SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The Company has prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“US GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include those accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods presented. Estimates are used for, but are not limited to, depreciation of equipment, fair value of financial instruments, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and contingencies. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the date of purchase and consist of time deposits and investments in money market funds with commercial banks and financial institutions. As of December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents included cash on deposit at commercial banks and a money market fund that invests in U.S. Government securities. Marketable Securities Investments consist of marketable securities with original maturities greater than 90 days. The Company has classified its investments with maturities beyond one year as short-term, based on their highly liquid nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations. The Company considers its investment portfolio of marketable securities to be available-for-sale. Accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value (level 2). Unrealized gains and losses are reported as the accumulated other comprehensive items in stockholders’ equity. Amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts are recorded in other income (expense). Realized gains or losses on debt securities are included in interest income or interest expense, respectively. If any adjustment to fair value reflects a decline in value of the investment, the Company considers all available evidence to evaluate the extent to which the decline is other than temporary and, if so, marks the investment to market on the Company’s statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Deferred Offering Costs The Company capitalizes as prepaid expenses certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with preferred stock or common stock financings as deferred offering costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the offering. Concentrations of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit and checking accounts that at times exceed insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated or amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Repairs or maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Office equipment and furniture 3 — 7 years Research equipment 1 — 7 years Capital lease Lesser of the asset life or lease term Fair Value of Financial Instruments US GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs for the valuation techniques. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements) and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. The most observable inputs are used, when available. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows: Level 1 —Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 —Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means. Level 3 —Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. Classification of Convertible Preferred Stock The Company classifies convertible preferred stock outside of stockholders’ deficit on its balance sheets as the requirements of triggering a deemed liquidation event are not within the Company’s control. In the event of a deemed liquidation event, the proceeds from the event are distributed in accordance with liquidation preferences (Note 8). The Company adjusts the carrying value of the convertible preferred stock to their redemption values when it becomes probable a redemption event will occur. Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development costs include payroll and personnel expense; consulting costs; external contract research and development costs; raw materials and allocated overhead such as depreciation and amortization, rent and utilities. Advance payments for goods and services to be used in future research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and are expensed over the service period as the services are provided or when the goods are consumed. Clinical trial costs are a component of research and development expenses. The Company estimates expenses incurred for clinical trials that are in process based on services performed under contractual agreements with clinical research organizations and actual clinical investigators. Included in the estimates are (1) the fee per patient enrolled as specified in the clinical trial contract with each institution participating in the clinical trial and (2) progressive data on patient enrollments obtained from participating clinical trial sites and the actual services performed. Changes in clinical trial assumptions, such as the length of time estimated to enroll all patients, rate of screening failures, patient drop-out rates, number and nature of adverse event reports, and the total number of patients enrolled can impact the average and expected cost per patient and the overall cost of the clinical trial. The Company monitors the progress of the trials and their related activities and adjusts, when applicable, the accruals accordingly. Adjustments to accruals are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the adjustment become known. In the event of early termination of a clinical trial or site, the Company would accrue an amount based on estimates of the remaining noncancellable obligations associated with winding down the clinical trial or cancelation of a participating site. Stock-Based Compensation The Company accounts for all stock-based compensation, including stock options and warrants, at fair value and recognizes stock-based compensation expense for those equity awards, net of actual forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The fair value of the Company’s stock options and warrants on the date of grant, prior to February 3, 2021 was determined by the Company with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist in accordance with the guidance in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Valuation Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation , as the Company’s common stock was not actively traded. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method of accounting for taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, including operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized through future operations. Income tax expense consists of taxes payable for the current period and the net change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company evaluates its uncertain tax positions based on a determination of whether and how much of a tax benefit taken by the Company in its tax filings or positions is more likely than not to be realized. Potential interest and penalties associated with any uncertain tax positions are recorded as a component of income tax expense. Management has evaluated the Company’s tax position and concluded that the Company has taken no uncertain tax positions that would require adjustment or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. Net Loss Per Share The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share as the Company has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated, and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed. Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders is computed by adjusting net loss attributable to common stockholders to reallocate undistributed earnings based on the potential impact of dilutive securities. Diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the diluted net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common stock. For purpose of this calculation, outstanding stock options, stock warrants and convertible preferred stock are considered potential dilutive common stock and are excluded from the computation of net loss per share as their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company’s convertible preferred stock contractually entitles the holders of such shares to participate in dividends but does not contractually require the holders of such shares to participate in losses of the Company. Accordingly, in periods in which the Company reports a net loss, such losses are not allocated to such participating securities. In periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, since dilutive common shares are not assumed to be outstanding if their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to the presentation of amounts in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020 to conform to the current year presentation. Specifically, prepaid expenses were reclassified from other current assets, as well as operating lease liability from other non-current liabilities, and presented separately on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in prepaid expenses were reclassified from changes in other assets and presented separately on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Segments Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its chief executive officer. The Company has determined it operates in one segment. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"). The provisions of ASU 2016-02 set out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract (i.e. lessees and lessors). The new standard requires lessee apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less will be accounted for in a similar manner as under existing guidance for operating leases today. ASU 2016-02 supersedes the previous lease standard, ASC Topic 840 ("ASC 840"), Leases. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842 (Leases), and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements ("ASU 2018-11"), which provide (i) narrow amendments to clarify how to apply certain aspects of the new lease standard, (ii) entities with an additional transition method to adopt the new standard, and (ii) lessors with a practical expedient for separating components of a contract. ASU 2018-11 specifically permits an entity to elect an additional transition method to the existing modified retrospective transition requirements. Under the new transition method, an entity could adopt the provisions of ASU No. 2016-02 by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without adjustment to the financial statements for periods prior to adoption. Consequently, an entity's reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which it adopts the new leases standard will continue to be in accordance with the previous lease guidance in ASC 840. ASU No. 2018-11 also allows a practical expedient that permits lessors to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are present. The Company is adopting ASU 2016-02 using the modified retrospective method, upon its effective date of January 1, 2022. The Company is electing the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allows the Company to carryforward the historical lease classification for all leases in effect at adoption. The Company will make an accounting policy election to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the consolidated balance sheet and will recognize those lease payments in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The most significant impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 to the Company relates to its accounting for leases currently classified as operating leases. The Company estimates that the approximate amount of additional liabilities and ROU assets that will be recognized in its consolidated balance sheet upon adoption will be between $ 5.5 million to $ 6.5 million. Recently Issued Accounting Standards The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies are required to comply with those standards. The Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards unless otherwise state. The Company will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) December 31, 2026, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which it has total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more, (iii) the date on which it has issued more than $1.0 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years or (iv) the date on which it is deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which generally is when it has more than $700 million in market value of its stock held by non-affiliates, has been a public company for at least 12 months and have filed one annual report on Form 10-K. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326) . ASU No. 2016-13 requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets. In April 2019, the FASB issued clarification to ASU No. 2016-13 within ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments . This update is effective for entities other than public business entities, including emerging growth companies that elected to defer compliance with new or revised financial accounting standards until a company that is not an issuer is required to comply with such standards, for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022.The Company is currently evaluating the impact that ASU No. 2016-13 will have on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes . ASU No. 2019-12 eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. This update is effective for entities other than public business entities, including emerging growth companies that elected to defer compliance with new or revised financial accounting standards until a company that is not an issuer is required to comply with such standards, for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company adopted ASU No. 2019-12 on January 1, 2020 and it did no t have a material effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. |