristatin payload, used in the Dolaflexin platform, with a feature, referred to as DolaLock, that allows us to capture the benefits of the bystander effect while minimizing potential toxicities to healthy tissue. Specifically, the initial payload released from the ADC in the tumor is capable of a bystander effect. However, as the payload is metabolized over time, it loses the ability to diffuse into neighboring cells and becomes trapped in the cell, preventing further diffusion into healthy tissues.

The benefits of the Dolaflexin platform have resulted in tolerable doses in our preclinical models well in excess of the efficacious doses. Based on these findings, we have advanced XMT-1536 into Phase 1 development. We believe these advantageous characteristics of our Dolaflexin platform provide a substantial opportunity to develop clinically meaningful ADC therapies with potential to address a broader range of cancers than traditional ADC based approaches.

We have assembled a management team with extensive and relevant experience, including specific ADC experience, from prior work at leading pharmaceutical companies such as Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Biogen, Inc., MedImmune,Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bayer AG, GenzymeTesaro, Inc., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi S.A., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Centocor Inc., Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and VertexMomenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. We are supported by our board of directors and scientific advisory board, who offer complementary experience in drug discovery and development, as well as expertise in building public companies, management and business development. We believe that our highly differentiated platform,platforms, together with the team we have assembled, positionsposition us well to generate best in classdiscover and develop life-changing ADCs with the potential to transform the lives of cancer patients.

Our strategy

for patients fighting cancer.

Strategy
Our goal is to become a leading oncology company by leveraging the potential of our innovative and differentiated ADC technologies. Ourtechnologies and the experience and competencies of our management team to discover and develop promising ADC product candidates and to commercialize cancer therapeutics that address unmet medical needs or provide significant benefit to patients. Key components of our strategy to achieve this goal isare as follows:

·

Rapidly advance the clinical development ofXMT‑1536.  Our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536, is an ADC targeting NaPi2b and has demonstrated significant anti‑tumor activity in preclinical models of ovarian cancer and NSCLC. XMT-1536 is currently in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in ovarian cancer and NSCLC and other orphan indications where a majority of patients express NaPi2b including papillary thyroid, papillary renal, endometrial, salivary duct. We plan to report data from the dose escalation portion of the study in the second quarter of 2019. Following dose escalation and establishment of a recommended go forward dose we plan to expand into cohorts aimed at establishing proof-of-concept in platinum resistant serous ovarian cancer and NSCLC adenocarcinoma.

·

Expand our ADC technology platform capabilities and build a pipeline of ADC candidates that address the significant unmet medical needs of cancer patients.  We intend to establish a leading position in the field of ADCs by continuing to advance platform innovations that further broaden the potential of our ADCs to deliver clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients. Our areas of focus include the development of alternative scaffolds to drive homogeneity of our ADCs, alternative payloads to address additional indications and drug resistance. We believe these efforts may lead to the development of a robust pipeline of ADC candidates with improved efficacy and tolerability that have the potential to expand the addressable patient population.


·

Evaluate strategic partnerships to maximize the value of our programs and platforms.  Our platform technologies, and product discovery and development capabilities, drive the potential for multiple clinically meaningful opportunities for cancer patients. In order to preserve a disciplined drug development and commercialization focus, we may choose to enter into strategic partnerships that facilitate our ability to bring

Strive to Build UpRi (upifitamab rilsodotin) into a Foundational Medicine in Ovarian Cancer. Our lead product candidate, upifitamab rilsodotin, which we refer to as UpRi, is a first-in-class Dolaflexin ADC targeting NaPi2b, an antigen broadly expressed in ovarian cancer and other cancers. We are currently evaluating UpRi in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a single-arm registrational trial, which we refer to as UPLIFT, for which we expect to complete enrollment in the third quarter of 2022. We are also conducting a Phase 1/2 umbrella combination trial, which we refer to as UPGRADE. The first combination we are exploring is the combination of UpRi with carboplatin, a standard platinum chemotherapy broadly used in the treatment of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. We may explore other combinations in the future. We expect to report interim data from UPGRADE in the second half of 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, we expect to initiate enrollment in a randomized placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, which we refer to as UP-NEXT, to evaluate UpRi as single agent maintenance treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer that have high NaPi2b expression. Together, data from these trials have the potential to establish the safety and efficacy of UpRi across a wide range of ovarian cancer patients, from those who are platinum-resistant and heavily pre-treated to those in earlier lines of the disease.

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differentiated product candidates to more patients. Our current partnerships with Merck KGaA and Asana Biosciences exemplify different aspects of this strategy.

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Attract and retain people that share our commitment to scientific excellence and patient care.  In addition to our team’s deep experience with ADC science, drug development and operational management, we believe that our accomplishments are a testament to the talent and commitment of our people. Our team is driven by a shared passion to advance therapies that make a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients. We will continue to cultivate the collaborative and passionate workplace culture that has allowed us to advance this mission.

Highly Impactful Cancer Medicines.Our second clinical candidate, XMT-1592, is a NaPi2b- targeted ADC technology platforms

ADCs forleveraging our Dolasynthen platform. Our strategy is to explore XMT-1592 as an alternative to UpRi in lung and non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma based on preclinical differentiation. We are conducting a Phase 1 dose exploration trial in patients with ovarian cancer traditionally consistand non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC, which we expect to complete in the second half of an antibody attached to2022. Additionally, we are advancing XMT-1660, a chemotherapeutic “payload” via a linker. The antibody providesDolasynthen ADC targeting capability against a distinctB7-H4, an antigen selectively expressed on tumors in areas of high unmet medical need including breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. We expect to initiate a tumor cell, resultingphase 1 clinical trial of XMT-1660 in the ADC binding only to those cells that express the target antigen. Upon binding to the antigen, the ADC is internalizedsolid tumors in mid-2022. Moreover, we have taken ADCs beyond cytotoxics by the tumor cell and the payload is released through either cleavagedeveloping our Immunosynthen platform which may allow tumor-targeted activation of the linker or degradation of the antibody. Cell death results once the threshold level of payload has been internalized by the target cell.  The individual components ofinnate immune system. XMT-2056, an ADC dictate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the treatment. Historically, ADC development has involved making compromises between features which may improve efficacy at the expense of safety and tolerability, and vice versa. The challenge of optimizing this balancetargeting a novel HER2 epitope that is exemplifieddifferent from those targeted by the dearth of approved ADC products, despite the technology having existed for over 20 years.

Dolaflexin platform

Our proprietary and highly differentiated Dolaflexin platformcurrently available HER2 therapies, is designed to increase the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ADCs by overcoming key limitations of existing technologiesour first product candidate based on direct conjugation. Dolaflexin consistsour Immunosynthen STING-agonist platform. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of Fleximer, a biodegradable, highly biocompatible, water soluble polymer, to which are attached multiple copiesXMT-2056 in solid tumors in mid-2022. We believe that each of our proprietary auristatin drug payload, using a linker specifically optimized for use with our polymer. TheXMT-1660 and XMT-2056 may provide opportunities in areas of high water solubility of the Fleximer polymer compensates for the low solubility of the payload, surrounding the payloadunmet need including, without limitation, breast cancer and protecting it from aggregation. Multiple copies of this Dolaflexin polymer‑drug conjugate can then be attached to an antibody of choice, which significantly increases the payload capacity of the resulting ADC. As shown in the schematic in Figure 2, this approach differs from most other ADC technologies where the payload is directly conjugated to the antibody via a linker. Using the Dolaflexin platform, we have been able to generate ADCs with DAR between 10 to 15 while maintaining acceptable pharmacokinetics and drug‑like properties in animal models. This represents a three to four fold increase in DAR relative to the traditional ADC approach.

Figure 2.

Picture 22

Picture 21

Direct conjugation

Fleximer ADC

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tumor types.

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Below is a summary of key advantages that we believe our proprietary Dolaflexin platform offers over other existing ADC technologies. We believe these properties will enable us

Strive to develop ADCs with an improved therapeutic index that may broaden the scope of addressable cancer patients for which ADC therapies are amenable.

·

Improved linker stability:  There are two important linkers contributing to the stability of a Dolaflexin ADC: a non‑cleavable linker attaching the Fleximer to the antibody and a cleavable linker attaching the payload to the Fleximer. The Fleximer provides for a highly hydrophilic and homogeneous microenvironment that stabilizes the payload‑linker in circulation. However, the cleavable nature of the payload‑linker results in rapid release of the payload upon internalization into the tumor cell.

·

Higher drug‑to‑antibody ratio:  Dolaflexin consists of Fleximer conjugated to up to four molecules of our proprietary auristatin payload. Our ADCs typically consist of three to four Dolaflexin units attached to each antibody, which allows us to achieve significantly higher DAR compared to other ADC approaches. For example, our lead proprietary product candidate, XMT‑1536, can carry between 10 to 15 payload molecules per antibody, which we believe will result in greater efficacy than traditional ADCs with a lower DAR. Importantly, Fleximer is extremely water soluble, which helps maintain the pharmacokinetics and drug‑like qualities of the ADC in animal models even at relatively high DARs.

·

Expanded range of addressable antigen expression levels:  The higher DAR enabled by our Dolaflexin platform results in more chemotherapeutic payload being released into the tumor cell for every binding and internalization event. As a result, we have demonstrated in animal models that Dolaflexin ADCs have efficacy against tumors with lower levels of antigen expression where traditional ADCs have not been effective.

·

Controlled bystander effect:  Our proprietary auristatin chemotherapeutic drug payload, has been specifically designed to maintain efficacy while improving safety and tolerability compared to payloads used in conventional ADCs. Upon internalization of the ADC into the tumor cell, cleavage of the linker occurs to release Auristatin F‑hydroxypropylamide, or AF‑HPA, as the primary chemotherapeutic payload. AF‑HPA is a highly potent, freely cell‑permeable anti‑tubulin agent, which readily kills rapidly dividing tumor cells but is not toxic to non‑dividing cells. Since AF‑HPA is freely cell‑permeable, it can diffuse into adjacent tumor cells and kill them in an antigen‑independent manner through the bystander effect. However, release of AF‑HPA into the systemic circulation can also lead to toxicity if taken up by normal healthy cells. To counteract this, our proprietary auristatin payload has been engineered with the DolaLock feature that causes AF‑HPA to convert into the non‑cell permeable chemotherapeutic, auristatin F, or AF, when metabolized over time inside the cell. While AF can still kill dividing cells if generated intracellularly, it is approximately 8‑fold less potent than AF‑HPA at killing dividing cells when outside the cell. Consistent with this, AF was significantly better tolerated than AF‑HPA in rat safety studies. Figure 3 shows the accumulation of AF‑HPA and its metabolite, AF, in a mouse tumor model demonstrating the conversion over time of AF‑HPA to AF, the trapping of free AF in the tumor cells and its almost negligible accumulation in healthy tissues.

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Figure 3. Accumulation of AF‑HPA/AFBuild Innovation and Scientific Leadership in Tumor Consistent with Efficacy and Tolerability

Accumulation of Released Drugs
in Tumor Over 2 Weeks
After Dosing

Free Drug Exposure
in Tumor and Normal Tissue Over 2 Weeks
After Dosing

Picture 20

Picture 19

The more limited exposure of free AF to healthy tissues corresponds to lower drug toxicities, such as neutropenia, seen in safety studies of Dolaflexin ADCs compared to competitor technologies (e.g., Seattle Genetics vc‑MMAE), with seven out of nine ADCs that have reported Phase 1 results showing dose‑limiting neutropenia. As shown in Figure 4, neutrophil counts did not decline in either rats or monkeys at Dolaflexin ADC doses above the maximum doses that can be administered of vc‑MMAE ADCs, which are frequently dose‑limited by neutropenia and sepsis.

Figure 4. Neutrophil Counts as a Function of Dolaflexin ADC Dose (in Auristatin Equivalents)

Picture 3

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Platform development

ADCs.We intend to establish a leading position in the field of ADCs by continuing to advance our platform innovations that further broaden the potential offor our ADCs to be first and best in class medicines that deliver clinically meaningful benefit forto cancer patients and by pursuing fast-to-market opportunities in areas of high unmet medical need. In addition to the product candidates described above, we also have two earlier stage preclinical candidates, which we refer to as XMT-2068 and XMT-2175, both of which leverage our Immunosynthen platform and target tumor-associated antigens.


Strive to Build Mersana as a Top Employer and Strategic Partner. We aim to attract and retain talented team members with deep experience in drug discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization as well as in general business and administration. Our team is driven by a shared passion to advance therapies that make a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients. We will continue to cultivate the collaborative and passionate workplace culture that has allowed us to advance this mission. We also aim to leverage our technical expertise and experience with respect to our innovative and diversified platforms, Dolaflexin, Dolasynthen and Immunosynthen, to attract and cultivate strategic partnerships that facilitate our ability to bring differentiated product candidates to patients. We have established strategic research and development partnerships with Janssen Biotech, Inc., or Janssen, and Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of additional ADC product candidates leveraging our proprietary Dolasynthen and Dolaflexin platform technologies against a limited number of targets selected by our partners. We believe the potential of our ADC technologies, supported by our scientific and technical expertise and enabled by our intellectual property strategy, all support our independent and collaborative efforts to discover and develop life-changing ADCs for patients fighting cancer.
Our areascurrent pipeline is summarized in the chart below:
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ADC Background

ADCs are a validated therapeutic modality in oncology with 11 products approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and over 100 being tested in clinical trials. We believe that the field has not yet realized its full potential because first generation ADCs have several limitations and platform innovation has been limited.

The goal of focus includefirst generation ADCs is to deliver cytotoxic therapy specifically to neoplastic cells while sparing normal tissue. An ADC consists of three components: the antibody, the cytotoxic payload, and a linker to join the two. The antibody portion of the ADC achieves specific targeting by binding to an antigen that ideally has high expression on the surface of the tumor cells, and low expression in healthy tissues. Once the antibody binds to the target, the ADC enters the cell, and the payload is typically released killing the cell.

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The payload, the drug-to-antibody ratio, or DAR, the linker, and conjugation site of the linker with the antibody all can influence the overall efficacy and tolerability of ADCs. There has been limited innovation in these ADC components since the development of alternative scaffoldsfirst-generation ADC platforms. We believe optimizing an ADC requires developing payload(s) with optimal properties, varying DAR for a specific target, and optimizing the conjugation site, all of which can contribute to drive homogeneitythe overall drug-like properties. We believe that our proprietary platforms improve upon first-generation ADC approaches in these aspects and have the potential to advance the field and improve patient outcomes.
Our Technologies and Platforms
The development of ADCs is not a one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, a number of diverse factors impact the properties of an ADC, including payload, DAR, site of conjugation and homogeneity. For each target antigen, there may be an optimal combination of these factors. Our novel and highly differentiated platforms are designed to allow us to optimize these properties for a given target and develop ADCs that are designed to best address patient needs.
DolaLock Payload
We refer to the cytotoxic payload we use with our Dolaflexin and Dolasynthen platforms as our DolaLock payload. Our DolaLock payload is a proprietary auristatin cytotoxic drug and is a highly potent anti-tubulin agent selectively toxic to rapidly dividing cells. The DolaLock payload has been shown in in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies to control the bystander effect by locking the cytotoxic drug inside cells after allowing a short period of antigen-independent diffusion throughout the tumor. As the drug diffuses through neighboring cells, the DolaLock payload is metabolized to a form that is still highly potent but is designed to no longer be able to cross the cell membrane, thereby controlling the bystander effect for a potentially safer and more effective cancer therapy.

A common mechanism of resistance in cancer is the up-regulation of multi-drug resistance, or MDR, pumps, such as P-glycoproteins, or PgPs, which actively pump drugs out of cancer cells to help them survive. Once metabolized, our DolaLock payload is not a substrate for PgPs, thereby avoiding this resistance mechanism. Our DolaLock payload, with its controlled bystander effect, is designed to enable the creation of ADCs that have the potential of being highly potent, well-tolerated and alternativespecifically-targeted cancer therapies.

In addition, our proprietary auristatin payload has also been shown in preclinical studies to cause immunogenic cell death and to stimulate the immune system through dendritic cell activation. Because of this, we have observed synergy with immuno-oncology agents such as PD-1 inhibitors in preclinical models.
Dolaflexin Platform
The Dolaflexin platform was designed to increase the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ADCs. Dolaflexin utilizes our proprietary Fleximer polymer, a biodegradable, highly biocompatible, water-soluble polymer that is able to carry multiple payloads. Instead of direct conjugation to an antibody, payloads are attached through an optimized, cleavable linker to address additional indicationsthe Fleximer scaffold, which is then conjugated to the antibody through a non-cleavable linker. Our Fleximer polymer has demonstrated dramatically improved drug solubility, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity, and an increased number of payloads carried by each ADC as compared to other ADC therapies.
As a result, we believe Dolaflexin has the potential to offer the following benefits relative to first generation ADCs:

Proprietary DolaLock Payload: Dolaflexin is loaded with our proprietary auristatin cytotoxic drug, resistance. which is a highly potent anti-tubulin agent and that is selectively toxic to rapidly dividing cells and has a controlled bystander effect.

Higher Drug-to-Antibody Ratio: Historically, ADCs have been limited to a DAR of 3-4. The Dolaflexin platform can deliver ADCs with DAR of approximately 10, which has enabled ADCs created using this platform to demonstrate greater preclinical efficacy while also maintaining pharmacokinetics and drug-like properties.

Expanded Range of Addressable Tumor Targets: The higher DAR enabled by Dolaflexin results in a higher amount of cytotoxic drug released into the tumor cell for every ADC that is internalized. As a result, we believe that Dolaflexin ADCs may demonstrate efficacy against tumor targets with lower levels of antigen expression where traditional ADCs have not been effective.

We believe these effortsadvantageous characteristics of our Dolaflexin platform provide a substantial opportunity to develop clinically meaningful ADC therapies with potential to address a broader range of cancers than first generation ADC-based approaches.
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Our lead clinical candidate, UpRi, is a Dolaflexin ADC that targets NaPi2b. We are currently evaluating UpRi in the UPLIFT and UPGRADE trials and expect to initiate the UP-NEXT trial in the second quarter of 2022.
Dolasynthen Platform

The Dolasynthen platform enables an iterative approach to designing customized ADCs for a given target while retaining the properties of Dolaflexin, including the use of our proprietary DolaLock payload for a controlled bystander effect. Dolasynthen ADCs consist of a proprietary synthetic scaffold carrying an exact number of DolaLock payloads for precise control of DAR. The Dolasynthen scaffold is then bioconjugated to the antibody in a site-specific manner. The Dolasynthen scaffold has been precisely designed to provide optimal water solubility, charge balance, linker stability and DAR which together offer an opportunity for our ADCs to have superior physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties.

Illustrated by our preclinical data, we believe Dolasynthen ADCs have broad therapeutic potential as cancer therapies. Our preclinical data demonstrate the ability of the Dolasynthen platform to generate and identify the optimal ADC for a given target and antibody.

We believe that Dolasynthen offers the benefits of Dolaflexin, including the proprietary DolaLock payload, and has the potential to offer the following additional benefits relative to traditional ADCs:

Precise Control of DAR: The optimal DAR may leadvary between different targets and antibodies. Dolasynthen uses a proprietary scaffold that allows for precise DARs between 2-24, enabling optimization of the DAR for specific antigens and antibodies.
Site-Specific Bioconjugation: The site of scaffold bioconjugation to an antibody impacts the overall properties of that ADC. Dolasynthen enables site-specific bioconjugation allowing further ADC optimization.
Homogenous ADC Development: The DAR and antibody bioconjugation is consistent throughout ADCs developed with the Dolasynthen platform allowing for consistent and precise drug delivery to targeted cancer cells.
Increased Hydrophilicity: The precise optimization of the hydrophilic moiety on Dolasynthen ADCs allows for increased aqueous solubility and enhanced pharmacokinetic properties.

Our second clinical candidate, XMT-1592, is a Dolasynthen ADC targeting NaPi2b-expressing tumor cells. We are conducting a Phase 1 dose exploration trial of XMT-1592 in patients with ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC, adenocarcinoma which we expect to complete in 2022. XMT-1660, our B7-H4-targeted Dolasynthen ADC is currently in investigational new product candidatesdrug, or IND, -enabling studies.

ImmunoLock Payload

We refer to the STING agonist that is used as the payload with improvedour Immunosynthen platform as our ImmunoLock Payload. It was designed to have very low cell permeability in order to control delivery and localization of its innate immune-activating effect. STING is a well-studied innate immune pathway capable of inducing anti-tumor immune activity. Our preclinical data show that the anti-tumor activity of Immunosynthen ADCs carrying the ImmunoLock payload is driven by the targeted activation of the STING pathway in tumor-resident immune cells and in tumor cells, in a target dependent manner. STING pathway activation in both cell types within the tumor provides the potential for enhanced anti-tumor activity with a STING-agonist ADC compared to other innate immune approaches that activate only the immune cells and are not capable of activating the tumor cells.

Immunosynthen Platform

Immunosynthen is our novel immunostimulatory ADC platform designed to take ADCs beyond the delivery of traditional cytotoxic payloads and into targeted stimulation of the innate immune system. Through the tumor-targeted delivery of a novel STING agonist, ADCs created with our Immunosynthen platform have the potential to address the challenges of efficacy, delivery and tolerability posed by the intratumoral or intravenous injection of free (unconjugated) STING agonists. We have generated preclinical data across multiple, diverse targets by creating Immunosynthen ADCs based on a variety of antibodies directed to those targets and evaluating them in a range of tumor models. In each case we have demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in vivo (including complete tumor regressions) after a single low, well-tolerated dose. Additional characterization has demonstrated increased cytokine expression and immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, as well as expansionthe
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induction of immunological memory. We have demonstrated tolerability and characterized the favorable pharmacokinetic profile of Immunosynthen ADCs in non-human primates, after multiple intravenous doses and at exposures significantly higher than those required for robust efficacy in mice.
Immunosynthen ADCs have been designed to overcome the limitations of free STING agonists and to offer a highly differentiated approach from other innate immune activators due to the following:
Non-Cell Permeable STING Agonist ImmunoLock Payload: Our novel and proprietary payload has very low cell permeability, remaining in the cell to which it is delivered by the antibody, where it can exert its effect.

Enhanced Pharmacokinetic Properties: The prolonged pharmacokinetics of ADCs and active transport into tumor cells and tumor-resident immune cells can overcome pharmacokinetic and permeability issues of the addressable patient population. These platforms include:

·

Dolasynthen, a novel, fully homogeneous AF-HPA based payload platform is designed to enable the creation of ADCs with the ability to provide precise DARs ranging from 2 to 24. In preclinical studies optimized Dolasynthen ADCs showed significant therapeutic index.

free agonists, resulting in more robust and sustained activation of the innate immune response in the tumor.

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Immunosynthen, designed to be a novel, proprietary, immunostimulatory payload platform with the potential to create ADCs that can address the challenge of providing a local, tissue specific immunostimulatory response with a systemically administered medicine while maintaining a desirable tolerability profile and therapeutic index.

Immunosynthen STING ADCs Provide Targeted Activation in Two Cell Types: Because STING, unlike other innate immune pathways, can be activated in tumor cells and tumor-resident immune cells, target-dependent delivery can result in innate immune activation of both cell types, providing potent and robust anti-tumor responses and the induction of immunological memory.

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Alkymer, our DNA alkylation platform, has the potential to provide a broad therapeutic index for a DNA alkylating payload mechanism, and broaden addressable tumor indications to include those that are not responsive to anti-tubulin agents such as those employed in our Dolaflexin and Dolasynthen platforms.


Together these features have the potential to improve therapeutic index by selectively activating the innate immune system in the tumor environment and minimizing activation in other tissues. We are planningbuilding a pipeline of Immunosynthen ADC candidates applicable to disclose the progress on thea broad range of clinical indications. Our first Immunosynthen ADC development candidate, XMT-2056 targets a novel epitope of our platforms at scientific meetings throughout 2019.

HER2 and we expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in mid-2022.

Our product candidates


We are leveraging our platforms to develop a robust pipeline of product candidates with the potential of becoming clinically meaningful cancer therapies. Our pipeline strategy focuses on targets that have been biologically validated (either asthrough ADCs or through another modality) andother modalities), where the advantages of our platformplatforms may lead to a clinically superior therapeutic benefit.benefits, where we have the potential to achieve first-in-class status, or where fast-to-market opportunities are available. Our lead product candidate, XMT-1536,UpRi, is currently being evaluated in the UPLIFT and UPGRADE trials and we expect to initiate the UP-NEXT trial in 2022. Our next product candidate, XMT-1592, is being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose escalation study.exploration trial. We plan to discloseare also advancing XMT-1660, a B7-H4-targeted Dolasynthen ADC, and XMT-2056, our nextfirst Immunosynthen ADC for clinical developmenttargeting a novel epitope of HER2, both of which are currently in the second half of 2019.IND-enabling studies. In addition, our partners have multiple ADC product candidates leveraging our Dolaflexin technology in various stages of development.

XMT‑1536:

Upifitamab rilsodotin (UpRi): our NaPi2b‑targetedNaPi2b-targeted Dolaflexin ADC

Program description

Our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536,


UpRi, a first-in-class ADC targeting the sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein NaPi2b, utilizes the Dolaflexin platform to deliver about 10 DolaLock payload molecules per antibody. We believe the NaPi2b antigen is broadly expressed in ovarian cancer and other cancers with limited expression in normal tissue. NaPi2b is a Dolaflexin ADC targeting NaPi2b‑expressing tumors. It is currentlymember of the SLC34 family of sodium-dependent transporters and plays an important role in the dose escalation portion ofmaintaining phosphate homeostasis. We initiated a Phase 11/2 clinical study.trial of UpRi in December 2017 with the primary objectives of determining the recommended phase 2 dose and characterizing the efficacy, safety and tolerability and the secondary objective of assessing the correlation of the NaPi2b is an antigen highly expressed in 60% to 90% of both non‑squamous NSCLCbiomarker expression and epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the expression of NaPi2b in normal tissue is restricted to a limited subset of cell types, rendering it an ideal antigen for ADC development. XMT‑1536 is composed of a proprietary anti‑NaPi2b antibody, selected for its advantageous internalization properties. We are actively recruiting and dosing patients with ovarian cancer, NSCLC and other orphan indications where a majority of patients express NaPi2b, including papillary thyroid, papillary renal, endometrial, salivary duct.  We plan to report data from the Phase 1efficacy. The dose escalation portion of the study withintrial established 43 mg/m2 up to a maximum of approximately 80 mg as the second quarter of 2019. 

We believe this target to be clinically validated via Genentech’s lifastuzumab vedotin, an ADC targeting NaPi2b utilizing the Seattle Genetics vc‑MMAE platform, which provided encouraging results in Phase 1 studies in ovarian cancer.maximum tolerated dose. The clinical study had a 41% confirmed objective response rate by response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST criteria), which was achieved without evidence of target-mediated toxicities. However, in a randomized Phase 2 study in platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer, lifastuzumab vedotin failed to demonstrate a statistically‑significant benefit to liposomal doxorubicin, the comparator, on the primary endpoint of progression free survival, or PFS, despite a numerically superior response rate and improvement in median progression‑free survival. Responses in NSCLC patients were also limited despite widespread expressionexpansion portion of the NaPi2b target in the Phase 1 patients. Genentech has since discontinued developmenttrial evaluated two doses, 36 mg/m2 and 43 mg/m2, up to a maximum of lifastuzumab vedotin. The validation of the NaPi2b target provided by these studies forms the basis of our rationale to

80 mg.

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develop XMT‑1536 as a potentially clinically meaningful ADC for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer and NSCLC adenocarcinoma. Based on our preclinical data, we believe that XMT‑1536 may offer improved efficacy and a wider therapeutic index in these patients.

Unmet need and epidemiology

Ovarian cancer patients who progress during or within six months of completion of platinum‑based therapy are considered to have platinum‑resistant disease. These patients have limited treatment options including single agent taxanes and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Bevacizumab is also used to treat ovarian cancer patients but it is not always well-tolerated and has shown limited overall survival benefit. More recently, PARP inhibitors have been approved to treat ovarian cancer; however, they are predominantly used to treat BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and not all patients have benefitted from this treatment. We plan to initially test XMT‑1536 in patients with platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer. If proof‑of‑concept is established, there are opportunities to address treatment of first-line ovarian cancer and recurrent, platinum‑sensitive disease where platinum‑based chemotherapy regimens remain the standard of care.

Given the breadth of NaPi2b expression in NSCLC adenocarcinoma, we believe XMT‑1536 also has the potential to treat a broad population of NSCLC adenocarcinoma patients. Initially, we plan to test XMT‑1536 in platinum‑resistant NSCLC adenocarcinoma patients. If proof‑of‑concept is established in this population, we believe that there are opportunities to move earlier in the treatment paradigm or consider combination treatment with PD‑1/PD‑L1 antibodies, the emerging standard of care in front line NSCLC. Our preclinical data indicating that the AF‑HPA payload used in XMT‑1536 induced immunogenic cell death support the potential for synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

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The following chart shows the initial therapeutic focus for our XMT-1536 product candidate:

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There are currently no FDA‑tests approved testsby the FDA to measure NaPi2b expression on tumor cells. Given the prevalence of its expression on epithelial ovarian and NSCLC adenocarcinoma tumors, however, ourOur initial clinical studies of XMT‑1536 are being conducted without prospective identification oftrials have not prospectively identified patients with NaPi2b‑expressing tumors. Nonetheless, we have developed and technically validated anNaPi2b-expressing tumors, but our development plan for UpRi includes the development of a proprietary immunohistochemistry assay to measure NaPi2b expression whichin tumors. Based on our retrospective evaluation of tumors collected in the dose escalation and expansion portions of our initial UpRi Phase 1 trial, we believe that high NaPi2b expression is present in approximately two-thirds of ovarian cancer patients. We intend to use retrospectivelycontinue developing our assay in order to confirm the broad prevalence of NaPi2b expression in our target patient populations while correlating those expression levels with the efficacy observed in such patients. If resultsWe are sufficiently robust, we believe there is an opportunity to develop XMT‑1536 without the need forcurrently collaborating with a companion diagnostic, or with the inclusion of the NaPi2b assay in the label as a complementary diagnostic to guide physician decision making. If a companion diagnostic is required for the label for XMT‑1536, we may seek approval for our validated assay as a companion diagnostic or we may contract with third partiesparty to create and obtain regulatory approval for our assay as a commercial companion or complementary diagnostic.

We expect to use the assay to evaluate Tumor Proportion Score of greater than or equal to 75% (TPS75) to identify patients with high NaPi2b tumor expression and to help us enrich our data analyses based on biomarker expression.

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Over the course of 2020, we presented early Phase 1 UpRi clinical data, including presentations at the American Society of Clinical development planOncology and timeline

XMT‑1536the European Society for Medical Oncology and at company presentations to investors. These data were from the dose escalation and expansion portions of our UpRi Phase 1 trial, and they demonstrated encouraging clinical activity in heavily-pretreated patients with a safety profile differentiated from those of first generation ADCs. In August 2020, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for UpRi for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have received up to three prior lines of systemic therapy or patients who have received four prior lines of systemic therapy regardless of platinum status. In January 2021 and in September 2021, we provided interim clinical data updates from our expansion cohort. The interim data presented in September 2021 was based on approximately 100 ovarian patients for efficacy analysis and an overall group of approximately 200 patients for safety evaluation. All of the data from these patients were from our ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial. These data supported UpRi’s clinically meaningful activity in heavily-pretreated ovarian cancer patients with an objective response rate, or ORR, of approximately 34%, including complete responses, in evaluable patients with high NaPi2b tumor expression. The data also showed that UpRi was generally well tolerated without the severe toxicities commonly seen with other ADCs such as neutropenia, ocular toxicities, or peripheral neuropathy. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events reported in this heavily pretreated trial population included fatigue and transiently increased aspartate aminotransferase. Other adverse events of clinical interest included infrequent, generally low-grade pneumonitis that generally resolves with dose reduction, delay, discontinuation and treatment with steroids. Based on these safety and efficacy data and our population pharmacokinetics analyses of the overall group of approximately 200 patients administered UpRi as of the data cut off, we determined that the phase 2 recommended dose of UpRi is 36 mg/m2 up to a total dose of approximately 80mg. This is the dose that we are currently evaluating in UPLIFT. In November 2021, we announced that we had completed enrollment of a Phase 1, open label, multi‑center study. 1/2 dose escalation cohort of NSCLC adenocarcinoma patients. Based on the data collected from that cohort, we deprioritized further monotherapy development in NSCLC, instead focusing on developing UpRi in ovarian cancer.


In April 2021, we initiated UPLIFT which is enrolling patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and with one to four prior lines of therapy, without regard to NaPi2b expression; however, we are confirming the potentially predictive role of the biomarker retrospectively using a novel diagnostic assay to identify patients with high NaPi2b expression. Patients with three to four prior lines of therapy may enroll without prior bevacizumab treatment, accommodating differences in bevacizumab use in early disease. The primary endpoint is ORR in the high NaPi2b patient population and the secondary endpoints are ORR in the overall population, as well as duration of response and safety. UPLIFT is ongoing with sites in the United States, Europe and Australia, and we expect to complete enrollment of approximately 100 patients with NaPi2b high expression and up to 180 patients overall in the third quarter of 2022. If we achieve positive results from UPLIFT, we believe that the trial may enable us to submit a Biologics Licensing Application, or BLA, for UpRi for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with one to four prior lines of therapy, under the FDA's accelerated approval pathway.

In July 2021, we also initiated UPGRADE and began the umbrella trial with an initial evaluation of UpRi combined with carboplatin, a standard platinum chemotherapy used to treat patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, followed by UpRi monotherapy. The dose escalation portion of UPGRADE is intended to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose of UpRi in combination with carboplatin, and the dose exploration portion of this trial is intended to provide proof of concept for the combination. We planexpect to report interim data from Phase 1 dose escalation study withinUPGRADE in the second half of 2022. We believe data from UPGRADE will inform further development of UpRi in combination with other therapies used in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

We expect to initiate UP-NEXT in the second quarter of 2019.

There are two parts2022. The design of UP-NEXT was informed by discussions with the FDA and the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP. UP-NEXT could serve as a post-approval confirmatory trial, supporting the expansion of UpRi into earlier lines of therapy. We expect UP-NEXT to enroll platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients who have achieved a response or stable disease after platinum therapy. Eligible patients with BRCA mutation must have received prior treatment with poly adenosine diphosphate ribose polymerase, or PARP, inhibitor therapy. Additionally, eligible patients must have high NaPi2b tumor expression. In recognition of the unmet medical need and the lack of a standard of care for these patients, the trial will be randomized against placebo.

XMT-1592: our NaPi2b targeted Dolasynthen ADC

XMT-1592 was created using our Dolasynthen platform and also targets tumors that express NaPi2b. XMT-1592 comprises the same proprietary NaPi2b antibody and potent auristatin DolaLock payload with controlled bystander effect as in UpRi, with the additional features that our Dolasynthen platform offers, including homogeneity, site-specific bioconjugation and precise DAR. Preclinically, XMT-1592 has shown a differentiated profile particularly in a NSCLC adenocarcinoma model, where data suggested it was four times more efficacious than UpRi, consistent with higher payload delivery to the tumor. Based on these preclinical data, we are exploring XMT-1592 as a potential opportunity in NSCLC adenocarcinoma. XMT-1592 is currently
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being evaluated in Phase 1 study: (i) a dose escalationexploration trial in patients with ovarian cancer and NSCLC adenocarcinoma. We expect to complete dose exploration in the second half of 2022.
XMT-1660: our B7-H4-targeted Dolasynthen ADC candidate

XMT-1660 is our B7-H4-targeted ADC created with our Dolasynthen platform. We believe the expression profile of B7-H4, a cell surface antigen, is well suited for our unique DolaLock payload. B7-H4 can be expressed on tumor cells and other orphan indications whereon immunosuppressive tumor associated macrophages, or TAMs, which may lead to additional processing of the ADC and more payload in the tumor environment. We believe DolaLock’s direct cytotoxic effect as well as its immunostimulatory effect through dendritic cell activation and immunogenic cell death are well suited to the biology of the B7-H4 target. We have generated favorable preclinical efficacy data and non-human primate tolerability data with Dolasynthen ADCs targeting B7-H4 with precise DARs of 2 and 6. We selected the DAR6 variant based on this preclinical data. We believe that targeting B7-H4 with XMT-1660 provides significant opportunities for development in areas of high unmet need such as breast cancer, endometrial and ovarian cancer. XMT-1660 is currently in IND-enabling studies, and we expect to initiate Phase 1 dose escalation for XMT-1660 in patients with solid tumors in mid-2022.
XMT-2056: our First Immunosynthen ADC candidate

XMT-2056 is our first Immunosynthen STING-agonist ADC. As described above, the therapeutic rationale of an Immunosynthen ADC is to selectively deliver the STING agonist to tumor cells and tumor-resident immune cells in a target-dependent manner, while avoiding delivery to healthy tissues. XMT-2056 is designed to offer a differentiated and complementary therapeutic approach to the treatment of HER2-expressing tumors. XMT-2056 targets a novel HER2 epitope that is distinct from the epitopes targeted by trastuzumab or pertuzumab, providing an opportunity for development as a monotherapy as well as in combination with well-established or investigational anti-HER2 agents. In preclinical studies, XMT-2056 was generally well-tolerated in non-human primate studies with no clinical signs and no adverse findings in clinical pathology or histopathology after single and repeat intravenous doses. XMT-2056 is currently in IND-enabling studies, and we expect to initiate Phase 1 dose escalation for XMT-2056 in patients with solid tumors in mid-2022.
Ovarian cancer unmet need and epidemiology

Worldwide, ovarian cancer had incidence of approximately 314,000 and caused an estimated 207,000 deaths in 2020. With a U.S. incidence of approximately 21,000 and mortality of 14,000 in 2021 according to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, ovarian cancer was the second most common gynecologic malignancy and the most common cause of gynecologic cancer death in the United States. Diagnosis is made histologically, and evaluation is commonly performed following surgical removal of an ovary or fallopian tube or biopsies of the peritoneum. The ovarian cancer standard of care is characterized by initial surgery followed by platinum-containing chemotherapy followed by periods of either observation or maintenance. Nearly 85% of ovarian cancer patients typically relapse following initial treatment. Subsequent treatment depends on the depth and duration of response to initial platinum treatment. Ovarian cancer patients who progress within six months of completion of platinum-based therapy are considered to have platinum-resistant disease. Unmet medical need is significant for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer as treatment options are mainly limited to single agent chemotherapies such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, topotecan and paclitaxel. Multiple Phase 3 trials of single agent chemotherapies in patients with platinum-resistant disease and one to three prior therapies have exhibited an overall response rate of 4-12% and median progression-free survival of 3-4 months.
With targeted agents approved in platinum-resistant disease increasingly being prescribed in earlier lines of therapy, the unmet need is expected to remain severe. Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy is indicated to treat a subset of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients with no more than two prior therapies but it is not always well-tolerated and has shown no overall survival benefit. Use of bevacizumab in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy in the frontline and platinum-sensitive recurrent settings mean an increasing number of platinum-resistant patients are pre-treated with bevacizumab and are not candidates for additional bevacizumab combination treatment. More recently, PARP inhibitors have been approved for heavily-pretreated ovarian cancer including platinum-resistant disease. However, they are predominantly used in a subset of patients with cancers harboring BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Similarly, use of PARP inhibitors in earlier lines of recurrent platinum-sensitive maintenance and more recently frontline maintenance therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy means an increasing number of platinum-resistant patients are pre-treated with PARP inhibitors and are not candidates for additional PARP inhibitor therapy.
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NSCLC unmet need and epidemiology
Worldwide, lung cancer had an incidence of approximately 2.2 million and caused an estimated 1.8 million deaths in 2020. With a U.S. incidence of approximately 236,000 new cases and over 130,000 deaths in 2021, lung cancer was the deadliest form of cancer in the United States. The five year survival rate is less than 20% on average. Approximately 95% of all lung cancers are classified as either small cell lung cancer or NSCLC. NSCLC can be further divided into squamous or non-squamous. The majority of non-squamous NSCLC is classified as adenocarcinoma. These histological distinctions are important for proper staging, treatment and prognosis. For patients with NSCLC, initial treatment is largely determined by the stage of disease. Surgical resection offers the best opportunity for long-term survival and cure in patients with resectable early-stage NSCLC. Locally-advanced NSCLC is treated by combinations of radiotherapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. The majority of patients express NaPi2b (papillary thyroid, papillary renal, endometrial, salivary duct)present with inoperable disease. Metastatic NSCLC is managed with systemic chemotherapy and (ii)immunotherapy.
The standard of care is evolving for NSCLC with the introduction of immunotherapies for patients without oncogenic driver mutations and new targeted therapies for patients with EGFR, ALK, ROS-1, NTRK or BRAF mutations. For patients with metastatic disease without oncogenic driver mutations, frontline platinum-based chemotherapy is combined with or, depending on PD-L1 expression status, replaced by, immunotherapy using anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies. For patients with metastatic disease harboring oncogenic driver mutations, several generations of targeted agents are available with different resistance profiles. Frontline therapy is often followed by relapse and recurrence and treatment options for these patients are substantially more limited. The standard of care of docetaxel alone or in combination with targeted agents has an overall response rate of 14-23%, median progression-free survival of 3-4 months and median overall survival of 9-12 months.
With PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors and next generation targeted therapies moving into frontline, the unmet need in recurrent lung cancer is expected to remain severe.

Breast cancer unmet need and epidemiology
Worldwide, breast cancer was the most common cancer with an incidence of approximately 2.3 million and estimated 685,000 deaths in 2020. The U.S. incidence was approximately 282,000 new cases with over 43,600 deaths in 2021. While patients with localized disease typically have a dose expansion focused on platinum-resistant ovarianrelatively good prognosis, the 5-year survival of patients with distant metastasis is only 29%. There are four main female breast cancer subtypes, which are, in order of prevalence: Hormone Receptor positive (HR+)/ Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 negative (HER2-) (“Luminal A”), HR-/HER2- (“Triple Negative”), HR+/HER2+ (“Luminal B”), and NSCLC adenocarcinoma patient cohorts.HR-/HER2+ (“HER2-enriched”). Treatment choice is driven by both subtype and stage of disease. Surgical resection offers the best opportunity for long-term survival and cure in patients with resectable early-stage disease. Some patients receive radiation therapy and/or systemic therapy post-surgery, with treatment choice driven by cancer subtype.
Systemic therapy is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Once again, the treatment choice is determined by cancer subtype and by what treatments patients have received previously. The primary objectivetreatment option for patients who are HR+ is endocrine therapy, including aromatase inhibitors. Patients who are HER2+ are usually treated with HER2 targeting agents such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, among others. Other targeted agents that are used in metastatic breast cancer include CDK4/6 inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, PIK3CA inhibitor, immunotherapy and ADCs. Patients can also receive chemotherapies, alone or in combination with other agents. In addition, a number of new therapeutic options are under clinical investigation. Despite the dose escalation partavailability of the study is to establish the maximum‑tolerated dose and a recommended go forward dose. The objective of the cohort expansion stage is to further assess tolerability at the recommended go forward dose, to estimate the objective response rate and durability of response and to further define patient selection criteria for pivotal studies.

The dose escalation part of the study utilizes a modified 3+3 design. A Safety Review Committee will review the data after each dose cohort of three patients completes the DLT evaluation period and will recommend three patients be enrolled at the next dose level if a dose is reasonably well‑tolerated. After the first cycle, patients maythese treatment options, outcomes in metastatic breast cancer continue to receive XMT‑1536 until disease progression, provided the drug is well‑toleratedbe poor, and patients continue to derive clinical benefit in the opinionnew treatments that improve survival and quality of the investigator. Dose escalation started with a once every three week schedule which has been fully explored. Currently an evaluation of a once every four week regimen is ongoing.

life are urgently needed.

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Following dose escalation and establishment of a go forward dose, we plan to expand into patient cohorts aimed at establishing proof of concept in platinum resistant ovarian cancer and NSCLC adenocarcinoma. The expansion part of the study is designed to provide an initial estimate of the response rate for XMT‑1536 in each cohort and the durability of the observed responses. These data will be used to support end‑of‑Phase 1 interactions with regulatory authorities and to inform the design of subsequent studies. We anticipate that observation of a clinically meaningful rate of durable responses in any of the cohorts could be used to support the initiation of pivotal studies to support approval in the indication.

Preclinical studies

XMT‑1536 induced complete tumor regressions in the OVCAR3 ovarian cancer model after a single dose of 5 mg/kg or three weekly doses of 3 mg/kg. In comparison, lifastuzumab vedotin administered via three weekly doses of 3 mg/kg failed to achieve tumor regressions (Figure 10). Genentech published regressions in this model at doses of 6 mg/kg and above, but, given the dose‑limiting neutropenia seen in monkeys at doses above 3 mg/kg, these higher doses are unlikely to be translationally relevant.

Figure 10. Comparison of XMT‑1536 to Lifastuzumab Vedotin in the OVCAR3 Ovarian

Cancer Xenograft Model

Picture 7

Established CTG‑0852 patient‑derived NSCLC xenograft tumors were treated with XMT‑1536, lifastuzumab vedotin or non‑binding IgG1‑dolaflexin control ADC at a 3 mg/kg dose once weekly for three weeks and tumor volume was measured for 60 days. XMT‑1536 treatment resulted in nearly complete regression of the treated tumors that was durable for 45 days after cessation of treatment. In contrast, treatment with the non‑binding ADC control or lifastuzumab vedotin led to modest tumor growth control without achieving tumor regression.

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Figure 11. Comparison of XMT‑1536 to Lifastuzumab Vedotin in the CTG‑0852 NSCLC Xenograft Model

Picture 5

XMT‑1536 was also tested in eight patient‑derived tumor models of NSCLC adenocarcinoma, where it led to complete or near‑complete tumor regressions in five of eight models and significant tumor growth delay in two of the remaining three models (Figure 12). All models were treated with three weekly doses of 3 mg/kg or less. The models were not pre‑selected for NaPi2b expression and represented a range of tumor genotypes frequently observed in NSCLC adenocarcinoma, including RAS/RAF mutant tumors, EGFR mutant tumors, ALK‑translocated tumors and tumors not carrying known oncogenic drivers. As with the data presented above, each column represents an individual tumor model, and the more negative the value, the greater the degree of XMT‑1536 efficacy, with negative 100% representing complete tumor regression. In these experiments, the last dose of XMT‑1536 was administered on Day 14 and tumor volumes were measured until Day 60 to evaluate durability of the regressions. The regressions were maintained until Day 60 in four of the five models achieving complete or near‑complete regression after a 45 day treatment‑free interval, indicating good durability of the tumor regressions (Figure 13).

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Figure 12. Waterfall Plot of Best Tumor Response
to XMT‑1536 in Eight NSCLC Adenocarcinoma
Models

Figure 13. Day 60 Tumor Volumes in Models
Achieving Complete or Near‑Complete
Regressions with XMT‑1536

Best Tumor Response
in 8 Adenocarcinoma PDX Models
3 mg/kg dose, weekly x3

Picture 1

Picture 2

XMT-1536 was tested at 3 mg/kg three times weekly in a series of 19 human primary xenograft models derived from serous ovarian or fallopian tube cancers (n=3 animals/group). Models were not preselected for NaPi2B target expression.  Growth effects were evaluated by calculating median best response relative to day 0, at any time-point. An immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay to detect NaPi2b was established using a primary anti-NaPi2b antibody, that consisted of a human/rabbit chimera of XMT-1535, the antibody included in XMT-1536. A tumor block from one untreated study animal, representing each tumor model, was evaluated to determine an efficacy/staining pattern relationship, and IHC values were reported as an “H” Score.

Median best response (Figure 14) calculation showed 10/19 models with a median best response of -50% to - 100%. Considering models with a 50% or greater median best response after XMT-1536 treatment, all had a NaPi2b IHC  H-score of ≥70 Amongst tumors with H-score ≥70, 10/12 (83%) models achieved 50% or greater reduction in tumor volume after XMT-1536 treatment, vs 0/7 (0%) models with H-score <70. There was an association between NaPi2b IHC H-score and tumor volume change after XMT-1536 treatment (Spearman rank coefficient 0.76).

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Figure 14. XMT-1536 Effect in Primary Ovarian Cancer Xenograft Models was Associated with NaPi2b Expression

Picture 13

Preclinical tolerability data and therapeutic index

XMT‑1536 is cross‑reactive with cynomolgous monkey and rat NaPi2b, allowing an informative evaluation of whether XMT‑1536 retains good tolerability in these commonly used safety species. In the exploratory repeat dose NHP study as well as the IND-enabling study, there was no evidence of neutropenia at payload doses that were at least four times the maximum tolerated dose of lifastuzumab vedotin and at least two times the dose that caused fatal neutropenia and sepsis in monkeys treated with lifastuzumab vedotin. Further, there was no evidence of significant pulmonary toxicity. We believe these data, combined with the strong efficacy data for XMT‑1536 in models of NSCLC and ovarian cancer, are indicative of a favorable therapeutic index and supported moving into Phase 1 trials in cancer patients.

XMT‑1522: HER2‑targeted ADC

Program description

In January 2019, following a strategic evaluation by the Company of the competitive environment for HER2-targeted therapies, we and our former partner, Takeda, discontinued the development of XMT-1522 then being studied in the dose escalation of a Phase 1 clinical trial. The Company now wholly owns the asset and may choose to out license it to a development partner at a future date.

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Strategic partnerships

Strategic partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies to advance FleximerDolasynthen and Dolaflexin ADC product candidates


We believe that our ADC platform hasplatforms have broad applicability across a number of targets. In February 2022, we entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc., or Janssen, to collaborate on the discovery of Dolasynthen ADCs for up to three antigen targets utilizing Janssen’s antibodies, with Janssen leading development, manufacturing and commercialization worldwide. We refer to this as the Janssen Collaboration. Our primary objective in entering into the Janssen Collaboration was to collaborate with a leading global pharmaceutical company to further validate the potential of our Dolasynthen platform, to enable novel ADC product candidates, to provide near-term funding and to drive significant long-term value. We have also used strategic partnering to accelerate bringing FleximerDolaflexin ADCs to patients. Since 2012, we have entered into strategic research and development partnerships with Merck KGaA and Asana BioSciences, LLC (by assignment from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.) to enable development of certain ADC product candidates utilizing Fleximer. In establishing each of these partnerships, our primary objectives were to collaborate with leading biopharmaceutical companies to validate the potential of ADC product candidates utilizing Fleximer, gain meaningful near‑term funding and drive significant long‑term value. Under each of our partnerships, we own the rights to any improvements to our ADC platform. The details of our material existing strategic partnerships are as follows:

Merck KGaA strategic research and development partnership

In June 2014, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of ADC product candidates

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utilizing FleximerDolaflexin for up to six target antigens. antigens; we refer to this as the Merck KGaA Collaboration. In entering into the Merck KGaA Collaboration, our primary objectives were to collaborate with leading pharmaceutical company to further validate the potential of ADC product candidates utilizing Dolaflexin, as well as to provide near-term funding and to drive significant long-term value. Under these collaboration agreements, we own the rights to any improvements to our ADC platform(s). The details of our material existing strategic partnerships are as follows:

Janssen Collaboration

In February 2022, we entered into the Janssen Collaboration pursuant to which we granted Janssen an exclusive license to use our proprietary Dolasynthen platform and other technology to develop, manufacture and commercialize antibody-drug conjugates directed to up to three targets selected by Janssen. Our responsibilities are to perform bioconjugation activities to create ADCs for Janssen based on antibodies provided by Janssen.We will also perform certain chemistry, manufacturing and controls development and early stage manufacturing activities for ADCs that Janssen progresses through development, up to and including the manufacturing of clinical drug substance, at Janssen’s cost. Except with respect to this limited manufacturing, Janssen will be responsible for the further development, manufacturing and commercialization of the ADCs developed under the Janssen Collaboration, including obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, at Janssen’s cost.

Under the terms of the Janssen Collaboration, we received an upfront payment of $40 million. Certain development and regulatory milestones will also be payable by Janssen for the research programs, including upon certain discovery milestones, initiation of certain clinical trials, and regulatory approval of certain licensed products in certain geographies, with an aggregate total of up to $501 million in the event ADCs directed to all three targets are advanced by Janssen. In the event the ADCs developed by Janssen are commercialized, we are eligible to receive certain commercial milestones for each program upon the achievement of specified aggregate sales thresholds based on all ADCs for an applicable target, with an aggregate total of up to approximately $530 million in the event ADCs directed to all three targets are commercialized by Janssen. In addition, we are eligible to receive tiered royalties at percentages ranging from the mid-single digits to the low-double digits on future net sales of ADCs.

The Janssen Collaboration will remain in effect, unless earlier terminated, until the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term for the last ADC. Royalty term means on an ADC-by-ADC and country-by-country basis, the period commencing upon the first commercial sale of an ADC in such country and ending upon the latest to occur of: (a) the date of expiration of the last royalty-bearing patent claim with respect to such ADC in such country; (b) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity for such ADC in such country, if any; and (c) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the first commercial sale of such ADC in such country. Upon the expiration of the royalty term with respect to an ADC in a country, Janssen’s license becomes a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free right and license, with the right to grant sublicenses, under the relevant platform technology and our interest in any joint technology to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit such ADC in such country.

Merck KGaA Collaboration

In June 2014, we entered into the Merck KGaA Collaboration under which we formed a strategic partnership with Merck KGaA because of their expertise in oncology drug development. Under this agreement, we are responsible for generating ADC product candidates against Merck KGaA‑selectedKGaA-selected target antigens. Merck KGaA received rights to select up to six target antigens, of which it has selected all six. Merck KGaA is responsible for generating antibodies against the target antigens, and we are responsible for generating Fleximer and our proprietary payloadsDolaflexin and conjugating this to such antibodies to create the ADC product candidates. With respect to each target antigen selected by Merck KGaA, we granted Merck KGaA an exclusive, worldwide license under certain of our Fleximer ADC‑relatedADC-related patents and know‑howknow-how to develop, manufacture and commercialize ADC product candidates directed to such target antigen. Merck KGaA is then responsible for the further development and commercialization of these ADC product candidates. In addition, if Merck KGaA advances candidates, we are responsible for manufacturing these ADC product candidates for GLPgood laboratory practices toxicology studies and Phase 1 clinical studiestrials at Merck KGaA’s expense and Merck KGaA is responsible for all further manufacture of these ADC product candidates. Merck KGaA is required to pay its own costs in the development, commercialization and manufacture of these ADC product candidates and to reimburse us for our costs incurred in performing our research activities under this agreement. The most advanced product candidates in this partnership are in the lead optimization stage.


Through December 31, 2018,2021, we have received an upfront payment of $12 million and milestone payments of $3 million under this agreement.the Merck KGaA Collaboration. If products are successfully developed and commercialized against all six target antigens, we arewould be entitled to receive future development, regulatory and commercial milestones of up to $778$777 million. We are entitled to receive tiered royalties in the low‑low- to mid‑singlemid-single digit percentages on net sales of products targeting Merck KGaA’s target
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antigens during the applicable royalty term if products are successfully developed and commercialized by Merck KGaA under this agreement.

the Merck KGaA Collaboration.

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Unless earlier terminated, this agreementthe Merck KGaA Collaboration will expire upon the expiration of the last royalty term for a product under the agreement in all countries or, if Merck KGaA does not designate any ADC product candidates produced by us under the agreement as preclinical development candidates, upon the expiration of the last‑to‑expirelast-to-expire research program. The royalty term means, on a product‑by‑productproduct-by-product and country‑by‑countrycountry-by-country basis, the period commencing upon the first commercial sale of a product and ending upon the later to occur of: (i) the expiration of the last Mersana patent right that covers or claims the exploitation of such product in such country, or (ii) 10 years from the date of first commercial sale of such product in such country. Upon the expiration of each royalty term for each product on a country‑by‑countrycountry-by-country basis, Merck KGaA’s exclusive license will convert to a perpetual, non‑exclusive, royalty‑freenon-exclusive, royalty-free license with respect to such product in such country. Merck KGaA may terminate this agreementthe Merck KGaA Collaboration in its entirety or with respect to any target antigen for convenience upon 60 days’ prior written notice. Each party may terminate this agreementthe Merck KGaA Collaboration in its entirety upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party.


