Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] | 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The mission of Capricor Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (referred to herein as “Capricor Therapeutics” or the “Company”), is to develop therapies for the treatment of diseases based upon the Company’s proprietary cell-based and exosome-based technology. Capricor, Inc. (“Capricor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capricor Therapeutics, was founded in 2005 as a Delaware corporation based on the innovative work of its founder, Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D. After completion of a merger between Capricor and a subsidiary of Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Nile”), on November 20, 2013, Capricor became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nile and Nile formally changed its name to Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. Capricor Therapeutics and its subsidiary, Capricor, together have four drug candidates, two of which are in various stages of active development. The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for Capricor Therapeutics and its wholly-owned subsidiary have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all disclosures necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with U.S. GAAP. In the Company’s opinion, all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The accompanying financial information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 16, 2017, from which the December 31, 2016 consolidated balance sheet has been derived. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has historically financed its research and development activities as well as operational expenses from equity financings, federal government grants, a payment from Janssen Biotech, Inc. (“Janssen”) pursuant to a Collaboration Agreement with Janssen and a loan award and a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“CIRM”). Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2017 were approximately $ 13.9 16.2 0.001 5.0 2,589,078 1.93 5.0 On October 19, 2017, the Company entered into a Common Stock Sales Agreement (the “October Sales Agreement”) with Wainwright to create an additional at-the-market equity program under which the Company from time to time may offer and sell shares of its common stock, par value $ 0.001 14.0 484,190 2.49 1.2 The Company has been awarded various grant and loan awards, which fund, in part, various pre-clinical and clinical activities (see Note 2 “Loan Payable” and Note 6 “Government Grant Awards”). As of September 30, 2017, the Company has up to approximately $ 5.8 The Company’s principal uses of cash are for research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and other working capital requirements. The Company’s future expenditures and capital requirements may be substantial and will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the following: · the timing and costs associated with its clinical trials and preclinical studies; · the timing and costs associated with the manufacturing of its product candidates; · the timing and costs associated with commercialization of its product candidates; · the number and scope of its research programs; and · the costs involved in prosecuting and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company implemented certain budget reductions. The Company expects to seek additional financing primarily from, but not limited to, the sale and issuance of equity or debt securities, the licensing or sale of its technology and from government grants. The Company cannot provide assurances that financing will be available when and as needed or that, if available, financing will be available on favorable or acceptable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing when and if required, it would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations and the Company could be required to further reduce expenses and curtail operations. To the extent the Company issues additional equity securities, its existing stockholders could experience substantial dilution. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most sensitive estimates relate to the recoverability and fair value of intangible assets and the assumptions used to estimate stock-based compensation expense. Management uses its historical records and knowledge of its business in making these estimates. Accordingly, actual results may differ from these estimates. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. September 30, September 30, 2017 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,897,087 $ 18,020,875 Restricted cash 610,175 602,185 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows $ 9,507,262 $ 18,623,060 The Company has two awards with CIRM designated for specific use, a Loan Agreement with CIRM (the “CIRM Loan Agreement”) entered into on February 5, 2013 (see Note 2 “Loan Payable”) in connection with the ALLSTAR Phase II clinical trial and the CIRM Award (see Note 6 “Government Grant Awards”) related to the HOPE Phase I/II clinical trial. Restricted cash represents funds received under these awards which are to be allocated to the research costs as incurred. Generally, a reduction of restricted cash occurs when the Company deems certain costs are attributable to the respective award. The restricted cash balance was approximately $ 0.6 1.3 The Company determines the appropriate classification of its marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation at each balance sheet date. All of the Company’s marketable securities are considered as available-for-sale and carried at estimated fair values. Realized gains and losses on the sale of debt and equity securities are determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from net income and reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the related estimated useful life of the asset, which such estimated useful lives range from five to seven years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the lease term. Depreciation expense was approximately $ 73,034 63,218 September 30, December 31, 2017 2016 Furniture and fixtures $ 46,709 $ 51,161 Laboratory equipment 619,994 587,809 Leasehold improvements 47,043 47,043 713,746 686,013 Less accumulated depreciation (319,715) (250,677) Property and equipment, net $ 394,031 $ 435,336 Amounts attributable to intellectual property consist primarily of the costs associated with the acquisition of certain technologies, patents, pending patents and related intangible assets with respect to research and development activities. Certain intellectual property assets are stated at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from five to fifteen years. Also, the Company recorded capitalized loan fees as a component of intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheet (see Note 2 “Loan Payable”). Total amortization expense was approximately $ 36,562 Years ended Amortization Expense 2017 (3 months) $ 12,188 2018 43,733 2019 43,276 2020 4,330 2021 2,165 As a result of the merger in 2013 between Capricor and Nile, the Company recorded $ 1.5 Business Combinations Government Research Grants Generally, government research grants that provide funding for research and