Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly: • the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; and • the Company’s results of operations and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”) enacted in April 2012. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on certain exemptions from various public company reporting requirements, including not being required to have our internal control over financial reporting audited by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier to occur of (1) the last day of the fiscal year that is five years following the closing of our initial public offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of at least $1.235 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which means the market value of our equity securities that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th after we have been subject to the SEC’s periodic reporting requirements for at least twelve calendar months and have filed at least one annual report, and (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of some accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We are electing to utilize the extended transition period and, as a result, will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for emerging growth companies. We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) because our annual revenue was less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our voting and non-voting ordinary shares held by non-affiliates was less than $560.0 million on June 30, 2023. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company” if the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates is below $250 million (or $700 million if our annual revenue is less than $100 million) as of June 30 in any given year. As a smaller reporting company, we are eligible for scaled disclosure relief from certain Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K requirements. The Company adopted the scaled disclosures in this annual report on Form 10-K. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash in readily available checking accounts, certificate of deposits, money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities. Short Term Investments The Company invests its excess cash in cash deposits, U.S. Treasury securities and SEC-registered money market funds. Securities with original maturities of three months or less when purchased are included in Cash and cash equivalents. The Company considers investments with original maturities greater than three months and remaining maturities less than one year to be short-term investments. As of December 31, 2023, all investments in U.S. Treasury securities were classified as available-for-sale securities, which are recorded at fair value. Unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported net of related income taxes in accumulated other comprehensive income until realized. Purchase premiums and discounts are amortized to interest income over the terms of the related securities. Concentrations of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are held by financial institutions primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. Amounts on deposit may at times exceed federally insured limits. Management believes that the financial institutions are financially sound, and accordingly, the Company does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships. Segments Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise with separate discrete information available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. We view our operations and manage our business as one segment. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of the current period financial statements. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net loss or comprehensive loss. Foreign Currency Translation The Company’s financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars (“USD”), the reporting currency of the Company. The functional currency of Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc is USD and the functional currency of the Centessa Subsidiaries is their respective local currency. Income and expenses have been translated into USD at average monthly exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheets dates and equity accounts at their respective historical rates. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded directly as a separate component of shareholders’ equity as other comprehensive (loss) income. Transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are remeasured based upon the exchange rate at the date of remeasurement with the resulting gain or loss included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss within Other income (expense), net. The aggregate foreign currency transaction gain or loss is included in the results of operations. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a net foreign currency transaction gain of $0.8 million, while for the year ended December 31, 2022, it recorded a net loss of $2.8 million. Use of Estimates 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 as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Significant areas that require management’s estimates include accrued research and development expenses, the note purchase agreement, share-based compensation, leases and tax-related matters. Property and Equipment, net Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Property and equipment includes computer equipment, furniture and office equipment, which have a useful life of three Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was $298 thousand and $131 thousand respectively. Capitalized software as a service costs representing costs incurred during the application development stage are included in “Other non-current assets” and the corresponding current portion, in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and is amortized using the straight line method over 5 years. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage and the post-implementation-operation stage are expensed as incurred. Hosting fees associated with the hosting as a service arrangement are expensed on a straight line basis over the term of the hosting arrangement. Amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $0.5 million. Leases In accordance with ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASC 842”) , the Company assesses whether an arrangement is a lease, or contains a lease at the inception of the arrangement. When an arrangement contains a lease, the Company categorizes leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance. Finance leases are generally those leases that allow us to substantially utilize or pay for the entire asset over its estimated life. Assets acquired under finance leases are recorded in “Property and equipment, net.” All other leases are categorized as operating leases. The Company records right-of use ("ROU") assets and lease obligations for its finance and operating leases, which are initially recognized based on the discounted future lease payments over the term of the lease. As the rate implicit in the Company's leases may not be easily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to calculate the present value of the sum of the lease payments. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease. The Company will include such options in determining the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options. Operating and finance lease ROU assets are recognized net of any lease prepayments and incentives. The Company elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components and, accordingly, accounts for them as a single lease component. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Finance lease expense is recognized based on the effective-interest method over the lease term. The Company elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease obligations for any short-term leases, which are defined as leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, then an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. As of December 31, 2023, the Company believes that no revision of the remaining useful lives or write-down of long-lived assets is required. Fair Value Measurement Fair value is the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value determination in accordance with applicable accounting guidance requires that a number of significant judgments be made. Additionally, fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment or as required for disclosure purposes by applicable accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value of financial instruments. Depending on the nature of the assets and liabilities, various valuation techniques and assumptions are used when estimating fair value. The carrying amounts of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expense and accounts payable, are shown at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement , for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The guidance requires fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liabilities. Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Note Purchase Agreement In October 2021, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “NPA”) with Oberland Capital. As described in further detail in Note 6 - "Debt" , as of December 31, 2023, in addition to a secured note in the principal amount of $75 million, which was funded on October 4, 2021, Oberland Capital has agreed to purchase tranches of secured notes in the aggregate principal amount of up to $175 million, including up to $75 million through September 2024, at the Company’s option ; and up to $100 million at any time at the Company’s and Purchasers’ option, to be used to finance certain permitted acquisitions as described in the NPA. In addition, the Company is obligated to pay a Milestone payment equal to 30% of the aggregate principal amount issued under the Notes by the Company upon regulatory approval of any drug candidate. The Company evaluated the notes under the NPA and determined that the notes include embedded derivatives that would otherwise require bifurcation as derivative liabilities. Neither the debt instrument nor any embedded features are required to be classified as equity. Therefore, the hybrid financial instrument comprised of the debt host and the embedded derivative liability may be accounted for under the fair value option. The Company elected to carry the notes at fair value, and the debt instrument is outside the scope of ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity , and thus is classified as a liability under ASC 470, Debt , in the Company’s financial statements. As the Company has elected to account for the notes under the fair value option, debt issuance costs were immediately expensed. The fair value of the notes under the NPA represents the present value of estimated future payments, including interest, principal as well as estimated payments that are contingent upon the achievement of specified milestones. The fair value of the notes is based on the cumulative probability of the various estimated payments. The fair value measurement is based on significant Level 3 unobservable inputs such as the probability of achieving the milestones, anticipated timelines, probability and timing of an early redemption of all obligations under the agreement and the discount rate. Any changes in the fair value of the liability in each reporting period are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss until it is settled. License and other revenue The Company recognizes revenues from collaboration, license or other research or sale arrangements when or as performance obligations are satisfied. For milestone payments, the Company assesses, at contract inception, whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will occur, the Company will not record revenue until the uncertainty has been resolved. Milestone payments that are contingent upon regulatory approval are not considered probable until the approvals are obtained as it is outside of the control of the Company. If it is probable that significant revenue reversal will not occur, the Company will estimate the milestone payments using the most likely amount method. The Company reassesses the milestones each reporting period to determine the probability of achievement. Any potential consideration received in the form of royalty or sales-based milestones will be recorded when the customer’s subsequent sales or usages occur. Collaborative Arrangements The Company enters into collaborative arrangements to develop and commercialize intellectual property. These arrangements typically involve two (or more) parties who are active participants in the collaboration and are exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activities. These collaborations usually involve various activities by one or more parties, including research and development, marketing and selling and distribution. Often, these collaborations require upfront, milestone and royalty or profit share payments, contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events linked to the success of the asset in development. Amounts due to collaborative partners related to development activities are generally reflected as research and development expense. Research and Development Expenses and Accruals All research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred and consist primarily of salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits, stock-based compensation charges for those individuals involved in research and development efforts, external research and development costs incurred under agreements with contract research organizations and consultants to conduct and support the Company’s ongoing clinical trials. The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with clinical research organizations, clinical development and manufacturing organizations and other companies. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred. Payments made in advance of performance are reflected in the accompanying balance sheets as prepaid expenses, while payments made after performance are reflected as accrued liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company records accruals for estimated costs incurred for ongoing research and development activities. When recording accruals for ongoing research and development activities, the Company analyzes progress of the services, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services, including fees for process development or manufacturing and distribution of clinical supplies that will be used in future research and development activities, are recognized as expense in the period that the related goods are consumed or services are performed. Milestone payments within the Company’s licensing arrangements are recognized when achievement of the milestone is deemed probable to occur. To the extent products are commercialized and future economic benefit has been established, commercial milestones that become probable are capitalized and amortized over the estimated remaining useful life of the intellectual property. Significant judgments and estimates may be made in determining the prepaid or accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates. Research and Development Tax Incentives The Company participates in research tax incentive programs that are granted to companies by the United Kingdom tax authorities in order to encourage them to conduct technical and scientific research. Expenditures that meet the required criteria are eligible to receive a tax credit that is reimbursed in cash, upon surrender of loss carryforwards. Estimates of the amount of the cash refund expected to be received are determined at each reporting period and recorded as reductions to research and development expenses. The Company recorded research and development tax incentives of $24.3 million and $12.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company may not be able to continue to claim the most beneficial payable research and development tax credits in the future if it ceased to qualify as a small or medium enterprise, based on size criteria concerning employee headcount, turnover and gross assets. In addition, unless its subsidiaries qualify for an exemption, there are limitations to how much tax incentive can be claimed. This limitation is calculated as the total of the Company's relevant expenditure on employees in the period, multiplied by 300%, plus £20,000. Share-Based Compensation The Company measures share-based awards, including restricted shares, restricted stock units and stock options, at their grant-date fair value and records compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the awards. Subsequent to the IPO, the Company determines the fair value of share-based compensation awards using the market closing price of the Company’s ADSs on the date of grant. F orfeitures of stock options are recognized in the period the forfeiture occurs. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to value its stock option awards. The expected life of the stock options is estimated using the “simplified method,” as the Company has limited historical information from which to develop reasonable expectations about future exercise patterns and post-vesting employment termination behavior for its stock option grants. The simplified method is the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual term of the option. For share price volatility, the Company uses comparable public companies as a basis for its expected volatility to calculate the fair value of option grants. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve commensurate with the expected life of the option. The estimated annual dividend yield is 0% because the Company has not historically paid and does not expect for the foreseeable future to pay a dividend on its ordinary shares. Retirement Plans The Company provided defined contribution plans to its employees beginning in 2021. In the U.S., the primary plan sponsored by the Company is a safe harbor, 401k plan with a 4% employer match, no waiting period and immediate vesting on the match. In the UK, the primary plan sponsored by the Company is a money purchase plan, which requires a minimum 8% contribution, including a minimum employer contributio n of 4% and employee contribution of 4% in 2022. The Company recorded charges of $0.6 million under these plans during the year ended December 31, 2023 and $0.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. Income Taxes The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes . Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years 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 included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company regularly assesses its ability to realize its deferred tax assets. Assessing the realization of deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. In determining whether its deferred tax assets are more likely than not realizable, the Company evaluated all available positive and negative evidence, and weighed the evidence based on its objectivity. After consideration of the evidence, the Company believes it would more likely than not be able to utilize existing loss carryforwards and research and development tax credits to offset future income in the United States. The operating entity in the United States has a history of cumulative net profits as it carries out services for other entities in the group. ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. Net Loss Per Ordinary Share Basic loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the aggregate weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding. Diluted loss per ordinary share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as stock options, unvested restricted ordinary shares and restricted stock units which would result in the issuance of incremental ordinary shares. For diluted net loss per ordinary share, the weighted-average number of ordinary shares is the same for basic net loss per ordinary share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive securities are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive. The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive. Year Ended Year Ended Unvested ordinary shares 310,052 599,421 Restricted stock units 1,949,463 1,804,760 Stock options 16,069,015 14,688,996 18,328,530 17,093,177 |