Organization and Nature of Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Organization and Nature of Business
Organization and Nature of Business	1. Organization and Nature of Business Overview Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2012. In July 2015, Aclaris Therapeutics International Limited (“ATIL”) was established under the laws of the United Kingdom as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. In March 2016, Vixen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Vixen”) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., and in September 2018, Vixen was dissolved. In August 2017, Confluence Life Sciences, Inc., now known as Aclaris Life Sciences, Inc. (“Confluence”) was acquired by Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. and became a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof. Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., ATIL, Vixen and Confluence are referred to collectively as the “Company”. The Company is a physician-led biopharmaceutical company focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases. The Company currently has a pipeline of drug candidates focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases, as well as one product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) that it is not currently distributing, marketing or selling, and other investigational drug candidates. In September 2019, the Company announced the completion of a strategic review of its business, as a result of which it is refocusing its resources on its immuno-inflammatory development programs. The Company plans to pursue strategic alternatives, including identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners, to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA (hydrogen peroxide) topical solution, 40% (w/w) (“ESKATA”), the Company’s non-marketed FDA-approved product. Liquidity The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. At December 31, 2019, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $75,015 and an accumulated deficit of $453,527. Since inception, the Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from its operations. Prior to the acquisition of Confluence in August 2017, the Company had never generated revenue. There can be no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and, if achieved, will be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, development activities, including clinical and preclinical testing of the Company’s drug candidates, will require significant additional financing. The future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to successfully develop its drug candidates and to generate revenue from identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its development assets or to raise additional capital to finance its operations. The Company expects that it will require additional capital to complete the clinical development of ATI-450, to develop its preclinical compounds, and to support its discovery efforts. Additional funds may not be available on a timely basis, on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, and such funds, if raised, may not be sufficient to enable the Company to continue to implement its long-term business strategy. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional capital or generate revenue from transactions with third-party partners for the development and/or commercialization of its drug candidates, it may need to substantially curtail planned operations. The Company’s failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies. In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that its consolidated financial statements are issued. As of the report date, the Company believes the actions described below are probable of being implemented effectively and of alleviating the conditions or events that exist which raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements. The Company believes its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are sufficient to fund its operating and capital expenditure requirements for a period greater than 12 months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements. The Company has taken a number of actions to support its operations and meet its liquidity needs. In September 2019, the Company announced the completion of a strategic review and its decision to refocus its resources on its immuno-inflammatory development programs and to pursue strategic alternatives, including identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners, to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA. As a result of this decision, the Company restructured its operations and terminated employees, some of which are occurring through termination dates into 2020, which will result in lower operating costs in the future. In October 2019, the Company sold the worldwide rights to RHOFADE to further its focus on its development programs and improve cash flow. The Company’s plans to further alleviate the substantial doubt about its going concern, which are probable of effectively being implemented and mitigating these conditions, primarily include its ability to control the timing and spending on its research and development programs. The Company may also consider other plans to fund its operations including: (1) raising additional capital through debt or equity financings; (2) identification of third-party partners to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA, which may generate revenue and/or milestone payments; (3) reducing spending on one or more research and development programs by delaying or discontinuing development; and/or (4) further restructuring its operations to change its overhead structure. Finally, additional funds may not be available on a timely basis, on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, and such funds, if raised, may not be sufficient to enable the Company to continue to implement its long-term business strategy.

1. Organization and Nature of Business

Overview

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2012. In July 2015, Aclaris Therapeutics International Limited (“ATIL”) was established under the laws of the United Kingdom as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. In March 2016, Vixen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Vixen”) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., and in September 2018, Vixen was dissolved. In August 2017, Confluence Life Sciences, Inc., now known as Aclaris Life Sciences, Inc. (“Confluence”) was acquired by Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. and became a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof. Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., ATIL, Vixen and Confluence are referred to collectively as the “Company”. The Company is a physician-led biopharmaceutical company focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases. The Company currently has a pipeline of drug candidates focused on immuno-inflammatory diseases, as well as one product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) that it is not currently distributing, marketing or selling, and other investigational drug candidates. In September 2019, the Company announced the completion of a strategic review of its business, as a result of which it is refocusing its resources on its immuno-inflammatory development programs. The Company plans to pursue strategic alternatives, including identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners, to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA (hydrogen peroxide) topical solution, 40% (w/w) (“ESKATA”), the Company’s non-marketed FDA-approved product.

Liquidity

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. At December 31, 2019, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $75,015 and an accumulated deficit of $453,527. Since inception, the Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from its operations. Prior to the acquisition of Confluence in August 2017, the Company had never generated revenue. There can be no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and, if achieved, will be sustained on a continuing basis. In addition, development activities, including clinical and preclinical testing of the Company’s drug candidates, will require significant additional financing. The future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to successfully develop its drug candidates and to generate revenue from identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its development assets or to raise additional capital to finance its operations. The Company expects that it will require additional capital to complete the clinical development of ATI-450, to develop its preclinical compounds, and to support its discovery efforts. Additional funds may not be available on a timely basis, on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, and such funds, if raised, may not be sufficient to enable the Company to continue to implement its long-term business strategy. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional capital or generate revenue from transactions with third-party partners for the development and/or commercialization of its drug candidates, it may need to substantially curtail planned operations. The Company’s failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that its consolidated financial statements are issued. As of the report date, the Company believes the actions described below are probable of being implemented effectively and of alleviating the conditions or events that exist which raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements. The Company believes its existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are sufficient to fund its operating and capital expenditure requirements for a period greater than 12 months from the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements.

The Company has taken a number of actions to support its operations and meet its liquidity needs. In September 2019, the Company announced the completion of a strategic review and its decision to refocus its resources on its immuno-inflammatory development programs and to pursue strategic alternatives, including identifying and consummating transactions with third-party partners, to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA. As a result of this decision, the Company restructured its operations and terminated employees, some of which are occurring through termination dates into 2020, which will result in lower operating costs in the future. In October 2019, the Company sold the worldwide rights to RHOFADE to further its focus on its development programs and improve cash flow.

The Company’s plans to further alleviate the substantial doubt about its going concern, which are probable of effectively being implemented and mitigating these conditions, primarily include its ability to control the timing and spending on its research and development programs. The Company may also consider other plans to fund its operations including: (1) raising additional capital through debt or equity financings; (2) identification of third-party partners to further develop, obtain marketing approval for and/or commercialize its drug candidates and ESKATA, which may generate revenue and/or milestone payments; (3) reducing spending on one or more research and development programs by delaying or discontinuing development; and/or (4) further restructuring its operations to change its overhead structure. Finally, additional funds may not be available on a timely basis, on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, and such funds, if raised, may not be sufficient to enable the Company to continue to implement its long-term business strategy.