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Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 27, 2024.

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About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Feb 27, 2024

SNDX$9.55+0.1%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  1. Nature of Business

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“the Company” or “Syndax”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies. The Company's two lead product candidates are revumenib and axatilimab. The Company is developing revumenib, a potent, selective, small molecule inhibitor of the menin-MLL binding interaction for the treatment of KMT2A rearranged, (“KMT2Ar”), also known as mixed lineage leukemia rearranged, (“MLLr”), acute leukemias including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, (“ALL”), and acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and nucleophosmin 1, also known as NPM1, mutant AML. The Company is also exploring the use of revumenib as a treatment in solid tumors, specifically its activity in metastatic colorectal cancer. The Company is developing axatilimab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, (“CSF-1R”), in chronic graft-versus-host disease, (“cGVHD”), as well as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, (“IPF”). The Company plans to continue to leverage the technical and business expertise of its management team and scientific collaborators to license, acquire and develop additional therapeutics to expand its pipeline.

Since its inception, the Company has devoted its efforts principally to research and development and raising capital. The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the development stage, including, but not limited to, successful development of therapeutics, obtaining additional funding, protection of proprietary therapeutics, compliance with government regulations, fluctuations in operating results, dependence on key personnel and collaborative partners, and risks associated with industry changes. The Company’s long-term success is dependent upon its ability to successfully develop and market its product candidates, expand its oncology drug pipeline, earn revenue, obtain additional capital when needed, and ultimately, achieve profitable operations. The Company anticipates that it will be several years before any of its product candidates is approved, if ever, and the Company begins to generate revenue from sales of such product candidates. Accordingly, management expects to incur substantial losses on the ongoing development of its product candidates and does not expect to achieve positive cash flow from operations for the foreseeable future, if ever. As a result, the Company will continue to require additional capital to move forward with its business plan. While certain amounts of this additional capital were raised in the past, there can be no assurance that funds necessary beyond these amounts will be available in amounts or on terms sufficient to ensure ongoing operations.

The Company’s management believes that the cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments balances as of December 31, 2023, should enable the Company to maintain its planned operations for at least 12 months from the issuance date of these financial statements. The Company’s ability to fund all of its planned operations internally beyond that date, including the completion of its ongoing and planned clinical trial activities, may be substantially dependent upon whether the Company can obtain sufficient funding on terms acceptable to the Company. Proceeds from additional capital transactions would allow the Company to accelerate and/or expand its planned research and development activities. In the event that sufficient funds were not available, the Company may be required to delay or reduce expenditures to conserve cash, which could involve scaling back or curtailing development and selling, general and administrative activities.

The Company is subject to challenges and risks specific to its business and ability to execute on the strategy, as well as risks and uncertainties common to companies in the pharmaceutical industry with development and commercial operations, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: obtaining regulatory approval of the Company’s late-stage product candidate; delays or problems in the supply of the Company’s products, loss of single source suppliers or failure to comply with manufacturing regulations; identifying, acquiring or in-licensing additional products or product candidates; pharmaceutical product development and the inherent uncertainty of clinical success; and the challenges of protecting and enhancing the Company’s intellectual property rights; complying with applicable regulatory requirements.

  1. Basis of Presentation

The Company has prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

  1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of costs and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available and on various factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. The Company’s actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty and therefore require the exercise of judgment. As of the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require the Company to update its estimates, assumptions and judgments or revise the carrying value of its assets or liabilities. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained and are recognized in the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates and any such differences may be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments maturing within 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents include money market funds, corporate debt securities, U.S. government agency notes, and overnight deposits.

Restricted Cash

The Company classifies as restricted cash all cash pledged as collateral to secure long-term obligations and all cash whose use is otherwise limited by contractual provisions. Amounts are reported as non-current unless restrictions are expected to be released in the next 12 months.

Marketable Securities

All investments in marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income, which is a component of stockholders’ equity. Unrealized losses that are determined to be other-than-temporary, based on current and expected market conditions, are recognized in earnings. Declines in fair value determined to be credit related are charged to earnings. The cost of marketable securities sold is determined by the specific identification method.

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company hasone operating segment.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short and long-term investments are financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. Substantially all of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, and short and long-term investments were deposited in accounts at two financial institutions, and at times, such deposits may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts, and management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. The Company’s available-for-sale investments primarily consist of government money market funds, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, credit card asset-backed securities and overnight deposits and potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three tofive years). Assets under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or lease term using the straight-line method. Major replacements and improvements are capitalized, while general repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. When such events occur, the Company compares the carrying amounts of the assets to their undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is impairment, the amount of impairment is calculated as the difference between the carrying value and fair value. To date, no such impairments have been recognized.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The Company recognize revenue following the five – step model prescribed under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers: (i) identify contract(s) with customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligations.

Licenses of Intellectual Property: Revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the licenses related to the Company's intellectual property, are recognized as the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. This generally takes place over the related know-how transfer period, or if applicable, over the term of transfer of future updates to the intellectual property.

Development Milestone Payments: The Company evaluates whether milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are generally not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect license fees and earnings in the period of adjustment.

Commercial Milestone Payments and Royalties: For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of commercial sales, and the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties or commercial milestones relate, the Company will recognize revenue at the later of when the related sales occur or when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date no commercial milestone payments or royalties have been achieved.

When no performance obligations are required of the Company, or following the completion of the performance obligation period, such amounts are recognized as revenue upon transfer of control of the goods or services to the customer. Generally, all amounts received or due other than sales-based milestones and royalties are classified as license fees.

