UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number:
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
As of May 5, 2023, the registrant had
CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Item 1. |
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3 |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 |
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4 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 |
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Item 2. |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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Item 1. |
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31 |
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Item 1A. |
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Item 2. |
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Item 3. |
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Item 4. |
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Item 5. |
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Item 6. |
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32 |
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2
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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(Unaudited) |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Investment securities |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Operating lease right-of-use asset |
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Derivative asset |
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Restricted cash |
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Other assets |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accrued compensation and related expenses |
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Deferred revenue |
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Operating lease liability |
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Total current liabilities |
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Operating lease liability, non-current |
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Deferred revenue, non-current |
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Total liabilities |
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Stockholders’ equity: |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Common stock and paid-in capital, $ |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
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Accumulated deficit |
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Total stockholders’ equity |
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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$ |
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$ |
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See the accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
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Three months ended March 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Revenues |
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$ |
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$ |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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General and administrative |
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Total operating expenses |
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Loss from operations |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest income |
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Other income (expense), net |
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Total other income, net |
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Loss before equity method investment |
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Loss on equity method investment |
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Net loss |
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$ |
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$ |
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Net loss per share: |
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Net loss per share - basic and diluted |
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$ |
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$ |
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Weighted average shares - basic and diluted |
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Other comprehensive income (loss): |
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Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities |
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$ |
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$ |
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Comprehensive loss |
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$ |
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$ |
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See the accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Common Stock |
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Common stock |
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Accumulated |
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Accumulated |
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Total |
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Shares |
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Capital |
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Income (loss) |
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Deficit |
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Equity |
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Balance at January 1, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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Restricted stock units vested |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Comprehensive income |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Balance at March 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Balance at January 1, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Vesting of shares subject to repurchase |
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— |
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— |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Comprehensive loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Balance at March 31, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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See the accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Three months ended |
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March 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Operating activities: |
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Net loss |
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$ |
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$ |
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Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Stock-based compensation |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Noncash lease expense |
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Accretion of purchase discounts and amortization |
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Loss on equity method investment |
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Noncash license revenues |
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Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in: |
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Prepaid expenses and other assets |
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
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Deferred revenue |
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Operating lease liability |
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Net cash used in operating activities |
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Investing activities: |
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Purchases of investment securities |
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Maturities of investment securities |
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Purchases of property and equipment |
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Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
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Financing activities: |
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Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
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Net cash provided by financing activities |
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Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Components of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Restricted cash |
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Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Noncash investing and financing activities: |
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Stock received under licensing arrangement |
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$ |
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$ |
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Change in unvested stock liability |
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$ |
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$ |
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Amounts accrued for purchases of property and equipment |
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$ |
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$ |
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See the accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Business
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company incorporated in Delaware on November 18, 2008 and based in San Diego, California. The Company is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. In January 2017, the Company established a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, Crinetics Australia Pty Ltd (“CAPL”), in order to conduct various preclinical and clinical activities for its development candidates.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2023, the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related disclosures are unaudited. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and include all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2023 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or any other interim period.
Principles of Consolidation and Foreign Currency Transactions
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and CAPL. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The functional currency of both the Company and CAPL is the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities that are not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars at foreign currency exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date except for nonmonetary assets, which are remeasured at historical foreign currency exchange rates in effect at the date of transaction. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions and remeasurement are reported in other income (expense), in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and were not material for all periods presented.
Segment Reporting
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in
Liquidity
From inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to drug discovery and development and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials. The Company has a limited operating history and the sales and income potential of the Company’s business and market are unproven. Successful transition to attaining profitable operations is dependent upon achieving a level of revenues adequate to support the Company’s cost structure. The Company has experienced net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities since its inception and has an accumulated deficit of $
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $
The Company expects to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future and believes it will need to raise substantial additional capital to accomplish its business plan over the next several years. The Company plans to continue to fund its losses from operations and capital funding needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings or other sources, including potential collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. If the Company is not able to secure adequate additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, or suspend or curtail planned programs. Any of these actions could materially harm the Company’s business, results of operations and future prospects. There can be no assurance as to the availability or terms upon which such financing and capital might be available in the future.
7
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements requires it to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The most significant estimates in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements relate to accrual of research and development expenses, valuation of stock-based awards, fair values of financial instruments, revenue recognition and investment in Radionetics. Estimates are based on historical experiences or on forecasts, including information received from third parties and various other factors that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates are periodically reviewed in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment in Radionetics
The Company first analyzes its investment in another entity to determine if the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. An entity is considered a VIE if (1) the entity does not have enough equity to finance its own activities without additional support, (2) the entity’s at-risk equity holders lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest, or (3) the entity is structured with non-substantive voting rights. VIEs are consolidated by the primary beneficiary, which is the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that potentially could be significant to the VIE. Variable interests in a VIE can be contractual, ownership, or other financial interests. The Company re-assesses its investment upon reconsideration events to determine whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE, in which case the Company would consolidate the VIE.
If it has been determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary or does not have control but does have the ability to exercise significant influence over the VIE, the Company accounts for the unconsolidated investment under the equity method of accounting.
In October 2021, the Company, together with 5AM Ventures ("5AM") and Frazier Healthcare Partners ("Frazier"), announced the formation of Radionetics Oncology, Inc. ("Radionetics"). Radionetics is a VIE. The Company maintains an equity interest in Radionetics and accounts for its investment in Radionetics under the equity method of accounting due to its ability to exercise significant influence. The Company records its share of Radionetics income (loss) outside of operations in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss on a quarterly lag. The Company's equity method investment in Radionetics was written down to zero during the first quarter of 2022 as a result of the allocation of the Company’s share of losses of the investee. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a
R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, serves as chairman of the Radionetics board of directors. Pursuant to such arrangement, Dr. Struthers received
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $
Fair Value Measurements
The accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or non-recurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.
Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions about risk and the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
8
The carrying amounts of the Company’s current financial assets, restricted cash and current financial liabilities are considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of those instruments. The Company recorded the derivative asset (see Note 8) and investment securities (see Note 3) at fair value.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in readily available checking and money market accounts, as well as short-term debt securities with maturities of three months or less when purchased. Restricted cash represents cash held as collateral for the Company’s facility leases and is reported as a long-term asset in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Investment Securities
All investments have been classified as “available-for-sale” and are carried at fair value as determined based upon quoted market prices or pricing models for similar securities at period end. Investments with contractual maturities less than 12 months at the balance sheet date are considered short-term investments. Investments with contractual maturities beyond one year are also classified as short-term due to the Company’s ability to liquidate the investment for use in operations within the next 12 months.
Realized gains and losses on investment securities are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold and are included in other income (expenses), net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company has not realized any significant gains or losses on sales of available-for-sale debt securities during any of the periods presented. Interest income is recognized when earned and is included in interest income in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, as are the amortization of purchase premiums and accretion of purchase discounts on investment securities.
Effective January 1, 2023, at each balance sheet date, the Company assesses available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position to determine whether the unrealized loss or any potential credit losses should be recognized in net loss. For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through net loss. For available-for-sale securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In making this assessment, the Company considers the severity of the impairment, any changes in interest rates, underlying credit ratings, and forecasted recovery, among other factors. The credit-related portion of unrealized losses, and any subsequent improvements, are recorded as an allowance in interest income. There have been no impairment or credit losses recognized during the periods presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and investment securities. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to significant risk on its cash balances due to the financial position of the depository institution in which those deposits are held. Additionally, the Company has established guidelines regarding approved investments and maturities of investments, which are designed to maintain safety and liquidity.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at the inception of the arrangement. Leases with a term longer than 12 months that are determined to be operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets, other current liabilities and noncurrent operating lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at the commencement date of the arrangement. The Company accounts for each separate lease and non-lease component as a single lease component. When the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, an incremental borrowing rate is used based on the information available at commencement dates in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that the Company would expect to pay to borrow over a similar term, and on a collateralized basis, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when the Company is reasonably certain that it will exercise such options. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease agreements may contain variable costs such as common area maintenance, insurance, taxes or other costs. Such variable lease costs are expensed as incurred. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company assesses its leases to determine whether the arrangements contain lease incentives.