Asana Biosciences collaboration agreement


In March 2012, we entered to a collaboration agreement with Asana Biosciences, (formerly partor Asana (by assignment from Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.). Pursuant to the terms of Endo Pharmaceuticals) to develop next-generation ADCs. Under this agreement, Asana paid us an upfront fee for the right to utilize our Fleximer technologywe used Asana’s novel antibodies to develop novel ADC candidates against a single cancer target. We are responsible for conducting research and creating ADCs that are conjugates ofusing our diverse, highly potent cytotoxic payloads, our Fleximer polymer and custom linkers, and Asana’s novel antibodies. In addition to providing novel antibodies,fleximer technology. Asana is responsible for product development, manufacturing and commercialization of any Fleximer-ADCADC products. Through December 31, 2018, we have received an upfront payment of $0.8 million and milestone payments of $3.0 million under this agreement.

Takeda XMT‑1522 strategic partnership

In January 2016, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda (formerly in partnership with Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for the development and commercialization of XMT‑1522. On January 2, 2019 we received a notice from Takeda that it was exercising its rights to terminate the Development Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement between the two parties for the global development and commercialization of XMT-1522. Takeda’s delivery of the notice followed discussions between the two parties whereby we mutually agreed to terminate the co-development collaboration for XMT-1522 following a strategic evaluation of the competitive environment for HER2-targeted therapies.  We are working with Takeda to wind down activities under the Development Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement. Through December 31, 2018, we have received an upfront payment of $13.3 million and milestone payments of $33.3 million under this agreement.

Takeda strategic research and development partnership

In March 2014, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda (formerly in partnership with Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) for the development and commercialization of ADC product candidates utilizing Fleximer. On January 2, 2019, we received notice from Takeda stating that it was exercising its rights to terminate the Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement. Takeda’s delivery of the notice followed discussions between the two parties whereby they mutually agreed to discontinue the Research Collaboration and License Agreement. We are in the process of winding down activities under Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement. Through December 31, 2018, we have received an upfront payment of $24.8 million and milestone payments of $0.8 million under this agreement.


Strategic partnerships to access antibodies and develop new platforms to progress our proprietary pipeline

Our focus is to progress our proprietary pipeline of Fleximer based ADCs. For this reason, we have partnered with biotechnology companies that have the capability to generate high quality antibodies or that have existing antibodies that we can license for inclusion in our ADCs. We have also entered into license agreements with biotechnology companies that own certain patent rights and related know-how that enable us to develop new ADC platforms. These strategic partnerships have facilitated the acceleration of our proprietary pipeline.

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Recepta license for the NaPi2b antibody in XMT‑1536


In July 2015, we entered into a license agreement with Recepta Biopharma S.A., or Recepta, a Brazilian biopharmaceutical company, licensing Recepta’s NaPi2b antibody for use in XMT‑1536UpRi and XMT-1592 and granting Recepta the exclusive right to commercialize XMT‑1536UpRi and XMT-1592 in Brazil.Brazil, which was amended in September 2021. We refer to this as the Recepta License. Under this agreement,the Recepta License, Recepta granted us an exclusive license and sub‑licensesub-license with respect to certain patents licensed by Recepta from Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and technology owned by Recepta to develop and exploit products containing Recepta’s NaPi2b antibody, including XMT‑1536,UpRi and XMT-1592, worldwide for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of human cancer. We granted Recepta an exclusive license under our rights in such patents and technology and certain of our ADC‑relatedADC-related patents and technology to commercialize any such products developed by us, including XMT‑1536,UpRi and XMT-1592, in Brazil. We are responsible for the worldwide developmentusing commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialization ofcommercialize products under this agreementthe Recepta License globally, with at least one trial site in our Phase 3 clinical trials, and at our own expense in certain major markets, including at least one study site in our Phase 3 clinical studies in Brazil.markets. Recepta may conduct development activities in Brazil at its own expense after providing us the opportunity to first conduct such activities at Recepta’s expense. If a product is successfully developed and commercialized by Recepta in Brazil, we will use diligent efforts to enter into an agreement for the supply of such products to Recepta for sale in Brazil.


Under this agreement,the Recepta License, we paid Recepta an upfront payment of $1 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 and are obligated to pay Recepta up to $65.5 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestones and tiered royalties in the low‑singlelow-single digit percentages on net sales of products outside of Brazil until the expiration of the royalty term if products are successfully developed and commercialized. Through December 31, 2021, we have incurred $4.0 million and paid $2.8 million in development milestone payments. We are entitled to receive tiered royalties in the low‑low- tomid‑single mid-single digit percentages on net sales of products in Brazil until the expiration of the royalty term if products are successfully developed and commercialized. The royalty term means, on a product‑by‑productproduct-by-product and country‑by‑countrycountry-by-country basis, the period ending upon the later of (i) with respect to products commercialized by Mersana, the expiration of the last‑to‑expirelast-to-expire Recepta patent that covers the product in such country (including the term of any applicable supplementary protection certificate) or with respect to products commercialized by Recepta, the expiration of the last‑to‑expirelast-to-expire Mersana Patentpatent that covers the product in Brazil (including the term of any applicable supplementary protection certificate) or (ii) 10 years from the date of first commercial sale of such product in such country. Upon the expiration of each royalty term in each country for each applicable product, the exclusive
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licenses granted to each party under the agreement will become fully‑paidfully-paid up and royalty‑free. This agreementroyalty-free. The Recepta License will remain in effect until otherwise terminated as set forth below. We may terminate this agreementthe Recepta License for convenience in its entirety or on a country‑by‑countrycountry-by-country basis (except with respect to Brazil) or product‑by‑productproduct-by-product basis upon 180 days’ prior written notice for a termination in its entirety or upon 45 days’ prior written notice for a termination in part. Each party may terminate this agreementthe Recepta License in its entirety upon bankruptcy or similar proceedings of the other party, upon a patent challenge by the other party or upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party. However, if such breach only relates to one country, the agreementRecepta License may only be terminated with respect to such country.

Synaffix commercial license agreement    
In January 2019, we entered into a commercial license agreement with Synaffix B.V., or Synaffix, which we amended and restated in November 2021 to expand our relationship with Synaffix. We refer to the amended and restated agreement as the Synaffix License. Under the Synaffix License, we have the right to develop, manufacture and commercialize ADCs directed to targets using Synaffix’s proprietary site-specific conjugation technology for up to twelve targets. Through December 31, 2021, we have licensed two targets from Synaffix in connection with our development of XMT-1592 and XMT-1660, for which we have paid $1.5 million in license fees, and $0.8 million in milestone payments. We are required to make milestone payments to Synaffix of up to an aggregate of $28.0 million in development and regulatory milestones and up to $20.0 million in one-time sales milestones based on the achievement of annual sales objectives for each of these two targets. Additionally, we paid upfront fees of $2.5 million at the time of amending and restating the Synaffix License in November 2021, which may be applied to reservation and license fees associated with our selection of the next three targets. Upon licensing any future targets, we will be obligated to pay in the range of $48.0 million to $117.0 million for issuance, development, regulatory and one-time sales milestones. We further amended the Synaffix License in February 2022 in connection with the Janssen Collaboration and agreed to pay Synaffix an additional fee of $1.5 million which may be applied to future reservation and license fees, as well as certain portions of potential future development milestones.
Upon commencement of commercial sales of any ADC product directed to a licensed target, if any, we are required to pay to Synaffix tiered royalties in the low-single digit percentages on net sales of the respective products. The Synaffix License remains in effect on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim in a patent licensed under the Synaffix License covering such product in such country. Upon the expiration of the Synaffix License for each licensed product in each country, the licenses granted to us for such product in such country will become fully paid-up and perpetual. We may terminate the Synaffix License in its entirety or on a licensed product-by-licensed product basis at any time. Either party may terminate the Synaffix License, subject to a specified notice and cure period, for a breach by the other party of a material provision of the agreement or upon an insolvency-related event experienced by the other party.
Manufacturing

We do not own or operate and currently have no plans to establish any current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP, compliant manufacturing facilities. We currently rely, and expect to continue to rely, on external Contract Manufacturing Organizations, or CMOs, for the manufacture of product to support clinical testing.our activities through regulatory approval and commercial manufacturing. We have personnel with pharmaceutical development and manufacturing experience who are responsible for the relationships with our CMOs. In the future, we expect to use these CMOs to manufacture commercial supply of our products.products, which will require these CMOs to increase scale of production. We do not currently have qualified alternate suppliers in the event the current CMOs that we utilize are unable to scale production for commercial manufacturing. The Dolaflexin, Dolasynthen and Immunosynthen manufacturing process involvesprocesses involve readily available starting materials and usesuse unit operations that are well‑precedentedwell-precedented in the field of chemical/pharmaceutical production. The current XMT-1536UpRi supply chain utilizes the same vendors the companythat we could use for commercialization.

The current XMT-1592 supply chain utilizes the same vendors that we could use for commercialization with the exception of components necessary for the Synaffix bioconjugation technology, where the identification of a commercially capable vendor is ongoing. The current supply chains for XMT-1660 and XMT-2056 have several vendors in common, and based on what we know today, we believe we could use these vendors for commercialization purposes.

Government regulation

Government

The research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, packaging, labeling, storage, record-keeping, distribution, import, export, promotion, advertising, marketing, sale, pricing and reimbursement of drug and biologic products are extensively regulated by governmental authorities in the United States at the federal, state and local level, and in other countries and jurisdictions, including the European Union, extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, clinical and preclinical testing, manufacture, packaging, storage, recordkeeping, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution, marketing and import and export of pharmaceutical products.countries. The processes for obtaining regulatory approvals in the United States and in foreign countries and jurisdictions, along with subsequent compliance with applicable statutes and regulations and other regulatory authorities,requirements, both pre-approval and post-approval, require the expenditure of
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substantial time and financial resources. FailureThe regulatory requirements applicable to comply with the applicable requirements at any time during thebiological product development, process, approval processand marketing are subject to change, and regulations and administrative guidance often are revised or after approvalreinterpreted by the agencies in ways that may

have a significant impact on our business.

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U.S. government regulation of biological products

subject an applicant and/or sponsor to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, including imposition of a clinical hold, refusal to approve marketing applications, withdrawal of an approval, import/export delays, issuance of warning letters and other types of enforcement letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement of profits or civil or criminal investigations and penalties.

Review and approval in the United States

In the United States, our ADC product candidates are subject to regulation by the FDA as biologics. The FDA regulateslicenses biological products, or biologics, under the FederalPublic Health Service Act, or the PHSA, and regulates such products under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA,FDCA. A company, institution, or organization which takes responsibility for the Public Health Service Act, or PHS Act,initiation and associated implementing regulations. The failure to comply with the FDCA, the PHS Act and other applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval may subject an applicant and/or sponsor to a variety of administrative or judicial sanctions, including refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, impositionmanagement of a clinical hold, issuance of warning lettersdevelopment program for such products, and other types of enforcement‑related letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement of profits or civil or criminal investigationsfor their regulatory approval, is typically referred to as a sponsor.A sponsor seeking approval to market and penalties brought by the FDA and the Department of Justice, or DOJ, or other governmental entities.

The steps beforedistribute a biological product may be approved for marketingnew biologic in the United States generally include:

·

completion of preclinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies in compliance with the FDA’s GLP regulations;

·

the submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug, or IND application which must take effect before human clinical studies may begin in the United States;

·

approval by an independent Institutional Review Board, or IRB representingmust satisfactorily complete each clinical site before each clinical study may be initiated;

·

performance of adequate and well‑controlled clinical studies to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed product for each indication, conducted in accordance with GCP;

·

preparation and submission to the FDA of a Biologics License Application, or BLA;

·

FDA acceptance, review and approval of the BLA, which might include an Advisory Committee review;

·

satisfactory completion of one or more FDA inspections of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product, or components thereof, are produced to assess compliance with cGMP requirements and to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity;

·

satisfactory completion of any FDA audits of clinical study sites to assure compliance with GCPs and the integrity of the clinical data;

·

payment of user fees, if any, for FDA review of the BLA; and

·

compliance with any post‑approval requirements, including a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, where applicable, and post‑approval studies required by the FDA as a condition of approval.

The testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort and financial resources, and the receipt and timing of any approval is uncertain.

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Preclinical studies

Preclinical studies include laboratory evaluation of the product candidate, as well as in vitro andfollowing steps:

completion of preclinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies according to assessgood laboratory practices, or GLP, regulations or other applicable regulations;
design of a clinical protocol and submission to the potentialFDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin and must be updated when certain changes are made;
approval by an independent institutional review board, or IRB, or ethics committee representing each clinical trial site before each clinical trial may be initiated;
performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with applicable IND regulations, good clinical practices, or GCPs, and other clinical-trial related regulations to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the investigational product for each proposed indication;
preparation and submission to the FDA of a BLA requesting marketing approval for one or more proposed indications, including payment of application user fees;
review of the BLA by an FDA advisory committee, where applicable;
satisfactory completion of one or more FDA inspections of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the biologic is produced to assess compliance with cGMP requirements to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity;
satisfactory completion of any FDA audits of clinical trial sites to assure compliance with GCPs and the integrity of the clinical data submitted in support of the BLA; and
FDA review and approval of the BLA, which may be subject to additional post- approval requirements, including the potential requirement to implement a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, and any post- approval clinical trials required by the FDA.
Preclinical studies
Before a sponsor begins testing a product candidate for usewith potential therapeutic value in humans.humans, the product candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, formulation and stability, as well as other studies to evaluate, among other things, the toxicity of the product candidate. The conduct of the preclinical studies is subject totests and formulation of the compounds for testing must comply with federal regulations and requirements, including GLP regulations.regulations and standards and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Act, if applicable. The results of the preclinical studies,tests, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and plans for clinical studies, among other things, are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND. Additional
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Some long-term preclinical testing, such as animal tests of reproductive adverse events and carcinogenicity, and long-term toxicity studies, may continue after the IND is submitted.

Clinical studies

Clinical studies involve

The IND and IRB processes
An IND is an exemption from the administration of theFDCA that allows an unapproved product candidate to human subjects underbe shipped in interstate commerce for use in an investigational clinical trial and a request for FDA authorization to administer such investigational product to humans. An IND must be secured prior to interstate shipment and administration of any product candidate that is not the supervisionsubject of qualified investigators in accordance with GCP requirements. GCP requirements include, among other things, conducting the study in accordance withan approved BLA. In support of a written protocol, obtaining informed consent from study subjects and approval and ongoing review of the study byrequest for an IRB at each site where the study will be conducted.

AIND, sponsors must submit a protocol for each clinical studytrial and any subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. An IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related to aone or more proposed clinical study ortrials and places the studytrial on a clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical studytrial may proceed. As a result, submission of an IND may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.

Following commencement of a clinical trial under an IND, the FDA may also place a clinical hold or partial clinical hold on that trial. A clinical hold is an order issued by the FDA to the sponsor to delay a proposed clinical investigation or to suspend an ongoing investigation. A partial clinical hold is a delay or suspension of only part of the clinical work requested under the IND. For example, a partial clinical hold might state that a specific protocol or part of a protocol may not proceed, while other parts of a protocol or other protocols may do so. No more than 30 days after the imposition of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, the FDA will provide the sponsor a written explanation of the basis for the hold. Following the issuance of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, a clinical investigation may only resume once the FDA has notified the sponsor that the investigation may proceed. The FDA will base that determination on information provided by the sponsor correcting the deficiencies previously cited or otherwise satisfying the FDA that the investigation can begin.

proceed or recommence. Occasionally, clinical holds are imposed due to manufacturing issues that may present safety issues for the clinical trial subjects.

A sponsor may choose, but is not required, to conduct a foreign clinical trial under an IND. When a foreign clinical trial is conducted under an IND, all IND requirements must be met unless waived by the FDA. When a foreign clinical trial is not conducted under an IND, the sponsor must ensure that the trial complies with certain regulatory requirements of the FDA in order to use the trial data as support for an IND or application for marketing approval. Specifically, the trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP, including undergoing review and receiving approval by an independent ethics committee, or IEC, and seeking and receiving informed consent from subjects. GCP requirements encompass both ethical and data integrity standards for clinical trials. The FDA’s regulations are intended to help ensure the protection of human subjects enrolled in non-IND foreign clinical trials, as well as the quality and integrity of the resulting data.
In addition to the foregoing IND requirements, an IRB representing each institution participating in the clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that institution, and the IRB must conduct continuing review and re-approve the trial at least annually. The IRB, which must operate in compliance with FDA regulations, must review and approve, among other things, the clinical trial protocol and informed consent information to be provided to trial subjects and must monitor the trial until completed. An IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution, or an institution it represents, if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the product candidate has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
Additionally, some trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board, or DSMB. This group provides authorization as to whether or not a trial may move forward at designated checkpoints based on review of available data from the trial, to which only the DSMB maintains access. Suspension or termination of development during any phase of a clinical trial can occur if the DSMB determines that the participants or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.
Expanded access
Expanded access, sometimes called “compassionate use,” is the use of investigational new products outside of clinical trials to treat patients with serious or immediately life-threatening diseases or conditions when there are no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options. The rules and regulations related to expanded access are intended to improve access to investigational products for patients who may benefit from investigational therapies. FDA regulations allow access to investigational products under an IND by the company or the treating physician for treatment purposes on a case-by-case basis for: individual patients (single-patient IND applications for treatment in emergency settings and non-emergency settings);
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intermediate-size patient populations; and larger populations for use of the investigational product under a treatment protocol or Treatment IND Application.
When considering an IND application for expanded access to an investigational product with the purpose of treating a patient or a group of patients, the sponsor and treating physicians or investigators will determine suitability when all of the following criteria apply: patient(s) have a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition, and there is no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy to diagnose, monitor, or treat the disease or condition; the potential patient benefit justifies the potential risks of the treatment and the potential risks are not unreasonable in the context or condition to be treated; and the expanded use of the investigational product for the requested treatment will not interfere with the initiation, conduct or completion of clinical investigations that could support marketing approval of the product or otherwise compromise the potential development of the product.
There is no obligation for a sponsor to make its investigational products available for expanded access; however, as required by amendments to the FDCA included in the 21st Century Cures Act, or the Cures Act, passed in 2016, if a sponsor has a policy regarding how it responds to expanded access requests with respect to product candidates in development to treat serious diseases or conditions, it must make that policy publicly available. Sponsors are required to make such policies publicly available upon the earlier of initiation of a Phase 2 or Phase 3 trial for a covered investigational product; or 15 days after the investigational product receives designation from the FDA as a breakthrough therapy, fast track product, or regenerative medicine advanced therapy.
In addition, on May 30, 2018, the Right to Try Act was signed into law. The law, among other things, provides a federal framework for certain patients to access certain investigational new products that have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial and that are undergoing investigation for FDA approval. Under certain circumstances, eligible patients can seek treatment without enrolling in clinical trials and without obtaining FDA permission under the FDA expanded access program. There is no obligation for a manufacturer to make its products available to eligible patients as a result of the Right to Try Act, but the manufacturer must develop an internal policy and respond to patient requests according to that policy.
Human clinical trials
Clinical studiestrials involve the administration of the investigational product candidate to human subjects under the supervision of a qualified investigator in accordance with GCP requirements which include, among other things, the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent in writing before they participate in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under written clinical trial protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the trial, inclusion and exclusion criteria, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol, and any subsequent material amendment to the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND, and progress reports detailing the status of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA annually. The FDA has issued regulations authorizing a sponsor to transfer certain responsibilities for the conduct of a clinical trial to a contract research organization, or CRO.
Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases, prior to approval, whichbut the phases may overlap or be combined:

combined. Additional trials may also be required after approval.

Phase 1:  The product candidate is1 clinical trials are initially introduced intoconducted in a limited population, which may be healthy humanvolunteers or subjects or, in some cases, patients with the target disease, (e.g., cancer) or condition. In Phase 1,to test the product candidate is typically tested for safety, dosageincluding adverse effects, dose tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution, excretion and if possible,pharmacodynamics in healthy humans or in patients. During Phase 1 clinical trials, information about the product candidate’s pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects may be obtained to gain an early indicationpermit the design of its effectivenesswell-controlled and to determine optimal dosage.

scientifically valid Phase 2:  The product candidate is administered to2 clinical trials.

Phase 2 clinical trials are generally conducted in a limited patient population to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases, to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, evaluate the efficacy of the product candidate for specific targeted indications and to determine dosagedose tolerance and optimal dosage.

Multiple Phase 3:  The2 clinical trials may be conducted by the sponsor to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more costly Phase 3 clinical trials. Phase 2 clinical trials are typically well-controlled and closely monitored.

Phase 3 clinical trials proceed if the Phase 2 clinical trials demonstrate that a dose range of the product candidate is administeredpotentially effective and has an acceptable safety profile. Phase 3 clinical trials are undertaken using a larger patient population to further evaluate dosage, provide substantial evidence of clinical efficacy and further test for safety in an expanded and diverse patient population generally at multiple geographically dispersed clinical study sites,trial sites. A well-controlled, statistically robust Phase 3 clinical trial may be designed to deliver the data that regulatory authorities will use to decide whether or not to approve, and, if approved, how to appropriately label a new biologic product. Such Phase 3 clinical trials are referred to as “pivotal” trials.
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A clinical trial may combine the elements of more than one phase and the FDA often requires more than one Phase 3 trial to support marketing approval of a product candidate. A company’s designation of a clinical trial as being of a particular phase is not necessarily indicative that the trial will be sufficient to satisfy the FDA requirements of that phase because this determination cannot be made until the protocol and data have been submitted to and reviewed by the FDA. Moreover, as noted above, a pivotal trial is a clinical trial that is believed to satisfy FDA requirements for the evaluation of a product candidate’s safety and efficacy such that it can be used, alone or with other pivotal or non-pivotal trials, to support regulatory approval. Generally, pivotal trials are Phase 3 trials, but they may be Phase 2 trials if the design provides a well-controlled and reliable assessment of clinical benefit, particularly in well‑controlledan area of unmet medical need.
In some cases, the FDA may approve a BLA for a product candidate but require the sponsor to conduct additional clinical studiestrials to generate enough data to statistically evaluate the efficacy and safety offurther assess the product for approval,candidate’s safety and effectiveness after approval. Such post-approval trials, typically referred to establish the overall risk‑benefit profile of the product and to provide adequate information for the labeling of the product.

as Phase 4 clinical studiestrials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These studiestrials are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of a larger number of patients in the intended therapeutic indication andtreatment group. In certain instances, the FDA may mandate the performance of Phase 4 clinical trials, such as to document averify clinical benefit in the case of products approved under accelerated approval regulations or when otherwise requestedregulations. Failure to exhibit due diligence with regard to conducting mandatory Phase 4 clinical trials could result in withdrawal of FDA approval for products.

In August 2018, the FDA released a draft guidance entitled “Expansion Cohorts: Use in First-In-Human Clinical Trials to Expedite Development of Oncology Drugs and Biologics,” which outlines how developers can utilize an adaptive trial design commonly referred to as a seamless trial design in early stages of oncology biological product development (i.e., the first-in-human clinical trial) to compress the traditional three phases of trials into one continuous trial called an expansion cohort trial. Information to support the design of individual expansion cohorts are included in IND applications and assessed by FDA. Expansion cohort trials can potentially bring efficiency to product development and reduce developmental costs and time.
Finally, sponsors of clinical trials are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information on a public registry (clinicaltrials.gov) maintained by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, or NIH. In particular, information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, clinical trial sites and investigators and other aspects of the clinical trial is made public as part of the registration of the clinical trial. The NIH’s Final Rule on registration and reporting requirements for clinical trials became effective in 2017, and both NIH and the FDA have recently signaled the government’s willingness to begin enforcing those requirements against non-compliant clinical trial sponsors.
Interactions with FDA during the clinical development program
Following the clearance of an IND and the commencement of clinical trials, the sponsor will continue to have interactions with the FDA. Progress reports detailing the results of clinical trials must be submitted annually within 60 days of the anniversary dates that the IND went into effect and more frequently if serious adverse events occur. These reports must include a development safety update report, or DSUR. In addition, IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA for any of the following: serious and unexpected suspected adverse reactions; findings from other trials or animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk in humans exposed to the product; and any clinically important increase in the formoccurrence of post‑market requirementsa serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or commitments.

Clinical studies at each phase of developmentinvestigator brochure. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, or at all. Furthermore, the FDA, an IRB, the sponsor or the data monitoring committee, if applicable, may suspend or terminate a clinical study at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. The FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP and the integrity of the clinical data submitted.

Submission

In addition, sponsors are given opportunities to meet with the FDA at certain points in the clinical development program. Specifically, sponsors may meet with the FDA prior to the submission of an IND (Pre-IND meeting), at the end of Phase 2 clinical trial (EOP2 meeting) and before a BLA is submitted (Pre-BLA meeting). Meetings at other times may also be requested. There are three types of meetings that occur between sponsors and the FDA. Type A meetings are those that are necessary for an otherwise stalled product development program to proceed or to address an important safety issue. Type B meetings include pre-IND and pre-BLA meetings, as well as end of phase meetings such as EOP2 meetings. A Type C meeting is any meeting other than a Type A or Type B meeting regarding the development and review of a marketing applicationproduct, including for example meetings to facilitate early consultations on the use of a biomarker as a new surrogate endpoint that has never been previously used as the primary basis for product approval in the proposed context of use.
Manufacturing and other regulatory requirements
Concurrent with clinical trials, sponsors usually complete additional animal safety studies, develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the product candidate and finalize a process for manufacturing commercial quantities of the product candidate in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other criteria, the sponsor must develop methods
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for testing the identity, strength, quality, and purity of the finished product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
Specifically, the FDA’s regulations require that pharmaceutical products be manufactured in specific approved facilities and in accordance with cGMPs. The cGMP regulations include requirements relating to organization of personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment, control of components and product containers and closures, production and process controls, packaging and labeling controls, holding and distribution, laboratory controls, records and reports and returned or salvaged products. Manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved pharmaceuticals are required to register their establishments with the FDA and some state agencies, and they are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA for compliance with cGMPs and other requirements. Inspections must follow a “risk-based schedule” that may result in certain establishments being inspected more frequently. Manufacturers may also have to provide, on request, electronic or physical records regarding their establishments. Delaying, denying, limiting, or refusing inspection by the FDA may lead to a product being deemed to be adulterated. Changes to the manufacturing process, specifications or container closure system for an approved product are strictly regulated and often require prior FDA

approval before being implemented. The FDA’s regulations also require, among other things, the investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMP and the imposition of reporting and documentation requirements upon the sponsor and any third-party manufacturers involved in producing the approved product.

Pediatric trials
Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, applications and certain types of supplements to applications must contain data that are adequate to assess the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations, and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The sponsor must submit an initial Pediatric Study Plan, or PSP, within 60 days of an end-of-phase 2 meeting or as may be agreed between the sponsor and the FDA. Those plans must contain an outline of the proposed pediatric clinical trial or trials that the sponsor plans to conduct, including trial objectives and design, age groups, relevant endpoints and statistical approach, or a justification for not including such detailed information, and any request for a deferral of pediatric assessments or a full or partial waiver of the requirement to provide data from pediatric trials along with supporting information. The sponsor and the FDA must reach agreement on a final plan. A sponsor can submit amendments to an agreed-upon initial PSP at any time if changes to the pediatric plan need to be considered based on data collected from nonclinical studies, early phase clinical trials, and/or other clinical development programs.
For investigational products intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, the FDA must, upon the request of a sponsor, meet to discuss preparation of the initial PSP or to discuss deferral or waiver of pediatric assessments. In addition, the FDA will meet early in the development process to discuss pediatric study plans with sponsors, and the FDA must meet with sponsors by no later than the end-of-phase 1 meeting for serious or life-threatening diseases and by no later than ninety days after the FDA’s receipt of the PSP.
The FDA may, on its own initiative or at the request of the sponsor, grant deferrals for submission of some or all pediatric data until after approval of the product for use in adults, or full or partial waivers from the pediatric data requirements. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the product or therapeutic candidate is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric trials are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be collected before the pediatric trials begin. The law now requires the FDA to send a PREA Non-Compliance letter to sponsors who have failed to submit their pediatric assessments required under PREA, have failed to seek or obtain a deferral or deferral extension or have failed to request approval for a required pediatric formulation. Unless otherwise required by regulation, the pediatric data requirements do not apply to products with orphan designation, although FDA has recently taken steps to limit what it considers abuse of this statutory exemption in PREA. The FDA also maintains a list of diseases that are exempt from PREA requirements due to low prevalence of disease in the pediatric population.
Expedited review programs
The FDA is authorized to expedite the review of applications in several ways. Under the Fast Track program, the sponsor of a product candidate may request the FDA to designate the product for a specific indication as a Fast Track product concurrent with or after the filing of the IND. Candidate products are eligible for Fast Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition. Fast Track designation applies to the combination of the product candidate and the specific indication for which it is being studied. In
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addition to other benefits, such as the ability to have greater interactions with the FDA, the FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast Track application before the application is complete, a process known as rolling review.
Any product candidate submitted to the FDA for marketing, including under a Fast Track program, may be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite development and review, such as breakthrough therapy designation, priority review and accelerated approval.
Breakthrough therapy designation. To qualify for the breakthrough therapy program, product candidates must be intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence must indicate that such product candidates may demonstrate substantial improvement on one or more clinically significant endpoints over existing therapies. The FDA will seek to ensure the sponsor of a breakthrough therapy product candidate receives intensive guidance on an efficient development program, intensive involvement of senior managers and experienced staff on a proactive, collaborative and cross-disciplinary review and rolling review.
Priority review. A product candidate is eligible for priority review if it treats a serious condition and, if approved, it would be a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis or prevention compared to marketed products. FDA aims to complete its review of priority review applications within six months as opposed to 10 months for standard review.
Accelerated approval. Biologic products studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening illnesses and that provide meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments may receive accelerated approval. Accelerated approval means that a product candidate may be approved on the basis of adequate and well controlled clinical trials establishing that the product candidate has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit, or on the basis of an effect on a clinical endpoint other than survival or irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity and prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a biologic product candidate receiving accelerated approval perform adequate and well controlled post-marketing clinical trials. In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval pre-approval of promotional materials.
Regenerative advanced therapy. With passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, or the Cures Act, in December 2016, Congress authorized the FDA to accelerate review and approval of products designated as regenerative advanced therapies. A product is eligible for this designation if it is a regenerative medicine therapy that is intended to treat, modify, reverse or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product candidate has the potential to address unmet medical needs for such disease or condition. The benefits of a regenerative advanced therapy designation include early interactions with the FDA to expedite development and review, benefits available to breakthrough therapies, potential eligibility for priority review and accelerated approval based on surrogate or intermediate endpoints.
None of these expedited programs changes the standards for approval but each may help expedite the development or approval process governing product candidates.
Submission and filing of BLAs
Assuming successful completion of the required clinical testing, and other requirements, the results of the preclinical studies and clinical studies, togethertrials, along with detailed information relating to the product’s chemistry, manufacture,manufacturing, controls, safety updates, patent information, abuse information and proposed labeling, among other things, are submitted to the FDA as part of a BLAan application requesting approval to market the product candidate for one or more indications.

To support marketing approval, the data submitted must be sufficient in quality and quantity to establish the safety, potency and purity of the biological product to the satisfaction of the FDA. The fee required for the submission and review of an application under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, or PDUFA, is substantial (for example, for FY2022 this application fee is approximately $3.1 million), and the sponsor of an approved application is also subject to an annual program fee, currently more than $369,000 per eligible prescription product. These fees are typically adjusted annually, and exemptions and waivers may be available under certain circumstances, including where the applicant is a small business submitting its first human therapeutic application for review.

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The FDA conducts a preliminary review of all applications within 60 days of receipt and must inform the sponsor at that time or before whether an application is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. In pertinent part, FDA’s regulations state that an application “shall not be considered as filed until all pertinent information and data have been received” by the FDA. In the event that FDA determines that an application does not satisfy this standard, it will issue a Refuse to File, or RTF,

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BLA pathway

Our ADC product candidatesdetermination to the applicant. Typically, an RTF will be based on administrative incompleteness, such as clear omission of information or sections of required information such that substantive and meaningful review is precluded. The FDA may request additional information rather than accept an application for filing. In this event, the application must be licensed viaresubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application is also subject to review before the FDA approval of a BLA under Section 351 ofaccepts it for filing.

After the PHS Act on the basis of a demonstration that the productsubmission is safe, pure and potent. Once a BLA has been accepted for filing, the FDA’s goalFDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the application. The FDA reviews the application to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and effective for its intended use, whether it has an acceptable purity profile and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP. Under the goals and policies agreed to review BLAs withinby the FDA under PDUFA, the FDA has ten months from the filing date in which to complete its initial review of a standard application that is a new molecular entity, and six months from the filing date for standard review or six months of the filing date for priorityan application with “priority review. The review process is often significantlymay be extended by the FDA requests for three additional months to consider new information or clarification.in the case of a clarification provided by the applicant to address an outstanding deficiency identified by the FDA following the original submission. Despite these review goals, it is not uncommon for FDA review of an application to extend beyond the PDUFA goal date.
In connection with its review of an application, the FDA will typically submit information requests to the applicant and set deadlines for responses thereto. The FDA will also conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities for the new product to determine whether the manufacturing processes and facilities comply with cGMPs. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and are adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. The FDA also may inspect the sponsor and one or more clinical trial sites to assure compliance with IND and GCP requirements and the integrity of the clinical data submitted to the FDA.
Additionally, the FDA may refer thean application, including applications for novel product candidates which present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee for review, evaluation and recommendation as to whether the application should be approved.approved and under what conditions. Typically, an advisory committee is a panel of independent experts, including clinicians and other scientific experts that reviews, evaluates and provides a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it generally followsconsiders such recommendations.

Before approving the BLA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the biological product is manufactured and will not approve the product unless the facility is compliant with cGMPs. Additionally, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical study sites for compliance with GCP and integrity of the data supporting safety and efficacy.

During the approval process, therecommendations when making final decisions on approval.

The FDA also will determine whether tomay require post‑approval testing, including Phase 4 clinical studies and surveillance programs to monitor the effectsubmission of approved biologics after they are commercialized. In addition, the FDA will determine whether the biologic will require a REMS if it determines that a REMS is necessary to ensure that the benefits of the product outweigh its risks whichand to assure the safe use of the product. The REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans, assessment plans and/or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries andor other risk minimization tools.

On The FDA determines the basisrequirement for a REMS, as well as the specific REMS provisions, on a case-by-case basis. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the FDA’s evaluation ofapplication must submit a proposed REMS and the BLAFDA will not approve the application without a REMS.

Decisions on BLAs
After evaluating the application and accompanyingall related information, including the resultsadvisory committee recommendations, if any, and inspection reports of the inspection of the manufacturing facilities and clinical trial sites, the FDA will issue either an approval of the BLA or a Complete Response Letter, detailingor CRL, or an approval letter. To reach this determination, the FDA must determine that the expected benefits of the proposed product outweigh its potential risks to patients. This assessment is informed by the severity of the underlying condition and how well patients’ medical needs are addressed by currently available therapies; uncertainty about how the premarket clinical trial evidence will extrapolate to real-world use of the product in the post-market setting; and whether risk management tools are necessary to manage specific risks.
A CRL indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete, and the application will not be approved in its present form. A CRL generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and themay require substantial additional testing or information requiredin order for reconsideration ofthe FDA to reconsider the application. The CRL may require additional clinical or other data, additional pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial(s) and/or other significant and time- consuming requirements related to clinical trials, preclinical studies or manufacturing. If a CRL is issued, the applicant will have one year to respond to the deficiencies identified by the FDA, at which time the FDA can deem the application withdrawn or, in its discretion, grant the applicant an additional six month extension to respond. The FDA has committed to reviewing resubmissions in response to an issued CRL in either two or six months depending on the type of information included. Even with the submission of this additional information, however, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.

If

An approval letter, on the other hand, authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. That is, the approval will be limited to the conditions of use (e.g., patient population, indication) described
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in the FDA-approved labeling. Further, depending on the specific risk(s) to be addressed, the FDA approves a product, it may limit the approved indications for use for the product, require that contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling, require that post‑approval studies,post-approval trials, including Phase 4 clinical studies,trials, be conducted to further assess thea product’s safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization or impose other conditions, including distribution and use restrictions or other risk management mechanisms under a REMS which can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the product. The FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post‑market studiespost-marketing trials or surveillance programs. After approval, manysome types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and additional labeling claims, are subject to further testing requirements and FDA review and approval.

Fast track, breakthrough therapy and priority review designations

The FDA is authorized to designate certain products for expedited review if they are intended to address an unmet medical need in the treatment

Post-approval requirements
Following approval of a serious or life‑threatening disease or condition. These programs are fast track designation, breakthrough therapy designation and priority review designation.

First,new prescription product, the FDA may designate amanufacturer, the approved product for “fast track” review if it is intended for the treatment of a serious or life‑threatening disease or condition and it demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for such disease or condition. For fast track products, sponsors may have greater interactions with the FDA, and the FDA may initiate review of sections of a fast track product’s BLA before the application is complete. This “rolling review” is available if the FDA determines, after preliminary evaluation of clinical data submitted by the sponsor, that a fast track product may be effective. The sponsor must also provide, and the FDA must approve, a schedule for the submission of the remaining information and the sponsor must pay applicable user fees.

Second, the FDA may designate a product as a breakthrough therapy if it is intended to treat a serious or life‑threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints. The FDA may take certain actions with respect to breakthrough therapies, including holding meetings with the sponsor throughout the development process, providing timely advice to the product sponsor regarding development and approval, involving more senior staff in the review

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process, assigning a cross‑disciplinary project lead for the review team and taking other steps to design the clinical studies in an efficient manner.

Third, the FDA may designate a product for priority review if it treats a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness. A priority designation is intended to direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of such applications and shortens the FDA’s goal for taking action on a marketing application from ten months to six months from the filing date.

Accelerated approval pathway

The FDA may grant accelerated approval to a product for a serious or life‑threatening condition that provides meaningful therapeutic advantage to patients over existing treatments. A product eligible for accelerated approval may be approved on the basis of either a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments.

The accelerated approval pathway is most often used in settings in which the course of a disease is long and an extended period of time is required to measure the intended clinical benefit of a product, even if the effect on the surrogate or intermediate clinical endpoint occurs rapidly. Thus, accelerated approval has been used extensively in the development and approval of products for treatment of a variety of cancers in which the goal of therapy is generally to improve survival or decrease morbidity and the duration of the typical disease course requires lengthy and sometimes large studies to demonstrate a clinical or survival benefit.

The accelerated approval pathway is usually contingent on a sponsor’s agreement to conduct, in a diligent manner, additional post‑approval confirmatory studies to verify and describe the product’s clinical benefit. As a result, a product candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post‑marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4 or post‑approval clinical studies to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post‑approval studies, or to confirm a clinical benefit during post‑marketing studies, would allow the FDA to withdraw the product from the market on an expedited basis. All promotional materials for product candidates approved under accelerated regulations are subject to prior review by the FDA.

Post‑approval requirements

Products manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA approvalsmanufacturing locations are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including,governing, among other things, requirements relating to recordkeeping, periodic reporting, product samplingmonitoring and distribution, advertising and promotion andrecord-keeping activities, reporting of adverse experiences with the product. After approval, most changesproduct and product problems to the approvedFDA, product sampling and distribution, manufacturing and promotion and advertising. Although physicians may prescribe legally available products for unapproved uses or patient populations (i.e., “off-label uses”), manufacturers may not market or promote such uses. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. In September 2021, the FDA published final regulations which describe the types of evidence that the agency will consider in determining the intended use of a biologic.

If a company is found to have promoted off-label uses, it may become subject to administrative and judicial enforcement by the FDA, the Department of Justice, or the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, as addingwell as state authorities. This could subject a company to a range of penalties that could have a significant commercial impact, including civil and criminal fines and agreements that materially restrict the manner in which a company promotes or distributes products, as well as adverse public relations and reputational harm. The federal government has levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion, and has also requested that companies enter into consent decrees or permanent injunctions under which specified promotional conduct is changed or curtailed.
Further, if there are any modifications to the product, including changes in indications, labeling or manufacturing processes or facilities, the sponsor may be required to submit and obtain FDA approval of a new application or supplement, which may require the sponsor to develop additional data or conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical trials. Securing FDA approval for new indications is similar to the process for approval of the original indication and requires, among other things, submitting data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the product’s safety and efficacy in the new indication. Even if such trials are conducted, the FDA may not approve any expansion of the labeled indications for use in a timely fashion, or other labeling claims, are subject to prior FDA review and approval.at all. There also are continuing, annual user fee requirements for any marketed products and the establishments at which such productsthat are manufactured,now assessed as well as new applicationprogram fees for certain supplemental applications.

products.

In addition, manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved products are required to register their establishments with the FDA and state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and these state agencies for compliance with cGMP requirements. Changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated and often require prior FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMP and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon the sponsor and any third‑party manufacturers that the sponsor may decide to use. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance.

Once an approval is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new

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safety information, imposition of post‑market studies orpost-market clinical studiestrials requirement to assess new safety risks or imposition of distribution or other restrictions under a REMS program.

Other potential consequences include, among other things:

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restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, suspension of the approval, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;

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fines, warning or other enforcement‑related letters or holds on post‑approval clinical studies;

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refusal of the FDA to approve pending BLAs or supplements to approved BLAs, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;

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product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or

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injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placedrestrictions on the market. Such productsmarketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;

safety alerts, Dear Healthcare Provider letters, press releases or other communications containing warnings or other safety information about a product;
mandated modification of promotional materials and labeling and issuance of corrective information;
fines, warning letters, untitled letters or other enforcement-related letters or clinical holds on post-approval clinical trials;
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refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications, or suspension or revocation of product approvals;
product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products;
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties; and
consent decrees, corporate integrity agreements, debarment, or exclusion from federal health care programs.
Regulatory exclusivity governing biologics
When a biological product is licensed for marketing by FDA with approval of a BLA, the product may be promoted onlyentitled to certain types of market and data exclusivity barring FDA from approving competing products for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisionscertain periods of time. In March 2010, the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off‑label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off‑label uses may be subject to significant liability.

Biosimilars and exclusivity

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as amended bywas enacted in the Health CareUnited States and Education Reconciliation Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, or the Health Care Reform Act, includes a subtitle calledincluded the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or the BPCIA. The BPCIA which createdamended the PHSA to create an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products shown to bethat are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA‑licensedFDA-licensed reference biological product. Biosimilarity requiresTo date, the FDA has approved a showingnumber of biosimilars and the first interchangeable biosimilar product was approved on July 30, 2021 and a second product previously approved as a biosimilar was designated as interchangeable in October 2021.

Under the BPCIA, a manufacturer may submit an application for a product that is “biosimilar to” a previously approved biological product, which the statute refers to as a “reference product.” In order for the FDA to approve a biosimilar product, is “highly similar” to the reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components andit must find that there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biologicalreference product and the referenceproposed biosimilar product in terms of safety, purity and potency. Interchangeability requiresThe biosimilar sponsor may demonstrate that aits product is biosimilar to the reference product on the basis of data from analytical studies, animal studies and one or more clinical trials to demonstrate safety, purity and potency in one or more appropriate conditions of use for which the reference product is approved.
For the FDA to approve a biosimilar product as interchangeable with a reference product, the agency must find not only that the product must demonstrateis biosimilar to the reference product but also that it can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product in any given patient and, forsuch that the two products administered multiple times, the biologic and the reference biologic may be switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biologic. To date,Upon licensure by the FDA, has approved a numberan interchangeable biosimilar may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of biosimilars and has issued several guidance documents outlining its approach to the review andhealth care provider who prescribed the reference product. Following approval of biosimilars.

the interchangeable biosimilar product, the FDA may not grant interchangeability status for any second biosimilar until one year after the first commercial marketing of the first interchangeable biosimilar product.

A reference biologicbiological product is entitled togranted 12 years of exclusivity from the time of first licensure of the product. In addition,product, and the firstFDA will not accept an application for a biosimilar or interchangeable product based on the reference biological product submitted underuntil four years after the abbreviated approval pathway thatdate of first licensure of the reference product. Even if a product is determinedconsidered to be interchangeable with, not just biosimilar to, thea reference product haseligible for exclusivity, against other biologics submitting underhowever, another company could market a competing version of that product if the abbreviated approval pathwayFDA approves a full BLA for such product containing the lessersponsor’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well‑controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity, and potency of (i) one year after the first commercial marketing, (ii) 18 months after approval if there is no legal challenge, (iii) 18 months after the resolution in the applicant’s favor of a lawsuit challenging the biologics’ patents if an application hastheir product. There have been submitted or (iv) 42 months after the application has been approved if a lawsuit is ongoing within the 42‑month period.

The BPCIA is complex and is still being implemented by the FDA.  In addition, recent government proposals have sought to reduce the 12-year reference product exclusivity period. Other aspectsperiod, but none has been enacted to date. At the same time, since passage of the BPCIA, some ofmany states have passed laws or amendments to laws, which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of recent litigation. As a result, the ultimate impact, implementation and meaning of the BPCIA is subject to significant uncertainty.

Pediatric studies and exclusivity

Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act of 2003, all applications for new active ingredients, new indications, new dosage forms, new dosing regimens or new routes of administration are required to contain an assessment of the safety and

address pharmacy practices involving biosimilar products.

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effectiveness of the product for the claimed indication in pediatric patients unless this requirement is waived, deferred or inapplicable.

Under the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, a product may be eligible for pediatric exclusivity, which, if granted, adds six months to existing exclusivity periods and patent terms. This six‑month exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity protection or patent term, may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric study in accordance with an FDA‑issued written request for such a study.

Orphan drug designation and exclusivity

Under

Orphan drug designation in the Orphan Drug Act,United States is designed to encourage sponsors to develop products intended for treatment of rare diseases or conditions. In the FDA may designate a product, including a biological product, as an “orphan drug” if it is intended to treatUnited States, a rare disease or condition is statutorily defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States or if itthat affects more than 200,000 individuals in the United States a diseaseand for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available the product for this type ofthe disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product in the United States.

Orphan drug designation qualifies a company for tax credits and potentially market exclusivity for seven years following the date of the product’s approval if granted by the FDA. An application for designation as an orphan product can be made any time prior to the filing of an application for approval to market the product. A product becomes an orphan when it receives orphan drug designation from the Office of Orphan Products Development at the FDA based on acceptable confidential requests. The product must then go through the review and approval process like any other product.
A sponsor may request orphan drug designation of a previously unapproved product or new orphan indication for an already marketed product. In addition, a sponsor of a product that is otherwise the same product as an already approved orphan drug
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may seek and obtain orphan drug designation for the subsequent product for the same rare disease or condition if it can present a plausible hypothesis that its product may be clinically superior to the first approved product. More than one sponsor may receive orphan drug designation for the same product for the same rare disease or condition, but each sponsor seeking orphan drug designation must file a complete request for designation.
If a product with orphan designation receives the first FDA approval for a product for the indicationdisease or condition for which it has orphansuch designation is entitled toor for a select indication or use within the rare disease or condition for which it was designated, the product generally will receive orphan drug exclusivity. Orphan drug exclusivity which means that the FDA may not approve any otheranother sponsor’s marketing application to marketfor the same product for the same indicationdisease or condition for a period of seven years, except in certain limited circumstances. If a product designated as an orphan drug ultimately receives marketing approval for an indication broader than what was designated in its orphan drug application, it may not be entitled to exclusivity.
The period of market exclusivity begins on the date that the marketing application is approved by the FDA and applies only to the disease or condition for which the product has been designated. Orphan drug exclusivity will not bar approval of another product under certain circumstances, such asincluding if the company with orphan drug exclusivity is not able to meet market demand or the subsequent product is shown to be clinically superior to the approved product on the basis of greater efficacy or safety, or providing a showing ofmajor contribution to patient care. Under Omnibus legislation signed by President Trump on December 27, 2020, the requirement for a product to show clinical superiority overapplies to drug products that received orphan drug designation before enactment of amendments to the FDCA in 2017 but have not yet been approved by FDA.
In September 2021, the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit held that, for the purpose of determining the scope of market exclusivity, the term “same disease or condition” in the statute means the designated “rare disease or condition” and could not be interpreted by the FDA to mean the “indication or use.” Thus, the court concluded, orphan drug exclusivity applies to the entire designated disease or condition rather than the “indication or use.” It is unclear how this court decision will be implemented by the FDA.
Pediatric exclusivity
Pediatric exclusivity is a type of non‑patent marketing exclusivity in the United States and, if granted, provides for the attachment of an additional six months of exclusivity. For biologic products, the six month period may be attached to any existing regulatory exclusivities but not to any patent terms. The conditions for pediatric exclusivity include the FDA’s determination that information relating to the use of a new product in the pediatric population may produce health benefits in that population, the FDA making a written request for pediatric clinical trials, and the sponsor agreeing to perform, and reporting on, the requested clinical trials within the statutory timeframe. This six‑month exclusivity may be granted if a sponsor submits pediatric data that fairly respond to a written request from the FDA for such data. The data do not need to show the product with orphan exclusivity.

to be effective in the pediatric population studied. If reports of requested pediatric studies are submitted to and accepted by the FDA within the statutory time limits, whatever statutory or regulatory periods of exclusivity or patents that cover the product are extended by six months. Although this is not a patent term extension, it effectively extends the regulatory period during which the FDA cannot approve another application.

Patent term restoration

A and extension

In the United States, a patent claiming a new product, its method of use or its method of manufacture may be eligible for a limited patent term extension under the Hatch‑Waxman Amendments,Act, which permits a patent restorationextension of up to five years for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review. TheAssuming grant of the patent for which the extension is sought, the restoration period grantedfor a patent covering a product is typically one‑half the time between the effective date of anthe IND involving human beings and the submission date of athe BLA, plus the time between the submission date of a BLAthe application and the ultimate approval date. Patent term restoration cannot be used to extend the remaining term of a patent past a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date.date in the United States. Only one patent applicable to an approved drug product is eligible for the extension, and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent for which extension is sought. A patent that covers multiple products for which approval is sought can only be extended in question.connection with one of the approvals. The USPTO reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration in consultation with the FDA.

Review

Companion diagnostics
In August 2014, the FDA issued final guidance clarifying the requirements that will apply to approval of therapeutic products and in vitro companion diagnostics. According to the guidance, for novel biologics, a companion diagnostic device and its corresponding therapeutic should be approved or cleared contemporaneously by the FDA for the use indicated in the therapeutic product’s labeling. Approval or clearance of the companion diagnostic device will ensure that the device has been
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adequately evaluated and has adequate performance characteristics in the intended population. In July 2016, the FDA issued a draft guidance intended to assist sponsors of the therapeutic product and in vitro companion diagnostic device on issues related to co-development of the products.
The 2014 guidance also explains that a companion diagnostic device used to make treatment decisions in clinical trials of a biologic product candidate generally will be considered an investigational device, unless it is employed for an intended use for which the device is already approved or cleared. If used to make critical treatment decisions, such as patient selection, the diagnostic device generally will be considered a significant risk device under the FDA’s Investigational Device Exemption, or IDE, regulations. Thus, the sponsor of the diagnostic device will be required to comply with the IDE regulations. According to the guidance, if a diagnostic device and a product are to be studied together to support their respective approvals, both products can be studied in the same investigational study, if the study meets both the requirements of the IDE regulations and the IND regulations. The guidance provides that depending on the details of the study plan and subjects, a sponsor may seek to submit an IND application alone, or both an IND- and IDE-application.
In April 2020, the FDA issued additional guidance which describes considerations for the development and labeling of companion diagnostic devices to support the indicated uses of multiple biological oncology products, when appropriate. This guidance builds upon existing policy regarding the labeling of companion diagnostics. In its 2014 guidance, the FDA stated that if evidence is sufficient to conclude that the companion diagnostic is appropriate for use with a specific group of therapeutic products, the companion diagnostic’s intended use/indications for use should name the specific group of therapeutic products, rather than specific products. The 2020 guidance expands on the policy statement in the 2014 guidance by recommending that companion diagnostic developers consider a number of factors when determining whether their test could be developed, or the labeling for approved companion diagnostics could be revised through a supplement, to support a broader labeling claim such as use with a specific group of oncology therapeutic products (rather than listing an individual therapeutic product(s)).
Under the FDCA, in vitro diagnostics, including companion diagnostics, are regulated as medical devices. In the United States, the FDCA and its implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern, among other things, medical device design and development, preclinical and clinical testing, premarket clearance or approval, registration and listing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, advertising and promotion, sales and distribution, export and import and post-market surveillance. Unless an exemption applies, diagnostic tests require pre-notification marketing clearance or approval from the FDA prior to commercial distribution.
The FDA previously has required in vitro companion diagnostics intended to select the patients who will respond to the product candidate to obtain pre-market approval, or PMA, simultaneously with approval of the therapeutic product candidate. The PMA process, including the gathering of clinical and preclinical data and the submission to and review by the FDA, can take several years or longer. It involves a rigorous premarket review during which the sponsor must prepare and provide the FDA with reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness and information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design, manufacturing and labeling. PMA applications are subject to an application fee.
Healthcare compliance
In the United States, biopharmaceutical manufacturers and their products are subject to extensive regulation at the federal and state level, such as laws intended to prevent fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry. Healthcare providers and third-party payors play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of pharmaceutical products that are granted marketing approval. Arrangements with providers, consultants, third-party payors, and customers are subject to broadly applicable fraud and abuse, anti-kickback, false claims laws, reporting of payments to healthcare providers and patient privacy laws and regulations and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain our business and/or financial arrangements. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, including certain laws and regulations applicable only if we have marketed products, include the following:
federal false claims, false statements and civil monetary penalties laws prohibiting, among other things, any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment of government funds or knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false statement to get a false claim paid;
federal healthcare program anti-kickback law, which prohibits, among other things, persons from offering, soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual for, or the purchasing or ordering of, a good or service for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid;
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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which, in addition to privacy protections applicable to healthcare providers and other entities, prohibits executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;
federal laws that require pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain calculated product prices to the government or provide certain discounts or rebates to government authorities or private entities, often as a condition of reimbursement under government healthcare programs;
federal Open Payments (or federal “sunshine” law), which requires pharmaceutical and medical device companies to monitor and report certain financial interactions with certain healthcare providers to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, for re-disclosure to the public, as well as ownership and investment interests held by certain healthcare providers and their immediate family members;
federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;
analogous state laws and regulations, including: state anti-kickback and false claims laws; state laws requiring pharmaceutical companies to comply with specific compliance standards, restrict financial interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers or require pharmaceutical companies to report information related to payments to health care providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws governing privacy, security and breaches of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts; and
laws and regulations prohibiting bribery and corruption such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which, among other things, prohibits U.S. companies and their employees and agents from authorizing, promising, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to foreign government officials, employees of public international organizations or foreign government-owned or affiliated entities, candidates for foreign public office, and foreign political parties or officials thereof.
Violations of these laws are punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including, in some instances, exclusion from participation in federal and state health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Ensuring compliance is time consuming and costly. Similar healthcare laws and regulations exist in the European Union and other jurisdictions, including reporting requirements detailing interactions with and payments to healthcare providers and laws governing the privacy and security of personal information.
Healthcare reform
A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. There have been a number of federal and state proposals during the last few years regarding the pricing of pharmaceutical products, limiting coverage and reimbursement for medical products and other changes to the healthcare system in the United States.
In March 2010, the United States Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively the PPACA, which, among other things, includes changes to the coverage and payment for pharmaceutical products under government healthcare programs. Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the PPACA was enacted. In August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. These changes included aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect in April 2013 and will remain in effect through 2031. These Medicare sequester reductions have been suspended through the end of March 2022. From April 2022 through June 2022, a 1% sequester cut will be in effect, with the full 2% cut resuming thereafter.
Since enactment of the PPACA, there have been, and continue to be, numerous legal challenges and Congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the law. For example, with enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the Tax Act, which was signed by President Trump on December 22, 2017, Congress repealed the “individual mandate.” The repeal of this provision, which requires most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, became effective in 2019. On December
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14, 2018, a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that the individual mandate portion of the PPACA is an essential and inseverable feature of the PPACA, and therefore because the mandate was repealed as part of the Tax Act, the remaining provisions of the PPACA are invalid as well. The U.S. Supreme Court heard this case on November 10, 2020 and, on June 17, 2021, dismissed this action after finding that the plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the ACA. Litigation and legislation over the PPACA are likely to continue, with unpredictable and uncertain results.
The Trump Administration also took executive actions to undermine or delay implementation of the PPACA, including directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the PPACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision of the PPACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers, or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. On January 28, 2021, however, President Biden rescinded those orders and issued a new executive order that directs federal agencies to reconsider rules and other policies that limit access to healthcare, and consider actions that will protect and strengthen that access. Under this order, federal agencies are directed to re-examine: policies that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID‑19; demonstrations and waivers under Medicaid and the PPACA that may reduce coverage or undermine the programs, including work requirements; policies that undermine the Health Insurance Marketplace or other markets for health insurance; policies that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid and under the PPACA; and policies that reduce affordability of coverage or financial assistance, including for dependents.
Pharmaceutical prices
The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals have also been the subject of considerable discussion in the United States. There have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries, as well as proposed and enacted state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to pharmaceutical pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reduce the costs of pharmaceuticals under Medicare and Medicaid. In 2020, President Trump issued several executive orders intended to lower the costs of prescription products and certain provisions in these orders have been incorporated into regulations. These regulations include an interim final rule implementing a most favored nation model for prices that would tie Medicare Part B payments for certain physician-administered pharmaceuticals to the lowest price paid in other economically advanced countries, effective January 1, 2021. That rule, however, has been subject to a nationwide preliminary injunction and, on December 29, 2021, CMS issued a final rule to rescind it. With issuance of this rule, CMS stated that it will explore all options to incorporate value into payments for Medicare Part B pharmaceuticals and improve beneficiaries' access to evidence-based care.
In addition, in October 2020, the HHS and the FDA published a final rule allowing states and other entities to develop a Section 804 Importation Program, or SIP, to import certain prescription products from Canada into the United States. The final rule is currently the subject of ongoing litigation, but at least six states (Vermont, Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Mexico, and New Hampshire) have passed laws allowing for the importation of products from Canada with the intent of developing SIPs for review and approval outsideby the FDA. Further, on November 20, 2020, HHS finalized a regulation removing safe harbor protection for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law. The implementation of the rule has been delayed by the Biden administration from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023 in response to ongoing litigation. The rule also creates a new safe harbor for price reductions reflected at the point-of-sale, as well as a new safe harbor for certain fixed fee arrangements between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers, the implementation of which have also been delayed by the Biden administration until January 1, 2023.
On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14063, which focuses on, among other things, the price of pharmaceuticals. The Order directs the HHS to create a plan within 45 days to combat “excessive pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals and enhance domestic pharmaceutical supply chains, to reduce the prices paid by the federal government for such pharmaceuticals, and to address the recurrent problem of price gouging.” On September 9, 2021, HHS released its plan to reduce pharmaceutical prices. The key features of that plan are to: (a) make pharmaceutical prices more affordable and equitable for all consumers and throughout the health care system by supporting pharmaceutical price negotiations with manufacturers; (b) improve and promote competition throughout the prescription pharmaceutical industry by supporting market changes that strengthen supply chains, promote biosimilars, and increase transparency; and (c) foster scientific innovation to promote better healthcare and improve health by supporting public and private research and making sure that market incentives promote discovery of valuable and accessible new treatments.
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At the state level, individual states are increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. A number of states, for example, require pharmaceutical manufacturers and other entities in the supply chain, including health carriers, pharmacy benefit managers, wholesale distributors, to disclose information about pricing of pharmaceuticals. In addition, regional healthcare organizations and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription pharmaceutical and other healthcare programs. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products, once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures.
Federal and state data privacy laws
There are multiple privacy and data security laws that may impact our business activities, in the United States

and in other countries where we conduct trials or where we may do business in the future. These laws are evolving and may increase both our obligations and our regulatory risks in the future. In orderthe health care industry generally, under HIPAA, the HHS has issued regulations to marketprotect the privacy and security of protected health information, or PHI, used or disclosed by covered entities including certain healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses. HIPAA also regulates standardization of data content, codes and formats used in healthcare transactions and standardization of identifiers for health plans and providers. HIPAA also imposes certain obligations on the business associates of covered entities that obtain protected health information in providing services to or on behalf of covered entities. HIPAA may apply to us in certain circumstances and may also apply to our business partners in ways that may impact our relationships with them. Our clinical trials are regulated by the Common Rule, which also includes specific privacy-related provisions. In addition to federal privacy regulations, there are a number of state laws governing confidentiality and security of health information that may be applicable to our business. In addition to possible federal civil and criminal penalties for HIPAA violations, state attorneys general are authorized to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce HIPAA and seek attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state attorneys general (along with private plaintiffs) have brought civil actions seeking injunctions and damages resulting from alleged violations of HIPAA’s privacy and security rules. State attorneys general also have authority to enforce state privacy and security laws. New laws and regulations governing privacy and security may be adopted in the future as well.