Deferred revenue arises from amounts received in advance of the culmination of the earnings process and is recognized as revenue in future periods as performance obligations are satisfied. Deferred revenue expected to be recognized within the next twelve months is classified as a current liability. Upfront payment contract liabilities resulting from the Company’s license agreements do not represent a financing component as the payment is not financing the transfer of goods or services, and the technology underlying the licenses granted reflects research and development expenses already incurred by the Company.

For additional information on our collaboration and license arrangements, please read Note 4, Collaborative Research and License Agreements, to these consolidated financial statements.

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include payroll and personnel expenses, consulting costs, external contract research and development expenses, and allocated overhead, including rent, equipment depreciation, and utilities. Research and development costs that are paid in advance of performance are capitalized as a prepaid expense and amortized over the service period as the services are provided. The Company expenses upfront license payments related to acquired technologies that have not yet reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use.

In instances where the Company enters into cost-sharing arrangements, all research and development costs reimbursed by the collaborators are accounted for as reductions to research and development expense. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has incurred external costs related to Incyte cost-sharing collaboration. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurredno external costs related to cost-sharing collaborations.

Clinical Costs

Clinical study and trial costs are a component of research and development expenses. The Company expenses clinical trial activities performed by third parties based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific contract tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, or other information provided to us by our vendors. Depending on the progression of the contract and timing of invoicing and payment the research and development expense can be an accrued expense or a prepaid expense. Prepaid clinical study and trial costs are included in short-term deposits on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Income Taxes

The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the Company’s financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the years in which the differences reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the net deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized. The Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If it is not more likely than not that a position will be sustained, none of the benefit attributable to the position is recognized. The tax benefit to be recognized for any tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is calculated as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon resolution of the contingency. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of its provision for income taxes.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

As permitted under Delaware law, the Company indemnifies its officers, directors, and employees for certain events or occurrences that happen by reason of the relationship with, or position held at, the Company. The Company has standard indemnification arrangements under office leases (as described in Note 5, Leases to these consolidated financial statements) that require it to indemnify the landlord against all costs, expenses, fines, suits, claims, demands, liabilities, and actions directly resulting from any breach, violation, or nonperformance of any covenant or condition of the Company’s lease. Through December 31, 2023, the Company had not experienced any losses related to these indemnification obligations andno claims were outstanding. The Company does not expect significant claims related to these indemnification obligations, and consequently, concluded that the fair value of these obligations is negligible, andno related reserves were established.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for all stock option awards granted to employees and non-employees using a fair value method. Stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date fair value of the stock option grants and is recognized over the requisite service period of the awards (usually the vesting period) on a straight-line basis. For equity awards that have a performance condition, the Company recognizes compensation expense based on its assessment of the probability that the performance condition will be achieved. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

(Loss) Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing undistributed net income attributable to Syndax by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the treasury method by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus potentially dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board FASB or other accounting standard setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed below, we do not believe that the adoption of recently issued standards have or may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

  1. Collaborative Research and License Agreements

Incyte Collaboration

In September 2021, the Company entered into license and collaboration agreement (the "Incyte License and Collaboration Agreement") with Incyte Corporation ("Incyte") covering the worldwide development and commercialization of axatilimab. Also, in September 2021 the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Incyte, ("Incyte Share Purchase Agreement" and together with Incyte License and Collaboration Agreement, the Incyte Agreements"). Under the terms of the Incyte Agreements, Incyte will receive exclusive commercialization rights outside of the United States, subject to its royalty payment obligations set forth below. In the United States, Incyte and the Company will co-commercialize axatilimab, with the Company having the right to co-promote axatilimab with Incyte, subject to the Company’s exercise of its co-promotion option. Incyte will be responsible for leading all aspects of commercialization of axatilimab in the United States. The Company and Incyte will share equally the profits and losses from co-commercialization efforts in the United States. The Company and Incyte have agreed to co-develop axatilimab and to share development costs associated with global and U.S. – specific clinical trials, with Incyte responsible for 55% of such costs and the Company responsible for 45% of such costs. Each company will be responsible for funding any of its own independent development activities. Incyte is responsible for 100% of future development costs for trials that are specific to ex-U.S. countries. All development costs related to the collaboration with Incyte will be subject to a joint development plan.

Under the terms of the Incyte Agreements, in December 2021, Incyte paid the Company a non-refundable cash payment of $117.0 million and the Company issued 1,421,523 shares of common stock with an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million, or $24.62 per share. Additionally, under the terms of the Incyte Agreements, the Company is eligible to receive up to $220.0 million in future contingent development and regulatory milestones and up to $230.0 million in commercialization milestones as well as tiered royalties ranging in the mid-teens percentage on net sales of the licensed product comprising axatilimab in Europe and Japan and low double digit percentage in the rest of the world outside of the United States. The Company's right to receive royalties in any particular country will expire upon the last to occur of (a) the expiration of licensed patent rights covering the licensed product in that particular country, (b) a specified period of time after the first post - marketing authorization sale of a licensed product in that country, and (c) the expiration of any regulatory exclusivity for that licensed product in that country.

The Incyte Agreement and the Incyte Share Purchase Agreement were executed on the same date and negotiated simultaneously. Management therefore concluded that the Incyte Agreements are to be combined for accounting purposes and therefore allocated the total consideration to the units of account identified. The common stock issued to Incyte was recorded at fair value of $24.8 million. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Incyte is permitted to terminate the Incyte Agreement, under circumstances under which the upfront payment of $117 million would be returned to Incyte and a cash settlement on the sale of the Company's common stock would be made to make the parties whole (the “Letter Agreement”). In connection with the closing of this transaction in December 2021, the Company determined that the cash settlement feature of the Letter Agreement represented an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separate accounting recognition at fair value. The Letter Agreement terminated in March 2022. Accordingly, the Company initially allocated $0.6 million of the total consideration received to the derivative liability. As of December 31, 2022, the fair value of the derivative is zero.

