10-Q 1 mcrb-10q_20190930.htm 10-Q mcrb-10q_20190930.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 001-37465

 

 

Seres Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

27-4326290

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

200 Sidney Street - 4th Floor

Cambridge, MA

 

02139

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(617) 945-9626

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001

MCRB

The Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  

  

Small reporting company

 

Emerging growth company

 

 

 

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not 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. 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  

 

As of October 29, 2019, the registrant had 69,993,952 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 


Seres Therapeutics, Inc.

INDEX

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

4

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

 

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

 

5

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

 

6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

 

8

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

9

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

24

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

37

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

37

 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

38

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

38

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

38

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

70

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

70

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

70

Item 5. Other Information

 

70

Item 6. Exhibits

 

71

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

72

 

 

2


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or the Quarterly Report, contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, prospective products, product approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, plans and objectives of management for future operations and future results of anticipated products, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are subject to a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under the sections in this Quarterly Report titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These forward looking statements are subject to numerous risks, including, without limitation, the following:

 

our status as a clinical-stage company and our expectation to incur losses in the future;

 

our future capital needs and our need to raise additional funds;

 

our ability to build a pipeline of product candidates and develop and commercialize drugs;

 

our unproven approach to therapeutic intervention;

 

our ability to enroll patients in clinical trials, timely and successfully complete those trials and receive necessary regulatory approvals;

 

the timing of completion of enrollment and availability of data from our ongoing clinical trials;

 

the expected timing of filings with regulatory authorities related to our product candidates;

 

the effect that the reduction in trial size for our ECOSPOR III trial will have on the results of the trial;

 

our ability to maintain our manufacturing facilities and to receive or manufacture sufficient quantities of our product candidates;

 

our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights;

 

federal, state, and foreign regulatory requirements, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation of our product candidates;

 

our ability to obtain and retain key executives and attract and retain qualified personnel; and

 

our ability to successfully manage our growth.

Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties.

You should read this Quarterly Report and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

 

3


PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

49,296

 

 

$

85,820

 

Investments

 

 

34,492

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

4,073

 

 

 

6,845

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

1,717

 

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

89,578

 

 

 

92,665

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

21,160

 

 

 

26,294

 

Operating lease assets

 

 

11,899

 

 

 

 

Restricted investments

 

 

1,400

 

 

 

1,400

 

Restricted cash

 

 

114

 

 

 

113

 

Total assets

 

$

124,151

 

 

$

120,472

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

4,455

 

 

$

6,415

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

10,522

 

 

 

15,207

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

4,335

 

 

 

 

Deferred revenue - related party

 

 

21,135

 

 

 

20,419

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

1,790

 

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

42,237

 

 

 

42,041

 

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

 

 

16,844

 

 

 

 

Lease incentive obligation, net of current portion

 

 

 

 

 

6,776

 

Deferred rent

 

 

 

 

 

2,216

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion - related party

 

 

94,215

 

 

 

116,840

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

2,410

 

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

664

 

 

 

644

 

Total liabilities

 

 

156,370

 

 

 

168,517

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2019

   and December 31, 2018; no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and

   December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2019

   and December 31, 2018; 69,993,952 and 40,936,735 shares issued and outstanding

   at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

 

70

 

 

 

41

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

408,575

 

 

 

341,284

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(440,871

)

 

 

(389,370

)

Total stockholders’ deficit

 

 

(32,219

)

 

 

(48,045

)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

 

$

124,151

 

 

$

120,472

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue - related party

$

4,840

 

 

$

8,684

 

 

$

21,909

 

 

$

16,721

 

Grant revenue

 

85

 

 

 

371

 

 

 

791

 

 

 

917

 

Collaboration revenue

 

2,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,183

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

7,031

 

 

 

9,055

 

 

 

26,883

 

 

 

17,638

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development expenses

 

18,317

 

 

 

23,675

 

 

 

59,109

 

 

 

71,188

 