At the state level, California has enacted legislation that has been dubbed the first “GDPR-like” law in the United States. Known as the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, it creates new individual privacy rights for consumers (as that word is broadly defined in the law) and places increased privacy and security obligations on entities handling personal data of consumers or households. The CCPA went into effect on January 1, 2020 and requires covered companies to provide new disclosures to California consumers, provide such consumers new ways to opt-out of certain sales of personal information, and allow for a new cause of action for data breaches. Additionally, effective starting on January 1, 2023, the California Privacy Rights Act, or CPRA, will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also creates a new state agency that will be vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA and the CPRA. The CCPA and CPRA could impact our business activities depending on how it is interpreted and exemplifies the vulnerability of our business to not only cyber threats but also the evolving regulatory environment related to personal data and individually identifiable health information. These provisions may apply to some of our business activities. In addition, other states, including Virginia and Colorado, already have passed state privacy laws and other states will likely be considering similar laws in the near future.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and regulatory safe harbors available under such laws, it is possible that some of our current or future business activities, including certain clinical research, sales and marketing practices and the provision of certain items and services to our customers, could be subject to challenge under one or more of such privacy and data security laws. The heightening compliance environment and the need to build and maintain robust and secure systems to comply with different privacy compliance and/or reporting requirements in multiple jurisdictions could increase the possibility that a healthcare company may fail to comply fully with one or more of these requirements. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the privacy or data security laws or regulations described above that are applicable to us, or any other laws that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including potentially significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties, damages, fines, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, additional reporting requirements and/or oversight if we become subject to a consent decree or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which
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could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. To the extent that any product outsidecandidates we may develop, once approved, are sold in a foreign country, we may be subject to similar foreign laws.
Approval and regulation of medical products in the European Union
In addition to regulations in the United States, we would needwill be subject to comply with numerousa variety of foreign regulations governing clinical trials and varying regulatory requirements of other countries and jurisdictions governing, among other things, clinical studies, marketing authorization, commercial sales and distribution of our products.products outside of the United States. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product candidate, we would need tomust obtain the necessary approvalsapproval by the comparable foreign regulatory authorities of foreign countries or economic areas, such as the 27-member European Union, before we canmay commence clinical studiestrials or market products in those countries or areas. In the European Union, our product candidates also may be subject to extensive regulatory requirements. As in the United States, medicinal products can be marketed only if a marketing ofauthorization from the product in foreign countries and jurisdictions. Although many of the issues discussed above with respectcompetent regulatory agencies has been obtained. Similar to the United States, apply similarlythe various phases of preclinical and clinical research in the contextEuropean Union are subject to significant regulatory controls.
With the exception of the European Union and other geographies,European Economic Area, or EEA, applying the harmonized regulatory rules for medicinal products, the approval process variesand requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary greatly between countries and jurisdictions and can involve additional product testing and additional administrative review periods. The time required to obtain approval in other countries and jurisdictions might differ from and be longer than that required to obtain FDA approval. Regulatory approval in one country or jurisdiction does not ensure regulatory approval in another, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country or jurisdiction may negatively impact the regulatory process in others.

Pharmaceutical coverage, pricing

Clinical trials
On January 31, 2022, the new Clinical Trials Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 became effective in the European Union and reimbursement

Significant uncertainty exists asreplaced the prior Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC. The new regulation aims at simplifying and streamlining the authorization, conduct and transparency of clinical trials in the European Union. Under the new coordinated procedure for the approval of clinical trials, the sponsor of a clinical trial to be conducted in more than one Member State of the coverage and reimbursement status of products approvedEuropean Union, or EU Member State, will only be required to submit a single application for approval. The submission will be made through the Clinical Trials Information System, a new clinical trials portal overseen by the FDAEMA and available to clinical trial sponsors, competent authorities of the EU Member States and the public.

The new regulation did not change the preexisting requirement that a sponsor must obtain prior approval from the competent national authority of the EU Member State in which the clinical trial is to be conducted. If the clinical trial is conducted in different EU Member States, the competent authorities in each of these EU Member States must provide their approval for the conduct of the clinical trial. Furthermore, the sponsor may only start a clinical trial at a specific clinical site after the applicable ethics committee has issued a favorable opinion.
Parties conducting certain clinical trials must, as in the United States, post clinical trial information in the European Union at the EudraCT website: https://eudract.ema.europa.eu.
Marketing authorization in the European Union
Marketing authorization applications, or MAAs, can be filed either under the so-called centralized or national authorization procedures, albeit through the mutual recognition or decentralized procedure for a product to be authorized in more than one EU Member State.
The centralized procedure provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization following a favorable opinion by the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, that is valid in all EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are part of the EEA. The centralized procedure is compulsory for medicines produced by specified biotechnological processes, products designated as orphan medicinal products, advanced-therapy medicines (such as gene-therapy, somatic cell-therapy or tissue-engineered medicines) and products with a new active substance indicated for the treatment of specified diseases, such as HIV/ AIDS, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders or autoimmune diseases and other government authorities. Salesimmune dysfunctions and viral diseases. The centralized procedure is optional for products that represent a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation, or whose authorization would be in the interest of pharmaceutical products dependpublic health. Under the centralized procedure the maximum timeframe for the evaluation of an MAA by the EMA is 210 days, excluding clock stops, when additional written or oral information is to be provided by the sponsor in significant part onresponse to questions asked by the availability and adequacy of third‑party reimbursement. Third‑party payors include government health administrative authorities, including authorities atCommittee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or the U.S. federal and state level, managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. Third‑party payors are increasingly challengingCHMP. Accelerated assessment might be granted by the prices charged for, examining the medical necessity of and assessing the cost‑effectiveness of medical products and services.

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CHMP in exceptional

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cases, when a medicinal product is expected to be of a major public health interest, particularly from the point of view of therapeutic innovation. The timeframe for the evaluation of an MAA under the accelerated assessment procedure is of 150 days, excluding stop-clocks.

There are also two other possible routes to authorize medicinal products in several EU countries, which are available for investigational medicinal products that fall outside the scope of the centralized procedure:
Decentralized procedure. Using the decentralized procedure, a sponsor may apply for simultaneous authorization in more than one EU country of medicinal products that have not yet been authorized in any EU country and that do not fall within the mandatory scope of the centralized procedure. The sponsor may choose a member state as the reference member State to lead the scientific evaluation of the application.
Mutual recognition procedure. In orderthe mutual recognition procedure, a medicine is first authorized in one EU Member State (which acts as the reference member state), in accordance with the national procedures of that country. Following this, further marketing authorizations can be progressively sought from other EU countries in a procedure whereby the countries concerned agree to secure coverage and reimbursement for any product that might be approved for sale, a company may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstraterecognize the medical necessity and cost‑effectivenessvalidity of the original, national marketing authorization produced by the reference member state.
Under the above-described procedures, before granting the marketing authorization, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA make an assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy.
Conditional approval
In particular circumstances, EU legislation (Article 14–a Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/5 and Regulation (EC) No 507/2006 on Conditional Marketing Authorizations for Medicinal Products for Human Use) enables sponsors to obtain a conditional marketing authorization prior to obtaining the comprehensive clinical data required for an application for a full marketing authorization. Such conditional approvals may be granted for product candidates (including medicines designated as orphan medicinal products) if (1) the product candidate is intended for the treatment, prevention or medical diagnosis of seriously debilitating or life-threatening diseases; (2) the product candidate is intended to meet unmet medical needs of patients; (3) a marketing authorization may be granted prior to submission of comprehensive clinical data provided that the benefit of the immediate availability on the market of the medicinal product concerned outweighs the risk inherent in additionthe fact that additional data are still required; (4) the risk-benefit balance of the product candidate is positive, and (5) it is likely that the sponsor will be in a position to provide the required comprehensive clinical trial data. A conditional marketing authorization may contain specific obligations to be fulfilled by the marketing authorization holder, including obligations with respect to the costs requiredcompletion of ongoing or new clinical trials and with respect to obtain FDAthe collection of pharmacovigilance data. Conditional marketing authorizations are valid for one year, and may be renewed annually, if the risk-benefit balance remains positive, and after an assessment of the need for additional or other comparable regulatory approvals. A payor’s decisionmodified conditions or specific obligations. The timelines for the centralized procedure described above also apply with respect to provide coveragethe review by the CHMP of applications for a product does not imply thatconditional marketing authorization.
Pediatric trials
Prior to obtaining a marketing authorization in the European Union, sponsors have to demonstrate compliance with all measures included in an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Third‑party reimbursement may not be sufficient to maintain price levels high enough to realize an appropriate return on investment in product development.

The containmentEMA-approved Pediatric Investigation Plan, or PIP, covering all subsets of healthcare costs alsothe pediatric population, unless the EMA has becomegranted a priority of federal, state and foreign governments and the prices of drugs and biologics have beenproduct-specific waiver, a focus in this effort. Governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost‑containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost‑containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limitclass waiver or a company’s revenue generated from the sale of any approved products. Coverage policies and third‑party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attaineddeferral for one or more productsof the measures included in the PIP. The respective requirements for all marketing authorization procedures are set forth in Regulation (EC) No 1901/2006, which is referred to as the Pediatric Regulation. This requirement also applies when a company wants to add a new indication, pharmaceutical form or route of administration for a medicine that is already authorized. The Pediatric Committee of the EMA, or PDCO, may grant deferrals for some medicines, allowing a company to delay development of the medicine in children until there is enough information to demonstrate its effectiveness and safety in adults. The PDCO may also grant waivers when development of a medicine in children is not needed or is not appropriate because (a) the product is likely to be ineffective or unsafe in part or all of the pediatric population; (b) the disease or condition occurs only in adult population; or (c) the product does not represent a significant therapeutic benefit over existing treatments for pediatric population. Before a marketing authorization application can be filed, or an existing marketing authorization can be amended, the EMA determines that companies actually comply with the agreed studies and measures listed in each relevant PIP.

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PRIME designation
In March 2016, the EMA launched an initiative to facilitate development of product candidates in indications, often rare, for which few or no therapies currently exist. The PRIority MEdicines, or PRIME, scheme is intended to encourage product development in areas of unmet medical need and provides accelerated assessment of products representing substantial innovation reviewed under the centralized procedure. Products from small- and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, may qualify for earlier entry into the PRIME scheme than larger companies. Many benefits accrue to sponsors of product candidates with PRIME designation, including but not limited to, early and proactive regulatory dialogue with the EMA, frequent discussions on clinical trial designs and other development program elements, and accelerated marketing authorization application assessment once a companydossier has been submitted. Importantly, a dedicated agency contact and rapporteur from the CHMP or its collaborators receiveCommittee for Advanced Therapies are appointed early in the PRIME scheme, facilitating increased understanding of the product at EMA’s Committee level. A kick-off meeting initiates these relationships and includes a team of multidisciplinary experts at the EMA to provide guidance to the sponsor on the overall development and regulatory strategies.
Periods of authorization and renewals
A marketing approval, less favorable coverage policiesauthorization is valid for five years in principle and reimbursement ratesthe marketing authorization may be implementedrenewed after five years on the basis of a re-evaluation of the risk-benefit balance by the EMA or by the competent authority of the authorizing member state. To this end, the marketing authorization holder must provide the EMA or the competent authority with a consolidated version of the file in respect of quality, safety and efficacy, including all variations introduced since the marketing authorization was granted, at least nine months before the marketing authorization ceases to be valid. Once renewed, the marketing authorization is valid for an unlimited period, unless the European Commission or the competent authority decides, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, to proceed with one additional five-year renewal. Any authorization which is not followed by the actual placing of the product on the EU market (in case of centralized procedure) or on the market of the authorizing member state within three years after authorization ceases to be valid (the so-called sunset clause).
Regulatory requirements after marketing authorization
As in the future.

United States, both marketing authorization holders and manufacturers of medicinal products are subject to comprehensive regulatory oversight by the EMA and the competent authorities of the individual EU Member States both before and after grant of the manufacturing and marketing authorizations. The holder of an EU marketing authorization for a medicinal product must, for example, comply with EU pharmacovigilance legislation and its related regulations and guidelines which entail many requirements for conducting pharmacovigilance, or the assessment and monitoring of the safety of medicinal products. The manufacturing process for medicinal products in the European Union is also highly regulated and regulators may shut down manufacturing facilities that they believe do not comply with regulations. Manufacturing requires a manufacturing authorization, and the manufacturing authorization holder must comply with various requirements set out in the applicable EU laws, including compliance with EU cGMP standards when manufacturing medicinal products and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

In the European Union, pricingthe advertising and reimbursement schemes vary widely from countrypromotion of approved products are subject to country. Some countries provideEU Member States’ laws governing promotion of medicinal products, interactions with clinicians, misleading and comparative advertising and unfair commercial practices. In addition, other legislation adopted by individual EU Member States may apply to the advertising and promotion of medicinal products. These laws require that promotional materials and advertising in relation to medicinal products may be marketed only after a reimbursement price has been agreed. Some countries may requirecomply with the completionproduct’s Summary of additional studies that compareProduct Characteristics, or SmPC, as approved by the cost‑effectivenesscompetent authorities. Promotion of a particularmedicinal product candidatethat does not comply with the SmPC is considered to currently available therapies, or so called health technology assessments, to obtain reimbursement or pricing approval. For example,constitute off-label promotion, which is prohibited in the European Union.
Regulatory exclusivity
In the European Union, provides optionsnew products authorized for marketing (i.e., reference products) qualify for eight years of data exclusivity and an additional two years of market exclusivity upon marketing authorization. The data exclusivity period prevents generic sponsors from relying on the preclinical and clinical trial data contained in the dossier of the reference product when applying for a generic marketing authorization in the European Union during a period of eight years from the date on which the reference product was first authorized in the European Union. The market exclusivity period prevents a successful generic sponsor from commercializing its member statesproduct in the European Union until ten years have elapsed from the initial authorization of the reference product in the European Union. The ten-year market exclusivity period can be extended to restricta maximum of eleven years if, during the rangefirst eight years of productsthose ten years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an authorization for one or more new therapeutic indications which, during the scientific evaluation prior to their national health insurance systems provide reimbursementauthorization, are held to bring a significant clinical benefit in comparison with existing therapies.
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Orphan drug designation and exclusivity
The criteria for designating an orphan medicinal product in the European Union are similar in principle to controlthose in the pricesUnited States. Under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 141/2000, a medicinal product may be designated as orphan if (1) it is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life- threatening or chronically debilitating condition, (2) either (a) such condition affects no more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union when the application is made, or (b) the product, without the benefits derived from orphan status, would not generate sufficient return in the European Union to justify investment and (3) there exists no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such condition authorized for marketing in the European Union, or if such a method exists, the product will be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition. The term ‘significant benefit’ is defined in Regulation (EC) 847/2000 to mean a clinically relevant advantage or a major contribution to patient care.
Orphan medicinal products are eligible for human use.financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and are, upon grant of a marketing authorization, entitled to ten years of market exclusivity for the approved therapeutic indication. During this ten year market exclusivity period, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA, cannot accept an application for a marketing authorization for a similar medicinal product for the same indication. A similar medicinal product is defined as a medicinal product containing a similar active substance or substances as contained in an authorized orphan medicinal product, and which is intended for the same therapeutic indication. The application for orphan designation must be submitted before the application for marketing authorization. The sponsor will receive a fee reduction for the marketing authorization application if the orphan designation has been granted, but not if the designation is still pending at the time the marketing authorization is submitted. Orphan designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process.
The ten-year market exclusivity in the European Union member states may approvebe reduced to six years if, at the end of the fifth year, it is established that the product no longer meets the criteria for orphan designation, for example, if the product is sufficiently profitable not to justify maintenance of market exclusivity. Additionally, marketing authorization may be granted to a specific pricesimilar product for the same indication at any time if: (1) the second sponsor can establish that its product, although similar, is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior; (2) the sponsor consents to a second orphan medicinal product application; or (3) the sponsor cannot supply enough orphan medicinal product.
Pediatric exclusivity
If a sponsor obtains a marketing authorization in all EU Member States, or a marketing authorization granted in the centralized procedure by the European Commission, and the trial results for the pediatric population are included in the product information, even when negative, the medicine is then eligible for an additional six-month period of qualifying patent protection through extension of the term of the Supplementary Protection Certificate, or SPC, or alternatively a one year extension of the regulatory market exclusivity from ten to eleven years, as selected by the marketing authorization holder.
Patent term extensions
The European Union also provides for patent term extension through Supplementary Protection Certificates, or SPCs. The rules and requirements for obtaining a SPC are similar to those in the United States. An SPC may extend the term of a patent for up to five years after its originally scheduled expiration date and can provide up to a maximum of fifteen years of marketing exclusivity for a product orproduct. In certain circumstances, these periods may instead adoptbe extended for six additional months if pediatric exclusivity is obtained. Although SPCs are available throughout the European Union, sponsors must apply on a system of direct or indirect controls oncountry‑by‑country basis. Similar patent term extension rights exist in certain other foreign jurisdictions outside the profitability of the company.

The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs and biologics, has become intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross‑border imports from low‑priced markets exert competitive pressure that may reduce pricing within a country. Any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for products may not allow favorable reimbursementEuropean Union.

Reimbursement and pricing arrangements.

Healthcare lawof prescription pharmaceuticals

In the European Union, similar political, economic and regulation

Our current and future arrangements with healthcare professionals, principal investigators, consultants, customers and third‑party payors are and will be subjectregulatory developments to various federal, state and foreign fraud and abuse laws and other healthcare laws and regulations. These laws and regulations may impact, among other things, our arrangements with third‑party payors, healthcare professionals who participatethose in our clinical research programs, healthcare professionals and others who purchase, recommend or prescribe our approved products and our proposed sales, marketing, distribution and education programs. The federal and state healthcare laws and regulations thatthe United States may affect our ability to operate include, without limitation,profitably commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In markets outside of the following:

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the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program such as Medicare and Medicaid;

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the federal False Claims Act, which imposes civil penalties, and provides for civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government;

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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which imposes criminal and civil liability for executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;

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HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and their respective implementing regulations, including the Final Omnibus Rule published in January 2013, which also imposes obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information;

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the federal false statements statute, which prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services;

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the federal transparency requirements under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the Department of Health and Human Services information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals and physician ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members; and

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analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state anti‑kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non‑governmental third‑party payors, including private insurers. State and foreign laws also govern the privacy and security of health information in some circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts.

We will be required to spend substantial time and money to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations. Violationsthe European Union, the pricing of these laws can subject us to criminal, civil and administrative sanctions including monetary penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment and exclusion from participation in government funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, additional reporting requirements and oversight if we becomeprescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control and access. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a corporate integrity agreementproduct. To obtain reimbursement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non‑compliance with these laws, and reputational harm. Additionally, wepricing approval in some countries, pharmaceutical firms may be required to curtailconduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of the product to other available therapies.

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Approval of companion diagnostic devices
In the European Union, medical devices such as companion diagnostics must comply with the General Safety and Performance Requirements, or restructure our operations. Moreover, we expect that there will continueSPRs, detailed in Annex I of the EU Medical Devices Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745), or MDR which came into force on May 26, 2021 and replaced the previously applicable EU Medical Devices Directive (Council Directive 93/42/EEC). Compliance with SPRs and additional requirements applicable to companion medical devices is a prerequisite to be federalable to affix the CE Mark of Conformity to medical devices, without which they cannot be marketed or sold. To demonstrate compliance with the SPRs, a manufacturer must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and stateits classification. The MDR is meant to establish a uniform, transparent, predictable, and sustainable regulatory framework across the European Union for medical devices.
Separately, the regulatory authorities in the European Union also adopted a new In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation, or IVDR, (EU) 2017/746, which will become effective in May 2022. The new regulation will replace the In Vitro Diagnostics Directive (IVDD) 98/79/EC. Manufacturers wishing to apply to a notified body for a conformity assessment of their in vitro diagnostic medical device have until May 2022 to update their Technical Documentation to meet the requirements and comply with the new, more stringent Regulation. Once applicable, the regulation will, among other things: strengthen the rules on placing devices on the market and reinforce surveillance once they are available; establish explicit provisions on manufacturers’ responsibilities for the follow-up of the quality, performance, and safety of devices placed on the market; improve the traceability of medical devices throughout the supply chain to the end-user or patient through a unique identification number; set up a central database to provide patients, healthcare professionals and the public with comprehensive information on products available in the European Union; and strengthen rules for the assessment of certain high-risk devices, such as implants, which may have to undergo an additional check by experts before they are placed on the market.
General Data Protection Regulation
Many countries outside of the United States maintain rigorous laws governing the privacy and regulations, proposedsecurity of personal information. The collection, use, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals who are located in the EEA, and implemented,the processing of personal data that could impact our future operationstakes place in the EEA, is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR is wide-ranging in scope and business.

Healthcare reform

Our revenueimposes numerous requirements on companies that process personal data, and operations could be affectedit imposes heightened requirements on companies that process health and other sensitive data, such as requiring in many situations that a company obtain the consent of the individuals to whom the sensitive personal data relate before processing such data. Examples of obligations imposed by changes in healthcare spendingthe GDPR on companies processing personal data that fall within the scope of the GDPR include providing information to individuals regarding data processing activities, implementing safeguards to protect the security and policy inconfidentiality of personal data, appointing a data protection officer, providing notification of data breaches and taking certain measures when engaging third-party processors.

The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EEA, including the United States, and elsewhere. We operatepermits data protection authorities to impose large penalties for violations of the GDPR, including potential fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenues, whichever is greater. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. Compliance with the GDPR is a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase the cost of doing business or require companies to change their business practices to ensure full compliance. In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union, or the CJEU, invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, one of the mechanisms used to legitimize the transfer of personal data from the EEA to the United States. The CJEU decision also drew into question the long-term viability of an alternative means of data transfer, the standard contractual clauses, for transfers of personal data from the EEA to the United States. Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the U.K. Data Protection Act 2018 applies to the processing of personal data that takes place in a highly regulated industrythe United Kingdom and includes parallel obligations to those set forth by GDPR.
Brexit and the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union took place on January 31, 2020. The European Union and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on their new laws, regulationspartnership in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, or judicial decisions,the Agreement, which was applied provisionally beginning on January 1, 2021 and which entered into force on May 1, 2021. The Agreement focuses primarily on free trade by ensuring no tariffs or new interpretations of existing laws, regulations or decisions, related to healthcare availability, the method of delivery or payment forquotas on trade in goods, including healthcare products such as medicinal products. Thereafter, the European Union and services could negatively impact our business, operationsthe United Kingdom will form two separate markets governed by two distinct regulatory and financial condition.legal regimes. As noted above,such, the U.S. Congress, state legislatures and foreign regulators from timeAgreement seeks to time propose and adopt initiatives aimed at cost containment, which could impact our abilityminimize barriers to sell our products profitably. For example,trade in goods while accepting that border checks will become inevitable as a consequence that the Health Care Reform Act substantially changedUnited Kingdom is no longer part of the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. The law contains a numbersingle market. As of provisions that affect coverage and reimbursement of drug products and/or that could potentially reduce the demand for our products such as:

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increasing rebates under state Medicaid programs for brand name prescription products and extending those rebates to Medicaid managed care;

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assessing a fee on manufacturers and importers of brand name prescription products reimbursed under certain government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid; and

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requiring manufacturers to provide a 50% discount on Medicare Part D brand name prescription products sold to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription product costs cause the beneficiaries to be subject to the Medicare Part D coverage gap (i.e., the so‑called “donut hole”).

Since its enactment, there have been judicialJanuary 1, 2021, the Medicines and Congressional challengesHealthcare products Regulatory Agency, or the MHRA, became responsible for supervising medicines and medical devices in Great Britain, comprising England, Scotland and Wales under domestic law whereas Northern Ireland continues to certain aspectsbe subject to EU rules under the Northern Ireland Protocol. The MHRA will rely on the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1916) (as amended), or the HMR, as the basis for regulating medicines. The HMR has incorporated into the domestic law the body of the Health Care Reform Act, and we expect there will be additional challenges and amendmentsEU law instruments governing medicinal products that pre-existed prior to the Health Care Reform Act inUnited Kingdom’s withdrawal from the future. The current Presidential administration and members of the U.S. Congress have indicated that they may continue to seek to modify, repeal or otherwise invalidate all, or certain provisions of, the Health Care Reform Act. Most recently, on December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted, which, among other things, removes penalties for not complying with the individual mandate to carry health insurance. It is uncertain the extent to which any such changes may impact our business or financial condition. We cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any changes to the Health Care Reform Act or other federal and state reform efforts. There is no assurance that federal or state healthcare reform will not adversely affect our business and financial results, and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative, judicial or administrative changes relating to healthcare reform will affect our business.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Health Care Reform Act was enacted. The Budget Control Act of 2011 includes provisions to reduce the federal deficit. The Budget Control Act, as amended, resulted in the imposition of 2% reductions in Medicare payments to providers which began in April 2013, and will remain in effect through 2024 unless additional Congressional action is taken. Any significant spending reductions affecting Medicare, Medicaid or other publicly funded or subsidized health programs that may be implemented and/or any significant taxes or fees that may be imposed on us, as part of any broader deficit reduction effort or legislative replacement to the Budget Control Act, could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Additional regulation

In addition to the foregoing, state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern the use, handling and disposal of various biologic, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, operations. If our operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages and governmental fines. Equivalent laws have been adopted in foreign countries that impose similar obligations.

European Union.


Intellectual property

We actively seek to protect the proprietary technology that we consider important to our business, including pursuing patents that cover our ADC platform,platforms, proprietary compositioncompositions of matter, ADC product candidates and methods of using and manufacturing the same, as well as any other relevant inventions and improvements that are considered commercially important to the development of our business. We also rely on trade secrets, know‑howknow-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our proprietary and intellectual property position.


Our commercial success will depend significantly on our ability to obtain and maintain patentpatents and other proprietary protection for the technology, inventions and improvements we consider important to our business, and to defend our patents, preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets and operate without infringing the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. Our policy is to seek to protect our proprietary and intellectual property position by, among other methods, filing U.S., international (under Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT) and foreign patent applications related to our proprietary technology, inventions and improvements that we consider to be important to the development and implementation of our business.

We also believe in protecting our unpatented trade secrets and know-how and continuing our technological innovation to develop our business and to maintain our competitive position.

The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term for patents in the countries in which they are obtained. In most countries, including the United States, the patent term is 20 years from the earliest filing date of a non‑provisionalnon-provisional patent application. In the United States, a patent’s term may be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the USPTO in examining and granting a patent or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over an earlier filed patent. The term of a patent that covers a drug or biological product may also be eligible for patent term extension when FDA approval is granted, provided statutory and regulatory requirements are

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met. In the future, if and when our drug candidates receive approval by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, we expect to apply for patent term extensions on issued patents covering those drugs, depending upon the length of the clinical studiestrials for each drug and other factors. There can be no assurance that any of our pending patent applications will issue or that we will benefit from any patent term extension or favorable adjustments to the terms of any of our patents.

As with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, our ability to maintain and solidify our proprietary and intellectual property position for our drug candidates and technologies will depend on our success in obtaining effective patent claims and enforcing those claims if granted. However, our pending patent applications, and any patent applications that we may in the future file or license from third parties, may not result in the issuance of patents. We also cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents. Any issued patents that we may currently own or license or may receive in the future may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or have the scope of their claims narrowed. For example, we cannot be certain of the priority of inventions covered by pending third‑third party patent applications. If third parties prepare and file patent applications in the United States that also claim technology or therapeutics to which we have rights, we may have to participate in interference proceedings in the USPTO to determine priority of invention, which could result in substantial costs to us, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us, which is highly unpredictable. In addition, because of the extensive time required for clinical development and regulatory review of a drug candidate we may develop, it is possible that, before any of our drug candidates can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in force for only a short period following commercialization, thereby limiting the protection such patent would afford the respective product and any competitive advantage such patent may provide. For more information regarding the risks related to our intellectual property, please see “Risk factors—Risks related to our intellectual property.”


As of January 31, 2019,2022, we owned, in all of our patent portfolios, 1522 issued U.S. patents, 1413 pending non‑provisionalnon-provisional U.S. patent applications, (including one allowed U.S. patent application), 15five pending provisional U.S. patent applications, 35102 issued foreign patents, sixfive pending PCT patent applications and 105138 pending foreign patent applications (including 10four allowed foreign patent applications) in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but being not limited to, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Eurasia, Gulf Cooperation Council, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Macau, Pakistan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, and Taiwan. Our eight10 issued U.S. patents covering our Fleximer ADC platform are projected to expire in 2032, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions; our one issued U.S. patent covering our Dolaflexin ADC platform is projected to expire in 2034, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions; our two issued U.S. patents covering our XMT-1522 Dolaflexin
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ADC platform are projected to expire in 2035,2034 and 2038, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions; our one issued U.S. patent covering our Alkymer ADCSTING agonist payload is projected to expire in 2037,2040, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions; our additional twonine issued U.S. patents are projected to expire in 2033between 2032 and 2035,2037, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions; and any patent that may issue from our pending U.S. applications is projected to expire between 20322037 and 2039,2042, in each case, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions. In addition, we have exclusively in‑in licensed threefour issued U.S. patents one allowed U.S. patent application and one issued European patent for the NaPi2b antibody from Recepta.Recepta, which Recepta licensed from Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. These in‑licensedin-licensed issued U.S. and foreignEuropean patents are projected to expire in 2029, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions. Recepta still owns one pending Brazilian patent application for the NaPi2b antibody, which is not licensed to us. A patent issuing from this Brazilian patent application is projected to expire in 2029. We have also non-exclusively in-licensed from Synaffix certain patents and patent applications for their proprietary site-specific conjugation technology. These in-licensed Synaffix patents and patent applications are seven issued US patents, four pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications, eight issued foreign patents, one pending PCT patent applications and 14 pending foreign patent applications, in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but being not limited to, China, Europe, India, Japan, and Netherlands. These in-licensed issued U.S. and European patents are projected to expire from 2031 to 2040, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions. We have so far not filed for patent protection in all national and regional jurisdictions where such protection may be available. In addition, we may decide to abandon national and regional patent applications before they are granted. Finally, the grant proceeding of each national or regional patent is an independent proceeding which may lead to situations in which applications might in some jurisdictions be refused by the relevant registration authorities, while granted by others. It is also quite common that depending on the country, various scopes of patent protection may be granted on the same product candidate or technology.

The intellectual property portfolio of our ADC platform,platforms, our ADC product candidates and components thereof and companion diagnostics are summarized below. Some of these portfolios are in very early stages and prosecution has yet to commence on mostsome of the pending patent applications. Prosecution is a lengthy process, during which the scope of the claims initially submitted for examination by the USPTO may be narrowed (sometimes significantly) by the time they issue, if they issue at all. We expect this to be the case with respect to our pending patent applications referred to below.

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Fleximer ADC platform

The intellectual property portfolio for our Fleximer ADC platform is directed to compositions of matter for the Fleximer ADCs, as well as methods of using and making these novel conjugates, compositions of matter for Fleximer drug conjugates prior to conjugation with the antibody or antibody fragment and methods of making the same, and compositions of matter for our proprietary auristatin compounds (and by extension our proprietary DolaLock feature)compounds and conjugates thereof (e.g., to Fleximer and/or an antibody or antibody fragment). As of January 31, 2019,2022, we owned eight10 issued U.S. patents, twoone pending non-provisional U.S. patent 32application, 48 issued foreign patents, and 16four pending foreign patent applications (including one allowed foreign patent application) in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the Fleximer ADC platform is projected to expire in June 2032, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

Dolaflexin ADC platform

The intellectual property portfolio for our Dolaflexin ADC platform is directed to compositions of matter for the Dolaflexin ADCs, as well as methods of using and making these novel conjugates, compositions of matter for Dolaflexin drug conjugates prior to conjugation with the antibody or antibody fragment and methods of making the same. As of January 31, 2019,2022, we owned onetwo issued U.S. patent, two pending U.S. applications and one pending PCT application, onepatents, 34 issued foreign patent, and 1311 pending foreign patent applications in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and South Africa.Taiwan. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering Dolaflexin ADC platform is projected to expire in October 2034, and any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the method of making the Dolaflexin ADC is projected to expire in June 2038, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

XMT‑1536

UpRi ADC


The intellectual property portfolio for UpRi, our leading NaPi2b ADC product candidate XMT‑1536, is directed to compositions of matter for our novel ADC based on exclusively in‑in licensed NaPi2b antibody and our Dolaflexin platform, as well as methods of using, and making these novel conjugates.conjugates, methods of administration and companion diagnostics. As of January 31, 2019,2021, we owned sixfour pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications (including four pending provisionalone allowed U.S. patent applications)application), 1837 pending foreign patent applications, and one pending PCT application directed to the composition of matter for XMT‑1536,UpRi, methods of using and making
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same, companion diagnostics for XMT-1536UpRi ADC and XMT‑1536UpRi dosing regimens. We also intend to enter the national/regional phase of the pending PCT patent application in foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, South Korea, Macau, Mexico and South Africa. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering XMT‑1536UpRi is projected to expire in March 2037, and any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering XMT‑1536UpRi companion diagnostics is projected to expire in September 2038, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions, and any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the XMT‑1536UpRi dosing regimens is projected to expire in May 2039.

In addition, as mentioned above, we have exclusively in‑in licensed threefour issued U.S. patents one pending U.S. patent application and one issued European patent for the novel NaPi2b antibody from Recepta, which Recepta licensed from Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. These in‑in licensed issued U.S. and European patents are projected to expire in 2029, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions. Recepta still owns one pending Brazilian patent application for the NaPi2b antibody, which is not licensed to us. A patent issuing from this Brazilian patent application is projected to expire in 2029.

Novel DNA Alkylators and Novel Scaffolds

Dolasynthen ADC platform

The intellectual property portfolio for our novel DNA alkylators and novel scaffold platformsDolasynthen platform is directed to compositions of matter for the novel DNA alkylators,scaffold and ADCs thereof, novel scaffolds, as well as methods of using and making these novel conjugates scaffolds and compositions of matter.scaffolds. As of January 31, 2019,2022, we owned one issued U.S. patent, ninetwo pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications (including six pending provisional U.S. patent applications), eightapplication, 30 pending foreign patent applications, and three pending PCT patent applications. We intend to enter the national/regional phase of the PCT patent

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applications in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, and Taiwan. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the novel DNA alkylators and novel scaffold platformsDolasynthen platform is projected to expire between 2037 and 2039, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

XMT-1592 ADC

The intellectual property portfolio for XMT-1592, our other NaPi2b ADC product candidate, is directed to compositions of matter for our novel ADC based on exclusively in licensed NaPi2b antibody and our Dolasynthen platform, as well as methods of using, making, and administration of these novel conjugates. As of January 31, 2022, we owned one pending non-provisional U.S. patent application, three pending foreign patent applications, including Taiwan, and one pending PCT patent application. We intend to enter the national/regional phase of the PCT patent applications in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering XMT-1592 is projected to expire in 2041, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

In addition, as described above with respect to NaPi2b antibody, we have exclusively in-licensed four issued U.S. patents and one issued European patent for the novel NaPi2b antibody from Recepta, which Recepta licensed from Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. These in-licensed issued U.S. and European patents are projected to expire in 2029, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions. Recepta still owns one pending Brazilian patent application for the NaPi2b antibody, which is not licensed to us. A patent issuing from this Brazilian patent application is projected to expire in 2029. We have also non-exclusively in-licensed from Synaffix certain patents and patent applications for their proprietary site-specific conjugation technology. These in-licensed Synaffix patents and patent applications are seven issued US patents, four pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications, eight issued foreign patents, one pending PCT patent applications and 14 pending foreign patent applications, in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but being not limited to, China, Europe, India, Japan, and Netherlands. These in-licensed issued U.S. and European patents are projected to expire from 2031 to 2040, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.
XMT-1660 ADC

The intellectual property portfolio for XMT-1660, our site-specific B7-H4 ADC product candidate is directed to compositions of matter for our novel ADC based on our novel B7-H4 antibody and our Dolasynthen platform, as well as methods of using, making these novel conjugates and administration of these novel conjugates. As of January 31, 2022, we owned one pending non-provisional U.S. patent application, one pending provisional application, three pending foreign patent applications, including Taiwan, and one pending PCT patent application. We intend to enter the national/regional phase of the PCT patent applications in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering XMT-1660 is projected to expire in 2042, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.
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Immunosynthen ADC platform and XMT-2056

The intellectual property portfolio for our novel Immunosynthen platform is directed to compositions of matter for the novel STING agonists and ADCs thereof, including XMT-2056, our Her-2 ADC development candidate that targets a novel epitope of HER2, as well as methods of using and methods of making these novel payloads and ADCs. As of January 31, 2022, we owned one issued U.S. patent, one pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications, five pending foreign patent applications, including Taiwan, and two pending PCT patent applications related to our the novel STING agonists, and one pending non-provisional U.S. patent application, three pending foreign patent applications, including Taiwan, and one pending PCT patent applications related to our Immunosynthen platform. We intend to enter the national/regional phase of the PCT patent applications in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the novel STING agonists is projected to expire between 2040 and 2041, and any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the Immunosynthen platform and XMT-2056 is projected to expire in 2041, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

In addition to the above with respect to XMT-2056 as of January 31, 2022, we owned two issued U.S. patent, one pending non-provisional U.S. patent applications, seven issued foreign patent, and 11 pending foreign patent applications (including one allowed foreign patent application), in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eurasia, Europe, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Macau, Mexico, South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan, directed to the novel Her-2 antibody. Any U.S. or foreign patent issuing from the pending applications covering the novel Her-2 antibody is projected to expire in 2035, excluding any additional term for patent term adjustments or patent term extensions.

In addition to patents, we rely upon unpatented trade secrets and know‑howknow-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect our proprietary information, in part, by executing confidentiality and assignment of inventions agreements with our employees and consultants, which agreements may also include appropriate non-competition and non-solicit agreements depending on level and role, as well as confidentiality agreements with our collaborators and scientific advisors and non‑competition, non‑solicitation, confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants.advisors. We have also executed agreements requiring assignment of inventions with selected scientific advisors and collaborators. The confidentiality agreements we enter into are designed to protect our proprietary information and the agreements or clauses requiring assignment of inventions to us are designed to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed through our relationship with the respective counterparty. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will have executed such agreements with all applicable employees and contractors, or that these agreements will afford us adequate protection of our intellectual property and proprietary information rights. With respect to the building of our proprietary compound library, we consider trade secrets and know‑how to be our primary intellectual property. Trade secrets and know‑howknow-how can be difficult to protect. In particular, we anticipate that with respect to thisour technology platform, theseplatforms, trade secrets and know‑howknow-how will over time be disseminated within the industry through independent development and public presentations describing the methodology. For more information regarding the risks associated with our trade secrets, please see “Risk factors—Risks related to our intellectual property—Confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties may not prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.”

Competition

The biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, and the oncology subsector, are characterized by rapid evolution of technologies, fierce competition and strong defense of intellectual property. Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will have to compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future. While we believe that our proprietary ADC platforms and scientific expertise provide us with competitive advantages, a wide variety of institutions, including large biopharmaceutical companies, specialty biotechnology companies, academic research departments and public and private research institutions, are actively developing potentially competitive products and technologies. These competitors generally fall within the following categories:

New cancer treatments: Many global pharmaceutical companies, as well as medium and small biotechnology companies, are pursuing new cancer treatments whether small molecules, biologics or ADCs. Any of these treatments could prove to be superior clinically to our products.


ADC platforms:Although Dolaflexin, Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen and the new platformother initiatives we have underway are highly differentiated and proprietary, many companies continue to invest in innovation in the ADC field including new payload classes, new conjugation approaches and new targeting moieties. Any of these initiatives could lead to a platform that has superior properties to ours. We are also aware of multiple companies with ADC technologies that may be competitive to our ADC platforms, including Daiichi Sankyo, ImmunoGen, Gilead (Immunomedics), Pfizer and SeaGen. These companies or their
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partners, including Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bristol‑Myers Squibb, CytomX Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, ImmunoGen, Immunomedics, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics and Sutro. These companies or their partners, including AbbVie, Genentech, Lilly, Novartis, SanofiGenentech/Roche and Takeda, may develop ADCs based on these ADC technologiesproduct candidates which compete in the same indications as our current and future ADC product candidates. Multiple companies are also developing immune stimulating ADCs which could compete with our Immunosynthen products, including Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc., Takeda, and Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. We expect to compete based on improvedour innovative technology and the efficacy, safety and tolerability profile of our ADCs compared to other ADCs andproduct candidates but if our productsADCs are not demonstrably superior in these respects, compared to other approved therapeutics, we may not be able to compete effectively.

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Ovarian cancer: The first indication that we are targeting for UpRi, our most advanced clinical candidate, is ovarian cancer. There are multiple therapies currently available to treat both newly diagnosed and relapsed ovarian cancer, including platinum agents, non-platinum chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors and bevacizumab. In addition, multiple investigational product candidates are in development to treat these ovarian cancer patients, including the following investigational ADCs: mirvetuximab soravtansine (Immunogen), MORAb-202 (Eisai Co., Ltd. and Bristol Myers Squibb) and STRO-002 (Sutro Biopharma). Our ability to compete effectively with these and other emerging ovarian cancer treatments will depend on our ability to differentiate UpRi from these other therapies based on target patient selection, efficacy and tolerability. If we are unable to effectively differentiate UpRi, this will negatively impact our ability to compete in ovarian cancer.

Many of our competitors, either alone or with strategic partners, have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than us in obtaining approval for treatments and achieving widespread market acceptance, rendering our treatments obsolete or non‑competitive.non-competitive. Accelerated merger and acquisition activity in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. These companies also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, establishing clinical studytrial sites and patient registrationenrollment for clinical studiestrials and acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs. Smaller or early‑stageearly-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Our commercial opportunity could be substantially limited in the event that our competitors develop and commercialize products that are more effective, safer, less toxic, more convenient or less expensive than our comparable products. In geographies that are critical to our commercial success, competitors may also obtain regulatory approvals before us, resulting in our competitors building a strong market position in advance of our products’ entry. We believe the factors determining the success of our programs will be the efficacy, safety and tolerability of our product candidates.

Employees

and Human Capital

As of January 31, 2019,2022, we had 86169 full time employees, including 6590 with M.D., Ph.D. or other advanced degrees. Of these full time employees, 69128 are engaged in research and development and 1741 are engaged in general and administrative activities. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.


We believe that our future success largely depends upon our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees. Our human capital objectives include, as applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and additional employees, and focusing on employee well-being and workplace safety. We provide our employees with competitive salaries and bonuses, opportunity for equity ownership, development programs that enable continued learning and growth, and a robust employment package that promotes wellness across all aspects of their lives, including healthcare, retirement planning, and paid time off.

We also believe that fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion is a key element to discovering, developing, and bringing therapies to patients with cancer. As of January 31, 2022, 56% of our global workforce and 40% of our leadership (at the executive director level and above) were female. We strive to build a workforce representative of the communities and patients we serve and to nurture an inclusive culture where all voices are welcomed, heard, and respected.
Facilities


Our corporate headquarters are located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We occupy approximately 34,00045,000 square feet of office and laboratory space that we lease in Cambridge, MA under athe multi-tenant building in which our corporate headquarters are located. Our lease that expires in early 2021. March 2026. We have an option to extend the lease term for an additional five years.years thereafter. We believe that this office and laboratory space is sufficient to meet our current needs and that suitable additional space will be available as and when needed.

Legal proceedings

From time to time, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course

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Corporate Information

We were incorporated in 2001 as a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 840 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139, and our telephone number is 617-498-0020. Our internet site is www.mersana.com. We routinely make available important information free of charge, including copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. We recognize our website as a key channel of distribution to reach public investors and as a means of disclosing material non-public information to comply with our disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD. Information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated into, or to be part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any website references are not intended to be made through active hyperlinks.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Risks related to development and approval of our ADC product candidates
Failure of a discovery program or product candidate may occur at any stage of preclinical or clinical development, and, because our and our partner’s discovery programs and our product candidates are in early stages of preclinical or clinical development, there is a high risk of failure and we or our partners may never succeed in obtaining regulatory approval and generating revenue from such discovery programs or product candidates.

Our early clinical results for UpRi (upifitamab rilsodotin), our lead product candidate, our early preclinical results for XMT-1592 and the early results from preclinical studies or clinical trials of any other current or future product candidates, are not necessarily predictive of the results from our ongoing or future discovery programs, preclinical studies or clinical trials. Promising results in preclinical studies and early encouraging clinical results of a drug candidate may not be predictive of similar results in later-stage preclinical studies or in humans during clinical trials. Many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials after achieving positive results in earlier stages of clinical development, and we cannot be certain that we will not face similar setbacks. These companies’ setbacks have been caused by, among other things, preclinical findings made while clinical trials were underway or safety or efficacy events in preclinical or clinical trials, including previously unreported adverse events. Similarly, the design of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support approval of a product and flaws in the design of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced.

Any clinical trials that we may conduct may not demonstrate the efficacy and safety necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates. In addition, clinical trial results for one of our product candidates or for competitor products utilizing similar technology, may raise concerns about the safety or efficacy of other products in our pipeline. If the results of our ongoing or future clinical trials are inconclusive with respect to the efficacy of our product candidates or if we do not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical significance or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our product candidates, we may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates. For example, patients in our ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of UpRi have experienced serious adverse events, including without limitation death, pneumonitis, renal impairment, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, sepsis, and pyrexia. We expect that certain patients in ongoing and future clinical trials will experience additional serious adverse events, including those that may result in death, as our product candidates progress through clinical development.

There can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in trial procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, changes in and adherence to the dosing regimen and other clinical trial protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Even if we, or our collaborators, believe that the results of clinical trials of our product candidates warrant marketing approval, the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree and may not grant marketing approval of our product candidates.
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Alternatively, even if we obtain regulatory approval, that approval may be for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired or may require labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings. We may also be required to perform additional or unanticipated clinical trials to obtain approval or be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements to maintain regulatory approval. In addition, regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of a product or impose restrictions on its distribution, such as in the form of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The failure to obtain timely regulatory approval of product candidates, any product marketing limitations or a product withdrawal would negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Interim, top-line and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.

From time to time, we may publish interim, top-line or preliminary data from our clinical trials. Positive preliminary data may not be predictive of such trial’s subsequent or overall results. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete do not necessarily predict final results and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. For example, we have reported interim data from our ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of UpRi, but we have not yet reported final data from the trial. Preliminary or top-line data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary or top-line data we may publish. As a result, interim and preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final data could significantly harm our business prospects.

We currently have only two ADC product candidates, UpRi and XMT-1592, in clinical trials. A failure of any of our product candidates in clinical development would adversely affect our business and may require us to discontinue development of other ADC product candidates based on the same technology.

UpRi and XMT-1592 are currently our only clinical-stage development product candidates. While we have certain other preclinical programs in development and we intend to develop other product candidates, including XMT-1660 and XMT-2056 each for which we plan to submit investigational new drug, or IND, applications in 2022, it will take additional investment and time for such programs to reach the clinical stage of development. In addition, we have other product candidates in our current pipeline that are based on the same platforms as UpRi and XMT-1592. If either product candidate fails in development as a result of any underlying problem with our platforms, then we may be required to discontinue development of the product candidates that are based on the same technologies. If we were required to discontinue development of UpRi or XMT-1592, or if UpRi or XMT-1592 were to fail to receive regulatory approval or were to fail to achieve sufficient market acceptance, we could be prevented from or significantly delayed in achieving profitability.

Events that may delay or prevent successful commencement, enrollment or completion of clinical trials of our product candidates could result in increased costs to us as well as a delay in obtaining, or failure to obtain, regulatory approval, or cause us to suspend or terminate a clinical trial, which could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates on a timely basis, or at all.

We cannot guarantee that clinical trials, including our ongoing and future anticipated additional clinical trials of UpRi, our lead product candidate, and XMT-1592, will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing, and other events may cause us to temporarily or permanently cease a clinical trial. Events that may prevent successful or timely commencement, enrollment or completion of clinical development include, among others:
delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on trial design;
delays in reaching, or failing to reach, agreement on acceptable terms with prospective clinical research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites;
difficulties in obtaining required Institutional Review Board, or IRB, or Ethics Committee, or EC, approval at each clinical trial site;
challenges in recruiting and enrolling suitable patients to participate in clinical trials that meet the criteria of the protocol for the clinical trial;
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imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies or IRBs or ECs for any reason, including safety concerns or after an inspection of clinical operations or trial sites;
failure by CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical trial requirements;
failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices, or GCP, or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries;
inadequate quantity or quality of a product candidate or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials, including, for example, delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing or delivery of the product candidates to the clinical sites;
patients not completing participation in a trials or not returning for post-treatment follow-up, including as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;

expected or unexpected safety issues, including occurrence of serious adverse events, or SAEs, associated with our product candidates in clinical trials that are viewed as outweighing the product candidate’s potential benefits or reports may arise from preclinical or clinical testing of other similar cancer therapies that raise safety or efficacy concerns about our product candidates;
changes in regulatory requirements or guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols or submitting additional data;
lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial; or
geopolitical or other events that unexpectedly disrupt, delay or generally interfere in regional or worldwide operations of clinical trial sites, clinical vendors or other operations relevant to the conduct of relevant development activities.
Delays, including delays caused by the above factors, can be costly and could negatively affect our ability to complete a clinical trial. If we or our partners are not able to successfully complete clinical trials, we or they will not be able to obtain regulatory approval and will not be able to commercialize our product candidates or our partners’ product candidates based on our technology.
An inability to enroll sufficient numbers of patients in our clinical trials could result in increased costs and longer development periods for our product candidates.
Clinical trials require sufficient patient enrollment, which is a function of many factors, including:
the size and nature of the patient population;
the severity of the disease under investigation;
the nature and complexity of the trial protocol, including eligibility criteria for the trial;
the design of the trial;
the number of clinical trial sites and the proximity of patients to those sites;
standard of care in the diseases under investigation;
the commitment of clinical investigators to identify eligible patients;
clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and risks of the drug being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating;
the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will drop out of the trials before completion or, because they are late-stage cancer patients, will not survive the full terms of the clinical trials;
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the ability of our clinical trial sites to continue key activities, such as clinical trial site data monitoring and patient visits, due to limitations on travel imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or other worldwide events; and
the risk that patients may be affected by COVID-19 or measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to travel to our clinical trial sites.
In addition, our clinical trials will compete with other clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as our current and future product candidates. This competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial conducted by one of our competitors. Since the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we expect to conduct some of our clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials at such sites. Moreover, because our current and future product candidates represent a departure from more commonly used methods for cancer treatment, potential patients and their doctors may be inclined to use conventional therapies, such as chemotherapy, rather than enroll patients in our ongoing or any future clinical trial.