The Company evaluated the terms of the Incyte Agreement and determined it is within the scope of Accounting Standard Update 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808), and has elements that are within the scope of Topic 606 and Topic 808.

The Company identified the following promises in the Incyte Agreements that were evaluated under the scope of Topic 606: (i) delivery of a license for axatilimab to develop, commercialize, and conduct medical affairs and (ii) services to be performed in accordance with the development plan. The Company also evaluated whether certain options outlined within the Incyte Agreements represented material rights that would give rise to a performance obligation and concluded that none of the options convey a material right to Incyte and therefore are not considered separate performance obligations within the Incyte Agreements.

The Company assessed the above promises and determined that the license for axatilimab represents the only performance obligation within the scope of Topic 606. The license for axatilimab is considered functional intellectual property and distinct from other promises under the contract as Incyte can benefit from the license on its own or together with other readily available resources. The services performed by the Company to obtain regulatory approval of axatilimab are not complex or specialized, could be performed by another qualified third party, are not expected to significantly modify or customize the license given that axatilimab is late-stage intellectual property that has completed its Phase 1/2 trial and is currently enrolling in a global pivotal Phase 2 trial, and the services are expected to be performed over a short period of time. Therefore, the license represents a separate performance obligation within a contract with a customer under the scope of Topic 606 at contract inception.

The Company considers the collaborative research and development activities and manufacturing activities to be separate units of account within the scope of Topic 808 and are not deliverables under Topic 606. The Company and Incyte are both active participants in the activities and are exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities in the arrangement.

Under the scope of Topic 606, the Company identified contract promises for the license of intellectual property and know-how rights for axatilimab. The Company determined that the license was capable of being distinct from the ongoing collaboration activities. After the allocation to the common stock and derivative liability, the total transaction price to be allocated to the Incyte Agreement is $126.6 million. The Company estimated the standalone selling price of the license to be the entire $126.6 million, based on an application of the income approach by measuring the fair value of the discounted cash flows from commercialization. Significant assumptions included in the valuation included judgments relating to the probability of achieving both regulatory and commercial milestones, forecasted future cash flows and the election of the discount rate. As the Company concluded the license was distinct, revenue of $126.6 million was recognized upon transfer of the license to Incyte in the year ended December 31, 2021.

The Company used the most likely amount method to estimate variable consideration and estimated that the most likely amount for each potential preclinical, development, and regulatory variable consideration milestone payment under this agreement is zero, as achievement of those milestones is uncertain and highly susceptible to factors outside the Company’s control. Accordingly, all such milestone payments were excluded from the transaction price. Management will reevaluate the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur, will adjust the transaction price as necessary. Sales based royalties, including milestones based on the level of sales, were also excluded from the transaction price, as the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate. The company will recognize such revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).

Company considers the collaborative research and development activities and manufacturing activities to be separate units of account within the scope of Topic 808 and are not deliverables under Topic 606. The Company and Incyte are both active participants in the activities and are exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the activities in the arrangement.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded$2.2 million as a collaboration receivable due from Incyte related to the Company's development and pre-commercialization costs under the Incyte Agreements and has recorded approximately$9.5 million as a collaboration payable due to Incyte for development and pre-commercialization costs incurred by Incyte as of December 31, 2023. Both expenses and cost offset are recorded as part of research and development and selling, general and administrative expense.

  1. Leases

Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842, Leases, and determines whether an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Lease agreements with lease and non-lease components are accounted for separately. For leases that do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet as the Company has elected to apply the short-term lease exemption. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company identified three existing long-term building leases under ASC 842 that are classified as operating leases. In September 2016, the Company entered into afive-year operating lease for 12,207 square feet of office space in Waltham, MA, with a lease commencement date of March 1, 2017. On August 17, 2021, the Company signed a 36-month extension to the lease for the Waltham, MA office with aggregate payments of $1.6 million, with a lease commencement date of March 1, 2022.

In December 2015, the Company entered into a 62-month operating lease for 4,039 square feet of space in New York, NY, which commenced on January 1, 2016. In February 2021, the Company signed an 18-month extension to the lease for the New York office, which commenced on March 1, 2021. In August 2022, the Company signed a 36-month extension to the lease for the New York office, with aggregate payments of $689,000, with a lease commencement date of September 1, 2022.

In May 2023, the Company entered into a 27-month operating lease for an additional 12,217 square feet of space in New York, NY, with aggregate payments of$1.6 million, with a lease commencement date of June 1, 2023.

The remaining lease terms as of December 31, 2023, for the facility in Waltham, MA and the two facilities in New York, NY, were 14 months and 20 months, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, the consolidated balance sheet includes a$1.5 million operating lease ROU asset and a$1.6 million ROU liability. The Company used a weighted average discount rate of 14% to calculate its lease obligations, and an increase or decrease in the rate does not have a significant impact on the ROU asset or ROU liability. The ROU asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over the remainder of the lease term. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded approximately$743,000 in operating lease expense and made approximately$924,000 in lease payments.

