Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The financial statements include the accounts of Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the Company) and its wholly-owned subsidiary as of December 31, 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2020, a wholly-owned subsidiary was liquidated.  In February 2021, a new wholly-owned subsidiary was established in Ireland. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

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, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. We view our operations and manage our business in one segment, which is the identification and development of innovative therapeutics to treat rare seizure disorders.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Credit Risk

At December 31, 2021, our financial instruments included cash equivalents, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and notes payable. At December 31, 2020, our financial instruments included cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts payable and accrued expenses. The carrying amount of cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximated fair value, given their short-term nature. The carrying amounts of short-term investments are recorded at amortized cost, which for U.S. Treasury securities is based on the current market price of each security at the measurement date. The carrying value of the notes payable approximates fair value as the interest rate is reflective of current market rates on debt with similar terms and conditions.

Cash equivalents and certificates of deposit subject us to concentrations of credit risk. However, we invest our cash in accordance with a policy objective that seeks to ensure both liquidity and safety of principal. The policy limits investments to instruments issued by the U.S. government, certain Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered money market funds that invest only in U.S. government obligations and various other low-risk liquid investment options, and places restrictions on portfolio maturity terms.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments that have maturities of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we invested a portion of our cash balances in money market investments, which we have included as cash equivalents on our balance sheets.

Investments

We did not have any investments as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, our investments consisted of certificates of deposit with various financial institutions, with original maturities ranging from six to nine months.  All investments were classified as held-to-maturity and were recorded at amortized cost.  Interest income includes interest and dividends, realized gains and losses on sales of securities, if any.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represents amounts due to us under the BARDA contract for valid expenditures expected to be reimbursed to us under the terms of the BARDA contract and current amounts due to us from Orion Corporation under our collaboration agreement (Note 11).

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets generally represent payments made for goods or services to be received within one year, and are expensed as the related benefit is received.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consist of laboratory and office equipment and are recorded at cost. Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. We estimate a life of three years for computer equipment, including software, five years for office equipment and furniture, five to fifteen years for laboratory equipment, and six years for leasehold improvements. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in operating expenses.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. If the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount an impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying value of the asset exceeded its fair value. Fair value is generally determined using discounted cash flows.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities and the expected benefits of net operating loss carryforwards. The impact of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred taxes, if any, applied during the years in which temporary differences are expected to be settled, is reflected in the financial statements in the period of enactment. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, if, based on weight of the evidence, it is more likely than not that some, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we have concluded that

a full valuation allowance is necessary for our net deferred tax assets. We had no material amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions, interest or penalties in the accompanying financial statements.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with Note payable (Note 10) are amortized to interest expense over the term of the respective financing arrangement using the effective-interest method. Debt issuance costs, net of related amortization are deducted from the carrying value of the related debt.

Contract Liability

When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to completing our performance obligation to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded. Contract liabilities expected to be recognized as revenue or a reduction of expense within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current liabilities. Contract liabilities not expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as long-term liabilities. In accordance with ASC 210-20, our contract liability is offset by a contract asset as further discussed in Note 11.

Federal Contract Revenue

We recognize federal contract revenue from the BARDA Contract in the period in which the allowable research and development expenses are incurred, and receivables associated with this revenue are included within accounts receivable on our balance sheets. This revenue is not within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606 – Revenue from contracts with customers.

Collaboration and Licensing Revenue

We may enter into collaboration and licensing arrangements for research and development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities with counterparties for the development and commercialization of our product candidates. These arrangements may contain multiple components, such as (i) licenses, (ii) research and development activities, and (iii) the manufacturing of certain material. Payments pursuant to these arrangements may include non-refundable and refundable payments, payments upon the achievement of significant regulatory, development and commercial milestones, sales of product at certain agreed-upon amounts, and royalties on product sales. The amount of variable consideration is constrained until it is probable that the revenue is not at a significant risk of reversal in a future period.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under a collaboration agreement, we perform the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are capable of being distinct; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue as we satisfy each performance obligation.

We must develop estimates and assumptions that require judgment to determine the underlying stand-alone selling price for each performance obligation, which determines how the transaction price is allocated among the performance obligations. The estimation of the stand-alone selling price may include such estimates as forecasted revenues and costs, development timelines, discount rates and probabilities of regulatory and commercial success. We also apply significant judgment when evaluating whether contractual obligations represent distinct performance obligations, allocating transaction price to performance obligations within a contract, determining when performance obligations have been met, assessing the recognition and future reversal of variable consideration and determining and applying appropriate methods of measuring progress for performance obligations satisfied over time.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as subject enrollment, monitoring visits, clinical site activations, or information provided to us by our vendors with respect to their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expense, as the case may be.

Clinical Trial Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our expenses resulting from our obligations under contracts with vendors, clinical research organizations and consultants and under clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. Our objective is to reflect the appropriate trial expenses in our financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services are performed and efforts are expended. We account for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by patient progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. We determine accrual estimates based on estimates of services received and efforts expended that take into account discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of consummation of trials. During the course of a clinical trial, we adjust our clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from its estimates. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on the facts and circumstances known at that time. Our clinical trial accruals are dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of contract research organizations and other third-party vendors. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 there were no material adjustments to our prior period estimates of accrued expenses for clinical trials.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, or ASC 718, which requires the recognition of expense related to the fair value of stock-based awards in the statements of operations. For stock options issued to employees, non-employees and members of our board of directors for their services on our board of directors, we estimate the grant-date fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates, and, for grants prior to our initial public offering, the value of the common stock. For restricted stock awards, the grant date fair value is determined by the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant. For awards subject to time-based vesting, we recognize stock-based compensation expense, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term of the award. For awards subject to performance-based vesting conditions, we recognize stock-based compensation expense when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved.

Loss Per Share of Common Stock

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. Diluted loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible preferred stock, stock options, and unvested restricted stock, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. In computing the basic and diluted net

loss per share applicable to common stockholders, the weighted average number of shares remains the same for both calculations due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive shares are not included in the calculation. These potentially dilutive securities are more fully described in Note 8.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

	Year Ended December 31,
		2021		2020
Basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock:
Net loss	$	(98,776)	$	(67,475)
Deemed Dividends		—		(8,880)
Net loss applicable to common stockholders	$	(98,776)	$	(76,355)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		36,697,171		27,270,055
Net loss per share of common stock—basic and diluted	$	(2.69)	$	(2.80)

The following potentially dilutive securities (common stock equivalents) have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as they would be antidilutive:

	December 31,
	2021	2020
Convertible preferred stock	915,000	950,600
Restricted stock	26,025	24,625
Stock options	4,738,855	3,507,638
Total	5,679,880	4,482,863

The convertible preferred stock meets the definition of a participating security; however, the holders are not obligated to share in our losses.  As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had no other potentially dilutive securities.