Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and in these accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors and assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, which include but are not limited to estimates of accrued research and development expenses, valuation of marketable securities, the valuation of stock-based awards, valuation of operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities and income taxes. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly- owned subsidiary, Atea Pharmaceuticals Securities Corporation. All intercompany amounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassification

Certain items in the prior year’s financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Revenue Recognition

Through December 31, 2021, all of the Company’s revenue was collaboration revenue generated from the Roche License Agreement.

Until receipt in November 2021 of the notice from Roche that Roche was terminating the Roche License Agreement effective February 2022, the Company recognized collaboration revenue over the expected performance period based on its measure of progress towards the completion of certain activities referred to as its Combined Performance Obligation. The Company concluded that the notice of termination represents a contract modification for accounting purposes. The Company further concluded that upon receipt of the notice of termination, the Combined Performance Obligation has been completely satisfied. As a result, the Company recognized all remaining deferred revenue as collaboration revenue within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2021 (see Note 3, Collaboration Revenue, for a detailed discussion).

The Company analyzes its collaboration arrangements to assess whether they are within the scope of Accounting Standards Codification ASC Topic 808, Collaborative Arrangements (“ASC 808”), to determine whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of such activities. If the Company concludes that some or all aspects of the

arrangement are within the scope of ASC 808 and do not represent a transaction with a customer, the Company recognizes its allocation of the shared costs incurred with respect to the jointly conducted activities pursuant to ASC 730, Research and Development. As such, the Company will expense costs as incurred, including any reimbursements made, and recognize reimbursements received as a reduction of research and development expense. If the Company concludes that some or all aspects of the arrangement represent a transaction with a customer, the Company accounts for those aspects of the arrangement within the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”).

To determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized for arrangements that the Company determines are within the scope of ASC 606, it performs the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied. ASC 606 requires significant judgment and estimates and results in changes to, but not limited to: (i) the determination of the transaction price, including estimates of variable consideration, (ii) the allocation of the transaction price, including the determination of estimated selling price, and (iii) the pattern of recognition, including the application of proportional performance as a measure of progress on service-related promises and application of point-in-time recognition for supply-related promises.

The transaction price is generally comprised of an upfront payment due at contract inception and variable consideration in the form of payments for the Company’s services and materials and milestone payments due upon the achievement of specified events. Other payments the Company could be entitled to include tiered royalties earned when customers recognize net sales of licensed products. The Company considers the existence of any significant financing component within its arrangements and has determined that a significant financing component does not exist in its arrangements as substantive business purposes exist to support the payment structure other than to provide a significant benefit of financing. The Company measures the transaction price based on the amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring the promised goods and/or services to the customer. The Company utilizes either the expected value method or the most likely amount method to estimate the amount of variable consideration, depending on which method is expected to better predict the amount of consideration to which the Company will be entitled. Amounts of variable consideration are included in the transaction price to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. With respect to arrangements that include payments for a development or regulatory milestone payment, the Company evaluates whether the associated event is considered probable of achievement and estimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. Milestone payments that are not within the Company’s control or the customer’s, such as those dependent upon receipt of regulatory approval, are not considered to be probable of achievement until the triggering event occurs. At the end of each reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of each milestone and any related constraint, and if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenue and net loss in the period of adjustment. For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based upon the achievement of a certain level of product sales, wherein the license is deemed to be the sole or predominant item to which the payments relate, the Company recognizes revenue upon the later of: (i) when the related sales occur or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the payment has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). Consideration that would be received for optional goods and/or services is excluded from the transaction price at contract inception.

The Company generally allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price basis. The Company develops assumptions that require judgment to determine the standalone selling price for each performance obligation in consideration of applicable market conditions and relevant entity-specific factors, including factors that were contemplated in negotiating the agreement with the customer and estimated research and development costs. However, in certain instances, the Company allocates variable consideration entirely to one or more performance obligation if the terms of the variable consideration relate to the satisfaction of the respective performance obligation and the amount allocated is consistent with the amount the Company would expect to receive for the satisfaction of the respective performance obligation.

The Company recognizes revenue based on the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to each respective performance obligation when or as the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised good or service to the customer. For performance obligations that are satisfied at a point in time, the Company recognizes revenue when control of the goods and/or services is transferred to the customer. For performance obligations that are satisfied over time, the Company recognizes revenue by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation using a single method of measuring progress which depicts the performance in transferring control of the associated goods and/or services to the customer. The Company generally uses input methods to measure the progress toward the complete satisfaction of performance obligations satisfied over time. With respect to arrangements containing a license to its intellectual property that is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from amounts allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue. Significant management judgment is required in determining the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which the Company is expected to complete its performance obligations under an arrangement. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect revenue and net loss in the period of adjustment.