Future minimum lease payments under the Company’s operating leases, were as follows:

Maturity of lease liabilitiesAs of
(in thousands)December 31, 2023
2024$1,196
2025606
Thereafter—
Total lease payments$1,802
Less: imputed interest(189)
Total operating lease liability$1,613

Future minimum lease payments under the Company’s capital leases as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, were$25,864 and$22,441, respectively.

  1. (Loss) Earnings per Share

Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are calculated as follows (in 000s):

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Numerator:
Net (loss) income$(209,360)$(149,338)$24,926
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders$(209,360)$(149,338)$24,926
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding70,37160,76152,065
Effective of Dilutive Securities
Options to purchase common stock——1,429
Non - vested restricted stock units (RSUs)——118
ESPP to purchase common stock——11
Dilutive potential common shares—-1,558
Shares used in calculating diluted (loss) earnings per share70,37160,76153,623

The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding because such securities have an antidilutive impact due to losses reported (in common stock equivalent shares, in 000s):

December 31,
202320222021
Options to purchase common10,6857,982—
Non-vested RSUs309131—
ESPP to purchase common stock3517—

For additional information related to the Company's common stock see Note 12, Common Stock to these consolidated financial statements.

  1. Significant Agreements

Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

In October 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “Allergan License Agreement”) with Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Allergan (“Allergan”), under which Allergan granted the Company an exclusive, sublicensable, worldwide license to a portfolio of preclinical, orally available, small molecule inhibitors of the interaction of menin with Mixed Lineage Leukemia (“MLL”) protein (the “Menin Assets”). The Company made a nonrefundable upfront payment of $5.0 million to Allergan in the fourth quarter of 2017. Additionally, subject to the achievement of certain milestone events, the Company may be required to pay Allergan up to $99.0 million in one-time development and regulatory milestone payments over the term of the Allergan License Agreement. In the event that the Company or any of its affiliates or sublicensees commercializes the Menin Assets, the Company will also be obligated to pay Allergan low single to low double-digit royalties on sales, subject to reduction in certain circumstances, as well as up to an aggregate of $70.0 million in potential one-time, sales-based milestone payments based on achievement of certain annual sales thresholds. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to share a percentage of non-royalty income from sublicensees, subject to certain deductions, with Allergan. The Company is solely responsible for the development and commercialization of the Menin Assets. Each party may terminate the Allergan License Agreement for the other party’s uncured material breach or insolvency; and the Company may terminate the Allergan License Agreement at will at any time upon advance written notice to Allergan. Allergan may terminate the Allergan License Agreement if the Company or any of its affiliates or sublicensees institutes a legal challenge to the validity, enforceability, or patentability of the licensed patent rights. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms, the Allergan License Agreement will continue on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis until the later of: (i) the expiration of all of the licensed patent rights in such country; (ii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity applicable to the product in such country; and (iii)10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of the product in such country.

As of the date of the Allergan License Agreement, the asset acquired had no alternative future use nor had it reached a stage of technological feasibility. As the processes or activities that were acquired along with the license do not constitute a “business,” the transaction has been accounted for as an asset acquisition. As a result, in 2017, the upfront payment of $5.0 million was recorded as research and development expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Since the inception of the agreement, the Company achieved certain development and regulatory milestones resulting in $8.0 million in expense, which included $2.0 million paid in the first quarter of 2023.

UCB Biopharma Sprl

In July 2016, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “UCB License Agreement”) with UCB Biopharma Sprl (“UCB”), under which UCB granted to the Company a worldwide, sublicensable, exclusive license to UCB6352, which the Company refers to as axatilimab, an Investigational New Drug Application-ready anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody. The Company made a nonrefundable upfront payment of $5.0 million to UCB in the third quarter of 2016. Additionally, subject to the achievement of certain milestone events, the Company may be required to pay UCB up to $119.5 million in one-time development and regulatory milestone payments over the term of the UCB License Agreement. In the event that the Company or any of its affiliates or sublicensees commercializes axatilimab, the Company will also be obligated to pay UCB low double-digit royalties on sales, subject to reduction in certain circumstances, as well as up to an aggregate of $250.0 million in potential one-time, sales-based milestone payments based on achievement of certain annual sales thresholds. Under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to share a percentage of non-royalty income from sublicensees, subject to certain deductions, with UCB. The Company will be solely responsible for the development and commercialization of axatilimab, except that UCB is performing a limited set of transitional chemistry, manufacturing and control tasks related to axatilimab. Each party may terminate the UCB License Agreement for the other party’s uncured material breach or insolvency; and the Company may terminate the UCB License Agreement at will at any time upon advance written notice to UCB. UCB may terminate the UCB License Agreement if the Company or any of its affiliates or sublicensees institutes a legal challenge to the validity, enforceability, or patentability of the licensed patent rights. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms, the UCB License Agreement will continue on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis until the later of: (i) the expiration of all of the licensed patent rights in such country; (ii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivity applicable to the product in such country; and (iii)10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of the product in such country.

As of the date of the UCB License Agreement, the asset acquired had no alternative future use nor had it reached a stage of technological feasibility. As the processes or activities that were acquired along with the license do not constitute a “business,” the transaction has been accounted for as an asset acquisition. As a result, in 2016, the upfront payment of $5.0 million was recorded as research and development expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Since the start of the license agreement, the Company achieved certain development and regulatory milestones and has recorded $6.0 million as research and development expense. Additionally, in connection with its most recent amendment of the UCB License Agreement, in the second quarter of 2022 the Company paid UCB $5.8 million, which is recognized as a milestone expense. In the fourth quarter of 2023, UCB achieved a development and regulatory milestone resulting in a $10.0 million expense, which has been recorded in accrued expenses as of December 31, 2023. The Company paid the amount to UCB in the first quarter of 2024.

