Voyager Therapeutics Inc
For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 28, 2024.
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FY2023 · Filed Feb 28, 2024
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Notes to consolidated financial statements
| 1. | Nature of business |
Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a biotechnology company whose mission is to leverage the power of human genetics to modify the course of and ultimately cure neurological diseases. The Company’s pipeline includes programs for Alzheimer’s disease (“AD”); amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“ALS”); Parkinson’s disease, and multiple other diseases of the central nervous system, (“CNS”). Many of the Company’s programs are derived from its TRACER™ adeno-associated virus (“AAV”) capsid discovery platform, which the Company has used to generate novel capsids (“TRACER Capsids”) and identify associated receptors to potentially enable high brain penetration with genetic medicines following intravenous dosing. Some of the Company’s programs are wholly-owned, and some are advancing with licensees and collaborators including Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease (“Alexion”); Novartis Pharma AG, (“Novartis”); Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (“Neurocrine”); and Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (“Sangamo”).
The Company focuses on leveraging its expertise in capsid discovery and neuropharmacology to address the delivery hurdles that have constrained the genetic medicine and neurology disciplines, with the goal of either halting or slowing disease progression or reducing symptom severity, and therefore providing clinically meaningful impact to patients. The Company is advancing its own proprietary pipeline of drug candidates for neurological diseases, with a focus on AD. The Company’s wholly-owned prioritized pipeline programs include an anti-tau antibody for AD; a superoxide dismutase 1 (“SOD1”) silencing gene therapy for ALS; and a tau silencing gene therapy for AD. The Company identified a lead development candidate for its anti-tau antibody program in the first quarter of 2023, initiated good laboratory practices (“GLP”) toxicology studies in the third quarter of 2023, and expects to submit an investigational new drug (“IND”), application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for this program in the first half of 2024. The Company believes this trial could result in the potential to generate proof-of-concept data for slowing the spread of pathological tau via tau positron emission tomography imaging in 2026. The Company identified a lead development candidate for its SOD1 silencing gene therapy program in the fourth quarter of 2023, and the Company expects to submit the IND application for its SOD1 silencing gene therapy program in mid-2025. The Company promoted its tau silencing gene therapy program to a prioritized program in the first quarter of 2024, based on preclinical data demonstrating robust reductions in tau messenger RNA (“mRNA”) in a murine model, and it anticipates submission of an IND in 2026. The Company’s proprietary pipeline also includes an early research initiative to develop a gene therapy for the treatment of AD. This program seeks to combine a vectorized anti-amyloid antibody with a TRACER Capsid.
The Company is also working with its collaboration partners on multiple programs. In January 2019 and January 2023, the Company entered into collaboration and license agreements with Neurocrine. Under the agreements with Neurocrine, the Company is actively advancing two later preclinical stage programs: a glucocerebrosidase 1 (“GBA1”) gene therapy program for Parkinson’s disease and other GBA1-mediated diseases, and a frataxin gene therapy program for Friedreich’s ataxia (the “FA Program”). Pursuant to such agreements, the Company is also working with Neurocrine on five early-stage programs for the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of gene therapies designed to address CNS diseases or conditions associated with rare genetic targets. The Company has also entered into agreements with licensees including Novartis, Alexion, and Sangamo, to license or to provide options to receive exclusive licenses to certain TRACER Capsids. As described further below, in December 2023, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Novartis to provide Novartis certain rights regarding the development of potential gene therapy product candidates for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy and to collaborate with Novartis to develop gene therapy product candidates for the treatment of Huntington’s disease. The joint steering committee with Neurocrine selected a development candidate for the FA Program, during the first quarter of 2024, and expects to advance into first-in-human clinical trials in 2025. The Company also anticipates that its collaborative partners and licensees will submit at least one additional IND application for a partnered program and initiate clinical development for the associated program by the end of 2025.
The Company has a history of incurring annual net operating losses prior to the operating income in 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $261.2 million. The Company has not generated any
product revenue and has financed its operations primarily through public offerings and private placements of its equity securities and funding from fees, milestone payments, and cost reimbursements associated with its prior and current collaborations and license agreements.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $230.9 million. Based upon its current operating plan, the Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities at December 31, 2023, together with the upfront $80.0 million payment received in January 2024 in connection with the Collaboration and License Agreement by and between the Company and Novartis dated as of December 28, 2023 (the “2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement”), $20.0 million in proceeds from Novartis’ equity purchase, and $93.5 million in net proceeds received from a public offering closed in January 2024, to be sufficient to meet the Company’s planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirementsfor at least twelve months from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing on terms acceptable to the Company or generate product revenue or revenue from collaboration partners, on a timely basis or at all. The failure of the Company to obtain sufficient funds on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, and financial condition.
| 2. | Summary of significant accounting policies and basis of presentation |
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-K. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Voyager Securities Corporation. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, which include, but are not limited to, estimates related to revenue recognition, research and development accrued expenses, stock-based compensation expense, and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
ASC Topic 820,Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), establishes a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
ASC 820 identifies fair value as the exchange price, or exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between the following:
| ● | Level 1—Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
| ● | Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted market prices, interest rates, and yield curves. |
| ● | Level 3—Unobservable inputs developed using estimates of assumptions developed by the Company, which reflect those that a market participant would use. |
To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The carrying amounts reflected in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values, due to their short-term nature.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in banks and amounts held in money market funds.
Marketable Securities
The Company classifies marketable securities with a remaining maturity of greater than three months when purchased as available-for-sale. Marketable securities with a remaining maturity date greater than one year are classified as non-current where the Company has the intent and ability to hold these securities for at least the next 12 months.
All available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders’ equity until realized. Any premium or discount arising at purchase is amortized and/or accreted to interest income and/or expense. Realized gains and losses are determined using the specific identification method and are included in other income. If any adjustment to fair value reflects a decline in value of the investment, the Company uses a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables and available-for-sale debt securities. No other than temporary losses or credit losses have been recognized.
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 consist of the following:
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Amortized · · Unrealized · · Unrealized · · Fair | |||||||||||||
| · Cost · Gains · Losses · Value | |||||||||||||
| · · (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2023 · · · · · · | |||||||||||||
| Money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents | $65,589 | | | — | | | — | | $65,589 | | |||
| Marketable securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasury notes | | | 102,966 | | | 81 | | | (3) | | | 103,044 | |
| U.S. Government agency securities | | | 31,068 | | | 10 | | | (3) | | | 31,075 | |
| Corporate bonds | | | 23,975 | | | 2 | | | (7) | | | 23,970 | |
| Commercial paper | | | 3,985 | | | — | | | — | | | 3,985 | |
| Total money market funds and marketable securities | $227,583 | | $93 | | $(13) | | $227,663 | | |||||
| As of December 31, 2022 | | | | | | ||||||||
| Money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents | $91,724 | | $— | | $— | | $91,724 | | |||||
| Marketable securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasury notes | | 19,980 | | | — | | | (91) | | | 19,889 | | |
| Total money market funds and marketable securities | $111,704 | | $— | | $(91) | | $111,613 | | |||||
All of the Company’s marketable securities at December 31, 2023 and 2022 have a contractual maturity ofone year or less.
The Company reviews investments whenever the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost and evidence indicates that an investment’s carrying amount is not recoverable within a reasonable period of time. In connection with these investments, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors, considering the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security is compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any impairment that is not related to credit is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as a provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense in general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Losses are charged against the allowance when the Company believes the uncollectability of an available-for-sale security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met.
The Company held $44.2 million and $19.9 million in marketable securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The unrealized losses at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were attributable to changes in interest rates and the unrealized losses do not represent credit losses. The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell them before recovery of their amortized cost basis.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company maintained restricted cash totaling approximately $1.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively, held in the form of money market accounts as collateral for the Company’s facility lease obligations. The balance is included within deposits and other non-current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · As of December 31, · | ||||||||||
| · · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · | ||||||||||
| · · (in thousands) · | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $68,802 | | $98,959 | | $117,433 | | |||
| Restricted cash included in deposits and other non-current assets | | | 1,593 | | | 1,515 | | | 1,779 | |
| Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | | $70,395 | | $100,474 | | $119,212 | | |||
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of laboratory equipment, furniture and office equipment, and leasehold improvements and is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed to operations as incurred; while costs of major additions and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation is calculated over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company evaluates long-lived assets for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the book values of the assets to the expected future net undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the book
values of the assets exceed their fair value. The Company has not recognized any impairment losses from inception through December 31, 2023.
Revenue Recognition
The Company enters into license, option, and collaboration agreements which are within the scope of ASC 606,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), under which the Company licenses or provides options to license certain of the Company’s product candidates and, in certain cases, performs research and development services. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, upfront fees; reimbursement of research and development costs; option exercise fees; development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products.
The promised goods or services in the Company’s arrangements typically consist of license rights to the Company’s intellectual property and research and development services. The Company provides options to additional items in the contracts, which are accounted for as separate contracts when the customer elects to exercise such options, unless the option provides a material right to the customer. The Company evaluates the customer options for material rights, or options to acquire additional goods or services for free or at a discount. If the customer options are determined to represent a material right, the material right is recognized as a separate performance obligation at the outset of the arrangement. Performance obligations are promised goods or services in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and are considered distinct when (a) the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other readily available resources and (b) the promised good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. In assessing whether promised goods or services are distinct, the Company considers factors such as the stage of development of the underlying intellectual property, the capabilities of the customer to develop the intellectual property on its own or whether the required expertise is readily available and whether the goods or services are integral or dependent to other goods or services in the contract.
The Company estimates the transaction price based on the amount expected to be received for transferring the promised goods or services in the contract. The consideration may include fixed consideration or variable consideration. At the inception of each arrangement that includes variable consideration, the Company evaluates the amount of potential payments and the likelihood that the payments will be received. The Company utilizes either the most likely amount method or expected amount method to estimate the amount expected to be received based on which method best predicts the amount expected to be received. The amount of variable consideration which is included in the transaction price may be constrained, and is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of the cumulative revenue recognized will not occur in a future period.
The Company’s contracts often include development and regulatory milestone payments which are assessed under the most likely amount method and constrained if it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would occur. Milestone payments that are not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. At the end of each 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 collaboration revenue in the period of adjustment. To date, the Company has not recognized any consideration related to the achievement of development, regulatory, or commercial milestone revenue resulting from any of the Company’s collaboration or license arrangements.
For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, in which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (a) when the related sales occur, or (b) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any consideration related to sales-based royalty revenue resulting from any of the Company’s collaboration or license arrangements.
The Company allocates the transaction price based on the estimated stand-alone selling price of each of the performance obligations. The Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. The Company utilizes key assumptions to
determine the stand-alone selling price for service obligations, which may include other comparable transactions, pricing considered in negotiating the transaction and the estimated costs. Additionally, in determining the standalone selling price for material rights, the Company utilizes comparable transactions, clinical trial success probabilities, and estimates of option exercise likelihood. Variable consideration is allocated specifically to one or more performance obligations in a contract when the terms of the variable consideration relate to the satisfaction of the performance obligation and the resulting amounts allocated are consistent with the amounts the Company would expect to receive for the satisfaction of each performance obligation.
The consideration allocated to each performance obligation is recognized as revenue when control is transferred for the related goods or services. For performance obligations which consist of licenses and other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
Upfront payments and fees are recorded as contract liabilities within deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets until the Company performs its obligations under these arrangements. Amounts are recorded as accounts receivable when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional. A portion of revenue recognized from the 2019 and 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreements and the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement is related to performance obligations pursuant to which revenue is recognized using a proportional performance model. Revenue is recognized using input-based measurements, which involves the measurement of progress toward each performance obligation based on the actual costs incurred compared to total projected costs. The Company estimates the expected remaining costs to complete the research and development services for each performance obligation. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure and related revenue recognition.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred in performing research and development activities. The costs include employee compensation costs, external research, consultant costs, sponsored research, license fees, process development and facilities costs. Facilities costs primarily include the allocation of rent, utilities and depreciation.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842Leases. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, the Company does not recognize a right-of-use asset or lease liability. The Company's operating leases are recognized on its consolidated balance sheet as operating lease, right-of-use asset, other current liabilities, and other non-current liabilities. The Company does not have any finance leases.
Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases typically do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an estimate of its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Operating lease right-of-use assets also include the effect of any lease prepaid or deferred lease payments and are reduced by lease incentives. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. Non-lease components as it pertains to the Company's leased premises generally refer to common area maintenance charges related to the premises.
Research Contract Costs and Accruals
The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with research institutions and other companies. These agreements are generally cancelable. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates may be made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates. The Company’s historical accrual estimates have not been materially different from the actual costs.
Patent Costs
The Company expenses patent application and related legal costs as incurred and classifies such costs as general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, directors, and other service providers, referred to as non-employees, including grants of restricted stock units and stock options, to be recognized as expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) based on their grant date fair values. The Company estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses the fair value of its common stock to determine the fair value of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units.