development activities are recognized as income when the related expenses are incurred, as applicable. Because the terms of the CIRM Award granted in connection with the HOPE trial allow Capricor to elect to convert the grant into a loan at the end of the project period, the CIRM Award is being classified as a liability rather than income (see Note 6 - “Government Grant Awards”). Revenue from nonrefundable, up-front license or technology access payments under license and collaborative arrangements that are not dependent on any future performance by the Company is recognized when such amounts are earned. If the Company has continuing obligations to perform under the arrangement, such fees are recognized over the estimated period of the continuing performance obligation. The Company accounts for multiple element arrangements, such as license and development agreements in which a customer may purchase several deliverables, in accordance with FASB ASC Subtopic 605-25, Multiple Element Arrangements The Company determined that the deliverables under its Collaboration Agreement with Janssen (see Note 8 “License Agreements”) did not meet the criteria to be considered separate accounting units for the purposes of revenue recognition. As a result, the Company recognized revenue from non-refundable, upfront fees ratably over the term of its performance under the agreement with Janssen. The upfront payments received, pending recognition as revenue, were recorded as deferred revenue and were classified as a short-term or long-term liability on the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and amortized over the estimated period of performance. The Company periodically reviewed the estimated performance period of its contract based on the estimated progress of its project. As of June 30, 2017, the full amount of income has been recognized under the Janssen Agreement and the Agreement terminated. Revenue is recognized in connection with the delivery of doses which were developed as part of our past R&D efforts. Income is recorded when evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred and collection is reasonably assured (see Note 9 “Related Party Transactions”). The Company accounts for the funds advanced under the CIRM Loan Agreement (see Note 2 “Loan Payable”) as a loan payable as the eventual repayment of the loan proceeds or forgiveness of the loan is contingent upon certain future milestones being met and other conditions. Rent expense for the Company’s leases, which generally have escalating rental amounts over the term of the lease, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the rent expense and rent paid has been recorded as deferred rent in the consolidated balance sheet under accounts payable and accrued expenses. Rent is amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the applicable lease, without consideration of renewal options. Costs relating to the design and development of new products are expensed as research and development as incurred in accordance with FASB ASC 730-10, Research and Development 1.9 4.7 8.2 13.4 Comprehensive income (loss) generally represents all changes in stockholders’ equity during the period except those resulting from investments by, or distributions to, stockholders. The Company’s comprehensive loss was approximately $ 2.7 5.3 9.9 14.3 1,276 (3,855) 5,069 (8,462) The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation arrangements in accordance with guidance issued by the FASB, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees, consultants, and directors based on estimated fair values. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense over the requisite service periods in the Company’s statements of operations. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based compensation awards using the Black-Scholes model. This model requires the Company to estimate the expected volatility and value of its common stock and the expected term of the stock options, all of which are highly complex and subjective variables. The variables take into consideration, among other things, actual and projected stock option exercise behavior. For employees and directors, the expected life was calculated based on the simplified method as described by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110, Share-Based Payment. For other service providers, the expected life was calculated using the contractual term of the award. The Company's estimate of expected volatility was based on the historical stock price of the Company. The Company has selected a risk-free rate based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity equivalent to the expected term of the options. Basic loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares, which primarily consist of stock options issued to employees, consultants and directors as well as warrants issued to third parties, have been excluded from the diluted loss per share calculation because their effect is anti-dilutive. For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, warrants and options to purchase 8,014,863 7,532,260 8,014,863 7,532,260 Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the balance sheet are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The categories are as follows: Level Input: Input Definition: Level I Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date. Level II Inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level I, that are observable for the asset or liability through corroboration with market data at the measurement date. Level III Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. September 30, 2017 Level I Level II Level III Total Marketable securities $ 4,997,850 $ - $ - $ 4,997,850 December 31, 2016 Level I Level II Level III Total Marketable securities $ 12,990,510 $ - $ - $ 12,990,510 Carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet of cash and cash equivalents, grants receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturity. The carrying amounts of the Company’s marketable securities are based on market quotations from national exchanges at the balance sheet date. Interest and dividend income are recognized separately on the income statement based on classifications provided by the brokerage firm holding the investments. The fair value of borrowings is not considered to be significantly different from its carrying amount because the stated rates for such debt reflect current market rates and conditions. In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements Going Concern (Topic 915): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis . In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs . Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of Credit Arrangements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) , Leases (Topic 840) In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB, including its Emerging Issues Task Force, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the SEC, did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future condensed consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures. For a more detailed listing of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see Note 1 “Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017. |