Bayer Pharma AG (formerly known as Bayer Schering Pharma AG)

In March 2007, the Company entered into a license agreement (the “Bayer Agreement”) with Bayer Schering Pharma AG (“Bayer”) for a worldwide, exclusive license to develop and commercialize entinostat and any other products containing the same active ingredient. Under the terms of the Bayer Agreement, the Company paid a nonrefundable up-front license fee of $2.0 million and is responsible for the development and marketing of entinostat. The Company recorded the $2.0 million license fee as research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2007, as it had no alternative future use. The Company will pay Bayer royalties on a sliding scale based on net sales, if any, and make future milestone payments to Bayer of up to $150.0 million in the event that certain specified development and regulatory goals and sales levels are achieved.

  1. Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

December 31,
20232022
Equipment$84$84
Leasehold improvements167167
Furniture and fixtures134134
Office and computer equipment3434
Total property and equipment419419
Accumulated depreciation(411)(399)
Property and equipment, net$8$20

Depreciation expense was$12,000 and$33,000 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

  1. Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated their estimated fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value are performed in a manner to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The accounting standard describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value, which are the following:

Level 1—Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the market date for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs for which all significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The table below presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities that are regularly measured and carried at fair value and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy of valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair values (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements Using
TotalCarryingValueQuotedPricesin ActiveMarkets(Level 1)SignificantOtherObservableInputs(Level 2)SignificantUnobservableInputs(Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents$295,394$295,394$—$—
Short-term investments275,304—275,304—
Long-term investments29,829—29,829—
Total assets$600,527$295,394$305,133$—
Assets:
Cash equivalents$74,356$59,496$14,860$—
Short-term investments401,446—401,446—
Long-term investments5,469—5,469—
Total assets$481,271$59,496$421,775$—

There have been no material impairments of our assets measured and carried at fair value during the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022. In addition, there have been no changes in valuation techniques during the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022. The fair value of Level 1 instruments classified as cash equivalents are valued using quoted market prices in active markets. The fair value of Level 2 instruments classified as cash equivalents and short and long-term investments was determined other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date and fair value is determined using models or other valuation methodologies.

The short-term and long-term investments are classified as available-for-sale securities. As of December 31, 2023, the remaining contractual maturities of the available-for-sale securities were 1 to 15 months, and the balance in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income was comprised solely of activity related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities. There wereno realized gains or losses recognized on the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities during the three years ended December 31, 2023. As a result, the Company did not reclassify any amounts out of accumulated other comprehensive income for the same periods. The Company has a limited number of available-for-sale securities in insignificant loss positions as of December 31, 2023, which the Company does not intend to sell and has concluded will not be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost for the investment at maturity.

The following table summarizes the available-for-sale securities (in thousands):

AmortizedCostUnrealizedGainsUnrealized(Losses)FairValue
Commercial paper$160,657$149$—$160,806
Corporate bonds47,15062—47,212
US Treasury68,11146—68,157
Federal bonds28,998—(40)28,958
$304,916$257$(40)$305,133
Commercial paper$321,630$—$(205)$321,425
US Treasury64,759—(566)64,193
Federal bonds36,192—(35)36,157
$422,581$—$(806)$421,775
  1. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

December 31,
20232022
Prepaid insurance$807$692
Interest receivable on investments1,227583
Prepaid subscriptions769446
Prepaid state and local taxes2643
Prepaid rent16374
Other63117
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets$3,293$1,915
  1. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

December 31,
20232022
Accrued clinical study and trial costs$16,346$14,375
Accrued compensation and related costs11,1725,945
Accrued professional fees1,4501,352
Accrued milestone costs10,0002,000
Other888604
Total accrued expense and other current liabilities$39,856$24,276
  1. Common Stock

The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock. The holders of each share of common stock are entitled to one vote per share held and are entitled to receive dividends, if and when declared by the Board, and to share ratably in the Company’s assets available for distribution to stockholders, in the event of liquidation.

In March 2021, the Company entered into a sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, or TD Cowen, under which the Company could, from time to time, issue and sell shares of its common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $75.0 million, in a series of one or more at-the-market, or ATM, equity offerings, or the 2021

ATMProgram. On May 26, 2023, the Company terminated the 2021 ATM Program. Prior to termination the Company sold shares under the 2021 ATM Program for net proceeds of approximately $25.0 million.

In May 2023, the Company entered into a new sales agreement with TD Cowen under which the Company could, from time to time, issue and sell shares of its common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $200.0 million, in a series of one or more ATM equity offerings, or the 2023 ATM Program. TD Cowen is not required to sell any specific share amounts but acts as the Company’s sales agent, using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. Pursuant to the new sales agreement, shares will be sold pursuant to the previous shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-254661), which became automatically effective upon filing on March 24, 2021. The Company’s common stock will be sold at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, and as a result, prices may vary. In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold 2,719,744 common shares of common stock under the 2023 ATM Program, with net proceeds of approximately$42.1 million.

In December 2021, the Company issued 3,802,144 shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase 1,142,856 shares of common stock. The offering price for the securities was $17.50 per share or $17.4999 for each Pre-Funded Warrant, with net proceeds of approximately $81.2 million. On January 24, 2023,86,000 pre-funded warrants were exercised for 85,998 shares of common stock, under a cashless exercise. On April 12, 2023,273,000 pre-funded warrants were exercised for 272,996 shares of common stock, under a cashless exercise. On May 9, 2023,498,142 pre-funded warrants were exercised for 498,137 shares of common stock, under a cashless exercise. As of December 31, 2023,285,714 pre-funded warrants were considered issued and outstanding.