The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including (a) the expected stock price volatility, (b) the expected term of the award, (c) the risk-free interest rate and (d) expected dividends. The Company bases the estimate of expected volatility on the historical volatility of its common stock. The historical volatility is calculated based on a period of time commensurate with the expected term assumption. The Company uses the simplified method as prescribed by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107,Share-Based Payment, to calculate the expected term for stock options granted to employees as it does not have sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term. For stock options granted to non-employees, the Company utilizes the contractual term of the arrangement as the basis for the expected term assumption. The risk-free interest rate is based on a treasury instrument whose term is consistent with the expected term of the stock options. The expected dividend yield is assumed to bezero as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plans to pay any dividends on its common stock.
The Company expenses the fair value of its stock-based compensation awards on a straight-line basis over the associated service period, which is generally the period in which the related services are received, adjusted for actual forfeitures of unvested awards as they occur.
The Company records the expense for stock-based compensation awards subject to performance conditions over the remaining service period when management determines that achievement of the performance condition is probable. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance condition is probable based on the expected satisfaction of the performance conditions as of the reporting date.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 740,Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and the tax reporting basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to
reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets unless, based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. As of December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any significant uncertain tax positions.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss consists of unrealized gains or losses on marketable securities.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock and if-converted methods.
For purposes of the diluted net income (loss) per share, unvested restricted common stock and outstanding stock options are considered to be potentially dilutive securities. Unvested restricted common stock and outstanding stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, because their effect would be anti-dilutive and therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share were the same for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The following table sets forth the outstanding potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded in the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · · As of December 31, · | ||||||||||
| · · 2023 · · 2022 · · 2021 · | ||||||||||
| Unvested restricted common stock awards | | 22,500 | | 45,000 | | 137,255 | | |||
| Unvested restricted common stock units | | | 1,370,897 | | | 1,112,563 | | | 806,379 | |
| Outstanding stock options | | 7,425,444 | | 6,199,571 | | 5,013,193 | | |||
| Total | | 8,818,841 | | 7,357,134 | | 5,956,827 | | |||
Basic net income (loss) and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Year Ended December 31, · | ||||||||||
| · · 2023 · · 2022 · · 2021 · | ||||||||||
| · · (in thousands, except share data) · | ||||||||||
| Numerator: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Net income (loss) | | $132,330 | | $(46,408) | | $(71,197) | | |||
| Denominator for basic net income (loss) per share: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding-basic | | | 43,020,747 | | | 38,356,810 | | | 37,668,947 | |
| Denominator for diluted net income (loss) per share: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding | | | 43,020,747 | | | 38,356,810 | | | 37,668,947 | |
| Common stock options and restricted stock units | | | 1,548,587 | | | — | | | — | |
| Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted | | | 44,569,334 | | | 38,356,810 | | | 37,668,947 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Suppliers
The Company hasno financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts or other foreign currency hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk are cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s cash is held in accounts at financial institutions that may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any credit losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds.
The Company is dependent on third-party manufacturers to supply certain products for research and development activities in its programs. In particular, the Company relies on a sole manufacturer to supply it with specific vectors related to the Company’s research and development programs.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company and the Company’s CODM, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, view the Company’s operations and manages its business as a single operating segment, which is the business of developing and commercializing genetic medicine.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2020-06,Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). This standard amends the guidance on convertible instruments and the derivatives scope exception for contracts in an entity’s own equity and amends the related earnings per share (“EPS”) guidance. The ASU will be effective for smaller reporting companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is assessing the impact of ASU 2020-06 on the consolidated financial statements and does not expect it to have a material impact.
In November 2023 the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07,Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosure. This standard requires annual and interim disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM. The amendments in this update also expand the interim segment disclosure requirements. The disclosures required under ASU 2023-07 are also required for public entities with a single reportable segment. This 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 permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis. The Company is evaluating the impact of ASU 2023-07 on its consolidated financial statements and does not expect it to have a material impact.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “*Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures.”*ASU 2023-09 enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2024, and is applicable to the Company in fiscal 2025. However, retrospective application is permitted. Early adoption is also permitted. Besides a change in income tax disclosures, the Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2023-09 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
3. Fair value measurements
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
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| · · · · · Quoted Prices · · Significant · · · | |||||||||||||
| · · · · · in Active · · Other · · Significant | |||||||||||||
| · · · · · Markets for · · Observable · · Unobservable | |||||||||||||
| · · · · · Identical Assets · · Inputs · · Inputs · | |||||||||||||
| Assets · Total · (Level 1) · (Level 2) · (Level 3) | |||||||||||||
| · · (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents | | $65,589 | | $65,589 | | $— | | $— | | ||||
| Marketable securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasury notes | | | 103,044 | | | 103,044 | | | — | | | — | |
| U.S. Government agency securities | | | 31,075 | | | 31,075 | | | — | | | — | |
| Corporate bonds | | | 23,970 | | | — | | | 23,970 | | | — | |
| Commercial paper | | | 3,985 | | | — | | | 3,985 | | | — | |
| Total money market funds and marketable securities | | $227,663 | | $199,708 | | $27,955 | | $— | | ||||
| December 31, 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Money market funds included in cash and cash equivalents | $91,724 | | $91,724 | | $— | $— | | ||||||
| Marketable securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Treasury notes | | 19,889 | | | 19,889 | | | — | | | — | | |
| Total money market funds and marketable securities | $111,613 | | $111,613 | | $— | | $— | | |||||
The Company measures the fair value of money market funds, U.S. Treasury notes and U.S. Government agency securities based on quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. The Company measures the fair value of the Level 2 securities, corporate bonds and commercial paper, based on recent trades of securities in inactive markets or based on quoted market prices of similar instruments and other significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.
4. Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · As of December 31, | |||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | |||||||
| · · (in thousands) · | |||||||
| Other current assets | | $2,628 | | $4,233 | | ||
| Prepaid insurance | | 607 | | 696 | | ||
| Prepaid research and development contracts | 1,119 | | | 83 | | ||
| Accrued interest receivable | | | 964 | | | 382 | |
| Total | | $5,318 | | $5,394 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
5. Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · As of December 31, · | |||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | |||||||
| · · (in thousands) · | |||||||
| Laboratory equipment | | $20,536 | | $19,675 | | ||
| Leasehold improvements | | | 7,106 | | | 12,554 | |
| Furniture and office equipment | | 2,625 | | 2,333 | | ||
| Other | | | 1,265 | | 502 | | |
| Total property and equipment | | 31,532 | | 35,064 | | ||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | | (15,038) | | (17,207) | | ||
| Property and equipment, net | | $16,494 | | $17,857 | | ||
The Company recorded $4.4 million, $6.2 million, and $5.2 million in depreciation expense during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
6. Accrued expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · As of December 31, · | |||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | |||||||
| · · (in thousands) · | |||||||
| Employee compensation costs | | $6,614 | | $4,559 | | ||
| Research and development costs | | | 5,225 | | | 1,895 | |
| Accrued goods and services | | 4,229 | | 636 | | ||
| Professional services | | 755 | | 726 | | ||
| Total | | $16,823 | | $7,816 | | ||
| | | | | | | | |
7. Lease obligation
Operating Leases
As of December 31, 2023, the Company has a lease for laboratory and office space at 75 Hayden Avenue in Lexington, Massachusetts through January 31, 2031 and a lease for additional office and laboratory space at 64 Sidney Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts through November 30, 2026.
In September 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with BioNTech US, Inc. (“BioNTech US”) to sublease part of the office and laboratory space leased by the Company at 75 Sidney Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts (the “Sublease Agreement”) at that time. The sublease term was for approximately 3.3 years. The sublease did not relieve the Company of its original obligation under the lease, and therefore the Company did not adjust the operating lease right-of-use asset as a result of the sublease and accounted for the sublease as a separate lease.
On June 22, 2022 the Company entered into a Lease Termination Agreement (the “Lease Termination Agreement”) and terminated the lease for office and laboratory space at 75 Sidney Street (the “75 Sidney Street Lease”), effective immediately. In connection with the Lease Termination Agreement, the Company also entered into a Sublease Termination Agreement (the “Sublease Termination Agreement”) and terminated the Sublease Agreement with BioNTech US. The Company did not incur any termination penalties in connection with the Lease Termination Agreement or Sublease Termination Agreement. The Company derecognized the related right-of-use asset of approximately $14.5 million and the operating lease liabilities of $17.0 million, accordingly, resulting in a gain of $2.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Company’s lease agreements require the Company to maintain a cash deposit or irrevocable letter of credit in the aggregate amount of $1.5 million payable to its landlords as security for the performance of its obligations under the leases.
On August 11, 2023, the Company entered into a first amendment (the “First Amendment”) to its existing lease for laboratory and office space at 75 Hayden Avenue in Lexington, Massachusetts, pursuant to which the Company agreed to lease approximately 61,307 square feet of additional office and laboratory space. The term of the First Amendment commences on the date on which the landlord makes the space available for use by the Company, and expires on January 31, 2031, unless sooner terminated or extended. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not have control of the space and therefore, the lease had not yet commenced. The commencement date for the First Amendment occurred on February 1, 2024. The expected contractual obligation under the First Amendment to the Company’s existing lease is approximately $37.8 million, to be paid over the 7 year term of the lease.
Total lease cost for operating leases of approximately $3.6 million, $4.6 million, and $6.8 million was incurred during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the weighted average remaining lease term was 5 years and the weighted average incremental borrowing rate used to determine the operating lease liability was 7.4%.
The following table summarizes the operating sublease income generated under the Sublease Agreement for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:
| · · · · · · · · | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Years ended | ||||
| | December 31, | ||||
| · 2023 · 2022 · · 2021 | |||||
| · (in thousands) | |||||
| Operating sublease income | $— | | $1,380 | | $838 |
8. Commitments, contingencies, and other liabilities
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, other current and non-current liabilities consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · As of December 31, · | ||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 · | ||||||
| | (in thousands) | | ||||
| Other current liabilities | | | | | | |
| Lease liabilities | | 3,200 | | | 2,832 | |
| Total other current liabilities | $3,200 | | $2,832 | | ||
| | | | | | | |
| Other non-current liabilities | | | | | | |
| Lease liabilities | $17,093 | | $20,294 | | ||
| Other | | 1,001 | | | 1,001 | |
| Total other non-current liabilities | $18,094 | | $21,295 | | ||
Strategic Restructuring
On August 6, 2021, the board of directors of the Company approved a strategic restructuring plan to eliminate a portion of its workforce as part of an initiative to reduce expenses and enhance operations. The strategic restructuring plan was approved in connection with its portfolio reevaluation efforts and its strategic shift to invest additional resources in the Company’s TRACER Capsid development efforts.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred restructuring costs of approximately $2.6 million, which consists of severance-related costs. These costs are reported within the Company’s research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses. All costs have been paid as of December 31, 2023.
Litigation
The Company was not a party to any material legal matters or claims and didnot have contingency reserves established for any litigation liabilities as of December 31, 2023 or 2022.
9. Significant Agreements
2023 Novartis License and Collaboration Agreement
On December 28, 2023 (the “2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement Effective Date”), the Company entered into a License and Collaboration Agreement (the “2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement”) with Novartis to (a) provide rights to Novartis with respect to certain TRACER Capsids for use in the research, development, and commercialization by Novartis of AAV gene therapy products and product candidates, comprising such TRACER Capsids and payloads intended for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (the “Novartis SMA Program”) and (b) collaborate to develop AAV gene therapy products and product candidates intended for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (the “Novartis HD Program”), in each case, leveraging TRACER Capsids and other intellectual property controlled by the Company.
Novartis SMA Program and Novartis HD Program Licenses
Under the terms of the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, the Company granted Novartis and its affiliates:
| ● | a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable (except in limited circumstances for contractors), worldwide, royalty-free right and license under any patents or know-how controlled by the Company and related to the TRACER Capsids to evaluate the same for use in the development of a product or product candidate under the Novartis SMA Program (a “Novartis SMA Program Product”) comprising such a TRACER Capsid and a payload selected by Novartis during the period beginning on the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement Effective Date; |
| ● | an exclusive (even as to the Company), sublicensable, non-transferable, worldwide, royalty-bearing right and license under any patents or know-how controlled by the Company and relating to the selected TRACER Capsids to exploit the same as incorporated into a Novartis SMA Program Product for all human and veterinary diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses during the Term (as defined below); and |
| ● | an exclusive (even as to the Company), non-transferable, sublicensable, worldwide, royalty-bearing right and license under any patents and know-how controlled by the Company and relating to the development of a product or product candidate under the Novartis HD Program (a “Novartis HD Program Product”) to exploit the same for all human and veterinary diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses during the Term. |
The Company and Novartis have agreed to manage the Novartis HD Program through a joint steering committee until dissolved after the first IND application filing for a Novartis HD Program Product. The Company and Novartis have further agreed that day-to-day activities of both the Novartis SMA Program and the Novartis HD Program shall be managed through designees from each of the Company and Novartis, acting as alliance managers.
Development, Regulatory Approval, Commercialization and Diligence
Under the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, Novartis is solely responsible for, and has sole decision-making authority with respect to, at its own expense, the exploitation of a Novartis SMA Program Product.
With respect to the Novartis HD Program, the parties have agreed to conduct research and pre-clinical development of Novartis HD Program Products pursuant to a research plan, with Novartis reimbursing the Company for
its activities thereunder in accordance with the agreed-to budget. From and after the first IND application filing for the Novartis HD Program, the parties have agreed that Novartis will assume sole responsibility for the development and commercialization of Novartis HD Program Products, including all further preclinical and clinical development and any commercialization of the Novartis HD Program products and product candidates.
