Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.

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

Certain amounts from prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including certain current liabilities within the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, certain immaterial amounts within the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the presentation of restricted stock units and the related expense within the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of expenses in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Key estimates included in the financial statements include the valuation of deferred income tax assets, the valuation of financial instruments, stock-based compensation, value and life of acquired intangibles, and the valuation of contingent liabilities for the purchase price of assets obtained through acquisition.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents at one U.S. commercial bank. Cash and cash equivalents deposited with this commercial bank exceeded the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurable limit at December 31, 2019 and 2018. The Company expects the maintenance of balances in excess of insurable limits will continue.

Segments

Segments

The Company operates in one segment. Management uses one measurement of profitability and does not segregate its business for internal reporting, making operating decisions, and assessing financial performance. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States of America.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments, including its money market fund, purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held in institutions in the U.S. and the U.K. and include deposits in a money market fund which was unrestricted as to withdrawal or use.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of payments primarily related to insurance and short-term deposits. Prepaid expenses are initially recorded upon payment and are expensed as goods or services are received.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 11 years. The useful life of the intangible asset is evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally between three and five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of their useful life or the remaining term of the lease. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations in the period realized.

Equity Method Investment

Equity Method Investment

Equity method investments are equity securities in investees not controlled by the Company, but over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence. The Company’s equity method investment is measured at fair value minus impairment, if any, plus or minus the Company’s share of equity method investee income or loss.

The Company’s equity method investment in Capnia, Inc. is classified as Minority interest investment in former subsidiary in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 and was initially measured at fair value. (See Note 9.) The Company sold its equity method investment in Capnia in September 2019.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company evaluates assets for potential impairment by comparing estimated future undiscounted net cash flows to the carrying amount of the asset. If the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flows, impairment is measured based on the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the assets.

Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and development costs are charged to operations as incurred. Research and development costs consist primarily of salaries and benefits, consultant fees, prototype expenses, certain facility costs and other costs associated with clinical trials, net of reimbursed amounts.

Costs to acquire technologies to be used in research and development that have not reached technological feasibility and have no alternative future use are expensed to research and development costs when incurred.

Certain research and development expenses are reported as discontinued operations. (See Note 9.)

Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

The Company recorded the value of contingent future consideration to be paid for the acquisition of Essentialis as a liability in March 2017 at the date of the acquisition. The changes in value of the liability for the contingent consideration since the acquisition date are recorded as operating expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the amounts at which assets and liabilities are recorded for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recorded for income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is provided against the Company’s deferred income tax assets when their realization is not reasonably assured.

The Company assesses all material positions taken in any income tax return, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge by relevant taxing authorities. Assessing an uncertain tax position begins with the initial determination of the position’s sustainability and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of each balance sheet date, unresolved uncertain tax positions must be reassessed, and the Company will determine whether (i) the factors underlying the sustainability assertion have changed and (ii) the amount of the recognized tax benefit is still appropriate. The recognition and measurement of tax benefits requires significant judgment. Judgments concerning the recognition and measurement of a tax benefit might change as new information becomes available.

The loss from discontinued operations is reported net of the related effect for income taxes in the statements of operations.

Convertible Preferred Stock and Other Hybrid Instruments

Convertible Preferred Stock and other Hybrid Instruments

The Company’s convertible preferred stock was classified as permanent equity on its consolidated balance sheet in accordance with authoritative guidance for the classification and measurement of hybrid securities and distinguishing liability from equity instruments. The preferred stock is not redeemable at the option of the holder.

Further, the Company evaluated its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and determined that it is considered an equity host under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. In making this determination, the Company’s analysis followed the whole instrument approach which compares an individual feature against the entire preferred stock instrument which includes that feature. The Company’s analysis was based on a consideration of the economic characteristics and risks of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. More specifically, the Company evaluated all of the stated and implied substantive terms and features, including (i) whether the preferred stock included redemption features, (ii) how and when any redemption features could be exercised, (iii) whether the holders of preferred stock were entitled to dividends, (iv) the voting rights of the preferred stock and (v) the existence and nature of any conversion rights. As a result of the Company’s conclusion that the preferred stock represents an equity host, the conversion feature of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is considered to be clearly and closely related to the associated preferred stock host instrument. Accordingly, the conversion feature in the preferred stock is not considered an embedded derivative that requires bifurcation.