In December 2021, in connection with the Incyte License and Collaboration Agreement and Share Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 1,421,523 shares of common stock, with net proceeds of approximately $35.0 million. The Company recorded the equity issuance at a fair value of $24.8 million based on the market price of the stock on the date of issuance.

In December 2022, the Company issued 7,840,909 shares of common stock. The offering price for the securities was $22.00 per share, with gross proceeds of approximately $172.5 million, offset by $10.5 million of issuance cost.

In December 2023, the Company issued 12,432,431 shares of common stock. The offering price for the securities was $18.50 per share, with gross proceeds of approximately $230.0 million, offset by $14.0 million of issuance cost.

The Company has reserved for future issuance the following shares of common stock pursuant to the following outstanding securities or equity plans:

Common stock issuable under pre-funded warrants285,714
At-the-market program7,280,256
RSUs and Options to purchase common stock11,204,294
Equity plans3,403,382
2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”)1,732,614
Total23,906,260
  1. Stock-Based Compensation

In September 2015, the Company’s board of directors adopted its 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“2015 Plan”), which was subsequently approved by its stockholders and became effective upon the closing of the IPO on March 8, 2016. The 2015 Plan replaced the 2007 Stock Plan (“2007 Plan”) and allows for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, stock units, dividend equivalent rights, performance awards, annual incentive awards, and other equity-based awards to the Company’s executives and other employees, non-employee members of the board of directors, and consultants of the Company. Any options or awards outstanding under the Company’s 2007 Plan remain outstanding and continue to govern the terms of any equity grants that remain outstanding under the 2007 Plan. Any shares of common stock related to awards outstanding under the 2007 Plan that thereafter terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or otherwise without the issuance of such shares will be added to, and included in, the 2015 Plan reserve amount. The Company initially reserved 1,750,000 shares of its common stock for the issuance of awards under the 2015 Plan. The 2015 Plan provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance under the 2015 Plan will automatically increase each January 1, beginning on January 1, 2017, by 4% of the outstanding number of shares of common stock on the immediately preceding December 31 or such lesser number of shares as determined by the Company’s board of directors. On January 1, 2024, the shares available for issuance under the 2015 was increased to 3,393,065.

In February 2023, the Company's board of directors adopted its 2023 Inducement Plan (the “2023 Inducement Plan”), which became effective March 1, 2023. The 2023 Inducement Plan allows for the granting of nonqualified stock options, restricted stock units, and other awards under the 2023 Inducement Plan to persons not previously an employee or director of the Company, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, an inducement material to such persons entering into employment with the Company. The Company initially reserved 1,900,000 shares of its common stock for the issuance of awards under the 2023 Inducement Plan. On December 6, 2023, the Company's board of directors increased the reserve by 1,100,000 shares.

As of December 31, 2023, there were 2,191,732 shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan and 1,211,650 shares available for issuance under the 2023 Inducement Plan.

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to the issuance of stock option awards to employees and non-employees and related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in the consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Research and development$14,147$6,016$4,398
Selling, general and administrative16,80410,0038,919
Total$30,951$16,019$13,317

Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units

As of December 31, 2023, there was$74.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to employee and non-employee unvested stock options and RSUs granted under the 2015 Plan and the 2023 Inducement Plan, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining service period of 2.8 years. Stock compensation costs have not been capitalized by the Company.

Our stock-based awards are subject to either service or performance-based vesting conditions. Compensation expense related to awards to employees, directors and non-employees with service-based vesting conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis based on the grant date fair value over the associated service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term. Compensation expense related to awards to employees with performance-based vesting conditions is recognized based on the grant date fair value over the requisite service period using the straight-line method to the extent achievement of the performance condition is probable.

In 2019, the Company granted to certain employees 583,000 stock options that contain performance-based vesting criteria (“2019 Performance Awards”), primarily related to the achievement of certain clinical and regulatory development milestones related to product candidates. In the fourth quarter of 2020, one performance milestone, for the 2019 Performance Awards, was achieved. The Company recorded approximately $128,000 of stock compensation related to the achievement of the performance milestone for years ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, all other performance milestones were not achieved, and the associated awards have been cancelled.

In 2022, the Company granted to certain employees 140,000 performance-based stock options (“2022 Performance Awards”), primarily related to the achievement of certain regulatory development milestones related to product candidates. Recognition of stock-based compensation expense associated with these performance-based stock options commences when the performance condition is considered probable of achievement, using management’s best estimates, which consider the inherent risk and uncertainty regarding the future outcomes of the milestones.

In the first quarter of 2022, management estimated one of the milestones, for the 2022 Performance Awards, was probable of achievement. The Company recorded approximately$258,000 and $479,000 of stock compensation expense for these awards for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023,140,000 stock options outstanding were unvested, andno options had been cancelled.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company granted to certain employees 129,550 performance-based RSUs, primarily related to the achievement of certain regulatory development milestones related to product candidates. Recognition of stock-based compensation expense associated with these performance-based RSUs commences when the performance condition is considered probable of achievement, using management’s best estimates, which consider the inherent risk and uncertainty regarding the future outcomes of the milestones.