Revenue Recognition
The Company has generated revenue from licensing and supply agreement arrangements. The Company recognizes revenues when, or as, the promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements, the Company performs the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; (3) determine the
9
transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation(s) in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the performance obligation(s) are satisfied. At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract, assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct and identifies those that are performance obligations. The Company 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 has entered into licensing and collaboration agreements that mainly include the following: (i) upfront considerations; (ii) payments associated with achieving certain milestones; and (iii) royalties based on specified percentages of net product sales, if any.
The Company has also entered into a manufacturing and supply arrangement that includes reimbursements of costs plus a pre-determined margin.
At the initiation of an agreement, the Company analyzes each unit of account within the contract to determine if the counterparty is a customer in the context of the unit of account.
The Company considers a variety of factors in determining the appropriate estimates and assumptions under the arrangements, such as whether the elements are distinct performance obligations, whether there are observable standalone prices, whether the license is functional or symbolic, and whether the Company is acting as the agent or principal. The Company evaluates each performance obligation to determine if it can be satisfied and recognized as revenue at a point in time or over time.
At the inception of arrangements that include variable consideration, the Company uses judgment to estimate the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price using the most likely method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, then the estimated amount is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the Company's or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not included in the transaction price until those approvals are received. At the end of each reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the estimated variable consideration included in the transaction price and any related constraint and, as necessary, adjusts the estimate of the overall transaction price. Any adjustments will be recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenues and earnings in the period of adjustment.
The Company develops estimates of the standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation. Variable consideration that relates specifically to efforts to satisfy specific performance obligations is allocated entirely to those performance obligations. Other components of the transaction price are allocated based on the relative standalone selling price, over which management has applied significant judgment. The Company determines the standalone selling price for license-related performance obligations using a market approach, which may include assumptions such as forecasted revenues, development timelines, discount rates and probabilities of success. The Company estimates the standalone selling price for the data exchange performance obligation (see Note 8) by forecasting the expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation plus a predetermined margin.
In the case of a license that is a distinct performance obligation, the Company recognizes revenue allocated to the license from non-refundable, up-front fees at the point in time when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee can use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other distinct or combined obligations, the Company uses judgment to assess the nature of the performance obligation to determine whether the performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue. If the performance obligation is satisfied over time, then the Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
The selection of the method to measure progress towards completion requires judgment and is based on the nature of the products or services to be provided. The Company has used the cost-to-cost measure of progress because it best depicts the transfer of control to the customer which occurs as the Company incurs costs. Under the cost-to-cost measure of progress, the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligation, which is considered an input method. The Company uses judgment to estimate the total cost of these performance obligations, which include subcontractors’ costs, labor, materials, other direct costs and an allocation of indirect costs. The Company evaluates these cost estimates and the progress each reporting period and, as necessary, the Company adjusts the measure of progress and related revenue recognition.
Sales-based milestones and royalties are recognized at the later of when the subsequent sale or usage occurs or the performance obligation for which some or all of the sales-based milestones and royalties have been allocated to has been satisfied or partially satisfied.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses consist primarily of salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits and stock-based compensation for individuals involved in R&D efforts, as well as consulting expenses, third-party R&D expenses, laboratory supplies, clinical materials and overhead, including facilities and depreciation costs, offset by the Australian Tax Incentive discussed below. R&D expenses are charged to expense as incurred. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in R&D are capitalized until the goods or services are received and are recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets.
10
Costs incurred under contracts with contract research organizations that conduct and manage the Company’s clinical trials are also included in R&D expenses. The financial terms and activities of these agreements vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven expense levels. Generally, these agreements set forth activities that drive the recording of expenses such as start-up and initiation activities, enrollment and treatment of patients, or the completion of other clinical trial activities. Expenses related to clinical trials are accrued based on estimates and/or representations from service providers regarding work performed, including actual level of patient enrollment, completion of patient studies and progress of the clinical trials. Other incidental costs related to patient enrollment or treatment are accrued when reasonably certain. If the amounts that the Company is obligated to pay under its clinical trial agreements are modified (for instance, as a result of changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed), the Company adjusts its accruals accordingly on a prospective basis. Revisions to contractual payment obligations are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become reasonably certain.
Australian Tax Incentive
CAPL is eligible to obtain a cash refund from the Australian Taxation Office for eligible R&D expenditures under the Australian R&D Tax Incentive Program (the “Australian Tax Incentive”). The Australian Tax Incentive is recognized as a reduction to R&D expense when there is reasonable assurance that the relevant expenditure has been incurred, the amount can be reliably measured and that the Australian Tax Incentive will be received.
The Company recognized reductions to R&D expense of $
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense represents the estimated grant date fair value of the Company’s equity awards, consisting of stock options, restricted stock units and shares issued under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, recognized over the requisite service period of such awards (usually the vesting period) on a straight-line basis. The Company estimates the fair value of all stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and recognizes forfeitures as they occur. Restricted stock units are valued using the grant date stock price. For stock awards for which vesting is subject to performance-based milestones, the expense is recorded over the remaining service period after the point when the achievement of the milestone is probable, or the performance condition has been achieved.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss is comprised of the Company’s net loss and the unrealized gains or losses on the Company’s available for sale investment securities for all periods presented. The cumulative amount of unrealized gains and losses is reflected as a separate component of stockholders' equity in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock and if-converted methods. Dilutive common stock equivalents are comprised of common stock subject to repurchase and stock options outstanding under the Company’s stock option plan. For all periods presented, there is no difference in the number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted shares outstanding as inclusion of the potentially dilutive securities on loss per share would be antidilutive.
Potentially dilutive securities (in common stock equivalent shares) not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
As of March 31, 2023 |
|
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||
Stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Restricted stock units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
ASU 2016-13
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“Topic 326”). Topic 326 amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity
11
to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however Topic 326 will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. This ASU update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. This update is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2023, which did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
3. INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The Company reports its available-for-sale investment securities at their estimated fair values.
|
|
As of March 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
||||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
|
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
||||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Asset-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|||
As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, available-for-sale investment securities by contractual maturity were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
As of March 31, 2023 |
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|
||||||||||
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Fair |
|
Amortized |
|
|
Fair |
|
||||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Due in one year or less |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Due after one year through five years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
The following is a summary of the available-for-sale investment securities by length of time in a net loss position as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
As of March 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Less Than 12 Months |
|
|
More Than 12 Months |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
||||||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||
12
|
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Less Than 12 Months |
|
|
More Than 12 Months |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Gross |
|
||||||
Available-for-sale investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|||
Asset-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
||||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||
The Company reviewed its investment holdings as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and determined that the decline in fair value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality, and as the Company does not intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be maturity. Therefore, there were no allowances for credit losses as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Investment Securities
The Company holds investment securities that consist of highly liquid, investment grade debt securities. The Company determines the fair value of its investment securities based upon one or more valuations reported by its investment accounting and reporting service provider. The investment service provider values the securities using a hierarchical security pricing model that relies primarily on valuations provided by an industry-recognized valuation service. Such valuations may be based on trade prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 inputs) or valuation models using inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2 inputs), such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, yield curves, volatility factors, credit spreads, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments or debt, and broker and dealer quotes, as well as other relevant economic measures.
Derivative Asset
On October 15, 2021, the Company received a warrant (the "Radionetics Warrant") to purchase the greater of
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
As of March 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total Investment securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Radionetics Warrant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total assets measured at fair value |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
13
|
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Investment securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. government and agency obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Certificates of deposit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Asset-backed securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total Investment securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Derivative Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Radionetics Warrant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total assets measured at fair value |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer. There were
5. BALANCE SHEET DETAILS
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
Prepaid clinical costs |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Prepaid research and development costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Australian tax incentive receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Prepaid insurance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest receivable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Due from Radionetics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
Leasehold improvements |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Lab equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Office equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Computers and software |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment at cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Accrued clinical costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued research and development costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued outside services and professional fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other accrued expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
6. OPERATING LEASE
In February 2018, as amended in March 2018, the Company entered into a non-cancelable operating lease for a facility in San Diego, California (the "2018 Lease"). The 2018 Lease has an initial term of
14
maintenance and other costs and includes certain lease incentives and tenant improvement allowances. The Company’s estimated incremental fully collateralized borrowing rate of
In 2022, the Company entered into a lease agreement for laboratory and office space in San Diego, California (the "2022 Lease"). The Company expects to move its corporate headquarters to this new facility in the second half of 2023 upon the substantial completion of improvements.
