Protara Therapeutics Inc

Overview

Protara Therapeutics, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Protara” or the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. Protara’s portfolio includes two development programs utilizing TARA-002, an investigational cell therapy in development for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, or NMIBC, and lymphatic malformations, or LMs. Additionally, the Company’s portfolio includes Intravenous, or IV, Choline Chloride, an investigational phospholipid substrate replacement therapy in development for patients receiving parenteral nutrition, or PN.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

On April 5, 2024, the Company entered into a subscription agreement with certain purchasers and subsequently closed a private placement transaction, or the Private Placement, on April 10, 2024. Pursuant to the Private Placement the Company sold 9,143,380 shares of common stock and, for certain purchasers, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,700,000 shares of common stock. In each case, the shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants were accompanied by warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 10,843,380 shares of common stock at a price of $5.25.

Each share of common stock along with its attached common warrant, had a purchase price of $4.15 and each pre-funded warrant, along with its attached common warrant, had a purchase price of $4.149.

At the close of the Private Placement on April 10, 2024, the Company received total net proceeds of approximately $41,963 after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

The Company is in the business of developing biopharmaceuticals and has no current or near-term revenues. The Company has incurred substantial clinical and other costs in its drug development efforts. The Company will need to raise additional capital in order to fully realize management’s plans.

The Company believes that its current financial resources are sufficient to satisfy the Company’s estimated liquidity needs for at least twelve months from the date of issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 13, 2024. Except as reflected below, there were no changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Reflected in this note are updates to accounting policies, including the impact of the adoption of new policies.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and the related disclosures as of March 31, 2024 and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, and the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2023 and 2022 audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. The December 31, 2023 consolidated balance sheet included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all disclosures including notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024 or any other interim period or future year or period.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Significant items subject to such estimates include but are not limited to research and development accruals as well as contingencies.

On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates based on historical and anticipated results, trends, and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of any changes in accounting estimates are reflected in the financial statements of the period in which the change becomes evident.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consists principally of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments in marketable debt securities.

The Company currently invests its excess cash primarily in money market funds and high quality investment grade marketable debt securities of corporations. The Company has adopted an investment policy that includes guidelines relative to credit quality, diversification and maturities to preserve principal and liquidity.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued ASU 2023-07 – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which enhances the disclosures required for reportable segments in annual and interim consolidated financial statements, including additional, more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is available. The Company is still evaluating the full extent of the potential impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-07, but believes it will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 – Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The standard is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is available. The Company is still evaluating the full extent of the potential impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-09, but believes it will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Other than the disclosure of the Private Placement described above in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Note 1. Organization and Nature of the Business, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is determined based upon the exit price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants, as determined by either the principal market or the most advantageous market.

Inputs used in the valuation techniques to derive fair values are classified based on a three-level hierarchy, as follows:

The following tables present the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured and carried at fair value and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy of valuation techniques it utilizes to determine such fair value:

Money market funds are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, because they are valued using quoted prices in active markets. Corporate and agency bonds classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy are valued on the basis of prices from an orderly transaction between market participants provided by reputable dealers or pricing services. Prices of these securities are obtained through independent, third-party pricing services and include market quotations that may include both observable and unobservable inputs. In determining the value of a particular investment, pricing services may use certain information with respect to transactions in such investments, quotations from dealers, pricing matrices and market transactions in comparable investments and various relationships between investments. There were no transfers of financial instruments among Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 during the period presented.

Cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are carried at amounts that approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.

Marketable debt securities, all of which were classified as available-for-sale, consist of the following:

The amount of realized gains and losses reclassified into earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0. Gains, if any, would be included in investment income within the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

The Company has recorded the securities at fair value in its condensed consolidated balance sheets and unrealized gains and losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amount of realized gains and losses reclassified into earnings are based on the specific identification of the securities sold or securities that reached maturity date. The amount of realized gains and losses reclassified into earnings have not been material to the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

At the time of purchase, the Company determines the appropriate classification of investments based upon its intent with regard to such investments. The Company classifies investments in marketable debt securities with remaining maturities when purchased of greater than three months as available-for-sale. Investments with a remaining maturity date greater than one year are classified as non-current. The contractual maturities of all securities held at March 31, 2024 was 1 month or less. There were no sales of securities in the periods presented.

Credit Losses

Securities with an amortized cost basis in excess of estimated fair value are assessed to determine what amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses. For the period ended March 31, 2024, it was determined that none of the unrealized loss is related to expected credit losses as the Company has the ability and intent to hold all marketable securities that have been in a continuous loss position until maturity or recovery. Further, the entire portfolio is held with investment grade high credit quality institutions. The Company intends to continue investing only in such securities. Expected credit losses, if they existed, would be recognized in other income (expense), net within the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The remaining unrealized losses, not related to credit losses, net of taxes, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity within the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Marketable debt securities in a loss position consist of the following:

Investment Income

Interest and investment income consist of the following:

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:

Other assets consist of the following:

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:

Operating leases

Leases classified as operating leases are included in operating lease right-of use, or ROU, assets, operating lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities, non-current, in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Cash paid for operating lease liabilities was $332 during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

Lease expense consist of the following:

Variable lease expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $20. Variable lease expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were not material.

The weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted average discount rate for operating leases were:

As of March 31, 2024, the expected annual minimum lease payments of the Company’s operating lease liabilities were as follows:

Commitments

The Company has commitments under certain license and collaboration agreements, lease agreements, and employment agreements. Commitments under certain license agreements primarily include annual payments, payments upon the achievement of certain milestones, and royalty payments based on net sales of licensed products. Commitments under lease agreements consist of future minimum lease payments for operating leases which are further described in Note 8 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Contingencies

From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Management is of the opinion that the ultimate outcome of these matters would not have a material adverse impact on the financial position of the Company or the results of its operations.

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts in which it makes representations and warranties regarding the performance of its services and that its services will not infringe on third-party intellectual rights. There have been no significant events related to such representations and warranties in which the Company believes the outcome could result in losses or penalties in the future.

Common Stock

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 100,000,000 shares of common stock authorized for issuance, $0.001 par value per share, of which 11,433,837 and 11,364,903 shares were issued and outstanding, respectively.

The holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled toone vote per share.

Preferred Stock

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance, $0.001 par value per share, of which 8,028 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock were authorized for issuance and 7,991 shares were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Each share of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into approximately 1,000 shares of common stock, at a conversion price initially equal to approximately $7.01 per common share, subject to certain adjustments as described in the certificate of designation of preferences, rights and limitations of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock.

During August 2023, approximately 36 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 35,823 shares of common stock.

The holders of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock are not entitled to vote.

2020 Inducement Plan

On March 26, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or the Compensation Committee, approved the 2020 Inducement Plan in order to award nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and other stock-based awards to persons not previously an employee or director of the Company, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to such persons entering into employment with the Company.

The 2020 Inducement Plan provides for a total of 600,000 shares for the issuance of the Company’s common stock. The Compensation Committee also adopted a form of stock option grant notice and stock option agreement and forms of restricted stock unit grant notice and restricted stock unit agreement for use with the Inducement Plan.

As of March 31, 2024, there were 409,000 shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards and 191,00 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2020 Inducement Plan.

2017 Equity Incentive Plan

On August 10, 2017, Private ArTara (a predecessor entity of the Company), its Board of Directors and its stockholders approved the ArTara Therapeutics, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan to enable Private ArTara and its affiliates to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel and to incentivize personnel for productivity and growth.

The 2017 Equity Incentive Plan provided for the grant of a total of 2,000,000 shares for the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units to among others, members of the Board of Directors, employees, consultants and service providers to the Company and its affiliates. As of January 9, 2020, no additional awards will be made under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan.

2014 Equity Incentive Plan

On October 3, 2014, the stockholders approved the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. On June 20, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors amended the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, or the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan. On July 31, 2017, the stockholders approved this amendment. On January 1, 2020, Protara Therapeutics, Inc. amended its Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, as amended, provides for the grant of incentive and non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock unit awards, performance units, stock grants and qualified performance-based awards. The Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, as amended, provides that the number of shares reserved and available for issuance will automatically increase each January 1, by four percent of the Company’s common stock on the immediately preceding December 31, adjusted for the number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion of any security that the Company may issue that is convertible into or exchangeable for the Company’s common stock, or such lesser number of shares as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

On January 1, 2024, pursuant to the annual evergreen feature of the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, as amended, the number of shares authorized under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan, as amended, was increased by 911,380 shares to 4,474,683 shares. As of March 31, 2024, there were 4,090,945 shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards and 181,939 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the Amended and Restated 2014 Plan.

Terms of the stock awards, including vesting requirements, are determined by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of the plans. Certain awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control as defined in the plan.

2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

On October 3, 2014, the stockholders approved the 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2014 ESPP. The 2014 ESPP initially authorized the issuance of up to 3,513 shares of the Company’s common stock. The number of shares increases each January 1, commencing on January 1, 2015 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2024, by an amount equal to the lesser of one percent of the outstanding shares as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, 7,025 shares or any lower amount determined by the Company’s Board of Directors prior to each such January 1 st.

On January 1, 2024, pursuant to the increase per the 2014 ESPP, the number of shares authorized under the 2014 ESPP was increased by 7,025 shares to 46,112 shares. As of March 31, 2024, the authorized number of shares under the 2014 ESPP was 46,112 and the number of shares available for issuance was 46,112. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, no shares were issued under the 2014 ESPP.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit, or RSU, activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024:

The fair value of RSUs is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the respective awards. As of March 31, 2024, the unamortized value of RSUs was $821. As of March 31, 2024, the weighted average remaining amortization period was 2.32 years. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023,289,500 RSUs have vested that have not yet been settled into shares of the Company’s common stock.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company issued 68,934 shares of the Company’s common stock from the net settlement of 104,484 RSUs. The Company paid $76 in connection with the net share settlement of these RSUs.

Stock Options

The following table summarizes stock option activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024:

The weighted average grant date fair value per share of the options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1.52 and $2.42 respectively. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $6,301 of unrecognized share-based compensation for unvested stock option grants, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.86 years. The total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost will be adjusted for actual forfeitures as they occur.

Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The following tables summarize total stock-based compensation costs recognized:

Stock-based compensation expense was reflected within the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as:

The following table sets forth the computation of the net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted:

Since the Company was in a net loss position for all periods presented, net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was the same, on a basic and diluted basis, as the inclusion of all potential common equivalent shares outstanding would have been anti-dilutive. The Company excluded the following potential shares of common stock, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect: