Nature of the Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Nature of the Business

1. Nature of the Business

Trevi Therapeutics, Inc. (“Trevi” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of the investigational therapy Haduvio (nalbuphine ER) to treat serious neurologically mediated conditions. The Company is currently developing Haduvio for the treatment of chronic pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis and chronic cough in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (“IPF”). These conditions share a common pathophysiology that is mediated through opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Due to nalbuphine’s mechanism of action as a modulator of opioid receptors, the Company believes Haduvio has the potential to be effective in treating each of these conditions.

Haduvio is an oral extended-release formulation of nalbuphine. Nalbuphine is a mixed κ-opioid receptor agonist and μ-opioid receptor antagonist that has been approved and marketed as an injectable for pain indications for more than 20 years in the United States (“U.S.”) and Europe. The κ- and μ-opioid receptors are known to be critical mediators of itch, cough and certain movement disorders. Nalbuphine’s mechanism of action also mitigates the risk of abuse associated with μ-opioid agonists because it antagonizes or blocks, the μ-opioid receptor. Parenteral nalbuphine is not classified as a controlled substance in the U.S. and most of Europe.

Liquidity

In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) (“ASU No. 2014-15”), management must evaluate whether there are conditions or 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 the financial statements are issued. This evaluation initially does not take into consideration the potential mitigating effect of management’s plans that have not been fully implemented as of the date the financial statements are issued. When substantial doubt exists under this methodology, management evaluates whether the mitigating effect of its plans sufficiently alleviates substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The mitigating effect of management’s plans, however, is only considered if both (1) it is probable that the plans will be effectively implemented within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued and (2) it is probable that the plans, when implemented, will mitigate the relevant conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Generally, to be considered probable of being effectively implemented, the plans must have been approved before the date that the financial statements are issued.

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. Since inception, the Company has financed its operations primarily through private placements of convertible preferred stock and convertible notes prior to its initial public offering (“IPO”), borrowings under its prior term loan facility, proceeds from its IPO and concurrent private placement completed in May 2019, sales of its common stock pursuant to the at-the-market Sales Agreement (the “ATM Sales Agreement”) (Note 7) with SVB Leerink LLC that the Company entered into in June 2020, the term loan facility with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) that the Company entered into in August 2020 (Note 6) and the private placements completed in October 2021 (Note 7).

The Company has incurred recurring losses since inception, including net losses of $33.9 million and $32.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $36.8 million compared to $45.0 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020. The Company has incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations and had an accumulated deficit of $180.9 million as of December 31, 2021. The Company expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. As of March 17, 2022, the date of issuance of these Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021, will not be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for 12 months from the date of issuance of these Consolidated Financial Statements, even without giving effect to the potential collateralization of the outstanding SVB term loan (Note 6) and, therefore, substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company plans to seek to address this condition by raising additional capital to finance its operations. The future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to raise additional capital to finance its operations. Although the Company has been successful in raising capital in the past, there is no assurance that it will be successful in obtaining such additional financing. Therefore, it is not considered probable, as defined in ASU No. 2014-15,

that the Company’s plans to raise additional capital will alleviate the substantial doubt regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.

To execute its business plans, the Company will need substantial funding to support its continuing operations and pursue its growth strategy. Until such time that the Company can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, the Company expects to finance its operations through the sale of common stock in public offerings and/or private placements, debt financings or other capital sources, including collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. The Company may not be able to obtain financing when needed on acceptable terms or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders. If the Company is unable to obtain funding, the Company could be forced to delay, reduce or abandon its product development programs or commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect its business prospects.