Common Stock Purchase Warrants and Other Derivative Financial Instruments

Common Stock Purchase Warrants and Other Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company classifies common stock purchase warrants and other free standing derivative financial instruments as equity if the contracts (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) give the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). The Company classifies any contracts that (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the control of the Company), (ii) give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement), or (iii) contain reset provisions as either an asset or a liability. The Company assesses classification of its freestanding derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between equity and liabilities is required. The Company determined that certain freestanding derivatives, which principally consist of Series A, Series C, the 2017 PIPE Warrants and 2018 PIPE Warrants, do not satisfy the criteria for classification as equity instruments due to the existence of certain cash settlement features that are not within the sole control of the Company or variable settlement provision that cause them to not be indexed to the Company’s own stock.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation costs related to stock options and restricted stock units granted to employees, nonemployees and directors are measured at the date of grant based on the estimated fair value of the award. For restricted stock units this fair value is based on the Company’s common stock price on the grant date. The Company estimates the grant date fair value of stock options, and the resulting stock-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The grant date fair value of stock-based awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the award. Stock options generally vest over four years.

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of highly subjective assumptions to estimate the fair value of stock-based awards. If we had made different assumptions, our stock-based compensation expense, net loss and net loss per share of common stock could have been significantly different. These assumptions include:

• Expected volatility: The Company calculates the estimated volatility rate based the volatility of its common stock together with comparable companies in its industry.

• Expected term: The Company does not believe it is able to rely on its historical exercise and post-vesting termination activity to provide accurate data for estimating the expected term for use in estimating the fair value-based measurement of our options. Therefore, the Company has opted to use the “simplified method” for estimating the expected term of options.

• Risk-free rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected time to liquidity.

• Expected divided yield: The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, it used an expected dividend yield of zero.

The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Recent Accounting Standards

Recent Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases. ASC 842 replaces the existing guidance in ASC 840, Leases, and requires lessees to capitalize most lease obligations as right-of-use assets with a corresponding liability on the balance sheet. Leases are classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The guidance is effective for all public business entities and certain not-for-profit entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for all other entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. As the Company was an emerging growth company until December 31, 2019 and elected to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, it adopted the standard as of January 1, 2019 on December 31, 2019. The Company adopted ASC 842 using the optional modified retrospective method and will not restate comparative periods.  The Company has elected to apply the “practical expedient package”, which permits it to not reassess previous conclusions around lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs. Further, the Company will make an accounting policy election to exclude leases with terms of twelve months or less from the recognition requirements. The Company did not elect the use of the hindsight practical expedient. As a result of the adoption of the standard on January 1, 2019, the Company recognized lease liabilities based on the present value of the total fixed payments for its leases in the amount of approximately $322,000 and ROU assets of approximately $301,000 on its balance sheet.  The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Statement of Operations or Cash Flows.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”, to simplify the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. Under the guidance, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards is fixed at the grant date, which may lower the cost and reduce volatility in the income statement. This ASU was early adopted by the Company at the beginning of 2019.  Its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, “Disclosure Update and Simplification”, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders’ equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders’ equity presented in the balance sheet must now be provided in a note or separate statement. The Company has applied this new guidance beginning in the first quarter of 2019.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. The ASU modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying, or adding certain disclosures. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in 2020. Early adoption is permitted. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of ASU No. 2018-13 and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12: “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance.  The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company has not yet assessed the potential impact of adopting ASU 2019-12 on its consolidated financial statements.

Patents [Member]

Intangible Assets

Patent

In March 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of Essentialis, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Essentialis in accordance with the Merger Agreement by and between Soleno Therapeutics and Essentialis dated December 22, 2016. The merger transaction has been accounted for as an asset acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting and accordingly, the value of asset acquired in the amount of $22.0 million was assigned to the identifiable intangible asset relating to the patent for DCCR, which patent expires in June 2028.