Contract costs

The Company recognizes as an asset the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the costs are expected to be recovered. The Company has elected the practical expedient in ASC 340, Other Assets and Deferred Costs, wherein it recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if, at inception, the expected amortization period of the asset that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. In connection with the Roche License Agreement, the Company incurred an incremental cost of $7,000, which was included in general and administrative costs in the accompanying statement of operations and comprehensive income(loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid investments with an original maturity, or a remaining maturity at the time of purchase, of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents include money market funds and commercial paper, which are highly liquid and have strong credit ratings. These investments are subject to minimal credit and market risks. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Marketable Securities

The Company’s investment strategy is focused on capital preservation. The Company invests in instruments that meet the credit quality standards outlined in the Company’s investment policy. Marketable securities consist of investments with maturities greater than three months. Investments not classified as cash equivalents with maturities of less than twelve months are classified as current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Investments with maturities greater than twelve months for which the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investment for greater than twelve months are classified as

non-current on the consolidated balance sheet. Marketable securities include U.S. treasury obligations, U.S. agency obligations, corporate debt, commercial paper and asset-backed securities. The Company classifies all of its marketable securities as available-for-sale. Accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. Interest, dividends and amortization and accretion of discounts and premiums are recorded as interest income and other, net. The Company periodically reviews its marketable securities for impairment and adjusts these investments to their fair value when a decline in market value is deemed to be other than temporary. Declines in fair value judged to be other than temporary on marketable securities, if any, are included in interest income and other, net.

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Suppliers

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash equivalents and marketable securities. Under its investment policy, the Company limits amounts invested in such securities by credit rating, maturity, industry group, investment type and issuer, except for securities issued by the U.S. government. The Company does not believe that it is subject to any significant concentrations of credit risk from these financial instruments. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements.

The Company is dependent on third-party manufacturers to supply products for research and development activities in its programs. In particular, the Company relies and expects to continue to rely on a small number of manufacturers to supply it with its requirements for the active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs related to these programs. These programs could be adversely affected by a significant interruption in the supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulated drugs.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability between market participants at measurement dates. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value. The hierarchy is based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement of the assets and liabilities. The carrying amounts of accounts. payable, accrued and prepaid expenses and other current assets approximate their fair value due to short-term maturities.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the asset. The Company estimates the useful life of its assets as follows:


Asset		Estimated useful life
Laboratory equipment		Five years
Office furniture and fixtures		Five years
Computer hardware		Two years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of useful life or remaining lease term

Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of the respective asset are expensed to operations as incurred. Upon disposal of an asset, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the consolidated statements of operations.

Other Assets

Other assets consist of a vendor deposit of $1,494 related to research and development activities.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the book value of the assets to the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows that the asset is expected to generate. If the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows are less than the book value, the asset is impaired, and the impairment loss to be recognized in income is measured as the amount by which the book value of the asset exceeds its fair value, which is measured based on the estimated discounted future net cash flows that the asset is expected to generate. No impairment losses were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Lease Accounting. At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a lease. Leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and current and non-current lease liabilities, as applicable. Operating lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present value of future lease payments over the expected remaining lease term. Lease cost for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as an operating expense. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As a result, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate, which reflects the fixed rate at which the Company could borrow on a collateralized basis the amount of the lease payments in the same currency, for a similar term, in a similar economic environment.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist principally of costs associated with outsourced research and development activities, including preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing and research conducted by contract research organizations and academic institutions, employee compensation, including stock-based compensation and consulting expenses together with related expenses, professional fees and facility and overhead costs. Facility and overhead costs primarily include the allocation of rent, utility and office-related expenses attributable to research and development personnel. In circumstances where amounts have been paid in advance or in excess of costs incurred, the Company records a prepaid expense, which is expensed as services are performed or goods are delivered.

The Company has entered into various research and development contracts with third parties. These agreements are generally cancelable, and related payments are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies, including the phase of completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.

Patent Costs

Costs to secure and maintain the Company’s patents are expensed as incurred and are classified as general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is classified in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the same manner in which the award recipient’s payroll costs or service payments are classified. Stock-based awards granted to employees and non-employees are measured based on the estimated fair value of the awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model (“Black-Scholes”). Stock-based compensation expense with respect to awards with service conditions is recognized using the straight-line method over the service period. Stock-based compensation with

respect to awards with performance conditions is recognized when satisfaction of the performance conditions is probable. Stock-based compensation is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and, as such, it is reduced by forfeitures. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Black-Scholes requires the use of subjective assumptions which determine the fair value of stock-based awards. These assumptions include:

Fair value of common stock

Prior to the IPO, because there was no public market for the Company’s common stock, the fair value of the Company’s common stock underlying stock-based awards was estimated on each grant date by the board of directors. The Company developed an estimate on each grant date of the fair value of its common stock based on valuations from an independent third-party valuation firm using information known to the Company on the date of grant and a review of any recent events and their potential impact on the estimated fair value per share of the common stock. The third-party valuations of the Company’s common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, or the Practice Aid. The assumptions used to determine the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock were based on numerous objective and subjective factors, combined with management judgment, including:

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external market conditions affecting the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and trends within the industry;

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the Company’s stage of development and business strategy;

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the rights, preferences and privileges of the Company’s then-outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock relative to those of its common stock;

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the prices at which the Company sold shares of its then-outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock;

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the Company’s financial condition and operating results, including its levels of available capital resources;

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the progress of the Company’s research and development efforts;

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equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies; and

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general U.S. market conditions and the lack of marketability at the time of the Company’s common stock.