With respect to each of the Novartis SMA Program Products and Novartis HD Program Products, Novartis is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and obtain regulatory approval for at leastone of each such product in the United States and in certain other international markets specified in the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement.
Unless earlier terminated, with respect to any licensed product(s) under the Collaboration Agreement, on a country-by-country basis, the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement expires upon the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term with respect to such licensed product in such country in the territory. Subject to a cure period, either party may terminate the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, in the event of the other party’s uncured material breach. Novartis may also terminate the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, for the Company’s insolvency, for the occurrence of a violation of global trade control laws, or for the Company’s non-compliance with certain anti-bribery or anti-corruption covenants. Novartis may terminate the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, in whole or in part, for any or no reason upon ninety days’ written notice to the Company. In the event that Novartis has the right to terminate the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement as a result of an uncured material breach by the Company that materially impairs the ability of Novartis to exploit one or more licensed products, Novartis may, in lieu of such termination, elect for the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement to remain in full force and effect, and all milestone payments and royalties that would have otherwise been payable by Novartis under such licenses had the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement not been breached would be substantially reduced.
Under the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement, Novartis agreed to pay the Company an initial upfront payment of $80.0 million. The Company is eligible to receive specified development, regulatory, and commercialization milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $200.0 million for the Novartis SMA Program and up to an aggregate of $225.0 million for the Novartis HD Program, in each case for the first corresponding product to achieve the corresponding milestone. The Company is also eligible to receive (a) specified sales milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $400.0 million for the Novartis SMA Program and up to an aggregate of $375.0 million for the Novartis HD Program and (b) tiered, escalating royalties in the high single-digit to low double-digit percentages of annual net sales of the Novartis SMA Program Products and the Novartis HD Program Products. The royalties are subject to potential customary reductions, including patent claim expiration, payments for certain third-party licenses, and biosimilar market penetration, subject to specified limits.
Stock Purchase Agreement
Under the stock purchase agreement with Novartis entered into on December 28, 2023 (the “2023 Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement”), Novartis agreed to purchase 2,145,002 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Novartis Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $20.0 million.
The Company determined the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement represents a contract with a customer under ASC 606. In addition, the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement did not modify the scope or price of the 2022 Novartis Option and License Agreement, as discussed below. The Company therefore determined that the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement should be accounted for separately. The 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement includes the following performance obligations: (i) the development and commercialization license for the Novartis SMA Program, (ii) the development and commercialization license for the Novartis HD Program; and (iii) the research and development
services for the Novartis HD Program (“Novartis HD Research Services”). The development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis HD Program and Novartis SMA Program are each distinct, as Novartis can benefit from such licenses on their own or from other resources commonly available in the industry given the stage of development of the product candidates subject to the licenses. Similarly, the research and development services for the Novartis HD Program provide a distinct benefit to Novartis within the context of the contract, separate from the licenses.
The transaction consideration allocated to the performance obligations within the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement includes fixed consideration of $80.0 million, and variable consideration, which is comprised of an estimated $24.2 million of cost reimbursements for Novartis HD Research Services, up to $425.0 of potential development milestone payments, up to $775.0 million of potential sales milestone payment, and sales-based royalties. The consideration related to the Novartis HD Research Services, becomes due and payable on a quarterly basis as the services are being performed.
The Company estimates variable consideration using the most likely amount approach. At the outset of the contract, the Company has determined this consideration should be constrained. The sales milestone payments and royalties will be recognized in the period the underlying sales occur, as this consideration is related to the two development and commercialization licenses, the predominant performance obligations in the contract.
The Company allocated the fixed transaction price to the separate performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. The standalone selling prices for development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis SMA Program and Novartis HD Program were estimated using an adjusted-market approach. The Company allocated the variable consideration related to the Novartis HD Research Services as the consideration becomes payable as the Company delivers the Novartis HD Research Services and allocating the entirety of this consideration to the Novartis HD Research Services reflects the amount the Company expects to be entitled to for performing the services. The development milestone payments, the sales milestone payments and the royalties are allocated to the respective development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis SMA Program and Novartis HD Program as the variable consideration relates directly to those performance obligations.
The Company recognized the $80.0 million fixed transaction price allocated to the development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis SMA Program and Novartis HD Program, as collaboration revenue upon delivery of the development and commercialization licenses to Novartis in December 2023. The issuance of the Novartis Shares to Novartis pursuant to the 2023 Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement in January 2024 resulted in a premium of $0.7 million. The premium will be allocated to the development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis HD Program and Novartis SMA Program and is expected to be recognized as collaboration revenue during the first quarter of 2024, upon the issuance of the Novartis Shares under the 2023 Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement. The Novartis HD Research Services commenced in the first quarter of 2024. The $80.0 million fixed transaction price was recorded in accounts receivable as of December 31, 2023. The Company had an unconditional right to the payment, and it was collected in January of 2024.
The Company incurred approximately $1.9 million of business development costs related to the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement which were payable only upon the execution of the agreement, and therefore are considered incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. Given the substantial value associated with the development and commercialization licenses for the Novartis SMA Program and Novartis HD Program that were delivered in December 2023, the Company recognized the $1.9 million of costs in general and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2023.
2022 Novartis Option and License Agreement
On March 4, 2022 (the “Novartis Effective Date”), the Company entered into an option and license agreement with Novartis (the “2022 Novartis Agreement”). Pursuant to the 2022 Novartis Agreement, the Company granted Novartis options (the “Novartis License Options”) to license TRACER Capsids (“Novartis Licensed Capsids”) for
exclusive use with certain targets to develop and commercialize adeno-associated virus gene therapy candidates comprised of Novartis Licensed Capsids and payloads directed to such targets (the “Novartis Payloads”).
During the period commencing on the Novartis Effective Date and ending on the first anniversary thereof or, in the event Novartis exercises a Novartis License Option, the third anniversary thereof, on a target-by-target basis (the “Novartis Research Term”), the Company granted Novartis a non-exclusive research license to evaluate the Company’s TRACER Capsids for potential use, in combination with Novartis Payloads, in programs targeting three specified genes (the “Initial Novartis Targets”). Upon the payment of additional fees, Novartis may also assess the Company’s TRACER Capsids for use with up totwo other targets (the “Additional Novartis Targets”), subject to certain conditions including that such target is not part of, or reasonably competitive with, the Company’s current development programs (the Initial Novartis Targets and the Additional Novartis Targets collectively, the “Novartis Targets”). During the Novartis Research Term, as applicable, the Company may, at its sole discretion and expense, conduct further research activities to identify additional TRACER Capsids. If the Company elects to do so, the Company has agreed to disclose performance characteristics of such new TRACER Capsids to Novartis on a rolling basis.
During the applicable Novartis Research Term, Novartis may exercise up tothree Novartis License Options—or up tofive Novartis License Options if Novartis is evaluating the Additional Novartis Targets—in the aggregate, provided that Novartis may only exerciseone Novartis License Option for each Novartis Target. Upon the exercise of any Novartis License Option, the Company has agreed to grant Novartis a target-exclusive, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under certain of the Company’s intellectual property, the rights to develop and commercialize the applicable Novartis Licensed Capsid as incorporated into products containing the corresponding Novartis Payload (the “Novartis Licensed Products”). Upon the exercise of a Novartis License Option, the Company has agreed to provide certain additional know-how to enable Novartis to exploit the Novartis Licensed Capsid and the corresponding Novartis Payload for use in a Novartis Licensed Product. Novartis may, during the applicable Novartis Research Term but following the exercise of a Novartis License Option, conduct additional evaluation of the Company’s capsid candidates and has the right to substitute any other TRACER Capsid for a Novartis Licensed Capsid.
Effective March 1, 2023, Novartis exercised its Novartis License Options to license TRACER Capsids for use in gene therapy programs againsttwo undisclosed Initial Novartis Targets.
Subject to the Company’s disclosure obligations described above, the Company and Novartis have agreed to conduct their respective research and evaluation activities independently, with communications being managed bytwo alliance managers comprised of a designee from each of the Company and Novartis.
Under the 2022 Novartis Agreement, Novartis is solely responsible for, and has sole decision-making authority with respect to, development and commercialization of the Novartis Licensed Products. In the event Novartis exercises a Novartis License Option, Novartis is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and obtain regulatory approval for at leastone Novartis Licensed Product for each Novartis Target for which it has exercised a Novartis License Option in (a) the United States and (b) at least three of the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan (each of which, a “Novartis Major Market Country”), subject to certain limitations. Novartis is also required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize each Novartis Licensed Product in the United States and at least three Novartis Major Market Countries where Novartis or its designated affiliates or sublicensees has received regulatory approval for such Novartis Licensed Product, subject to certain limitations.
During the Novartis Research Term, the Company has agreed to provide plasmids to Novartis for the production of TRACER Capsids for evaluation upon request. The Company has also granted Novartis a non-exclusive license, effective upon an exercise of a Novartis License Option and in addition to its options for target-exclusive licenses under certain of the Company’s intellectual property described above, on a Novartis Licensed Capsid-by-Novartis Licensed Capsid basis, under certain of the Company’s know-how to exploit the applicable Novartis Licensed Capsid as incorporated into Novartis Licensed Products containing the corresponding Novartis Payload.
Under the terms of the 2022 Novartis Agreement, Novartis paid the Company an upfront payment of $54.0 million. Effective as of March 1, 2023, Novartis exercised its Novartis License Options to license TRACER Capsids for use in gene therapy programs againsttwo undisclosed Initial Novartis Targets.
Under the terms of the 2022 Novartis Agreement, each party owns the entire right, title, and interest in and to all patents or know-how controlled by such party and existing as of or before the Novartis Effective Date, or invented, developed, created, generated or acquired solely by or on behalf of such party after the Novartis Effective Date. Subject to certain specified exceptions, any patents and know-how that are invented or otherwise developed jointly by or on behalf of the parties during the term of the 2022 Novartis Agreement and in the course of the parties’ activities under the 2022 Novartis Agreement will follow inventorship under U.S. patent law.
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the Company has agreed (a) during the Novartis Research Term, not to conduct any internal program or program on behalf of a third party that is directed to the development or commercialization of any Company’s capsids, or grant any third party or affiliate any right or license under the Company’s rights in such capsids, to exploit any therapeutic product containing a capsid in combination with a payload designed to have therapeutic effect on any of the Novartis Targets; and (b) after Novartis’s exercise of any Novartis License Option, not to grant any third party or affiliate any right or license under the Company’s patents to exploit any Novartis Licensed Capsid for the applicable Novartis Target.
Unless earlier terminated, the 2022 Novartis Agreement expires on the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term with respect to all Novartis Licensed Products in all countries. Subject to a cure period, either party may terminate the 2022 Novartis Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, in the event of the other party’s uncured material breach. Novartis may also terminate the 2022 Novartis Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, for the Company’s insolvency, the occurrence of a violation of global trade control laws, or for the Company’s non-compliance with certain anti-bribery or anti-corruption covenants. Novartis may terminate the 2022 Novartis Agreement, in whole or in part, for any or no reason upon ninety days’ written notice to the Company.
Upon certain terminations for cause by Novartis, the licenses granted by the Company to Novartis under the 2022 Novartis Agreement shall become irrevocable and perpetual, and all milestone payments and royalties that would have otherwise been payable by Novartis under such licenses had the Novartis Agreement remained in effect would be substantially reduced.
At inception, the Company determined the 2022 Novartis Agreement was a contract with a customer under ASC 606. The Company assessed the promised goods and services and determined that the 2022 Novartis Agreement contains three performance obligations consisting ofthree material rights, one for each of the Novartis License Options. The Company concluded that each Novartis License Option provides a material right as consideration for each option is less than the amount that the Company would otherwise have expected to receive outside the context of the contract. The promises at inception do not include the underlying goods or services that would be delivered upon exercise of the option, but rather represent the value to the customer of having the right to exercise the Novartis License Option at the specified exercise fee. Upon the exercise of a Novartis License Option, until March 4, 2025, while the Company is not obligated to conduct additional research activities upon any option exercise to identify additional proprietary capsids that may be useful for AAV gene therapies for the treatment of central nervous system or cardiovascular diseases, it has agreed to continue to disclose to Novartis, on a rolling basis, the performance characteristics identified for all such capsid candidates, if and when available. Novartis may conduct additional evaluation of such capsid candidates and has the right to substitute any other capsid candidate for the Novartis Licensed Capsid it previously elected to license when it exercised the Novartis License Option. The Company determined that this promise to provide Novartis the ability to evaluate and potentially substitute other capsid candidates for the Novartis Licensed Capsid it previously elected to license when it exercised the Novartis License Option, if and when available, is an additional performance obligation in the arrangement (the “Novartis Substitution Right Performance Obligation”). The Company concluded the options for Additional Novartis Targets are not material rights as the price reflects the standalone selling price of the options. The Company will therefore account for the options for Additional Novartis Targets separately, if and when exercised.