General and administrative expenses

 

5,897

 

 

 

7,591

 

 

 

18,966

 

 

 

25,063

 

Restructuring expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,492

 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

24,214

 

 

 

31,266

 

 

 

79,567

 

 

 

96,251

 

Loss from operations

 

(17,183

)

 

 

(22,211

)

 

 

(52,684

)

 

 

(78,613

)

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income (expense), net

 

335

 

 

 

262

 

 

 

744

 

 

 

958

 

Other income

 

439

 

 

 

 

 

 

439

 

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

 

774

 

 

 

262

 

 

 

1,183

 

 

 

958

 

Net loss

$

(16,409

)

 

$

(21,949

)

 

$

(51,501

)

 

$

(77,655

)

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and

   diluted

$

(0.23

)

 

$

(0.54

)

 

$

(0.99

)

 

$

(1.91

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

69,944,068

 

 

 

40,806,413

 

 

 

52,143,492

 

 

 

40,699,422

 

Net loss

 

(16,409

)

 

 

(21,949

)

 

 

(51,501

)

 

 

(77,655

)

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $0

$

7

 

 

$

20

 

 

$

7

 

 

$

137

 

Total other comprehensive income

 

7

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

137

 

Comprehensive loss

$

(16,402

)

 

$

(21,929

)

 

$

(51,494

)

 

$

(77,518

)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(unaudited, in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

Total

Stockholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Par

Value

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Accumulated

Deficit

 

 

Comprehensive

Loss

 

 

Equity

(Deficit)

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

 

 

40,571,015

 

 

$

40

 

 

$

324,376

 

 

$

(263,571

)

 

$

(146

)

 

$

60,699

 

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of

   stock options

 

 

48,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

Issuance of common stock upon vesting

   of RSUs, net of tax withholdings

 

 

51,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock for employee

   tax withholdings

 

 

(17,900

)

 

 

 

 

 

(197

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(197

)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,236

 

Unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

40

 

Adoption of new revenue standard

   (ASC 606)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(26,857

)

 

 

 

 

 

(26,857

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,919

)

 

 

 

 

 

(27,919

)

Balance at March 31, 2018

 

 

40,652,668

 

 

$

40

 

 

$

328,447

 

 

$

(318,347

)

 

$

(106

)

 

$

10,034

 

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of

   stock options

 

 

92,013

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

Issuance of common stock upon vesting

   of RSUs, net of tax withholdings

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,334

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,334

 

Unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

77

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(27,787

)

 

 

 

 

 

(27,787

)

Balance at June 30, 2018

 

 

40,754,681

 

 

$

40

 

 

$

332,872

 

 

$

(346,134

)

 

$

(29

)

 

$

(13,251

)

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of

   stock options

 

 

56,442

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40

 

Issuance of common stock under ESPP plan

 

 

33,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

257

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,317

 

Unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

21

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21,949

)

 

 

 

 

 

(21,949

)

Balance at September 30, 2018

 

 

40,844,455

 

 

$

40

 

 

$

337,486

 

 

$

(368,083

)

 

$

(8

)

 

$

(30,565

)

6


 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

Other

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Par

Value

 

 

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Accumulated

Deficit

 

 

Comprehensive

Income

 

 

Stockholders’

Deficit

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

 

40,936,735

 

 

$

41

 

 

$

341,284

 

 

$

(389,370

)

 

$

 

 

$

(48,045

)

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of

   stock options

 

 

38,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

120

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

120

 

Issuance of common stock upon vesting

   of RSUs, net of tax withholdings

 

 

73,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

153

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

153

 

Issuance of common stock under ESPP plan

 

 

46,472

 

 

 

 

 

 

207

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

207

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,065

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,065

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,333

)

 

 

 

 

 

(24,333

)

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

 

41,094,832

 

 

$

41

 

 

$

343,829

 

 

$

(413,703

)

 

$

 

 

$

(69,833

)