Under the terms of the 2018 Lease and 2022 Lease, the Company provided the lessors with irrevocable letters of credit in the amounts of $
As of March 31, 2023, the Company's future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating lease, were as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, |
|
Minimum |
|
|
2023 (9 months) |
|
$ |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
|
2025 |
|
|
|
|
Total future minimum lease payments |
|
|
|
|
Less imputed interest |
|
|
( |
) |
Total operating lease liability |
|
|
|
|
Less operating lease liability, current |
|
|
( |
) |
Operating lease liability, non-current |
|
$ |
|
|
Operating lease cost was $
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for operating cash flow from operating leases was $
7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
From time to time, the Company may be subject to various claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not expect that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.
8. REVENUE RECOGNITION
Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd
On February 25, 2022, the Company and Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. ("Sanwa"), entered into a license agreement (the “Sanwa License”) whereby the Company granted Sanwa an exclusive license to develop and commercialize paltusotine in Japan.
Under the Sanwa License, Sanwa has the right to receive data obtained by the Company through certain paltusotine studies. The Company assessed the Sanwa License and concluded that Sanwa is a customer within the agreement. Sanwa will assume all costs associated with clinical trials and regulatory applications associated with these processes in Japan. Further, the Company retains all rights to develop and commercialize the product outside Japan. The Company also granted Sanwa the right to purchase supply of paltusotine for clinical and commercial requirements at cost plus a pre-negotiated percentage which was considered to be a market rate and therefore not a material right.
15
The Company determined that its performance obligations under the Sanwa License comprised the license and data exchange. Certain professional services, such as the Company's participation on committees, were deemed to be immaterial to the context of the contract.
In exchange, the Company received a $
The control of the license was transferred to Sanwa at the inception of the contract and the Company does not have an ongoing performance obligation to support or maintain the licensed intellectual property. Revenue allocated to the data exchange obligation is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost measure as this method represents a faithful depiction of progress toward the ongoing paltusotine studies in the U.S. and related data transfer. Revenue is recognized on a gross basis as the Company is the principal.
Deferred revenue consisted of the following (in thousands):
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Licenses revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was comprised of $
On June 14, 2022, the Company and Sanwa, entered into a clinical supply agreement (the "Sanwa Clinical Supply Agreement") whereby the Company is responsible for manufacturing and supplying certain materials to Sanwa for the completion of certain studies and trials under the Sanwa License. No significant supply purchases made by Sanwa through the Sanwa Clinical Supply Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Cellular Longevity, Inc., doing business as Loyal
On March 24, 2023, the Company and Cellular Longevity Inc., doing business as Loyal ("Loyal") entered into a license agreement (the “Loyal License”) whereby the Company granted Loyal an exclusive license to develop and commercialize CRN01941, a somatostatin receptor type 2 agonist, for veterinary use. In exchange, the Company will receive a $
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized $
9. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Stock Offerings
On April 18, 2022, the Company completed an underwritten follow-on offering of
Shelf Registration Statements and ATM Offering
On August 13, 2019, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “2019 Shelf Registration Statement”), covering the offering of up to $
On August 13, 2019, the Company also entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with SVB Leerink LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), under which the Company may, from time to time, sell shares of its common stock
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through the Sales Agents (the “ATM Offering”). The 2019 Shelf Registration Statement included a prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale of up to $
Pursuant to the 2019 Shelf Registration Statement, the Company has issued
On August 10, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “2021 Shelf Registration Statement”), which became immediately effective upon filing, covering the offering of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units and the resale of up to
On August 12, 2022, the Company filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement, dated August 12, 2022, to the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the offer and sale of up to $
10. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLANS
2021 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan
The Company adopted the 2021 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the "2021 Inducement Plan") in December 2021. The Company initially reserved
2018 Incentive Award Plan
The Company adopted the 2018 Incentive Award Plan (the “2018 Plan”) in July 2018. Under the 2018 Plan, which expires in
The 2018 Plan contains a provision that allows annual increases in the number of shares available for issuance on the first day of each calendar year through
2015 Stock Incentive Plan
The Company adopted the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) in February 2015, which provided for the issuance of equity awards to the Company’s employees, members of its board of directors and consultants. In general, options issued under this plan vest over
2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company adopted the 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) in July 2018. The ESPP permits participants to purchase common stock through payroll deductions of up to
The ESPP contains a provision that allows annual increases in the number of shares available for issuance on the first day of each calendar year through January 1, 2028 in an amount equal to the lesser of: (i)
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Stock Awards
Stock Options
Activity under the Company’s stock option plans during the three months ended March 31, 2023 was as follows:
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Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference at a specific point in time between the closing price of the Company’s common stock and the exercise price of stock options that had exercise prices below the closing price. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $
The total fair value of options vested during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $
Restricted Stock Units
The Company’s restricted stock unit activity during the three months ended March 31, 2023 was as follows:
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Fair Value of Stock Awards
The Company estimates the fair value of all stock option grants and ESPP using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
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There were no ESPP grants during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
The weighted-average fair value of stock options awarded was $
The key assumptions used in determining the fair value of equity awards, and the Company’s rationale, were as follows: (i) Expected term - the expected term for stock options represents the period that the stock options are expected to be outstanding and has been estimated using the simplified method, which is an average of the contractual option term and its vesting period; the expected term for awards granted under the ESPP represents the term the awards are expected to be outstanding; (ii) Expected volatility - during 2022, the expected volatility assumption was based on volatilities of a peer group of similar companies in the biotechnology industry whose share prices are publicly available. The Company computed the historical volatility data using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the period equivalent to the expected term of the Company’s stock-based awards. Beginning in 2023, the
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Company determined that the volatility of its own market-traded shares best represents the expected volatility based on available historical data and, therefore, the expected volatility assumption for stock-based awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2023 is based on the historical volatility of the Company's common stock; (iii) Risk-free interest rate - the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities that approximate the expected terms of awards; and (iv) Expected dividend yield - the expected dividend yield assumption is
Restricted stock units are valued using the grant date stock price.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Stock-based compensation expense for the equity awards issued by the Company to employees and non-employees for the periods presented below was as follows (in thousands):
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As of March 31, 2023, unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to option awards, restricted stock units, and ESPP was $
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Forward Looking Statements
The following discussion and other parts of this quarterly report contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this quarterly report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, prospective products, product approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, plans and objectives of management for future operations and future results of anticipated products, are forward-looking statements. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” or “continue,” and similar expressions or variations. The forward-looking statements in this quarterly report are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, operating results, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this quarterly report and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. Endocrine pathways function to maintain homeostasis and commonly use peptide hormones acting through G protein coupled receptors, or GPCRs, to regulate many aspects of physiology including growth, energy, metabolism, gastrointestinal function and stress responses. We have built a highly productive drug discovery and development organization with extensive expertise in endocrine GPCRs. We have discovered a pipeline of oral nonpeptide (small molecule) new chemical entities that target peptide GPCRs to treat a variety of rare endocrine diseases where treatment options have significant efficacy, safety and/or tolerability limitations. Our product candidates include paltusotine (formerly CRN00808), which is in clinical development for the treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors complicated by carcinoid syndrome, CRN04777, which is in clinical development for congenital hyperinsulinism, or HI, and CRN04894, which is in clinical development for diseases of excess adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or ACTH, including Cushing’s disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH. We are advancing additional product candidates through preclinical discovery and development studies in parallel. Our vision is to build the leading endocrine company which consistently pioneers new therapeutics to help patients better control their disease and improve their daily lives.