The Practice Aid identifies various available methods for allocating enterprise value across classes and series of capital stock to determine the estimated fair value of common stock at each valuation date. In accordance with the Practice Aid, the Company considered the following methods:

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Option Pricing Method. Under the option pricing method (“OPM”), shares are valued by creating a series of call options with exercise prices based on the liquidation preferences and conversion terms of each equity class. The estimated fair values of the then-outstanding preferred stock and common stock were inferred by analyzing these options.

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Probability-Weighted Expected Return Method. The probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”), is a scenario-based analysis that estimates value per share based on the probability-weighted present value of expected future investment returns, considering each of the possible outcomes available to the Company, as well as the economic and control rights of each share class.

Based on the Company’s early stage of development and other relevant factors, the Company determined that OPM method as well as a hybrid approach of the OPM and the PWERM methods were the most appropriate methods for allocating its enterprise value to determine the estimated fair value of its common stock. In determining the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock, its board of directors also considered the fact that its stockholders could not freely trade its common stock in the public markets. Accordingly, the Company applied discounts to reflect the lack of marketability of its common stock based on the weighted-average expected time to liquidity. The estimated fair value of the

Company’s common stock at each grant date reflected a non-marketability discount partially based on the anticipated likelihood and timing of a future liquidity event.

Upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering, the fair value of its common stock is based on the daily closing quoted market price of its common stock.

Risk-free interest rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of a stock-based award.

Expected term—The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. Given the Company’s lack of specific history, the expected term for option grants is determined using the simplified method. The simplified method deems the term to be the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the stock-based awards.

Expected volatility—Since the Company was privately held through October 29, 2020 and did not have any trading history for its common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded biotechnology companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock-based awards. The comparable companies were chosen based on their similar size, stage in the life cycle or area of specialty. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 the Company began to incorporate the historical volatility of its own stock price in its calculation of its expected volatility.

Expected dividend yield —The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and has no plans to pay dividends on its common stock. Therefore, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero.

The Company also accounts for any modifications to share based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASC 718).

The purchase price of the Company's common stock under the Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") is equal to 85% of the lesser of (i) the fair market value per share of its common stock on the first business day of an offering period and (ii) the fair market value per share of its common stock on the purchase date. The fair value of the discounted purchases made under ESPP is calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the look-back provision plus the 15% discount is recognized as compensation expense over the 180-day purchase period.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax base. Deferred tax assets are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax expense or benefit is the result of changes in the deferred tax assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets where, based upon the available evidence, the Company concludes that it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In evaluating its ability to recover deferred tax assets, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including its operating results, ongoing tax planning and forecasts of future taxable income.

Reserves are provided for tax benefits for which realization is uncertain. Such benefits are only recognized when the underlying tax position is considered more-likely-than-not to be sustained on examination by a taxing authority. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in the provision of income taxes.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) as well as other changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) that result from transactions and economic events other than those with equity holders. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the comprehensive loss consisted of unrealized losses on available for sale investments. The Company did not have any items of comprehensive income or loss other than net income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the diluted net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options.

Prior to the Company’s IPO, basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was determined using the two-class method, which is required for participating securities. The Company considered its convertible preferred stock to be participating securities as, in the event a dividend is paid on common stock, the holders of convertible preferred stock would be entitled to receive dividends on a basis consistent with the common stockholders. Under the two-class method, the net loss attributable to common stockholders is not allocated to the convertible preferred stock as the holders of the convertible preferred stock do not have a contractual obligation to share in losses.

Under the two-class method, basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock. Due to net loss for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2020, basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was the same, as the effect of all potentially dilutive securities would have been anti-dilutive.

In-process Research and Development Assets

In-process research and development assets that are acquired in a transaction that does not qualify as a business combination under GAAP and that do not have an alternative future use are expensed in the period in which the assets are acquired.

Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its chief executive officer, who manages and allocates resources to the operations on a total company basis. Accordingly, there is a single operating segment and one reportable segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise disclosed below, the Company does not believe that the adoption of recently issued standards have or may have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The Company did not adopt any accounting pronouncements during the year ended December 31, 2022.