| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include those related to the evaluation of our ability to continue as a going concern, revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, long-lived assets, income taxes, assumptions used in the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) model to calculate the fair value of stock-based compensation, Monte Carlo Simulation (“MSM”) model to calculate the fair value of warrants, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, valuation of the Company’s common and convertible preferred stock, fair value assumptions used in the valuation of warrants, preclinical study and clinical trial accruals and various accrued liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Risk
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions in the United States of America. Deposits held by these institutions may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, one customer accounted for 100% of total revenue. As of March 31, 2019, there were no accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2018, two customers accounted for 60% and 40% of total accounts receivable.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of checking account and money market account balances.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company considers the credit worthiness of its customers but does not require collateral in advance of a sale. The Company evaluates collectability and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio when necessary. The allowance is based on the Company’s best estimate of the amount of losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable, which is based on customer creditworthiness, facts and circumstances specific to outstanding balances, and payment terms. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, there were no allowances for doubtful accounts.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight‑line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally between three and five years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period realized.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are recorded at cost and amortized over the estimated useful life of the asset. Intangible assets consist of licenses with various institutions whereby the Company has rights to use intangible property obtained from such institutions.
Impairment of Long‑Lived Assets
The Company reviews long‑lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount to the future net cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment is measured by the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over fair value less the costs to sell the assets, generally determined using the projected discounted future net cash flows arising from the asset. There have been no such impairments of long-lived assets as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Revenue Recognition
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2019 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). ASC 606 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. Under ASC 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 revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue at a point in time, or over time, as the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that it will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract, determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
The Company enters into licensing and development agreements which are within the scope of ASC 606, under which it may collaborate with third parties to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize its product candidates. The terms of these arrangements may include payment to the Company of one or more of the following: nonrefundable, upfront license fees; reimbursement of certain costs; customer option exercise fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.
As part of the accounting for customer arrangements, the Company must use significant judgment to determine: a) the number of performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above; b) the transaction price under step (iii) above; and c) the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract for the allocation of transaction price in step (iv) above. The Company uses judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration should be included in the transaction price as described further below.
The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. In developing the stand-alone price for a performance obligation, the Company considers applicable market conditions and relevant entity-specific factors, including factors that were contemplated in negotiating the agreement with the customer and estimated costs. The Company validates the stand-alone selling price for performance obligations by evaluating whether changes in the key assumptions used to determine the stand-alone selling prices will have a significant effect on the allocation of transaction price between multiple performance obligations. The Company records any amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria as deferred revenue. Amounts recognized as revenue, but not yet received or invoiced are recorded within other receivables on the consolidated balance sheet.
The Company only has one contract within the scope of ASC 606, the Development Program Letter Agreement (the “CFF Agreement”) with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF or CF Foundation). Under the CFF Agreement, CFF made an upfront payment of $200,000 and will make milestone payments to the company as certain milestones defined in the agreement are met. The Company has determined that there is one performance obligation under the CFF Agreement. Hence, all of the estimated transaction price is allocated to this combined performance obligation and is recognized as revenue by measuring progress using the input (cost-to-cost) method, limited by the variable consideration attributed to the probable completion of certain milestones as defined in the agreement.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, all grant revenue totaling approximately $1,022,000 and $322,000, respectively, was derived from our award agreement with the CF Foundation.
Costs for Collaborative Arrangements
Costs incurred under collaborative arrangements include personnel costs, laboratory supplies, and fees paid to third parties. These amounts are included in research and development in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred expenses of $0 and $157,000, respectively.
Research and Development
We recognize research and development expenses as they are incurred. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:
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salaries and related overhead expenses, which include stock-based compensation and benefits for personnel in research and development functions;
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fees paid to consultants and contract research organizations, or CROs, including in connection with our preclinical studies and clinical trials and other related clinical trial fees, such as for investigator grants, patient screening, laboratory work, clinical trial material management and statistical compilation and analyses;
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costs related to acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials;
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costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements; and
·
payments related to licensed products and technologies.
Costs for certain development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and clinical sites. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in future periods for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are then expensed as the related goods are delivered or when the services are performed.
Stock‑Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company early adopted ASU 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. The Company recognizes compensation expense for all stock‑based awards based on the grant‑date estimated fair values, net of an estimated forfeiture rate. The Company recognizes stock‑based compensation cost on a straight‑line basis over the requisite service period for the award. Stock‑based compensation expense is recognized only for those awards that are ultimately expected to vest. The Company estimates forfeitures based on an analysis of historical employee turnover and will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the forfeiture rate based on actual forfeiture experience, analysis of employee turnover and other factors. The Company will revise the forfeiture estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Changes in forfeiture estimates impact stock‑based compensation cost in the period in which the change in estimate occurs.
