Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Polices) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). |
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires it to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses in the Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant estimates in the Company’s financial statements relate to accruals for research and development expenses, valuation of equity awards, and valuation allowances for deferred tax assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from these estimates. The full extent to which the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic will directly or indirectly impact the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition, including expenses, clinical trial and research and development costs, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain or treat COVID-19, as well as the economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets. The Company has considered potential impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and is not presently aware of any events or circumstances that would require the Company to update its estimates, judgments or revise the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. |
Segments | Segments The Company has determined that it operates and manages one operating segment, which is the business of developing and commercializing tissue targeted therapeutics. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its chief executive officer, reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for the purpose of allocating resources. |
Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair Value of Financial Instruments Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments are carried at fair value. Accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at cost, which approximates fair value given their short-term nature. The term loan payable is carried at cost, which approximates fair value as its effective interest rate approximates current market rates. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents are comprised of short-term, highly-liquid investments with maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase. At December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 , the Company’s cash equivalents consisted of money market funds. |
Restricted Cash | Restricted Cash Restricted cash consists of a deposit securing a collateral letter of credit issued in connection with the operating lease for the Company’s headquarters. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the balance sheets that sum to the amounts shown in the statements of cash flows (in thousands): December 31, December 31, Cash and cash equivalents $ 254,045 $ 386,569 Restricted cash 250 350 Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 254,295 $ 386,919 |
Investments | Investments The Company invests excess cash in investment grade intermediate-term fixed income securities. These investments are included in long-term investments on the balance sheets, classified as available-for-sale, and reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Realized gains and losses on the sale of these securities are recognized in net loss. The Company periodically evaluates whether declines in fair values of its investments below their book value are other-than-temporary. This evaluation consists of several qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the severity and duration of the unrealized loss as well as the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until a forecasted recovery occurs. Additionally, the Company assesses whether it has plans to sell the security or it is more likely than not it will be required to sell any investment before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Factors considered include quoted market prices, recent financial results and operating trends, implied values from any recent transactions or offers of investee securities, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, other publicly available information that may affect the value of the investments, duration and severity of the decline in value, and the Company's strategy and intentions for holding the investment. |
Concentrations of Credit Risk | Concentrations of Credit Risk The Company is subject to credit risk from holding its cash and cash equivalents at a limited number of commercial banks. The Company limits its exposure to credit losses by investing in money market funds through a U.S. bank with high credit ratings and U.S. Treasury securities. Cash may consist of deposits held with banks that may at times exceed federally insured limits, however, exposure to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institution is limited to the extent of amounts recorded on the balance sheets. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. |
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets | Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets Prepaid expenses consist primarily of operating expenses paid in advance of when services are provided. |
Property and Equipment, Net | Property and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net consists of furniture and fixtures and laboratory equipment and is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Furniture and fixtures and laboratory equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (each three to five years) using the straight-line method. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations in the period realized. Repairs and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. |
Leases | Leases Leases consist of the Company’s operating leases. In accordance with ASC 842, Leases, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and evaluates each lease agreement to determine whether the lease is an operating or finance lease. For leases where the Company is the lessee, right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent an obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Operating lease ROU assets also include any prepaid lease payments, lease incentives received, and costs which will be incurred in exiting a lease. The Company’s leases include options to extend or terminate the leases. Periods covered by an option to extend a lease are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Periods covered by an option to terminate a lease are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will not exercise that option. Short-term leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company does not have material short-term lease costs. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For real estate leases, the Company does not separate lease and non-lease components. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment and ROU assets. These assets are reviewed for impairment whenever facts or circumstances either internally or externally may suggest that the carrying value of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded if and when events and circumstances indicate that assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. The Company has not recognized any impairment losses through December 31, 2021. |
Research and Development Expenses | Research and Development Expenses All research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of direct and indirect costs incurred in connection with the development of the Company’s ImmunoTAC technology platform, discovery efforts, and preclinical study and clinical trial activities related to the Company’s program pipeline. Direct costs include expenses incurred under agreements with CROs and other vendors that conduct the Company’s preclinical and clinical activities, expenses associated with manufacturing the Company’s product candidates including under agreements with contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CDMOs”) and other vendors, and consulting fees. Indirect costs include personnel-related expenses, consisting of employee salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation expense and recruiting costs for personnel engaged in research and development activities, facility and equipment related expenses, consisting of indirect and allocated expenses for rent, depreciation, and equipment maintenance, and other unallocated research and development expenses incurred in connection with the Company’s research and development programs, including laboratory materials and supplies and license fees. Research and development expenses are charged to operating expenses as incurred when these expenditures relate to the Company’s research and development efforts and have no alternative future uses. The Company is obligated to make upfront payments upon execution of certain research and development agreements. Advance payments, including nonrefundable amounts, for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are capitalized until such goods are delivered or the related services are performed, or such time when the Company does not expect the goods to be delivered or services to be performed. The Company estimates the period over which such services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If actual timing of performance or the level of effort varies from the estimate, the Company will adjust the amounts recorded accordingly. Since inception, the Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued or prepaid costs and actual costs. |
General and Administrative Expenses | General and Administrative Expenses General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related expenses, including employee salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation, and recruiting costs for personnel in executive, finance, and other administrative functions. Other significant general and administrative expenses include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters, professional fees for accounting, tax and consulting services, insurance costs, travel expenses and facility related expenses. General and administrative costs are expensed as incurred. |
Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-Based Compensation The cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument is measured at the grant date based on the award’s estimated fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The estimated fair value of the awards is recognized into expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for an award with a performance condition is recognized when the achievement of such performance condition is determined to be probable. If the outcome of such performance condition is not determined to be probable or is not met, no compensation expense is recognized, and any previously recognized compensation expense is reversed. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance condition is probable based on the expected satisfaction of the performance condition at each reporting date. Forfeitures are recognized as a reduction of stock-based compensation expense as they occur. The option plan permits, but does not require, the inclusion of early exercise provisions in individual awards. Proceeds from early option exercises are recorded as a liability until the underlying restricted shares vest. While the restricted shares have voting rights, they are not considered outstanding for accounting purposes. |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan | Employee Stock Purchase Plan In December 2020, the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) became effective, pursuant to which eligible employees can purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount to the fair market value at semi-annual intervals. In determining the grant date fair value of shares expected to be purchased under the ESPP, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Black-Scholes inputs are determined in the same manner as for stock option awards. The estimated grant date fair value of shares expected to be purchased is recognized into expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. |
Income Taxes | Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes net deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management determines that the Company is more likely than not able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, management would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustment is made. The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) management determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the recognition threshold, management recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. Any accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability. The Company did not have any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. |
Comprehensive Loss | Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive loss is defined as a change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company presents one continuous Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. The Company’s comprehensive loss includes unrealized gains and losses on investments. |
Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders | Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, without consideration of potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders since the effect of potentially dilutive securities is anti-dilutive given the net loss of the Company. For purposes of this calculation, redeemable convertible preferred stock, stock options, employee stock purchase rights, and unvested common stock subject to repurchase are considered to be common stock equivalents but are not included in the calculations of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented as their effect would be antidilutive. |
Emerging Growth Company Status | Emerging Growth Company Status The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with certain new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it is (1) no longer an emerging growth company or (2) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. |
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted | Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments . The objective of the standard is to provide information about expected credit losses on financial instruments at each reporting date and to change how other-than temporary impairments on investment securities are recorded. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the standard may have on its financial statements and related disclosures. |