Skip to main content

Absci Corp

For the period ended Jun 30, 2024. Filed Aug 14, 2024.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Jun 30, 2024 · Filed Aug 14, 2024

ABSI$10.80+6.2%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  1. Organization and nature of operations

Absci Corporation (the “Company”) is a data-first generative AI drug creation company that combines AI with scalable wet lab technologies to create better biologics for patients, faster. Absci leverages its integrated drug creation platform (the “Integrated Drug Creation Platform”) to improve upon traditional biologic drug discovery by using AI to simultaneously optimize multiple drug characteristics important to development and therapeutic benefit. The Company was organized in the State of Oregon in August 2011 as a limited liability company and converted to a limited liability company (“LLC”) in Delaware in April 2016. In October 2020, the Company converted from a Delaware LLC to a Delaware corporation. The Company’s headquarters are located in Vancouver, Washington.

Unaudited interim financial information

The Company prepared its interim condensed consolidated financial statements that accompany these notes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP), consistent in all material respects with those applied in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The Company has made estimates and judgments affecting the amounts reported in its condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. The actual results that the Company experiences may differ materially from its estimates. The interim financial information is unaudited and reflects all normal adjustments that are, in the Company’s opinion, necessary to provide a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. This report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 where the Company includes additional information about its critical accounting estimates.

  1. Revenue recognition

Contract balances

Contract liabilities are recorded in deferred revenue when cash payments are received or due in advance of the satisfaction of performance obligations. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, contract liabilities were $2.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized $1.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively, as revenue that had been included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recognized $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, as revenue that had been included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period.

Concentration Risk

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, two partners represented 100% of total revenue under technology development arrangements. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, two partners represented approximately 94% and 95% of total revenue under technology development arrangements, respectively.

  1. Investments

Cash equivalents, marketable securities and deposits are classified as available-for-sale and are, therefore, recorded at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, with any unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is reflected as a separate component of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, until realized. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

The amortized cost and fair value of investments are as follows (in thousands):

June 30, 2024
Amortized costGross unrealized gainsGross unrealized lossesFair market value
Assets
Money market funds$5,065$—$—$5,065
U.S. treasuries102,381—(71)102,310
Total$107,446$—$(71)$107,375
Classified as:
Cash equivalents$5,065
Short-term investments102,310
Total$107,375
December 31, 2023
Amortized costGross unrealized gainsGross unrealized lossesFair market value
Assets
Money market funds$1,158$—$—$1,158
U.S. treasuries39,3322—39,334
Total$40,490$2$—$40,492
Classified as:
Cash equivalents$15,195
Short-term investments25,297
Total$40,492

Investments held as of June 30, 2024 have a remaining maturity of less than one year. Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities were $54.5 million and $89.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities were $93.9 million and $135.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively. Unrealized gains and losses on securities were primarily due to changes in interest rates.

The Company holds a non-marketable equity investment with a carrying value of $1.2 million which is classified as other long-term assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

  1. Stock-based compensation

The Company grants stock options, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) under the 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”) and the 2023 Inducement Plan (the “2023 Inducement Plan”). On January 1, 2024, the number of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 Plan was increased by 4,654,384 shares pursuant to an automatic annual increase. As of June 30, 2024,4,067,972 shares were available for future grant under the 2021 Plan. As of June 30, 2024,2,500,000 shares were available for future grant under the 2023 Inducement Plan.

Total stock-based compensation expense related to all of the Company’s stock-based awards was recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows (in thousands):

For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
Research and development1,9131,243$3,567$2,436
Selling, general and administrative3,3831,8115,3263,284
Total stock-based compensation expense$5,296$3,054$8,893$5,720

Stock options

Stock options generally vest either 25% after one year from the date of the grant with the remainder vesting monthly over the following three-year period or ratably over three years in three equal installments. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur and uses the straight-line expense recognition method. Activity for stock options is shown below:

Number of OptionsWeighted Average Exercise Price per ShareWeighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands $)
Outstanding at December 31, 202317,104,505$3.038.3$30,661
Granted4,426,1614.47
Exercised(1,012,429)2.192,433
Canceled/Forfeited(972,742)3.10
Expired(58,035)5.48
Outstanding at June 30, 202419,487,4603.398.3$12,872
Exercisable at June 30, 20246,424,248$3.696.9$5,165

The aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options as of June 30, 2024 was calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price of $3.08 per share as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $3.78 and $3.22, respectively, per share. The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 was $1.18 and $1.44, respectively, per share. As of June 30, 2024, total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to stock options was $26.7 million, which the Company expects to recognize over a remaining weighted average period of 2.4 years.

Determination of fair value

The estimated grant-date fair value of all the Company’s stock options was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, based on the following assumptions:

For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
Expected term (in years)5.5-6.15.5-6.15.5-6.15.3-6.1
Volatility82%-83%80%81%-83%79%-80%
Risk-free interest rate4.3%-4.6%3.5%-4.0%3.8%-4.6%3.4%-4.2%
Dividend Yield—%—%—%—%

Restricted stock

In connection with certain business combinations and as compensation for other service relationships, the Company has issued shares of restricted stock that vest over time subject to continued service by the stockholder. Shares of restricted stock that have not yet vested are subject to the Company’s right of repurchase or forfeiture by the stockholder. Activity for restricted shares is shown below:

Number of shares
Unvested as of December 31, 2023374,208
Forfeitures(37,886)
Vested(179,120)
Unvested as of June 30, 2024157,202

As of June 30, 2024, there was $0.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding shares of restricted stock expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 0.6 years.