In October 2021, in connection with the retirement oftwo employees, the Company entered into severance and consulting agreements. Under these agreements the Company extended the vesting term for an aggregate of 34,728 unvested options, which would not have otherwise vested and extended the exercise period of the vested options post termination of the consulting agreement. The Company accounted for the change as a modification of an equity award under ASC 718. As a result of the modifications, the Company recognized approximately $0.8 million of incremental stock compensation expense in 2021.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the weighted-average assumptions noted in the table below. Expected volatility for the Company’s common stock was determined based on an average of the historical volatility of the Company's public stock price. The Company estimated the expected term of its employee stock options using the “simplified” method, whereby, the expected term equals the average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option. The contractual life of the option was used for the estimated life of the non-employee grants. The assumed dividend yield is based upon the Company’s expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company accounts for forfeitures when they occur. The grant date fair values of options issued to employees and non-employees were estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Expected term (in years)6.036.046.02
Volatility rate75.13%77.87%85.84%
Risk-free interest rate3.65%2.52%0.67%
Expected dividend yield0.00%0.00%0.00%

A summary of employee and non-employee option activity under the Company’s equity award plans is presented below (in thousands, except share data):

Number ofOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm(in years)AggregateIntrinsic Value
Outstanding—January 1, 20237,981,677$14.427.3$88,016
Granted3,800,691$23.75
Exercised(662,042)$8.08
Cancelled, forfeited or expired(435,468)$23.14
Outstanding—December 31, 202310,684,858$17.787.3$55,091
Exercisable—December 31, 20235,468,638$14.325.7$43,160
Options vested, or expected to vest—December 31, 202310,684,858$17.787.3$55,091

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, was$16.20, $12.64, and $14.70 per share, respectively. The fair value is being expensed over the vesting period of the options (usually three tofour years) on a straight-line basis as the services are being provided.

There were 662,042 options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting in total proceeds of$5.1 million;1.3 million options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2022, resulting in total proceeds of $11.5 million; and 842,424 options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2021, resulting in total proceeds of 6.3 million. The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was$9.5 million, $17.0 million, and $10.1 million, respectively. In accordance with the Company’s policy, the shares were issued from a pool of shares reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan and 2023 Inducement Plan.

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs awarded to Board of Directors or employees vest on either i)one – year anniversary date of the related grant or ii) 25% on each anniversary for 4 years. The following table summarizes our RSU activity:

Number ofSharesWeightedAverageGrant Date Fair Value
Unvested—December 31, 2022224,788$18.02
Granted (1)308,550$24.94
Vested(9,102)$13.87
Cancelled/Forfeited(4,800)$20.36
Unvested—December 31, 2023519,436$22.17

(1) RSUs granted in 2023 and 2022 had a weighted average grant date fair value of$24.94 and $15.79, respectively. The fair values of RSUs vested in 2023 and 2022 totaled$126,000 and $705,000, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In September 2015, the Company’s Board adopted the ESPP, which was subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective in 2016. The ESPP authorized the initial issuance of up to a total of 250,000 shares of common stock to the Company’s employees. The number of shares of common stock available under the ESPP will automatically increase on January 1st of each year, continuing until the expiration of the ESPP, in an amount equal to the lesser of (a)1% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, or (b)250,000 shares. On January 1, 2024, the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP was increased to 1,982,614. Under the terms of the ESPP, eligible employees can elect to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock through periodic payroll deductions during a series ofsix-month offering periods. Purchases under the ESPP are affected on the last business day of each offering period at a 15% discount to the lower of closing price on that day or the closing price on the first day of the offering period. The Company issued 34,797 and 28,999 shares during 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The ESPP is considered a compensatory plan with the related compensation cost expensed over the six-month offering period. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to the ESPP of$308,000, $166,000, and $175,000 respectively.

Employee Benefit Plan

The Company has a Section 401(k) defined contribution savings plan for its employees. The plan covers substantially all employees who meet minimum age and service requirements and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pretax basis, subject to legal limitations. Company contributions to the plan may be made at the discretion of the Board. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company made$1.3 million, $712,000, and $444,000 contributions to the plan, respectively.

  1. Loan Payable

In February 2020, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”). In December 2021, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Loan Agreement (the “First Amendment” and the Loan Agreement, as amended, the “Amended Loan Agreement”) with several banks and financial institutions or entities from time-to-time party thereto (collectively, the “Lender”) and Hercules, in its capacity as administrative agent for itself and the Lender.

On September 23, 2022, the Company made a prepayment of $21.5 million to satisfy in full all of the Company's principal and interest obligations and related fees under the Amended Loan Agreement. The payoff amount paid by the Company in connection with the termination of the Amended Loan Agreement was pursuant to a payoff letter with Hercules and included payment of (a) $1.0 million as an end-of term fee and (b) $0.4 million as a pre-payment fee. Hercules released all security interests held on the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Amended Loan Agreement was fully terminated as of September 23, 2022.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $2.1 million, which included $0.4 million of pre-payment fee, of interest expense related to the initial advance pursuant to the Amended Loan Agreement.

  1. Income Taxes

The Company recognized current state income expense of $0.3 million in the year ending December 31, 2023 as a result of investment income earned in Syndax Securities Corporation. The Company recognized no income taxes in the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, due to the utilization of tax attributes to offset current year federal and state taxable income, immaterial investment income earned at Syndax Securities Corporation, the historical losses incurred and the need for a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets. The Company’s current year profit and historical losses before income tax for the periods presented was generated entirely in the United States.