Issuance of common stock from public

   offering, net of commissions, underwriting

   discounts and offering costs

 

 

28,818,578

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

60,498

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60,527

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,097

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,759

)

 

 

 

 

 

(10,759

)

Balance at June 30, 2019

 

 

69,913,410

 

 

$

70

 

 

$

406,424

 

 

$

(424,462

)

 

$

 

 

$

(17,968

)

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of

   stock options

 

 

52,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

Issuance of common stock under ESPP plan

 

 

28,542

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,037

 

Unrealized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,409

)

 

 

 

 

 

(16,409

)

Balance at September 30, 2019

 

 

69,993,952

 

 

$

70

 

 

$

408,575

 

 

$

(440,871

)

 

$

7

 

 

$

(32,219

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7


SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited, in thousands)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(51,501

)

 

$

(77,655

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

6,199

 

 

 

12,887

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

5,803

 

 

 

5,869

 

Non-cash operating lease cost

 

 

1,683

 

 

 

 

Accretion of discount on investments

 

 

(87

)

 

 

(199

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

2,772

 

 

 

(1,461

)

Accounts receivable

 

 

(1,717

)

 

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

(17,709

)

 

 

(16,328

)

Accounts payable

 

 

(1,857

)

 

 

106

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

(3,164

)

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current and long-term liabilities

 

 

(2,895

)

 

 

1,261

 

Net cash (used in) operating activities

 

 

(62,473

)

 

 

(75,520

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(772

)

 

 

(2,133

)

Purchases of investments

 

 

(34,407

)

 

 

(21,832

)

Sales and maturities of investments

 

 

8

 

 

 

118,887

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

 

(35,171

)

 

 

94,922

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of commissions, underwriting discounts

   and offering costs

 

 

60,527

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

145

 

 

 

136

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock and restricted common stock

 

 

153

 

 

 

26

 

Payments of employee tax obligations related to vesting of restricted stock units

 

 

 

 

 

(196

)

Issuance of common stock under ESPP plan

 

 

296

 

 

 

257

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

61,121

 

 

 

223

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(36,523

)

 

 

19,625

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

 

85,933

 

 

 

37,601

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

 

$

49,410

 

 

$

57,226

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment purchases included in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

54

 

 

$

242

 

Reduction of right-of-use assets and lease liability from operating lease modifications or

   reassessments

 

 

154

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

8


SERES THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

1.

Nature of the Business and Basis of Presentation

Seres Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in October 2010 under the name Newco LS21, Inc. In October 2011, the Company changed its name to Seres Health, Inc., and in May 2015, the Company changed its name to Seres Therapeutics, Inc. The Company is a microbiome therapeutics platform company developing a novel class of biological drugs, which are designed to treat disease by restoring the function of a dysbiotic microbiome. The Company is developing SER-287 to treat ulcerative colitis (“UC”), a form of inflammatory bowel disease (“IBD”). SER-109 is designed to reduce recurrences of Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile infection (“CDI”), a debilitating infection of the colon, in patients who have received antibiotic therapy for recurrent CDI by treating the dysbiosis of the colonic microbiome, which, if approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), could be a first-in-field oral microbiome drug.   In addition, using its microbiome therapeutics platform, the Company is developing product candidates to treat diseases where the microbiome is implicated, including SER-301, a rationally designed, fermented IBD candidate, and SER-401, a microbiome therapeutic candidate for use with checkpoint inhibitors in patients with metastatic melanoma. Supporting the Company’s research and development efforts are its deep capabilities related to microbiome therapeutic drug discovery, manufacturing, quality, and clinical development.  The Company believes that these capabilities provide it with important competitive advantages related to the advancement of this novel treatment modality.

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biotechnology industry including, but not limited to, new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology, dependence on key personnel, compliance with government regulations and the need to obtain additional financing. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive pre-clinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities.