Restricted stock units

Restricted stock units subject to time-based vesting generally vest ratably over a term of 1-4 years. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur and uses the straight-line expense recognition method. Activity for restricted stock units is shown below:

Number of SharesWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 20232,198,334$1.42
Granted2,480,0853.96
Vested(28,650)2.21
Forfeitures(205,738)1.40
Unvested as of June 30, 20244,444,031$2.83

The weighted-average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was $5.03 and $3.96, respectively, per share. The aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units vested during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was less than $0.1 million. As of June 30, 2024, there was $9.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the outstanding restricted stock units expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 1.7 years. Fair value of restricted stock units subject to time-based vesting is calculated based on the Company’s closing stock price per share as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of grant.

Restricted stock unit award with market conditions

In March 2024, the Company granted 1,500,000 performance restricted stock units to its Founder and Chief Executive Officer that contained market conditions (the “2024 Market Award”). Subject to the holder’s continued service, the 2024 Market Award provided for vesting in tranches once the Company’s closing stock price meets or exceeds certain thresholds established by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The original grant-date fair value of the 2024 Market Award of $5.5 million was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model using an expected volatility of 97% and risk-free rate of 4.5%. The stock based compensation expense will be recognized over the derived service period for each tranche over periods up to 1.3 years. As of June 30, 2024, none of the stock price thresholds for the 2024

Market Award had been met resulting in no shares vesting. Any unvested tranches of the 2024 Market Award will expire in March 2027 if the vesting conditions are not met.

Stock appreciation rights

In January 2021, the Company issued SARs that are contingent upon a qualifying liquidity event that continues to not be probable of occurrence; accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for these awards. The aggregate intrinsic value of the 394,736 SARs outstanding as of June 30, 2024 is $1.2 million based on the Company’s closing stock price of $3.08 per share as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on such date.

Under the Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Grant Plan and 2021 Plan, the Company has also granted a limited quantity of cash-settled SARs to certain employees and consultants based outside the United States. As of June 30, 2024,195,000 of these SARs were outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $4.64 per share. The fair value is remeasured at the end of each reporting period based on the Company’s stock price, with remeasurements reflected as an adjustment to compensation expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for such period. As of June 30, 2024 and as of December 31, 2023, the Company had recognized a less than $0.1 million liability for SARs classified within other long-term liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

  1. Fair value measurements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) has defined fair value to establish a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the accounting guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.

Level 2: Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

When quoted market prices are available in active markets, the fair value of assets and liabilities is estimated within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

If quoted prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of assets and liabilities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows, within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. In cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, the fair values are estimated by using inputs within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

The following tables summarize the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

June 30, 2024
Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:
Debt Securities:
Money market funds$5,065$—$—$5,065
U.S. treasuries12,65789,653—102,310
Total assets$17,722$89,653$—$107,375
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration$—$—$12,750$12,750
Total liabilities$—$—$12,750$12,750
December 31, 2023
Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets
Debt Securities:
Money market funds$1,158$—$—$1,158
U.S. treasuries15,92923,405—39,334
Total assets$17,087$23,405$—$40,492
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration$—$—$12,750$12,750
Total liabilities$—$—$12,750$12,750

The Company reviews trading activity and pricing for its available-for-sale securities as of the measurement date.

There was no change to the value of liabilities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The contingent consideration liability is related to the acquisition of Totient, Inc. and is included in accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The fair value estimate is based on a probability-weighted approach. The contingent consideration of $15.0 million held in escrow shall be paid upon the achievement of the milestone of either entering into agreements meeting certain financial criteria with third parties using, or relating to, Totient technology or the first commercial sale of a Totient product. The contingent consideration held in escrow is included in restricted cash on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

The carrying amount of long-term debt approximates fair value.

There are significant judgments, assumptions and estimates inherent in the determination of the fair value of each of the instruments described above. In the future, depending on the valuation approaches used and the expected timing and weighting of each, the inputs described above, or other inputs, may have a greater or lesser impact on the Company’s estimates of fair value.

  1. Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
Numerator:
Net loss$(24,750)$(41,672)$(46,725)$(65,027)
Denominator:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding112,934,08691,827,780106,163,70991,654,578
Net loss per share, basic and diluted$(0.22)$(0.45)$(0.44)$(0.71)

The common stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of the following dilutive securities has been excluded from the diluted net loss per share calculation because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Diluted net loss per share, therefore, does not differ from basic net loss per share for the periods presented.

Potentially dilutive securities not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive are as follows (in common stock equivalent shares calculated on a weighted-average basis for the period outstanding):

For the Three Months Ended June 30,For the Six Months Ended June 30,
2024202320242023
Stock options20,073,09617,200,13819,699,83515,494,819
Restricted stock units4,488,47322,4153,732,06828,447
Unvested restricted stock186,069706,279248,601791,097
Employee stock purchase plan37,28163,29969,83183,823
Total24,784,91917,992,13123,750,33516,398,186
ContentsView on SEC.gov

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