The Company received a nonrefundable, upfront payment of $54.0 million as consideration under the 2022 Novartis Agreement, which represents the transaction price at inception. Additional consideration to be paid to the Company upon exercise of the Novartis License Options or upon reaching certain milestones are excluded from the
transaction price as they relate to option fees and milestones that could only be achieved subsequent to an option exercise.
The Company allocated the transaction price to thethree material rights based on their relative standalone selling prices. The estimated standalone selling price for each material right was based on an adjusted market assessment approach. The Company concluded that the market would be willing to pay an equal amount for each Novartis License Option on a standalone basis. The Company reached this conclusion after considering (i) the downstream economics including option fees, milestones and royalties related to each Novartis License Option being identical and (ii) comparable market data. The Company determined the standalone selling price for the Novartis Substitution Right Performance Obligation was insignificant to the allocation of the transaction price using the relative standalone selling price model and did not allocate any transaction price to the Novartis Substitution Right Performance Obligation, accordingly. This determination was supported by qualitative and quantitative assessments of the standalone selling price that considered the cost of identifying other potential capsid candidates and the likelihood of license substitution. As such, based on the relative standalone selling price for each of thethree material rights, the allocation of the transaction price to the separate performance obligations is $18.0 million for each material right.
The amount allocated to each material right was recorded as deferred revenue.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $79.0 million in collaboration revenue related to the Novartis Agreement. Of this $79.0 million, $54.0 million is attributable to the exercise of the two material rights for Novartis License Options and the expiration of the third material right and was previously deferred as of December 31, 2022. The remaining $25.0 million represents the option exercise fee. This amount was received by the Company during the second quarter of 2023.
2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement
On January 8, 2023, the Company entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Neurocrine (the “2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement”) for the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of gene therapy products directed to the GBA1 Program, and three early research programs focused on the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of gene therapies designed to address central nervous system (“CNS”) diseases or conditions associated with rare genetic targets (the “2023 Discovery Programs” and, collectively with the GBA1 Program, the “2023 Neurocrine Programs”). The 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement became effective on February 21, 2023 (the “Neurocrine Effective Date”).
Collaboration and License
Under the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the Company and Neurocrine have agreed to collaborate on the conduct of the 2023 Neurocrine Programs. Under the terms of the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, subject to the rights retained by the Company thereunder, the Company granted to Neurocrine, as of the Neurocrine Effective Date, an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable, worldwide license, under certain of the Company’s intellectual property rights, to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize gene therapy products (the “2023 Collaboration Products”), arising under the 2023 Neurocrine Programs.
Pursuant to mutually-agreed development plans, during the period beginning on the Neurocrine Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Neurocrine Effective Date, which period may be extended upon mutual written agreement of the Company and Neurocrine (the “2023 Discovery Period”), and as overseen by the Joint Steering Committee (“JSC”) for the ongoing collaboration with Neurocrine, the Company is responsible for identifying capsids meeting target criteria, producing development candidates, and conducting other pre-clinical activities regarding the 2023 Collaboration Products. Neurocrine has agreed to be responsible for all costs the Company incurs in conducting pre-clinical development activities for each 2023 Neurocrine Program, in accordance with JSC agreed upon workplans and budgets. If the Company breaches its responsibilities during this time or, in certain circumstances, upon a change of
control, Neurocrine has the right, but not the obligation, to assume the conduct of the Company’s activities under such 2023 Neurocrine Program.
The Company has been granted the option (“2023 Co-Co Option”) to co-develop and co-commercialize 2023 Collaboration Products in the GBA1 Program in the United States upon the occurrence of the Company receiving topline data from the first Phase 1 clinical trial for a product candidate being developed pursuant to the GBA1 Program. Should the Company elect to exercise its 2023 Co-Co Option, the Company and Neurocrine agree to enter into a cost and profit-sharing arrangement (a “2023 Co-Co Agreement”), whereby the Company and Neurocrine agree to jointly develop and commercialize 2023 Collaboration Products in the GBA1 Program (“2023 Co-Co Products”) in the United States and share equally in the GBA1 Program’s costs, profits and losses in the United States, with each party entitled to or responsible for 50% of profits and losses with respect to each 2023 Co-Co Product in the United States, subject to specified exceptions. The parties have agreed that the 2023 Co-Co Agreement will provide the Company the right to terminate the 2023 Co-Co Agreement for any reason upon prior written notice to Neurocrine and provide Neurocrine the right to terminate or amend the 2023 Co-Co Agreement upon a change of control under certain circumstances. In the event the Company exercises its 2023 Co-Co Option, the parties have also agreed that Neurocrine is entitled to receive (in addition to its 50% share of profits)50% of the Company’s share of profits until the Company’s obligation to repay 50% of all development costs incurred by Neurocrine in connection with the GBA1 Program prior to such exercise have been paid off out of such 50% of the Company’s share of profits.
Either party may notify the JSC of any gene therapy product candidate that includes a Company capsid and a payload that is being developed under a 2023 Neurocrine Program (a “Collaboration Candidate”), that it desires to nominate as a development candidate. In such event, the JSC shall determine whether such nominated Collaboration Candidate meets certain development criteria. There will be a maximum offour potential development candidates for which development is being performed under any 2023 Neurocrine Program at any given time during the 2023 Discovery Period. If a Collaboration Candidate fails to meet criteria established by the JSC and is removed from consideration to become a development candidate or is named a development candidate, then a new Collaboration Candidate may be nominated to be a potential development candidate to replace the Collaboration Candidate that has failed or succeeded such that not more than four potential development candidates per program are under consideration at any one time during the 2023 Discovery Period.
The parties have agreed that the applicable development plans shall specify the allocation between the Company and Neurocrine of responsibilities for the manufacturing of Collaboration Candidates associated with the applicable 2023 Neurocrine Program during the 2023 Discovery Period. In accordance with the 2023 Collaboration Agreement, the parties have also agreed that, if the Company conducts any portion of the manufacturing of a Collaboration Candidate, the applicable development plan shall include an obligation for the Company to assist with the technology transfer of such manufacturing responsibilities to Neurocrine or a third-party contract manufacturing organization, as reasonably requested by Neurocrine, on terms to be mutually-agreed by the Company and Neurocrine. Following the end of the 2023 Discovery Period, Neurocrine shall be responsible for the manufacturing of all Collaboration Candidates and products.
Under the terms of the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, Neurocrine paid the Company an upfront payment of approximately $136.0 million and approximately $39.0 million for the purchase of 4,395,588 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $8.88 per share in February 2023. The 2023 Collaboration Agreement provides for aggregate development milestone payments from Neurocrine to the Company for 2023 Collaboration Products under (a) the GBA1 Program of up to $985.0 million; and (b) each of thethree 2023 Discovery Programs of up to $175.0 million for each 2023 Discovery Program. The Company may be entitled to receive aggregate commercial milestone payments for up totwo 2023 Collaboration Products under the GBA1 Program of up to $950.0 million per
2023 Collaboration Product and forone 2023 Collaboration Product under each 2023 Discovery Program of up to $275.0 million per 2023 Discovery Program.
Neurocrine has also agreed to pay the Company tiered royalties, based on future net sales of the 2023 Collaboration Products. Such royalty percentages, for net sales in and outside the United States, range from (a) for the GBA1 Program, the low double-digits to twenty and the high single-digits to mid-teens, respectively, and (b) for each 2023 Discovery Program, high single-digits to mid-teens and mid-single digits to low double-digits, respectively. On a country-by-country and 2023 Neurocrine Program-by-2023 Neurocrine Program basis, the parties have agreed royalty payments would commence on the first commercial sale of a 2023 Collaboration Product in such country and terminate upon the latest of (a) the expiration, invalidation or the abandonment of the last patent covering the composition of the 2023 Collaboration Product or its approved method of use in such country, (b)ten years from the first commercial sale of the 2023 Collaboration Product in such country and (c) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity in such country (the “2023 Royalty Term”). Royalty payments may be reduced by up to 50% in specified circumstances, including expiration of patent rights related to a 2023 Collaboration Product, approval of biosimilar products in each country, or required payment of licensing fees to third parties related to the development and commercialization of any 2023 Collaboration Product. Additionally, the licenses granted to Neurocrine shall automatically convert to a fully-paid, perpetual, irrevocable royalty-free license on a country-by-country and 2023 Collaboration Product-by-2023 Collaboration Product basis upon the expiration of the 2023 Royalty Term applicable to the 2023 Collaboration Product in such country.
Unless earlier terminated, the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement expires on the later of (a) the expiration of the last to expire 2023 Royalty Term with respect to all 2023 Collaboration Products worldwide or (b) the expiration or termination of any 2023 Co-Co Agreement. Neurocrine may terminate the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement in its entirety or on a 2023 Neurocrine Program-by-2023 Neurocrine Program and/or country-by-country basis by providing at least (a)180-day advance notice if such notice is provided prior to the first commercial sale of any 2023 Collaboration Product to which the termination applies or (b)one-year advance notice if such notice is provided after the first commercial sale of any product to which the termination applies. Neurocrine may terminate the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with respect to a given 2023 Collaboration Product by providing written notice of termination to the Company within thirty days after complete readout of any clinical trial if the results of such clinical trial fail to meet the pre-specified primary endpoint(s) set forth in the applicable protocol or if there is a safety finding during the clinical trial relating to such 2023 Collaboration Product that either (a) is substantially irreversible or not monitorable in patients or (b) results in Neurocrine’s decision to designate such 2023 Collaboration Product as a terminated product under the 2023 Collaboration Agreement.
The Company may terminate the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with respect to a particular patent right of the Company’s, if Neurocrine challenges the validity or enforceability of such patent right. Subject to a cure period, either party may terminate the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement in the event of a material breach in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions.
2023 Neurocrine Stock Purchase Agreement
In connection with the execution of the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, Neurocrine and the Company also entered into a stock purchase agreement on January 8, 2023 (“the “2023 Neurocrine Stock Purchase Agreement”), for the sale and issuance of 4,395,588 shares of common stock to Neurocrine at a price of $8.88 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $39.0 million. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2023 Neurocrine Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold these shares to Neurocrine on February 23, 2023.
At inception, the Company determined the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement was a contract with a customer under ASC 606 and that modification accounting was not required given that the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement did not modify the scope or price of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement. The Company therefore determined that the 2023 Neurocrine Agreement should be accounted for separately. The 2023
Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement includes the following performance obligations: (i) the development and commercialization license for the GBA1 Program, (ii) the research and development services for the GBA1 Program, and (iii) the research and development services for each of the 2023 Discovery Programs combined with a development and commercialization license for each program. The license for the GBA1 Program is distinct as Neurocrine can benefit from such license on its own or from other resources commonly available in the industry given the stage of development of the product candidates subject to the license. Similarly, the research and development services for the GBA1 Program provide a distinct benefit to Neurocrine within the context of the contract, separate from the license. The research and development services for the 2023 Discovery Programs are not distinct as Neurocrine cannot benefit from such licenses on its own or from other resources commonly available in the industry, without the corresponding research services due to the unique and specialized expertise of the Company that is not readily available in the marketplace. The GBA1 license, GBA1 research and development services and the combined licenses and research and development services for the 2023 Discovery Programs are distinct from one another as Neurocrine can benefit from each program separately.
The Company identified $143.9 million of fixed transaction price consisting of the $136.0 million upfront fee, and a premium of $7.9 million related to the $39.0 million equity investment of 4,395,588 shares when measured at fair value on the date of issuance. The Company is also entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred by the Company during the 2023 Discovery Period associated with each of the GBA1 Program and 2023 Discovery Programs.
These amounts are determinable based on development plans, and the Company has a contractual right to the payment of costs incurred under the agreed upon program development plans.
The Company utilizes the most likely amount approach to estimate the cost reimbursement and has concluded this consideration should be constrained. As of December 31, 2023, the estimate of the expected reimbursement was $11.3 million of costs incurred based on expectations as of such date. The sales milestone payments and royalties will be recognized in the period the underlying sales occur, as this consideration is related to thetwo development and commercialization licenses, the predominant performance obligations in the contract.
The Company has allocated the fixed transaction price to the separate performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. The estimated standalone selling prices for performance obligations were developed using the estimated selling price of the license for the GBA1 Program and each of the three 2023 Discovery Programs, using primarily adjusted market assessment approaches that considered discounted, probability-weighted cash flow analyses and entity-specific and market factors. The Company did not allocate any of the fixed transaction price to the GBA1 research and development services performance obligation as the consideration for such services reflects a market rate.