Challenges in recruiting and enrolling suitable patients to participate in clinical trials that meet the criteria of the protocol could increase costs and result in delays to our current development plan for UpRi, our lead product candidate, XMT-1592 or any other current or future product candidate.
Our product candidates or ADCs developed or commercialized by our competitors may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that halt their clinical development, delay or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates or limit their commercial potential.
Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates or ADCs being developed or commercialized by our partners or competitors could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities and potential product liability claims. Further, clinical trials by their nature utilize a sample of the potential patient population. With a limited number of subjects and limited duration of exposure, rare and severe side effects of our product candidates or those of our competitors may only be uncovered with a significantly larger number of patients exposed to the drug. SAEs, including death, deemed to be caused by our product candidates or those of our competitors, either before or after receipt of marketing approval, could have a material adverse effect on the development of our product candidates and our business as a whole.
Patients in our ongoing clinical trials have experienced SAEs, including without limitation death, pneumonitis, renal impairment, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, sepsis, and pyrexia. We expect that certain patients in ongoing and future trials will experience additional SAEs, including those that may result in death, as our product candidates progress through clinical development. These or additional undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates or those of our competitors, either before or after receipt of marketing approval, could result in a number of potentially significant negative consequences, including:
our clinical trials may be put on hold;
treatment-related side effects could affect patient recruitment for our clinical trials;
we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates;
regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approvals of our product candidates;
regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a contraindication, black box warnings or additional warnings;
the FDA may require development of a REMS with Elements to Assure Safe Use as a condition of approval or post-approval;
we may decide to remove such product candidates from the marketplace;
we may be subject to regulatory investigations and government enforcement actions;
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we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and
our reputation may suffer.
Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of our product candidates and could substantially increase commercialization costs.
We may choose not to develop a potential product candidate, or we may suspend or terminate one or more discovery or preclinical programs or our product candidates.

At any time and for any reason, we may determine that one or more of our discovery programs, preclinical programs or product candidates does not have sufficient potential to warrant the allocation of resources toward such program or product candidate. Furthermore, because we have limited financial and personnel resources, we have placed significant focus on the development of our product candidates UpRi and XMT-1592. Accordingly, we may choose not to develop a product candidate or elect to suspend or terminate one or more of our discovery or preclinical programs. If we suspend or terminate a program or product candidate in which we have invested significant resources, we will have expended resources on a program or product candidate that will not provide a full return on our investment. We may also cease developing a product candidate for a particular indication. For example, in November 2021, we determined to cease developing UpRi as a single agent in patients with NSCLC and determined to focus future development on patients with ovarian cancer. As a result, we may have missed an opportunity to have allocated those resources to potentially more productive uses, including existing or future programs or product candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular future product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to future product candidates through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements.

We or our partners may fail to discover and develop additional potential product candidates.
Our and our partners’ research programs to identify new product candidates will require substantial technical, financial and human resources, and we or our partners may be unsuccessful in our or their efforts to identify new product candidates. If we or our partners are unable to identify suitable additional product candidates for preclinical and clinical development, our or their ability to develop product candidates and our ability to obtain revenues from commercializing our products or to receive royalties from our partners’ sales of their products in future periods could be compromised, which could result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our stock price.
Risks related to our financial position and need for additional capital

We have incurred net losses since our inception, we have no products approved for commercial sale and we anticipate that we will continue to incur substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future. We may never achieve or sustain profitability.

We have incurred net losses since our inception. Our net loss was $64.3$170.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.2021. As of December 31, 2018,2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $164.2$450.5 million. We do not know when or whether we will become profitable. To date, we have not commercialized any products and therefore have never generated any revenues from the sale of products, and we do not expect to generate any product revenues in the foreseeable future. Our losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in our discovery and development activities. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year.

We have devoted most of our financial resources to research and development, including our clinical and preclinical development activities. To date, we have financed our operations primarily throughwith the saleproceeds from our initial public offering, our follow-on public offerings in 2019 and 2020, the use of our at-the-market, or ATM, equity securitiesoffering program, and the receipt of funds throughour strategic partnerships with third parties.partnerships. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of our future expenditures. We have not completed pivotal clinical studiestrials for any product candidate and only have onetwo product candidatecandidates in a clinical study.trials. It will be several years, if ever, before we have a product candidate ready for commercialization. Even if we obtain regulatory approval to market a product candidate, our future revenues would depend upon the size of the market or markets in which our product candidates received such approval and our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, reimbursement from third‑partythird-party payors and adequate market share for our product candidates in those markets.

We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing netoperating losses for at leastover the next several years. We expectanticipate that our expenses will increase substantiallysignificantly in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:

·

conduct clinical development of XMT-1536, including our Phase 1 clinical study;

·

seek regulatory approval for XMT‑1536, if our development efforts are successful;

continue clinical development activities for our clinical product candidates UpRi and XMT-1592;

·

add personnel to support our product development efforts;

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·

continue our research and development efforts for new product opportunities; and

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continue to operate as a public company.

develop a diagnostic assay for the NaPi2b biomarker;

complete IND-enabling studies for our preclinical development candidates XMT-2056 and XMT-1660;
continue activities to discover, validate and develop additional product candidates;
obtain marketing approvals for our current and future product candidates for which we complete clinical trials;
develop a sustainable and scalable manufacturing process for our product candidates, including establishing and maintaining commercially viable supply and manufacturing relationships with third parties;
address any competing technological and market developments;
maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and
hire additional research, development and general and administrative personnel.
If we are required by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA or any equivalent foreign regulatory authority to perform clinical studiestrials or preclinical studiestrials in addition to those we currently expect to conduct, or if there are any delays in completing the clinical studiestrials of XMT‑1536,UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other current or future product candidates, our expenses could increase.

To become and remain profitable, we must succeed in developing our ADC product candidates, obtaining regulatory approval for them, and manufacturing, marketing and selling those products for which we may obtain regulatory approval. We may not succeed in these activities, and we may never generate revenue from product sales or strategic partnerships in an amount sufficient to achieve profitability. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. Our failure to become or remain profitable would depress our market value and could

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impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business, discover or develop other ADC product candidates or continue our operations.

We have a credit facility that requires us to comply with certain operating covenants and places restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility.
In October 2021, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, or the New Credit Facility, with Oxford Finance LLC as the collateral agent and a lender, and SVB as a lender, together, the Lenders. Pursuant to the New Credit Facility, as amended in February 2022, we may borrow up to an aggregate of $100 million, which includes $60 million available immediately, $20 million in a tranche that is subject to meeting certain development milestones, and an additional tranche of $20 million, which is subject to conditional approval from the Lenders. The New Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our personal property owned or later acquired, excluding intellectual property (but including the right to payments and proceeds from intellectual property), and a negative pledge on intellectual property.
The New Credit Facility also includes customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and conditions to drawdowns, as well as customary events of default. Certain of the customary negative covenants limit our ability, among other things, to incur future debt, grant liens, make investments, make acquisitions, distribute dividends, make certain restricted payments and sell assets, subject in each case to certain exceptions. Our failure to comply with these covenants would result in an event of default under the Loan Agreement and could result in the acceleration of the obligations we owe pursuant to the New Credit Facility.
We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts.

Our cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities were $70.1$177.9 million as of December 31, 2018.2021. We have utilized substantial amounts of cash since our inception and expect that we will continue to expend substantial resources for the foreseeable future developing XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, and any other current or future ADC product candidates. These expenditures may include costs associated with research and development, conducting preclinical studies and clinical studies,trials, potentially obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing products, as well as marketing and selling products approved for sale, if any, and potentially acquiring new technologies. In addition, other unanticipated costs may arise. Because the outcome of our planned and anticipated clinical studiestrials is highly uncertain, we cannot reasonably estimate the actual amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and commercialization of our ADC product candidates. Our costs will increase if we experience any delays in our clinical studiestrials for XMT‑1536,UpRi, XMT-1592 or any other current or future product candidates, including delays in enrollment of patients. We also incur costs associated with operating as a public company, hiring additional personnel and expanding our facilities.

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Our future capital requirements depend on many factors, including:

·

the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing XMT‑1536 and any other potential ADC product candidates and conducting preclinical studies and clinical studies;

·

the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for XMT‑1536 and any other potential ADC product candidates if preclinical studies and clinical studies are successful;

the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing UpRi, XMT-1592 and any other current or future product candidates and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials;

·

the cost of manufacturing XMT‑1536 and any other potential ADC product candidates for clinical studies in preparation for regulatory approval and in preparation for commercialization;

the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for UpRi, XMT-1592 and any other current or future product candidates if preclinical studies and clinical trials are successful;

·

the cost of commercialization activities for XMT‑1536 and any other potential ADC product candidates, if any ADC product candidates are approved for sale, including manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution costs;

the cost of manufacturing UpRi, XMT-1592 and any other current or future product candidates for clinical trials in preparation for regulatory approval and in preparation for commercialization;

·

our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements;

the cost of commercialization activities for UpRi, XMT-1592 and any other current or future product candidates, if any product candidates are approved for sale, including manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution costs;

·

the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation; and

our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements;

·

the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation;

the timing, receipt and amount of sales of, or royalties on, our future products, if any, or products developed by our partners.

Based on, our current operating plan,future products, if any, or products developed by our partners;

the emergence of competing cancer therapies and other adverse market developments; and
the requirement for or the cost of developing companion diagnostics and/or complementary diagnostics.

As of December 31, 2021, we estimatehad cash and cash equivalents of $177.9 million and, subsequently, we received a $40 million upfront payment under the Janssen Collaboration and $45.6 million of net proceeds received from sales of our common stock under our 2020 ATM. In addition, we currently have the option to borrow $35 million under the New Credit Facility. Taken together, we believe that our existingcurrent cash and cash equivalents and marketable securitiesplus the available borrowings under the New Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our projected operating requirements through at least mid 2021 and to fund our Phase 1 clinical study for XMT‑1536. Ourcurrent operating plan however,commitments into the second half of 2023. However, we have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and our operating plan may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us and we may need additional funds sooner than planned. Additional funds may not be available when we need them on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. Our ability to borrow funds under the New Credit Facility is subject to us complying with the applicable covenants at the time we request a drawdown. If adequate funds are not available to us on a timely basis, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate preclinical studies, clinical studiestrials or other development activities for one or more of our ADC product candidates or delay, limit, reduce or terminate our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize our ADC product candidates. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.

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Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or ADC product candidates on unfavorable termscandidates.


Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to us.

We may seek additionalfinance our capital need through a variety of means, including through private and public equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and debt financings.licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of such equity or convertible debt securities may include liquidation or other preferences that are senior to or otherwise adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. DebtAdditional debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take certain actions, such as incurring additionalfuture debt, making capital expenditures, declaring dividends or encumbering our assets to secure future indebtedness, each of which could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business and execute our operating plan. If we raise additional funds through strategic partnerships with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, including our ADC platforms, or ADC product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financing when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or commercialization efforts for XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other ADCcurrent or future product candidate,candidates, or grant rights to third parties to develop and market ADC product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

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We may expend our resources to pursue a particular product candidate and fail to capitalize on product candidates that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.

Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on specific product candidates. As a result, we may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Failure to properly assess potential product candidates could result in our focus on product candidates with low market potential, which would harm our business and financial condition. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable product candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through partnering, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.

Risks related to development and approval of our ADC product candidates

Failure of a discovery program or product candidate may occur at any stage of preclinical or clinical development, and, because our and our partner’s discovery programs and our product candidates are in an early stage of preclinical or clinical development, there is a relatively higher risk of failure and we or our partners may never succeed in generating revenue from such discovery programs or product candidates.

Our early encouraging preclinical results for XMT‑1536 are not necessarily predictive of the results of our ongoing or future discovery programs or clinical studies. Promising results in preclinical studies of a drug candidate may not be predictive of similar results in later‑stage preclinical studies or in humans during clinical studies. Many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in late‑stage clinical studies after achieving positive results in early‑stage development, including early‑stage clinical studies, and we cannot be certain that we will not face similar setbacks. These companies’ setbacks have been caused by, among other things, preclinical findings made while clinical studies were underway or safety or efficacy observations made in preclinical studies and clinical studies, including previously unreported adverse events.

Any clinical studies that we may conduct may not demonstrate the efficacy and safety necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates. In addition, clinical trial results for one of our product candidates or for competitor products utilizing similar technology, may raise concerns about the safety or efficacy of other products in our pipeline. If the results of our ongoing or future clinical studies are inconclusive with respect to the efficacy of our ADC product candidates or if we do not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical significance or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our ADC product candidates, we may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our ADC product candidates. There can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different

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clinical studies of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in study procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, changes in and adherence to the clinical study protocols and the rate of dropout among clinical study participants. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical studies nonetheless failed to obtain FDA approval.

Alternatively, even if we obtain regulatory approval, that approval may be for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired or may require labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings. We may also be required to perform additional or unanticipated clinical studies to obtain approval or be subject to additional post‑marketing testing requirements to maintain regulatory approval. In addition, regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of a product or impose restrictions on its distribution, such as in the form of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The failure to obtain timely regulatory approval of product candidates, any product marketing limitations or a product withdrawal would negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We currently have only one ADC product candidate, XMT-1536, in a clinical study. A failure of this product candidate in clinical development would adversely affect our business and may require us to discontinue development of other ADC product candidates based on the same technology.

XMT-1536 is our only clinical‑stage development product candidate. While we have certain other preclinical programs in development and we intend to develop other product candidates, it will take additional investment and time for such programs to reach the same stage of development as XMT-1536. In addition, we have other product candidates in our current pipeline that are based on the same ADC platform. If XMT-1536 fails in development as a result of any underlying problem with our ADC platform, then we may be required to discontinue development of the ADC product candidates that are based on the same technology. If we were required to discontinue development of XMT-1536 or if XMT-1536 were to fail to receive regulatory approval or were to fail to achieve sufficient market acceptance, we could be prevented from or significantly delayed in achieving profitability.

Events that may delay or prevent successful commencement, enrollment or completion of clinical studies of our ADC product candidates could result in increased costs to us as well as a delay in obtaining, or failure to obtain, regulatory approval, or cause us to terminate a clinical trial, which could prevent us from commercializing our ADC product candidates on a timely basis, or at all.

We cannot guarantee that clinical studies, including our ongoing Phase 1 clinical study and anticipated additional clinical studies for XMT-1536, will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. A failure of one or more clinical studies can occur at any stage of testing, and other events may cause us to temporarily or permanently cease a clinical study. Events that may prevent successful or timely commencement, enrollment or completion of clinical development include, among others:

·

delays by us in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on study design;

·

delays in reaching, or failing to reach, agreement on acceptable terms with prospective clinical research organizations, or CROs, and clinical study sites;

·

difficulties in obtaining required Institutional Review Board, or IRB, approval at each clinical study site;

·

challenges in recruiting and enrolling suitable patients to participate in clinical studies that meet the criteria of the protocol for the clinical study;

·

imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies or IRBs for any reason, including safety concerns or after an inspection of clinical operations or study sites;

·

failure by CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical study requirements;

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·

failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices, or GCP, or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries;

·

inadequate quantity or quality of a product candidate or other materials necessary to conduct clinical studies, including, for example, delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing or delivery of the ADC product candidates to the clinical sites;

·

patients not completing participation in a study or not returning for post‑treatment follow‑up;

·

clinical study sites or patients dropping out of a study;

·

safety issues, including occurrence of serious adverse events, or SAEs, in clinical studies that are associated with the ADC product candidates that are viewed to outweigh their potential benefits or unforeseen safety issues in our ongoing preclinical studies;

·

changes in regulatory requirements or guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols; or

·

lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical study.

Delays, including delays caused by the above factors, can be costly and could negatively affect our ability to complete a clinical study. If we or our partners are not able to successfully complete clinical studies, we or they will not be able to obtain regulatory approval and will not be able to commercialize our ADC product candidates or our partners’ ADC product candidates based on our technology.

An inability to enroll sufficient numbers of patients in our clinical studies could result in increased costs and longer development periods for our product candidates.

Clinical studies require sufficient patient enrollment, which is a function of many factors, including:

·

the size and nature of the patient population;

·

the severity of the disease under investigation;

·

the nature and complexity of the study protocol, including eligibility criteria for the study;

·

the number of clinical study sites and the proximity of patients to those sites;

·

standard of care in the diseases under investigation;

·

the commitment of clinical investigators to identify eligible patients;

·

competing studies or trials; and

·

clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and risks of the drug being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating.

Challenges in recruiting and enrolling suitable patients to participate in clinical studies that meet the criteria of the protocol for clinical studies could increase costs and result in delays to our current development plan for XMT‑1536 or any other future ADC product candidate.

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We may seek a Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation by the FDA for any of our product candidates, and we may be unsuccessful. If we are successful, the designation may not actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and it does not increase the likelihood that any product candidate would receive marketing approval.

We may seek a Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation for any of our product candidates. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over currently approved therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. Fast Track Designation may be available if a product is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and preclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need for this condition. Drugs that receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation by the FDA may also be eligible for accelerated approval and/or priority review if they satisfy the criteria for those programs.

The FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation. Even if we receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation for a product candidate, such designation may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if any of our product candidates receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Fast Track Designation, the FDA may later decide that the drugs no longer meet the conditions for qualification and rescind the designation.

Clinical development, regulatory review and approval by the FDA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable. If we or our partners are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our business will be substantially harmed.

The preclinical studies and clinical studies of our product candidates are, and the manufacturing and marketing of our product candidates will be, subject to extensive and rigorous review and regulation by numerous government authorities in the United States and in other countries where we intend to test and, if approved, market any such product candidate. These government regulations relate to, among other things, development, clinical studies, manufacturing and commercialization. In order to obtain regulatory approval for the commercial sale of any ADC product candidates, we or our partners must demonstrate through extensive preclinical studies and clinical studies that the ADC product candidate is safe and effective for use in each target indication.

The time required to obtain approval by the FDA and comparable foreign authorities is unpredictable, typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical studies and depends upon numerous factors. Of the large number of drugs in development in the United States, only a small percentage will successfully complete the FDA regulatory approval process and will be commercialized. Accordingly, even if we are able to obtain the requisite financing to continue to fund our development and preclinical studies and clinical studies, we cannot be assured that any of our product candidates will be successfully developed or commercialized.

In addition, approval policies, regulations or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions, which may cause delays in the approval of or the decision not to approve an application. Regulatory approval has not been obtained for any product candidate based on our ADC technology, and it is possible that none of our existing product candidates or any product candidates we may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain regulatory approval. In addition, we may gain regulatory approval for XMT‑1536 or any other ADC product candidate in some but not all of the territories for which we seek approval or some but not all of the target indications, resulting in limited commercial opportunity for the approved ADC product candidates.

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Applications for our or our partners’ product candidates could be delayed or could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including, but not limited to the following:

·

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the number, design or implementation of our clinical studies;

·

the population studied in the clinical program may not be sufficiently broad or representative to assure safety in the full population for which we seek approval;

·

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical studies;

·

the data collected from clinical studies of our product candidates may not meet the level of statistical or clinical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for marketing approval or may otherwise not be sufficient to support the submission of a new drug application or biologics license application, or other submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;

·

the FDA may not accept data generated at our preclinical studies and clinical study sites;

·

the FDA may require us to conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical studies;

·

we may be unable to demonstrate to the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate’s risk‑benefit ratio for its proposed indication is acceptable;

·

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes, test procedures and specifications or facilities of third‑party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies;

·

we or any third‑party service providers may be unable to demonstrate compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMPs, to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, which could result in delays in regulatory approval or require us to withdraw or recall products and interrupt commercial supply of our products; or

·

the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

Any of these factors, many of which are beyond our control, may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval to market any of our product candidates, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.

If we fail to obtain regulatory approval in jurisdictions outside the United States, we will not be able to market our products in those jurisdictions.

We intend to market our ADC product candidates, including XMT‑1536, if approved, in international markets either directly or through partnerships. Such marketing will require separate regulatory approvals in each market and compliance with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedures vary from country to country and may require additional testing that we are not required to perform to obtain regulatory approval in the United States. Moreover, the time required to obtain approval in countries outside the United States may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. In addition, in many countries outside the United States, an ADC drug must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one foreign regulatory authority does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We or our partners may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all. We or our partners may not be able to file for regulatory approvals and may not receive necessary approvals to

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commercialize our products in any market. If we or any existing or future partner are unable to obtain regulatory approval for XMT‑1536 in one or more significant foreign jurisdictions, then the commercial opportunity for XMT‑1536 and our financial condition will be adversely affected.

Even if we receive regulatory approval for our ADC product candidates, such products will be subject to ongoing regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense. Additionally, our ADC product candidates, if approved, could be subject to labeling and other restrictions, and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our products.

Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our ADC product candidates may also be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially costly post‑marketing testing and surveillance to monitor safety and efficacy. In addition, if the FDA or any other governing regulatory body approves any of our ADC product candidates, the manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, advertising, promotion and recordkeeping for the product will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post‑marketing information and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with cGMP and GCP, for any clinical studies that we conduct post‑approval.

Later discovery of previously unknown problems with an approved ADC drug, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing operations or processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in, among other things:

·

restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, withdrawal of the product from the market or voluntary or mandatory product recalls;

·

fines, warning letters or holds on clinical studies;

·

refusal by the FDA or any other governing regulatory body to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;

·

product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; and

·

injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

The policies of the FDA or any other governing regulatory body may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our ADC product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that may have been obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business.

Our ADC product candidates or ADCs developed or commercialized by our competitors may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that delay or prevent regulatory approval of our ADC product candidates or limit their commercial potential.

Undesirable side effects caused by our ADC product candidates or ADCs being developed or commercialized by our partners or competitors could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical studies and could result in a more restrictive label or the denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities and potential product liability claims. Further, clinical studies by their nature utilize a sample of the potential patient population. With a limited number of subjects and limited duration of exposure, rare and severe side effects of our product candidates or those of our competitors may only be uncovered with a significantly larger number of patients exposed to the drug. SAEs deemed to be caused by our ADC product candidates or those of our competitors, either before or after receipt of marketing

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approval, could have a material adverse effect on the development of our ADC product candidates and our business as a whole.

If we or others identify undesirable side effects caused by our ADC product candidates or those of our competitors either before or after receipt of marketing approval, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:

·

our clinical studies may be put on hold;

·

we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our ADC product candidates;

·

regulatory authorities may withdraw or limit their approvals of our ADC product candidates;

·

regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a contraindication, black box warnings or additional warnings;

·

the FDA may require development of a REMS with Elements to Assure Safe Use as a condition of approval or post‑approval;

·

we may decide to remove such product candidates from the marketplace;

·

we may be subject to regulatory investigations and government enforcement actions;

·

we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and

·

our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of our ADC product candidates and could substantially increase commercialization costs.

If we or our third‑party collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize any required companion diagnostics for our product candidates or engage a third party to do so, or we or they experience significant delays in doing so, we may not realize the full potential of our product candidates.

If a companion diagnostic is required for the label for XMT‑1536 or any of our future product candidates, therefore conditioning our ability to market such product candidates on the commercial availability of an approved companion diagnostic, we may seek approval for our validated assay as a companion diagnostic or we may contract with third parties to create and obtain approval for a companion diagnostic. To be successful in developing and commercializing such a companion diagnostic, we need to address a number of scientific, technical and logistical challenges. We have little experience in the development and commercialization of diagnostics and may not be successful in developing and commercializing appropriate diagnostics to pair with XMT‑1536 or any of our other product candidates. Companion diagnostics are subject to regulation by the FDA and equivalent foreign regulatory authorities as medical devices and require separate regulatory approval prior to commercialization. Given our limited experience in developing and commercializing diagnostics, we may rely in part or in whole on third parties for their design, manufacture and commercialization. We, our collaborators or such third parties may encounter difficulties in developing and obtaining approval for the companion diagnostics, including issues relating to selectivity/specificity, analytical validation, reproducibility or clinical validation. Any delay or failure by us, our collaborators or such third parties to develop or obtain regulatory approval of the companion diagnostics could delay or prevent approval of our product candidates. If we, or any third parties that we may contract with to assist us, are unable to successfully develop and commercialize companion diagnostics for our product candidates, or experience delays in doing so:

·

the development of XMT‑1536 and our product candidates, may be adversely affected if we are unable to appropriately select patients for enrollment in our clinical trials;

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·

our product candidates may not receive marketing approval if safe and effective use of a therapeutic product candidate depends on the availability of an in vitro diagnostic; and

·

we may not realize the full commercial potential of any product candidates that receive marketing approval if, among other reasons, we are unable to appropriately select patients who are likely to benefit from therapy with our products.

As a result, our business would be harmed, possibly materially.

In addition, third‑party collaborators may encounter production difficulties that could constrain the supply of the companion diagnostics, and both they and we may have difficulties gaining acceptance of the use of the companion diagnostics in the clinical community. If such companion diagnostics fail to gain market acceptance, it would have an adverse effect on our ability to derive revenues from sales of our product candidates, if approved. In addition, any diagnostic company with whom we contract may decide to discontinue selling or manufacturing the companion diagnostic that we anticipate using in connection with development and commercialization of our product candidates or our relationship with such diagnostic company may otherwise terminate. We may not be able to enter into arrangements with another diagnostic company to obtain supplies of an alternative diagnostic test for use in connection with the development and commercialization of our product candidates or do so on commercially reasonable terms, which could adversely affect and/or delay the development or commercialization of our product candidates.

We or our partners may fail to discover and develop additional potential product candidates.

Our and our partners’ research programs to identify new product candidates will require substantial technical, financial and human resources, and we or our partners may be unsuccessful in our or their efforts to identify new product candidates. If we or our partners are unable to identify suitable additional product candidates for preclinical and clinical development, our or their ability to develop product candidates and our ability to obtain revenues from commercializing our products or to receive royalties from our partners’ sales of their products in future periods could be compromised, which could result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our stock price.

Risks related to our reliance on third parties

Because we rely on third‑partythird-party manufacturing and supply partners, our supply of research and development, preclinical and clinical development materials may become limited or interrupted or may not be of satisfactory quantity or quality.

We rely on third‑partythird-party contract manufacturers to manufacture our preclinical and clinical studytrial product supplies, and we lack the internal resources and the capability to manufacture any product candidates on a clinical or commercial scale. The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture the active pharmaceutical ingredient and final drug product must be acceptable to the FDA and other comparable foreign regulatory agencies pursuant to inspections that would be conducted after we submit our marketing application or relevant foreign regulatory submission to the applicable regulatory agency. There can be no assurance that our preclinical and clinical development product supplies will be sufficient, uninterrupted or of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA or applicable foreign regulatory agencies, they will not be able to secure or maintain regulatory approval for their manufacturing facilities. Any replacement of our manufacturers could require significant effort and expertise because there may be a limited number of qualified replacements.

The manufacturing process for an ADCa product candidate is subject to FDA and foreign regulatory authority review. Suppliers and manufacturers must meet applicable manufacturing requirements and undergo rigorous facility and process validation tests required by regulatory authorities in order to comply with regulatory standards, such as cGMP. We have no direct control over our contract manufacturers’ ability to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. In the event that any of our manufacturers fails to comply with regulatory requirements or to perform its obligations to us in relation to quality, timing or otherwise, or if our supply of components or other materials becomes limited or interrupted for other reasons, we may be forced to manufacture the materials ourselves, for which we currently do not have the capabilities or resources, or enter into an agreement with another third party, which we may not be able to

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do on reasonable terms, if at all. In some cases, the technical skills or technology required to manufacture our ADC product candidates may be unique or proprietary to the original manufacturer and we may have difficulty transferring such skills or technology to another third party and a feasible alternative may not exist. These factors would increase our reliance on such manufacturer or require us to obtain a license from such manufacturer in order to have another third-party manufacture our ADC product candidates. If we are required to change manufacturers for any reason, we will be required to verify that the new manufacturer maintains facilities and procedures that comply with quality standards and with all applicable regulations and guidelines. The delays associated with the verification of a new manufacturer could negatively affect our ability to develop ADC product candidates in a timely manner or within budget. Our reliance on contract manufacturers also exposes us to the possibility that they, or third parties with access to their facilities, will have access to and may appropriate our trade secrets or other proprietary information.

We expect to continue to rely on third‑partythird-party manufacturers if we receive regulatory approval for any ADC product candidate. To the extent that we have existing, or enter into future, manufacturing arrangements with third parties, we will depend on these third parties to perform their obligations in a timely manner consistent with contractual and regulatory requirements, including those related to quality control and assurance. If we are unable to obtain or maintain third‑partythird-party manufacturing for ADC product candidates, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to develop and commercialize our ADC product candidates successfully. Our or a third party’s failure to execute on our manufacturing requirements and comply with cGMP could adversely affect our business in a number of ways, including:

·

an inability to initiate or continue clinical studies of ADC product candidates under development;

·

delay in submitting regulatory applications, or receiving regulatory approvals, for ADC product candidates;

a delay or inability to initiate or continue clinical trials of product candidates under development;

·

loss of the cooperation of an existing or future strategic partner;

delay in submitting regulatory applications, or delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals, for product candidates;

·

subjecting third‑party manufacturing facilities or our manufacturing facilities to additional inspections by regulatory authorities;

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·

a requirement to cease distribution or to recall batches of our ADC product candidates; and

Table of Contents

·

in the event of approval to market and commercialize an ADC product candidate, an inability to meet commercial demands for our products.

loss of the cooperation of an existing or future strategic partner;

subjecting third-party manufacturing facilities or our manufacturing facilities to additional inspections by regulatory authorities;
a requirement to cease distribution or to recall batches of our product candidates;
in the event of approval to market and commercialize a product candidate, an inability to meet commercial demands for our products; and
fines, adverse publicity, and civil and criminal enforcement and sanctions.
We, or our third‑partythird-party manufacturers, may be unable to successfully scale‑upscale-up manufacturing of our ADC product candidates in sufficient quality and quantity, which would delay or prevent us from developing our ADC product candidates and commercializing approved products, if any.

In order to conduct clinical studiestrials of our ADC product candidates and commercialize any approved ADC product candidates, we, or our manufacturing partners, will need to manufacture them in large quantities. We, or our manufacturing partners, may be unable to successfully increase the manufacturing capacity for any of our product candidates in a timely or cost‑effectivecost-effective manner, or at all. In addition, quality issues may arise during scale‑upscale-up activities. If we, or any manufacturing partners, are unable to successfully scale up the manufacture of our ADC product candidates in sufficient quality and quantity, the development, testing and clinical studiestrials of that ADC product candidatescandidate may be delayed or infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any resulting product may be delayed or not obtained, which could significantly harm our business. We have evaluated which third‑party manufacturesthird-party manufacturers to engage for scale‑upscale-up to commercial supply of our ADC product candidates, including XMT‑1536,UpRi and XMT-1592, and we have begun to transfer and scale-up of certain manufacturing activities. If we are unable to obtain or maintain third‑partythird-party manufacturing for commercial supply of ADCour product candidates, or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to develop and commercialize our ADC product candidates successfully.

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We rely on third parties to conduct preclinical studies and clinical studiestrials for our ADC product candidates, including XMT‑1536,UpRi and XMT-1592 and if theysuch third parties do not properly, timely and successfully perform their obligations to us, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approvals for XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other current or future ADC product candidates that we may develop in the future.

candidates.

We have designed the Phase 1ongoing clinical studytrials for XMT-1536UpRi and XMT-1592, and we intend to design any future clinical studytrials for any future unpartnered ADC product candidates that we may develop if preclinical studies are successful. However, we rely on CROs, clinical sites, investigators and other third parties to assist in managing, monitoring and otherwise carrying out many of these studies.trials. As a result, we have less direct control over the conduct, timing and completion of these clinical studiestrials and the management of data developed through clinical studiestrials than would be the case if we were relying entirely upon our own staff. These CROs, investigators and other third parties are not our employees and we have limited control over the amount of time and resources that they dedicate to our programs. We compete with many other companies for the resources of these third parties. These third parties may have contractual relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors, which may draw time and resources from our programs. The third parties with whom we contract might not be diligent, careful or timely in conducting our preclinical studies or clinical studies,trials, or complying with cGLP or cGCP, as applicable, resulting in the preclinical studies or clinical studiestrials being delayed or unsuccessful.

The third parties on whom we rely generally may terminate their engagements at any time, and having to enter into alternative arrangements would delay development and commercialization of our ADC product candidates. Communicating with outside parties can also be challenging, potentially leading to mistakes as well as difficulties in coordinating activities. Outside parties may:

·

have staffing difficulties;

·

fail to comply with contractual obligations;

have staffing difficulties;

·

experience regulatory compliance issues;

fail to comply with contractual obligations;

·

undergo changes in priorities or become financially distressed; or

experience regulatory compliance issues;

·

form relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors.

undergo changes in priorities or become financially distressed; or

form relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors.
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The FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities require compliance with regulations and standards, including GCP, for designing, conducting, monitoring, recording, analyzing and reporting the results of clinical studiestrials to assure that the data and results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of studytrial participants are protected. Although we rely, and intend to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct our clinical studies,trials, they are not our employees, and we are responsible for ensuring that each of these clinical studiestrials is conducted in accordance with its general investigational plan, protocol and other requirements. Our reliance on these third parties for research and development activities will reduce our control over these activities but will not relieve us of our responsibilities.

For any violations of laws and regulations during the conduct of our clinical trials, we could be subject to untitled and warning letters or enforcement action that may include civil penalties up to and including criminal prosecution.

If these third parties do not successfully carry out their duties under their agreements, if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to their failure to adhere to clinical studytrial protocols or to regulatory requirements, or if they otherwise fail to comply with clinical studytrial protocols or meet expected deadlines, the clinical studiestrials of our ADC product candidates may not meet regulatory requirements. The FDA enforces GCP regulations through periodic inspections of clinical studytrial sponsors, principal investigators and studytrial sites. If we or our CROs fail to comply with applicable GCPs or other regulatory requirements, the clinical data generated in our clinical studiestrials may be deemed unreliable, third parties may need to be replaced, we may be subject to negative publicity, fines and civil or criminal sanctions, and preclinical development activities or clinical studiestrials may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated. If any of these events occur, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of our ADC product candidates on a timely basis or at all.

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We depend on strategic partnerships with other companies to assist in the research, development and commercialization of our ADC platforms and ADC product candidates. If our existing partners do not perform as expected, this may negatively affect our ability to commercialize our ADC product candidates, generate revenues through technology licensing, or otherwise negatively affect our business.

We have established strategic partnerships and intend to continue to establish strategic partnerships with third parties to research, develop and commercialize our ADC platforms and existing and future ADC product candidates. In February 2022, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. for the research, development and commercialization of ADC candidates leveraging our Dolasynthen platform.We had also entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of other ADC product candidates. For certain ofcandidates leveraging our Dolaflexin platform. Under these programs,collaborations, we will depend on our partners to design and conduct their clinical studies.trials. As a result, we maywill not be able to control or oversee the conduct of these programs in the manner or on the time schedule we currently contemplate,by our partners and those programs may not be successful, which may negatively impact our business operations. In addition, if any of these partners withdraw support for these programs or proposed products or otherwise impair their development or experience negative results, our business and our ADC product candidates could be negatively affected.

Our partners may terminate their agreements with us for cause under certain circumstances or at will in certain cases and discontinue use of our technologies. In addition, we cannot control the amount and timing of resources our partners may devote to products utilizing or incorporating our technology. Moreover, our relationships with our partners may divert significant time and effort of our scientific staff and management team and require effective allocation of our resources to multiple internal and collaborative projects. Our partners may fail to perform their obligations under the collaboration agreements or may not perform their obligations in a timely manner. If conflicts arise between our partners and us, the other party may act in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement our strategies. If any of our partners terminate or breach our agreements with them, or otherwise fail to complete their obligations in a timely manner, it may have a detrimental effect on our financial position by reducing or eliminating the potential for us to receive technology access and license fees, milestones and royalties, reimbursement of development costs, as well as possibly requiring us to devote additional efforts and incur costs associated with pursuing internal development of product candidates. Furthermore, if our partners do not prioritize and commit sufficient resources to programs associated with our product candidates or collaboration product candidates, we or our partners may be unable to commercialize these product candidates, which would limit our ability to generate revenue and become profitable.

Our partners may separately pursue competing products, therapeutic approaches or technologies to develop treatments for the diseases targeted by us or our partners. Competing products, either developed by the partners or to which the partners have rights, may result in the withdrawal of partner support for our product candidates. Even if our partners continue their contributions to the strategic partnerships, they may nevertheless determine not to actively pursue the development or commercialization of any resulting products. Additionally, if our partners pursue different clinical or regulatory strategies with their ADC product candidates based on our ADC platforms or technology,technologies, adverse events with their ADC product candidates could negatively affect our ADC product candidates utilizing similar technologies. Any of these developments could harm our product development efforts.

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To date, we have depended on a small number of partners for a substantial portion of our revenue. The loss of any one of these partners could result in a material decline in our revenue.

We have entered into strategic partnerships with a limited number of companies. To date, a substantial portion of our revenue has resulted from payments made under agreements with our strategic partners, and we expect that a portion of our revenue will continue to come from strategic partnerships. The loss of any of our partners, or the failure of our partners to perform their obligations under their agreements with us, including paying license or technology fees, milestone payments, royalties or reimbursements, could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance. Payments under our existing and future strategic partnerships are also subject to significant fluctuations in both timing and amount, which could cause our revenue to fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors and cause a decrease in our stock price.

We may not be successful in establishing and maintainingseek to establish additional strategic partnerships, which could adversely affectand if we are not able to establish them on commercially reasonable terms, or maintain them, we may have to alter our ability to developdevelopment and commercialize products, negatively impacting our operating results.

commercialization plans.

We continue to strategically evaluate our partnerships and, as appropriate, we expect to enter into additional strategic partnerships in the future, including potentially with major biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies. We face

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significant competition in seeking appropriate partners for our ADC product candidates, and the negotiation process is time‑consumingtime-consuming and complex. In order for us to successfully partner our ADC product candidates, potential partners must view these ADC product candidates as economically valuable in markets they determine to be attractive in light of the terms that we are seeking and other available products for licensing by other companies. Even if we are successful in our efforts to establish strategic partnerships, the terms that we agree upon may not be favorable to us, and we may not be able to maintain such strategic partnerships if, for example, development or approval of an ADCa product candidate is delayed or sales of an approved product are disappointing. Any delay in entering into strategic partnership agreements related to our ADC product candidates could delay the development and commercialization of such candidates and reduce their competitiveness even if they reach the market. If we are not able to generate revenue under our strategic partnerships when and in accordance with our expectations or the expectations of industry analysts, this failure could harm our business and have an immediate adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

If we fail to establish and maintain additional strategic partnerships related to our unpartnered ADC product candidates, we will bear all of the risk and costs related to the development of any such ADC product candidate, and we may need to seek additional financing, hire additional employees and otherwise develop expertise, such as regulatory expertise, for which we have not budgeted. If we were not successful in seeking additional financing, hiring additional employees or developing additional expertise, our cash burn rate would increase or we would need to take steps to reduce our rate of ADC product candidate development. This could negatively affect the development of any unpartnered ADC product candidate.

Risks related to commercialization of our ADC product candidates

Our future commercial success depends upon attaining significant market acceptance of our ADC product candidates, if approved, among physicians, patients and health care payors.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval for XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other ADCcurrent or future product candidates that we may develop or acquire in the future, the product candidate may not gain market acceptance among physicians, health care payors, patients and the medicalbroader healthcare community. Market acceptance of any approved products depends on a number of factors, including:

·

the efficacy and safety of the product, as demonstrated in clinical studies;

·

the indications for which the product is approved and the label approved by regulatory authorities for use with the product, including any warnings that may be required on the label;

the efficacy and safety of the product, as demonstrated in clinical trials;

·

acceptance by physicians and patients of the product as a safe and effective treatment;

the indications for which the product is approved and the label approved by regulatory authorities for use with the product, including any warnings that may be required on the label;

·

the cost, safety and efficacy of treatment in relation to alternative treatments;

acceptance by physicians and patients of the product as a safe and effective treatment;

·

the availability of adequate reimbursement and pricing by third‑party payors and government authorities;

the cost, safety and efficacy of treatment in relation to alternative treatments;

·

relative convenience and ease of administration;

the availability of adequate reimbursement and pricing by third-party payors and government authorities;

·

the prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; and

relative convenience and ease of administration;

·

the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.

the prevalence and severity of adverse side effects; and

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the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
Perceptions of any product are influenced by perceptions of competitors’ products that are in the same class of drugs or have a similar mechanism of action. As a result, adverse public perception of our competitors’ ADC products may negatively impact the market acceptance of our ADC product candidates. Market acceptance is critical to our ability to generate significant revenue and become profitable. Any therapeutic candidate, if approved and commercialized, may be accepted in only limited capacities or not at all. If any approved products are not accepted by the market to the extent that we expect, we may not be able to generate significant revenue and our business would suffer.

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The incidence and prevalence for target patient populations of our drug candidates have not been established with precision. If the market opportunities for our drug candidates are smaller than we estimate or if any approval that we obtain is based on a narrower definition of the patient population, our revenue and ability to achieve profitability will be adversely affected, possibly materially.

The precise incidence and prevalence of epithelial ovarian cancer and non‑squamous NSCLCother cancers with NaPi2b expression are unknown. Our projections of both the number of people who have these diseases, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with our drugproduct candidates, are based on estimates. The total addressable market opportunity for XMT‑1536UpRi or XMT-1592 for the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer and non‑squamous NSCLCnon-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with NaPi2b expression will ultimately depend upon, among other things, the diagnosis criteria included in the final label for XMT‑1536,UpRi or XMT-1592, if our drug candidate isproduct candidates are approved for sale for these indications, acceptance by the medical community and patient access, drug pricing and reimbursement. The number of patients who can be treated with our drugproduct candidates may turn out to be lower than expected, patients may not be otherwise amenable to treatment with our drugs, or new patients may become increasingly difficult to identify or gain access to, all of which would adversely affect our results of operations and our business.

If we are unable to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, we may not be successful in commercializing our product candidates if and when they are approved.

We do not have a sales or marketing infrastructure and have no experience in the sale, marketing or distribution of products. To achieve commercial success for any product for which we have obtained marketing approval, we will need to establish a sales and marketing organization.

organization or pursue a collaborative arrangement for such sales and marketing.

In the future, we expect to build a focused sales and marketing infrastructure to market XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, and any other ADCcurrent or future product candidates in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, if and when they are approved. There are risks involved with establishing our own sales, marketing and distribution capabilities.
For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time consuming and could delay any product launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.

Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our products on our own include:

·

our inability to recruit, train and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel;

·

the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians;

our inability to recruit, train and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel;

·

the lack of adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future products;

the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians;

·

the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and

the lack of adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future products;

·

unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization.

the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and

unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization.
If we are unable to establish our own sales, marketing and distribution capabilities and enter into arrangements with third parties to perform these services, our product revenues and our profitability, if any, are likely to be lower than if we were to market, sell and distribute any products that we develop ourselves.

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In addition, we may not be successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to sell, market and distribute certain of our product candidates outside of the United States or may be unable to do so on terms that are favorable to us. We likely will have limited control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our products effectively. If we do not establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities

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successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing our product candidates.

Reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for our ADC product candidates, which could make it difficult for us to sell our products profitably.

In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of any of our product candidates, if approved, will depend, in part, on the extent to which the costs of our products will be covered by third‑partythird-party payors, such as government health programs, commercial insurance and managed health care organizations. These third-party payors decide which drugs will be covered and establish reimbursement levels for those drugs. The containment of health care costs has become a priority of foreign and domestic governments as well as private third-party payors. The prices of drugs have been a focus in this effort. Governments and private third‑partythird-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medications, which could affect our ability to sell our product candidates profitably. Cost‑controlCost-control initiatives could cause us to decrease the price we might establish for products, which could result in lower than anticipated product revenues.

Reimbursement by a third‑partythird-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including the third‑partythird-party payor’s determination that use of a product is:

·

a covered benefit under its health plan;

·

safe, effective and medically necessary;

a covered benefit under its health plan;

·

appropriate for the specific patient;

safe, effective and medically necessary;

·

cost‑effective; and

appropriate for the specific patient;

·

neither experimental nor investigational.

cost-effective; and

neither experimental nor investigational.
Adverse pricing limitations may hinder our ability to recoup our investment in XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other current or future ADC product candidates, even if such product candidates obtain marketing approval.

Obtaining coverage and reimbursement approval for a product from a government or other third‑partythird-party payor is a time consuming and costly process that could require us to provide supporting scientific, clinical and cost‑effectivenesscost-effectiveness data for the use of our products to the payor. Further, there is significant uncertainty related to third‑partythird-party payor coverage and reimbursement of newly approved drugs. We may not be able to provide data sufficient to gain acceptance with respect to coverage and reimbursement. We cannot be sure that coverage or adequate reimbursement will be available for any of our ADC product candidates. Also, we cannot be sure that reimbursement amounts will not reduce the demand for, or the price of, our products. If reimbursement is not available or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to commercialize certain of our products. In addition, in the United States, third‑partythird-party payors are increasingly attempting to contain health care costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement of new drugs. As a result, significant uncertainty exists as to whether and how much third‑partythird-party payors will reimburse patients for their use of newly approved drugs, which in turn will put pressure on the pricing of drugs.

Manufacturers further may be required to offer price concessions to achieve sales or favorable coverage.

Price controls may be imposed in foreign markets, which may adversely affect our future profitability.

In some countries, including member states of the European Union, the pricing of prescription drugs is subject to governmental control. Additional countries may adopt similar approaches to the pricing of prescription drugs. In such countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after receipt of marketing approval for a product. In addition, there can be considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used by various European Union member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage

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between low‑pricedlow-priced and high‑pricedhigh-priced member states, can further reduce prices. In some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical studytrial or other studiestrials that compare the cost‑effectivenesscost-effectiveness of our ADC product candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. We cannot be sure that such prices and reimbursement will be acceptable to us or our strategic partners. Publication of discounts by third‑partythird-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels

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within the country of publication and other countries. If pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels or if reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, our revenues from sales by us or our strategic partners and the potential profitability of our ADC product candidates in those countries would be negatively affected.

The impact of health care reform legislation and other changes in the health care industry and in health care spending on us is currently unknown and may adversely affect our business model.

Our revenue prospects could be affected by changes in health care spending and policy in the United States and abroad. We operate in a highly regulated industry and new laws, regulations or judicial decisions, or new interpretations of existing laws, regulations or decisions, related to health care availability, the method of delivery or payment for health care products and services could negatively impact our business, operations and financial condition.

The United States and state governments continue to propose and pass legislation designed to reduce the cost of health care. In March 2010, the U.S. Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or the Health Care Reform Act, which include changes to the coverage and reimbursement of drug products under government health care programs such as:

·

increasing drug rebates under state Medicaid programs for brand name prescription drugs and extending those rebates to Medicaid managed care;

·

extending discounted rates on drug products available under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program to additional hospitals and other providers;

·

assessing a fee on manufacturers and importers of brand name prescription drugs reimbursed under certain government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid; and

·

requiring drug manufacturers to provide a 50% discount on Medicare Part D brand name prescription drugs sold to Medicare beneficiaries whose prescription drug costs cause the beneficiaries to be subject to the Medicare Part D coverage gap (i.e., the so‑called “donut hole”).

It is likely that federal and state legislatures within the United States and foreign governments will continue to consider changes to existing health care legislation. We cannot predict the reform initiatives that may be adopted in the future or whether initiatives that have been adopted will be repealed or modified. The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of health care services to contain or reduce costs of health care may adversely affect:

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the demand for any products for which we may obtain regulatory approval;

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our ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our products;

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our ability to obtain coverage and reimbursement approval for a product;

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our ability to generate revenues and achieve or maintain profitability; and

·

the level of taxes that we are required to pay.

The legislative landscape in the United States continues to evolve. There have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system that could affect our future results of operations or the commercial success of our

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products, if approved. In particular, there have been and continue to be a number of initiatives at the United States federal and state levels that seek to reduce healthcare costs. For example, under the Trump administration, there have been  ongoing efforts to modify or repeal all or certain provisions of the Healthcare Reform Act. For example, tax reform legislation was enacted at the end of 2017 that eliminates the tax penalty established under Healthcare Reform Act for individuals who do not maintain mandated health insurance coverage beginning in 2019. In a May 2018 report, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that, compared to 2018, the number of uninsured will increase by 3 million in 2019 and 6 million in 2028, in part due to the elimination of the individual mandate. The Healthcare Reform Act has also been subject to judicial challenge. In December 2018, a federal district court, in a challenge brought by a number of state  attorneys general, found the Healthcare Reform Act unconstitutional in its entirety because, once Congress repealed the individual mandate provision, there was no longer a basis to rely on Congressional taxing authority to support enactment of the law. Pending appeals, which could take some time, the Healthcare Reform Act is still operational in all respects.

There have also been other reform initiatives under the Trump Administration, including initiatives focused on drug pricing. For example, in May of 2018, President Trump and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services  released a "blueprint" to lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs. Certain proposals in the blueprint, and related drug pricing measures proposed since the blueprint, could cause significant operational and reimbursement  changes for the pharmaceutical industry. As another example, in October 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services solicited public comments on potential changes to payment for certain Medicare Part B drugs, including reducing the Medicare payment amount for selected Medicare Part B drugs to more closely align with international drug prices.

More generally, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products.  Individual states in the United States have become increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical product pricing, including price constraints and  marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products,  once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing.

We continue to evaluate the effect that the Health Care Reform Act, the repeal of the individual mandate, and any additional healthcare reform efforts may have on our business, but expect that healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future could have a material adverse effect on our industry generally and on our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, if approved. We cannot predict the ultimate content, timing or effect of any such reforms.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the 2010 health care reform legislation. The Budget Control Act of 2011, as amended, or the Budget Control Act, includes provisions intended to reduce the federal deficit. The Budget Control Act resulted in the imposition of 2% reductions in Medicare payments to providers beginning in 2013. Legislation extends reductions through 2023. Any significant spending reductions affecting Medicare, Medicaid  or other publicly funded or subsidized health programs that may be implemented, or any significant taxes or fees that may be imposed on us, as part of any broader deficit reduction effort or legislative replacement to the Budget Control Act, could  have an adverse impact on our anticipated product revenues.

We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developingand if our competitors develop and market products that are more effective, safer or commercializing products before,less expensive than any of our current or more successfully than, we do.

future product candidates, our commercial opportunities will be negatively impacted.

The biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. Many third parties compete with us in developing various approaches to cancer therapy. They include pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, academic institutions and other research organizations. Any treatments developed by our competitors could be superior to our ADC product candidates. It is possible that these competitors will succeed in developing technologies that are more effective than our ADC platforms or ADC product candidates or that would render our ADC platforms obsolete, noncompetitive or noncompetitive.not economical. We anticipate that we will face increased competition in the future as additional companies enter our market and scientific developments surrounding other cancer therapies continue to accelerate.


We are also aware of multiple companies with ADC technologies that may be competitive to our ADC platforms, including Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bristol‑Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, ImmunoGen, Immunomedics,Gilead (Immunomedics), Pfizer and Seattle Genetics.SeaGen. These companies or their partners, including Astellas, AstraZeneca, AbbVie, Genentech, Lilly, Novartis, SanofiGenentech/Roche and Takeda, may develop ADC

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product candidates which compete in the same indications as our current and future ADC product candidates. There are approximately 75 ADC product candidates in active clinical development. There. Multiple companies are currently four approvedalso developing immune stimulating ADC therapies in the United States: brentuximab vedotin, marketed by Seattle Geneticss which could compete with our Immunosynthen products, including Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc., Takeda, and Takeda, ado‑trastuzumab emtansine, marketed by Genentech, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, marketed by Pfizer; and inotuzumab ozogamicin, also marketed by Pfizer.Silverback Therapeutics, Inc. We expect to compete on improved efficacy, safety and tolerability compared to other ADC product candidates and if our products are not demonstrably superior in these respects compared to other approved therapeutics, we may not be able to compete effectively.

Products we may develop in the future are also likely to face competition from other products and therapies, some of which we may not currently be aware.


Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing,studies, conducting clinical studies,trials, obtaining regulatory approval and marketing than we do. In addition, many of these competitors are active in seeking patent protection and licensing arrangements in anticipation of collecting royalties for use of technology that they have developed. Large pharmaceutical companies, in particular, have extensive experience in clinical testing, obtaining marketing approvals, establishing clinical trial sites, recruiting patients and in manufacturing pharmaceutical products and may succeed in discovering, developing and commercializing products in our field before we do. Smaller or early‑stageearly-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through strategic partnerships with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to our programs.


In addition, if our product candidates are approved and commercialized, we may face competition from biosimilars. The route to market for biosimilars was established with the passage of the Health Care Reform Act in March 2010. The Health Care ReformBiologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA,establishes a pathway for the FDA approval of follow‑onfollow-on biologics and provides twelve years data exclusivity for reference productsproducts. The BPCIA is complex and an additional six monthscontinues to be interpreted and implemented by the FDA. In addition, government proposals have sought to reduce the 12-year reference product exclusivity period if pediatric studies are conducted. In December 2018, however, a federal district court judge, in a challenge brought by a number of state attorneys general, foundperiod. Further, since the Health Care Reform Act unconstitutional in its entirety. Given the court’s decision struck down the Health Care Reform Act in its entirety, the decision means numerous reformsBPCIA was enacted as part of the overall Health Care Reform Act, but not specifically relatedcurrent litigation challenges to health insurance, such as the BPCIA, are invalid as well. While the Trump administration and CMS have both stated that the ruling will have no immediate effect, it is unclear how this decision, subsequent appeals, if any, and other efforts to repeal and replace the Health Care Reform Act, willdiscussed more in full below, could impact the biosimilar framework created byvalidity of the Health Care Reform ActBPCIA. As a result, there still remains significant uncertainty as to the ultimate impact, implementation and our Business.

regulatory interpretation of the BPCIA.

In Europe, the European Medicines Agency has issued guidelines for approving products through an abbreviated pathway, and biosimilars have been approved in Europe. If a biosimilar version of one of our potential products were approved in the United States or Europe, it could have a negative effect on sales and gross profits of the potential product and our financial condition.

With respect to our current and potential future product candidates, we believe that our ability to compete effectively and develop products that can be manufactured cost‑effectivelycost-effectively and marketed successfully will depend on our ability to:

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advance our technology platforms;

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obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our technologies and products;

advance our technology platforms;

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obtain required government and other public and private approvals on a timely basis;

obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our technologies and products;

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attract and retain key personnel;

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commercialize effectively;

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obtain reimbursement for our products in approved indications;

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comply with applicable laws, regulations and regulatory requirements and restrictions with respect to the commercialization of our products, including with respect to any changed or increased regulatory restrictions; and

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obtain required government and other public and private approvals on a timely basis;

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attract and retain key personnel;

·

enter into additional strategic partnerships to advance the development and commercialization of our product candidates.

commercialize effectively;

obtain reimbursement for our products in approved indications;
comply with applicable laws, regulations and regulatory requirements and restrictions with respect to the commercialization of our products, including with respect to any changed or increased regulatory restrictions; and
enter into additional strategic partnerships to advance the development and commercialization of our product candidates.
Risks related to our intellectual property

If we are unable to obtain or protect intellectual property rights related to our technology and ADC product candidates, or if our intellectual property rights are inadequate, we may not be able to compete effectively.

Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain protection with respect to our intellectual property and proprietary technology. We rely upon a combination of patents, trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect the intellectual property related to our ADC platforms and ADCour product candidate, XMT‑1536.candidates, including UpRi and XMT-1592. The patent position of biopharmaceutical companies is generally uncertain because it involves complex legal and factual considerations and has, in recent years, been the subject of much litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability and commercial value of our patent rights is highly uncertain. The standards applied by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, and foreign patent offices in granting patents are not always applied uniformly or predictably. For example, there is no uniform worldwide policy regarding patentable subject matter or the scope of claims allowable in patents. In addition, changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our patents or narrow the scope of our patent protection. The patent prosecution process is expensive, complex and time‑consuming,time-consuming, and we may not be able to file, prosecute, maintain, enforce or license all necessary or desirable patents and patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. There is no assurance that all potentially relevant prior art relating to our patents and patent applications has been found. We may be unaware of prior art that could be used to invalidate an issued patent or prevent our pending patent applications from issuing as patents.

The patent applications that we own or in‑licensein-license may fail to result in issued patents, and even if they do issue as patents, such patents may not cover our ADC platforms and ADC product candidates in the United States or in other countries. The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and our patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and product candidates. For example, even if patent applications we license or own do successfully issue as patents and even if such patents cover our ADC platforms and ADC product candidates, third parties may challenge their validity, enforceability or scope, which may result in such patents being narrowed or invalidated. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not provide adequate protection or exclusivity for our ADC platform or ADC product candidates, prevent others from designing around our claims or otherwise provide us with a competitive advantage. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.

If patent applications we own or have in‑licensedin-licensed with respect to our ADC platforms or our ADC product candidates fail to issue as patents, if their breadth or strength of protection is threatened, or if they fail to provide meaningful exclusivity, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us. We cannot offer any assurances about which, if any, patents will issue, the breadth of any such patents or whether any issued patents will be found invalid and unenforceable or will be threatened by third parties. Any successful challenge to these patents or any other patents owned by or licensed to us could deprive us of rights necessary for the successful development and commercialization of any ADC product candidate. Since patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing, and some remain so until issued, we cannot be certain that we were the first to file any patent application related to an ADCa product candidate. Furthermore, if third parties have filed such patent applications, an interference proceeding in the United States can be initiated by the USPTO or a third‑partythird-party to determine who was the first to invent any of the subject matter covered by the patent claims of our applications. In addition, patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after it is filed. Various extensions may be available; however, the life of a patent and the protection it affords is limited. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, our owned or in‑licensedin-licensed patents protecting such
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candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. If we encounter delays in obtaining regulatory approvals, the period of

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time during which we could market an ADCa drug under patent protection could be further reduced. Even if patents covering our ADC product candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired for a product, we may be open to competition from similar or generic products. The launch of a generic version of one of our products in particular would be likely to result in an immediate and substantial reduction in the demand for our product, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

On September 16, 2011, the Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act, was signed into law, which could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. The Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art, may affect patent litigation and switch the U.S. patent system from a “first‑to‑invent”“first-to-invent” system to a “first‑to‑file”“first-to-file” system. Under a first‑to‑filefirst-to-file system, assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application generally will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether another inventor had made the invention earlier. These provisions also allow third‑partythird-party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and set forth additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by the USPTO administered post grant proceedings. The USPTO developed additional regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act, and, in particular, the first‑to‑filefirst-to-file provisions, only became effective on March 16, 2013. Accordingly, it is not clear what, if any, impact the Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. The Leahy‑SmithLeahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Any loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business. We may be unable to prevent competitors from entering the market with a product that is similar to or the same as our ADC product candidates.

Issued patents covering XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, and any other current or future ADC product candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or before the USPTO or comparable foreign authority.

If we or one of our licensing partners initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering XMT‑1536UpRi, XMT-1592, or any other current or future product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product candidate is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity or unenforceability are commonplace, and there are numerous grounds upon which a third party can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. Grounds for a validity challenge could be, among other things, an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, lack of written description or non‑enablement.non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be, among other things, an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. Third parties may also raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re‑examination,re-examination, inter partes review, post‑grantpost-grant review, interference proceedings, derivation proceedings and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (e.g., opposition proceedings). Such proceedings could result in revocation, cancellation or amendment to our patents in such a way that they no longer cover and protect our product candidates. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity of our patents, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art of which we, our licensors, our patent counsel and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a third party were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on one or more of our product candidates. Any such loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If we fail to comply with our obligations under any license, strategic partnership or other agreements, we may be required to pay damages and could lose intellectual property rights that are necessary for developing and protecting our ADC product candidates.

We rely, in part, on license, collaboration and other agreements. We may need to obtain additional licenses from others to advance our research or allow commercialization of our product candidates and it is possible that we may be unable to obtain additional licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. The licensing or acquisition of third party

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intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and several more established companies may pursue strategies to license or acquire third party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive. These established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, capital resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. In addition, companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to use. We also may be

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unable to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment.

In addition, our existing licenses and collaboration agreements, including our license with Recepta Biopharma S.A., or Recepta, for intellectual property covering the NaPi2b antibody in XMT‑1536UpRi and XMT-1592, and our license with Synaffix B.V., or Synaffix, for intellectual property covering components included in the Dolasynthen platform, impose, and any future licenses, collaborations or other agreements we enter into are likely to impose, various development, commercialization, funding, milestone, royalty, diligence, sublicensing, insurance, patent prosecution and enforcement or other obligations on us. If we breach any of these obligations, or use the intellectual property licensed to us in an unauthorized manner, we may be required to pay damages and the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, including, in the case of our agreement with Recepta, the license for the rights covering the NaPi2b antibody in XMT‑1536.UpRi and XMT-1592, and in the case of our agreement with Synaffix, the license for the rights covering components in the Dolasynthen platform. Any of the foregoing could result in us being unable to develop, manufacture and sell products that are covered by the licensed technology or enable a competitor to gain access to the licensed technology. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing, collaboration or other agreements, including:

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the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation related issues;

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the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation related issues;

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the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;

the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

·

our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;

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the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and

our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

·

the priority of invention of patented technology.

the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and

the priority of invention of patented technology.
In addition, the agreements under which we currently license intellectual property or technology to or from third parties are complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates.

In some circumstances, we may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications, or to maintain the patents, covering the technology that we license from third parties. For example, pursuant to our license agreement with Recepta, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd., a co‑ownerco-owner of the intellectual property, retains control of such activities. Therefore, we cannot be certain that these patents and applications will be prosecuted, maintained and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. If our licensors fail to obtain or maintain such intellectual property, or lose rights to such intellectual property, the rights we have licensed and our exclusivity may be reduced or eliminated and our right to develop and commercialize any of our products that are subject to such licensed rights could be adversely affected.

Moreover, our rights to our in‑licensedin-licensed patents and patent applications are dependent, in part, on inter‑institutionalinter-institutional or other operating agreements between the joint owners of such in‑licensedin-licensed patents and patent applications. If one or more of such joint owners breaches such inter‑institutionalinter-institutional or operating agreements, our rights to such in‑licensedin-licensed patents and patent

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applications may be adversely affected. In addition, while we cannot currently determine the amount of the royalty obligations we would be required to pay on sales of future products, if any, the amounts may be significant. The amount of our future royalty obligations will depend on the technology and intellectual property we use in products that we successfully develop and commercialize, if any. Therefore, even if we successfully develop and commercialize products, we may be unable to achieve or maintain profitability. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

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If we are unable to successfully obtain rights to required third-party intellectual property rights or maintain the existing intellectual property rights we have, we may have to abandon development of the relevant program or product candidate and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could suffer.

We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our intellectual property or to defend against intellectual property claims, which could be expensive, time consuming and unsuccessful.

Competitors and other third parties may infringe our patents or misappropriate or otherwise violate our owned and in‑licensedin-licensed intellectual property rights. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, litigation or other intellectual property proceedings may be necessary to enforce or defend our owned and in‑licensedin-licensed intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of our own intellectual property rights or the proprietary rights of others. Such litigation or proceedings can be expensive and time consuming, and any such claims could provoke defendants to assert counterclaims against us, including claims alleging that we infringe their patents or other intellectual property rights. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Many of our current and potential competitors have the ability to dedicate substantially greater resources to litigate intellectual property rights than we can and have more mature and developed intellectual property portfolios. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating our intellectual property. Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other intellectual property proceedings could result in substantial costs and diversion of management attention and resources, which could harm our business and financial results.

In addition, in a litigation or other proceeding, a court or administrative judge may decide that a patent owned by or licensed to us is invalid or unenforceable, or a court may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation or other proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable or interpreted narrowly. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation and other proceedings, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. During the course of any patent or other intellectual property litigation or other proceeding, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, rulings on motions and other interim proceedings or developments and if securities analysts or investors regard these announcements as negative, the perceived value of our ADC product candidates, programs or intellectual property could be diminished. Accordingly, the market price of our common stock may decline. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

Third‑party

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement or misappropriation may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.

Our commercial success depends in part on our ability and the ability of our strategic partners to develop, manufacture, market and sell product candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. There is a substantial amount of litigation, both within and outside the United States, involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the biopharmaceutical industries, including patent infringement lawsuits, interferences, oppositions, reexamination, inter partes review, derivation and post grant review proceedings before the USPTO and corresponding foreign patent offices. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications owned by third parties exist in the fields in which we are developing and may develop our ADC product candidates. As the biopharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our ADC product candidates may be subject to claims of infringement of the patent rights of third parties.

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Third parties may assert that we, our customers, licensees or parties indemnified by us are employing their proprietary technology without authorization or have infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise violated their intellectual property or other rights, regardless of their merit. For example, we may be subject to claims that we are infringing the patent, trademark or copyright rights of third parties, or that our employees have misappropriated or divulged their former employers’ trade secrets or confidential information. There may be third‑partythird-party patents or patent applications with claims to materials, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods for treatment related to the use or manufacture of our ADC product candidates, that we failed to identify. For example, applications filed before November 29, 2000 and certain applications filed after that date that will not be filed outside the United States remain confidential until issued as patents. Except for certain exceptions, including the preceding exceptions, patent applications in the United States and elsewhere are generally published only after a waiting period of approximately 18 months after the earliest filing, and sometimes not at all. Therefore, patent applications covering our ADC platforms or our ADC product candidates could have been filed by others without our knowledge. Additionally, pending patent applications which have been published can, subject to certain limitations, be later amended in a manner that could cover our ADC platforms, our ADC product candidates or the use or manufacture of our ADC product candidates.

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Even if we believe a third party’s claims against us are without merit, a court of competent jurisdiction could hold that such third party’s patent is valid, enforceable and cover aspects of our product candidates, including the materials, formulations, methods of manufacture, methods of analysis, or methods for treatment, in which case, such third party would be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the applicable technology or product candidate until such patent expired or unless we obtain a license and we may be required to pay such third-party monetary damages, which could be substantial. Such licenses may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, the rights may be nonexclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property and it could require us to make substantial licensing and royalty payments. Ultimately, we could be prevented from commercializing a product, or be forced to cease some aspect of our business operations, if, as a result of actual or threatened patent infringement claims, we are unable to enter into licenses on acceptable terms.

Parties making claims against us may also obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize our ADC technologytechnologies or one or more of our ADC product candidates. Defending against claims of patent infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets or other violations of intellectual property could be costly and time consuming, regardless of the outcome. Thus, even if we were to ultimately prevail, or to settle at an early stage, such litigation could burden us with substantial unanticipated costs. In addition, litigation or threatened litigation could result in significant demands on the time and attention of our management team, distracting them from the pursuit of other company business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, in addition to potential injunctive relief, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, pay royalties, redesign our infringing products or obtain one or more licenses from third parties, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.

We may face a claim of misappropriation if a third party believes that we inappropriately obtained and used trade secrets of such third party. If we are found to have misappropriated a third party’s trade secrets, we may be prevented from further using such trade secrets, limiting our ability to develop our ADC product candidates, we may be required to obtain a license to such trade secrets which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all and may be non‑exclusive,non-exclusive, and we may be required to pay damages, which could be substantial. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world where we expect there to be significant markets for our products could be prohibitively expensive, and the laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. In addition, our intellectual property license agreements may not always include worldwide rights. For example, certain U.S. and foreign issued patents and patent applications are licensed to us by Recepta on a worldwide basis, except that Recepta retains exclusive rights in such patents and patent applications in Brazil. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to

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territories where we have patent protection or licenses but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Additionally, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending such rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our licensed and owned patents or marketing of competing products in violation of our intellectual property and proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly, could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing as patents, and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

Many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patent. If we or any
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of our licensors is forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive position may be impaired, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.

Confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties may not prevent unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.

In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect proprietary know‑howknow-how that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our platform technology and discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know‑how,know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and outside scientific advisors, contractors and partners. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreement with each party that may have or have had access to our trade secrets or proprietary technology and processes. Additionally, our confidentiality agreements and other contractual protections may not be adequate to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized disclosure, third‑partythird-party infringement or misappropriation. We may not have adequate remedies in the case of a breach of any such agreements, and our trade secrets and other proprietary information could be disclosed to our competitors or others may independently develop substantially equivalent or superior proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose such technologies.

Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally obtained and is using any of our trade secrets is expensive and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts outside and within the United States sometimes are less willing to protect trade secrets. Misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our trade secrets could impair our competitive position and may have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may be subject to claims by third parties asserting that our licensors, employees, consultants, advisors or we have misappropriated their intellectual property, or claiming ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.

Many of our and our licensors’ employees, including our senior management, consultants or advisors are currently, or previously were, employed at universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Some of these employees, including members of our senior management, executed proprietary rights, non‑disclosurenon-disclosure and non‑competitionnon-competition agreements, or similar agreements, in connection with such previous employment. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants and advisors do not use the proprietary information

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or know‑howknow-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these individuals have used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such individual’s current or former employer. Litigation may be necessary to defend against such claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel or sustain damages. Such intellectual property rights could be awarded to a third party, and we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to commercialize our technology or products. Such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management. Any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. The assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self‑executingself-executing or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.

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If we do not obtain patent term extension and data exclusivity for any product candidates we may develop, our business may be materially harmed.

Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of any FDA marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop, one or more of our owned or in‑licensedin-licensed U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, or Hatch‑WaxmanHatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch‑WaxmanHatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent term extension of up to five years as compensation for the patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent may be extended and only those claims covering the approved drug, a method for using it or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. However, we may not be granted an extension because of, for example, failing to exercise due diligence during the testing phase or regulatory review process, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents, or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, our competitors may obtain approval of competing products following our patent expiration, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially harmed.

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment, and other requirements imposed by government patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non‑compliancenon-compliance with these requirements.

Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other government fees on patents and patent applications will be due to be paid to the USPTO and various government patent agencies outside of the United States over the lifetime of our owned or licensed patents and applications. In certain circumstances, we rely on our licensing partners to pay these fees due to U.S. and non‑U.S.non-U.S. patent agencies. The USPTO and various non‑U.S.non-U.S. government agencies require compliance with several procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent application process. We are also dependent on our licensors to take the necessary action to comply with these requirements with respect to our licensed intellectual property. In some cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules. There are situations, however, in which non‑compliancenon-compliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in a partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, potential competitors might be able to enter the market with similar or identical products or technology, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

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Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats.

The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations and may not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. For example:

·

others may be able to make ADC products that are similar to any product candidates we may develop or utilize similar ADC‑related technology but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we license or may own in the future;

·

we, or our license partners or current or future strategic partners, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we license or may own in the future;

others may be able to make ADC products that are similar to any product candidates we may develop or utilize similar ADC-related technology but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we license or may own in the future;

·

we, or our license partners or current or future strategic partners, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or their inventions;

we, or our license partners or current or future strategic partners, might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by the issued patent or pending patent application that we license or may own in the future;

·

others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our owned or licensed intellectual property rights;

we, or our license partners or current or future strategic partners, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or their inventions;

·

it is possible that our pending licensed patent applications or those that we may own in the future will not lead to issued patents;

others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our owned or licensed intellectual property rights;

·

issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors;

it is possible that our pending licensed patent applications or those that we may own in the future will not lead to issued patents;

·

our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets;

issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors;

·

we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;

our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets;

·

the patents of others may harm our business; and

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·

we may choose not to file a patent in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property.

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we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;
the patents of others may harm our business; and
we may choose not to file a patent in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know how, and a third party may subsequently file a patent covering such intellectual property.
Should any of these events occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.


Risks related to regulatory approval and other legal compliance matters

Even if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the regulatory approval process is expensive, time consuming and uncertain and may prevent us from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of some or all of our businessproduct candidates. As a result, we cannot predict when or if, and industry

Ifin which territories, we failwill obtain marketing approval to attractcommercialize a product candidate.


The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, marketing, promotion and keep senior managementdistribution of products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and key scientific personnel, we may be unablecomparable foreign regulatory authorities. We are not permitted to successfully developmarket our ADC product candidates conduct our clinical studies and commercialize our ADC product candidates.

Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. WeUnited States or in other countries until we receive approval of a biologics licensing application, or BLA, from the FDA or marketing approval from applicable regulatory authorities outside the United States. Our product candidates are highly dependent on membersin various stages of our senior management, including Anna Protopapas, our President and Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of any of our senior management could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives. Also, eachare subject to the risks of these persons may terminate their employment with us at any time.failure inherent in development. We dohave not maintain “key person” insurancesubmitted an application for or received marketing approval for any of our executivesproduct candidates in the United States or in any other employees.

Recruitingjurisdiction. We have no experience as a company in filing and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, salessupporting the applications necessary to gain marketing approvals and marketing personnel will also be criticalexpect to our success. We conduct our operations at our facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a region that is headquarters to many other

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biopharmaceutical companies and many academic and research institutions. Competition for skilled personnel is intense and the turnover rate can be high, which may limit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all. We may not be able to attract and retain these personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors,third-party CROs to assist us in formulatingthis process.


The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the United States and abroad, is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. It may take many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved. Securing marketing approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information, including manufacturing information, to regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. The FDA or other regulatory authorities may determine that our researchproduct candidates are not safe and effective, only moderately effective or have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that preclude our obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use.

In addition, changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment or promulgation of additional statutes, regulations or guidance or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application, may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and commercialization strategy. Our consultantsvarying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical and advisors,clinical testing could delay, limit or prevent marketing approval of a product candidate. Any marketing approval we ultimately obtain may be employedlimited or havesubject to restrictions or post-approval commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entitiesthat render the approved product not commercially viable.

Failure to obtain marketing approval in foreign jurisdictions would prevent our product candidates from being marketed abroad. Any approval we may be granted for our product candidates in the United States would not assure approval of our product candidates in foreign jurisdictions and any of our product candidates that may limit their availabilitybe approved for marketing in a foreign jurisdiction will be subject to us.

risks associated with foreign operations.


We intend to market our current product candidates, including UpRi, our lead product candidate, and XMT-1592, each, if approved, in international markets either directly or through partnerships. In order to market and sell our products in the European Union and other foreign jurisdictions, we must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and can involve additional testing. The time required to obtain approval may differ substantially from that required to obtain FDA approval. The marketing approval process outside the United States generally includes all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We may encounternot obtain approvals from regulatory authorities outside the United States on a timely basis, if at all. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions, and approval by one regulatory authority outside the United States does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions or by the FDA. We may file for marketing approvals but not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market.

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In many countries outside the United States, a product candidate must also be approved for reimbursement before it can be sold in that country. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products, if approved, is also subject to approval. Obtaining non-U.S. regulatory approvals and compliance with non-U.S. regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties in managingand costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our growth and expanding our operations successfully.

As we seek to advance our ADC product candidates through clinical studies and commercialization,in certain countries. In addition, if we fail to obtain the non-U.S. approvals required to market our product candidates outside the United States or if we fail to comply with applicable non-U.S. regulatory requirements, our target markets will need to expand our development, regulatory, manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities or contract with third parties to provide these capabilities for us. As our operations expand, we expect that we will need to manage additional relationships with various strategic partners, suppliers and other third parties. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management. Our future financial performancebe reduced and our ability to commercializerealize the full market potential of our ADC product candidates and to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively. To that end, we must be able to manage our development efforts and clinical studies effectively and hire, train and integrate additional management, administrative and, if necessary, sales and marketing personnel. Due to our limited financial resources and the limited experience of our management team in managing a company with such anticipated growth, we may not be able to accomplish these tasks,harmed and our failurebusiness, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.


Additionally, we could face heightened risks with respect to accomplish anyseeking marketing approval in the United Kingdom as a result of them could prevent usthe withdrawal of the United Kingdom from successfully growing our companythe European Union, commonly referred to as Brexit.The United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Single Market and European Union Customs Union. As of January 1, 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or disrupt our operations.

Our relationships with health care professionals, institutional providers, principal investigators, consultants, customers (actualthe MHRA, became responsible for supervising medicines and potential)medical devices in Great Britain, comprising England, Scotland and third‑party payors are, andWales under domestic law, whereas Northern Ireland will continue to be subject directlyto European Union rules under the Northern Ireland Protocol. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, may force us to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom for our product candidates, which could significantly and indirectly,materially harm our business.


We expect that we will be subject to additional risks in commercializing any of our product candidates that receive marketing approval outside the United States, including tariffs, trade barriers and regulatory requirements; economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets; compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad; foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue, and other obligations incident to doing business in another country; and workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States.

Any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval is subject to ongoing regulation and could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market, and we may be subject to substantial penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements, when and if any of our product candidates are approved.

Any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval will be subject to continual requirements of and review by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration and listing requirements, cGMP requirements relating to quality control and manufacturing, quality assurance and corresponding maintenance of records and documents, and requirements regarding the distribution of samples to physicians and recordkeeping. In addition, the approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for costly post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the medicine, including the requirement to implement a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. Accordingly, if we receive marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates, we will continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, product surveillance and quality control. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we could have the marketing approvals for our products withdrawn by regulatory authorities and our ability to market any products could be limited, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve or sustain profitability.

We must also comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for any of our product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Promotional communications with respect to prescription products are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved labeling. Thus, we will not be able to promote any products we develop for indications or uses for which they are not approved. The FDA and other agencies, including the Department of Justice, or the DOJ, closely regulate and monitor the post-approval marketing and promotion of products to ensure that they are marketed and distributed only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. In September 2021, the FDA published final regulations which describe the types of evidence that the agency will consider in determining the intended use of a drug or biologic. Violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other statutes, including the False Claims Act, relating to the promotion and advertising of prescription products may lead to investigations and enforcement actions alleging violations of federal and state health care fraud and abuse false claims,laws, as well as state consumer protection laws.

Failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may yield various results, including:
restrictions on such products, manufacturers or manufacturing processes;
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restrictions on the labeling or marketing expenditure trackingof a product;
restrictions on distribution or use of a product;
requirements to conduct post-marketing studies or clinical trials;
warning letters or untitled letters;
withdrawal of the products from the market;
refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications that we submit;
recall of products;
damage to relationships with collaborators;
unfavorable press coverage and disclosure, government pricedamage to our reputation;
fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenues;
suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals;
refusal to permit the import or export of our products;
product seizure;
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties; and
litigation involving patients using our products.

Similar restrictions apply to the approval of our products in the European Union. The holder of a marketing authorization is required to comply with a range of requirements applicable to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion and sale of medicinal products. These include compliance with the European Union’s stringent pharmacovigilance or safety reporting rules, which can impose post-authorization studies and additional monitoring obligations; the manufacturing of authorized medicinal products, for which a separate manufacturer’s license is mandatory; and the marketing and promotion of authorized drugs, which are strictly regulated in the European Union and are also subject to EU Member State laws.

Accordingly, in connection with our currently approved products and assuming we, or our collaborators, receive marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates, we, and our collaborators, and our and their contract manufacturers will continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, product surveillance and quality control. If we, and our collaborators, are not able to comply with post-approval regulatory requirements, our or our collaborators’ ability to market any future products could be limited, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve or sustain profitability. Further, the cost of compliance with post-approval regulations may have a negative effect on our operating results and financial condition.

We may seek certain designations for our product candidates, including but not limited to Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track and Priority Review designations in the United States, and PRIME Designation in the European Union, but we might not receive such designations, and even if we do, such designations may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

We may seek certain designations for one or more of our product candidates that could expedite review and approval by the FDA. A Breakthrough Therapy product is defined as a product that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other products, to treat a serious condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. For products that have been designated as Breakthrough Therapies, interaction and communication between the FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens.

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The FDA may also designate a product for Fast Track review if it is intended, whether alone or in combination with one or more other products, for the treatment of a serious or life threatening disease or condition, and it demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for such a disease or condition. For Fast Track products, sponsors may have greater interactions with the FDA and the FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast Track product’s application before the application is complete. This rolling review may be available if the FDA determines, after preliminary evaluation of clinical data submitted by the sponsor, that a Fast Track product may be effective.In August 2020, the FDA granted Fast Track Designation for UpRi for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer who have received up to three prior lines of systemic therapy or patients who have received four prior lines of systemic therapy regardless of platinum status.

We may also seek a priority review designation for one or more of our product candidates. If the FDA determines that a product candidate offers major advances in treatment or provides a treatment where no adequate therapy exists, the FDA may designate the product candidate for priority review. A priority review designation means that the goal for the FDA to review an application is six months, rather than the standard review period of ten months.

These designations are within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe that one of our product candidates meets the criteria for these designations, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation. Further, even if we receive a designation, the receipt of such designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster development or regulatory review or approval process compared to products considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if one or more of our product candidates qualifies for these designations, the FDA may later decide that the product candidates no longer meet the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened.

In the European Union, we may seek PRIME designation for our product candidates in the future. PRIME is a voluntary program aimed at enhancing the EMA’s role to reinforce scientific and regulatory support in order to optimize development and enable accelerated assessment of new medicines that are of major public health interest with the potential to address unmet medical needs. The program focuses on medicines that target conditions for which there exists no satisfactory method of treatment in the European Union or even if such a method exists, it may offer a major therapeutic advantage over existing treatments. PRIME is limited to medicines under development and not authorized in the European Union and the applicant intends to apply for an initial marketing authorization application through the centralized procedure. To be accepted for PRIME, a product candidate must meet the eligibility criteria in respect of its major public health interest and therapeutic innovation based on information that is capable of substantiating the claims.

The benefits of a PRIME designation include the appointment of a CHMP rapporteur to provide continued support and help to build knowledge ahead of a marketing authorization application, early dialogue and scientific advice at key development milestones, and the potential to qualify products for accelerated review, meaning reduction in the review time for an opinion on approvability to be issued earlier in the application process. PRIME enables an applicant to request parallel EMA scientific advice and health information privacytechnology assessment advice to facilitate timely market access. Even if we receive PRIME designation for any of our product candidates, the designation may not result in a materially faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional EMA procedures. Further, obtaining PRIME designation does not assure or increase the likelihood of EMA’s grant of a marketing authorization.

Inadequate funding for the FDA, the Securities and security laws.Exchange Commission and other government agencies, including from government shut downs, or other disruptions to these agencies’ operations, could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.

The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. In addition, government funding of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.

Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several
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years the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.

Separately, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of companies announced receipt of complete response letters due to the FDA’s inability to complete required inspections for their applications. As of May 26, 2021, the FDA noted it was continuing to ensure timely reviews of applications for medical products during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in line with its user fee performance goals and conducting mission critical domestic and foreign inspections to ensure compliance of manufacturing facilities with FDA quality standards. However, the FDA may not be able to continue its current pace and review timelines could be extended, including where a pre-approval inspection or an inspection of clinical sites is required and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions, the FDA is unable to complete such required inspections during the review period. Regulatory authorities outside the United States may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may experience delays in their regulatory activities. If a prolonged government shutdown or other disruption occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Future shutdowns or other disruptions could also affect other government agencies such as the SEC, which may also impact our business by delaying review of our public filings, to the extent such review is necessary, and our ability to access the public markets.

We are currently conducting clinical trials for UpRi, and may conduct future clinical trials for our other product candidates at sites outside of the United States, and the FDA may not accept data from trials conducted in such locations or the complexity of regulatory burdens may otherwise adversely impact us.

We are currently conducting and we plan to continue to conduct clinical trials outside of the United States. Although the FDA may accept data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States, acceptance of these data is subject to conditions imposed by the FDA. For example, the clinical trial must be well designed and conducted and be performed by qualified investigators in accordance with GCPs. If the foreign data is the sole basis for a marketing application, then the data must be applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice in ways that the FDA deems clinically meaningful and the FDA must be able to validate the data through an on-site inspection, if necessary. In addition, while these clinical trials are subject to the applicable local laws, FDA acceptance of the data will depend on its determination that the trials also complied with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations. If the FDA does not accept the data from any clinical trial that we conduct outside the United States, it would likely result in the need for additional clinical trials, which would be costly and time-consuming and could delay or permanently halt our development of the applicable product candidates.

Our ability to successfully initiate, enroll and complete a clinical trial in any country outside of the United States is subject to numerous additional risks unique to conducting business in jurisdictions outside the United States, including:
difficulty in establishing or managing relationships with qualified CROs, physicians and clinical trial sites;
different local standards for the conduct of clinical trials;
difficulty in complying with various and complex import laws and regulations when shipping drug to certain countries;
the potential burden of complying with a variety of laws, medical standards and regulatory requirements, including the regulation of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products and treatments;
lack of consistency in standard of care from country to country;
diminished protection of intellectual property in some countries;
foreign exchange fluctuations;
cultural differences in medical practice and clinical research; and
changes in country or regional regulatory requirements.

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Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may also have an impact on our ability to successfully conduct trials outside of the United States. For example, we are conducting UPLIFT in countries where clinical trial site staff have been diverted to care for COVID-19 patients and where regulatory authorities are short staffed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If we have difficulty conducting our clinical trials in jurisdictions outside the United States as planned, we may need to delay, limit or terminate ongoing or planned clinical trials, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Accelerated approval by the FDA, even if granted for UpRi or any other current or future product candidates, may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process and it does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval.

We may seek approval of UpRi and any of our other current and future product candidates using the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway. A product may be eligible for accelerated approval if it treats a serious or life-threatening condition, generally provides a meaningful advantage over available therapies, and demonstrates an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA or other applicable regulatory agency makes the determination regarding whether a surrogate endpoint is reasonably likely to predict long-term clinical benefit.

Prior to seeking such accelerated approval, we will seek feedback from the FDA and otherwise evaluate our ability to seek and receive such accelerated approval. As a condition of approval, the FDA requires that a sponsor of a product receiving accelerated approval perform an adequate and well-controlled post-marketing confirmatory clinical trial or trials. These confirmatory trials must be completed with due diligence and we may be required to evaluate different or additional endpoints in these post-marketing confirmatory trials. These confirmatory trials may require enrollment of more patients than we currently anticipate and will result in additional costs, which may be greater than the estimated costs we currently anticipate. In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval preapproval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product.

There can be no assurance that the FDA will agree with any proposed surrogate endpoints or that we will decide to pursue or submit an BLA for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval. Similarly, there can be no assurance that, after feedback from FDA, we will continue to pursue or apply for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval, even if we initially decide to do so. Furthermore, if we decide to submit an application for accelerated approval or under another expedited regulatory designation, there can be no assurance that such submission or application will be accepted or that any expedited review or approval will be granted on a timely basis, or at all.

The FDA may withdraw approval of a product candidate approved under the accelerated approval pathway if, for example, the trial required to verify the predicted clinical benefit of our product candidate fails to verify such benefit or does not demonstrate sufficient clinical benefit to justify the risks associated with the drug. The FDA may also withdraw approval if other evidence demonstrates that our product candidate is not shown to be safe or effective under the conditions of use, we fail to conduct any required post approval trial of our product candidate with due diligence or we disseminate false or misleading promotional materials relating to our product candidate. A failure to obtain accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval for our product candidates, or withdrawal of a product candidate, would result in a longer time period for commercialization of such product candidate, could increase the cost of development of such product candidate and could harm our competitive position in the marketplace.

Even if we do receive accelerated approval, we may not experience a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and receiving accelerated approval does not provide assurance of ultimate full FDA approval.

If we or our third-party collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize any required companion diagnostics for our product candidates or engage a third party to do so, or we or they experience significant delays in doing so, we may not realize the full potential of our product candidates.

If a companion diagnostic is required for the label for UpRi, our lead product candidate, XMT-1592, or any of our other current or future product candidates, therefore conditioning our ability to market such product candidates on the commercial availability of an approved companion diagnostic, we may seek approval for our validated assay as a companion diagnostic or we may contract with third parties to create and obtain approval for a companion diagnostic. To be successful in developing and commercializing such a companion diagnostic, we need to address a number of scientific, technical and logistical challenges. We have little experience in the development and commercialization of companion diagnostics and may not be successful in developing and commercializing appropriate companion diagnostics to pair with UpRi, XMT-1592, or any of our other current or future product candidates. Companion diagnostics are subject to regulation by the FDA and equivalent foreign regulatory authorities as medical devices and require separate regulatory approval prior to commercialization. Given our limited
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experience in developing diagnostics, we may rely in part or in whole on third parties for their design, manufacture and commercialization. We, our collaborators or such third parties may encounter difficulties in developing and obtaining approval for the companion diagnostics, including issues relating to selectivity/specificity, analytical validation, reproducibility or clinical validation. Any delay or failure by us, our collaborators or such third parties to develop or obtain regulatory approval of the companion diagnostics could delay or prevent approval of our product candidates. If we, or any third parties that we may contract with to assist us, are unable to successfully develop and commercialize companion diagnostics for our product candidates, or experience delays in doing so:

the development of UpRi, XMT-1592, and our other current or future product candidates, may be adversely affected if we are unable to comply, appropriately select patients for enrollment in our clinical trials;
our product candidates may not receive marketing approval if safe and effective use of a product candidate depends on the availability of an companion diagnostic and/or complementary diagnostics and such diagnostic is not commercially available or otherwise approved or cleared by the appropriate regulatory authority; and
we may not realize the full commercial potential of any product candidates that receive marketing approval if, among other reasons, we are unable to appropriately select patients who are likely to benefit from therapy with our products, if approved.

If any of these events were to occur, our business would be harmed, possibly materially.

In addition, third-party collaborators may encounter production difficulties that could constrain the supply of the companion diagnostics, and both they and we may have not fully complied,difficulties gaining acceptance of the use of the companion diagnostics in the clinical community. If such companion diagnostics fail to gain market acceptance, it would have an adverse effect on our ability to derive revenues from sales of our product candidates, if approved. In addition, any diagnostic company with whom we contract may decide to discontinue selling or manufacturing the companion diagnostic that we anticipate using in connection with development and commercialization of our product candidates or our relationship with such laws, wediagnostic company may otherwise terminate. We may not be able to enter into arrangements with another diagnostic company to obtain supplies of an alternative diagnostic test for use in connection with the development and commercialization of our product candidates or do so on commercially reasonable terms, which could face penalties,adversely affect and/or delay the development or commercialization of our product candidates.

Our activities, including without limitation, civil, criminalour interactions with healthcare providers, third party payors, patients and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaidgovernment officials, are, and other federalwill continue to be, subject to extensive regulation involving health care, programs,anti-corruption, data privacy and security and consumer protection laws. Failure to comply with applicable laws could result in substantial penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earningsrevenues and curtailment or restructuring of our operations.


Our business operations and activities may now or in the future be directly or indirectly subject to various federal and state fraudlaws related to health care, anti-corruption, data privacy and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute and the federal False Claims Act.security consumer protection. If we obtain FDA approval for any of our ADC product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our potential exposure under such laws will increase significantly, and our costs associated with compliance with such laws are also likely to increase. These laws may impact, among other things, our current activities with principal investigators and research subjects, as well as proposed and future sales, marketing and education programs. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulation by the federal government and state governments in which we conduct our business. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include, but are not limited to:

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the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce, or in return for, either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, lease, order or recommendation of any good, facility, item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal health care program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;

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federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment or approval from Medicare, Medicaid or other third‑party payors that are false or fraudulent or knowingly making a false statement to improperly avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government;

federal false claims, false statements and civil monetary penalties laws prohibiting, among other things, any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment of government funds or knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false statement to get a false claim paid;

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the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud

the federal anti-kickback law, which prohibits, among other things, persons from offering, soliciting, receiving or providing any remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal health care programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid;

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the federal anti-kickback prohibition known as Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act, enacted in 2018, which prohibits certain payments related to referrals of patients to certain providers (recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities and laboratories) and applies to services reimbursed by private health plans as well as government health care programs;

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any health care benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any health care benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private) and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing, or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, health care benefits, items or services relating to health care matters;

the federal law known as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which, in addition to privacy protections to healthcare providers and other entities, prohibits executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program (which may include private health plans) or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;

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HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and their respective implementing regulations, which impose requirements on certain covered health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses as well as their respective business associates that perform services for them that involve the use, or disclosure of, individually identifiable health information, relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information without appropriate authorization;

the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which among other things, strictly regulates drug marketing, prohibits manufacturers from marketing such products for off-label use and regulates the distribution of samples;

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the federal physician self‑referral law, commonly known as the Stark Law, which prohibits a physician from making a referral to an entity for certain designated health services reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid if the physician or a member of the physician’s family has a financial relationship with the entity, and which also prohibits the submission of any claims for reimbursement for designated health services furnished pursuant to a prohibited referral;

federal laws that require pharmaceutical manufacturers to report certain calculated product prices to the government or provide certain discounts or rebates to government authorities or private entities, often as a condition of reimbursement under government healthcare programs;

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the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, created under Section 6002 of the Health Care Reform Act, and its implementing regulations requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (with certain exceptions) to report annually to the United States Department of Health and Human Services information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members, with data collection required beginning August 1, 2013 and reporting to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services required by March 31, 2014 and by the 90th day of each subsequent calendar year;

the so-called “federal sunshine” law, which requires pharmaceutical and medical device companies to monitor and report certain financial interactions with teaching hospitals, physicians and certain non-physician practitioners to the federal government for re-disclosure to the public;

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federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;

the privacy, security and breach provisions of HIPAA, which impose obligations on certain “covered entities” (healthcare providers, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses) and certain of their “business associate” contractors with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information;

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federal government price reporting laws, changed by the Health Care Reform Act to, among other things, increase the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by most manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and offer such rebates to additional populations, that require us to calculate and report complex pricing metrics to government programs, where such reported prices may be used in the calculation of reimbursement or discounts on our marketed drugs (participation in these programs and compliance with the applicable requirements may subject us to potentially significant discounts on our products, increased infrastructure costs, and potentially limit our ability to offer certain marketplace discounts);

federal and state laws and regulations, including state security breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws, and federal and state consumer protection laws, govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information.

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the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a United States law which regulates certain financial relationships with foreign government officials (which could include, for example, certain medical professionals); and

federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;

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state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti‑kickback, false claims, consumer protection and unfair competition laws which may apply to our business practices, including, but not limited to, research, distribution, sales and marketing arrangements as well as submitting claims involving health care items or services reimbursed by any third‑party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require biotech companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government that otherwise restricts payments that may be made to health care providers; state laws that require drug manufacturers to file reports with states regarding marketing information, such as the tracking and reporting of gifts, compensation and other remuneration and items of value provided to health care professionals and entities (compliance with such requirements may require investment in infrastructure to ensure that tracking is performed properly, and some of these laws result in the public disclosure of various types of payments and relationships, which could potentially have a negative

the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, a United States law which regulates certain financial relationships with foreign government officials (which could include, for example, certain medical professionals); and

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state law analogues of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including private health plans, state privacy laws, state consumer protection laws, and state laws regulating interactions between pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers, requiring disclosure of such financial interactions or mandating adoption of certain compliance standards, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by federal laws, thus complicating compliance efforts.


effect on our business or increase enforcement scrutiny of our activities); and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways, with differing effects.

In addition, the regulatory approval and commercialization of any of our product candidates outside the United States will also likely subject us to foreign equivalents of the health care laws mentioned above, among other foreign laws.

The Health Care Reform Act, among other things, amended the intent standard of the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute and criminal health care fraud statutes to a stricter standard such that a person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, the Health Care Reform Act codified case law that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti‑Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act.


Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements will comply with applicable health care laws may involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other health care laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including, without limitation, civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and curtailment or restructuring of our operations.


Current and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to obtain reimbursement for our product candidates.

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been and continue to be a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could, among other things, prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any products for which we obtain marketing approval. We expect that current laws, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price
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that we may receive for any approved products. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope, our business could be materially harmed.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, collectively the ACA. In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA was enacted. In August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. These changes included aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect in April 2013 and will remain in effect through 2031 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act. These Medicare sequester reductions have been suspended through the end of March 2022. From April 2022 through June 2022, a 1% sequester cut will be in effect, with the full 2% cut resuming thereafter. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any of our products or product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product is prescribed or used.

Since enactment of the ACA, there have been and continue to be, numerous legal challenges and Congressional actions to repeal and replace provisions of the law. For example, with enactment of the Tax Cuts for Jobs Act, or TCJA, in 2017, Congress repealed the “individual mandate.” The repeal of this provision, which requires most Americans to carry a minimal level of health insurance, became effective in 2019. Further, on December 14, 2018, a U.S. District Court judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that the individual mandate portion of the ACA is an essential and inseverable feature of the ACA and therefore because the mandate was repealed as part of the TCJA, the remaining provisions of the ACA are invalid as well. The U.S. Supreme Court heard this case on November 10, 2020 and on June 17, 2021, dismissed this action after finding that the plaintiffs do not have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the ACA. Litigation and legislation over the ACA are likely to continue, with unpredictable and uncertain results.

The Trump Administration also took executive actions to undermine or delay implementation of the ACA, including directing federal agencies with authorities and responsibilities under the ACA to waive, defer, grant exemptions from or delay the implementation of any provision of the ACA that would impose a fiscal or regulatory burden on states, individuals, healthcare providers, health insurers or manufacturers of pharmaceuticals or medical devices. On January 28, 2021, however, President Biden revoked those orders and issued a new Executive Order which directs federal agencies to reconsider rules and other policies that limit Americans’ access to health care and consider actions that will protect and strengthen that access.Under this order, federal agencies are directed to re-examine: policies that undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including complications related to COVID-19; demonstrations and waivers under Medicaid and the ACA that may reduce coverage or undermine the programs, including work requirements; policies that undermine the Health Insurance Marketplace or other markets for health insurance; policies that make it more difficult to enroll in Medicaid and the ACA; and policies that reduce affordability of coverage or financial assistance, including for dependents.

We expect that these healthcare reforms, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, new payment methodologies and additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product and/or the level of reimbursement physicians receive for administering any approved product we might bring to market. Reductions in reimbursement levels may negatively impact the prices we receive or the frequency with which our products are prescribed or administered. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. Accordingly, such reforms, if enacted, could have an adverse effect on anticipated revenue from product candidates that we may successfully develop and for which we may obtain marketing approval and may affect our overall financial condition and ability to develop or commercialize product candidates.

The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals in the United States and foreign jurisdictions are subject to considerable legislative and executive actions and could impact the prices we obtain for our products, if and when licensed.

The prices of prescription pharmaceuticals have also been the subject of considerable discussion in the United States. There have been several recent U.S. congressional inquiries, as well as proposed and enacted state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to pharmaceutical pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reduce the costs of pharmaceuticals under Medicare and Medicaid.In 2020, President Trump issued several executive orders intended to lower the costs of prescription products and certain provisions in these orders
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have been incorporated into regulations.These regulations include an interim final rule implementing a most favored nation model for prices that would tie Medicare Part B payments for certain physician-administered pharmaceuticals to the lowest price paid in other economically advanced countries, effective January 1, 2021. That rule, however, has been subject to a nationwide preliminary injunction and, on December 29, 2021, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, issued a final rule to rescind it. With issuance of this rule, CMS stated that it will explore all options to incorporate value into payments for Medicare Part B pharmaceuticals and improve beneficiaries' access to evidence-based care.

In addition, in October 2020, HHS and the FDA published a final rule allowing states and other entities to develop a Section 804 Importation Program, or SIP, to import certain prescription drugs from Canada into the United States. The final rule is currently the subject of ongoing litigation, but at least six states (Vermont, Colorado, Florida, Maine, New Mexico, and New Hampshire) have passed laws allowing for the importation of drugs from Canada with the intent of developing SIPs for review and approval by the FDA.Further, on November 20, 2020, HHS finalized a regulation removing safe harbor protection for price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, either directly or through pharmacy benefit managers, unless the price reduction is required by law. The implementation of the rule has been delayed by the Biden administration from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023 in response to ongoing litigation. The rule also creates a new safe harbor for price reductions reflected at the point-of-sale, as well as a new safe harbor for certain fixed fee arrangements between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers, the implementation of which have also been delayed by the Biden administration until January 1, 2023.

On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14063, which focuses on, among other things, the price of pharmaceuticals.The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, to create a plan within 45 days to combat “excessive pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals and enhance domestic pharmaceutical supply chains, to reduce the prices paid by the federal government for such pharmaceuticals, and to address the recurrent problem of price gouging.”On September 9, 2021, HHS released its plan to reduce pharmaceutical prices.The key features of that plan are to: (a) make pharmaceutical prices more affordable and equitable for all consumers and throughout the health care system by supporting pharmaceutical price negotiations with manufacturers; (b)improve and promote competition throughout the prescription pharmaceutical industry by supporting market changes that strengthen supply chains, promote biosimilars and generic drugs, and increase transparency; and (c) foster scientific innovation to promote better healthcare and improve health by supporting public and private research and making sure that market incentives promote discovery of valuable and accessible new treatments.

At the state level, individual states are increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. In addition, regional healthcare organizations and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. These measures could reduce the ultimate demand for our products, once approved, or put pressure on our product pricing. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures.

In the European Union, similar political, economic and regulatory developments may affect our ability to profitably commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In markets outside of the United States and the European Union, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific products and therapies.In many countries, including those of the European Union, the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to governmental control and access. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after the receipt of marketing approval for a product. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we or our collaborators may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our product to other available therapies. If reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our business could be materially harmed.

We are subject to stringent privacy laws, information security laws, regulations, policies and contractual obligations related to data privacy and security and changes in such laws, regulations, policies, contractual obligations and failure to comply
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with such requirements could subject us to significant fines and penalties, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to data privacy and protection laws and regulations that apply to the collection, transmission, storage and use of personally-identifying information, which among other things, impose certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of personal information, including comprehensive regulatory systems in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom. The legislative and regulatory landscape for privacy and data protection continues to evolve in jurisdictions worldwide, and there has been an increasing focus on privacy and data protection issues with the potential to affect our business. Failure to comply with any of these laws and regulations could result in enforcement action against us, including fines, imprisonment of company officials and public censure, claims for damages by affected individuals, damage to our reputation and loss of goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects.

There are numerous U.S. federal and state laws and regulations related to the privacy and security of personal information. In particular, regulations promulgated pursuant to HIPAA establish privacy and security standards that limit the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health information, or protected health information, and require the implementation of administrative, physical and technological safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information. Determining whether protected health information has been handled in compliance with applicable privacy standards and our contractual obligations can be complex and may be subject to changing interpretation. These obligations may be applicable to some or all of our business activities now or in the future.

If we are unable to properly protect the privacy and security of protected health information, we could be found to have breached our contracts. Further, if we fail to comply with applicable privacy laws, including applicable HIPAA privacy and security standards, we could face civil and criminal penalties. HHS enforcement activity can result in financial liability and reputational harm, and responses to such enforcement activity can consume significant internal resources. In addition, state attorneys general are authorized to bring civil actions seeking either injunctions or damages in response to violations that threaten the privacy of state residents. We cannot be sure how these regulations will be interpreted, enforced or applied to our operations. In addition to the risks associated with enforcement activities and potential contractual liabilities, our ongoing efforts to comply with evolving laws and regulations at the federal and state level may be costly and require ongoing modifications to our policies, procedures and systems.

Similar to the laws in the United States, there are significant privacy and data security laws that apply in Europe and other countries.The collection, use, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals who are located in the European Economic Area, or the EEA, and the processing of personal data that takes place in the EEA, is regulated by the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which went into effect in May 2018 and which imposes obligations on companies that operate in our industry with respect to the processing of personal data and the cross-border transfer of such data. The GDPR imposes onerous accountability obligations requiring data controllers and processors to maintain a record of their data processing and policies. If our or our partners’ or service providers’ privacy or data security measures fail to comply with the GDPR requirements, we may be subject to litigation, regulatory investigations, enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data and/or fines of up to 20 million Euros or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher, as well as compensation claims by affected individuals, negative publicity, reputational harm and a potential loss of business and goodwill.

The GDPR places restrictions on the cross-border transfer of personal data from the European Union to countries that have not been found by the European Commission to offer adequate data protection legislation, such as the United States.There are ongoing concerns about the ability of companies to transfer personal data from the EU to other countries.In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union, or the CJEU, invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, one of the mechanisms used to legitimize the transfer of personal data from the EEA to the United States.The CJEU decision also drew into question the long-term viability of an alternative means of data transfer, the standard contractual clauses, for transfers of personal data from the EEA to the United States.While we were not self-certified under the Privacy Shield, this CJEU decision may lead to increased scrutiny on data transfers from the EEA to the United States generally and increase our costs of compliance with data privacy legislation as well as our costs of negotiating appropriate privacy and security agreements with our vendors and business partners.
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Laws and regulations governing any international operations we may have in the future may preclude us from developing, manufacturing and selling certain products outside of the United States and require us to develop and implement costly compliance programs.

If we further expand our operations outside the United States, we will need to dedicate additional resources to comply with U.S. laws regarding international operations and the laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which we operate and plan to operate. The FCPA prohibits any U.S. individual or business from paying, offering or authorizing payment or offering of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business. The FCPA also obligates companies whose securities are listed in the United States to comply with certain accounting provisions requiring the company to maintain books and records that accurately and fairly reflect all transactions of the company, including international subsidiaries and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls for international operations.

Compliance with the FCPA is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, the FCPA presents particular challenges in the pharmaceutical industry because in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government and doctors and other hospital employees are considered foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals in connection with clinical trials and other work have been deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions.

Various laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the United States or the sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals, of information classified for national security purposes, as well as certain products and technical data relating to those products. Further, the provision of benefits or advantages to physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply, order or use of medicinal products is prohibited in the European Union. The provision of benefits or advantages to physicians is also governed by the national anti-bribery laws of E.U. Member States, such as the U.K. Bribery Act 2010. Infringement of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment. Payments made to physicians in certain E.U. Member States must be publicly disclosed. Moreover, agreements with physicians often must be the subject of prior notification and approval by the physician’s employer, his or her competent professional organization and/or the regulatory authorities of the individual E.U. Member States. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes or professional codes of conduct applicable in the E.U. Member States. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.

If we expand our presence outside of the United States , it will require us to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws and these laws may preclude us from developing, manufacturing or selling certain products and product candidates outside of the United States, which could limit our growth potential and increase our development costs.The failure to comply with laws governing international business practices may result in substantial civil and criminal penalties and suspension or debarment from government contracting. The SEC also may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for violations of the FCPA’s accounting provisions.

We and our third-party contract manufacturers must comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to significant costs or liabilities.

We and our third-party manufacturers are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the use, generation, manufacture, distribution, storage, handling, treatment, remediation and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Hazardous chemicals, including flammable and biological materials, are involved in certain aspects of our business, and we cannot eliminate the risk of injury or contamination from the use, generation, manufacture, distribution, storage, handling, treatment or disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. In the event of contamination or injury, or failure to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could be held liable for any resulting damages and any such liability could exceed our assets and resources. We could also incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties for failure to comply with such laws and regulations.

Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposal of biological, hazardous or radioactive materials.

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Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are becoming increasingly more stringent. We may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.

Further, with respect to the operations of our third-party contract manufacturers, it is possible that if they fail to operate in compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations or properly dispose of wastes associated with our products, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, suffer reputational harm or experience a disruption in the manufacture and supply of our product candidates or products.

Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.


We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by employees could include intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations, to provide accurate information to the FDA, to comply with manufacturing standards we have established, to comply with federal and state health carehealthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, to report financial information or data accurately or to disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the health carehealthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self‑dealingself-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical studies,trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

Risks related to our business and industry
If we fail to attract and keep senior management and key scientific personnel, we may be unable to successfully develop our ADC product candidates, conduct our clinical trials and commercialize our ADC product candidates.
Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. We are highly dependent on members of our senior management, including Anna Protopapas, our President and Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of any of our senior management could impede the achievement of our research, development and commercialization objectives. Also, each of these persons may terminate their employment with us at any time. We do not maintain “key person” insurance for any of our executives or other employees.
Recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, clinical, sales and marketing personnel will also be critical to our success. We conduct our operations at our facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in a region that is headquarters to many other biopharmaceutical companies and many academic and research institutions. Competition for skilled personnel is intense and the turnover rate can be high, which may limit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all. We may not be able to attract and retain these personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for similar personnel. In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors, may be employed or have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us.
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We may encounter difficulties in managing our growth and expanding our operations successfully.
As we seek to advance our product candidates through clinical trials and commercialization, we will need to expand our development, regulatory, manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities or contract with third parties to provide these capabilities for us. As our operations expand, we expect that we will need to manage additional relationships with various strategic partners, suppliers and other third parties. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates and to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively. To that end, we must be able to manage our development efforts and clinical trials effectively and hire, train and integrate additional management, administrative and, if necessary, sales and marketing personnel. Due to our limited financial resources and the limited experience of our management team in managing a company with such anticipated growth, we may not be able to accomplish these tasks, and our failure to accomplish any of them could prevent us from successfully growing our company or disrupt our operations.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our ADC product candidates.

We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our ADC product candidates and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if any product we develop allegedly causes, or is perceived to cause, injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during productclinical testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability and a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our ADC product candidates. Even a successful defense

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would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

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injury to our reputation;

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decreased demand for our product candidates or products that we may develop;

injury to our reputation;

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withdrawal of clinical study participants;

decreased demand for our product candidates or products that we may develop;

·

costs to defend the related litigations;

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

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a diversion of management’s time and our resources;

costs to defend the related litigations;

·

substantial monetary awards to study participants or patients;

a diversion of management’s time and our resources;

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product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;

substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients;

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loss of revenue;

product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;

·

the inability to commercialize our ADC product candidates; and

loss of revenue;

·

a decline in our stock price.

the inability to commercialize our product candidates; and

a decline in our stock price.
Failure to obtain and retain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of products we develop. We currently carry product liability insurance covering our clinical studiestrials in the amount of $10 million in the aggregate. Although we maintain such insurance, any claim that may be brought against us could result in a court judgment or settlement in an amount that is not covered, in whole or in part, by our insurance or that is in excess of the limits of our insurance coverage. Our insurance policies also have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. In such instance, we might have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. If we are unable to obtain or maintain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims, it could prevent or inhibit the development and commercial production and sale of our product candidates, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We and our third‑party contract manufacturers must comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and failure to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to significant costs or liabilities.

We and our third‑party manufacturers are subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the use, generation, manufacture, distribution, storage, handling, treatment, remediation and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Hazardous chemicals, including flammable and biological materials, are involved in certain aspects of our business, and we cannot eliminate the risk of injury or contamination from the use, generation, manufacture, distribution, storage, handling, treatment or disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. In the event of contamination or injury, or failure to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could be held liable for any resulting damages and any such liability could exceed our assets and resources. We could also incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties for failure to comply with such laws and regulations.

Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposal of biological, hazardous or radioactive materials.

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Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are becoming increasingly more stringent. We may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or production efforts. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.

Further, with respect to the operations of our third‑party contract manufacturers, it is possible that if they fail to operate in compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations or properly dispose of wastes associated with our products, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, suffer reputational harm or experience a disruption in the manufacture and supply of our product candidates or products.

We may acquire assets or form strategic alliances in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such acquisitions.

We may acquire additional technologies and assets, form strategic alliances or create joint ventures with third parties that we believe will complement or augment our existing business. If we acquire assets with promising markets or technologies, we may not be able to realize the benefit of acquiring such assets if we are unable to successfully integrate them with our existing technologies. We may encounter numerous difficulties in developing, manufacturing and marketing any new products resulting from a strategic alliance or acquisition that delay or prevent us from realizing their expected benefits or enhancing our business. We cannot be assured that, following any such acquisition, we will achieve the expected synergies to justify the transaction.

Our internal computer systems, or those of our strategic partners, third‑party CROsthird-party collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in aadversely affect our business, including through material disruptiondisruptions of our product candidates’ development programs.

Despite the implementation of security measures, ourprograms or business operations.