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at the statutory federal income tax rate to the provision for income taxes as reflected in the financial statements is as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Income tax computed at federal statutory rate21.0%21.0%21.0%
State taxes, net of federal benefit13.2%2.5%2.9%
General business credit carryovers1.5%1.0%-5.0%
Non-deductible expenses-1.0%-0.2%-0.5%
Change in valuation allowance-34.9%-24.1%-19.2%
Return to provision true up0.0%-0.2%0.0%
Other0.0%0.0%0.8%
-0.2%0.0%0.0%

The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax are as follows (in thousands):

Years EndedDecember 31,
20232022
Deferred tax assets (liabilities):
Net operating loss carryforwards$32,664$23,650
Research and development credits11,7658,124
Capitalized start-up and other costs68,85945,374
Capitalized research and development costs79,56248,917
Equity based compensation10,2765,004
Accruals2,7951,985
Other temporary differences3627
Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance205,957133,081
Valuation allowances(205,957)(133,081)
Net deferred tax assets$—$—

The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the net deferred tax assets as the realization of the deferred tax assets is not determined to be more likely than not. The valuation allowance increased by$72.9 million in 2023 due to the increase in deferred tax assets, primarily driven by the generation of net operating losses and capitalized research expenses, and capitalized start-up costs. The valuation allowance increased by $35.9 million in 2022 due to the increase in deferred tax assets, primarily driven by the generation of net operating losses and capitalized start-up costs, partially offset by a decrease to other deferred tax assets.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately$136.4 million and$63.5 million in federal and state Net Operating Losses (“NOLs”), respectively, which may be available to offset future taxable income. The Company has generated federal NOLs of $114.3 million and state NOLs of $0.9 million which have indefinite carryforward period. The remaining $22.1 million of federal NOLs and $62.6 million the Company’s state NOLs will begin to expire at various dates starting in 2026.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state research credits of$8.9 million and$3.8 million, respectively, which began to expire in 2024.

Realization of future tax benefits is dependent on many factors, including the Company’s ability to generate taxable income within the net operating loss carryforward period. Under the Internal Revenue Code provisions, certain substantial changes in the Company’s ownership, including the sale of the Company or significant changes in ownership due to sales of equity, may have limited, or may limit in the future, the amount of net operating loss carryforwards which could be used annually to offset future taxable income. The Company last completed an analysis from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022 and determined that no ownership changes had occurred in that period. Prior analyses determined that on March 30, 2007, August 21, 2015 and May 4, 2020, ownership changes had occurred. The Company may also experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may be outside of our control. As a result, its ability to use its pre- change NOLs to offset U.S. federal taxable income may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability. In addition, at the state level, there may be periods during which the use of NOLs is suspended or otherwise limited, which could accelerate or permanently increase state taxes owed.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted in the United States on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act is an emergency economic stimulus package that includes spending and tax breaks to strengthen the United States economy and fund a nationwide effort to curtail the effect of COVID-19. While the CARES Act provides extensive tax changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the provisions did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results. Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) eliminates the option to deduct research and development expenditures currently and requires taxpayers to amortize them, over five years for domestically incurred expenditures and over fifteen years for foreign incurred expenditures, pursuant to IRC Section 174. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded a deferred tax asset of $79.6 million related to the Capitalized IRC Section 174 expenditures, of which $53.7 million relate to expenses required to be capitalized under the TCJA.

As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company had uncertain tax positions of$0.1 million related to research and development credits, which reduce the deferred tax assets with a corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance. The Company has elected to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense, of whichno interest or penalties were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company expects none of the unrecognized tax benefits to decrease within the next 12 months related to expired statutes or settlement with the taxing authorities. Due to the Company’s valuation allowance as of December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

A reconciliation of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
Unrecognized tax benefit--beginning of year$143$163$163
Decreases related to prior period positions—(20)—
Unrecognized tax benefit--end of year$143$143$163

The Company files tax returns in the U.S. and various states. All tax years since inception (October 11, 2005) remain open to examination by major tax jurisdictions to which the Company is subject, as carryforward attributes generated in years past may still be adjusted upon examination by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities if they have or will be used in a future period. The Company is currently not under examination by the Internal Revenue Service or any other jurisdictions for any tax years.

  1. Commitments and Contingencies

License Agreements

Incyte – In September 2021, the Company entered into the Incyte Agreement and Incyte Stock Purchase Agreement. Under the terms of the Incyte Agreement, Incyte will receive exclusive commercialization rights of axatilimab outside of the United States. In the United States, Incyte and the Company will co-commercialize axatilimab, with the Company having the right to co-promote the product with Incyte. In exchange for these rights, Incyte agreed to pay a non-refundable cash payment of $117 million and in addition a $35 million equity investment. In certain cases, the Company is required to assist Incyte and is responsible for 45% of development costs associated with global and U.S. specific clinical trials.

Eddingpharm—In April 2013, the Company entered into a License and Development Agreement (the “Eddingpharm License Agreement”) and a Series B-1 purchase agreement (the “Eddingpharm Purchase Agreement”) with Eddingpharm International Company Limited (“Eddingpharm”). Under the terms of the Eddingpharm License Agreement, Eddingpharm, in exchange for rights to develop and commercialize entinostat in China and certain other Asian countries, purchased $5.0 million of Series B-1 and agreed to make certain contingent milestone and royalty payments based on revenue targets. In certain cases, the Company is required to assist Eddingpharm, and Eddingpharm is required to reimburse the Company for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing this assistance, including reimbursement for person-hours above a certain cap.

From time to time, the Company may be subject to various claims and proceedings in the ordinary course of business. If the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or proceeding is considered probable and the amount is reasonably estimable, the Company will accrue a liability for the estimated loss. There wereno contingent liabilities recorded as of December 31, 2023, or 2022.

  1. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In thousands)
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid$—$2,059$1,997
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Issuance costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses$250$131$134
ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.