We focus on the discovery and development of oral nonpeptide therapeutics that target peptide GPCRs with well understood biological functions, validated biomarkers and the potential to substantially improve the treatment of endocrine diseases and/or endocrine-related tumors. Our pipeline consists of the following product candidates:
Paltusotine (SST2 Agonist Program)
Paltusotine, our lead product candidate, establishes a new class of oral selective nonpeptide somatostatin receptor type 2, or SST2, agonists designed for the treatment of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs. Somatostatin is a neuropeptide hormone that broadly inhibits the secretion of other hormones, including growth hormone, or GH, from the pituitary gland. Acromegaly arises from a benign pituitary tumor that secretes excess GH that, in turn, causes excess secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1, or IGF-1, by the liver. This loss of homeostasis in the GH axis results in excess tissue growth and other adverse metabolic effects throughout the body. Approximately 27,000 people in the United States suffer from acromegaly, and depending on surgical success, we estimate that approximately 11,000 are candidates for chronic pharmacological intervention, of which somatostatin peptide analogs are the primary pharmacotherapy. NETs originate from neuroendocrine cells commonly found in the gut, lung or pancreas. Typically, NETs are only diagnosed at a time of extensive metastatic disease and will often progress to liver failure. NETs are present in approximately 175,000 adults in the United States. Of these, it is estimated that approximately 33,000 patients have carcinoid syndrome, which occurs when the tumors secrete hormones or other chemical substances into the bloodstream that cause severe flushing or diarrhea, among other symptoms. Most NETs overexpress SST2 receptors and injected depots of peptide somatostatin analogs have become the first-line standard of care for many NETs patients as detailed in National Comprehensive Cancer Network, or NCCN, guidelines. In 2022, branded somatostatin peptide drugs accounted for approximately $2.8 billion in global sales for the treatment of acromegaly, NETs and other uses. These drugs require painful monthly or daily injections and, in the case of somatostatin peptide drugs, often fail to fully control the disease in many acromegaly patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has granted orphan drug designation for paltusotine for the treatment of acromegaly.
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To date, we have conducted multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and results have shown that paltusotine was generally well tolerated among healthy adults and patients with acromegaly. In our ACROBAT Phase 2 program in acromegaly patients, including in our ACROBAT Advance long-term extension study, paltusotine maintained IGF-1 levels in patients previously treated with injected somatostatin receptor ligands, or SRLs, in which paltusotine lowered and maintained IGF-1 for up to 103 weeks at levels comparable to prior injected SRL therapy.
We are currently conducting a Phase 3 development program for paltusotine in acromegaly which consists of two placebo-controlled clinical trials. The first of these, the PATHFNDR-1 trial, is designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, nine-month clinical trial of paltusotine in acromegaly patients with average IGF-1 levels less than or equal to 1.0 times the upper limit of normal, or ULN, and who are on stable doses of somatostatin receptor ligand monotherapy (octreotide LAR or lanreotide depot). We are also conducting a second study, the PATHFNDR-2 trial, which is designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, six-month clinical trial of acromegaly patients with elevated IGF-1 levels who are untreated. Three groups of subjects will be enrolled, including subjects who are treatment-naive (Group 1), subjects are not receiving medical therapy and who last received medical therapy at least four months prior to screening (Group 2), and subjects who are controlled on octreotide or lanreotide but agree to washout prior to beginning study treatment (Group 3). Groups 1 and 2 constitute Stratum 1 and Group 3 constitutes Stratum 2. We expect that the study population will be stratified to ensure equivalent active treatment versus placebo allocations in each stratum. We planned to enroll approximately 76 subjects based on the assumption that there would be an equal number of subjects in each stratum. In order to ensure sufficient statistical power to detect a difference between the active and placebo groups, the protocol prespecifies a sample size adjustment if enrollment in Stratum 2 is below a prespecified threshold. Due to higher than expected enrollment of naïve patients, we now have the opportunity to increase the sample size to enable a statistical comparison of naïve and untreated patients receiving either paltusotine or placebo. The primary endpoint of both PATHFNDR studies will be the proportion of patients with IGF-1 ≤ 1.0 × ULN at the end of the treatment period on paltusotine as compared to placebo. Enrollment in PATHFNDR-1 was completed in 2022, and we expect topline data from the PATHFNDR-1 study in the third quarter of 2023. Enrollment in the PATHFNDR-2 study is ongoing and, based on our current projections, we expect topline data in the first quarter of 2024. We believe that, if successful, the two trials could support marketing applications for the use of paltusotine for all acromegaly patients who require pharmacotherapy, including untreated patients and those switching from other therapies, and we would plan to seek regulatory approval for paltusotine for the treatment of acromegaly in the United States with an anticipated submission of a New Drug Application, or NDA, in 2024.
We are also conducting a Phase 2 trial to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of paltusotine in patients with NETs complicated by carcinoid syndrome. The primary objectives for this Phase 2 trial include the evaluation of safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of paltusotine. In addition, exploratory efficacy during the 8-week period will be evaluated including frequency of bowel movements and flushing episodes. We expect preliminary data from this study in the fourth quarter of 2023.
In February 2022, we entered into a license agreement with Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd., or Sanwa, pursuant to which Sanwa has the exclusive right to develop and commercialize paltusotine in Japan, or the Sanwa License.
CRN04894 (ACTH Antagonist)
CRN04894 is our investigational, oral, nonpeptide product candidate designed to antagonize the ACTH receptor, intended for the treatment of diseases caused by excess ACTH, including Cushing’s disease and CAH. Cushing’s disease results from a pituitary tumor that secretes excess ACTH which, in turn, causes the downstream synthesis and over-secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone and excess amounts can cause significant increases in mortality and morbidity. CAH encompasses a set of disorders that are caused by genetic mutations that result in impaired cortisol synthesis. A lack of cortisol leads to a loss of feedback mechanisms and results in persistently high levels of ACTH, which, in turn, causes overstimulation of the adrenal cortex. The resulting adrenal hyperplasia and over-secretion of other steroids (particularly androgens) and steroid precursors can lead to a variety of effects from improper gonadal development to life-threatening dysregulation of mineralocorticoids. In the United States, there are an estimated 27,000 patients with CAH and over 11,000 patients with Cushing’s disease. Of the patients with CAH and Cushing’s disease, we estimate that 17,000 and 5,000 patients, respectively, are potential candidates for treatment with CRN04894.
We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of CRN04894 in healthy volunteers to assess the safety and tolerability of single and multiple doses of CRN04894. In addition, the study was designed to measure the effect of CRN04894 on suppression of cortisol, cortisol precursors, and adrenal androgens following exogenous ACTH stimulation. We announced positive topline data from the Phase 1 study. CRN04894 was well tolerated and demonstrated dose-dependent increases in CRN04894 plasma concentrations. We believe CRN04894 demonstrated pharmacologic proof-of-concept, as the Phase 1 results showed reductions of both basal cortisol and elevated cortisol following an ACTH challenge. All adverse events were considered mild to moderate and there were no serious adverse events.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, we entered into a Clinical Trial Agreement with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to collaborate on a company-sponsored multiple-ascending dose exploratory trial of CRN04894 in ACTH dependent Cushing’s Syndrome, or ADCS. ADCS includes patients with either Cushing's disease or Ectopic ACTH Syndrome, or EAS. This open-label study is designed to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics of increasing doses of CRN04894 in patients with ADCS as well as to measure 24-hour urinary-free cortisol and serum cortisol as
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indicators of efficacy. Study activities have been initiated and, based on our current projections data is expected from the study in 2024.
In January 2023, we submitted an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, to the FDA for the study of CRN04894 in CAH. In February 2023, we were notified that the IND was allowed to proceed, and we have initiated study activities for a Phase 2 study in CAH patients. This open-label Phase 2 study is designed to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of increasing doses of CRN04894. In addition, biomarkers, including serum androstenedione and 17 hydroxyprogesterone, will be measured as we seek to evaluate the potential efficacy of CRN04894. Data from this Phase 2 study is expected in 2024.