The Company’s product candidates are in development. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for the Company’s intellectual property will be obtained, or maintained, that any product candidates developed will obtain necessary government regulatory approval or that any approved products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant revenue from product sales. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change in technology and substantial competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition, the Company is dependent upon the services of its employees and consultants.

In February 2019, the Company implemented corporate changes to focus its resources on advancing its clinical-stage therapeutic candidates. As a result, the Company is concentrating on completing the SER-287 Phase 2b study in mild-to-moderate UC, obtaining results from the ongoing SER-109 Phase 3 study for recurrent CDI, advancing the SER-401 Phase 1b study, in collaboration with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and MD Anderson Cancer Center, to evaluate augmenting checkpoint inhibitor response in patients with metastatic melanoma, and advancing SER-301 into clinical development. In connection with the prioritization of these therapeutic candidates, the Company made changes to its management team and reduced headcount by approximately 30 percent. 

On June 18, 2019, the Company completed an underwritten public offering, in which the Company sold 26,666,667 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $2.25 per share. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the offering were approximately $55,976, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. In addition, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,666,666 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. On June 21, 2019, the Company sold an additional 2,151,911 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $2.25 per share. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company were approximately $4,551, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company.

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 the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company has experienced negative cash flows and had an accumulated deficit of $440,871 and $389,370 as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company incurred a loss of $51,501 and used $62,473 of cash in operations.  The Company expects that its operating losses and negative cash flows will continue for the foreseeable future.  The Company expects that its cash, cash equivalents and investments at September 30, 2019 of $83,788 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months from issuance of the financial statements. The future viability of the Company beyond that point is dependent on its ability to raise additional capital to finance its operations.

 

9


The Company is eligible to receive contingent milestone payments under its license and collaboration agreement with Nestec Ltd. (“NHS”), an affiliate of Nestlé Health Science US Holdings, Inc. (“Nestlé Health Science”), a significant stockholder of the Company, if certain development milestones are achieved. However, these milestones are uncertain and there is no assurance that the Company will receive any of them.  Until such time, if ever, as the Company can generate substantial product revenue, the Company will finance its cash needs through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, governmental funding, collaborations, strategic partnerships, or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties. The Company may not be able to obtain funding on acceptable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to raise additional funds as and when needed, it would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition, which may require the Company to delay, reduce or eliminate certain research and development activities and reduce or eliminate discretionary operating expenses, which could constrain the Company’s ability to pursue its business strategies.

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2019 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 have been prepared by the Company, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on March 6, 2019 (the “Annual Report”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018 was derived from audited annual financial statements, but does not contain all of the footnote disclosures from the annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments which are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019.

 

 

2.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The significant accounting policies and estimates used in preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements are described in the Company’s audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Annual Report. There have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 except for the adoption of the new lease accounting standard discussed in Note 9, Leases.

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 and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition and the accrual of research and development expenses. Estimates are periodically reviewed in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period and, if dilutive, the weighted average number of potential shares of common stock, including the assumed exercise of stock options and unvested restricted stock.

10


The restricted stock units granted by the Company entitle the holder of such awards to ordinary cash dividends paid to substantially all holders of the Company’s common stock, as if such shares were outstanding common shares at the time of the dividend. The dividends are paid in cash or shares of common stock when the applicable restricted stock unit vests. However, the unvested restricted stock units are not entitled to share in the residual net assets (deficit) of the Company. Accordingly, in periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, since dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.

The following potential common shares, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

 

 

 

Three and Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Stock options to purchase common stock

 

 

8,258,031

 

 

 

7,444,040

 

Unvested restricted stock units

 

 

145,900

 

 

 

289,908

 

Shares issuable under ESPP

 

 

13,171

 

 

 

44

 

Total common stock equivalents

 

 

8,417,102

 

 

 

7,733,992

 

 

Leases

The Company evaluates arrangements at inception to determine if an arrangement is or contains a lease. Operating lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based upon the present value of lease payments over the lease term. When determining the lease term, the Company includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company uses an incremental borrowing rate that the Company would expect to incur for a fully collateralized loan over a similar term under similar economic conditions to determine the present value of the lease payments. The lease payments used to determine the Company’s operating lease assets may include lease incentives and stated rent increases and are recognized in the Company’s operating lease assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Variable lease payments are recognized as the associated obligation is incurred.