Our internal computerinformation technology systems and those of our current or future strategic partners, third‑third party CROscollaborators and other contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damageservice interruptions or security breaches, including from cyber-attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, malware, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. If a failure, accident or security breach were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations or our CROs’the operations of those third parties with which we contract, it could result in a material disruption of our programs.programs and our business operations. We could lose access to our trade secrets or other proprietary information or experience other disruptions, which could require a substantial expenditure of resources to remedy. For example, the loss of clinical studytrial data for our product candidates could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data.
We could also be subject to risks caused by misappropriation, misuse, leakage, falsification or intentional or accidental release or loss of information maintained in our information systems and networks, including personal information of our employees or others. Outside parties may attempt to penetrate our systems or those of the third parties with which we contract or to coerce or fraudulently induce our employees or employees of such third parties to disclose sensitive information to gain access to our data. The number and complexity of these threats continue to increase over time. Although we develop and maintain systems and controls designed to prevent these events from occurring, and we have a process to identify and mitigate threats, such risks cannot be eliminated. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we, or those third parties with which we contract, will promptly detect any such disruption or security breach, if at all. Additionally, the development and maintenance of these systems, controls and processes is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures become more sophisticated. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss of or damage to our data or applications or other data or applications relating to our technology or product candidates, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liabilities, our competitive position and the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed, our credibility could be damaged and the further development of our product candidates could be delayed.

Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. For example, the global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, such as the global financial crisis, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including, weakened demand for our product candidates and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could also strain our suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption. Any of the foregoing could harm our business and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

Risks related to our common stock

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, (1) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, (2) reduced disclosure obligations regarding

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executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (3) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non‑binding advisory vote on executive compensation.

We could be an emerging growth company through 2022, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non‑affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of any June 30 before that time or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.07 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, in which cases we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31 or, if we issue more than $1.00 billion in non‑convertible debt during any three‑year period before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company immediately. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. When these exemptions cease to apply, we expect to incur additional expenses and devote increased management effort toward ensuring compliance with them, and we cannot predict or estimate the amount or timing of such additional costs.

Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, are subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

If our stock price is volatile, our stockholders could incur substantial losses.

Our stock price has been and may continue to be volatile. During the period from February 25, 2019 to February 25, 2022, the closing price of our common stock ranged from a high of $27.59 per share to a low of $1.45 per share. The market price of shares of our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many risk factors listed in this “Risk Factors” section, and others beyond our control, including:

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results and timing of preclinical studies and clinical studies of our ADC product candidates, including XMT‑1536;

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results of clinical studies of our competitors’ products;

results and timing of preclinical studies and clinical trials of our current or future product candidates, including UpRi and XMT-1592;

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failure to adequately protect our trade secrets;

results of clinical trials of our competitors’ products;

·

the terms on which we raise additional capital or our ability to raise it;

failure to adequately protect our trade secrets;

·

commencement or termination of any strategic partnership or licensing arrangement;

the terms on which we raise additional capital or our ability to raise it;

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regulatory developments, including actions with respect to our products or our competitors’ products;

commencement or termination of any strategic partnership or licensing arrangement;

·

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;

·

publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry;

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our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market;

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additions and departures of key personnel;

·

strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin‑offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

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regulatory developments, including actions with respect to our products or our competitors’ products;

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·

the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;

·

fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry;

·

sales of our common stock by us, our insiders or our other stockholders;

our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market;

·

speculation in the press or investment community;

additions and departures of key personnel;

·

announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts;

strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

·

changes in market conditions for biopharmaceutical stocks; and

the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

·

changes in general market and economic conditions.

changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;

fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;
sales of our common stock by us (including pursuant to the pre-funded warrants described below), our insiders or our other stockholders;
speculation in the press or investment community;
announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts;
changes in market conditions for biopharmaceutical stocks; and
changes in general market and economic conditions.
In addition, the stock market has historically experienced significant volatility, particularly with respect to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other life sciences company stocks. The volatility of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other life sciences company stocks often does not relate to the operating performance of the companies represented by the stock. As a result of this volatility, stockholders may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the price for which they paid for their shares. As we operate in a single industry, we are especially vulnerable to these factors to the extent that they affect our industry or our products, or to a lesser extent our markets. Furthermore, as a result of this volatility, we may not be able to maintain compliance with listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been initiated against companies following periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, and could also require us to make substantial payments to satisfy judgments or to settle litigation.

Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and are able to exercise significant influence over matters subject to stockholder approval.

As of December 31, 2018,2021, our executive officers, directors and stockholders who own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, together with their respective affiliates, beneficially owned a substantial majoritysignificant amount of our common stock, including shares subject to outstanding options and warrants that are exercisable within 60 days after such date. Accordingly, these stockholders, areif they act together, could be able to exert a significant degree of influence over our management and affairs and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our board of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of entrenching our management or board of directors, delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on the fair market value of our common stock.

We are incurring and will continue to incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance requirements and initiatives.

As a public company, we are incurring and will continue to incur significant legal, insurance, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules of the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market have imposed various requirements on public companies, including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls. Our management and other personnel need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations have increased and will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

We do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to maintain and expand our operations. In addition, our credit facility contains terms and any future debt financing arrangement may contain additional terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our common stock.

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Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment.

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Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by‑lawsby-laws and Delaware law may have anti‑takeoveranti-takeover effects that could discourage an acquisition of us by others, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by‑lawsby-laws and Delaware law contain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us or changes in our management that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by‑lawsby-laws include provisions that:

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authorize “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock;

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create a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered three‑year terms;

authorize “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock;

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specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors;

create a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered three-year terms;

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prohibit stockholder action by written consent;

specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors;

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establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder approvals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors;

prohibit stockholder action by written consent;

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provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum;

establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder approvals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors;

·

provide that our directors may be removed only for cause;

provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum;

·

specify that no stockholder is permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors;

provide that our directors may be removed only for cause;

·

expressly authorize our board of directors to have discretion to modify, alter or repeal our amended and restated by‑laws; and

specify that no stockholder is permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors;

·

expressly authorize our board of directors to have discretion to modify, alter or repeal our amended and restated by-laws; and

require supermajority votes of the holders of our common stock to amend specified provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by‑laws.

These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our management. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock thereby depressing the market priceto amend specified provisions of our common stock.

amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws.

In addition, because we are incorporated in the State of Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

Any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated by‑lawsby-laws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.

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The recently passed comprehensive tax reform bill could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. President signed into law new legislation that significantly revises the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).The newly enacted federal income tax law, among other things, contains significant changes to corporate taxation, including reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a rate of 21%, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted earnings (except for certain small businesses), limitation of the deduction for net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income in respect of net operating losses generated during or after 2018 and elimination of net operating loss carrybacks, immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits.Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of the new federal tax law is uncertain and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected.In addition, it is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the newly enacted federal tax law.The impact of this tax reform on holders of our common stock is also uncertain and could be adverse.We urge you to consult with your legal and tax advisors with respect to this legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in or holding our common stock.

Our ability to use net operating losses and certain tax credit carryforwards may be subject to certain limitations.

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016, the Company2019, we recorded no income tax benefit for the net operating losses incurred in each year, due to the uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items. The Company hasWe have incurred net operating losses (NOLs) since itsour inception. AtAs of December 31, 2018, the Company had2021, we have federal NOLs of approximately $102.1$403.6 million and state NOLs of approximately $102.4$337.1 million. Of the $102.1$403.6 million of federal NOLs, $34.1 million expire at various dates through 2037. The remaining $68.0$369.4 million of federal NOLs do not expire. The state NOLs will expire at various dates through 2038. At2041. As of December 31, 2018, the Company2021, we had Federal and State research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $7.7$10.1 million and $3.3$3.1 million, respectively, which expire at various dates through 2038.2041. Under the newly enacted federal income tax law,2017 Tax Act, federal NOLs incurred in 2018 and in future years may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal NOLs is limited. It is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to the newly enacted federal tax law.2017 Tax Act. In addition, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an ownership“ownership change, which is generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporationscorporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOLs and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. Our past issuances of stock and other changes in our stock ownership may have resulted in ownership changes within the
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meaning of Section 382 of the Code; accordingly, our pre-change NOLs may be subject to limitation under Section 382. If we determine that we have not undergone an ownership change, the Internal Revenue Service could challenge our analysis, and our ability to use our NOLs to offset taxable income could be limited by Section 382 of the Code. Future changes in our stock ownership, some of which are outside of our control, could result in ownership changes under Section 382 of the Code further limiting our ability to utilize our NOLs. Our NOLs may also be impaired under state law. Accordingly, we may not be able to utilize a material portion of our NOLs. The Company hasWe have determined that ownership changes have occurred through December 31, 2015since our inception and that certain NOLs and research and development tax credit carryforwards will be subject to limitation. We may also have incurred subsequent ownership changes. Furthermore, our ability to utilize our NOLs is conditioned upon our attaining profitability and generating U.S. federal taxable income. We have incurred net losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future; thus, we do not know whether or when we will generate the U.S. federal taxable income necessary to utilize our NOLs. We have recorded a full valuation allowance related to our NOLs and other deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of the ultimate realization of the future benefits of those assets.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the state or federal courts within the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.


Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the state or federal courts withinCourt of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forumsforum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our

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amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated by‑lawsby-laws, (4) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or (4)determine the validity of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated by-laws or (5) any other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity that purchases or otherwise acquires any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described above. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.


This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which provides for exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. It could apply, however, to a suit that falls within one or more of the categories enumerated in the exclusive forum provision and asserts claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, inasmuch as Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, provided, that with respect to claims under the Securities Act, our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock depends, in part, on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.

A portion of our total outstanding shares may be sold into the market in the near future, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline significantly, even if our business is doing well.

Sales of a significant number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of common stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock.

We have registered substantially all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans. These shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance and once vested, subject to volume limitations applicable to
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affiliates. If any of these additional shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the market price of our common stock could decline.
General risk factors
Our business is subject to risks arising from the outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The widespread infection of COVID-19 in the United States and abroad has caused significant volatility and uncertainty in U.S. and international markets, which could result in a prolonged economic downturn that may disrupt our business, including by adversely affecting our ability to conduct financings on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
In addition, we may experience disruptions that could severely impact our business, preclinical studies and clinical trials, including:
Our clinical trials may be adversely affected, delayed or interrupted, including, for example, site initiation, patient recruitment and enrollment, availability of clinical trial materials, and data analysis. Some patients and clinical investigators may not be able to comply with clinical trial protocols and patients may choose to withdraw from our trials or we may have to pause enrollment or we may choose to or be required to pause enrollment and or patient dosing in our ongoing clinical trials in order to preserve health resources and protect clinical trial participants, which could delay our clinical trials or impact the strength or validity of our clinical trial data. It is unknown how long these pauses or disruptions could continue.
We currently rely on third parties to, among other things, manufacture raw materials, manufacture our product candidates for our clinical trials, shipping of investigational drugs and clinical trial samples, perform quality testing and supply other goods and services to run our business. If any such third party in our supply chain for materials are adversely impacted by restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, including staffing shortages, raw material supplies, production slowdowns or disruptions in delivery systems, our supply chain may be disrupted, limiting our ability to manufacture our product candidates for our clinical trials and conduct our research and development operations.
Our increased reliance on personnel working from home may negatively impact productivity, or disrupt, delay, or otherwise adversely impact our business. In addition, this could increase our cyber security risk, create data accessibility concerns, and make us more susceptible to communication disruptions, any of which could adversely impact our business operations or delay necessary interactions with local and federal regulators, ethics committees, manufacturing sites, research or clinical trials sites and other important agencies and contractors.
Our employees and contractors conducting research and development activities may not be able to access our laboratory for an extended period of time as a result of the closure of our offices and the possibility that governmental authorities further modify current restrictions. As a result, this could delay timely completion of preclinical activities, including completing IND-enabling studies or our ability to select future development candidates, and initiation of additional clinical trials for other of our development programs
Health regulatory agencies globally may experience disruptions in their operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies may have slower response times or be under-resourced to continue to monitor our clinical trials and, as a result, review, inspection, and other timelines may be materially delayed. It is unknown how long these disruptions could continue, were they to occur. Any prolongation or de-prioritization of our clinical trials or delay in regulatory review resulting from such disruptions could materially affect the development of our product candidates. For example, regulatory authorities may require that we not distribute a product candidate lot until the relevant agency authorizes its release. Such release authorization may be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and could result in delays to our clinical trials.
The COVID-19 pandemic may cause the trading prices for our common shares and other biopharmaceutical companies' shares to be highly volatile. As a result, we may face difficulties raising capital through sales of our common shares or such sales may be on unfavorable terms. In addition, a recession, depression or other sustained adverse market event resulting from the spread of the coronavirus could materially and adversely affect our business and the value of our common shares.
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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly. The ultimate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our business operations is highly uncertain and subject to change and will depend on future developments, which cannot be accurately predicted, including the duration of the pandemic, the emergence and severity of new variants of the virus, additional or modified government actions, new information that will emerge concerning the severity and impact of COVID-19, the timing, availability, efficacy, adoption and distribution of vaccines or other preventative treatments and other actions taken to contain coronavirus or address its impact in the short and long term, among others. We do not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our clinical trials, our research programs, healthcare systems or the global economy.
We, or the third parties upon whom we depend, may be adversely affected by serious disasters.
Any unplanned event, such as a flood, fire, explosion, earthquake, extreme weather condition, medical epidemic, power shortage, telecommunication failure or other natural or human-made accident or incident that results in us being unable to fully use our facilities, or the facilities of third parties with which we contract, may have a material and adverse effect on our ability to operate our business and may have significant negative consequences on our financial and operating conditions. Loss of access to these facilities or operations may result in increased costs, delays in the development of our current or future product candidates or the interruption of our business operations for a substantial period of time.
There can be no assurance that the amounts of insurance that we maintain will be sufficient to satisfy any damages and losses in the event a serious disaster or similar event occurs. If our facilities, or the manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, are unable to operate because of an accident or incident or for any other reason, even for a short period of time, any or all of our research and development programs and commercialization efforts may be harmed.
Unfavorable global economic or geopolitical conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy, geopolitical considerations and global financial market conditions. For example, the global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. We cannot assure stockholders that deterioration of the global credit and financial markets would not negatively impact our stock price, our current portfolio of cash equivalents or investments, or our ability to meet our financing objectives. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. A weak or declining economy, or emerging or actual geopolitical risks could also strain our suppliers and vendors involved in our clinical development activities. Any of the foregoing could harm our business and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic and geopolitical climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES.

Our corporate headquarters are located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We occupy approximately 34,000 rentable45,000 square feet of office and laboratory space that we lease in Cambridge, Massachusetts under a multi-tenant building in which our corporate headquarters are located, which lease that expires onin March 31, 2021.2026. We have an option to extend the lease term for an additional five years.years thereafter. We believe that this office and laboratory space is sufficient to meet our current needs, and that suitable additional space will be available as and when needed.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

None.

We are not currently party to any material legal proceedings. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we do not believe we are party to any claim or litigation, the outcome of which, if determined adversely to us, would individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our business.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Certain Information Regarding the Trading of Our Common Stock

Our common stock trades under the symbol “MRSN” on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. As of March 7, 2019,February 25, 2022, there were approximately 3218 holders of record of shares of our common stock.

The actual number of stockholders is greater than this number of record holders, and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners, but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.

Dividend Policy

We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends in respect of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, our loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank and Oxford Finance LLC contains restrictive covenants that prohibit us, subject to certain exceptions, from paying dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on restrictions and other factors our board of directors may deem relevant. Investors should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

Stock Performance Graph

The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Exchange Act or Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

The following graph compares the performance of our common stock to the Nasdaq Composite Index and to the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index from June 28, 2017 (the first date that shares of our common stock were publicly traded) through December 31, 2018,2021, which was the last trading day of the year. The comparison assumes $100 was invested in our common stock and in each of the foregoing indices after the market closed on June 28, 2017, and it assumes reinvestment of dividends, if any. The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

Picture 6

Use

mrsn-20211231_g2.jpg
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Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

On July 3, 2017,January 19, 2021, we completedgranted our chief human resources officer an initial public offering (IPO), in which we issued and sold 5,000,000option to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock, at a public offering price of $15.00 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $75 million. We received $67.4 million in net proceeds after deducting $7.6 million of underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs.

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On August 2, 2017,on April 26, 2021, we issued and sold 51,977granted our chief legal officer an option to purchase 112,500 shares of our common stock, at $15.00 per share for gross proceeds of $0.8 million upon the partial exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option. We received net proceeds of $0.7 million after deducting $0.1 million in underwriting discountson August 18, 2021, we granted our senior vice president and commissions. No offering expenses were paid directly or indirectlychief manufacturing officer an option to anypurchase 112,500 shares of our directors or officers (or their associates) or persons owning 10.0% or more of any classcommon stock and on October 27, 2021, we granted our senior vice president, strategic product planning & program leadership an option to purchase 112,500 shares of our equity securities orcommon stock, each as an inducement to any other affiliates. 

All of the shares issued and soldemployment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). No underwriters were involved in the IPOforegoing issuances of securities. The securities were registeredissued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act pursuantof 1933, as amended, relating to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218412), which was declared effectivetransactions by the SEC on June 27, 2017. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC and Leerink Partners LLC actedan issuer not involving any public offering. The recipients either received adequate information about us or had access, through other relationships, to such information.

Each stock option is scheduled to become exercisable as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters.  The offering commenced on June 27, 2017 and did not terminate until the sale of allto 25% of the shares offered.

As of December 31, 2018, we estimate that we have used allunderlying the option on the first anniversary of the net proceeds fromdate of grant, and as to an additional 8.33% of the IPOshares underlying the option at the end of each successive quarter following such date, subject to fundeach recipient’s continued service. The option granted to our chief human resources officer has an exercise price of $21.67, the option granted to our chief legal officer has an exercise price of $16.98 per share, the option granted to our senior vice president and chief manufacturing officer has an exercise price of $11.56 per share and clinical development activities for XMT-1522the option granted to our senior vice president, strategic product planning & program leadership has an exercise price of $8.63 per share.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and XMT-1536 and other research activities in supportAffiliates Purchasers
Neither we nor any affiliated purchaser or anyone acting on behalf of us or an affiliated purchaser made any purchases of shares of our preclinical programs, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. There was no material change incommon stock during the usefourth quarter of the net proceeds from our IPO as described in our final prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on June 29, 2017.

2021.

ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

You should read the following selected financial data together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the information under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We have derived the statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We have derived the selected consolidated financial data for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2015 from audited financial statements that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that should be expected in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

(in thousands, except

 

 

share and per share data)

Statements of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue

 

$

10,594

 

$

17,545

 

$

25,171

 

$

10,359

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

59,915

 

$

46,700

 

$

32,008

 

$

21,353

General and administrative

 

 

16,334

 

 

10,462

 

 

6,984

 

 

5,347

Total operating expenses

 

 

76,249

 

$

57,162

 

$

38,992

 

$

26,700

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

121

 

 

(87)

Total other income (expense)

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

121

 

 

(87)

Net loss

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

 

$

(16,428)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

 

$

(16,428)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(2.79)

 

$

(3.22)

 

$

(10.82)

 

$

(13.43)

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted(1)

 

 

23,032,250

 

 

12,022,733

 

 

1,266,758

 

 

1,223,457

[RESERVED]

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As of

 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

    

2015

 

 

(in thousands)

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

 

$

70,131

 

$

125,216

 

$

100,297

 

$

11,534

Working capital(2)

 

 

4,880

 

 

85,662

 

 

73,787

 

 

2,019

Total assets

 

 

78,502

 

 

130,715

 

 

105,087

 

 

14,409

Convertible preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

94,450

 

 

36,296

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

8,795

 

 

69,994

 

 

(55,619)

 

 

(42,692)


(1)

See Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual report on Form 10-K for further details on the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders.

(2)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities.

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ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our actual results and timing of certain events may differ materially from the results discussed, projected, anticipated, or indicated in any forward-looking statements. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

The following information and any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of factors discussed elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, including those risks identified under Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.

We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us, which speak only as of the date they are made. We disclaim any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

For our discussion and analysis of the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, please refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021.
Overview

We are a clinical stageclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing antibody drug conjugates, or ADCs, that offer a clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients with significant unmet need. We have leveraged over 20 years of industry learning in the ADC field to develop proprietary technologiesand differentiated technology platforms that enable us to designdevelop ADCs designed to have improved efficacy, safety and tolerability relative to existing ADC therapies.
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We believe that our innovative platforms, including Dolaflexin and Dolasynthen, delivering our proprietary auristatin DolaLock payload, as well as Immunosynthen, which delivers our novel proprietary stimulator of interferon genes, or STING, agonist ImmunoLock payload, together comprise a highly efficient product engine that has enabled a robust discovery pipeline for us and our partners. Our most advanced platform, Dolaflexin, has been usedADCs in preclinical studies and clinical trials include first-in-class molecules that target multiple tumor types with high unmet medical need. Our belief is that our novel ADCs may have more favorable safety and efficacy compared to generatemore traditional existing ADCs developed using first-generation technology.
Our goal is to become a pipelineleading oncology company by leveraging the potential of proprietaryour innovative and differentiated ADC technologies and the experience and competencies of our management team to identify, acquire and develop promising ADC product candidates and to address patient populationscommercialize cancer therapeutics that are not currently amenable to treatment with traditional ADC‑based therapies. Our lead product candidate, XMT‑1536, is animprovements over existing treatments.

UpRi (upifitamab rilsodotin), our first-in-class ADC targeting the sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein NaPi2b, anutilizes the Dolaflexin platform to deliver about 10 DolaLock payload molecules per antibody. We believe the NaPi2b antigen is broadly expressed in ovarian cancer and non small cell lungother cancers with limited expression in normal tissue. We are currently evaluating UpRi in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (NSCLC).in a single-arm registrational trial, which we refer to as UPLIFT, for which we expect to complete enrollment in the third quarter of 2022. We are also conducting a Phase 1/2 umbrella combination trial, which we refer to as UPGRADE. The first patient was dosed on XMT‑1536 in early 2018 andcombination we are exploring is the study is currently in Phase 1 dose escalation in ovarian cancer, NSCLC and other orphan indications wherecombination of UpRi with carboplatin, a majority of patients express NaPi2b including endometrial, papillary renal, papillary thyroid, and salivary duct. We plan to select a dose for usestandard platinum chemotherapy broadly used in the Phase 1 expansion studies andtreatment of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. We may explore other combinations in the future. We expect to report interim data from the dose escalation study in the second quarter of 2019. Following dose escalation and establishment of a go forward dose we plan to expand into patient cohorts aimed at establishing proof of concept in platinum resistant ovarian cancer, and NSCLC adenocarcinoma.

Beyond XMT-1536 and our Dolaflexin platform, we continue to work to identify earlier stage product candidates employing the platforms described below, and to advance our ADC platform technologies. We are leveraging our expertise to advance platform innovations that further expand the potential of our ADCs to deliver clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients.

·

Dolasynthen is designed to be a novel, proprietary, homogeneous payload platform enabling the creation of ADCs with the ability to provide drug to antibody ratios (DARs) ranging from 2-24.

·

Immunosynthen, our emerging platform, is designed to be a novel, proprietary, immunostimulatory payload platform with the potential to create ADCs that can ideally address the challenge of systemic delivery and tolerability of immunomodulatory payloads.

·

Alkymer, our DNA alkylation platform, has the potential to provide a broad therapeutic index for a DNA alkylating payload mechanism, and broaden addressable tumor indications to include those that are not responsive to anti-tubulin agents.

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We are planning to disclose the progress on the development of our platforms throughout 2019 and expect to announce our next ADC clinical candidateUPGRADE in the second half of 2019.

2022. In the second quarter of 2022, we expect to initiate enrollment in a randomized placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, which we refer to as UP-NEXT, to evaluate UpRi as single agent maintenance treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer that have high NaPi2b expression. Together, data from these trials have the potential to establish the safety and efficacy of UpRi across a wide range of ovarian cancer patients, from those who are platinum-resistant and heavily pre-treated to those in earlier lines of the disease.


XMT-1592 was created using our Dolasynthen platform and also targets NaPi2b. XMT-1592 comprises the same proprietary NaPi2b antibody and auristatin DolaLock payload with controlled bystander effect as in UpRi, with the additional features that our Dolasynthen platform offers, including homogeneity, site-specific bioconjugation and precise drug-to-antibody ratio, or DAR. We are conducting a Phase 1 dose exploration trial of XMT-1592 in patients with ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC, adenocarcinoma, which we expect to complete in the second half of 2022.

Our early-stage programs include XMT-1660, a B7-H4-targeted Dolasynthen ADC, as well as XMT-2056, a STING-agonist ADC developed using our novel Immunosynthen platform and targeting a novel epitope of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2. Our goal is to rapidly progress these candidates through investigational new drug, or IND, -enabling studies. We expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of each of XMT-1660 and XMT-2056 in mid-2022. We believe that these development candidates provide significant opportunities in areas of high unmet need such as breast cancer and other tumors. We also have two earlier stage preclinical candidates, which we refer to as XMT-2068 and XMT-2175, both of which leverage our Immunosynthen platform and target tumor-associated antigens.

In addition, we have established strategic research and development partnerships with Janssen Biotech, Inc., or Janssen, and Merck KGaA and Asana Biosciences for the development and commercialization of additional ADC product candidates leveraging our proprietary Dolasynthen and Dolaflexin platform technologies against a limited number of targets selected by our partners based on our Dolaflexin platform.partners. We believe the potential of our ADC technologies, supported by our experienced management teamscientific and protectedtechnical expertise and enabled by our robust intellectual property portfolio, will allow usstrategy, all support our independent and collaborative efforts to discover and develop targetedlife-changing ADCs for patients fighting cancer.

In February 2022, we entered into a research collaboration and highly tailored therapieslicense agreement with Janssen to help cancer patients become cancer survivors.

collaborate on the discovery and research of Dolasynthen ADCs for up to three antigen targets utilizing Janssen’s antibodies, with Janssen leading development, manufacturing and commercialization worldwide. We refer to this as the Janssen Collaboration. Upon execution of the agreement we received an upfront payment of $40 million. Our primary objective in entering into the Janssen Collaboration was to collaborate with a leading global pharmaceutical company to further validate the potential of our Dolasynthen platform, to enable the development of novel ADC product candidates, to provide near term non-dilutive funding and to drive significant long-term value.

Since inception, our operations have focused on building our platform,platforms, identifying potential product candidates, producing drug substance and drug product material for use in preclinical studies, conducting preclinical studies, including Good Laboratory Practice, or GLP,and toxicology studies, manufacturing clinical trial material and conducting clinical trials, establishing and protecting our intellectual property, staffing our company and raising capital. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from
82

product sales. We have funded our operations primarily through our strategic partnerships, private placements of our convertible preferred stock, public offerings of our common stock and our initial public offering.

an at-the-market, or ATM, equity offering program.

Since inception, we have incurred significant cumulative operating losses. Our net losses were $64.3 million, $38.7$170.1 million and $13.7$88.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021 and 2016,2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2018,2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $164.2$450.5 million. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses over the next several years. We anticipate that our expenses will increase significantly in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:

·

continue clinical development activities for our lead product candidate XMT-1536; 

·

 continue activities to discover, validate and develop additional product candidates; 

continue clinical development activities for our clinical product candidates, UpRi, including UPLIFT, UPGRADE and UP-NEXT, and XMT-1592;

·

 maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; 

continue diagnostic development efforts with respect to the NaPi2b biomarker;

·

 hire additional research, development and general and administrative personnel. 

complete IND-enabling studies and commence clinical trials for our preclinical development candidates XMT-1660 and XMT-2056;


continue activities to discover, validate and develop additional product candidates, including XMT-2068 and XMT-2175;
maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and
hire additional research, development and general and administrative personnel.
Impact of COVID-19 on Our Business
We are continuing to monitor the impact of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic on our operations and ongoing clinical and preclinical development, as well as discovery efforts. Mitigation activities to minimize COVID-19-related operation disruptions are ongoing and include:

We are currently enrolling patients at clinical sites in different geographic areas around the world in our ongoing clinical trials, though staffing constraints have become an increasing challenge for the clinical sites with which we work. If staffing challenges persist, we may experience associated delays in trial enrollment. We are in the process of initiating additional clinical sites both inside and outside the United States to increase enrollment, which we believe could also mitigate this potential risk. Consistent with FDA guidance, we allow for remote patient monitoring and remote testing, when reasonably possible.
To the best of our knowledge, our contract research and manufacturing partners continue to operate their operations at or near normal levels, though staffing constraints and sourcing of raw and other materials have become an increasing challenge for our vendors. If staffing and/or material sourcing challenges continue, we may experience associated delays in our laboratory, clinical or manufacturing services. We believe we currently have appropriate service support and sufficient inventory of UpRi and XMT-1592 to support our ongoing clinical trials, and we currently expect to have sufficient inventory of XMT-1660 and XMT-2056 to commence Phase 1 clinical trials in 2022. We have planned research, clinical and manufacturing activities to address all currently anticipated future needs. We continue to monitor the research clinical and manufacturing operations of our vendors.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations is highly uncertain and subject to change and will depend on future developments, which cannot be accurately predicted. While the pandemic did not materially affect our financial results and business operations in the year ended December 31, 2021, we are unable to predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on our financial position and operating results in future periods due to numerous uncertainties. Management continues to actively monitor the situation and the possible effects on our financial condition, operations, suppliers, vendors, our workforce and the overall industry. For additional information about risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic that may impact our business, our financial condition or our results of operations, see “Part I, Item 1A—Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Financial Operations Overview

Revenue

To date, allwe have not generated any revenue from the sale of products. All of our revenue has been generated from strategic partnerships. We have not generated any revenue from product sales, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future.

In March 2014, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda for the development and commercialization of ADC product candidates utilizing Fleximer. On January 2, 2019, we received notice from Takeda stating that Takeda was exercising its right to terminate the collaboration agreement upon 45 days’ prior written notice and the agreement terminated in February 2019. Under Topic 606, we have concluded that the performance obligations were not modified during the year ended December 31, 2018, and that we will account for the termination notice as an event in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Under this agreement, as amended, Takeda had the right to select up to seven target antigens and selected four target antigens prior to terminating the arrangement. Takeda’s responsibilities were generating antibodies against the target antigens and we were responsible for generating Fleximer and our proprietary payloads and conjugating this to the antibody to create the ADC product candidates. Takeda then had the exclusive right to and was responsible for the further development, manufacture and commercialization of these ADC product candidates, except that we had an option to co-develop and co-commercialize one product targeting one of Takeda's third through seventh target antigens and could have exercised such option with respect to an applicable product no later than 30 days after initiation of a Phase 2 clinical study for such product or at an earlier time if Takeda intended to grant rights to such product to a third party.

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In addition, in January 2016, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Takeda for the development and commercialization of XMT-1522. Under this agreement, Takeda was granted the exclusive right and responsibility to commercialize XMT-1522 outside the United States and Canada.We were also notified on January 1, 2019 that Takeda was exercising its right to terminate this agreement with 30 days’ written notice and the agreement terminated in February 2019. We concluded that this termination should also be accounted for as a first quarter event.

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we recognized revenue of $5.9 million, $13.8  million and $21.4 million, respectively, related to the Takeda agreements.

In June 2014, we entered into a collaborationan agreement with Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization of ADC product candidates utilizing Fleximer for up to six target antigens. Merck KGaA is responsible for generating antibodies against the target antigens and we are responsible for generating Fleximer and our proprietary payloads and conjugating this to the antibody to create the ADC product candidates. Merck KGaA then has the exclusive right to and is responsible for the further development and commercialization of these ADC product candidates.

In May 2018, we entered into a supply agreement with Merck KGaA for the supply of materials that could be used for IND-enabling studies and clinical trials.

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021 and 2016,2020, we recognized revenue of $2.4 million, $3.6 millionan immaterial amount and $3.6$0.8 million, respectively, related to the Merck KGaA agreement.

We have provided limited services to Asana BioSciences. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we recorded revenue of $0.8 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, related to those services. In addition, we recognized revenue of $1.5 million related to a milestone achieved during the third quarter of 2018.

agreements.

For the foreseeable future, we expect substantially all of our revenue to be generated from our collaboration agreementagreements with Janssen, Merck KGaA and Asana BioSciences and any other collaboration agreements we may enter into.BioSciences. Given the schedule of potential milestone payments and the uncertain nature and timing of clinical development, we cannot predict when or whether we will receive further milestone payments or any royalty payments under these collaborations.Remaining revenue to be generated from our collaboration agreements with Takeda will be recognized in the first quarter of 2019.

For information about our revenue recognition policy, see the notesNotes to condensed consolidated financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research and development activities, includinginclude our drug discovery efforts, manufacturing, and the development of our product candidates, which include:

·

 employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense; 

consist of:

·

 costs of funding research and development performed by third parties that conduct research, preclinical activities, manufacturing and clinical trials on our behalf; 

employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense;

·

 laboratory supplies; 

costs of funding research and development performed by third parties that conduct research, preclinical activities, manufacturing and clinical trials on our behalf;

·

 facility costs, including rent, depreciation and maintenance expenses; and 

laboratory supplies;

·

 upfront and milestone payments under our third-party licensing agreements.

facility costs, including rent, depreciation and maintenance expenses; and

upfront and milestone payments under our third-party licensing agreements.
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of certain activities, such as manufacturing, preclinical studies and clinical trials, are generally recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks. Nonrefundable advance paymentsCosts for goods or servicescertain development activities, such as clinical trials, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to be received incompletion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations and information provided to us by the future for use in researchthird parties with whom we contract.
Research and development

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activities are deferredcentral to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.

duration of later-stage clinical trials and manufacturing costs. We expect that our future research and development costs will continue to increase significantly forover current levels, depending on the foreseeable future asprogress of our product candidateclinical development programs progress.programs. There are numerous factors associated with the successful development and commercialization of any of our product candidates, including future trial design and various regulatory requirements, many of which cannot be determined with accuracy at our current stage of development. Additionally, future commercial and regulatory factors beyond our control may impact our clinical development programs and plans.

A significant portion of our research and development costs have been external costs, which we track on a program-by-program basis following nomination as a product candidate. Our internal research and development costs are primarily personnel-related costs, facility costs, including depreciation and lab consumables.IND submission. We have not historically tracked all of our internal research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis as they are deployed across multiple projects under development. The following table summarizes our external research and development expenses, by program, following nomination as a development candidateIND submission for the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016. Pre-development candidate2019. All external research and development expenses not attributable to the UpRi and XMT-1592 programs are captured within preclinical and discovery costs. These costs relate to XMT-1592 prior to its IND submission in early 2020, as well as our preclinical development candidates XMT-1660, XMT-2056, XMT-2068 and XMT-2175, and additional earlier discovery stage programs and certain unallocated costs andcosts. Our internal research and development costs have been stated separately.

are primarily personnel-related costs, stock-based compensation costs, and facility costs, including depreciation, and lab consumables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

(in thousands)

 

2018

 

2017

    

2016

XMT-1536 external costs

 

$

15,922

 

$

8,647

 

$

3,971

XMT-1522 external costs

 

 

15,562

 

 

14,661

 

 

12,107

External costs for discovery stage programs and platform development

 

 

4,517

 

 

3,093

 

 

1,439

Internal research and development costs

 

 

23,914

 

 

20,299

 

 

14,491

Total research and development costs

 

$

59,915

 

$

46,700

 

$

32,008

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Year Ended
December 31,
(in thousands)202120202019
UpRi external costs$45,511 $18,689 $9,461 
XMT-1592 external costs9,126 7,180 — 
XMT-1522 external costs— — 1,936 
Preclinical and discovery costs28,464 9,883 16,980 
Internal research and development costs48,912 31,284 26,663 
Total research and development costs$132,013 $67,036 $55,040 
The successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. As such, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the remainder of the development of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflowswe will commencegenerate revenue from the development efforts associated withcommercialization and sale of any of our product candidates.candidates that obtain regulatory approval. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing drugs, including the uncertainty of:

·

  successful completion of preclinical studies and IND-enabling studies; 

·

 successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials; 

successful completion of preclinical studies and IND-enabling studies;

·

 receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities; 

successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;

·

 establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities or making arrangements with third-party manufacturers; 

receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;

·

 obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates; 

establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities or making arrangements with third-party manufacturers;

·

 commercializing the product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and 

obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates;

·

 continued acceptable safety profile of the drugs following approval.

commercializing the product candidates, if and when approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others;

continued acceptable safety profile of the drugs following approval; and
our ability to overcome existing and emerging competitive threats to the successful commercialization of our products.
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development, manufacture or commercialization of any of our product candidates would significantly change the costs, timing and viability associated with the development of that product candidate.

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General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other relatedemployee-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, business development, legal, information technology and human resources functions. Other significant costs include facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters, and fees for accounting and consulting services.

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future to support continued growth in research and development activities. This will likely includeactivities, including increased costs related to the hiring of additional personnel, fees to outside consultants and patent costs, among other expenses. We also anticipate increased expenses associated with being a public company, including costs for audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations costs.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) consists primarily of interest income earned on cash equivalents and marketable securities. Interest expense is related to borrowings under the credit facilities. These borrowings bear a floating per annum rate interest, as well as a final payment of either 4.25% on the Prior Credit Facility or 5.5% on the New Credit Facility, as defined below, of the amounts drawn, that is being recorded as interest expense over the term through the maturity date using the effective-interest method. Also included in interest expense is the amortization of the deferred financing costs and the accretion of debt discount relating to the credit facilities.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, together with the changes in those items:
Year Ended
December 31,
Dollar Change
(in thousands)20212020
Collaboration revenue$43 $828 $(785)
Operating expenses:
Research and development132,013 67,036 64,977 
General and administrative36,888 21,902 14,986 
Total operating expenses168,901 88,938 79,963 
Other income (expense):
Interest income65 424 (359)
Interest expense(1,267)(359)(908)
Total other income (expense), net(1,202)65 (1,267)
Net loss$(170,060)$(88,045)$(82,015)
Collaboration Revenue
Collaboration revenue was less than $0.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $0.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we recognized $0.8 million of revenue as a result of the completion of research services associated with a target included in the Merck KGaA Agreement.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense was $132.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to $67.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The overall increase of $65.0 million was primarily attributable to the following:
an increase of $28.7 million related to manufacturing and clinical development activities for UpRi;
an increase of $14.7 million related to preclinical and discovery stage programs including XMT-1660 and XMT-2056;
an increase of $10.8 million related to employee compensation (excluding stock-based compensation), primarily due to an increase in headcount supporting the growth of our research and development activities;
an increase of $5.3 million related to manufacturing and clinical development activities for XMT-1592; and
an increase of $0.8 million related to other research services and supplies costs.
These increased costs were partially offset by the following:
a decrease of $1.3 million related to the favorable resolution of an outstanding payable balance.
Stock-based compensation expense included in research and development expenses increased by $6.0 million primarily as a result of increased headcount.
We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we continue our clinical development of UpRi and XMT-1592 and continue to advance our preclinical product candidate pipeline and invest in improvements in our ADC technologies.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense increased by $15.0 million from $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $36.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to an increase of $4.1 million related to employee compensation (excluding stock-based compensation), related to
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an increase in headcount, and an increase of $5.7 million related to consulting and professional fees. Stock-based compensation increased by $5.1 million also primarily as a result of increased headcount.
We expect that our general and administrative expense will increase in future periods as we expand our operations. These increases will likely include legal, auditing fees, additional insurance premiums and general compliance and consulting expenses.
Total Other Income (Expense), Net
Total other expense, net, was $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and total other income, net, was $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. In each period, other expense consisted primarily of interest on our borrowings under the credit facilities, offset by interest income on cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities. For the year ended December 31, 2021, other expense included a $0.4 million loss on extinguishment related to the repayment of the Prior Credit Facility, as defined below.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
We have financed our operations primarily with the proceeds from our initial public offering, our follow-on public offerings in 2019 and 2020, the use of our ATM equity offering program and our strategic partnerships. In July 2018 we established an ATM, or the 2018 ATM, pursuant to which we were able to offer and sell up to $75.0 million of our common stock from time to time at prevailing market prices. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we sold approximately 10.9 million shares of common stock and received net proceeds of $63.0 million under our 2018 ATM. In addition, in June 2020, we sold 9.2 million shares of common stock in a follow-on public offering and received net proceeds of approximately $164.0 million.
In May 2020, we terminated the 2018 ATM and established a new ATM, or the 2020 ATM, pursuant to which we are able to sell up to $100.0 million of our common stock from time to time at prevailing market prices. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we sold approximately 4.0 million shares of common stock under the 2020 ATM for net proceeds of $43.1 million. As of December 31, 2021, we had $55.9 million of availability under the 2020 ATM. Subsequent to December 31, 2021 and through February 25, 2022, we sold 9.5 million shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of $45.6 million under the 2020 ATM offerings. Approximately $9.4 million remains unsold and available for sale under the 2020 ATM.
On May 8, 2019, we entered into a term loan agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, which was subsequently amended on June 29, 2019, August 28, 2020, and August 27, 2021, as amended, the Prior Credit Facility. Pursuant to the Prior Credit Facility we were permitted, subject to certain conditions, to borrow term loans in an aggregate amount of up to $30.0 million, of which $5.2 million were funded upon execution of the 2020 amendment to the Prior Credit Facility.
On October 29, 2021, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, or the New Credit Facility, with Oxford Finance LLC as the collateral agent and a lender, and SVB as a lender, together the Lenders, which was further amended on February 17, 2022. The New Credit Facility provides in aggregate up to $100 million, which includes $60 million available immediately, $20 million in one tranche that is subject to meeting certain development milestones, and an additional tranche of $20 million, which is subject to conditional approval from the Lenders. Upon the closing date, we drew $25 million, of which $5.5 million was used to repay in full the existing balance and satisfy our existing obligations to SVB under the Prior Credit Facility. The New Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our personal property owned or later acquired, excluding intellectual property (but including the right to payments and proceeds from intellectual property), and a negative pledge on intellectual property, which ensures that the Lender’s rights to repayment would be senior to the rights of the holders of our common stock in the event of liquidation. Upon entering into the New Credit Facility, we terminated all commitments by SVB to extend further credit under the Prior Credit Facility and all guarantees and security interests granted by us to SVB under the Prior Credit Facility.
As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $177.9 million. In addition to our existing cash and cash equivalents, we are eligible to earn milestone and other payments under our collaboration agreements with Janssen, Merck KGaA and Asana. Our ability to earn the milestone payments and the timing of earning these amounts are dependent upon the timing and outcome of our development, regulatory and commercial activities and, as such, are uncertain at this time.
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Cash Flows
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019:
Year Ended
December 31,
(in thousands)202120202019
Net cash used in operating activities$(139,988)$(74,696)$(67,744)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities(648)37,027 (27,293)
Net cash provided by financing activities63,646 230,412 97,704 
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$(76,990)$192,743 $2,667 
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $140.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and primarily consisted of a net loss of $170.1 million adjusted for changes in our net working capital and other non-cash items including stock-based compensation of $18.4 million and depreciation of $0.9 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $74.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and primarily consisted of a net loss of $88.0 million adjusted for non-cash items including stock-based compensation of $7.2 million and depreciation of $1.0 million.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $37.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 consisted primarily of the purchase of property and equipment. Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of maturities of marketable securities.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $63.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $230.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2021 cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of the proceeds from the use of the 2020 ATM of $43.1 million and issuance of debt, net of issuance costs, of $24.0 million under the New Credit Facility, as well as proceeds from exercise of stock options of $1.8 million, partially offset by repayment of debt of $5.5 million to repay the Prior Credit Facility. During the year ended December 31, 2020, cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of $164.0 million related to the follow-on public offering and the proceeds from the use of the 2018 ATM of $63.0 million, as well as proceeds from exercise of stock options of $3.1 million.
Funding Requirements
We expect our cash expenditures to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the research and development of, initiate clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for our product candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing and distribution are not the responsibility of potential collaborators.

As of December 31, 2021 we had cash and cash equivalents of $177.9 million and, subsequently, we received a $40 million upfront payment under the Janssen Collaboration and $45.6 million of net proceeds received from sales of our common stock under our 2020 ATM. In addition, we currently have the option to borrow $35 million under the New Credit Facility. Taken together, we believe that our current cash and cash equivalents plus the available borrowings under the New Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan commitments into the second half of 2023. Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
the scope, progress, results and costs of drug discovery, preclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;
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the scope, prioritization and number of our research and development programs;
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;
our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;
the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments under any collaboration agreements we obtain;
the extent to which we are obligated to reimburse, or entitled to reimbursement of, clinical trial costs under future collaboration agreements, if any;
the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;
the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;
the costs of securing manufacturing arrangements for clinical and commercial production; and
the costs of establishing or contracting for sales and marketing capabilities if we obtain regulatory approvals to market our product candidates.
Identifying potential product candidates and conducting preclinical testing and clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes many years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve drug sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if at all. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. We currently have access to the New Credit Facility, as described above, along with funds to potentially be earned in connection with our agreements with Janssen, Merck KGaA and Asana BioSciences, if research and development activities are successful under those agreements. Future additional debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
If we raise funds through additional strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of payment due date by period at December 31, 2021:
(in thousands)TotalLess than
1 Year
1 to 3
Years
3 to 5
Years
More than
5 years
Lease commitments(1)$17,916 $4,064 $8,339 $5,513 $— 
Long-term debt obligations(2)34,416 2,155 6,391 25,870 — 
Total$52,332 $6,219 $14,730 $31,383 $— 

(1)Represents future minimum lease payments under our non-cancelable operating and finance leases, which expire through February 2024. The minimum lease payments above do not include any related common area maintenance charges or real estate taxes.
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(2)Represents future debt principal plus interest and final payments under the term loan under the New Credit Facility, which is payable in full on October 1, 2026. Refer to Note 7, Debt, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
We enter into agreements in the normal course of business with third parties to assist us with preclinical, clinical, manufacturing, and other products and services for operating purpose. Certain of these agreements include termination rights subject to termination fees or wind down costs. Under such agreements, we are contractually obligated to make certain payments to the parties with whom we contract upon termination, primarily to reimburse them for their unrecoverable outlays incurred prior to cancellation and for wind-down activities. The exact amounts of such obligations are dependent on the timing of termination and the exact terms of the relevant agreement and cannot be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2021, we had cancellable open purchase orders of $138.7 million in total under agreements for preclinical, clinical, manufacturing, and other products and services for operating purposes. These amounts represent only our estimate of those items for which we had a contractual commitment to pay at December 31, 2021, assuming we would not cancel these agreements. The actual amounts we expect to pay in the future to the third parties under such agreements may differ from the cancellable open purchase order amounts.

In July 2015, we entered into a license agreement with Recepta Biopharma S.A., or Recepta, as amended, for the NaPi2b antibody. We refer to this as the Recepta License. Under the Recepta License, we paid Recepta an upfront payment of $1.0 million and are obligated to pay Recepta up to $65.5 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestones and tiered royalties in the low-single digit percentages on net sales of products outside of Brazil until the expiration of the royalty term. Upon the expiration of each royalty term in each country for each applicable product, the exclusive licenses granted to each party under the Recepta License will become fully-paid up and royalty-free. We have incurred $4.0 million and paid $2.8 million in development milestone payments to date under the Recepta License.
In January 2019, we entered into a commercial license agreement with Synaffix B.V., or Synaffix, which we amended and restated in November 2021 to expand our relationship with Synaffix. We refer to the amended and restated agreement as the Synaffix License. Under the Synaffix License, we have the right to develop, manufacture and commercialize ADCs directed to targets using Synaffix’s proprietary site-specific conjugation technology for up to twelve targets. Through December 31, 2021, we have licensed two targets from Synaffix in connection with our development of XMT-1592 and XMT-1660, for which we have paid $1.5 million in license fees, and $0.8 million in milestone payments. We are required to make milestone payments to Synaffix of up to an aggregate of $28.0 million in development and regulatory milestones and up to $20.0 million in one-time sales milestones based on the achievement of annual sales objectives for each of these two targets. Additionally, we paid upfront fees of $2.5 million at the time of amending and restating the Synaffix License in November 2021, which may be applied to reservation and license fees associated with our selection of the next three targets. Upon licensing any future targets, we will be obligated to pay in the range of $48.0 million to $117.0 million for issuance, development, regulatory and one-time sales milestones. We further amended the Synaffix License in February 2022 in connection with the Janssen Collaboration and agreed to pay Synaffix an additional fee of $1.5 million which may be applied to future reservation and license fees, as well as certain portions of potential future development milestones.
Upon commencement of commercial sales of any ADC product directed to a licensed target, if any, we are required to pay to Synaffix tiered royalties in the low-single digit percentages on net sales of the respective products. The Synaffix License remains in effect on a country-by-country and licensed product-by-licensed product basis until the expiration of the last-to-expire valid claim in a patent licensed under the Synaffix License covering such product in such country. Upon the expiration of the Synaffix License for each licensed product in each country, the licenses granted to us for such product in such country will become fully paid-up and perpetual. We may terminate the Synaffix License in its entirety or on a licensed product-by-licensed product basis at any time. Either party may terminate the Synaffix License, subject to a specified notice and cure period, for a breach by the other party of a material provision of the agreement or upon an insolvency-related event experienced by the other party.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgements and Estimates

Our management's discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our judgments and estimates in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. The effects of material revisions in estimates, if any, will be reflected in the financial statements prospectively from the date of change in estimates.

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We believe that our most critical accounting policies are those relating to revenue recognition and accrued research and development expenses and stock-based compensation,as discussed in the notesNotes to consolidated financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the provisions of Topic 606, using the modified retrospective transition method.  Under this method, we recorded the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard to all contracts in process as of the date of adoption.  This standard 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. 

We enter into collaboration agreements which are within the scope of Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or Topic 606, under which we license rights to our technology and certain of our product candidates and perform research and development services for third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front fees; reimbursement of research and development costs; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.

Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized for arrangements determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract;contract(s) with a customer; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation. We only apply the five-

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stepfive-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.

The promised good or services in our arrangementarrangements typically consist of license rights to our intellectual property and research and development services. We also have optional additional items in contracts, which are considered marketing offers and are accounted for as separate contracts with the customer if such option is elected by the customer, unless the option provides a material right which would not be provided without entering into the contract. Performance obligations are promised goods or services in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. Promised goods or services are considered distinct when (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other readily available resources or (ii) the promised good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. In assessing whether promised goodgoods or services are distinct, we consider factors such as the stage of development of the underlying intellectual property, the capabilities of the customer to develop the intellectual property on their own or whether the required expertise is readily available.

We estimate the transaction price based on the amount expected to be received for transferring the promised goods or services in the contract. The consideration may include both fixed consideration orand variable consideration. At the inception of each arrangement that includes variable consideration and at each reporting period, we evaluate the amount of potential payment and the likelihood that the payments will be received. We utilize either the most likely amount method or expected amount method to estimate the amount expected to be received based on which method better predicts the amount expected to be received. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the variable consideration is included in the transaction price.

Our contracts often include development and regulatory milestone payments. At contract inception and at each reporting period, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimatesestimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is not probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, we re-evaluate the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price.

For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).

We allocate the transaction price based on the estimated standalone selling price of the underlying performance obligations or in the case of certain variable consideration to one or more performance obligations. We must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alonestandalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. We utilize key assumptions to determine the stand-alonestandalone selling price, which may include other comparable transactions, pricing considered in negotiating the transaction and the estimated costs to complete the respective performance obligation. Certain variable consideration is allocated specifically to one or more performance obligations in a contract when the terms of the variable
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consideration relate to the satisfaction of the performance obligation and the resulting amounts allocated to each performance obligation are consistent with the amounts we would expect to receive for each performance obligation.

For performance obligations consisting of licenses and other promises, we utilize judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjustsadjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. If the license to our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, we will recognize revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license.

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Collaborative Arrangements

We record the elements of our collaboration agreements that represent joint operating activities in accordance with ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (ASC 808). Accordingly, the elements of the collaboration agreements that represent activities in which both parties are active participants and to which both parties are exposed to the significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities, are recorded as collaborative arrangements. We consider the guidance in ASC Topic 606 in determining the appropriate treatment for the transactions between us and our collaborative partners and the transactions between us and third parties. Generally, the classification of transactions under the collaborative arrangements is determined based on the nature and contractual terms of the arrangement along with the nature of the operations of the participants. To the extent revenue is generated from a collaboration, we will recognize our share of the net sales on a gross basis if we are deemed to be the principal in the transactions with customers, or on a net basis if we are instead deemed to be the agent in the transactions with customers, consistent with the guidance in Topic 606.

Accrued Research and Development Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with our personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on facts and circumstances known to us at that time. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with the service providers and make adjustments if necessary. The significant estimates in our accrued research and development expenses include the costs incurred for services performed by our vendors in connection with research and development activities for which we have not yet been invoiced.

We record our expenses related to research and development activities based upon our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to quotes and contracts with vendors that conduct research and development on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to our vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the research and development expense. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of subjects, number of sites activated and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from our estimate, we adjust the accrualaccrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made.

Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, if our estimates of the status and timing of services performed differ from the actual status and timing of services performed, it could result in us reportingwe may report amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. To date, there have been no material differences betweenfrom our estimates of such expenses andto the amounts actually incurred.

Stock‑based Compensation

We account for stock‑based awards Significant judgement is involved in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. ASC 718 requires all stock‑based compensation awards to employees, including grants of restricted stock and stock options, to be recognized as expensemaking the above estimates.

Recent accounting pronouncements
See Note 2, Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, in the statementsNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of operations based on their grant date fair values. We estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black‑Scholes option pricing model.

The Black‑Scholes option pricing model requires the input of certain subjective assumptions, including (1) the expected stock price volatility, (2) the calculation of expected term of the award, (3) the risk‑free interest rate, and (4) the expected dividend yield. Duerecent accounting pronouncements applicable to the lack of a public market for the trading of our common stock prior to the IPO and a lack of company‑specific historical and implied volatility data, we have based our estimates of expected volatility on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. We calculate historical volatility based on a period of

business.

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time commensurate with the expected term. We compute expected volatility based on the historical volatility of a representative group of companies with similar characteristics to us, including their stages of product development and focus on the life science industry. We use the simplified method as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share‑Based Payment, to calculate the expected term for options granted to employees as we do not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term. For options granted to non‑employees, we utilize the contractual term of the arrangement as the basis for the expected term. We determine the risk‑free interest rate based on a treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected term of the stock options. We use an assumed dividend yield of zero as we have never paid dividends and do not have current plans to do so.

The weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

    

2018

    

2017

 

2016

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.7

%  

2.2

%

1.5

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 —

%  

 —

%

 —

%

Expected term (years)

 

6.07

 

6.21

 

6.25

 

Expected stock price volatility

 

73

%  

67

%

69

%

We expense the fair value of stock‑based awards granted to employees and directors on a straight‑line basis over the associated service period, which is generally the period in which the related services are received. We measure stock‑based compensation awards granted to non‑employees at fair value as the awards vest and recognize the resulting value as stock‑based compensation expense during the period the related services are rendered.

Through December 31, 2016, we were required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant, and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differed from our estimates. We used historical data to estimate post-vesting forfeitures and recorded stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that were expected to vest. To the extent that actual forfeitures differed from estimates, the difference was recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period the estimates were revised. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements is based on awards that were ultimately expected to vest. The fair value of stock-based payments was recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period which was generally the vesting period.

In the first quarter of 2017, we made an accounting policy election to recognize forfeitures as they occur upon adoption of guidance per ASU No. 2016‑09. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

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Results of Operations

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, together with the changes in those items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

2018

    

2017

    

Dollar Change

Collaboration revenue

 

$

10,594

 

$

17,545

 

$

(6,951)

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

59,915

 

 

46,700

 

 

13,215

General and administrative

 

 

16,334

 

 

10,462

 

 

5,872

Total operating expenses

 

 

76,249

 

 

57,162

 

 

19,087

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

488

Total other income

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

488

Net loss

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(25,550)

Collaboration Revenue

The decrease in collaboration revenue from $17.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 to $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 was primarily the result of a decrease in efforts to support partner programs and a third quarter 2018 increase in total projected efforts associated with longer anticipated timelines, as a result of partial clinical hold, used to recognize XMT-1522 revenue. In addition, the year ended December 31, 2017 included a $4.0 million increase in revenue relating to changes in estimates of the costs to complete services under the Takeda agreements.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expense increased by $13.2 million from $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to $59.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 28%.