CRN04777 (SST5 Agonist)
CRN04777 is our investigational, oral, nonpeptide somatostatin receptor type 5, or SST5, agonist designed for the treatment of congenital hyperinsulinism, or HI. Congenital HI is a devastating rare genetic disease associated with dysregulated insulin production, in which excess insulin produces life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) beginning at birth. This loss of homeostatic control of blood glucose levels can lead to seizures, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, coma and even death. Congenital HI occurs in approximately 1 in 25,000 to 50,000 new births in the United States. Approximately 2,200 patients in the United States are diagnosed with Congenital HI, and depending on surgical success, we estimate that approximately 1,500 are candidates for chronic pharmacological intervention. We have completed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 study of CRN04777 in healthy volunteers to assess the safety and tolerability of single and multiple doses of CRN04777. In addition, the study was designed to evaluate the potential mechanism of action of CRN04777 by measuring the suppression of insulin secretion in healthy volunteers following stimulation with either glucose or a sulfonylurea, agents that increase the secretion of insulin. We announced positive topline data from the single ascending dose, or SAD, cohorts and the multiple ascending dose, or MAD, cohorts and we believe CRN04777 demonstrated pharmacologic proof-of-concept, based on potent suppression of stimulated insulin observed in these subjects. The plasma exposure of CRN04777 suggested the drug was well absorbed with a half-life of approximately 40 hours, which we believe supports the potential for once daily administration in patients. All adverse events were considered mild or moderate and there were no serious adverse events. CRN04777 was well tolerated at single and multiple doses from 0.5 mg up to 120 mg and exhibited dose-proportional pharmacokinetics for the same dose range. A dose-dependent reduction in glucose-induced insulin secretion was demonstrated with an intravenous glucose tolerance test in the SAD cohorts and a dose-dependent reversal of sulfonylurea-induced insulin secretion was seen in both the SAD and MAD cohorts. The sulfonylurea-induced insulin secretion model represents a pharmacologic analog of the hyperinsulinism that many patients experience.
Following the completion of the adult healthy volunteer study under a Clinical Trial Application in Germany, in October 2022, we submitted an IND to the FDA to initiate the first U.S. clinical study of CRN04777, which is designed to evaluate the compound in a pediatric population (ages 3 months to 12 years). In November 2022, the FDA informed us that the IND was placed on clinical hold and the proposed Phase 2 clinical study may not yet be initiated. We are in the process of collecting additional information and data to submit to the FDA, with the goal of being allowed to proceed with the Phase 2 study in patients with congenital HI.
The FDA has granted rare pediatric disease designation for CRN04777 for the treatment of congenital HI. The European Medicines Agency, or EMA, has granted orphan drug designation for CRN04777 for the treatment of congenital HI and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA, has granted CRN04777 an Innovation Passport for the treatment of congenital HI. We also expect CRN04777 can be broadly developed for the treatment of other diseases characterized by excess insulin secretion, including forms of syndromic hyperinsulinism, of which there are an estimated 1,700 patients in the United States.
Parathyroid Hormone Antagonist
We are developing antagonists of the parathyroid hormone, or PTH, receptor for the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism, or PHPT and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, or HHM, and other diseases of excess PTH. PTH regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis in bone and kidney through activation of its receptor, PTHR1. Increased activation of PTHR1, either via PTH or PTH-related peptide (PTHrP, PTHLH) can lead to skeletal, renal, gastrointestinal, and neurological problems. Primary hyperparathyroidism arises from a small, benign tumor on one or more of the parathyroid glands, which results in over-secretion of PTH, leading to increased blood calcium levels, or hypercalcemia. Some patients experience no symptoms, and many can have surgery to remove the tumor and/or hyperactive gland(s), while some require management with medical therapy. Symptomatic PHPT is characterized by skeletal, renal, gastrointestinal, and neurological manifestations with increased mortality. HHM typically arises in patients with advanced-stage cancers. In cases of HHM, over-secretion of PTHrP caused by the malignant tumor results in bone resorption and calcium reabsorption in the kidney, leading to hypercalcemia. We have identified investigational, orally available nonpeptide PTH antagonists that showed activity and drug-like properties in preclinical models. We are evaluating a subset of molecules to identify potential development candidates that we believe are suitable for evaluation in human clinical trials, and we expect to select a development candidate in 2023.
Treatment for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
We are developing nonpeptides for the treatment of primary Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, or ADPKD. ADPKD develops because of mutations in either the PKD1 or PKD2 genes and is the most common hereditary kidney disease, affecting approximately 1 in 1000 individuals, and is the fourth leading cause of End Stage Renal Disease, or ESRD. These mutations lead to
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bilateral cyst formation and progressive decline in a patient’s Glomular Filtration Rate, or GFR, ultimately leading to kidney failure in 50% of individuals by their sixth decade with the disease. We have identified investigational, orally available nonpeptide molecules that possess good drug-like properties and activity in preclinical models of ADPKD. We are evaluating a subset of these molecules to identify potential development candidates that we believe are suitable for evaluation in human clinical trials, and we expect to select a development candidate in 2023.
Radionetics Oncology, Inc.
On October 18, 2021, we, together with 5AM Ventures and Frazier Healthcare Partners, announced the formation of Radionetics Oncology, Inc., or Radionetics. Radionetics aims to develop a deep pipeline of novel, targeted, nonpeptide radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of a broad range of oncology indications. In connection with the formation of Radionetics, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Radionetics, or the Radionetics License, granting Radionetics an exclusive world-wide license to our technology for the development of radiotherapeutics and related radio-imaging agents in exchange for a majority equity stake in Radionetics, a warrant to obtain additional shares of common stock of Radionetics, potential sales milestones in excess of $1.0 billion and single-digit royalties on net sales.
Research Discovery
Patients with many other debilitating endocrine diseases await new therapeutic options, and we are continuously evaluating where to next deploy our drug discovery efforts. We plan to continue to expand our drug discovery efforts and leverage our expertise in the evaluation of additional conditions including metabolic diseases (including diabetes and obesity) and Graves’ Disease (including Thyroid Eye Disease), among other indications. All of our product candidates have been discovered, characterized and developed internally and are the subject of composition of matter patent applications. We have retained worldwide rights to commercialize our product candidates and do not have any royalty obligations except with respect to the exclusive right to develop and commercialize paltusotine in Japan pursuant to the Sanwa License, and the exclusive right to our radiotherapeutics technology pursuant to the Radionetics License.
Australian operations
In January 2017, we established Crinetics Australia Pty Ltd, or CAPL, a wholly-owned subsidiary which was formed to conduct various preclinical and clinical activities for our product and development candidates. We believe CAPL will be eligible for certain financial incentives made available by the Australian government for research and development expenses. Specifically, the Australian Taxation Office provides for a refundable tax credit in the form of a cash refund equal to 43.5% of qualified research and development expenditures under the Australian Research and Development Tax Incentive Program, or the Australian Tax Incentive, to Australian companies that operate the majority of their research and development activities associated with such projects in Australia. A wholly-owned Australian subsidiary of a non-Australian parent company is eligible to receive the refundable tax credit, provided that the Australian subsidiary retains the rights to the data and intellectual property generated in Australia, and provided that the total revenues of the parent company and its consolidated subsidiaries during the period for which the refundable tax credit is claimed are less than $20.0 million Australian dollars. If we lose our ability to operate CAPL in Australia, or if we are ineligible or unable to receive the research and development tax credit, or the Australian government significantly reduces or eliminates the tax credit, the actual refund amounts we receive may differ from our estimates.
COVID-19
As we continue to actively advance our programs, we are in close contact with our principal investigators and clinical sites and continue to assess any impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on our drug manufacturing, nonclinical activities, and clinical trials, expected timelines, and costs on an ongoing basis. The direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on our business could alter our forecasted timelines. We will continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business.
Financial operations overview
To date, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to drug discovery, conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining and maintaining patents related to our product candidates, licensing activities, and the provision of general and administrative support for these operations. We have recognized revenues from various research and development grants and license and collaboration agreements, but do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any product sales. We have funded our operations primarily through our grant and license revenues, the private placement of our preferred stock, and sales of our common stock. As of March 31, 2023, we had unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities of $296.1 million.
We have incurred cumulative net losses since our inception and, as of March 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $485.2 million. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials and preclinical studies and our expenditures on other research and development activities. We expect our expenses and operating losses will increase substantially as we conduct our ongoing and planned clinical trials, continue our research and development activities and conduct preclinical studies, hire additional personnel, protect our intellectual property and incur costs associated with being a public company, including audit, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with
23
exchange listing and Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, requirements, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relations costs.