Restructuring

Restructuring costs are comprised of severance costs related to workforce reductions. The Company recognizes restructuring charges when the liability is incurred. Employee termination benefits are accrued at the date management has committed to a plan of termination and employees have been notified of their termination dates and expected severance payments.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), (“Topic 842”), which establishes principles that lessees and lessors shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The most notable change is lessees recognizing an asset and liability on their balance sheet for operating leases. In 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, and ASU 2018-11, which collectively adds two practical expedients, provides a second modified retrospective transition method which does not require retrospective adjustment of prior periods, and provides certain narrow scope improvements to the new lease guidance. ASU 2016-02 and the amending ASUs are effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted.

11


The Company adopted the new guidance as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition approach with no restatement of prior periods or cumulative adjustment to accumulated deficit. Upon adoption, the Company elected the package of transition practical expedients, which allowed the Company to carry forward prior conclusions related to whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company also made an accounting policy election not to recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less within its condensed consolidated balance sheets and to recognize those lease payments on a straight-line basis in its condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss over the lease term. Upon adoption of the new leasing standards, the Company recognized an operating lease asset of approximately $13,737 and a corresponding operating lease liability of approximately $24,497, which are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The adoption of the new leasing standards did not have any impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The impact to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the opening balances is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31, 2018

 

 

Impact of adoption

of ASC 842

 

 

January 1, 2019

 

Operating lease assets

 

$

 

 

$

13,737

 

 

$

13,737

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

15,207

 

 

 

(1,768

)

 

 

13,439

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

4,285

 

 

 

4,285

 

Lease incentive obligation, net of current portion

 

 

6,776

 

 

 

(6,776

)

 

 

 

Deferred rent

 

 

2,216

 

 

 

(2,216

)

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

 

 

 

 

 

20,212

 

 

 

20,212

 

 

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 simplifies the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions. This ASU is effective for public entities for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2019, the impact of adoption of this standard was immaterial to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). This standard eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements as part of its disclosure framework project. ASU 2018-13 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its adoption of ASU 2018-13 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2018 the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction between Topic 808 and Topic 606. This standard makes targeted improvements for collaborative arrangements as follows:

 

Clarifies that certain transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for as revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, when the collaborative arrangement participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account. In those situations, all the guidance in ASC 606 should be applied, including recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements;

 

Adds unit-of-account guidance to ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, to align with the guidance in ASC 606 (that is, a distinct good or service) when an entity is assessing whether the collaborative arrangement or a part of the arrangement is within the scope of ASC 606; and

 

Requires that in a transaction with a collaborative arrangement participant that is not directly related to sales to third parties, presenting that transaction together with revenue recognized under ASC 606 is precluded if the collaborative arrangement participant is not a customer.

This standard will be effective on January 1, 2020; however, early adoption is permitted. A retrospective transition approach is required for either all contracts or only for contracts that are not completed at the date of initial application of ASC 606, with a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that this standard may have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

 

12


3.Fair Value Measurements

Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:

 

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2—Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.

The Company’s cash equivalents and investments are carried at fair value, determined according to the fair value hierarchy described above. The money market funds represent open-ended mutual funds with published daily net asset values at which investors can freely subscribe to or redeem from the funds and is classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The carrying values of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these liabilities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets.

The following table presents information about the Company’s assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values (note there were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2019 Using:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

24,134

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

24,134

 

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 

$

5,495

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,495

 

Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial paper

 

$

 

 

$

17,920

 

 

$

 

 

$

17,920

 

Corporate bonds

 

 

 

 

 

15,029