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Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Summary of significant accounting policies

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted (GAAP) in the United States. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available and on various factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these financial statements include, but are not limited to, the fair value of the Company’s common stock prior to its IPO, in connection with share-based compensation arrangements, the expected volatility used to estimate fair value of common stock, services performed but not billed relating to research and development contracts, and services performed on research and development advanced payments. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed in-light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Segment and geographic information

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker (CODM), or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Company views its operations as and manages its business in one operating segment operating exclusively in the United States.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of standard checking accounts and a money market account. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash

Restricted cash represents collateral provided for a letter of credit issued as a security deposit in connection with the Company’s lease of its corporate facilities. This lease expires in 2024; at which time, the cash will be released from restriction. Restricted cash was $100,000 at both December 31, 2021 and 2020. The following table provides a reconciliation of the components of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Company’s balance sheets to the total of the amount presented in the statements of cash flows:


(in thousands)	December 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Cash and cash equivalents	$	49,229	$	39,766
Restricted cash		100		100
	$	49,329	$	39,866

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Periodically, the Company may maintain deposits in financial institutions in excess of government insured limits. Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk as the Company’s deposits are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality, and the Company has not experienced any losses on these deposits.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense is recognized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each asset as follows:


Asset category		Estimates useful life
Lab equipment		5 years
Leasehold improvements		Lesser of lease term or 5 years
Computer equipment		3 years
Office equipment		5 years
Furniture and fixtures		5 years

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance of assets are charged to expense as incurred, while major betterments are capitalized. Upon retirement or sale, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets disposed of are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the statements of operations.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, which consist primarily of property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. There were no impairment losses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Equity issuance costs

The Company capitalizes costs that are directly associated with in-process equity financings until such financings are consummated, at which time such costs are recorded against the gross proceeds from the applicable financing. If a financing is abandoned, deferred offering costs are expensed.

As of December 31, 2021, there was $0.3 million of deferred offering costs in connection with the Company’s shelf registration statement, and there were no deferred offering costs as of December 31, 2020.

Government contract funding

The Company accounts for amounts received under its U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) expense reimbursement contract as contra-research and development expenses in the statements of operations.

Warrant liability

The Company issued warrants to purchase shares of Series A convertible preferred stock in connection with the June 2020 Series A convertible preferred stock sale. The warrants were initially classified as a liability on the balance sheet at September 30, 2020 as the underlying Series A convertible preferred stock was contingently redeemable and outside of the Company’s control (see Note 10, Common stock and convertible preferred stock). The fair value of the warrants on the date of issuance was recorded as a reduction of the carrying value of the Series A convertible preferred stock and as a long-term liability in the balance sheets. The warrants were subsequently remeasured to fair value at each balance sheet date with changes in the fair value of the warrants recognized as other income or expense in the statements of operations. The change in fair value of the warrants during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $5.5 million. Upon completion of the IPO on October 6, 2020, the warrants became exercisable for shares of the Company’s common stock and were reclassified to additional paid-in capital upon the consummation of the IPO.

The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates, to value the Series A convertible preferred stock warrants until the conversion of the Series A Preferred to stockholders’ equity in October 2020. Estimates and assumptions impacting the fair value measurement of the warrants included the fair value per share of the underlying Series A convertible preferred stock, the remaining contractual term of the warrants, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield and expected volatility of the price of the underlying Series A convertible preferred stock. The Company historically determined the fair value per share of the underlying Series A convertible preferred stock by taking into consideration the most recent sales of its Series A convertible preferred stock, results obtained from third party valuations and additional factors that were deemed relevant. The Company historically had been a private company and lacked company-specific historical and implied volatility information of its stock. Therefore, it estimated the expected stock volatility based on the historical volatility of publicly traded peer companies for a term equal to the remaining contractual term of the warrants at the time. The risk-free interest rate was determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve for time periods approximately equal to the remaining contractual term of the warrants. Expected dividend yield was determined based upon the Company’s history of not paying cash dividends and its expectation that it will not pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Research and development costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development costs consist of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries and bonuses, share-based compensation, employee benefits, facilities costs, laboratory supplies, depreciation and amortization, preclinical expenses, consulting and other contracted services. Additionally, under the terms of the license agreements, the Company is obligated to make future payments should certain development and regulatory milestones be achieved. No such costs have been incurred for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Costs for certain research and development activities are recognized based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the timing of receipt of invoices and payment of invoices, and are reflected in the financial statements as a prepaid or accrued expense.

Share-based compensation

The Company’s share-based compensation program allows for grants of stock options and restricted stock awards. Grants are awarded to employees and non-employees, including directors.