We do not expect to generate any revenues from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. Accordingly, until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of our product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potentially, collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, scale back or discontinue the development of our existing product candidates or our efforts to expand our product pipeline.
Revenues
To date, our revenue has been mainly derived from research grant awards and licenses. As our data exchange performance obligation under the Sanwa License is fulfilled, we expect to recognize as revenues the deferred revenue amounts included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023. We will recognize royalty and milestone revenues under our license agreements if and when appropriate under the relevant accounting rules (see Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements). We have not generated any revenues from the commercial sale of approved products, and we do not expect to generate revenues from the commercial sale of our product candidates for at least the foreseeable future, if ever.
License revenues
License revenues in 2021 were derived from the majority equity stake obtained in Radionetics pursuant to a Collaboration and License Agreement, under which Radionetics was granted an exclusive world-wide license to our radiotherapeutics technology platform and associated intellectual property for the development of radiotherapeutics and related radio-imaging agents.
License revenues for 2022 were primarily derived from the Sanwa License, under which Sanwa was granted the exclusive right to develop and commercialize paltusotine in Japan.
On March 24, 2023, we and Cellular Longevity Inc., doing business as Loyal ("Loyal") entered into a license agreement (the “Loyal License”) pursuant to which we granted Loyal an exclusive license to develop and commercialize CRN01941, a somatostatin receptor type 2 agonist, for veterinary use.
License revenues for 2023 were primarily derived from the Sanwa License and the Loyal License.
Clinical supply revenues
On June 14, 2022, the Company and Sanwa, entered into a clinical supply agreement, or the Sanwa Clinical Supply Agreement, whereby the Company is responsible for manufacturing and supplying certain materials to Sanwa for specified activities under the Sanwa License. No significant purchases were made by Sanwa under the Sanwa Clinical Supply Agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Research and development
To date, our research and development expenses have related primarily to discovery efforts and preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates. Research and development expenses are recognized as incurred and payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are capitalized until the goods or services are received.
Research and development expenses include:
We recognize the Australian Tax Incentive as a reduction of research and development expense. The amounts are determined based on eligible research and development expenditures. The Australian Tax Incentive is recognized when there is reasonable assurance that the Australian Tax Incentive will be received, the relevant expenditure has been incurred, and the amount of the Australian Tax Incentive can be reliably measured.
24
Our direct research and development expenses consist principally of external costs, such as fees paid to CROs, investigative sites and consultants in connection with our clinical trials, preclinical and non-clinical studies, and costs related to manufacturing clinical trial materials. The majority of our third-party expenses during 2023 and 2022 related to the research and development of paltusotine, CRN04777, and CRN04894. We deploy our personnel and facility related resources across all of our research and development activities.
Our clinical development costs may vary significantly based on factors such as:
We plan to substantially increase our research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue the development of our product candidates and the discovery of new product candidates. We cannot determine with certainty the timing of initiation, the duration or the completion costs of current or future preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates due to the inherently unpredictable nature of preclinical and clinical development. Clinical and preclinical development timelines, the probability of success and development costs can differ materially from expectations. We anticipate that we will make determinations as to which product candidates to pursue and how much funding to direct to each product candidate on an ongoing basis in response to the results of ongoing and future preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory developments and our ongoing assessments as to each product candidate’s commercial potential. We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future. In addition, we cannot forecast which product candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in executive, finance and other administrative functions. Other significant costs include facility-related costs, legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters, professional fees for accounting and consulting services, insurance costs, and commercial planning expenses. We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future to support our continued research and development activities and, if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, commercialization activities. We also anticipate increased expenses related to audit, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relations costs associated with operating as a public company.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our management's discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our condensed consolidated financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued expenses and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances at the time the estimates are made, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the book values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
25
Our critical accounting policies are those accounting principles generally accepted in the United States that require us to make subjective estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain and are likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as the specific manner in which we apply those principles. For a description of our critical accounting policies, please see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Estimates” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Other than those changes discussed below in the section entitled "Stock-based compensation expense", during the three months ended March 31, 2023, there have not been any material changes to the critical accounting estimates discussed therein.
Stock-based compensation expense
Beginning in 2023, we determined that the volatility of our own market-traded shares best represents the expected volatility based on the available historical data and, therefore, the expected volatility assumption used to value certain stock-based awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2023 utilizes the historical volatility of the Company's common stock. Previously, the expected volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model for certain stock-based awards was based on volatilities of a peer group of similar companies in the biotechnology industry whose share prices were publicly available. We calculated the historical volatility using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the period equivalent to that of the expected term of our stock-based awards.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|
|
Dollar |
|
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Revenues |
|
$ |
2,679 |
|
|
$ |
3,131 |
|
|
$ |
(452 |
) |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
|
38,468 |
|
|
|
28,252 |
|
|
|
10,216 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
12,189 |
|
|
|
8,706 |
|
|
|
3,483 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
50,657 |
|
|
|
36,958 |
|
|
|
13,699 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(47,978 |
) |
|
|
(33,827 |
) |
|
|
(14,151 |
) |
Other income, net |
|
|
1,983 |
|
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
1,773 |
|
Loss before equity method investment |
|
|
(45,995 |
) |
|
|
(33,617 |
) |
|
|
(12,378 |
) |
Loss on equity method investment |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,010 |
) |
|
|
1,010 |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(45,995 |
) |
|
$ |
(34,627 |
) |
|
$ |
(11,368 |
) |
Revenues. Revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 primarily relate to licensing arrangements, including approximately $2.1 million from the Loyal License which was entered into during the first quarter of 2023.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses were $38.5 million and $28.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs of $7.0 million, increased consulting and outside services of $1.4 million, increased spending on manufacturing and development activities of $0.9 million associated with our clinical and nonclinical activities for paltusotine and our preclinical programs, and increased other expenditures of $0.6 million.
26
The following table summarizes our primary external and internal research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|
|
Dollar |
|
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
External research and development expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Clinical trials |
|
$ |
10,492 |
|
|
$ |
8,405 |
|
|
$ |
2,087 |
|
Contract manufacturing |
|
|
2,630 |
|
|
|
4,823 |
|
|
|
(2,193 |
) |
Preclinical studies |
|
|
4,033 |
|
|
|
3,052 |
|
|
|
981 |
|
Other external research and development |
|
|
3,085 |
|
|
|
1,622 |
|
|
|
1,463 |
|
Total external research and development expenses |
|
|
20,240 |
|
|
|
17,902 |
|
|
|
2,338 |
|
Internal expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Personnel |
|
|
16,565 |
|
|
|
9,554 |
|
|
|
7,011 |
|
Other internal research and development |
|
|
1,663 |
|
|
|
796 |
|
|
|
867 |
|
Total internal research and development expenses |
|
|
18,228 |
|
|
|
10,350 |
|
|
|
7,878 |
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
38,468 |
|
|
$ |
28,252 |
|
|
$ |
10,216 |
|
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses by program for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|
|
Dollar |
|
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Paltusotine |
|
$ |
14,900 |
|
|
$ |
11,637 |
|
|
$ |
3,263 |
|
CRN04894 |
|
|
2,941 |
|
|
|
3,767 |
|
|
|
(826 |
) |
CRN04777 |
|
|
3,657 |
|
|
|
3,494 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
Other |
|
|
16,970 |
|
|
|
9,354 |
|
|
|
7,616 |
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
38,468 |
|
|
$ |
28,252 |
|
|
$ |
10,216 |
|
Research and development expenses for our paltusotine clinical studies were $14.9 million and $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to increased supplies and spending on manufacturing and development activities of $1.7 million, an increase in personnel costs of $0.9 million, and an increase in consulting and outside services of $0.4 million.
Research and development expenses for our CRN04894 clinical studies were $2.9 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to decreased supplies and spending on manufacturing and development activities of $1.4 million offset by an increase in personnel costs of $0.3 million.
Research and development expenses for our CRN04777 clinical studies were $3.7 million and $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs of $0.2 million.