The Company concluded that the variable consideration related to the cost reimbursement of each program will be allocated to each respective program as the cost reimbursement relates specifically to the respective program services being performed under the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement. The reimbursement of research services is at a market rate and the allocation of the fixed consideration to each of thethree 2023 Discovery Program performance obligations depicts the estimated amounts in which it would expect to receive for these obligations, absent the variable consideration related to the research reimbursement. Based on the initial development plans, the total variable consideration allocated to each program related to the expected cost reimbursement was as follows as of December 31, 2023:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Obligation · · Amount | |||
| · · (in thousands) | |||
| Variable Consideration · · | |||
| GBA1 Program | | $5,920 | |
| 2023 Discovery Program 1 | | | 3,779 |
| 2023 Discovery Program 2 | | | 780 |
| 2023 Discovery Program 3 | | | 780 |
| Total | | $11,259 | |
Based on the relative standalone selling price allocation, the allocation of the fixed transaction price to the separate performance obligations was as follows:
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Obligation · · Amount | |||
| · · (in thousands) | |||
| Fixed Consideration · · | |||
| GBA1 Program | | $69,459 | |
| 2023 Discovery Program 1 | | | 24,807 |
| 2023 Discovery Program 2 | | | 24,807 |
| 2023 Discovery Program 3 | | | 24,807 |
| Total | | $143,880 | |
The Company recognized the fixed transaction price allocated to the development and commercialization license for the GBA1 Program as collaboration revenue in the first quarter of 2023, upon delivery of the development and commercialization license for the GBA1 Program to Neurocrine. The Company is recognizing the consideration allocated to each of the three 2023 Discovery Program performance obligations on a proportional performance basis over the period of service using input-based measurements such as costs incurred to date, to estimate proportion performed, and remeasures its progress towards completion at the end of each reporting period. Proportional performance is determined based on the workplan cost and timeline estimates.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $69.5 million of revenue associated with the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement related to the delivery of the development and commercialization license for the GBA1 Program. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $5.8 million of collaboration revenue associated with research and development services performed during the period and the corresponding cost reimbursement receivable for the GBA1 Program. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized a total of $5.5 million of revenue associated with the fixed transaction price allocated to thethree 2023 Discovery Programs, and for research and development services performed during the period. As of December 31, 2023, there was $69.1 million of deferred revenue related to the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, of which $38.4 million was classified as current and $30.7 million was classified as non-current in the accompanying balance sheets based on the period the services are expected to be delivered. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, there was $1.8 million of related party collaboration receivable related to reimbursable costs expected to be received from Neurocrine for research and development services performed.
The Company incurred approximately $0.4 million of costs to obtain the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement which were payable only upon the close of the transaction and therefore considered incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and capitalized. The costs are recorded in prepaid expenses and are being amortized to operating expenses consistent with the manner in which the consideration allocated to the performance obligations is recognized.
2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement
Effective March 2019, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Neurocrine (the “2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement”) for the research, development and commercialization of certain of its AAV gene therapy products. Under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the Company agreed to collaborate on the conduct of four collaboration programs (the “2019 Neurocrine Programs”) which include: (a) VY-AADC (NBIb-1817) for Parkinson’s disease (the “VY-AADC Program”), (b) the FA Program (collectively, with the VY-AADC Program, the “Legacy Programs”), and (c) two programs to be determined by the Company and Neurocrine at a later date (the “2019 Discovery Programs”).
In June 2019, in conjunction with the termination of the collaboration agreement with Sanofi Genzyme (the “Sanofi Genzyme Collaboration Agreement”), the Company gained ex-U.S. rights to the FA Program. The Company’s ex-U.S. rights to the FA Program were subsequently transferred to Neurocrine under the terms of the 2019 Neurocrine
Collaboration Agreement. To facilitate the transfer of the ex-U.S. rights to the FA Program to Neurocrine, the Company and Neurocrine executed an amendment to the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement (the “June 2019 Modification”), and Neurocrine paid $5.0 million to the Company. There were no other changes in pricing or scope of the obligations required to be performed under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement.
In February 2021, Neurocrine notified the Company that it had elected to terminate the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement solely with regards to the VY-AADC Program, effective August 2, 2021 (the “Neurocrine VY-AADC Program Termination Effective Date”). The 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement remains in full force and effect for each other program thereunder. As a result of the termination, Neurocrine is no longer obligated to reimburse the Company for research and development activities related to the VY-AADC Program.
Under the terms of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the Company originally agreed to collaborate with Neurocrine on, and to grant, exclusive, royalty-bearing, non-transferable, sublicensable licenses to certain of its intellectual property rights, for all human and veterinary diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic uses, for the research, development, and commercialization of gene therapy products (the “ 2019 Collaboration Products”) under (a) the VY-AADC Program on a worldwide basis; (b) the FA Program in the United States and, all countries in the world in which the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement remains in effect with respect to the FA Program; and (c) each 2019 Discovery Program on a worldwide basis. As a result of the termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with regards to the VY-AADC Program, in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the licenses granted by the Company to Neurocrine regarding the VY-AADC Program have expired, and the Company has regained worldwide intellectual property rights regarding the VY-AADC Program, in each case as of the VY-AADC Termination Effective Date.
Pursuant to development plans agreed by the parties, which are overseen by a JSC, the Company has operational responsibility, subject to certain exceptions, for the conduct of each 2019 Neurocrine Program prior to the occurrence of a specified event for such 2019 Neurocrine Program (a “2019 Transition Event”), as described below, and is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop the corresponding 2019 Collaboration Products. Neurocrine has agreed to be responsible for all costs incurred by the Company in conducting these activities for each 2019 Neurocrine Program, in accordance with an agreed budget for each 2019 Neurocrine Program. If the Company breaches its development responsibilities or in certain circumstances upon a change in control, Neurocrine has the right but not the obligation to assume the activities under such 2019 Neurocrine Program.
Upon the occurrence of a 2019 Transition Event for each 2019 Neurocrine Program, Neurocrine has agreed to assume responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialization activities for such 2019 Neurocrine Program from the Company and to pay milestones and royalties on future net sales as described further below. As a result of Neurocrine’s termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with respect to the VY-AADC Program, the 2019 Transition Event with respect to the VY-AADC Program is no longer applicable. The 2019 Transition Events for the remaining programs are (a) with respect to the FA Program, the Company’s receipt of topline data for the initial Phase 1 clinical trial for an FA Program product candidate; and (b) with respect to each 2019 Discovery Program, the preparation by the Company and the approval by Neurocrine of an IND application to be filed with the FDA by Neurocrine for the first development candidate in such 2019 Discovery Program. For the FA Program, the Company was granted the option (the “2019 FA Co-Co Option”) to co-develop and co-commercialize the FA Program upon the occurrence of a specified event (a “2019 FA Co-Co Trigger Event”). The Company agreed, upon its exercise of the FA Co-Co Option, to enter into a cost- and profit-sharing arrangement with Neurocrine (the “2019 FA Co-Co Agreement”), and (a) jointly develop and commercialize the 2019 Collaboration Products for the FA Program (“FA Collaboration Products”), (b) share in its costs, profits and losses, and (c) forfeit certain milestones and royalties on net sales in the United States during the effective period of the 2019 FA Co-Co Agreement. The 2019 FA Co-Co Trigger Event for the FA Program is the achievement of milestones or metrics specified in the applicable development plan , as determined by the JSC.
Under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, subject to exceptions specified therein, the Company and Neurocrine agreed that profits and losses under the Company’s 2019 FA Co-Co Option would be allocated 60% to Neurocrine and 40% to the Company for any FA Collaboration Product. The parties agreed that 2019 FA Co-Co
Agreement would provide the Company the right to terminate for any reason upon prior written notice to Neurocrine and Neurocrine the right to terminate in certain circumstances upon change of control.
The Company’s research and development activities under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement are conducted pursuant to plans agreed to by the parties, on a program-by-program basis, and overseen by the JSC, as detailed in the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement.
Under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the parties committed to agree on a list of up toeight target genes (the “Targets”) from which Neurocrine had the right to nominate Targets for thetwo 2019 Discovery Programs. The Company and Neurocrine completed the nomination process, and the JSC has approved thetwo Targets for development under the 2019 Discovery Programs. Thetwo Targets are currently under development.
The 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement provides for an upfront non-refundable payment of $115.0 million, as well as for aggregate development and regulatory milestone payments from Neurocrine to the Company for 2019 Collaboration Products under (a) the VY-AADC Program of up to $170.0 million, which the Company is no longer eligible to receive in light of the partial termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement; (b) the FA Program of up to $195.0 million, and (c) each of thetwo 2019 Discovery Programs of up to $130.0 million per 2019 Discovery Program. The Company may be entitled to receive aggregate commercial milestone payments for each 2019 Collaboration Product of up to $275.0 million, subject to an aggregate cap on commercial milestone payments across all 2019 Neurocrine Programs of $1.1 billion. Furthermore, in connection with the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, Neurocrine purchased 4,179,728 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $11.9625 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $50.0 million.
Neurocrine also agreed to pay the Company royalties, based on future net sales of the 2019 Collaboration Products. Such royalty percentages, for net sales in and outside the United States, as applicable, range (a) for the VY-AADC Program, from the mid-teens to low thirties and the low-teens to low twenties, respectively, which the Company is no longer eligible to receive in light of the partial termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement; (b) for the FA Program, from the low-teens to high-teens and high-single digits to mid-teens, respectively; and (c) for each 2019 Discovery Program, from the high-single digits to mid-teens and mid-single digits to low-teens, respectively. On a country-by-country and program-by-program basis, royalty payments would commence on the first commercial sale of a 2019 Collaboration Product and terminate on the later of (a) the expiration of the last patent covering the 2019 Collaboration Product or its method of use in such country, (b)ten years from the first commercial sale of the 2019 Collaboration Product in such country and (c) the expiration of regulatory exclusivity in such country (the “2019 Royalty Term”). Royalty payments may be reduced by up to 50% in specified circumstances, including expiration of patents rights related to a 2019 Collaboration Product, approval of biosimilar products in a given country or required payment of licensing fees to third parties related to the development and commercialization of any 2019 Collaboration Product. As a result of Neurocrine’s termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with respect to the VY-AADC Program, the Company is no longer entitled to receive royalties related to the VY-AADC Program. Additionally, the licenses granted to Neurocrine shall automatically convert to fully paid-up, non-royalty bearing, perpetual, irrevocable, exclusive licenses on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis upon the expiration of the 2019 Royalty Term applicable to such 2019 Collaboration Product in such country.
Under the terms of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and subject to specified exceptions therein, each party owns the entire right, title and interest in and to all intellectual property rights made solely by its employees or agents in the course of the collaboration. The parties jointly own all rights, title and interest in and to all intellectual property rights made or invented jointly by employees or agents of both parties*.*
During the term of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, neither party nor any of its respective affiliates is permitted to directly or indirectly exploit any AAV-based gene therapy products directed to a Target to which a 2019 Collaboration Product is directed, subject to specified exceptions, including the parties’ conduct of basic research activities.
Unless earlier terminated, the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement expires on the later of (a) the expiration of the last to expire 2019 Royalty Term with respect to a 2019 Collaboration Product in all countries in the
relevant territory or (b) the expiration or termination of any 2019 FA Co-Co Agreement. Neurocrine may terminate the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement in its entirety or on a program-by-program or country-by-country basis by providing at least (x)180-day advance notice if such notice is provided prior to the first commercial sale of the 2019 Collaboration Product to which the termination applies or (y)one-year advance notice if such notice is provided after the first commercial sale of the 2019 Collaboration Product to which the termination applies. The Company may terminate the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, subject to specified conditions, if Neurocrine challenges the validity or enforceability of certain of the Company’s intellectual property rights. Subject to a cure period, either party may terminate the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement in the event of a material breach by the other party in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions.
Upon termination in certain cases, Neurocrine has agreed to grant to the Company licenses to certain Neurocrine intellectual property, subject to a negotiation between the parties to establish royalty rates for use of such intellectual property. In the event of a breach by the Company with respect to a 2019 Neurocrine Program, if such termination were to occur after a 2019 Transition Event, then (a) with respect to the FA Program, if a 2019 FA Co-Co Agreement is in effect, Neurocrine can terminate the 2019 FA Co-Co Agreement for such program and the Company would no longer have co-development and co-commercialization rights with respect to the FA Collaboration Products and (b) subject to any license agreements, Neurocrine would no longer have any obligations with respect to any 2019 Collaboration Products resulting from such program.
Termination of VY-AADC Program
As described above, as of the Neurocrine VY-AADC Program Termination Effective Date, the license granted by the Company to Neurocrine thereunder regarding the VY-AADC Program expired, the Company regained worldwide intellectual property rights regarding the VY-AADC Program, and the restrictions on the Company to develop, manufacture or commercialize a gene therapy product directed to the target of the VY-AADC Program terminated, in each case in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement. As of the Neurocrine VY-AADC Program Termination Effective Date, Neurocrine no longer is obligated to reimburse the Company for research and development activities related to the VY-AADC Program, and the Company is no longer entitled to receive future milestone or royalty payments related to the VY-AADC Program. The Company is supporting Neurocrine, the study sponsor and IND holder, should there be any ongoing or future matters regarding the program.
At inception, the Company determined the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement was a contract with a customer under ASC 606, and included the following performance obligations: (a) research and development services for each Legacy Program combined with a development and commercialization license for each such program and (b) research and development services for each 2019 Discovery Program combined with a development and commercialization license for each program. The research services and license on a program-by-program basis are not distinct as Neurocrine cannot benefit from such license on its own or from other resources commonly available in the industry, without the corresponding research services due to the unique and specialized expertise of the Company that is not readily available in the marketplace.