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation awards granted to employees and nonemployees based on the estimated fair value on the date of grant and recognized compensation expense of those awards over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period of the respective award. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. For share-based awards with service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognized compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the service period. The Company classified share-based compensation expense in its statements of operations in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient’s service payments are classified. The Company estimates the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock option grants to both employees and non-employees.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including (i) the expected stock price volatility, (ii) the expected term of the award, (iii) the risk-free interest rate and (iv) expected dividends. Due to the lack of Company-specific historical and implied volatility data, the Company has based its computation of expected volatility on the historical volatility of a representative group of public companies with similar characteristics to the Company, including stage of product development and biopharmaceutical industry focus. The historical volatility is calculated based on a period of time commensurate with the expected term assumption. The Company uses the simplified method to calculate the expected term for options granted to employees and non-employees whereby, the expected term equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the options due to its lack of sufficient historical data. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity date commensurate with the expected term of the associated award. The expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plans to pay any dividends on its common stock.

In determining the exercise prices for options granted, the Company has considered the estimated fair value of the common stock as of the measurement date. Prior to the IPO, the estimated fair value of the common stock had been determined at each grant date based upon a variety of factors, including the illiquid nature of the common stock, the effect of the rights and preferences of the preferred stockholders, and the prospects of a liquidity event. Among other factors were the Company’s financial position and historical financial performance, the status of technological developments within the Company’s research, the composition and ability of the current research and management team, an evaluation or benchmark of the Company’s competition, and the current business climate in the marketplace. Significant changes to the key assumptions underlying the factors used could have resulted in different fair values of common stock at each valuation date. Following the closing of the IPO, the fair value of common stock was the closing price of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market as reported on the date of the grant.

Patent costs

All patent-related costs incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications are expensed as incurred due to the uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.

Rent expense

The Company’s real estate operating lease provides for scheduled annual rent increases throughout the lease term. The Company recognizes the effects of the scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the full term of the lease.

Income Taxes

Income taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the Company’s financial statements and tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and for loss and credit carryforwards, using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that these assets may not be realized. The Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If it is not more likely than not that a position will be sustained, none of

the benefit attributable to the position is recognized. The tax benefit to be recognized for any tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is calculated as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon resolution of the contingency. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of its provision for income taxes.

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 assets or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. ASC 820 identifies fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a three-tiered 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 for the asset or liability (i.e., supported by little or no market activity). Level 3 inputs include management’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).

To the extent the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair values requires more judgement. Accordingly, the degree of judgement exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized as 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.

Cash and cash equivalents are Level 1 assets for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Net loss per share

The Company follows the two-class method when computing net loss per share as the Company has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two-class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The two-class method requires income available to common stockholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed.

Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share of common stock is computed by adjusting net loss to reallocate undistributed earnings based on the potential impact of dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing the diluted net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents.

The following potentially dilutive securities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:


	Year ended December 31,
	2021	2020
Stock options⁽¹⁾	2,005,756	1,472,840
Common stock warrants⁽¹⁾	1,303,112	1,035,196
	3,308,868	2,508,036

(1)	Represents common stock equivalents

Prior to its conversion, the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock contractually entitled the holders of such shares to participate in dividends but did not contractually require the holders of such shares to participate in losses of the Company. Accordingly, in periods in which the Company reported a net loss, such losses were not allocated to participating securities. In periods in which the Company reports a net loss per share of common stock, diluted net loss per share of common stock is the same as basic net loss per share of common stock since dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive. The Company reported a net loss per share of common stock for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits an emerging growth company to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As an emerging growth company, the Company has elected to take advantage of this extended transition period.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASC Topic 842, Leases, (Topic 842). This standard requires all entities that lease assets with terms of more than 12 months to capitalize the assets and related liabilities on the balance sheet. As the Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards as available under the JOBS Act, the standard is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt ASC 842 effective January 1, 2022 using the modified retrospective approach. The Company expects to elect the package of practical expedients available for existing contracts, which will allow us to carry forward our historical assessments of lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. The Company also expects to elect a policy to not apply the recognition requirements of ASC 842 for short-term leases. The Company expects to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability of $0.2 million, respectively, on January 1, 2022, which is related to our facility operating lease (Note 8).

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU Topic 832, Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance (“Topic 832”). This standard requires disclosures about transactions with a government that have been accounted for by analogizing to a grant or contribution accounting model to increase transparency about the types of transactions, the accounting for the transactions, and the effect of the transactions on an entity’s financial statements. The effective date of Topic 832 is for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December, 15 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the effect Topic 832 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.