The BSM option pricing model incorporates various highly sensitive assumptions, including the fair value of our common stock, expected volatility, expected term and risk-free interest rates. The weighted average expected life of options was calculated using the simplified method as prescribed by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin, Topic 14 (“SAB Topic 14”). This decision was based on the lack of relevant historical data due to our limited historical experience. In addition, due to our limited historical data, the estimated volatility also reflects the application of SAB Topic 14, incorporating the historical volatility of comparable companies whose stock prices are publicly available. The risk-free interest rate for the periods within the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. The dividend yield was zero, as we have never declared or paid dividends and have no plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
Prior to the completion of the Company’s initial public offering of common stock on August 16, 2018, due to the absence of a public market trading for the Company’s common stock, it was necessary to estimate the fair value of the common stock underlying the Company’s stock-based awards when performing fair value calculations.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized income tax expense of $2,000 and $0, respectively.
The Company assesses all material positions taken in any income tax return, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge by the relevant taxing authorities. Assessing an uncertain tax position begins with the initial determination of the positions sustainability and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. At each balance sheet date, unresolved uncertain tax positions must be reassessed, and the Company will determine whether (i) the factors underlying the sustainability assertion have changed and (ii) the amount of the recognized benefit is still appropriate. The recognition and measurement of tax benefits requires significant judgment. Judgments concerning the recognition and measurement of a tax benefit might change as new information becomes available.
Comprehensive Loss
The Company has no items of comprehensive income or loss other than net loss.
Loss Per Share
Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common shareholders for the period by the weighted‑average number of common shares outstanding during the period. For diluted loss per share calculation purposes, the net loss available to commons shareholders is adjusted to add back any preferred stock dividends and any interest on convertible debt reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the respective periods.
The following potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2019
2018
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
Convertible preferred stock
—
5,639,885
Stock options to purchase common stock
1,239,835
742,124
Preferred stock warrants
—
1,359,525
Common stock warrants
1,966,930
607,295
3,206,765
8,348,829
The convertible preferred stock and preferred stock warrants in the previous table reflect the conversion of these instruments into their common stock equivalents as of the dates reported.
JOBS Act Accounting Election
The JOBS Act permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We are choosing to take advantage of this provision and, as a result, we will adopt the extended transition period available under the JOBS Act until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided under the JOBS Act.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, which amends the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605 and creates a new topic, ASC 606. In 2015 and 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs related to ASC 606 that delayed the effective date of the guidance and clarified various aspects of the new revenue guidance, including principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and licensing, and they include other improvements and practical expedients. Companies have the option of applying this new guidance retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (the full retrospective method) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying this update recognized at the date of initial application (the modified retrospective method).
The Company only has one contract, the CFF Agreement, within the scope of ASC 606. The cumulative-effect of adopting ASC 606 on January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective method, was immaterial. The total impact to revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as a result of the adoption of ASC 606 was a $1.0 million increase in revenue. Total revenue recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2019 under ASC 606 was $1.0 million as compared to $22,000 that would have been recorded under ASC 605. As of March 31, 2019, the Company recorded $1.0 million as unbilled accounts receivable under ASC 606 which is included in other receivables on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
The most significant changes under ASC 606 relate to the Company’s determination of transaction price at inception and each reporting period, the revenue recognition pattern under step (v) above for the CFF Agreement as well as treatment of variable consideration in the form of milestone payments. Under ASC 605, the Company recognized revenue under the milestone method up to the limit of the prior approval funding amounts, and when the Company determined that it had earned the right to receive the recognized portion according to the terms of the grant awarded. Upfront payment of $ 200 ,000 was recognized straight-line over the term of the contract as the Company believed the upfront fee related to services performed throughout the contract period and the upfront fee did not represent a substantive milestone within the agreement. Under ASC 606, the Company is recognizing the revenue allocated to the one performance obligation measuring progress using the input (cost-to-cost) method, limited by the variable consideration attributed to the probable completion of certain milestones as defined in the agreement.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting", which is intended to simplify the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions by expanding the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. For public entities, ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. As a result of the Company having elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, ASU 2018-07 is effective for the Company for the year ending on December 31, 2020, and all interim periods within. Early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted this standard on January 1, 2019. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)". In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, which provides clarification to ASU 2016-02. These ASUs (collectively, the new lease standard) require an entity to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms of more than twelve months. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged, while lessees will no longer be provided with a source of off-balance sheet financing. Initial guidance required the adoption of the new lease standard using the modified retrospective transition method. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842)—Targeted Improvements, which allows entities to elect an optional transition method where entities may continue to apply the existing lease guidance during the comparative periods and apply the new lease requirements through a cumulative effect adjustment in the period of adoptions rather than in the earliest period presented. In March 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Codification improvements, which provides clarification on implementation issued associated with adopting ASU 2016-02. ASU 2019-01 enhances the guidance in ASC 842 surrounding the fair value of underlying assets for lessors, presentation of sales-type and direct financing leases on the statement of cash flows, and transition guidance surrounding accounting changes and error corrections. This guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As a result of Company having elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020, and all interim periods within. Early adoption is permitted. While the Company continues to review its current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the new guidance, the Company expects that its non-cancellable operating lease commitments with a term of more than twelve months will be subject to the new guidance and recognized as right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets upon adoption. The Company expects to elect transitional practical expedients such that the Company will not need to reassess whether contracts are leases and will retain lease classification and initial direct costs for leases existing prior to the adoption of the new lease standard. |