The Company identified $92.4 million of fixed transaction price consisting of the $115.0 million upfront fee and $5.0 million payment from the June 2019 Modification, offset by a discount of $27.6 million related to the $50.0 million equity investment of 4,179,728 shares when measured at fair value on the date of issuance. The Company is also entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred by the Company prior to the 2019 Transition Events associated with each 2019 Neurocrine Program. These amounts are determinable based on program plans and budgets, and the Company has a contractual right to the payment of cost incurred under the agreed upon program plans. The Company utilized the most likely amount approach and estimated the expected cost reimbursement to be $431.1 million at inception. The Company concluded that these amounts do not require a constraint and are included in the transaction price at inception. The Company considers this estimate at each reporting date and updates the estimate based on information available. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company revised the estimate of the expected reimbursement to approximately $80.0 million based on expectations as a result from decisions made at the JSC meeting held in the fourth quarter of 2021, which resulted in significantly less research and development services to be provided by the Company under the 2019
Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement. During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company further revised the estimate of the expected reimbursement to approximately $81.7 million, based on expectations resulting from decisions made at the JSC meeting held in the fourth quarter of 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company further revised the estimate of the expected reimbursement to approximately $83.3 million, based on expectations resulting from decisions made at the JSC meeting held in the fourth quarter of 2023. Additional consideration to be paid to the Company upon reaching certain milestones are excluded from the transaction price at inception due to the uncertainty of achieving the development and regulatory milestones.
The Company allocated the fixed transaction price to the separate performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation or in the case of certain variable consideration to one or more performance obligations. The estimated standalone selling prices for performance obligations, which include a license and research services, were developed using the estimated selling price of the license, using comparable and market data, and an estimate of the overall effort to perform the research services along with a reasonable profit for research services.
The total variable consideration allocated to each program related to the expected cost reimbursement as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Obligation · · Amount · | ||||
| · · (in thousands) · | ||||
| Variable Consideration · · · | ||||
| VY-AADC Program | | $53,863 | | |
| FA Program | | | 20,309 | |
| 2019 Discovery Program 1 | | | 4,286 | |
| 2019 Discovery Program 2 | | | 4,793 | |
| Total | | $83,251 | | |
Based on the relative standalone selling price allocation, the allocation of the transaction price, exclusive of the variable consideration allocated to the individual performance obligations, to the separate performance obligations was as follows:
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Obligation · · Amount · | ||||
| · · (in thousands) · | ||||
| Fixed Consideration · · · | ||||
| VY-AADC Program | | $49,045 | | |
| FA Program | | | 20,647 | |
| 2019 Discovery Program 1 | | | 14,443 | |
| 2019 Discovery Program 2 | | | 8,247 | |
| Total | | $92,382 | | |
The Company recognizes the transaction price associated with each performance obligation on a proportional performance basis over the period of service using input-based measurements such as costs incurred to date, to estimate proportion performed, and remeasures its progress towards completion at the end of each reporting period.
The Company determined the partial termination of the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement with respect to the VY-AADC Program represented a modification of the arrangement under ASC 606 and that the remaining fixed transaction price at the Neurocrine VY-AADC Program Termination Effective Date of $42.2 million should be re-allocated to the FA Program and 2019 Discovery Program 1 and 2 based on their standalone selling prices. Accordingly, the Company recorded a cumulative adjustment to revenue of approximately $0.9 million on the partially satisfied remaining performance obligations, as the remaining services to be performed under each of the performance obligations are not distinct from the services prior to the modification. The Company determined that reasonable changes to the Company’s estimates of standalone selling prices for the FA Program, 2019 Discovery Program 1 and 2019 Discovery Program 2 performance obligations did not have a material impact on the re-allocation or the amount of revenue recorded pursuant to the cumulative catch-up adjustment.
During the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $9.8 million and $0.9 million of revenue, respectively, associated with its collaboration with Neurocrine related to fixed transaction price allocated to thethree active programs, and research and development services performed during the period and the corresponding cost reimbursement receivable. As of December 31, 2023, there was $6.1 million of deferred revenue related to the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, which is classified as either current or non-current in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet based on the period the services are expected to be delivered. Additionally, as of December 31, 2023, there was $1.6 million of collaboration receivable related to reimbursable costs expected to be received from Neurocrine for research and development services performed.
Costs incurred relating to the Company’s collaboration programs under the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement consist of internal and external research and development costs, which primarily include: salaries and benefits, laboratory supplies, preclinical research studies, clinical studies, consulting services, and commercial development. These costs are included in research and development expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
The Company incurred approximately $0.8 million of costs to obtain the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement which were payable only upon the close of the deal and therefore considered incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer and capitalized. The costs are recorded in prepaid expenses and other non-current assets and are being amortized over the period in which the research services will be provided.
The following table presents changes in the balances of the Company’s related party collaboration receivable and contract liabilities for both the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Balance at · · · · · Balance at | ||||||||||||
| · · December 31, 2022 · · Additions · · Deductions · · December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| · · · (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Related party collaboration receivable | | $257 | | $10,081 | | $(6,997) | | $3,341 | ||||
| Contract liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Deferred revenue | | $11,827 | | $74,420 | | $(11,007) | | $75,240 | ||||
The change in the related party collaboration receivable balance for the year ended December 31, 2023 is primarily driven by amounts owed to the Company for research and development services provided, offset by amounts collected from Neurocrine during the period, for both the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement. Deferred revenue activity for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes the recording of $74.4 million of deferred revenue during the first quarter of 2023 related to the fixed transaction price allocated to each of thethree 2023 Discovery Program performance obligations under the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, offset by $11.0 million of collaboration revenue recognized on the proportional performance model during the year ended December 31, 2023 for both the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement.
Alexion Option and License Agreement (Formerly Pfizer Option and License Agreement)
On October 1, 2021, the Company entered into an option and license agreement (the “Pfizer Agreement”) with Pfizer, Inc. (“Pfizer”) pursuant to which the Company granted Pfizer options to receive an exclusive license (the “Pfizer License Options”) to certain TRACER Capsids to develop and commercialize certain AAV gene therapy candidates comprised of a capsid and specified Pfizer transgenes (the “Pfizer Transgenes”). Under the terms of the Pfizer Agreement, during an initial research term that ended as of October 1, 2022 (the “Pfizer Research Term”), Pfizer had the right to evaluate the potential use of the capsids in combination with up totwo Pfizer Transgenes to help treat respective CNS and cardiovascular diseases.
During the Pfizer Research Term, the Company agreed to provide Pfizer with certain quantities of materials encoding specified existing capsids for Pfizer’s evaluation. Further, during the Pfizer Research Term, the Company
agreed to disclose to Pfizer, on a rolling basis, the performance characteristics identified during the Pfizer Research Term for all such capsid candidates. Pfizer had the right, in its sole discretion, to select any capsid candidate for evaluation to determine its interest in exercising a Pfizer License Option with respect to such capsid candidate. Pfizer had the right to exercise up totwo Pfizer License Options, provided that it could exercise onlyone Pfizer License Option for each Pfizer Transgene.
Effective as of September 30, 2022, Pfizer exercised its Pfizer License Option with respect to a capsid for the specified Pfizer Transgene for potential treatment of a rare neurological disease. Pfizer did not exercise its option to license a capsid for the potential treatment of a cardiovascular disease. As result, Pfizer’s right to exercise a Pfizer License Option for a cardiovascular disease has terminated in accordance with the terms of the Pfizer Agreement and all rights to capsids for that cardiovascular disease have reverted to the Company. Pfizer’s exercise of a Pfizer License Option extended the Pfizer Research Term to October 1, 2024, during which period the Company may, at its sole discretion and expense, conduct additional research activities to identify additional proprietary capsids that may be useful for AAV gene therapies for the treatment of the rare neurological disease associated with the exercise of the applicable Pfizer License Option.
Pursuant to the exercise of the Pfizer License Option, the Company granted Pfizer an exclusive, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under certain of the Company’s intellectual property, the rights to develop and commercialize rare neurological disease products utilizing the capsid candidate and incorporating the corresponding Pfizer Transgene (the “Pfizer Licensed CNS Products”).
On July 28, 2023, Alexion entered into a definitive purchase and license agreement for preclinical gene therapy assets and enabling technologies from Pfizer. Effective upon the closing of the transaction on September 20, 2023, Alexion acquired all of Pfizer’s rights under the Pfizer Agreement (now the “Alexion Agreement”) and became the successor-in-interest to Pfizer thereunder. The acquisition does not impact the material terms of the option and license agreement. Until October 1, 2024, while the Company is not obligated to conduct additional research activities to identify additional proprietary capsids that may be useful for AAV gene therapies for the treatment of rare neurological diseases, it has agreed to continue to disclose to Alexion, on a rolling basis, the performance characteristics identified for all such capsid candidates, if and when available. Alexion may, during the Pfizer Research Term (now the “Alexion Research Term”), conduct additional evaluations of such capsid candidates and has the right to substitute any other capsid candidate for the capsid Pfizer elected to license when it exercised the Pfizer License Option.
Under the Alexion Agreement, Alexion is solely responsible for, and has sole decision-making authority with respect to, development and commercialization of the Pfizer Licensed CNS Products (now the “Alexion Licensed Products”). Alexion is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and obtain regulatory approval for at leastone Alexion Licensed CNS Product for which Pfizer exercised its Pfizer License Option in (a) the United States and (b) at leastone of the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan (each of which is referred to as an “Alexion Major Market Country”), subject to certain limitations. Alexion is also required to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize each Alexion Licensed CNS Product in the United States and at leastone Alexion Major Market Country where Alexion or its designated affiliates or sublicensees has received regulatory approval for such Alexion Licensed CNS Product, subject to certain limitations.
Under the terms of the Alexion Agreement, Pfizer paid the Company an upfront payment of $30.0 million in October 2021. Following the exercise of the Pfizer License Option, Pfizer paid the Company a fee of $10.0 million. The Company is also eligible to receive specified development, regulatory, and commercialization milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $115.0 million for the first corresponding Alexion Licensed CNS Product to achieve the corresponding milestone. On an Alexion Licensed CNS Product-by-Alexion Licensed CNS Product basis, the Company is also eligible to receive (a) specified sales milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $175.0 million per Alexion Licensed CNS Product and (b) tiered, escalating royalties in the mid- to high-single-digit percentages of annual net sales of each Alexion Licensed CNS Product. The royalties are subject to potential reductions in customary circumstances including patent claim expiration, payments for certain third-party licenses, and biosimilar market penetration, subject to specified limits.
Under the terms of the Alexion Agreement, each of the Company and Alexion owns the entire right, title, and interest in and to all patents or know-how controlled by such party and existing as of or before the effective date of the
Alexion Agreement, or invented, developed, created, generated or acquired solely by or on behalf of such party after such effective date.
Subject to certain specified exceptions, any patents and know-how that are invented or otherwise developed jointly by or on behalf of the parties during the term of the Alexion Agreement and in the course of the Company’s and Alexion’s activities under the Alexion Agreement will follow inventorship under U.S. patent law. Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the Company agreed (a) during the Alexion Research Term, not to conduct any internal program or program on behalf of a third party that is directed to development or commercialization of any capsid candidates, or grant any third party or affiliate any right or license under the Company’s rights in such capsid candidates to exploit any therapeutic product, in combination with any Pfizer Transgene (now an “Alexion Transgene”) in any indication for therapeutic, diagnostic and prophylactic human and veterinary use; and (b) not to grant any third party or affiliate any right or license under the Company’s patents to exploit any licensed capsid in combination with any Alexion Transgene.
Unless earlier terminated, the Alexion Agreement expires on the expiration of the last-to-expire royalty term with respect to all Alexion Licensed CNS Products in all countries. Subject to a cure period, either party may terminate the Alexion Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, in the event of the other party’s uncured material breach. Alexion may also terminate the Alexion Agreement, in whole or in part, subject to specified conditions, for the Company’s insolvency, the occurrence of a violation of global trade control laws, or for the Company’s noncompliance with certain anti-bribery or anti-corruption covenants. Alexion may also terminate the Alexion Agreement, in whole or in part, for any or no reason upon ninety days’ written notice to the Company.
Upon certain terminations for cause by Alexion, the license that the Company has granted to Alexion under the Alexion Agreement shall become irrevocable and perpetual, and all milestone payments and royalties that would have otherwise been payable by Alexion under such license had the Alexion Agreement remained in effect would be substantially reduced.
At inception, the Company determined the Alexion Agreement was a contract with a customer under ASC 606. The Company assessed the promised goods and services under the Alexion Agreement, in accordance with ASC 606, and determined that the Alexion Agreement containstwo performance obligations consisting oftwo material rights, one for each of the Pfizer License Options. The Company concluded that each Pfizer License Option provided a material right as consideration for each option is less than the amount that the Company would otherwise have expected to receive outside the context of the contract. The promises at inception do not include the underlying goods or services that would be delivered upon exercise of the option, but rather represent the value to the customer of having the right to exercise the Pfizer License Option at the specified exercise fee. Upon the exercise of a Pfizer License Option, until October 1, 2024, while the Company is not obligated to conduct additional research activities upon option exercise to identify additional proprietary capsids that may be useful for AAV gene therapies for the treatment of central nervous system or cardiovascular diseases, it has agreed to continue to disclose to Alexion, on a rolling basis, the performance characteristics identified for all such capsid candidates, if and when available. Alexion may, conduct additional evaluations of such capsid candidates and has the right to substitute any other capsid candidate for the capsid Pfizer elected to license when it exercised the Pfizer License Option. The Company determined that this promise to provide Alexion the ability to evaluate and potentially substitute other capsid candidates for the capsid Pfizer elected to license when it exercised the Pfizer License Option, if and when available, is an additional performance obligation in the arrangement (the “Alexion Substitution Right Performance Obligation”).