The increase in research and development expense was primarily attributable to the following:

·

approximately $2.3 million in increased employee compensation and $0.7 million in increased lab consumables both primarily due to an increase in headcount as our programs progressed in clinical and preclinical studies;

·

approximately $9.3 million in increased external research and development expenses for manufacturing activities for XMT-1536 and XMT-1522, as well as research efforts to further platform development and evaluate potential product candidates;

·

approximately $2.9 million in increased external clinical and regulatory expenses due primarily to the commencement of our first in-human trials for XMT-1536; and

·

approximately $1.5 million in increased lab consumables and facilities costs;

·

partially offset by a reduction of  approximately $2.8 million related to milestone payments in 2017 in connection with the XMT-1522 and XMT-1536 clinical trials, which were non-recurring events.

We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we continue our clinical development XMT-1536 and continue to advance our preclinical product candidate pipeline and invest in improvements in our ADC technologies.

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General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased by $5.9 million from $10.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 to $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, an increase of 56%.

The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to the following:

·

approximately $3.0 million in increased personnel costs primarily due to additional headcount as we built the infrastructure to support the growth of the research and development organization;

·

approximately $1.7 million in increased professional fees, including external legal fees, corporate communications and public relations costs to support operations as a growing public company; and

·

approximately $1.0 million in increased other costs, including insurance, software and franchise taxes.

We expect that our general and administrative expense will increase in future periods as we expand our operations and incur additional costs in connection with being a public company. These increases will likely include legal, auditing and filing fees, additional insurance premiums and general compliance and consulting expenses.

Other Income

Other income increased by $0.5 million from $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The change in other income was primarily due to increased interest income in the year ended December 31, 2018.

Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, together with the changes in those items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

    

2017

    

2016

    

Dollar Change

Collaboration revenue

 

$

17,545

 

$

25,171

 

$

(7,626)

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

46,700

 

 

32,008

 

 

14,692

General and administrative

 

 

10,462

 

 

6,984

 

 

3,478

Total operating expenses

 

 

57,162

 

 

38,992

 

 

18,170

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

910

 

 

121

 

 

789

Total other income

 

 

910

 

 

121

 

 

789

Net loss

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

 

$

(25,007)

Collaboration Revenue

The decrease in collaboration revenue from $25.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 to $17.5 million for 2017 was primarily the result of a decrease in revenue due to the timing of activities performed under the XMT-1522 agreement, partially offset by a $4.0 million increase in revenue during the quarter ended September 30, 2017, due to the impact of changes in estimates of the total costs to complete the research services under the Takeda agreements.

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Research and Development Expense

Research and development expense increased by $14.7 million from $32.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of 46%.

The increase in research and development expense was primarily attributable to the following:

·

approximately $4.8 million in increased employee compensation and $0.6 million in increased lab consumables primarily due to an increase in headcount as our programs progressed in clinical and preclinical studies;

·

approximately $3.4 million in increased external research and development expenses for IND‑enabling pre‑clinical and toxicology studies related to XMT-1536 as well as the manufacturing activities for our two lead programs and research efforts to evaluate potential product candidates;

·

approximately $2.8 million in increased external clinical and regulatory expenses due to the commencement of our first in-human trials for our initial candidate XMT‑1522 and our lead candidate XMT-1536; and

·

approximately $2.8 million related to milestone payments in connection with the XMT-1522 and XMT-1536 clinical trials.

General and Administrative Expense

General and administrative expense increased by $3.5 million from $7.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 to $10.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of 50%.

The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to the following:

·

approximately $0.9 million in increased personnel costs primarily due to additional headcount as we build the infrastructure to support the growth of the research and development organization;

·

approximately $1.8 million in increased professional fees, including external legal fees, corporate communications and public relations costs to support operations as a public company; and

·

approximately $0.8 million in increased other costs, including insurance, software and franchise taxes.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income increased by $0.8 million from $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The change in other income was primarily due to increased interest income in the year ended December 31, 2017 due to higher investment balances.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

We have financed our operations primarily through private placements of our convertible preferred stock, strategic partnerships and the 2017 initial public offering of our common stock. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $70.1 million. On March 5, 2019, we announced the closing of a public offering resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $97.8 million.

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Cash Flows

The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

(in thousands)

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(55,216)

 

$

(42,679)

 

$

31,588

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

87,195

 

 

(99,624)

 

 

(1,084)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

1,064

 

 

68,597

 

 

58,259

Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

$

33,043

 

$

(73,706)

 

$

88,763

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $55.2 million as compared to $42.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. We incurred losses during both periods. Net cash provided by operating activities was $31.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, we incurred losses, but they were offset by an increase in deferred revenue relating to upfront payments received from the 2016 Takeda agreements.

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities was $87.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $99.6  million during the year ended December 31, 2017. Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 consisted primarily of maturities of marketable securities.  Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 consisted primarily of purchases of marketable securities offset by maturities of marketable securities.  Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment.

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $68.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2018 cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of the proceeds from exercise of stock options and purchases under ESPP. During the year ended December 31, 2017 cash provided by financing activities consisted primarily of the proceeds from our initial public offering.  During the year ended December 31, 2016 cash provided by financing activities resulted from the proceeds received from sales of Series B‑1 and C‑1 Convertible Preferred Stock.

Funding Requirements

We expect our cash expenditures to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the research and development of, initiate clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for, our product candidates. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to drug sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution to the extent that such sales, marketing and distribution are not the responsibility of potential collaborators. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.

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We expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will enable us to fund our operating plan through at least mid 2021. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

·

the scope, progress, results and costs of drug discovery, preclinical development, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;

·

the scope, prioritization and number of our research and development programs;

·

the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

·

our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;

·

the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments under any collaboration agreements we obtain;

·

the extent to which we are obligated to reimburse, or entitled to reimbursement of, clinical trial costs under future collaboration agreements, if any;

·

the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property‑related claims;

·

the extent to which we acquire or in‑license other product candidates and technologies;

·

the costs of securing manufacturing arrangements for clinical and commercial production; and

·

the costs of establishing or contracting for sales and marketing capabilities if we obtain regulatory approvals to market our product candidates.

Identifying potential product candidates and conducting preclinical testing and clinical trials is a time‑consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes many years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve drug sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of drugs that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if at all. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.

Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships and licensing arrangements. We do not have any committed external source of funds outside of those to be earned in connection with our agreement with Merck KGaA, if development activities are successful under this agreement. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.

If we raise funds through additional strategic partnerships or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

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Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations as of payment due date by period at December 31, 2018:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less than

 

1 to 3

 

3 to 5

 

More than

(in thousands)

    

Total

    

1 Year

    

Years

    

Years

    

5 years

Lease commitments(1)

 

$

5,730

 

2,333

 

3,228

 

169

 

 —


(1)

Represents future minimum lease payments under our non‑cancelable operating leases, which expire through February 2024. The minimum lease payments above do not include any related common area maintenance charges or real estate taxes.

We enter into agreements in the normal course of business with contract research organizations for clinical trials and clinical supply manufacturing and with vendors for pre‑clinical research studies, and other services and products for operating purposes. We have not included these payments in the table of contractual obligations above since the contracts are cancelable at any time by us, generally upon 30 days prior written notice to the vendor. Milestone payments associated with our license agreements have not been included in the above table of contractual obligations as we cannot reasonably estimate if or when they will occur. We do not expect  any milestone payments for the year ended December 31, 2019 in connection with our development efforts.

Off‑Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have, during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off‑balance sheet arrangements, as defined under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

JOBS Act

In April 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company,” or an EGC, can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an EGC can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.

We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an EGC, we intend to rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an EGC until the earlier of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of our IPO; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risks
We are exposed to market risk-relatedrisk related to changes in interest rates. As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $177.9 million, primarily held in money market mutual funds consisting of U.S. government-backed securities. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because our investments, including cash equivalents and marketable securities are invested in U.S. Treasury obligations, commercial paper and corporate bonds. However, we believe that due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio and low-risk profile of our investments, an immediate 100 basis points change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our investments portfolio.


The interest rate on our New Credit Facility is sensitive to changes in interest rates. Interest accrues on borrowings under the credit facility at a floating rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.50% and (ii) the prime rate plus 5.25%. We do not currently engage in any hedging activities against changes in interest rates. As of December 31, 2021, there was $25.0 million outstanding under the New Credit Facility and a potential change in the associated interest rates would be immaterial to the results of our operations.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risks
We are currently not exposed to market risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, but we may contract with vendors that are located in Asia and Europe and may be subject to fluctuations in foreign currency rates at that time.

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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements


87

94


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the ShareholdersStockholders and the Board of Directors of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, convertible preferred stock and stockholders'stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018,2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018,2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Adoption

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of ASU No. 2014-09

As discussedthe Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Note 1 toInternal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the consolidated financial statements,Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Company changed its method for recognizing revenue in 2018 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and the related amendments.

our report dated February 28, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion


These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB)PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.


We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
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Accrued & Prepaid Clinical Expenses
Description of the Matter
As summarized in Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s accrual for clinical expenses totaled $7.9 million as of December 31, 2021. In addition, the Company’s Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets accounts totaled $13.3 million, which included amounts that were paid in advance of services pursuant to clinical trials as of December 31, 2021. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate clinical costs incurred and related accruals or remaining prepaid expenses based on certain information, including actual costs incurred or level of effort expended, as provided by its vendors. Payments for such activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred.

Auditing the Company’s accrued and prepaid clinical expenses was complex and judgmental, as the amounts are based on various estimates from third-party vendors, as well as other inputs estimated by members of management, such as, actual costs incurred but not yet billed, estimated project timelines, and the costs associated with these services. Furthermore, due to the duration of the Company’s ongoing research and development activities and the timing of invoicing received from third parties, the actual amounts incurred are not typically known by the date the financial statements are issued.



How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of the controls over the Company’s process for recording accrued and prepaid clinical expenses. These procedures included controls over management’s review of inputs used, as well as the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data, in estimating the accrual and prepaid.

To test the accrued and prepaid clinical expenses, our audit procedures included, among others, testing the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data used in the estimates and evaluating the significant assumptions noted above that are used by management to estimate the amounts recorded. We corroborated the progress of research and development activities through discussion with the Company’s research and development personnel that oversee the research and development projects. We also inspected the Company’s contracts with third parties and any pending change orders to assess the impact on amounts recorded. Additionally, we reviewed information received by the Company directly from certain sites and other third parties, which included third parties’ estimates of costs incurred to date. We also performed analytical procedures over fluctuations in accrued and prepaid clinical expenses by vendor, study, or other significant work order throughout the period subject to audit and inspected subsequent invoices received from third parties to assess the impact to the accrued and prepaid balances.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

Boston, Massachusetts

March 8, 2019

February 28, 2022

88

96


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

December 31,
2021
December 31,
2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$177,947 $255,094 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets10,951 3,486 
Total current assets188,898 258,580 
Property and equipment, net1,968 1,730 
Operating lease right-of-use assets12,889 10,936 
Other assets2,356 2,153 
Total assets$206,111 $273,399 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$12,321 $8,340 
Accrued expenses28,716 16,146 
Deferred revenue3,944 3,987 
Operating lease liabilities2,303 1,437 
Other liabilities239 93 
Total current liabilities47,523 30,003 
Operating lease liabilities11,247 10,158 
Long-term debt, net24,626 4,977 
Other liabilities974 174 
Total liabilities84,370 45,312 
Commitments (Note 13)00
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively— — 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized; 73,709,056 and 68,841,288 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
Additional paid-in capital572,213 508,499 
Accumulated deficit(450,479)(280,419)
Total stockholders’ equity121,741 228,087 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$206,111 $273,399 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

59,634

 

$

26,591

Short-term marketable securities

 

 

10,497

 

 

88,143

Accounts receivable

 

 

459

 

 

784

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

3,715

 

 

2,025

Total current assets

 

 

74,305

 

 

117,543

Property and equipment, net

 

 

2,694

 

 

2,319

Long-term marketable securities

 

 

 —

 

 

10,482

Other assets

 

 

1,503

 

 

371

Total assets

 

$

78,502

 

$

130,715

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

10,727

 

$

3,070

Accrued expenses

 

 

12,375

 

 

6,944

Deferred rent

 

 

127

 

 

232

Deferred revenue

 

 

46,196

 

 

21,635

Total current liabilities

 

 

69,425

 

 

31,881

Deferred rent, net of current portion

 

 

282

 

 

67

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

 —

 

 

28,773

Total liabilities

 

 

69,707

 

 

60,721

Commitments (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized; 23,234,472 and 22,765,017 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively

 

 

 3

 

 

 3

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

172,966

 

 

168,018

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(8)

 

 

(149)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(164,166)

 

 

(97,878)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

8,795

 

 

69,994

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

78,502

 

$

130,715

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

89

97


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Collaboration revenue$43 $828 $42,123 
Operating expenses:
Research and development132,013 67,036 55,040 
General and administrative36,888 21,902 17,283 
Total operating expenses168,901 88,938 72,323 
Other income (expense):
Interest income65 424 2,226 
Interest expense(1,267)(359)(234)
Total other income (expense), net(1,202)65 1,992 
Net loss$(170,060)$(88,045)$(28,208)
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities— (25)33 
Comprehensive loss$(170,060)$(88,070)$(28,175)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted$(170,060)$(88,045)$(28,208)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted$(2.41)$(1.43)$(0.65)
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted70,580,949 61,485,205 43,492,113 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

2018

    

2017

    

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue

 

$

10,594

 

$

17,545

 

$

25,171

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

59,915

 

 

46,700

 

 

32,008

General and administrative

 

 

16,334

 

 

10,462

 

 

6,984

Total operating expenses

 

 

76,249

 

 

57,162

 

 

38,992

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

121

Total other income

 

 

1,398

 

 

910

 

 

121

Net loss

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

Other comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities

 

 

141

 

 

(149)

 

 

 —

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(64,116)

 

$

(38,856)

 

$

(13,700)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(2.79)

 

$

(3.22)

 

$

(10.82)

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

 

23,032,250

 

 

12,022,733

 

 

1,266,758

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

90

98

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

Common StockAdditional
Paid-in
Capital
Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossAccumulated
Deficit
Stockholders' Equity
SharesAmount
Balance at December 31, 201823,234,472 $$172,966 $(8)$(164,166)$8,795 
Issuance of common stock under public offering, net of issuance costs of $5,58724,437,500 92,160 — — 92,162 
Exercise of stock options and warrants150,978 — 175 — — 175 
Purchase of common stock under ESPP140,073 — 489 — — 489 
Retirement of common stock in exchange for common stock warrant(2,575,000)— (8,986)— — (8,986)
Issuance of common stock warrant in exchange for retirement of common stock— — 8,986 — — 8,986 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 4,872 — — 4,872 
Other comprehensive income— — — 33 — 33 
Net loss— — — (28,208)(28,208)
Balance at December 31, 201945,388,023 $$270,662 $25 $(192,374)$78,318 
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market transactions, net of issuance costs of $2,17610,900,599 62,976 — — 62,977 
Issuance of common stock under public offering, net of issuance costs of $10,8099,200,000 163,990 — — 163,991 
Exercise of common stock warrant in exchange for common stock2,574,971 — — — — — 
Exercise of stock options697,428 — 3,138 — — 3,138 
Purchase of common stock under ESPP80,267 — 561 — — 561 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 7,172 — — 7,172 
Other comprehensive loss— — — (25)— (25)
Net loss— — — (88,045)(88,045)
Balance at December 31, 202068,841,288 $$508,499 $— $(280,419)$228,087 
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market transactions, net of issuance costs of $9883,961,074 — 43,087 — — 43,087 
Exercise of stock options421,381 — 1,837 — — 1,837 
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of employee tax obligation407,060 — (259)— — (259)
Purchase of common stock under ESPP78,253 — 640 — — 640 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 18,409 — — 18,409 
Net loss— — — — (170,060)(170,060)
Balance at December 31, 202173,709,056 $$572,213 $— $(450,479)$121,741 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A-1

 

Series B-1

 

Series C-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible

 

Convertible

 

Convertible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Preferred Stock

 

Preferred Stock

 

 

Common Stock

 

Paid-in

 

Other Comprehensive

 

Accumulated

 

Equity

 

    

Shares

    

Amount

    

Shares

    

Amount

    

Shares

    

Amount

  

  

Shares

    

Amount

    

Capital

 

Income (Loss)

    

Deficit

    

(Deficit)

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

25,085,153

 

$

26,336

 

9,410,551

 

$

9,960

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

1,223,457

 

$

 1

 

$

2,778

 

$

 —

 

$

(45,471)

 

$

(42,692)

Issuance of Series B-1 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $50

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

23,526,368

 

 

25,272

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 —

Issuance of Series C-1 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $218

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

14,674,062

 

 

32,882

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 —

Exercise of stock options

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

70,895

 

 

 

 

105

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

105

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

668

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

668

Net loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,700)

 

 

(13,700)

Balance at December 31, 2016

 

25,085,153

 

 

26,336

 

32,936,919

 

 

35,232

 

14,674,062

 

 

32,882

 

 

1,294,352

 

 

 1

 

 

3,551

 

 

 —

 

 

(59,171)

 

 

(55,619)

Issuance of common stock under initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $7,580

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

 —

 

 

67,420

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

67,420

Issuance of common stock under partial exercise of overallotment option, net of issuance costs of $55

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

51,977

 

 

 —

 

 

725

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

725

Conversion of preferred stock into common stock

 

(25,085,153)

 

 

(26,336)

 

(32,936,919)

 

 

(35,232)

 

(14,674,062)

 

 

(32,882)

 

 

16,154,671

 

 

 2

 

 

94,448

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

94,450

Exercise of stock options and warrants

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

264,017

 

 

 —

 

 

452

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

452

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,422

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,422

Other comprehensive loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(149)

 

 

 —

 

 

(149)

Net loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(38,707)

 

 

(38,707)

Balance at December 31, 2017

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

22,765,017

 

 

 3

 

 

168,018

 

 

(149)

 

 

(97,878)

 

 

69,994

Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of ASC 606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,031)

 

 

(2,031)

Exercise of stock options

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

427,269

 

 

 —

 

 

918

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

918

Purchase of common stock under ESPP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

42,186

 

 

 —

 

 

146

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

146

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,884

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,884

Other comprehensive loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

141

 

 

 —

 

 

141

Net loss

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(64,257)

 

 

(64,257)

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

23,234,472

 

$

 3

 

$

172,966

 

$

(8)

 

$

(164,166)

 

$

8,795

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

91

99

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss$(170,060)$(88,045)$(28,208)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation855 1,010 1,245 
Net amortization of premiums and discounts on investments— (86)(222)
Stock-based compensation18,409 7,172 4,872 
Other non-cash items723 148 103 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable— — 459 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets(2,734)(1,950)2,179 
Other assets(718)(700)— 
Accounts payable483 942 (3,110)
Accrued expenses12,570 7,280 (3,569)
Operating lease assets1,829 1,642 1,771 
Operating lease liabilities(1,827)(1,281)(1,883)
Deferred revenue(43)(828)(41,381)
Other liabilities525 — — 
Net cash used in operating activities(139,988)(74,696)(67,744)
Cash flows from investing activities
Maturities of marketable securities— 37,500 27,000 
Purchase of marketable securities— — (53,688)
Purchase of property and equipment(648)(473)(605)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities(648)37,027 (27,293)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net proceeds from public offering of common stock— 163,990 92,162 
Net proceeds from use of ATM43,087 63,036 — 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options1,837 3,138 175 
Proceeds from purchases of common stock under ESPP640 561 489 
Payment of employee tax obligations related to vesting of restricted stock units(259)— — 
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs24,042 (197)4,965 
Repayment of debt(5,486)— — 
Payments under finance lease obligations(215)(116)(87)
Net cash provided by financing activities63,646 230,412 97,704 
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(76,990)192,743 2,667 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period255,415 62,672 60,005 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period$178,425 $255,415 $62,672 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Fair value of common stock retired in exchange for issuance of common stock warrant$— $— $8,986 
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued expenses$— $102 $— 
Debt financing costs in accrued expenses$— $— $180 
Cash paid for interest$429 $234 $132 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities$3,783 $9,980 $4,369 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for financing lease liabilities$609 $— $429 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

 

    

2018

    

2017

    

2016

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(64,257)

 

$

(38,707)

 

$

(13,700)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

1,257

 

 

928

 

 

655

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

 

20

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Net amortization of premiums and discounts on investments

 

 

(296)

 

 

(293)

 

 

 —

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,884

 

 

1,422

 

 

668

Change in deferred rent

 

 

110

 

 

(159)

 

 

102

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

325

 

 

267

 

 

(411)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(1,690)

 

 

(1,200)

 

 

(245)

Other assets

 

 

(1,132)

 

 

60

 

 

(60)

Accounts payable

 

 

7,375

 

 

1,335

 

 

(325)

Accrued expenses

 

 

5,431

 

 

3,562

 

 

1,726

Deferred revenue

 

 

(6,243)

 

 

(9,894)

 

 

43,178

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

(55,216)

 

 

(42,679)

 

 

31,588

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maturities of marketable securities

 

 

88,565

 

 

47,220

 

 

 —

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

(1,370)

 

 

(1,143)

 

 

(1,084)

Purchase of marketable securities

 

 

 —

 

 

(145,701)

 

 

 —

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

87,195

 

 

(99,624)

 

 

(1,084)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds from sale of Series B-1 convertible preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

25,272

Net proceeds from sale of Series C-1 convertible preferred stock

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

32,882

Net proceeds from initial public offering

 

 

 —

 

 

67,420

 

 

 —

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock upon partial exercise of overallotment

 

 

 —

 

 

725

 

 

 —

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

918

 

 

452

 

 

105

Proceeds from purchases of common stock under ESPP

 

 

146

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

1,064

 

 

68,597

 

 

58,259

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

33,043

 

 

(73,706)

 

 

88,763

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

 

26,962

 

 

100,668

 

 

11,905

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

$

60,005

 

$

26,962

 

$

100,668

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion of preferred stock to common stock upon closing of initial public offering

 

$

 —

 

$

94,450

 

$

 —

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

317

 

$

35

 

$

414

Purchases of property and equipment reimbursed by landlord

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

356

Adjustment to accumulated deficit and deferred revenue upon adoption of Topic 606

 

$

2,031

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

92

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Notes to consolidated financial statements


1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Company is focused on developing antibody drug conjugates or ADCs,(ADCs) that offer a clinically meaningful benefit for cancer patients with significant unmet need. The Company has leveraged over 20 years of industry learning in the ADC field to develop proprietary technologiesand differentiated technology platforms that enable it to design ADCs to have improved efficacy, safety and tolerability relative to existing ADC therapies. The Company’s most advancedinnovative platforms, which include Dolaflexin and Dolasynthen, each delivering its DolaLock payload, as well as Immunosynthen, delivering the novel stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist ImmunoLock payload, together provide an efficient product engine that has enabled a robust discovery pipeline for the Company and its partners. The Company’s clinical candidates include upifitamab rilsodotin (UpRi) and XMT-1592. The Company's early stage programs include XMT-1660, a Dolasynthen ADC targeting B7-H4, as well as XMT-2056, a STING agonist ADC developed using the Company's Immunosynthen platform Dolaflexin,and targeting a novel epitope of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The Company also has been used to generate a pipelinetwo earlier stage preclinical candidates, XMT-2068 and XMT-2175, both of proprietary ADC product candidates to address patient populations that are not currently amenable to treatment with traditional ADC‑based therapies. which leverage the Company's Immunosynthen platform and target tumor-associated antigens.
The Company’sCompany's lead product candidate, XMT‑1536,UpRi, is ana first-in-class Dolaflexin ADC targeting NaPi2b, an antigen broadly expressed in ovarian cancer and non smallother cancers. The Company is currently evaluating UpRi in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a single-arm registrational trial, referred to as UPLIFT, for which the Company expects to complete enrollment in the third quarter of 2022. The Company is also conducting a Phase 1/2 umbrella combination trial, referred to as UPGRADE. The first combination the Company is exploring is the combination of UpRi with carboplatin, a standard platinum chemotherapy broadly used in the treatment of platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. The Company may explore other combinations in the future. The Company expects to report interim data from UPGRADE in the second half of 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, the Company expects to initiate enrollment in a randomized placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, referred to as UP-NEXT, to evaluate UpRi as single agent maintenance treatment in patients with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer that have high NaPi2b expression.
The Company's second clinical candidate, XMT-1592, is a NaPi2b-targeted ADC leveraging the Dolasynthen platform. The Company is conducting a Phase 1 dose exploration trial in patients with ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, (NSCLC). The first patient was dosed on XMT‑1536or NSCLC, which it expects to complete in early 2018 and the study is currently in Phase 1 dose escalation in ovarian cancer, NSCLC and other orphan indications where a majoritysecond half of patients express NaPi2b including endometrial, papillary renal, papillary thyroid, and salivary duct.

In January 2019, the Company announced that the development of XMT-1522 was being discontinued and the partnerships with Takeda were being terminated during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.

2022.

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry, including but not limited to, the need for additional capital, risks of failure of preclinical studies and clinical trials, the need to obtain marketing approval and reimbursement for any drug product candidate that it may identify and develop, the need to successfully commercialize and gain market acceptance of its product candidates, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, development of technological innovations by competitors, reliance on third party manufacturers and the ability to transition from pilot-scale production to large-scale manufacturing of products.

The Company has incurred net losses since inception. The Company’s net loss was $64,257, $38,707$170,060, $88,045 and $13,700$28,208 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The Company expects to continue to incur operating losses for at least the next several years. As of December 31, 2018,2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $164,166.$450,479. The future success of the Company is dependent on, among other factors, its ability to identify and develop its product candidates and ultimately upon its ability to attain profitable operations. The Company has devoted substantially all of its financial resources and efforts to research and development and general and administrative expense to support such research and development. The Company’s net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. Net losses and negative operating cash flows have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on the Company’s stockholders’ equity and working capital.
The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2018, and the $97,800 in gross proceeds from the offering discussed in Note 15,currently available funds will enable itbe sufficient to fund its operating planthe Company’s operations through at least mid 2021.

the next twelve months from the issuance of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management’s belief with respect to its ability to fund operations is based on estimates that are subject to risks and uncertainties. If actual results are different from management’s estimates, the Company may need to seek additional funding.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
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Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative United States generally accepted accounting principlesU.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). All dollar amounts, except per share data in the text and tables herein, are stated in thousands unless otherwise indicated.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) using the modified retrospective method as discussed below in Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. All 2018 amounts and disclosures set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect these changes.

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include those of the Company and its wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary, Mersana Securities Corp. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company's management evaluates its estimates which include, but are not limited to, management's judgments with respect to the separate unitsidentification of accountingperformance obligations and best estimate ofstandalone selling priceprices of those units of accountingperformance obligations within its revenue arrangements, accrued preclinical, manufacturing and clinical expenses, valuation of stock-based awards and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company and the Company's chief operating decision-maker, the Company's chief executive officer, view the Company'sviews its operations and managemanages its business as a single operating segment, which is the business of discovering and developing ADCs.

Research and Development

The Company

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and include:
employee-related expenses, all costsincluding salaries, bonuses, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense;
fees and expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, investigative sites and other entities in performingconnection with the conduct of preclinical studies, clinical trials and related services;
the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing ADC product candidates, clinical trial materials and other research and development activities. Researchmaterials;
fees and development expenses include salariescosts related to regulatory filings and benefits, materialsactivities;
costs associated with collaboration agreements and supplies, preclinical expenses, manufacturing expenses, stock-based compensation expense,license fees and milestone payments related to license agreements;
costs associated with creating and obtaining approval for the NaPi2b companion or complementary diagnostic biomarker;
facilities, depreciation of equipment, contract services and other outside expenses. expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent, utilities, maintenance of facilities, insurance and other supplies; and
other costs associated with clinical, preclinical, discovery and other research activities.
Costs offor certain development activities, such as preclinical studies, clinical trials and manufacturing development activities, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks.tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, and information provided to the Company by its vendors on their actual costs incurred or level of effort
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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
expended. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected inon the financial statementsconsolidated balance sheets as prepaid or accrued research and development costs. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed. Costs associated with collaboration agreements are included in research and development expense.

The Company may also incur costs associated with its collaboration agreements to supply ADC drug substance for which it has an enforceable right to recover such costs at the time the costs are incurred and it is probable the Company will receive some future benefit. Costs may include third partypreclinical, manufacturing and internal labor. The capitalized amounts are expensed when the related goods are delivered.

clinical expenses.

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the provisions of Topic 606, using the modified retrospective transition method.  Under this method, the Company recorded the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard to all contracts in process as of the date of adoption.  This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts

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(continued)

that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. 

The adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance resulted in increases of $2,031 in deferred revenue and accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018. For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenue decreased by $378, net loss increased by $378 and basic and diluted net loss per share increased by $0.02, based on revenue recognition under Topic 606, as compared to the Company’s prior revenue recognition methodology under ASC 605 Revenue Recognition. These changes were primarily caused by the differences in determining and allocating transaction price under Topic 606.

The Company enters into collaboration agreements which are within the scope of Topic 606,Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-9, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), under which the Company licenses rights to its technology and certain of the Company’s product candidates and performs research and development services for third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front fees; reimbursement of research and development costs; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.

Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized for arrangements determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract;contract(s) with a customer; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies each performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.

The promised good or services in the Company’s arrangement typically consist of license rights to the Company’s intellectual property and research and development services. The Company also has optional additional items in contracts, which are considered marketing offers and are accounted for as separate contracts with the customer if such option is elected by the customer, unless the option provides a material right which would not be provided without entering into the contract. Performance obligations are promised goods or services in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. Promised goods or services are considered distinct when (i) the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other readily available resources or (ii) the promised good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. In assessing whether promised goods or services are distinct, the Company considers factors such as the stage of development of the underlying intellectual property, the capabilities of the customer to develop the intellectual property on their own or whether the required expertise is readily available.

The Company estimates the transaction price based on the amount expected to be received for transferring the promised goods or services in the contract. The consideration may include both fixed consideration and variable consideration. At the inception of each arrangement that includes variable consideration and at each reporting period, the Company evaluates the amount of potential payment and the likelihood that the payments will be received. The Company utilizes either the most likely amount method or expected amountvalue method to estimate the amount expected to be received based on which method better predicts the amount expectedof consideration to which the Company will be received.entitled. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the variable consideration is included in the transaction price. We assessed each of our revenue generating arrangements in order to determine whether a significant financing component exists and concluded that a significant financing component does not exist in any of our arrangements because: (a) the promised consideration approximates the cash selling price of the promised goods and services; and (b) timing of payment approximates the transfer of goods and services and performance is over a relatively short period of time within the context of the entire term of the contract.

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

The Company’s contracts often include development and regulatory milestone payments. At contract inception and at each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect license, collaboration and other revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue resulting from any of the Company’s collaboration arrangements.

The Company allocates the transaction price based on the estimated standalone selling price of the underlying performance obligations or in the case of certain variable consideration to one or more performance obligations. The Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alonestandalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company utilizes key assumptions to determine the stand-alonestandalone selling price, which may include other comparable transactions, pricing considered in negotiating the transaction and the estimated costs to complete the respective performance obligation. Certain variable consideration is allocated specifically to one or more performance obligations in a contract when the terms of the variable consideration relate to the satisfaction of the performance obligation and the resulting amounts allocated to each performance obligation are consistent with the amounts the Company would expect to receive for each performance obligation.

For performance obligations consisting of licenses and other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company will recognize revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license.

The Company receives payments from its customers based on billing schedules established in each contract. Such billings generally have 30 day30-day terms. Up-front payments and fees are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due until the Company performs its obligations under these arrangements. Amounts are recorded as accounts receivable when the right to consideration is unconditional.

Collaborative Arrangements

The Company records the elements of its collaboration agreements that represent joint operating activities in accordance with ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (ASC 808). Accordingly, the elements of the collaboration agreements that represent activities in which both parties are active participants and to which both parties are exposed to the significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities, are recorded as collaborative arrangements. The Company also considers the guidance in ASC Topic 606 by analogy in determining the appropriate treatment for the transactions between the Company and its collaborative partners and the transactions between the Company and third parties. Generally, the classification of transactions under the collaborative arrangements is determined based on the nature and contractual terms of the arrangement along with the nature of the operations of the participants. To the extent revenue

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

is generated from a collaboration, the Company will recognize its share of the net sales on a gross basis if it is deemed to be the principal in the transactions with customers, or on a net basis if it is instead deemed to be the agent in the transactions with customers, consistent with the guidance in Topic 606.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability between market participants at measurement dates. ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (ASC 820), establishes a three-level valuation
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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value. The hierarchy is based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity, or a remaining maturity at the time of purchase, of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company invests excess cash primarily in money market funds, commercial paper and government agency securities, which are highly liquid and have strong credit ratings. These investments are subject to minimal credit and market risks. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

December 31, 2018

 

December 31, 2017

 

Beginning

 

End

 

Beginning

 

End

 

of period

    

of period

 

of period

    

of period

Cash and cash equivalents

$

26,591

 

$

59,634

 

$

100,297

 

$

26,591

Restricted cash included in other assets

 

371

 

 

371

 

 

371

 

 

371

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash per statement of cash flows

$

26,962

 

$

60,005

 

$

100,668

 

$

26,962

Marketable Securities

Short-term marketable securities consist of investments in debt securities with maturities greater than three months and less than one year from the balance sheet date. Long-term marketable securities consist of investments with maturities greater than one year that are not expected to be used to fund current operations. The Company classifies all of its marketable securities as available-for-sale. Accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value. Amortization and accretion of discounts and premiums are recorded as interest income within other income. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other comprehensive loss as a component of stockholders’ equity (deficit) until realized.

97

Year ended December 31, 2021Year ended December 31, 2020
Beginning
of period
End
of period
Beginning
of period
End
of period
Cash and cash equivalents$255,094 $177,947 $62,351 $255,094 
Restricted cash included in other assets, noncurrent321 478 321 321 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash per statement of cash flows$255,415 $178,425 $62,672 $255,415 

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

Other Assets

The Company recorded other assets of $1,503$2,356 and $371 assets$2,153 as of December 31, 20182021 and 2017, respectively. The December 31, 2018 amount is2020, respectively, comprised of $1,418 and $1,832, respectively, held by a service provider, restricted cash of $371$478 and $321, respectively, held as a security depositsdeposit for a standby letter of credit related to a facility lease, and a corporate credit card program and $1,132 held by a service provider. The$460 as of December 31, 2017 amount is comprised2021 of restricted cashdeferred financing costs related to the New Credit Facility (as defined below) with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Oxford Financial LLC (Oxford).

For additional information regarding the New Credit Facility, please refer to Note 7, Debt, to these consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718 Compensation—Stock Compensation (ASC 718). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, directors and directorsnon-employees to be recognized as expense in the statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. Expense related to stock awards to non-employees is required to be recognized in the statement of operations based on the awards' vesting date fair values. The Company estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including (a) the expected stock price volatility, (b) the calculation of expected term of the award, (c) the risk-free interest rate and (d) expected dividends. Due to the lack of a public market for the Company's common stock prior to completion of the IPOinitial public offering and a lack of company-specific historical and implied volatility data, the Company has based its estimate of expected volatility on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. The historical volatility is calculated based on a period of time commensurate with the expected term assumption. The computation of expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of a representative group of companies with similar characteristics to the Company, including stage of product development and life science industry focus. The Company uses the simplified method as prescribed by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment, to calculate the expected term for options granted to employees as it does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term. For options granted to non-employees, the Company utilizes the contractual term of the arrangement as the basis for the expected term assumption. The risk-free interest rate is based on a

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected term of the stock options. The expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plans to do so.

Through December 31, 2016,

The Company determines the fair value of each restricted stock unit (RSU), at its grant date based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on that date. For stock-based compensation subject to service-based vesting conditions, the Company was required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant, and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from its estimates. The Company used historical data to estimate post-vesting forfeitures and recordedrecognizes stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that were expectedequal to vest. To the extent that actualgrant date fair value of stock-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
The Company records forfeitures differ from estimates, the difference was recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period the estimates were revised. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements is based on awards that were ultimately expected to vest. The fair value of stock-based payments was recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period which is generally the vesting period.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company made an accounting policy election to recognize forfeitures as they occur upon adoption of guidance per ASU No. 2016-09. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

occur.

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share of common sharestock is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and, for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2,575,000 Exchange Warrants (as defined in Note 8, Stockholders' Equity) outstanding during the period, without further consideration for potentially dilutive securities. In accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, the Exchange Warrants are included in the computation of basic net loss per share because the exercise price is negligible and they are fully vested and exercisable at any time after the original issuance date. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock and if-converted methods.

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

method. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, convertible preferred stock warrants to purchase common stockoptions, unvested RSUs and optionswarrants to purchase common stock are considered to be potentially dilutive securities, but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive and therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share were the same for all periods presented.

The following table sets forth the outstanding potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because to include them would be anti-dilutive (in common stock equivalent shares):

Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Stock options8,342,429 6,112,948 4,720,772 
Unvested restricted stock units817,609 716,767 447,336 
Warrants39,474 39,474 39,474 
9,199,512 6,869,189 5,207,582 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

2018

 

2017

    

2016

Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

 —

 

 —

 

5,574,467

Series B-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

 —

 

 —

 

7,319,307

Series C-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

 

 —

 

 —

 

3,260,897

Warrants

 

110,365

 

110,365

 

129,491

Stock options

 

3,746,567

 

3,205,485

 

2,901,985

 

 

3,856,932

 

3,315,850

 

19,186,147

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset as follows:

Computer equipment, office equipment and software

3 years

Laboratory equipment

5 years

Leasehold improvements

Shorter of useful life or life of lease

Upon retirement or sale, the cost of the assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the balance sheet and related gains or losses are reflected in the statement of operations. There were no material retirements or sales of assets during the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016.

2019.

The Company reviews its property and equipmentlong-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate an asset for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future net cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. The Company did not recognize impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016.

Repairs2019.

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
Leases
Consistent with ASC Topic 842, Leases, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in right-of-use lease assets (ROU assets), current portion of lease obligations and maintenance costslong-term lease obligations on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Assets subject to finance leases are expensedincluded in property and equipment, and the related lease obligation is included in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Lease assets are tested for impairment in the same manner as incurred.

long-lived assets used in operations. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as an operating expense while expense for financing leases is recognized as depreciation expense and interest expense using the effective interest method. The Company has elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for short-term leases, which allows the Company not to recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets on the consolidated balance sheets for leases with an original term of twelve months or less.

ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease obligations represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are initially recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected remaining lease term. When determining the lease term, the Company includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Certain adjustments to the ROU asset may be required for items such as incentives received. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As a result, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate to discount lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate reflects the fixed rate at which the Company could borrow, on a collateralized basis, the amount of the lease payments in the same currency, for a similar term, in a similar economic environment. Prospectively, the Company will adjust the ROU assets for straight-line rent expense, or any incentives received and remeasure the lease liability at the net present value using the same incremental borrowing rate that was in effect as of the lease commencement or transition date.
The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately.
Patent Costs

The Company expenses patent application and related legal costs as incurred and classifies such costs as general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

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(continued)

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, which provides for deferred taxes using thean asset and liability method.  approach. The difference between the financial statement and tax basis of the assets and liabilities is determined annually. Deferred incomeCompany recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The Company determines its deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are computedmeasured using the enacted tax rates and laws and rates that will be in effect when the differences are expected to apply for periods in which such differences reverse. Valuation allowances are established,provided if, necessary, to reducebased upon the deferred tax asset to the amount that willweight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greatermore likely than 50% likely of beingnot to be realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised ofcomprises net loss and other comprehensive loss. For the year ended December 31, 2021, comprehensive loss equaled net loss. For the years ended December 31, 20182020 and 2017,2019, other comprehensive lossincome (loss) consisted of changes in unrealized income and loss on marketable securities. For the year ended December 31, 2016 comprehensive loss equaled net loss.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Off-balance Sheet Risk

The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk
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primarily consist of cash equivalents and marketable securities. Under its investment policy, the Company limits amounts invested in such securities by credit rating, maturity, industry group, investment type and issuer, except for securities issued by the U.S. government. The Company has not experienced any credit losses and does not believe that it is not exposedsubject to any significant concentrations of credit risk from these financial instruments.

Recently IssuedAdopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2016,December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments (ASU No. 2016-01)2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in the accounting standards. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 eliminate certain exceptions related to the recordingapproach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of financial assetsdeferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and financial liabilities. Under the amended guidance, equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidationsimplifies other aspects of the investee)accounting for income taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 are to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income (loss). However, an entity has the option to measure equity investments without readily determinable fair values either (i) at fair value or (ii) at cost, adjusted for changes in observable prices minus impairment. Changes in measurement under either alternative will be recognized in net income (loss). The amended guidance became effective January 1, 2018. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. Based on the Company’s current investment holdings, the adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (ASU No. 2016-02), which will replace the existing guidance in ASC 840, Leases. The updated standard aims to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and requiring disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. This standard is effective for the Company in the fiscal yearyears beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permissible. The Company plans to adopt the standard effective January 1, 2019. The Company plans to use the modified retrospective method of adoption and to elect the available practical expedients. The standard is expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, but not have an impact on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The most significant impact will be the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases.

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In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new standard clarifies certain aspects of the statement of cash flows, including the classification of contingent consideration payments made after a business combination and several other clarifications not currently applicable to the Company. The new standard also clarifies that an entity should determine each separately identifiable source or use within cash receipts and cash payments on the basis of the nature of the underlying cash flows. In situations in which cash receipts and payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows and cannot be separated by source or use, the appropriate classification should depend on the activity that is likely to be the predominant source or use of cash flows for the item. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash (ASU No. 2016-18). The amendments in this update require that amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included within cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. This guidance is intended to provide clarity and reduce diversity in practice as to when changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payments are accounted for as modifications. Under this new guidance, entities will apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification of the award changes. This guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance per ASU 2017-09 is to be adopted prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This guidance simplifies the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions.  This guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance per ASU 2018-07 is to be adopted by using a modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard recognized at the date of initial application. The Company does not anticipate a material impact to the consolidated financial statements as a result of the adoption of this guidance.

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808):Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606. The main provisions of ASU 2018-18 include: (i) clarifying that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account and (ii) precluding the presentation of transactions with collaborative arrangement participants that are not directly related to sales to third parties together with revenue. This guidance will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance per ASU 2018-18 is to be adopted retrospectively to the date of initial application of Topic 606. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that ASU No. 2018-18 may have on its financial position and results of operations.

disclosures.

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3. Collaboration Agreements

Merck KGaA

In June 2014, the Company entered into a Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement with Merck KGaA (the Merck KGaA Agreement). Upon the execution of the agreement,Merck KGaA Agreement, Merck KGaA paid the Company a nonrefundablenon-refundable technology access fee of $12,000 for the right to develop ADCs directed to six6 exclusive targets over a specified period of time. No additional fees are due when a target is designated and the commercial license to the target is granted. Merck KGaA will be responsible for the product development and marketing of any products resulting from this collaboration. All six targets were designated prior to 2018.

Under the terms of the agreement,Merck KGaA Agreement, the Company and Merck KGaA develop research plans to evaluate Merck KGaA's antibodies as ADCs incorporating the Company's technology. The Company receives reimbursement for its efforts under the research plans. The goal of the research plans is to provide Merck KGaA with sufficient information to formally nominate a development candidate and begin IND-enabling studies or cease development on the designated target.

In addition to the payments received for research and development activities performed on behalf of Merck KGaA, the Company is alsocould be eligible to receive up to a total of $780,000 in future milestones related to all targets under the agreement,Merck KGaA Agreement, plus low to mid singlemid-single digit royalties on the commercial sales of any resulting products during the applicable royalty term. The total milestones are categorized as follows: development milestones—$84,000;milestones $84,000; regulatory milestones—$264,000;milestones $264,000; and sales milestones—$432,000.milestones $432,000. There are six6 individual development milestones per target, payable upon the completion of various activities, from the delivery of ADCs meeting defined specifications, through the dosing in a Phase 3 clinical trial. There are five5 regulatory milestones, which are payable upon regulatory approvals for a first indication in each of the U.S., European Union and Japanese markets and regulatory approvals for both a second and a third indication in the United States. There are three3 individual commercial milestones, which are payable upon the attainment of certain defined thresholds for annual net sales.

Prior to 2018,2020, the Company had received $3,000 related to development milestones under the agreement.Merck KGaA Agreement. There have been no additional milestone payments in the yearyears ended December 31, 2018.2021 or 2020. The next potential milestone payment the Company will be eligible to receive will be a development milestone of $500 on Merck KGaA's designation of a preclinical development candidate for any target. Revenue will be recognized uponwhen achievement of the milestone.

milestone is considered probable.

Unless earlier terminated, the agreementMerck KGaA Agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last royalty term for a product under the agreement,Merck KGaA Agreement, after which time, Merck KGaA will have a perpetual, royalty-free license, or if Merck KGaA does not designate any ADC product candidates produced by the Company under the agreementMerck KGaA Agreement as preclinical development candidates, upon the expiration of the last to expire research program. Merck KGaA may terminate the agreementMerck KGaA Agreement in its entirety or with respect to any target for convenience upon 60 days' prior written notice. Each party may terminate the Merck KGaA Agreement in its entirety upon bankruptcy or similar proceedings of the other party or upon an uncured material breach of the agreementMerck KGaA Agreement by the other party. However, if such breach only relates to one target, the agreement may only be terminated with respect to such target.

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In May 2018, the Company entered into a Supply Agreement with Merck KGaA (the Merck KGaA Supply Agreement). Under the terms of the agreement,Merck KGaA Supply Agreement, the Company will provide Merck KGaA preclinical non-GMP ADC Drug Substancedrug substance and clinical GMP Drug Substancedrug substance for use in clinical trials associated with one of the antibodies designated under the Merck KGaA Agreement. The Company receives fees for its efforts under the Merck KGaA Supply Agreement and reimbursement equal to the supply cost. The Company may also enter into future supply agreements to provide clinical supply material should Merck KGaA pursue clinical development of any other candidates nominated under the agreement.

Merck KGaA Agreement.

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Accounting Analysis

For periods prior to January 1, 2018, the Company applied the provisions of ASC 605 in accounting for this arrangement.

By applying the contract modification practical expedient, the Company has aggregated the effect of all modifications through the initial date of application of Topic 606 for the purposes of (i) identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, (ii) determining the transaction price and (iii) allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations. 

The Company identified the following performance obligations under the agreement:Merck KGaA Agreement: (i) exclusive license and research services for six6 designated targets, (ii) rights to future technological improvements and (iii) participation of project team leaders and providing joint research committee services.

The Company has concluded that each license for a designated target is not distinct from the research services performed related to the designated target as Merck KGaA cannot obtain the benefit of the license without the related research services. Each license for a designated target and the related services performance obligation is considered distinct from every other license for a designated target and related services performance obligation as each research plan is pursued independent of every other research plansplan for other designated targets.

As of the date of initial application of Topic 606, the total transaction price for the Merck KGaA Agreement was $22,875, which included approximately $7,875 fees for research and development activities which have been or were expected to be received and $3,000 of milestone payments previously earned.  

The Company utilizes the expected value approach to estimate the amount of consideration related to the payment of fees associated with development and research services. The Company utilizes the most likely amount approach to estimate any development and regulatory milestone payments to be received. As of the date of initial application of Topic 606, there were no milestones payments that had not already been received, included in the estimated transaction price. The Company considered the stage of development and the remaining risks associated with the remaining development required to achieve the milestone, as well as whether the achievement of the milestone is outside the control of the Company or Merck KGaA. The milestone payment amounts were fully constrained, as a result of the uncertainty whether any of the associated milestones would be achieved. The Company has determined that any commercial milestones and sales based royalties will be recognized when the related sales occur as they were determined to relate predominantly to the license granted and therefore have also been excluded from the transaction price.  The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.  In the third quarter of 2018, the Company revised its estimate for fees associated with research and development activities under the Merck KGaA Agreement to $7,070, a decrease of $805. The revised total transaction price for the Merck KGaA Agreement is $22,070.

The transaction price was allocated to the performance obligations based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of each performance obligation or in the case of certain variable consideration to one or more performance obligations. The estimated standalone selling prices for performance obligations, that include a license and research services, were developed using the estimated selling price of the license and an estimate of the overall effort to perform the research service and an estimated market rate for research services. The estimated standalone selling price of the licenses was established based on comparable transactions. The estimated standalone selling price for the rights to future technological improvements was developed based on the estimated selling prices of a license or rights received, as well as considering the probability that additional technology would be made available or the probability the counterpart would utilize the technology. The estimated standalone selling price for the joint research committee services was developed using an estimate of the time and costs incurred to participate in the committees.

The Company re-evaluates the transaction price in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the total estimated transaction price for the Merck KGaA Agreement was $21,325. The transaction price as of the date of initial application of Topic 606 of $22,875$21,325 was allocated to the performance obligations as follows: approximately $4,226$3,941 for each of the license and corresponding research and development services

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units of account for the first and second designated targets; $3,439 for each of the license and corresponding research and development services units of account for the third fourth, fifth and sixth designated target; $3,152 for the license and corresponding research and development services unit of account for the fourth designated target; $2,746 for the license and corresponding research and development services unit of account for the fifth designated target; $425 for rights to future technological improvements; and $242 for joint research committee services.

The Company is recognizing revenue related to the exclusive license and research and development services performance obligation over the estimated period of the research and development services using a proportional performance model. The Company measures proportional performance based on the costs incurred relative to the total costs expected to be incurred. To
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the extent that the Company receives fees for the research services as they are preformed,performed, these amounts are recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue related to future technological improvements and joint research committee services will be recognized ratably over the performance period (which in the case of the joint research committee services approximate the time and cost incurred each period), which are 10 and 5 years, respectively. The Company is continuing to reassess the estimated remaining term at each subsequent reporting period.

As of December 31, 2021, the Company has completed its research service obligations associated with 4 of the 6 designated targets. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, the Company recorded collaboration revenue of $2,444, $3,636$43, $828 and $3,644,$853, respectively, related to its efforts under the collaboration agreement. Included in accounts receivable as ofMerck KGaA Agreement. During the year ended December 31, 20182019, the Company recognized collaboration revenue and 2017 was $450corresponding research and $330, respectively,development expense of $1,280 related to the Merck KGaA Supply Agreement.

There were no amounts recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 related to the Merck KGaA Supply Agreement. There was no balance in accounts receivable related to the Merck KGaA Agreement and Merck KGaA Supply Agreement as of either December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

As of December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, the Company had recorded $5,462$3,944 and $6,634,$3,987, respectively, in deferred revenue related to the Merck KGaA Agreement and Merck KGaA Supply Agreement that will be recognized over the remaining performance period.

Takeda XMT-1522 strategic partnership

Strategic Partnership

In January 2016, the Company entered into a Development Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement with Takeda’sTakeda Pharmaceutical, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the development and commercialization of XMT-1522 (the XMT-1522 Agreement). Under the XMT-1522 Agreement, Takeda was granted the exclusive right to commercialize XMT-1522 outside of the United States and Canada. Under the XMT-1522 Agreement, the Company was responsible for conducting certain Phase 1 development activities for XMT-1522, including the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study,trial, at its own expense. Takeda had the option to conduct Phase 1 development activities at its own expense within its territory. The parties agreed to collaborate on the further development of XMT-1522 in accordance with a global development plan (Post-Phase 1 Development). On January 2, 2019, the Company received notice from Takeda stating that Takeda was exercising its right to terminate the XMT-1522 Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice. The parties agreedXMT-1522 Agreement terminated in accordance with its provisions, and the Company and Takeda wound down activities related to sharethe XMT-1522 Agreement as of March 31, 2019. Under the XMT-1522 Agreement, the Company and Takeda shared equally all clinical stage manufacturing costs and anyagreed Post-Phase 1 Development costs incurred inthrough the performancedate of activitiestermination and for a period of 30 days after the purpose of obtaining regulatory approval in either the United States or Canadaeffective termination date.
Takeda Strategic Research and in certain other major markets in the rest of the world. Each party was responsible for all Post-Phase 1 Development costs incurred in the performance of activities solely for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approval in such party's territory. Each party may conduct independent development of XMT-1522, subject to certain restrictions.

The Company received an upfront payment of $26,500 upon execution of the XMT-1522 Agreement. In addition, the Company was entitled to a milestone payment of $20,000 upon achievement of the IND Clearance Date (as defined therein). The Company achieved the IND Clearance Date in October 2016.

In addition to the milestone payment upon achievement of the IND Clearance Date, the Company is entitled to receive future development, regulatory and commercial milestones of up to $288,000, consisting of $87,000 of development milestones, $128,000 of regulatory milestones and $73,000 of commercial milestones, as well as royalties in the low to mid teens on net sales of XMT-1522 in Takeda’s territory during the applicable royalty term. There are development milestones payable upon the achievement of nine separate events: the initiation of Phase 2 clinical trials and Phase 3 clinical trials for four separate specified patient populations and the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial for one additional unspecified patient population. There are 14 regulatory milestones, which are payable upon regulatory submissions, regulatory approvals and pricing approvals, as applicable, for the U.S., European Union and Japanese markets for up to four separate patient populations and multiple label indications. In addition, a regulatory milestone is payable upon the

Partnership

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receipt of regulatory and pricing approval in two specified markets other than the United States, the European Union or Japan. There are three individual commercial milestones, which are payable upon the attainment of certain thresholds for annual net sales. The next potential milestone the Company will be eligible to receive is a development milestone of $12,000 related to the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial.

The XMT-1522 Agreement expires upon the expiration of the royalty term for XMT-1522, after which time, Takeda will have a perpetual, royalty-free license. However, Takeda may terminate the XMT-1522 Agreement in its entirety for convenience upon 30 days' prior written notice at any time up to the initiation of the first Phase 2 clinical study of XMT-1522 or upon 90 days' prior written notice following the initiation of the first Phase 2 clinical study of XMT-1522. Each party may terminate the XMT-1522 Agreement in its entirety upon bankruptcy or similar proceedings of the other party and in its entirety or on a country-by-country basis upon an uncured material breach of the agreement by the other party. Following termination, XMT-1522 will revert to the Company for further development and commercialization.

Takeda strategic research and development partnership

In March 2014, the Company entered into a Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement with Takeda’s wholly owned subsidiary, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the 2014 Agreement). The 2014 Agreement was amended in January 2015 and amended and restated in January 2016 (the 2016 Restated Agreement). The agreements initially provided Takeda with the right to develop ADCs directed to a total of seven7 exclusive targets, designated by Takeda, over a specified period of time. On January 2, 2019, the Company received notice from Takeda stating that Takeda was responsible for the product development and marketing of any products resulting from this collaboration.  To date, the Company has received $24,800 in non-refundable upfront fees, technology access fees or option exercise fees. 

For the two targets initially under the 2014 Agreement, the Company initially granted a research license upon designation of a target.  To receive a development and commercialization license for these designated targets, Takeda was requiredexercising its right to pay an additional option exercise fee of $1,300.  For the remaining five targets, the Company grants a research, development and commercialization license upon the designation of a target.

For each designated target, the Company and Takeda develop research plans to evaluate Takeda's antibodies as ADCs incorporating the Company's technology. The Company receives service fees for its efforts under the research plans. The goal of the research plans is to provide Takeda with sufficient information to formally nominate a development candidate and begin Investigational New Drug Application (IND), enabling studies or cease development on the designated target. 