Research and development expenses for our other programs were $17.0 million and $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs of $5.6 million, an increase in consulting and outside services of $0.8 million, and increased supplies and spending on manufacturing and development activities of $0.6 million.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses were $12.2 million and $8.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The change was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs of $2.7 million and an increase in other corporate expenditures of $0.8 million.
Other income (expense). Other income (expense), net was $2.0 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase was primarily due to income generated by our investment securities.
Loss on equity method investment. Loss on equity method investment was $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as a result of our share of loss in Radionetics' net loss. As the Radionetics investment was written down to zero, there was no loss on equity method investment during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Cash Flows
We have incurred cumulative net losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception and anticipate we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2023, we had unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investment securities of $296.1 million and an accumulated deficit of $485.2 million.
27
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
$ |
(40,718 |
) |
|
$ |
(13,543 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
48,755 |
|
|
|
(43,384 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
484 |
|
|
|
1,780 |
|
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
8,521 |
|
|
$ |
(55,147 |
) |
Operating Activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $40.7 million and $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in cash used in operations was primarily attributable to the development and manufacturing activities associated with paltusotine and our other clinical and preclinical programs, and higher personnel costs and the $13.0 million upfront payment received upon the execution of the Sanwa License in February 2022, of which $3.1 million was recognized as license revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $0.6 million recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to our net loss of $46.0 million adjusted for $6.0 million of noncash charges, primarily for stock-based compensation, and a $0.7 million change in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily due to our net loss of $34.6 million adjusted for $7.4 million of noncash charges, primarily for stock-based compensation and loss on the investment of Radionetics, and a $13.7 million change in operating assets and liabilities.
Investing activities. Investing activities consist primarily of purchases and maturities of investment securities and, to a lesser extent, the cash outflow associated with purchases of property and equipment. Such activities resulted in a net inflow of funds of approximately $48.8 million during the first three months of 2023, compared to a net outflow of funds of approximately $43.4 million during the comparable period of 2022.
Financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.5 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The net cash provided by financing activities during 2023 and 2022 resulted from cash received from the exercise of stock options.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We believe that our existing capital resources, together with investment income, will be sufficient to satisfy our current and projected funding requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary materially. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we expect. Additionally, the process of testing product candidates in clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress and expenses in these trials is uncertain.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues to support our cost structure, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potentially collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership
28
interest of our stockholders will be or could be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise funds through collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us and/or may reduce the value of our common stock. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market our product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and market such product candidates ourselves.
In August 2019, we entered into a Sales Agreement, or the Sales Agreement, with SVB Leerink LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or collectively, the Sales Agents, under which we may, from time to time, sell shares of our common stock through the Sales Agents, or the ATM Offering. Sales of our common stock made pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Select Market under our effective shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on August 10, 2021, or the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement, and a prospectus supplement filed on August 12, 2022 relating to the offer and sale of up to $150.0 million of shares of our common stock in the ATM Offering by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions at market prices. Additionally, under the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may also sell shares of our common stock through the Sales Agents, on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or otherwise, at negotiated prices or at prices related to the prevailing market price. We are not obligated to, and we cannot provide any assurances that we will continue to, make any sales of the shares under the Sales Agreement. The Sales Agreement may be terminated by either Sales Agent (with respect to itself) or us at any time upon 10 days’ notice to the other parties, or by either Sales Agent, with respect to itself, at any time in certain circumstances, including the occurrence of a material adverse change. We will pay the Sales Agents a commission for their services in acting as agent in the sale of common stock in an amount equal to 3% of the gross sales price per share sold. During 2020, we issued 275,764 shares of common stock in the ATM Offering for net proceeds of $6.4 million, after deducting commissions, pursuant to our Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3, which became effective on August 29, 2019, or the 2019 Shelf Registration Statement. The 2019 Shelf Registration Statement included a prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale of up to $75.0 million of our common stock from time to time through the ATM Offering. The 2019 Shelf Registration Statement expired on August 29, 2022. No shares were issued under the ATM Offering during the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
On April 18, 2022, we completed an underwritten follow-on offering of 5,625,563 shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $22.22 per share. Net proceeds from the offering were approximately $117.2 million, after underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs of approximately $7.8 million.
As discussed above, on August 12, 2022, we filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement to the 2021 Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the offer and sale of up to $150 million of shares of our common stock from time to time to or through the Sales Agents pursuant to the Sales Agreement.
2022 Lease
On September 9, 2022, we entered into a lease agreement for laboratory and office space in San Diego, California, or the 2022 Lease. We expect to move our corporate headquarters to this new facility upon our substantial completion of improvements and written landlord consent, which is expected to occur in the second half of 2023.
Under the terms of the 2022 Lease, our expected future monthly minimum lease payments of $0.5 million, with six months of rent abatement in the first year, start on the earlier of (i) the date which is ten (10) months after substantial completion of demolition work, or (ii) the date of the substantial completion of improvements and first occupancy for business purposes, and the term expires on the date immediately preceding the one hundred thirty-seventh (137th) monthly anniversary of this lease payment start date. Lease payments are subject to annual 3% increases. We are also responsible for certain operating expenses and taxes during the term of the 2022 Lease. The 2022 Lease provides us with specified tenant improvement and landlord work allowances. We have (i) two options to extend the term of the 2022 Lease for an additional period of five (5) years each, and (ii) a right of first offer on adjacent space to the new facility, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2022 Lease.
The 2022 Lease did not commence as of March 31, 2023 since the Company did not control the facility. The lease will be measured and recognized upon lease commencement.
29
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Our cash, cash equivalents and investment securities consist of cash held in readily available checking and money market accounts as well as short-term debt securities. We are exposed to market risk related to fluctuations in interest rates and market prices. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of United States interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the instruments in our portfolio, a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
Foreign Currency
We contract with vendors, CROs and investigational sites in several foreign countries, including countries in South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific. As such, we have exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency rates in connection with these agreements. We do not hedge our foreign currency exchange rate risk. We believe this exposure to be immaterial and, to date, we have not incurred any material adverse effects from foreign currency changes on these contracts.
In January 2017, we formed CAPL, a wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia, which exposes us to foreign currency exchange rate risk. The functional currency of CAPL is the United States dollar. Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiary that are not denominated in the functional currency are remeasured into U.S. dollars at foreign currency exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date except for nonmonetary assets and capital accounts, which are remeasured at historical foreign currency exchange rates in effect at the date of transaction. Expenses are generally remeasured at foreign currency exchange rates which approximate average rates in effect during each period. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions and remeasurement are reported in other income (expense), net, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss and totaled approximately $(55,000) and $17,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, the impact of a theoretical 10% change in the exchange rate of the Australian dollar would not result in a material gain or loss. To date, we have not hedged exposures denominated in foreign currencies.
Inflation Risk
Inflation has increased during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and is expected to continue to increase for the near future. Inflationary factors, such as increases in the cost of our materials, supplies, and overhead costs may adversely affect our operating results. Although we do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations to date, we may experience some adverse effect if inflation rates continue to rise. Significant adverse changes in inflation and prices in the future could result in material losses.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. In addition, the design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2023 at the reasonable assurance level.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
30
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. From time to time, we may be involved in legal proceedings or subject to claims incident to the ordinary course of business. Regardless of the outcome, such proceedings or claims can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of resources and other factors, and there can be no assurances that favorable outcomes will be obtained.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Other than as set forth below, we do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part II, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and stock price.
The global credit and financial markets are currently, and have from time to time, experienced extreme volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rising interest and inflation rates, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, supply chain shortages, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. For example, the Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates multiple times in response to concerns about inflation and it may raise them again. Higher interest rates, coupled with reduced government spending and volatility in financial markets may increase economic uncertainty and affect consumer spending. Increased inflation rates can adversely affect us by increasing our costs, including labor and employee benefit costs. The financial markets and the global economy may also be adversely affected by the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, terrorism or other geopolitical events, with the potential to result in extreme volatility in the global capital markets and further global economic consequences, including disruptions of the global supply chain and energy markets. Sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries in response to such conflicts, including the one in Ukraine, may also adversely impact the financial markets and the global economy, and any economic countermeasures by the affected countries or others could exacerbate market and economic instability. More recently, the closures of Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank and their placement into receivership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, created bank-specific and broader financial institution liquidity risk and concerns. Although the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC jointly released a statement that depositors at SVB and Signature Bank would have access to their funds, even those in excess of the standard FDIC insurance limits, under a systemic risk exception, future adverse developments with respect to specific financial institutions or the broader financial services industry may lead to market-wide liquidity shortages, impair the ability of companies to access near-term working capital needs, and create additional market and economic uncertainty. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur.
Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturn, liquidity shortages, volatile business environment or continued unpredictable and unstable market conditions. If the current equity and credit markets deteriorate, including as a result of political unrest or war, or if adverse developments are experienced by financial institutions, it may cause short-term liquidity risk and also make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, more onerous with respect to financial and operating covenants and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon clinical development plans. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our current service providers, financial institutions, manufacturers and other partners may be adversely affected by the foregoing risks, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
31
Item 6. Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
|
Incorporated by Reference |
Filed |
|||
Number |
Exhibit Description |
Form |
File No. |
Exhibit |
Filing Date |
Herewith |
3.1 |
8-K |
001-38583 |
3.1 |
7/20/2018 |
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|
3.2 |
8-K |
001-38583 |
3.1 |
4/14/2020 |
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|
4.1 |
Specimen Stock Certificate Evidencing the Shares of Common Stock |
S-1/A |
333-225824 |
4.1 |
7/9/2018 |
|
4.2 |
S-1 |
333-225824 |
4.2 |
6/22/2018 |
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|
10.1# |
10-K |
001-38583 |
10.19 |
2/28/2023 |
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10.2 |
Non-Employee Director Compensation Program, as amended effective as of April 24, 2023 |
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|
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|
X |
31.1 |
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X |
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31.2 |
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X |
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32.1* |
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|
|
X |
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101.INS |
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document |
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|
X |
101.SCH |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. |
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|
|
X |
101.CAL |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. |
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|
|
X |
101.DEF |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. |
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|
|
|
X |
101.LAB |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. |
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|
|
X |
101.PRE |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
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|
|
|
X |
104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
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|
|
|
X |
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
* The certification attached as Exhibit 32.1 that accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is not deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
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Date: May 9, 2023 |
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By: |
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/s/ R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
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R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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|
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(Principal executive officer) |
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Date: May 9, 2023 |
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By: |
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/s/ Marc J.S. Wilson |
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Marc J.S. Wilson |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(Principal financial and accounting officer) |
33
Exhibit 10.2
CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS, Inc.
Non-Employee DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM
As Amended Effective April 24, 2023
Non-employee members of the board of directors (the “Board”) of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) shall receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (this “Program”). This Program has been adopted under the Company’s 2018 Incentive Award Plan (the “Equity Plan”) and shall be effective on April 24, 2023. The cash and equity compensation described in this Program shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Non-Employee Director”) who is entitled to receive such cash or equity compensation, unless such Non-Employee Director declines the receipt of such cash or equity compensation by written notice to the Company. This Program shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Program may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time in its sole discretion. The terms and conditions of this Program shall supersede any prior cash and/or equity compensation arrangements for service as a member of the Board between the Company and any of its Non-Employee Directors. No Non-Employee Director shall have any rights hereunder, except with respect to stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted pursuant to the Program. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed in the Equity Plan.
1. Cash Compensation.
(a) Annual Retainers. Each Non-Employee Director shall receive an annual retainer of $40,000 for service on the Board.
(b) Additional Annual Retainers. In addition, each Non-Employee Director shall receive the following additional annual retainers, as applicable:
(i) Chairperson of the Board. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Board shall receive an additional annual retainer of $30,000 for such service.
(ii) Audit Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $9,000 for such service.
(iii) Compensation Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $12,500 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $6,000 for such service.
(iv) Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service.
(v) Research and Development Committee. A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Research and Development Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $13,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Research and Development Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $7,500 for such service.
(c) Payment of Retainers. The annual retainers described in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall be earned on a quarterly basis based on a calendar quarter and shall be paid by the Company in arrears not later than the fifteenth day following the end of each calendar quarter. In the event a Non-Employee Director does not serve as a Non-Employee Director, or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b), for an entire calendar quarter, the retainer paid to such Non-Employee Director shall be prorated for the portion of such calendar quarter actually served as a Non-Employee Director, or in such position, as applicable.
2. Equity Compensation. Non-Employee Directors shall be granted the equity awards described below. The awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Equity Plan, or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company, and shall be granted subject to the execution and delivery of award agreements, including attached exhibits, in substantially the forms previously approved by the Board. All applicable terms of the Equity Plan apply to this Program as if fully set forth herein, and all grants of stock options and RSUs hereby are subject in all respects to the terms of the Equity Plan and the applicable award agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, the share numbers in this Section 2 shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan.
(a) Initial Awards. Each Non-Employee Director who is initially elected or appointed to the Board shall receive an option to purchase 35,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and 12,000 RSUs under the Equity Plan, or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company on the date of such initial election or appointment. The awards described in this Section 2(a) shall be referred to as “Initial Awards.” No Non-Employee Director shall be granted more than one Initial Award.
(b) Subsequent Awards. A Non-Employee Director who (i) is serving on the Board as of the date of any annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders and has been serving as a Non-Employee Director for at least six months as of the date of such meeting, and (ii) will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following such meeting, shall be automatically granted an option to purchase 17,500 shares of the Company’s common stock and 6,000 RSUs under the Equity Plan, or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company on the date of such annual meeting. The awards described in this Section 2(b) shall be referred to as “Subsequent Awards.” For the avoidance of doubt, a Non-Employee Director elected for the first time to the Board at an annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders shall only receive an Initial Award in connection with such election, and shall not receive any Subsequent Award on the date of such meeting as well.
(c) Termination of Employment of Employee Directors. Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who subsequently terminate their employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Award pursuant to Section 2(a) above, but to the extent that they are otherwise entitled, will receive, after termination from employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company, Subsequent Awards as described in Section 2(b) above.
(d) Terms of Awards Granted to Non-Employee Directors
(i) Purchase Price of Stock Options. The per share exercise price of each option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall equal the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock on the date the option is granted.
(ii) Vesting. Each Initial Award shall vest and become exercisable in thee substantially equal annual installments on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service on the Board through each such vesting date. Each Subsequent Award shall vest and/or become exercisable on the first to occur of (A) the first anniversary of the date of grant or (B) the next occurring annual meeting of the Company's stockholders, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service on the Board through such vesting date. Unless the Board otherwise determines, no portion of an Initial Award or Subsequent Award which is unvested and/or exercisable at the time of a Non-Employee Director’s termination of service on the Board shall become vested and/or exercisable thereafter. Upon a Change in Control, all outstanding equity awards granted under the Equity Plan, and any other equity incentive plan maintained by the Company, that are held by a Non-Employee Director shall become fully vested and/or exercisable, irrespective of any other provisions of the Plan or any award agreement.
(iii) Term of Stock Options. The term of each stock option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall be ten (10) years from the date the option is granted.
3. Compensation Limits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Program, all compensation payable under this Program will be subject to any limits on the maximum amount of Non-Employee Director compensation set forth in the Equity Plan, as in effect from time to time.
4. Reimbursements. The Company shall reimburse each Non-Employee Director for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by such Non-Employee Director in the performance of his or her duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.
* * * * *
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D., certify that:
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1. |
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; |
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2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
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3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
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4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
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(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
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(b) |
Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
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(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
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(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
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5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
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(a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
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(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
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Date: May 9, 2023 |
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/s/ R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
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R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Marc J.S. Wilson, certify that:
|
1. |
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; |
|
2. |
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
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3. |
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
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4. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
|
(a) |
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
|
(b) |
Designed such internal controls over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
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(c) |
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
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(d) |
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
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5. |
The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
|
(a) |
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
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(b) |
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
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Date: May 9, 2023 |
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/s/ Marc J.S. Wilson |
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Marc J.S. Wilson |
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Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to his knowledge, that:
(i) the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
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/s/ R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
R. Scott Struthers, Ph.D. |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: May 9, 2023
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to his knowledge, that:
(i) the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
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/s/ Marc J.S. Wilson |
Marc J.S. Wilson |
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: May 9, 2023