The Company received a nonrefundable, upfront payment of $30.0 million as consideration under the Alexion Agreement, which represented the transaction price at inception. Additional consideration to be paid to the Company upon exercise of the Pfizer License Option or upon reaching certain milestones are excluded from the transaction price as they relate to option fees and milestones that could only be achieved subsequent to an option exercise.
The Company allocated the transaction price to the Pfizer License Options based on their relative standalone selling prices. The estimated standalone selling price for each material right was based on an adjusted market assessment approach. The Company concluded that the market would be willing to pay an equal amount for each Pfizer License
Option on a standalone basis. The Company reached this conclusion after considering (a) the downstream economics including option fees, milestones and royalties related to each Pfizer License Option being identical and (b) comparable market data. The Company determined the standalone selling price for the Alexion Substitution Right Performance Obligation was insignificant to the allocation of the transaction price using the relative standalone selling price model and, accordingly, did not allocate any transaction price to the Alexion Substitution Right Performance Obligation. This determination was supported by qualitative and quantitative assessments of the standalone selling price that considered the cost of identifying other potential capsid candidates and the likelihood of license substitution. As such, based on the relative standalone selling price for each of thetwo material rights, the allocation of the transaction price to the separate performance obligations was $15.0 million for each material right. The amount allocated to each material right was initially recorded as deferred revenue.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recognized $40.0 million in collaboration revenue related to the Alexion Agreement. No revenue was recognized under the Alexion Agreement for the year ended December 31, 2023.
License Agreement with Sangamo
On June 28, 2023, the Company entered into a definitive license agreement for a potential treatment of prion disease with Sangamo. Using their proprietary epigenetic regulation platform, Sangamo has developed zinc finger transcriptional regulators which they believe can specifically and potently block expression of the prion protein, the pathogenic driver of prion disease. The Company is eligible to earn certain license fees, royalties on potential commercial sales of any products using Voyager’s capsid, and, in the event the prion program is out licensed by Sangamo, a portion of all licensing revenues received with respect to this program. During the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company recognized $0.4 million of collaboration revenue related to the license agreement with Sangamo.
License Agreement with Touchlight IP Limited
On November 3, 2022, the Company and Touchlight IP Limited (“Touchlight”) entered into a license agreement (the “Touchlight License Agreement”) to authorize historical use by the Company of a certain DNA preparation process (“Subject DNA Preparation Process”), and to authorize the prospective exploitation of TRACER Capsids created with the use of the Subject DNA Preparation Process.
The terms of the Touchlight License Agreement included a one-time, non-refundable technology access fee of $5.0 million, which was paid during the fourth quarter of 2022. The Company recorded the $5.0 million to research and development expense in the year ended December 31, 2022, accordingly.
The terms of the Touchlight License Agreement also include future milestone payments and low single-digit royalties payable to Touchlight if the Company or its program collaborators or licensees choose to utilize in a therapeutic product TRACER Capsids that were created with the historical use of the Subject DNA Preparation Process. Additionally, the Company is obligated to pay low single-digit royalties to Touchlight on future payments the Company receives in connection with licensing of TRACER Capsids that were created with the historical use of the Subject DNA Preparation Process, excluding the licensing of or collaboration on any Company therapeutic programs.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $0.5 million in research and development expense associated with amounts due to Touchlight in conjunction with the 2023 Novartis Collaboration Agreement.
10. Common stock
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had authorized 120,000,000 shares of common stock, at $0.001 par value per share.
General
The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the common stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of preferred stock. The common stock has the following characteristics:
Liquidation
The holders of shares of common stock are entitled to share ratably in the Company’s remaining assets available for distribution to its stockholders in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or upon occurrence of a deemed liquidation event.
Shares Reserved For Future Issuance
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · As of December 31, · | |||||
| · 2023 · 2022 | |||||
| Shares reserved for vesting of restricted stock awards under the Founder Agreements | 22,500 | | 45,000 | | |
| Shares reserved for exercise of outstanding stock options | 7,425,444 | | 6,199,571 | ||
| Shares reserved for vesting of outstanding restricted stock units | 1,370,897 | | 1,112,563 | ||
| Shares reserved for issuances under the 2015 Stock Option Plan | | 3,572,195 | | 3,536,932 | |
| Shares reserved for issuances under the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | 2,158,966 | | 1,884,309 | |
| | 14,550,002 | | 12,778,375 | ||
11. Stock-based compensation
2014 Stock Option and Grant Plan
In January 2014, the Company adopted the 2014 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the “2014 Plan”), under which it could grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock awards, unrestricted stock awards, or restricted stock units to purchase up to 823,529 shares of common stock to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company.
The terms of stock option agreements, including vesting requirements, were determined by the board of directors and were subject to the provisions of the 2014 Plan. Restricted stock awards granted by the Company generally vest based on each grantee’s continued service with the Company during a specified period following grant. Stock options granted to employees generally vest over four years, with 25% vesting on theone year anniversary and 75% vesting ratably, on a monthly basis, over the remaining three years. Stock options granted to non-employee consultants generally vest monthly over a period ofone tofour years.
Founder Awards
In January 2014, the Company issued 1,188,233 shares of restricted stock to its founders (each, a “Founder”) at an original issuance price of $0.0425 per share. Of the total restricted shares awarded to the Founders,835,292 shares were slated to vest overone tofour years, based on each Founder’s continued service to the Company in varying capacity as a Scientific Advisory Board member, consultant, director, officer or employee, as set forth in each grantee’s individual restricted stock purchase agreement.
The remainder of the restricted stock awards were slated to vest upon the achievement of certain performance objectives as well as continued service to the Company, as set forth in the agreements. Stock-based compensation
expense associated with these performance-based awards is recognized when the achievement of the performance condition is considered probable, using management’s best estimates. The Company has modified certain of the awards, including repurchasing a total of 131,470 shares underlying the awards through December 31, 2023, and modifying the vesting provisions such that the modified awards vest over time rather than based on performance. The stock-based compensation expense recorded related to these awards during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were immaterial to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
2015 Stock Option Plan
In October 2015, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (“2015 Stock Option Plan”), which became effective upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”). The 2015 Stock Option Plan provides the Company with the flexibility to use various equity-based incentive and other awards as compensation tools to motivate its workforce. These tools include stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance share awards and cash-based awards. The 2015 Stock Option Plan replaced the 2014 Plan. Any options or awards outstanding under the 2014 Plan remained outstanding and effective. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance under the 2015 Stock Option Plan is the sum of (a)1,311,812 shares of common stock and (b) the number of shares under the 2014 Plan that are not needed to fulfill the Company’s obligations for awards issued under the 2014 Plan as a result of forfeiture, expiration, cancellation, termination or net issuances of awards thereunder. The number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2015 Stock Option Plan is also subject to increase on the first day of each fiscal year by up to 4% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on the immediately preceding December 31.
Effective January 1, 2016 and every anniversary thereafter an additional 4% of outstanding common stock was added to the Company’s 2015 Stock Option Plan pursuant to its “evergreen” provision, for future issuance. This has accumulated to a total of 12,531,505 shares through January 1, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company granted options to purchase 1,753,800 shares of common stock to employees and directors under the 2015 Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were 3,572,195 shares available for future issuance under the 2015 Stock Option Plan.
2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In October 2015, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2015 ESPP”). Under the 2015 ESPP, all full-time employees of the Company are eligible to purchase common stock of the Company twice per year, at the end of eachsix-month payment period. During each payment period, eligible employees who so elect, may authorize payroll deductions in an amount of 1% to 10% (whole percentages only) of the employee’s base pay for each payroll period. At the end of each payment period, the accumulated deductions are used to purchase shares of common stock from the Company at a discount. A total of 262,362 shares of common stock were initially authorized for issuance under this plan.
Effective January 1, 2016 and every anniversary thereafter an additional 1% of outstanding common stock was added to the 2015 ESPP, pursuant to its evergreen provision, for future issuance. This has accumulated to a total of 2,692,838 shares through January 1, 2023. The Company issued 111,639 and 150,265 shares of common stock under the 2015 ESPP in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. As of December 31, 2023, there were 2,158,966 shares available for future purchase under the 2015 ESPP.
Inducement Awards
In the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and, 2021, the Company issued non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 573,000,390,000, and 76,500 shares of the Company’s common stock and restricted stock unit awards for an aggregate of 318,500,163,000, and 13,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, in each case outside of the Company’s 2015 Stock Option Plan as an inducement material to certain individuals’ acceptance of an offer of employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
The stock options will vest over afour-year period, with 25% of the shares underlying the option award vesting on the first anniversary of the award and the remaining 75% of the shares underlying the award vesting monthly thereafter over the subsequent 36-month period. The restricted stock units vest over athree-year period, with 33% of the restricted stock units vesting on the first anniversary of the award,33% of the restricted stock units vesting on the second anniversary, and the remaining restricted stock units vesting on the third anniversary.
Stock-based Compensation Expense
Total compensation cost recognized for all stock-based compensation awards in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:
| · · · · · · · · · · | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Year ended December 31, | |||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 | |||||||
| · · (in thousands) | |||||||
| General and administrative | | $7,568 | | $6,398 | | $7,191 | |
| Research and development | | 3,585 | | 2,946 | | 4,133 | |
| Total stock-based compensation expense | | $11,153 | | $9,344 | | $11,324 | |
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award included within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) was as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Year ended December 31, · | ||||||||||
| · · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · | ||||||||||
| · · (in thousands) · | ||||||||||
| Stock options | | $7,627 | | $5,938 | | $7,438 | | |||
| Restricted stock awards and units | | | 3,241 | | | 3,215 | | | 3,551 | |
| Employee stock purchase plan awards | | 285 | | 191 | | 335 | | |||
| Total stock-based compensation expense | | $11,153 | | $9,344 | | $11,324 | | |||
Restricted Stock Units
A summary of the status of and changes in unvested restricted stock unit activity under the Company’s equity award plans for the year ended December 31, 2023 was as follows:
| · · · · · · | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · · Weighted · | |||||
| | | | | Average | |
| | | | | Grant Date | |
| | | | | Fair Value | |
| · · Units · Per Unit · | |||||
| Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2022 | | 1,112,563 | | $5.27 | |
| Awarded | | 999,250 | | $7.58 | |
| Vested | | (531,560) | | $5.73 | |
| Forfeited | | (209,356) | | $6.08 | |
| Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2023 | | 1,370,897 | | $6.65 | |
Stock-based compensation of restricted stock units is based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is recognized over the vesting period. In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company granted 999,250 restricted stock units vesting in equal amounts, annually over three years. The stock-based compensation expense was $3.1 million, $2.9 million, and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to its unvested restricted stock units of $6.8 million which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.1 years.
Stock Options
A summary of the status of, and changes in, stock options was as follows:
| · · · · · · · · · · · | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · · Weighted · Remaining · Aggregate · | ||||||||||
| · · · · Average · · Contractual · · Intrinsic · | ||||||||||
| · · · · Exercise · · Life · · Value · | ||||||||||
| · · Shares · Price · (in years) · (in thousands) · | ||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | | 6,199,571 | | $8.12 | | | | | | |
| Granted | | 2,326,800 | | $8.58 | | | | | | |
| Exercised | | (385,655) | | $4.98 | | | | | | |
| Cancelled or forfeited | | (715,272) | | $7.86 | | | | | | |
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | | 7,425,444 | | $8.52 | | 7.3 | | | 11,293 | |
| Exercisable at December 31, 2023 | | 3,823,420 | | $9.43 | 5.9 | | $6,020 | | ||
Using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the weighted average fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 was $6.12. The stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards granted was $7.2 million, $5.8 million, and $7.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
The fair value of each option was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
| · · · · · · · · · · | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · · Year ended December 31, · | |||||||
| · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · | |||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 4.0% | 2.2% | 0.9% | | |||
| Expected dividend yield | —% | —% | —% | | |||
| Expected term (in years) | 6.0 | | 6.0 | | 6.0 | | |
| Expected volatility | 80.4% | 79.4% | 75.0% | | |||
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to its unvested stock options of $16.6 million which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 2.9 years.