As of December 31, 2018, Takeda had designated four targets and received development and commercialization licenses for the first, third and fourth designated targets and a research license for the second designated target.  Takeda has limited replacement rights for two designated targets, subject to certain contractual restrictions.  Takeda is required to pay $500 to utilize the second limited replacement right.

As of December 31, 2018, if products are successfully developed and commercialized, the Company would be entitled to receive aggregate milestones of up to $474,750 for all eligible designated targets consisting of $50,250 in development milestones, $153,000 in regulatory milestones, and $271,500 in commercial milestones. The total milestones payable on each of the remaining eligible three targets are $158,250. There are four individual development milestones per target, which are payable upon the filing of an IND application and the initiation of Phase 1 through Phase 3 clinical trials. There are eight individual regulatory milestones per target. These are payable upon regulatory submissions, regulatory approvals and pricing approvals, as applicable, for the U.S., European Union and Japanese markets and regulatory approvals for both a second and third indication. There are six individual commercial milestones, which are payable upon the first commercial sale in each of the U.S., European Union and Japanese markets and upon the attainment of three separate defined thresholds for annual net sales. The next potential milestone payment the Company will be eligible to receive is a development milestone of $750 related to the filing of an IND. The Company is also entitled to receive royalties on product sales, if

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any, during the applicable royalty term. Royalties payable on the remaining designated targets are in the mid to high single digits.

The Company may elect to exercise an option to co-develop and co-commercialize one product incorporating either Takeda's fifth, sixth or seventh target in the United States for a payment of $15,000. If the Company elects to exercise the option to co-develop and co-commercialize a product, the Company will share in 50% of the profits related to the United States. The Company will be responsible for 50% of costs incurred specifically for the United States and 30% of global development costs. Any costs incurred specifically for a foreign country will be borne 100% by Takeda. If the Company elects to co-develop and co-commercialize a product, certain regulatory milestones and royalties related to the United States for that target would not be paid by Takeda.

Unless earlier terminated, the 2016 Restated Agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last royalty term for a product under the agreement, after which time, Takeda will have a perpetual, royalty-free license. Except with respect to the target antigen of a product for which the Company exercised its option to co-develop and co-commercialize in the United States, Takeda may terminate the 2016 Restated Agreement in its entirety or with respect to any target for convenience upon 45 days'days’ prior written notice. Each party may terminateThe 2016 Restated Agreement terminated in accordance with its provisions, and the Company and Takeda wound down activities related to the 2016 Restated Agreement in its entirety upon bankruptcy or similar proceedingsas of March 31, 2019.

Accounting Analysis
The Company’s collaboration agreements with Takeda were terminated following receipt of written notices during the first quarter of 2019. As there are no further performance obligations, the Company recognized the remaining deferred revenue of $39,965 related to the termination of the other party or upon an uncured material breachTakeda agreements in the first quarter of 2019.
Prior to the termination of the agreement by the other party. However, if such breach only relates to one target, the agreement may only be terminated with respect to such target.

Accounting Analysis

For periods prior to January 1, 2018,agreements, the Company applied the provisions of ASC 605 in accounting for these arrangements.

Under ASC 605 and Topic 606, the Company has concluded that the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement should be accounted for as one arrangement due in part because the agreements are with the same party and were negotiated and executed contemporaneously. Further, in applying the contract modification practical expedient, the Company has aggregated the effect of all modifications through the initial date of application of Topic 606 for the purposes of (i) identifying the satisfied and unsatisfiedhad identified 14 performance obligations (ii) determiningin the transaction price and (iii) allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations. 

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The performance obligations and the allocated transaction price as of the date of initial application of Topic 606 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocated

Performance obligations

 

Transaction Price

XMT-1522 license and research services

 

$

49,828

Joint research committee services for XMT-1522

 

 

449

Exclusive license to the first designated target and research services

 

 

6,611

Research license to the second designated target and research services

 

 

1,017

Material right related to the exclusive license to the second designated target

 

 

526

Exclusive license to the third designated target and research services

 

 

4,974

Exclusive license to the fourth designated target and research services

 

 

3,678

Material right related to the license to the fifth designated target and research services

 

 

3,506

Material right related to the license to the sixth designated target and research services

 

 

3,506

Material right to license to the seventh designated target and research services

 

 

3,506

Material right related to first replacement right for a designated target

 

 

3,506

Material right related to the second replacement right to a designated target

 

 

3,116

Rights to future technological improvements

 

 

1,750

Joint research committee services

 

 

150

 

 

$

86,123

agreements. The Company has concluded that the license related to each of the designated targets iswas not distinct from the research services performed related to each of the designated targets as Takeda cannotcould not have obtain the benefit of the license without the related research services. Each license to a designated target and the related servicesservice performance obligation iswas considered distinct from every other license to a designated target and related services performance obligation as each research plan iswas pursued independent of the any other research plans for other designated targets. Further, the material rights provided in the agreement provide Takeda incremental rights for either no additional consideration or for additional fees that contain a significant discount.  The material rights arewere determined

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to be distinct from the other performance obligations in the arrangement as they arewere options in the contract Takeda agreements and are not required for Takeda to obtain the benefit of the other promised goods or services in the arrangement.

Similarly, the Company concluded that the XMT-1522 license and the related research and development services, including the Phase 1 development and the transfer of certain materials and know howknow-how related to the Company's manufacturing processes, are onewere 1 performance obligation. The license to the Company's intellectual property iswas not determined to be distinct from the research and related development services that the Company iswas obligated to perform. Takeda would not haveFor the ability to realize the value of the license withoutyear ended December 31, 2019, the Company performingrecorded total revenue of $39,965 related to its efforts under the related services.

2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement. The Company hasdid not record any revenue under the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement in the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

The Company concluded that the Post-Phase 1 Development activities under the XMT-1522 Agreement representrepresented joint operating activities in which both parties arewere active participants and of which both parties arewere exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities. Accordingly, the Company is accountingaccounted for the Post-Phase 1 Development activities in accordance with ASC 808 and they are not considered revenue elements under Topic 606.808. For the yearsyear ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016,2019, the Company was billed approximately $8,046, $3,408 and $340, respectively,$200 from Takeda representing the Company's share of Post-Phase 1 Development costs incurred by Takeda. These amounts have been reflected as research and development costs in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company did not perform any Post-Phase 1 Development activities or incur any associated costs prior to January 1,

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2018. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company billed Takeda $3,746, $0 and $0, respectively, related to ASC 808 costs.

As of the date of initial application of Topic 606, the total transaction price for the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement was $86,123, which included approximately $14,023 of fees associated with research and development activities which had been or were expected to be provided.  The Company utilizes the expected value approach to estimate the amount of consideration related to the fees associated with development and research services.  The Company utilizes the most likely amount approach to estimate any development and regulatory milestone payments to be received.  As of the date of initial application of Topic 606, there were no milestone payments, which had not been received, included in the estimated transaction price.  The Company considered the stage of development and the remaining risks associated with the remaining development required to achieve the milestone, as well as whether the achievement of the milestone is outside the control of the Company or Takeda.  The milestone payment amounts were fully constrained, as a result of the uncertainty whether any of the associated milestones would be achieved.  The Company has determined that any commercial milestones and sales based royalties will be recognized when the related sales occur as they were determined to relate predominantly to the license granted and therefore have also been excluded from the transaction price.  The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price in each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur. In the third quarter of 2018, the Company revised its estimate for fees associated with research and development activities under the XMT-1522 Agreement to $9,615. The revised total transaction price for the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement is $86,289. 

The transaction price was allocated to the performance obligations based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of each performance obligation or, in the case of certain variable consideration, to one or more performance obligations.  The estimated standalone selling prices for performance obligations which include a license and research services, was developed using the estimated selling price of the license and an estimate of the overall effort to perform the research service and an estimated market rate for research services. The estimated standalone selling price of the licenses was established based on comparable transactions.  The estimated standalone selling price for the material rights and rights to future technological improvements were developed based on the estimated selling prices of a license or rights received and any fees payable upon exercise of the associated option, as well as considering the probability that additional technology would be made available or the probability the counterpart would utilize the technology or exercise the option. The estimated standalone selling price for the joint research committee services was developed using an estimate of the time and costs incurred to participate in the committees.

The Company will recognize revenue related to the performance obligations, which include research licenses or an exclusive development and commercialization license and the related research services, over the estimated period of the research and development services using a proportional performance model. The Company measures proportional performance based on the costs incurred relative to the total estimated costs of the research.  To the extent that the Company receives fees for the research services as they are performed, these amounts are recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue related to material rights will be recognized when the option is exercised, unless there are additional research services that the Company is required to perform related to the designated target (in which case revenue will be recognized based on the proportional performance model) or at the time the option right lapses. To the extent that the Company receives a fee upon exercise of the option, such amounts are recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue related to the material rights related to replacement rights will be recognized over the research term of the replacement target once the replacement right is exercised or at the time the right lapses unused. To the extent that the Company receives a fee upon exercise of the replacement right, such amounts are recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue related to future technological improvements and joint research committee services will be recognized ratably over the performance period (which in the case of the joint research committee services approximates the time and cost incurred), which is expected to be ten years and six years, respectively. The Company will reassess the estimated remaining term at each subsequent reporting period.

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded total revenue of $5,868, $13,784 and $21,401, respectively, related to its efforts under the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement. Included in accounts receivable as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $9 and $454, respectively, related to the Takeda agreements. Included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2018 was $2,749 related to the Takeda agreements. During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company revised its estimate of the total costs to complete research services under the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement, which changed the total consideration to be received under the agreements and the amount of revenue recognized during the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company recognized approximately $1,535 less for the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of the Company’s change in estimate. The change in estimate increased the net loss by $1,535, or $0.07 per common share, for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $39,960 and $43,579, respectively, of deferred revenue related to the Takeda agreements that will be recognized over the remaining performance periods for the applicable obligations.

On January 2, 2019, the Company received notices frombilled Takeda stating that Takeda was exercising its right to: (a) terminate the 2016 Restated Agreement upon 45 days’ prior written notice and (b) terminate the XMT-1522 Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice. The Company and Takeda are working$195 related to wind down activities under the 2016 Restated Agreement and the XMT-1522 Agreement over the course of the applicable notice periods. The respective notice periods expired in February 2019 and the agreements were terminated. Under Topic 606, the Company has concluded that the performance obligations were not modified during the year ended December 31, 2018, and that the Company will account for the termination notice as an event in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

ASC 808 costs.

Summary of Contract Assets and Liabilities

The following table presents changes in the balances of our contract assets and liabilities during the yearyears ended December 31, 2018:

2021 and December 31, 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at
Beginning
of Period
AdditionsDeductions
Balance at
End of Period

 

Beginning

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at

    

of Period

    

Additions

    

Deductions

    

End of Period

Year ended December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2021Year ended December 31, 2021

Contract assets

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

Contract assets$— $— $— $— 

Contract liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract liabilities:

Deferred revenue

 

$

52,439

 

$

2,851

 

$

9,094

 

$

46,196

Deferred revenue$3,987 $— $43 $3,944 

The impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance is reflected within the balance as of the beginning of period.

Balance at
Beginning
of Period
AdditionsDeductions
Balance at
End of Period
Year ended December 31, 2020
Contract assets$— $— $— $— 
Contract liabilities:
Deferred revenue$4,815 $— $828 $3,987 
During the year ended December 31, 2018,2021, the Company recognized the following revenues as a result of changes in the contract asset and the contract liability balances in the respective periods:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

    

Revenue recognized in the period from:

 

 

 

 

Amounts included in the contract liability at the beginning of the period

 

$

8,704

 

Performance obligations satisfied in previous periods

 

$

 —

 

periods.

109

Year ended December 31,
20212020
Revenue recognized in the period from:
Amounts included in the contract liability at the beginning of the period$43 $828 
Performance obligations satisfied in previous periods$— $— 

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

Other Revenue

The Company has provided limited services for a collaboration partner, Asana BioSciences. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, the Company recorded revenue of $782, $125$0, $0 and $125,$25, respectively, related to these services. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized revenueThe next
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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to a milestone achieved upon the completion of a GLP toxicology study by Asana BioSciences. The next consolidated financial statements
(continued)
potential milestone the Company is eligible to receive is $2,500 upon dosing the fifth patient in a Phase 1 clinical studytrial by Asana BioSciences.

4. Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities regularly measured and carried at a fair value and indicates the level within fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

Fair

 

Markets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

    

Value

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasuries

 

$

10,497

 

$

10,497

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

$

10,497

 

$

10,497

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices

 

Other

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

in Active

 

Observable

 

Unobservable

 

 

Fair

 

Markets

 

Inputs

 

Inputs

 

    

Value

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Marketable securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasuries

 

$

62,640

 

$

62,640

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

Commercial paper

 

 

24,931

 

 

 —

 

 

24,931

 

 

 —

Corporate bonds

 

 

11,054

 

 

 —

 

 

11,054

 

 

 —

 

 

$

98,625

 

$

62,640

 

$

35,985

 

$

 —

There were no changes in valuation techniques or transfers between fair value measurement levels during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 20182021, the Company considered this next milestone to be fully constrained as there is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would occur. As part of its evaluation of the constraint, the Company considered numerous factors, including the fact that achievement of the milestone is outside the control of the Company and 2017, cashthere is a high level of uncertainty in achieving this milestone, as this would require initiation of clinical trials by the collaboration partner. The Company reevaluates the probability of achievement of a milestone subject to constraint at each reporting period and cash equivalents were comprised of cashas uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.

4. Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for prepaid expenses and money market funds.

5. Marketable Securities

The following table summarizes marketable securities held at December 31, 2018other current assets, accounts payable and 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

    

Cost

    

Gains

    

Losses

    

Value

December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasuries

 

$

10,505

 

$

 —

 

$

(8)

 

$

10,497

 

 

$

10,505

 

$

 —

 

$

(8)

 

$

10,497

accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

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Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

Amortized

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

    

Cost

    

Gains

    

Losses

    

Value

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasuries

 

$

62,777

 

$

 —

 

$

(137)

 

$

62,640

Commercial paper

 

 

24,931

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

24,931

Corporate bonds

 

 

11,066

 

 

 —

 

 

(12)

 

 

11,054

 

 

$

98,774

 

$

 —

 

$

(149)

 

$

98,625

As of December 31, 2018,2021 and 2020, the Company held three securities that were in an unrealized loss position. The aggregatecarrying value of the Company’s outstanding borrowing under the Prior Credit Facility and New Credit Facility (as defined below, respectively) approximated fair value of securities held by(a Level 2 fair value measurement), reflecting interest rates currently available to the CompanyCompany. The Prior Credit Facility and New Credit Facility are discussed in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2018 was $10,497. These securities were held by the Companymore detail in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. As of December 31, 2018, the Company did not intend to sell, and would not be more likely than not required to sell, the securities in an unrealized loss position before recovery of their amortized cost basis. Furthermore, the Company has determined that there was no material change in the credit risk of these securities. As a result, the Company determined it did not hold any securities with any other-than-temporary impairment as of December 31, 2018.

There were no realized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

6.Note 7, Debt.

5. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following as of December 31, 20182021 and 2017:

2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

    

2018

    

2017

December 31,
2021
December 31,
2020

Laboratory equipment

 

$

6,134

 

$

5,237

Laboratory equipment$6,725 $6,520 

Computer equipment, office equipment and software

 

 

1,035

 

 

718

Leasehold improvements

 

 

1,886

 

 

1,504

Leasehold improvements1,906 1,886 
Computer equipment and office equipmentComputer equipment and office equipment1,019 959 

Total property and equipment at cost

 

 

9,055

 

 

7,459

Total property and equipment at cost9,650 9,365 

Less: Accumulated depreciation

 

 

(6,361)

 

 

(5,140)

Less: Accumulated depreciation(7,682)(7,635)

 

$

2,694

 

$

2,319

$1,968 $1,730 

The Company recorded assets under finance leases of $609, $0, and $429 as property and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Financing leases are discussed in more detail in Note 10, Leases. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 20162019 was $1,257, $928$855, $1,010 and $655,$1,245, respectively.

7.

6. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following as of December 31, 20182021 and 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

    

2018

 

2017

Accrued payroll and related expenses

 

$

3,042

 

$

3,041

Accrued preclinical, manufacturing and clinical expenses

 

 

8,314

 

 

3,183

Accrued professional fees

 

 

567

 

 

492

Accrued other

 

 

452

 

 

228

 

 

$

12,375

 

$

6,944

2020:

December 31,
2021
December 31,
2020
Accrued manufacturing expenses$8,476 $4,157 
Accrued clinical expenses7,879 5,126 
Accrued payroll and related expenses7,319 5,412 
Accrued preclinical expenses3,848 619 
Accrued professional fees909 757 
Accrued other285 75 
$28,716 $16,146 

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

8. Preferred Stock

7. Debt

On May 8, 2019, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the Original Agreement) with SVB pursuant to which the Company borrowed $5,000. The Original Agreement accrued interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) 4.0% and (ii) 1.50% below the Prime Rate. The Original Agreement had an interest-only period through August 31, 2020.
On August 28, 2020, the Company entered into a second amendment (the Second Amendment) to the Original Agreement with SVB (the Prior Credit Facility). Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Company drew $5,200 upon execution of the Second Amendment, the proceeds of which were used to repay the Company’s existing balance under the Original Agreement and satisfy its obligations to SVB. The Amended Credit Facility accrued interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) 4.25% and (ii) 1.00% above the Prime Rate.
On October 29, 2021, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the New Credit Facility) with SVB and Oxford (Oxford and SVB, together the Lenders). Pursuant to the New Credit Facility, the Company can borrow term loans in an aggregate amount of $100,000, which includes (i) $60,000 in up to three principal advances through December 31, 2022, (ii) an additional $10,000 in one principal advance, if the Company reaches certain development milestone events through December 31, 2022, (iii) an additional $10,000 in one principal advance, if the Company reaches additional development milestone events through June 30, 2023 and (iv) an additional tranche of $20,000, subject to conditional approval from the Lenders. The Company drew $25,000 upon execution of the New Credit Facility, of which $5,500 of the proceeds was used to repay the existing balance under the Prior Credit Facility and satisfy its obligations to SVB, resulting in the recording of a $398 loss on extinguishment, which is presented within interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Upon entering into the New Credit Facility, the Company terminated all commitments by SVB to extend further credit under the Prior Credit Facility and all guarantees and security interests granted by the Company to SVB under the Prior Credit Facility.
The New Credit Facility bears interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the greater of (i) 8.50% and (ii) 5.25% above the Prime Rate. Interest is payable monthly in arrears on the first day of each month. The Company is obligated to make interest-only payments through November 1, 2024, followed by equal monthly principal payments and applicable interest through the maturity date of October 1, 2026 (the Maturity Date). If certain development milestones are met, then the interest-only period will be extended to November 1, 2025.
The Company is also required to make a final payment to the Lenders equal to 4.25% of the principal amount of the term loans then extended to the Company. This final payment is accreted under the effective interest method over the life of each term loan. The term loans are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets, except for its intellectual property which is subject to a negative pledge, and certain other customary exclusions.
At the Company’s option, it may prepay the outstanding principal balance of any term loans in whole but not in part, subject to a prepayment fee of: (a) 3.0% of the term loans then extended to the Company if the prepayment occurs on or prior to the first anniversary of the funding date of such term loan, (b) 2.0% of the term loans then extended to the Company if the prepayment occurs after the first anniversary of the funding date of such term loan but on or prior to the second anniversary of the funding date of such term loan, or (c) 1.0% of the term loans then extended to the Company if the prepayment occurs after the second anniversary of the funding date of such term loan but before the Maturity Date. The New Credit Facility includes customary affirmative and restrictive covenants applicable to the Company. Affirmative covenants include, among others, covenants requiring the Company to maintain its corporate existence and governmental approvals, deliver certain financial reports, maintain insurance coverage and satisfy certain requirements regarding deposit accounts. The restrictive covenants include, among others, requirements relating to the Company’s ability to transfer collateral, incur additional indebtedness, engage in mergers or acquisitions, pay dividends or make other distributions, make investments, create liens, sell assets and agree to a change in control, in each case subject to certain customary exceptions.
The Company’s payment obligations under the New Credit Facility are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of specified events of default, which include, but are not limited to, the occurrence of a material adverse change in the Company’s business, operations, or financial or other condition. Amounts outstanding upon the occurrence of an event of default are payable upon the Lenders' demand and shall accrue interest at an additional rate of 5.0% per annum of the past due amount outstanding. As of December 31, 2018,2021, the Company haswas in compliance with all covenants under the New Credit Facility. As such, as of
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Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
December 31, 2021, the classification of the loan balance as stated on the balance sheet was based on the timing of defined future payment obligations.
In connection with entering into the New Credit Facility, the Company paid $958 in costs, of which $210 was paid to Lenders and $748 was paid to third parties. Certain costs were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount on the term loan and amortized as interest expense using the effective-interest method, which was comprised of $151 of the costs paid to the Lenders and $273 of the costs paid to third parties. The remaining costs of $533 were capitalized in other assets related to the Company's right to borrow additional amounts from the Lenders in the future and amortized to interest expense over the relevant draw period on a straight-line basis.
As of December 31, 2021, there was $25,000 outstanding under the New Credit Facility and the debt consisted of the following:
December 31,
2021
Total debt$25,000 
Less: Current portion of long-term-debt— 
Total debt, net of current portion25,000 
Debt financing costs, net of accretion(410)
Accretion related to final payment36 
Long-term debt, net$24,626 
As of December 31, 2021, the estimated future principal payments due are as follows:
2022$— 
2023— 
20242,083 
202512,500 
202610,417
Total debt$25,000 
During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $797 and $340, respectively, of interest expense related to the Prior Credit Facility and New Credit Facility, as applicable.
8. Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 25,000,000 shares of authorized preferred stock. No shares of preferred stock have been issued.

9. Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

Common Stock

The holders

At-the-market equity offering program
In July 2018, the Company established an at-the-market (ATM) equity offering program (the 2018 ATM) pursuant to which it could offer and sell up to $75,000 of theits common stock are entitledfrom time to one vote for each share held. Common stockholders are not entitledtime at prevailing market prices. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold 10,900,599 shares of common stock and received net proceeds of $62,976 through the 2018 ATM. In May 2020, the Company terminated the 2018 ATM and established a new ATM equity offering program (the 2020 ATM) pursuant to receive dividends, unless declared by the Boardwhich it is able to sell up to $100,000 of Directors (the Board).

its common stock from time to time at prevailing market prices. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017 there were 3,856,932 and 3,315,850, respectively,2021, the Company had sold 3,961,074 shares of common stock reserved forand received net proceeds of $43,087 under the exercise2020 ATM.

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
Follow-on offering
In June 2020, the Company sold 9,200,000 shares of common stock, optionsin an underwritten public offering price to the public of $19.00 per share. Net proceeds to the Company after deducting fees, commissions and warrants. 

other expenses related to the offering were $163,990.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

December 31, 

 

    

 

2018

 

2017

Warrants

 

 

110,365

 

110,365

Stock options

 

 

3,746,567

 

3,205,485

 

 

 

3,856,932

 

3,315,850

Warrants

Warrants

In connection with a 2013 Series A‑1A-1 Preferred Stock issuance, the Company granted to certain investors warrants to purchase 129,491 shares of common stock. The warrants have a $0.05 per share exercise price and a contractual life of 10 years. The fair value of these warrants was recorded as a component of equity at the time of issuance. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 there were warrants to purchase 39,474 shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2017,2021, there were no exercises of warrants in exchange for shares of common stock.
Exchange warrants
On November 26, 2019, the Company issued 19,071entered into an exchange agreement with entities affiliated with Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. (the Exchanging Stockholders), pursuant to which the Exchanging Stockholders exchanged an aggregate of 2,575,000 shares of common stock uponfor warrants (the Exchange Warrants) to purchase an aggregate of 2,575,000 shares of common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividends and splits, reverse stock split, merger or consolidation, change of control, reorganization or similar transaction, as described in the Exchange Warrants), with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share.
In accordance with ASC Topic 505, Equity, the Company recorded the retirement of the common stock exchanged as a reduction of common shares outstanding and a corresponding debit to additional paid-in-capital at the fair value of the Exchange Warrants on the issuance date. While outstanding, the Exchange Warrants were classified as equity in accordance with ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and the fair value of the Exchange Warrants was recorded as a credit to additional paid-in capital and is not subject to remeasurement. The Company determined that the fair value of the Exchange Warrants is substantially similar to the fair value of the retired shares on the issuance date due to the negligible exercise price for the Exchange Warrants. On March 2, 2020, the Exchanging Stockholders exercised the Exchange Warrants in full on a net cashless exercise basis, resulting in the issuance of 2,574,971 shares of common stock.
Common Stock
The holders of the common stock are entitled to 1 vote for each share held. Common stockholders are not entitled to receive dividends, unless declared by the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board).
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 there were 9,199,512 and 6,869,189 shares of common stock, respectively, reserved for the exercise of a warrant.

10.outstanding stock options and warrants.

December 31,
2021
December 31,
2020
Stock options8,342,429 6,112,948 
Restricted stock units817,609 716,767 
Warrants39,474 39,474 
9,199,512 6,869,189 
9. Stock Options

Stock Option Plan

option plans

As of June 30, 2017, there were 3,141,625 options outstanding under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2007 Plan expired in June 2017. Any cancellations or forfeitures of options granted under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan will increase the options available under the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan as described below.

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
In June 2017 the Company’s shareholders approved the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2017 Plan or the Plan). Under the 2017 Plan initially, up to 2,255,000 shares of common stock may be granted to the Company's employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors in the form of options, restricted stock awardsRSUs or other stock-based awards. The number of shares of common stock issuable under the Plan will be cumulatively increasedincreases annually by 4% of the outstanding shares or such lesser amount specifieddetermined by the Board. The terms of the awards made under the Plan are determined by the Board, subject to the provisions of the Plan. In January 2021, the number of shares of common stock issuable under the 2017 Plan was increased by 2,753,651 shares. As of December 31, 20182021 there were 2,085,0481,308,183 shares available for future issuance under the Plan. In January 2019,During the number ofyear ended December 31, 2021, the Company granted to employees 715,716 RSUs and options to purchase 2,870,720 shares of common stock that might be issued under the 2017 Plan.
Under the 2017 Plan, was increased by 929,378 shares.

Withboth with respect to incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, the exercise price per share will equal the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, as determined by the Board, and the vesting period is generally four years. Nonqualified stock options will be granted at an exercise price established by the Board at its sole discretion (which has not been less than fair market

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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

value on the date of grant) and the vesting periods may vary. Options granted under the Plan expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant. Options under the 2007 Plan were granted at an exercise price established by the Board (or a committee thereof) that was not less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and subject to such vesting provisions determined by the Board (or a committee thereof). The Board may accelerate vesting or extendotherwise adjust the expirationterms of granted options in the case of a merger, consolidation, dissolution, or liquidation of the Company.

Inducement awards
The Company grants to its employees, upon approval by the Board, options to purchase shares of common stock as an inducement to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The securities are issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. These options are subject to terms substantially the same as the options granted under the 2017 Plan. As of December 31, 2021 there were options to purchase 757,500 shares of common stock granted as inducement awards outstanding.
Stock option activity
A summary of the activity under the Plan is as follows:

Number
of Shares
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 20216,112,948 $7.84 7.3$114,729 
Granted3,308,220 $16.78 
Exercised(421,381)$4.36 
Cancelled(657,358)$11.76 
Outstanding at December 31, 20218,342,429 $11.25 7.2$8,458 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 20218,342,429 $11.25 7.2$8,458 
Exercisable at December 31, 20213,997,529 $7.63 5.5$7,539 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

Remaining

 

 

 

 

 

Number

 

Average

 

Contractual Life

 

Aggregate

 

    

of Shares

    

Exercise Price

    

(in years)

    

Intrinsic Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options outstanding at January 1, 2018

 

3,205,485

 

$

3.44

 

7.8

 

$

41,709

Granted

 

1,273,115

 

 

13.33

 

  

 

 

  

Exercised

 

(427,269)

 

 

2.15

 

  

 

 

  

Cancelled

 

(304,764)

 

 

7.99

 

  

 

 

  

Options outstanding at December 31, 2018

 

3,746,567

 

$

6.58

 

7.6

 

$

3,897

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2018

 

1,998,527

 

$

3.57

 

6.6

 

$

3,460

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, was $8.78, $5.53$11.71, $7.99 and $2.34$2.47 per share, respectively.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, was $4,299, $11,147, and $202, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the exercise price and the selling price received by option holders upon the exercise of stock options during the period.

Cash received from the exercise of stock options was $918, $452$1,837, $3,138 and $105$175 for the years ended December 31, 2018,2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
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Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
Restricted stock units
The Company periodically issues RSUs with a service condition to certain officers and other employees that typically vest between one year and four years from the grant date.

A summary of the RSU activity under the 2017 Plan is as follow:
Number
of Shares
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2021716,767 1.0$19,073 $6.00 
Granted715,716 — $18.39 
Vested(419,336)— $5.33 
Forfeited(195,538)— $12.34 
Unvested at December 31, 2021817,609 1.5$5,086 $15.68 
The total fair value of RSUs vested during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2016,2019, was $5,790, $0, and, $0, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense
The Company uses the provisions of ASC 718, Stock Compensation, to account for all stock-based awards to employees and nonemployees.

non-employees.

The measurement date for employee awards is generally the date of grant. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, using the straight-line method.

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded

The following table presents stock-based compensation expense by award type included within the Company’s consolidated statement of $3,828, $1,366operations and $664, respectively, related to employee grants. comprehensive loss:
Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Stock options$14,528 $5,725 $4,230 
Restricted stock units3,522 1,187 410 
Employee stock purchase plan359 260 232 
Stock-based compensation expense included in Total operating expenses$18,409 $7,172 $4,872 
The Company has an aggregatefollowing table presents stock-based compensation expense as reflected in the Company’s consolidated statements of $10,289 of unrecognized stock compensation cost asoperations and comprehensive loss:
Year ended December 31,
202120202019
Research and development$9,984 $3,841 $2,245 
General and administrative8,425 3,331 2,627 
Stock-based compensation expense included in Total operating expenses$18,409 $7,172 $4,872 
As of December 31, 2018 remaining2021, there was $38,958 and $9,929 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options and unvested RSUs, respectively, that is expected to be amortizedrecognized over the weighted-averagea weighted average period of 2.6 years. years and 2.8 years, respectively.
117


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black–Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

December 31,
202120202019
Risk-free interest rate0.9 %1.2 %2.3 %
Expected dividend yield— %— %— %
Expected term (years)6.066.055.99
Expected stock price volatility82 %74 %74 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

 

 

2018

    

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

2.7

%  

2.2

%

1.5

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 —

%  

 —

%

 —

%

Expected term (years)

 

6.07

 

6.21

 

6.25

 

Expected stock price volatility

 

73

%  

67

%

69

%

Expected volatility for the Company’s common stock wasis determined based on the historical volatility of comparable publicly traded companies. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield of U.S. Treasury securities consistent with the

113


Table of Contents

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

expected term of the option. No dividend yield was assumed as the Company has not historically and does not expect to pay dividends on its common stock. The expected term of the options granted is based on the use of the simplified method, in which the expected term is presumed to be the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term.

Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in June 2017, the

The fair value of the common stock had beenRSUs is determined by the Board at each date of grant based on the variety of factors, including the Company’s financial position and historical financial performance, the status of developments within the Company’s research and development activities, the composition and ability of the current research and management team, an evaluationclosing price of the Company’s competition, the current climate in the marketplace, the illiquid nature of the common stock on the effectdate of the rights and preferences of the preferred shareholders, and the prospects of the liquidity event, among others.

The Company granted stock option awards to non-employees. Total expense recorded during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 related to these awards was $56, $56 and $4, respectively.

grant.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Board adopted and the Company's stockholders approved the 2017 employee stock purchase plan (the 2017 ESPP). The Company initially reserved 225,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2017 ESPP. During the year ended December 31, 2018 the Company issued 42,186 shares under the 2017 ESPP, with 182,814 available for issuanceplus an annual increase, to be added as of December 31, 2018. In January 2019,1st of each year, equal to the least of (i) 450,000 shares of common stock; (ii) 1 percent of the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the close of business on the immediately preceding December 31st; and (iii) the number of shares of common stock determined by the Board on or prior to such date for issuancesuch year, up to maximum of 4,725,000 shares of common stock in the aggregate. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 the Company issued 78,253 and 80,267 shares, respectively, under the 2017 ESPPESPP. As of December 31, 2021, there were 566,565 shares available for issuance.
10. Leases
The Company has an operating lease for its office and lab space in Cambridge, MA and operating and finance leases for certain equipment. In March 2020, the Company entered into the Seventh Amendment to the office and lab space lease (the Office Lease) to extend the term of the lease through March 2026. The Company has an option to extend the lease term of the Office Lease for an additional five years.
On April 5, 2021, the Company entered into an Eighth Amendment to the Office Lease, which granted the Company additional office space in its existing building for five years, beginning July 1, 2021, and committed the Company to lease payments of $4,983 over that period (the Expansion Lease). In connection with the Expansion Lease, the Company increased the balance of the security deposit by increasing the standby letter of credit for the benefit of its landlord by $157. The Expansion Lease also provided the Company with a tenant improvement allowance of $51. Independent from the option under the Office Lease, the Company has an option to extend the lease term of the Expansion Lease for an additional five years. The Company’s exercise of the options to extend the lease terms of both the Office Lease and Expansion Lease were not considered reasonably certain as of December 31, 2021.
The Expansion Agreement is a lease modification accounted for as a separate contract, because it expands the scope of the Office Lease and the additional lease payments are commensurate with market rents. The Company assessed the lease classification of the Expansion Lease as of the date of signing and determined that the Expansion Lease should be accounted for as an operating lease. The right-of-use asset and corresponding operating lease liability have been calculated based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company determined the appropriate incremental borrowing rate to utilize as a discount rate by using a synthetic credit rating which was increasedestimated based on an analysis of outstanding debt of companies with similar credit and financial profiles. Since the operating lease is a net lease, as the non-lease components (i.e., common area maintenance) are paid separately from rent based on actual costs incurred, such non-lease components were not included in the right-of-use (ROU) asset and liability and are reflected as an expense in the period incurred.
118


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
As a result of the signing of the Expansion Lease in April 2021, the Company recorded an increase of $3,783 to its ROU asset and lease liabilities in the second quarter of 2021.
The Company had a standby letter of credit agreement for the benefit of its landlord in the amount of $478 in connection with the Office Lease and Expansion Lease as of December 31, 2021 and $321 in connection with the Office Lease as of December 31, 2020, collateralized by 232,344 shares.

a money market account.

The Company has remaining finance lease terms of one year to five years for certain equipment, some of which include options to purchase at fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded assets under finance leases of $609 as property and equipment.
The components of lease expense were as follows:
Years ended December 31,
202120202019
Operating lease cost$3,502 $2,755 $2,160 
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets$169 $101 $75 
Interest on lease liabilities28 21 20 
$197 $122 $95 
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
Year ended December 31,
20212020
Operating leases:
Operating lease right-of-use assets$12,889 $10,936 
Operating lease liabilities, current$2,303 $1,437 
Operating lease liabilities$11,247 $10,158 
Finance leases:
Property and equipment, gross$1,038 $429 
Property and equipment, accumulated depreciation$(345)$(176)
Other liabilities, current$239 $93 
Other liabilities$449 $174 
Weighted-average remaining lease term:
Operating leases4.3 years5.2 years
Finance leases4.0 years2.9 years
Weighted-average discount rate:
Operating leases10.8 %10.8 %
Finance leases5.4 %6.9 %
119


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to consolidated financial statements
(continued)
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
Year ended December 31,
20212020
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases$3,241 $2,394 
Operating cash flows from finance leases$28 $21 
Financing cash flows from finance leases$215 $116 
Rent expense was $3,390, $2,644 and $2,160 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of December 31, 2021 were as follows:
Operating leasesFinance leases
2022$3,795 $269 
20233,909 262 
20244,027 141 
20254,147 48 
2026 and thereafter1,310 
Total lease payments17,188 728 
Present value adjustment(3,638)(40)
Present value of lease liabilities$13,550 $688 

11. Income Taxes

For the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, the Company recorded no income tax benefit for the net operating losses incurred in each year, due to its uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items.

A reconciliation of income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate to that reflected in operations as of December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2018

    

2017

 

2016

 

Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate

 

21.0

%  

34.0

%

34.0

%

State taxes, net of federal benefit

 

6.5

%  

5.1

%

5.1

%

Permanent differences

 

0.6

%  

(0.8)

%

(1.3)

%

Research and development expenditures

 

 —

%  

(2.3)

%  

 —

%  

General business credits

 

4.2

%  

8.2

%

12.9

%

Impact of tax reform

 

 —

%  

(27.3)

%

 —

%

Other

 

 —

%  

 —

%

(0.1)

%

Change in valuation allowance

 

(32.3)

%  

(16.9)

%

(50.6)

%

 

 

 —

%  

 —

%

 —

%

In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB No. 118), which allowed the Company to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date.  The Company’s provisional estimate associated with the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% impacted the changes in the valuation allowance and change in tax rate component of the Company’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as its ending deferred tax assets and valuation allowance in the deferred tax footnote disclosure.  In the fourth quarter of 2018, we completed our analysis to determine the effect of the Tax Act and  recorded no adjustments as of December 31, 2018.

114


202120202019
Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate21.0 %21.0 %21.0 %
State taxes, net of federal benefit6.3 %6.7 %6.1 %
Permanent differences(0.2)%1.2 %(2.0)%
General business credits3.8 %3.4 %10.3 %
Stock compensation0.1 %— %— %
Impact of ownership shift— %— %(53.3)%
Change in valuation allowance(31.0)%(32.3)%17.9 %
— %— %— %

120


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 20182021 and 20172020 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

2018

    

2017

20212020

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

  

 

 

  

Deferred tax assets:

Net operating losses

 

$

27,916

 

$

9,324

Net operating losses$106,055 $64,259 

Tax credit carryforwards

 

 

10,178

 

 

7,516

Tax credit carryforwards12,424 5,670 
Accrued expensesAccrued expenses6,892 4,058 
Lease liabilitiesLease liabilities3,698 3,166 
Licensed technologyLicensed technology2,775 1,534 

Deferred revenue

 

 

12,410

 

 

13,718

Deferred revenue1,076 1,088 

Licensed technology

 

 

1,160

 

 

1,266

Depreciation

 

 

405

 

 

268

Depreciation493 502 

Accrued expenses

 

 

1,585

 

 

53

Deferred expenses

 

 

112

 

 

313

Unrealized loss

 

 

43

 

 

41

Other state credits

 

 

131

 

 

103

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

53,940

 

 

32,602

OtherOther71 84 
Total gross deferred tax assetsTotal gross deferred tax assets133,484 80,361 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(53,940)

 

 

(32,602)

Valuation allowance(130,051)(77,375)

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

Net deferred tax assets less valuation allowanceNet deferred tax assets less valuation allowance3,433 2,986 
Deferred tax liabilitiesDeferred tax liabilities
Right-of-use assetsRight-of-use assets(3,433)(2,986)
Total gross deferred tax liabilitiesTotal gross deferred tax liabilities(3,433)(2,986)
Net deferred taxesNet deferred taxes$— $— 

The Company has incurred net operating losses (NOL) since inception. At December 31, 2018,2021, the Company had Federal and State net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $102,112$403,579 and $102,405,$337,057, respectively. Of the $102,112$403,579 of Federal net operating loss carryforwards, $34,115$34,149 expire at various dates through 2037. The remaining $67,997$369,430 of Federal net operating loss carryforwards do not expire. The State net operating loss carryforwards expire at various dates through 2038.2041. At December 31, 2018,2021, the Company had Federal and State research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $7,708$10,077 and $3,294,$3,061, respectively, which expire at various dates through 2038.

2041.

As required by ASC 740, management of the Company has evaluated the evidence bearing upon the reliability of its deferred tax assets. Based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative, management has determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize the benefits of all of these assets. Accordingly, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $53,940$130,051 and $32,602$77,375 at December 31, 20182021 and December 31, 2017,2020, respectively. The valuation allowance increased by $21,338$52,676 and $6,611$28,468 during the years ended December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, respectively, primarily as a result of the Company’s net operating losses generated during the periods.

periods, respectively.

Utilization of the NOLs and research and development tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 due to ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future in accordance with Section 382, as well as similar state provisions. These ownership changes may limit the amount of NOLs and research and development tax credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively. If a change in control as defined by Section 382 has occurred at any time since the Company’s formation, utilization of its NOLs or research and development tax credit carryforwards would be subject to an annual limitation under Section 382, which is determined by first multiplying the value of the Company’s stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate, which could then be subject to additional adjustments, as required. Any limitation may result in expiration of a portion of the NOLs or research and development tax carryforwards before their utilization. The Company has determined that ownership changes have occurred through December 31, 2015November 4, 2019 and that certain NOLs and research and development tax credit carryforwards will be subject to limitation. The amounts presented do not include NOLs or research and development tax credit carryforwards that will expire unused due to ownership changes.

The Company applies the accounting guidance in ASC 740 related to accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. The Company’s reserves related to taxes are based on a determination of whether, and how much of, a tax benefit taken by the

115


121


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

Company in its tax filings or positions is more likely than not to be realized following resolution of any potential contingencies present related to the tax benefit. As of December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits.

The Company has not conducted a study of its research and development credit carryforwards. This study may result in an adjustment to research and development credit carryforwards; however, until a study is completed and any adjustment is known, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the Company’s research and development credits and, if an adjustment is required, this adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance. Thus, there would be no impact to the balance sheets or statements of operations if an adjustment were required.

Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions would be classified as income tax expense in the accompanying statements of operations. As of December 31, 20182021 and 2017,2020, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

The Company files income tax returns in the United States federal tax jurisdiction and one4 state jurisdiction.jurisdictions. The Company did not have any foreign operations during the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016.2019. The statute of limitations for assessment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities is closed for tax years prior to 2015,2017, although carryforward attributes that were generated prior to tax year 20152017 may still be adjusted upon examination to the extent utilized in a future period. There are no federal or state audits currently in progress.

12. Employee Benefit Plan

The Company has a defined contribution plan established under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (401(k) Plan), which covers substantially all employees. Employees who have attained the age of 21 are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan with no service requirement. Employees may contribute up to 75%95% of eligible pay on a pre–tax basis up to the federal annual limits. TheFor the period from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019, the Company matchesmatched the employees’ contributions at 50% on the first 6% up to $6. For the period from August 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company matched the employees’ contributions at 100% on the first 4% up to $7. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016,2019, the Company recorded expense of $332, $273$764, $486 and $136,$404, respectively, related to its contribution to its 401(k) Plan.

13. Commitments

Operating Leases

The Company leases office space in Cambridge, MA under an operating lease, which is effective through March 2021. The Company has an option to extend the lease term for an additional five years. The lease also provided the Company with a tenant improvement allowance of up to $356. The Company fully utilized the allowance and recorded the assets acquired with the allowance as leasehold improvements. The Company recorded the tenant improvement allowance incurred as a deferred lease incentive and has amortized the deferred lease incentive through a reduction of rent expense ratably over the lease term.

In connection with the office lease, the Company has a letter of credit agreement for the benefit of its landlord in the amount of $321 as of each December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, collateralized by a money market account.

116

License Agreements

Table of Contents

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

In addition, the Company leases certain equipment under leases that expire through February 2024. Future minimum lease payments under leases, as amended, were as follows:

 

 

 

 

2019

    

$

2,333

2020

 

 

2,468

2021

 

 

760

2022

 

 

83

2023 and thereafter

 

 

86

 

 

$

5,730

Rent expense was approximately $1,994, $1,834 and $1,572 forDuring the years ended December 31, 2018, 20172021, 2020 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is recording rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and has recorded deferred rent in the consolidated balance sheets accordingly.

License Agreements

Through December 31, 20182019, the Company has licensed intellectual property from two biotechnology companies. The consideration included upfrontrecorded research and development expense related to non-refundable license payments of $3,075, $250, and a commitment to pay annual license fees, milestone payments,$750, respectively. Further development milestones of $2,125, $750 and upon product commercialization, royalties on revenue generated from$600, respectively, were also recorded as research and development expense during the sale of products covered by the licenses. During the yearyears ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded expense related to milestone payments of $2,750 related 2021, 2020 and 2019.

See Note 10, Leases, to these agreements.

14. Related Party Transactions

Included in Series C‑1 financing and the Company’s initial public offering were investments of $10,000 and $10,000, respectively, by Takeda.

15. Subsequent Events

The Company considered the events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date, but prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements for potential recognition or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements. All significant subsequent events have been properly disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.

On January 2, 2019,Company’s future obligations related to leases as of December 31, 2021.

14. Subsequent Events
Janssen Research Collaboration and License Agreement

In February 2022, the Company received notices from Takeda stating that Takeda was exercising its right to: (a) terminateentered into the 2016 Restated Agreement upon 45 days’ prior written notice and (b) terminate the XMT-1522 Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice.

On March 5, 2019, the Company completed a secondary public offering, inJanssen Collaboration pursuant to which the Company issuedgranted Janssen an exclusive license to use the Company's proprietary Dolasynthen platform and sold an aggregateother technology to develop, manufacture and commercialize ADCs directed to up to three targets selected by Janssen. The Company is responsible for performing bioconjugation activities to create ADCs for Janssen based on antibodies provided by Janssen. The Company will also perform certain chemistry, manufacturing and controls development and early stage manufacturing activities for ADCs that Janssen progresses through development, up to and including the manufacturing of 24,437,500 shares of its common stockclinical drug substance, at Janssen’s cost. Except with respect to this limited manufacturing, Janssen will be responsible for the public offering price of $4.00 per share, which included the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock. The gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $97,800.

117


further development, manufacturing and

122


Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(continued)

16. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

The following table contains selected quarterly financial information for 2018 and 2017. commercialization of the ADCs developed under the Janssen Collaboration, including obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, at Janssen’s cost.

The Company believes thatreceived an upfront payment of $40,000 in February 2022. The Company is eligible to receive development and regulatory milestones with an aggregate total of $501,000, if licensed products directed to all three Targets are advanced by Janssen. The Company is also eligible to receive commercial milestones with an aggregate total of $530,000 in the following information reflectsevent of commercialization of three Targets by Janssen and tiered royalties based on mid-single digits to low-double digits on future net sales of licensed ADCs
Unless earlier terminated, the Janssen Collaboration will continue in effect until the date on which the royalty term and all normal recurring adjustments necessary forpayment obligations with respect to all licensed ADCs in all countries have expired.
Other Events
On February 2, 2022, the Company amended the Commercial License and Option Agreement with Synaffix B.V. (Synaffix) in connection with the Janssen Collaboration, and agreed to pay Synaffix a fair statementnon-refundable execution fee of $1,500 which will be applied against future target license fees or development milestones.
Further in connection with the Janssen Collaboration, on February 17, 2022, the Company amended the New Credit Facility described in Note 7, Debt, to these consolidated financial statements. Pursuant to this amendment the Company has agreed to replace the tranche B term loan and the tranche C term loan with a single combined term loan tranche in an aggregate principal amount of $20,000. Also, the combined term loan tranche will now be available any time on or prior to June 30, 2023, within 90 days of the informationCompany achieving both of the prior tranche B and tranche C term loan milestones.
Subsequent to December 31, 2021 and through February 25, 2022, the Company sold 9,493,776 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of $45,579 from ATM offerings, with substantial participation from existing long-term investors. Approximately $9,414 remains unsold and available for sale under the periods presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 2018

    

June 30, 2018

    

September 30, 2018

    

December 31, 2018

Collaboration revenue

 

$

3,064

 

$

4,191

 

$

2,151

 

$

1,188

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

12,256

 

 

12,663

 

 

15,180

 

 

19,816

General and administrative

 

 

3,571

 

 

4,231

 

 

4,380

 

 

4,152

Total operating expenses

 

 

15,827

 

 

16,894

 

 

19,560

 

 

23,968

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

360

 

 

349

 

 

340

 

 

349

Total other income

 

 

360

 

 

349

 

 

340

 

 

349

Net loss

 

$

(12,403)

 

$

(12,354)

 

$

(17,069)

 

$

(22,431)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(0.54)

 

$

(0.54)

 

$

(0.74)

 

$

(0.97)

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

 

22,816,521

 

 

22,966,314

 

 

23,152,019

 

 

23,184,459

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

March 31, 2017

    

June 30, 2017

    

September 30, 2017

    

December 31, 2017

Collaboration revenue

 

$

4,290

 

$

3,727

 

$

6,267

 

$

3,261

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

10,106

 

 

10,627

 

 

11,412

 

 

14,555

General and administrative

 

 

2,296

 

 

2,204

 

 

2,905

 

 

3,057

Total operating expenses

 

 

12,402

 

 

12,831

 

 

14,317

 

 

17,612

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

51

 

 

158

 

 

318

 

 

383

Total other income

 

 

51

 

 

158

 

 

318

 

��

383

Net loss

 

$

(8,061)

 

$

(8,946)

 

$

(7,732)

 

$

(13,968)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

$

(6.02)

 

$

(6.33)

 

$

(0.35)

 

$

(0.61)

Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders — basic and diluted

 

 

1,338,475

 

 

1,412,308

 

 

22,242,129

 

 

22,750,425

2020 ATM.


118

123


ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Management’s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.

Our management, with the participation of our chiefprincipal executive officer and chiefprincipal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018,2021, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based upon such evaluation, our chiefprincipal executive officer and chiefprincipal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of such date.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

·

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets;

·

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets;

·

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018.2021. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in its 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, our

119


management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2018,2021, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, regarding internal control over financial reporting due to an exemption established by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Actas stated in their report which is included herein.
124

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the three months ended December 31, 20182021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2021 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated February 28, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 28, 2022

ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

None.

120


125


2022 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan

On February 24, 2022, our Board of Directors adopted, upon recommendation of the compensation committee of our Board of Directors, or the Committee, the 2022 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan, or the Inducement Plan, to be effective immediately. The Inducement Plan provides for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other stock-based awards, collectively, the stock awards, with respect to an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock (subject to adjustment as provided in the Inducement Plan). Awards under the Inducement Plan may only be granted to persons who (a) were not previously our employee or director or (b) are commencing employment with us following a bona fide period of non-employment, in either case as an inducement material to the individual’s entering into employment with us and in accordance with the requirements of Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c)(4). A complete copy of the Inducement Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.28 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

On February 28, 2022, our Board of Directors adopted, upon recommendation of the Committee, the nonstatutory stock option agreement and the restricted stock unit agreement for use in the grant of stock options and restricted stock units pursuant to the Inducement Plan. All stock options under the Inducement Plan shall be nonstatutory stock options. A complete copy of the forms of nonstatutory stock option agreement and the restricted stock unit agreement are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.30 and 10.29, respectively, to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
At-the-market Equity Offering Program
On February 28, 2022, we entered into a Sales Agreement, or Sales Agreement, with Cowen and Company, LLC, or Cowen, under which we may issue and sell shares of common stock, from time to time, having an aggregate offering price of up to $100.0 million. Sales of common stock through Cowen may be made by any method that is deemed an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Cowen has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell our shares of common stock based upon our instructions. We are not obligated to make any sales of our common stock under the Sales Agreement. Any sales under the Sales Agreement will be made pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-3 (File No 333-260895), which became effective on November 18, 2021, and pursuant to a prospectus supplement relating to such offering to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ITEM 9C.DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS

None.
126

PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item 10 will be included under the captions “Executive Officers,” “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.


We post our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to our directors, officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, in the “Corporate Governance” sub-section of the “Investors & Media” section (https://ir.mersana.com) of our corporate website https://mersana.com/. We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that are required to be disclosed pursuant to the disclosure requirements of Item 5.05 of Form 8-K.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item 11 will be included under the captions “Executive and Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated here by reference.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item 12 will be included under the Captions “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Securities Authorized for issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item 13 will be included under the Captions “Employment Agreements,” “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control,” “Board Determination of Independence” and “Related Person Transactions” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item 14 will be included under the Captions “Audit Fees and Services” and “Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC with respect to our 20192022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

121

127


PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Financial Statements

For a list of the consolidated financial statements included herein, see Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated into this Item by reference.

Financial Statement Schedules

No financial statement schedules have been submitted because they are not required or are not applicable or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index immediately before the signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 16.    FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
128

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number

Description of Exhibit

3.1

3.2

3.2

4.1

4.1

4.2

4.2

10.1†

4.3

4.4
10.1†

10.2

10.2

10.3

10.3

122


10.4+

10.4

10.5+

10.5+

10.6+

10.6+

10.7+

10.7+

10.8+

10.8

10.9

10.9+

10.10+

10.10+

129

10.11
10.12
10.13+

10.11+

10.14

10.12+

10.15

10.13+

Amendment Number One, to the Collaboration Agreement dated June 17, 2014, by and between Adimab, LLC and Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Form S-1, File No. 333-218412, filed on June 1, 2017).

10.14+

10.16†

Development Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement, dated January 29, 2016, by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Form S-1, File No. 333-218412, filed on June 1, 2017).

10.15+

Amended and Restated Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2016, by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Form S-1, File No. 333-218412, filed on June 1, 2017).

10.16+

Amendment Number One to the A&R Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement, dated March 9, 2017, by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Form S-1, File No. 333-218412, filed on June 1, 2017).

123


10.17

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement, as amended, dated August 2, 2017 by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q, File No. 001-38129, filed on August 11, 2017).

10.19

Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Research Collaboration and Commercial License Agreement, as amended, dated October 30, 2017 by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s From 10-Q, file No. 001-38129, filed on November 13.2017).

10.20†

Amended and Restated Offer Letter, by and between Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. and Anna Protopapas, dated March 17, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’sCompany's Form S-1, File No. 333-218412, filed on June 1, 2017).

10.21†

10.17†

10.18†
10.19†
10.20†

10.22†

10.21†

10.23†

10.22†

10.24†

10.23†

10.25†

10.24†

10.26†

10.25†

10.27†

10.26†

10.28†

10.27†

10.28†
10.29†
130

10.30†
10.31†

10.29†

10.32†

21.1*

21.1*

23.1*

23.1*

31.1*

31.1*

31.2*

31.2*

32.1**

101The following financial and related information from Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reportable Language (iXBRL) includes: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheet; (ii) the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss; (iii) the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity; (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows; and, (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, formatted in Inline XBRL (contained in Exhibit 101).

124


101. *

INS

XBRL Instance Document.

101. *

SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.

101. *

CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

101. *

DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

101. *

LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

101. *

PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

*Filed herewith.

**Furnished herewith.

†Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.

+Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and this exhibit has been submitted separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

125

131


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Mersana Therapeutics, Inc.

Dated: March 8, 2019

Date: February 28, 2022

/s/ Anna Protopapas

Anna Protopapas

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ ANNA PROTOPAPAS


Anna Protopapas


 


President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)


 


March 8, 2019

February 28, 2022


Anna Protopapas

/s/ DAVID A. SPELLMAN


David A. Spellman

BRIAN DESCHUYTNER


 


Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)


 


March 8, 2019

February 28, 2022


Brian DeSchuytner

/s/ WAYNE FOSTER


Wayne Foster

ASHISH MANDELIA


 


Vice President, of FinanceController (Principal Accounting Officer)


 


March 8, 2019

February 28, 2022


Ashish Mandelia

/s/ DAVID MOTT


David Mott


 


Chairman of the Board


 


March 8, 2019

February 28, 2022


David Mott

/s/ KRISTEN HEGE


DirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Kristen Hege, M.D.


 


Director


 


March 8, 2019


/s/ ANDREW A. F. HACK


DirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Andrew A. F. Hack, M.D., Ph.D.


 


Director


 


March 8, 2019


/s/ LAWRENCE M. ALLEVA


DirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Lawrence M. Alleva


 


Director


 


March 8, 2019


/s/ WILLARD H. DERE, M.D.


DirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Willard H. Dere, M.D.


 


Director


 


March 8, 2019

/s/ MARTIN H. HUBER, M.D.DirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Martin H. Huber, M.D.
/s/ ALLENE M. DIAZDirectorFebruary 28, 2022
Allene M. Diaz


126

132