Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP, for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, for interim reporting. As permitted under these rules, certain footnotes or other financial information normally required by GAAP may be condensed or omitted. These financial statements were prepared on the same basis as the Company’s annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments including normal and recurring adjustments which the Company considers necessary for the fair presentation of financial information. These financial statements do not include all information required under GAAP for a complete set of financial statements. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year or any other interim period. The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 3, 2016. There have been no significant and material changes in our critical accounting policies and significant judgments and estimates during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, except where described in the Company’s significant accounting policies below. Use of Estimates The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make informed estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes as of the date of the financial statements. The most significant estimates in the Company’s financial statements include revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, completeness of clinical trial accruals and income taxes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other market-specific and relevant assumptions that management believes to be reasonable. Actual results may be materially different from those estimates. License and Revenue consists of amounts earned from license and collaboration agreements. The Company may enter into license and collaborative research and development agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners that may involve multiple deliverables. The Company’s agreements may include one or more of the following elements: upfront license payments, cost reimbursement for the performance of research and development activities, milestone payments, other contingent payments, contract manufacturing service fees, royalties and license fees. Each deliverable in an agreement is evaluated to determine whether it meets the criteria to be accounted for as a separate unit of accounting or whether it should be combined with other deliverables. In order to account for the multiple-element arrangements, the Company identifies the deliverables included within an agreement and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. Analyzing an arrangement to identify deliverables requires the use of judgment, and each deliverable may be an obligation to deliver services, a right or license to use an asset, or another performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Non-refundable upfront fees received for license and collaborative agreements entered into and other payments under collaboration agreements where the Company has continuing performance obligations related to the payments are deferred and recognized over the estimated performance period. Revenue is recognized on a ratable basis, unless the Company determines that another method is more appropriate, through the date at which the Company’s performance obligations are completed. Management makes its best estimate of the period over which the Company expects to fulfill its performance obligations, which may include clinical development activities. Given the uncertainties of research and development collaborations, significant judgment is required to determine the duration of the performance period. The Company estimates the performance period at the inception of the arrangement and reevaluates it each reporting period. This reevaluation may shorten or lengthen the period over which the remaining revenue is recognized. Changes to these estimates are recorded on a prospective basis. Research and Development Expenses Research and development expenses consist primarily of fees paid to contract research organizations and other vendors for clinical, non-clinical and manufacturing services, licensing costs, salaries and related overhead expenses, consultant expenses, costs related to acquiring manufacturing materials and costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements. The Company recognizes research and development expenses as incurred, typically estimated based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, manufacturing steps completed, or information provided by vendors on their actual costs incurred. Amounts incurred in connection with collaboration agreements are included in research and development expenses. The Company determines the estimates by reviewing contracts, vendor agreements and purchase orders, and through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. These estimates are made by the Company as of each balance sheet date based on facts and circumstances known to the Company at that time. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the estimate accordingly. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services, including contract research organization services, fees for process development or manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies that will be used in future research and development activities, are capitalized as prepaid expenses and recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed. The Company may pay fees to third parties for clinical, non-clinical and manufacturing services that are based on contractual milestones that may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment of the research and development expense. Stock-Based Compensation Expense For stock options granted to employees, the Company recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards based on the grant date estimated fair value. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period. The fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model net of estimated forfeitures. The determination of fair value for stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model requires management to make certain assumptions regarding subjective variables. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to non-employees is recognized based on the fair value of the stock options, determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as the options are vested. The awards generally vest over the time period the Company expects to receive services from non-employees. Stock options granted to non-employees are subject to periodic revaluation over their vesting terms. Net Loss Per Share Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss 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. The calculation of diluted net loss per common share also requires that, to the extent the average market price of the underlying shares for the reporting period exceeds the exercise price of the warrants and the presumed exercise of such securities are dilutive to earnings (loss) per share for the period, adjustments to net income or net loss used in the calculation are required to remove the change in fair value of the warrants for the period. Likewise, adjustments to the denominator are required to reflect the related dilutive shares. For purposes of the diluted net loss per common share calculation, convertible preferred stock, convertible notes and accrued interest, stock options and common stock warrants are considered to be potentially dilutive securities and are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share because their effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, basic and diluted net loss per common share was the same for the periods presented due to the Company’s net loss position. The following table sets forth the outstanding potentially dilutive securities which have been excluded in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because including such would be anti-dilutive (in common stock equivalent shares): Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 Common stock options 3,314,812 2,100,765 3,314,812 2,100,765 Warrants to purchase common stock 64,657 64,657 64,657 64,657 Total 3,379,469 2,165,422 3,379,469 2,165,422 Recent Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2016-09, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718) In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest — Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). |