12. 401(k) Savings plan
The Company has a defined-contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “401(k) Plan”). The 401(k) Plan covers all employees who meet defined minimum age and service requirements, and allows participants to defer a portion of their annual compensation on a pretax basis. The Company expensed approximately $1.1 million, $0.9 million, and $1.1 million related to employer contributions made during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
13. Income taxes
The Company evaluates its tax positions on an annual basis. The current tax expense recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023 is the residual tax due, after utilization of tax attributes, associated with revenue from collaboration agreements. The provision for incomes taxes is as follows:
| | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Year ended December 31, | |||||||
| · 2023 · · 2022 · · 2021 | ||||||||
| | (in thousands) | | | | ||||
| Current | | | | | | | | |
| Federal | $1,248 | | $— | | $— | |||
| State | | 160 | | | 16 | | | — |
| Total current | | 1,408 | | | 16 | | | — |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Deferred | | | | | | | | |
| Federal | | — | | | — | | | — |
| State | | — | | | — | | | — |
| Total deferred | | — | | | — | | | — |
| Total tax provision | $1,408 | | $16 | | $— | |||
A reconciliation of the expected income tax provision computed using the federal statutory income tax rate at the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 is as follows:
| · · · · · · · · · · | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · Year ended December 31, · | |||||||
| · 2023 · · 2022 · · 2021 · | |||||||
| Income tax computed at federal statutory tax rate | | 21.0% | | 21.0% | | 21.0% | |
| State taxes, net of federal benefit | | 5.4% | | 5.2% | | 6.6% | |
| Provision to return | | 0.9% | | 3.2% | | 4.9% | |
| General business credit carryovers | | (0.4)% | | (3.5)% | | 3.2% | |
| Non-deductible expenses | | 0.5% | | (4.6)% | | (3.8)% | |
| Other | | (0.4)% | | —% | | —% | |
| Change in valuation allowance | | (26.0)% | | (21.3)% | | (31.9)% | |
| Total | | 1.00% | | —% | | —% | |
The Company has historically incurred net operating losses (“NOLs”). As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $55.3 million and $33.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $19.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively, which expire beginning in 2033. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had state investment credits of $0.4 million, which expire beginning in 2024.
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and (liabilities) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
| | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · As of December 31, · | ||||||
| · 2023 · · 2022 | ||||||
| | (in thousands) | | ||||
| Deferred tax assets: | | | | | | |
| Net operating loss carryforward | $13,724 | | $47,282 | | ||
| Tax credit carryforward | 28,427 | | 32,060 | | ||
| Lease liability | | 5,544 | | | 6,318 | |
| Deferred revenue | | 1,675 | | | 17,984 | |
| Stock compensation | | 5,157 | | | 4,630 | |
| Non-deductible accruals and reserves | 2,613 | | 1,603 | | ||
| Capitalized research expenses | | 31,347 | | | 14,351 | |
| Intangibles | 554 | | 610 | | ||
| Other temporary differences | | — | | | (1) | |
| Total deferred tax assets | 89,041 | | 124,837 | | ||
| Less valuation allowance | (82,612) | | (117,416) | | ||
| Net deferred tax assets | 6,429 | | 7,421 | | ||
| Deferred tax liabilities | | | | | | |
| Right of use assets | | (3,691) | | (4,231) | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | (2,738) | | | (3,190) | |
| Other temporary differences | | — | | | — | |
| Net deferred taxes | $— | | $— | | ||
As required by ASC 740, management has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of its deferred tax assets, which principally comprise NOL carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and capitalized research expenses. Management has determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not recognize the benefits of its federal and state deferred tax assets, and as a result, a valuation allowance of $82.6 million and $117.4 million has been established at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The state NOLs will expire beginning in 2041 while the federal NOLs do not expire. The valuation allowance decreased by $34.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily as a result of the utilization of the NOL carryforwards and tax credits in 2023.
At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company hadno unrecognized tax benefits. The Company is in the process of completing a study of its research and development credit carryforwards. The Company has recorded an adjustment in the current year to reflect the preliminary results of the research and development study. The completion of the study may result in an additional adjustment to the Company’s research and development credit carryforwards; however, until a study is completed, no amounts are being presented as an uncertain tax position. A full valuation allowance has been provided against the Company’s research and development credits, and if an adjustment is required, this adjustment would be offset by an adjustment to the valuation allowance. Thus, there would be no impact to the balance sheets or statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) if an adjustment were required.
Interest and penalty charges, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits would be classified as income tax expense in the accompanying statements of operations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company hasno accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, it is generally subject to examination by the U.S. federal, state, and local income tax authorities for all tax years in which a loss carryforward is available.
14. Related-party transactions
During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company received scientific advisory services fromone of its prior executives, Dinah Sah, Ph.D., the Company’s former Chief Scientific Officer. The total amount of fees paid to Dr. Sah for services provided during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $0.7 million, $0.5 million, and $0.2 million, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received advisory services related to strategic planning, operations, and management from Alfred Sandrock, M.D., Ph.D., the Company’s current President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s board of directors, before he commenced service in the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2022. The total amount of fees paid to Dr. Sandrock for services provided was $60,000 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Under both the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement, the Company and Neurocrine have agreed to conduct research, development and commercialization activities for certain of the Company’s AAV gene therapy products (Note 9). Amounts due from Neurocrine are reflected as related party collaboration receivable. As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded approximately $3.3 million in related party collaboration receivable relative to the 2019 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement and the 2023 Neurocrine Collaboration Agreement.
15. Subsequent events
On January 4, 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Guggenheim Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten public offering of 7,777,778 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and, in lieu of common stock to certain investors, pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,333,333 shares of common stock. The public offering price of the Company’s common stock was $9.00 per share, and the public offering price of the Pre-Funded Warrants was $8.999 per share underlying each Pre-Funded Warrant. The Underwriters have agreed to purchase the Company’s stock from the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at a price of $8.46 and the Pre-Funded Warrants from the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at a price of $8.459 per share underlying each Pre-Funded Warrant. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase up to an additional 1,666,665 shares of common stock at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. This option was not exercised during thethirty-day exercise period, and the option expired on February 2, 2024.
The Company received net proceeds from the public offering of approximately $93.5 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.
The Company and Novartis entered into a stock purchase agreement (“the 2023 Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement”) on December 28, 2023, for the sale and issuance of 2,145,002 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Novartis Shares”) to Novartis at a price of $9.324 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $20.0 million. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2023 Novartis Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold the Novartis Shares to Novartis on January 3, 2024.
In February 2024, the Company announced that the joint steering committee with its collaborator Neurocrine selected a lead development candidate for the FA Program, which triggered a $5.0 million milestone payment to the Company. The Company expects to receive the $5.0 million during the first quarter of 2024.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| · · · · Incorporated by Reference to: | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExhibitNo. · Description · Form orSchedule · ExhibitNo. · FilingDate withSEC · SEC FileNumber · Filed Herewith | ||||||||||||
| 3.1 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant | | 8-K | | 3.1 | | 11/16/2015 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3.2 | | Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant | | 8-K | | 3.2 | | 11/16/2015 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.1 | | Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Registrant | | 10-K | | 4.1 | | 03/14/2018 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.2 | | Form of Pre-Funded Warrant | | 8-K | | 4.1 | | 01/08/2024 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.4 | | Description of Registrant’s Securities | | 10-K | | 4.4 | | 03/03/2020 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.1# | | 2014 Stock Option and Grant Plan and forms of award agreements thereunder | | S-1/A | | 10.1 | | 10/28/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.2# | | 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and forms of award agreements thereunder | | S-1/A | | 10.2 | | 10/28/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.3† | | Collaboration Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Sanofi Genzyme Corporation, dated February 11, 2015 | | S-1/A | | 10.3 | | 11/06/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.4* | | Termination Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Genzyme Corporation, dated June 14, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.3 | | 08/09/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.5* | | Amended and Restated Option and License Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Genzyme Corporation, dated June 14, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.4 | | 08/09/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.6* | | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Option and License Agreement with Genzyme Corporation, dated September 20, 2020 | | 10-Q | | 10.1 | | 11/09/2020 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.7† | | Collaboration and License Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., dated January 28, 2019 | | 10-K | | 10.28 | | 02/26/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.8 | | Amendment No. 1 to the Collaboration and License Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., dated June 14, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.5 | | 08/09/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.09* | | Option and License Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Pfizer Inc., dated October 1, 2021 | | 10-Q | | 10.2 | | 11/02/21 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.10 | | Lease Agreement, by and between the Registrant and UP 64 Sidney Street, LLC, dated December 23, 2015 | | 10-Q | | 10.6 | | 05/12/2016 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.11 | | First Amendment to the Lease Agreement, by and between the Registrant and UP 64 Sidney Street, LLC, dated June 1, 2018 | | 8-K | | 10.2 | | 06/05/2018 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.12 | | Lease Agreement, by and between the Registrant and HCP/King 75 Hayden LLC, dated March 16, 2020 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 03/19/2020 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.13 | | Form of Indemnification Agreement to be entered into between the Registrant and its directors | | S-1/A | | 10.9 | | 10/28/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.14 | | Form of Indemnification Agreement to be entered into between the Registrant and its executive officers | | S-1/A | | 10.10 | | 10/28/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.15# | | 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | S-1/A | | 10.12 | | 10/28/2015 | | 333-207367 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.16# | | Amendment No. 1 to the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | 10-K | | 10.21 | | 03/14/2018 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.17# | | Retirement Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Dinah Sah, Ph.D., dated May 20, 2019 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 05/21/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.18# | | Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Michael Higgins, dated May 19, 2021 | | 8-K | | 10.2 | | 05/19/2021 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.19# | | Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Glenn Pierce, M.D., Ph.D., dated May 19, 2021 | | 8-K | | 10.3 | | 05/19/2021 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.20# | | Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Glenn Pierce, dated June 7, 2021 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 06/08/2021 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.21# | | Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Robert W. Hesslein, dated January 15, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.5 | | 05/07/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.22# | | Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Robin Swartz, effective as of February 7, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.2 | | 02/03/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.23# | | Consulting Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Dinah Sah, Ph.D., dated June 28, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.6 | | 08/09/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.24# | | Amendment No. 1 to the Consulting Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Dinah Sah, Ph.D., dated September 16, 2019 | | 10-Q | | 10.2 | | 11/06/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.25# | | Consulting Agreement by and between the Registrant and Alfred Sandrock, effective as of February 7, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 02/03/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.26# | | Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Inducement | | 10-K | | 10.27 | | 02/26/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.27# | | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Inducement | | 10-K | | 10.33 | | 02/26/2019 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
| 10.28 | | Sales Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Cowen and Company, LLC, dated November 8, 2022 | | S-3 | | 1.2 | | 11/08/2022 | | 333-268240 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.29* | | Consulting Agreement by and between the Registrant and Alfred Sandrock, effective as of February 7, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 02/03/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.30* | | Option and License Agreement by and between the Registrant and Novartis Pharma AG, dated March 4, 2022 | | 10-K | | 10.36 | | 03/07/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.31# | | Employment Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Alfred Sandrock, M.D., Ph.D., effective as of March 22, 2022. | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 03/22/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.32# | | Consulting Agreement by and between the Registrant and Glenn Pierce, M.D., Ph.D., effective as of June 6, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 06/07/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.33 | | Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Peter Pfreundschuh, effective as of September 7, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 09/07/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.34 | | Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Todd Carter, Ph.D., effective as of September 7, 2022 | | 8-K | | 10.2 | | 09/07/2022 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.35* | | Patent and Know-How License between the Registrant and Touchlight IP Limited, dated as of November 3, 2022 | | 10-K | | 10.43 | | 03/07/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.36 | | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Registrant and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., dated as of January 8, 2023 | | 10-K | | 10.44 | | 03/07/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.37* | | Collaboration and License Agreement by and between the Registrant and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., dated as of January 8, 2023 | | 10-K | | 10.45 | | 03/07/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| · · · · · · · · · | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.38 | | Amended and Restated Investor Agreement by and between the Registrant and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., dated as of January 8, 2023 | | 10-K | | 10.46 | | 03/07/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.39# | | Transition, Separation and Release of Claims Agreement, by and between the Company and Robert W. Hesslein, dated February 22, 2023. | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 02/23/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.40 | | Consulting Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Robert W. Hesslein, dated April 28, 2023 | | 10-Q | | 10.5 | | 03/31/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.41# | | Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Jacquelyn Fahey Sandell, effective as of July 5, 2023 | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 07/10/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.42 | | First Amendment to Lease Agreement, by and between Registrant and LS 75 Hayden, LLC, dated August 11, 2023. | | 8-K | | 10.1 | | 08/16/2023 | | 001-37625 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.43* | | License and Collaboration Agreement by and between Registrant and Novartis Pharma AG, dated December 28, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.44 | | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between Registrant and Novartis Pharma AG, dated December 28, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.45 | | Investor Agreement by and between Registrant and Novartis Pharma AG, dated December 28, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.46 | | Amendment No. 2 to the Consulting Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Dinah Sah, Ph.D., dated June 27, 2022 | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10.47 | | Amendment No. 3 to the Consulting Agreement, by and between the Registrant and Dinah Sah, Ph.D., dated May 1, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21.1 | | Subsidiaries of the Registrant. | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23.1 | | Consent of Ernst & Young, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | |||
| 24.1 | | Power of Attorney (see signature page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K). | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | |||
| 31.1 | | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 or 15d-14. | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | |||
| 31.2 | | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 or 15d-14. | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | |||
| 32.1+ | | Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(b) or 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | |||
| 97.1 | | Compensation Recovery Policy | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 101.SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 101.CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 101.LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 101.PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 101.DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Link Document. | | | | | | | | | | X |
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| 104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File – The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | | | | | | | | | | |
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement filed in response to Item 15(a)(3) of the Instructions to the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
† Confidential treatment has been granted as to certain portions, which portions have been omitted and separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K
+** **The certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to be furnished with this Annual Report on Form 10-K and will not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.