Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The significant estimates in the Company’s financial statements include the valuation of preferred stock, common stock and related warrants, and other stock-based awards. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on net earnings, financial position or cash flows.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist primarily of legal, accounting and other direct and incremental fees and costs related to the Company’s initial public offering on December 8, 2016. Deferred offering costs of $2,234 were offset against the proceeds received from the initial public offering in December of 2016. At December 31, 2015, deferred offering costs of $132 were deferred in the accompanying balance sheet.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of ninety days or less at the time of deposit to be cash equivalents. The Company does not have any cash equivalents for the periods presented.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist primarily of trade receivables. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful trade receivables equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts. That estimate is based on historical collection experience, current economic and market conditions and a review of the current status of each customer's trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful trade receivables was $0 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 as we believe all of our receivables are fully collectable.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value, using the first-in, first-out convention. Inventories consist of raw materials and finished goods. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had inventories of $57 and $0, respectively.

Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid expenses consist primarily of payments made for director compensation to be earned in the first 6 months of 2017 as well as payments made for director and officer insurance, rent and legal deposits to be expensed in the current year.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Equipment held under capital leases are stated at the present value of minimum lease payments less accumulated amortization.

Depreciation on property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. The cost of leasehold improvements is amortized over the life of the improvement or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Equipment held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. The Company incurs maintenance costs on its major equipment. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require long-lived assets or asset groups to be tested for possible impairment, the Company compares the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment charge is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flow models and the use of third- party independent appraisals. The Company has not recorded an impairment of long-lived assets since its inception.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the commercial sales of products, licensing agreements and contracts to perform pilot studies when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) the performance of service has been rendered to a customer or delivery has occurred; (iii) the amount of fee to be paid by a customer is fixed and determinable; and (iv) the collectability of the fee is reasonably assured.

The Company has generated revenue from a license agreement with a strategic partner, pursuant to which the Company had granted to such partner the exclusive right to manufacture and distribute its product, ContraPest, once the required regulatory approvals were received (See Note 16). This licensing agreement was subsequently terminated on January 23, 2017 (See Note 18). The terms of the licensing agreement contained multiple elements or deliverables, as discussed below. Management evaluates whether the arrangement involving the multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting. To determine the units of accounting under a multiple-element arrangement, management evaluates certain separation criteria, including whether the deliverables have stand-alone value, based on the relevant facts and circumstances of the arrangement.

The Company determined that the license granted pursuant to the license agreement did not have stand-alone value and, therefore, the nonrefundable, upfront license fee payments received by the Company are recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated related performance period (i.e. from the effective date of the agreement through the estimated completion date of the Company’s substantive performance obligations).

In accordance with the terms of the license agreement, the Company was also to receive a future fixed amount of contingent milestone payments (i.e. post-regulatory approval license fees) and contingent sales-based royalties to be received upon the achievement of certain milestone events. The milestone events under the agreement include regulatory approval, patent issuance or alternative intellectual property coverage, and sales-based events. The Company did not earn or receive any of the potential contingent milestone payments, as the milestone events to receive such post-approval license fees and sales-based royalties were not achieved. The Company recognizes revenue that is contingent upon the achievement of a substantive milestone event in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved. A milestone is considered substantive when the consideration payable to the Company for such milestone has all of the following characteristics: (i) there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved; (ii) the event can only be achieved based in whole or part on either the Company’s performance or a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance; and

(iii) if achieved, the event would result in additional payments being due to the Company. As the potential contingent consideration was to be received only upon the achievement of milestone events that are considered substantive, the Company would only recognize such revenue in the period the milestone is achieved and the milestone payments are due and collectible. In addition, the Company accounts for sales-based royalties as revenue upon achievement of certain sales milestones.

Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue in the next twelve months following the balance sheet date are classified as a current liability.

The Company recognizes other revenue earned from pilot studies upon the performance of specific services under the respective service contract.

To date, the Company has generated minimal revenue from the commercial sales of products. 

Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits for research and development employees, stock-based compensation, consulting fees, lab supplies, and costs incurred related to conducting scientific trials and field studies, and regulatory compliance costs. Also, included in research and development expenses is an allocation of facilities related costs, including depreciation of research and development equipment.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based Compensation

Employee stock-based awards, consisting of stock options expected to be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock, are recorded as equity awards. The grant date fair value of these awards is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company expenses the grant date fair value of its stock options on a straight-line basis over their respective vesting periods. Performance-based awards are expensed over the performance period when the related performance goals are probable of being achieved.

For equity instruments issued to non-employees, the stock-based consideration is measured using a fair value method. The measurement of the stock-based compensation is subject to re-measurement as the underlying equity instruments vest.

Convertible Preferred Stock

Convertible Preferred Stock

With the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, in December, 2016, the Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock. The holder of all of the outstanding shares of Series A convertible preferred stock agreed to convert and has converted all of its shares of Series A convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the consummation of this offering. See Note 12.

The Series A convertible preferred stock and Series B convertible preferred stock were presented outside of permanent equity, in temporary or mezzanine equity, on the Company’s December 31, 2015 balance sheet. The Company initially records preferred stock that may be redeemed at the option of the holder based on the occurrence of an event outside of the Company’s control, at the value of the proceeds received. Subsequently, if it is probable that the preferred stock will become redeemable, the Company recognizes changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying amount of the preferred stock to equal its redemption value at the end of each reporting period. If it is not probable that the preferred stock will become redeemable, the Company does not adjust its carrying amount. In the absence of retained earnings, these charges are recorded against additional paid-in capital, if any, and then to accumulated deficit.

Valuation of Common Stock

Valuation of Common Stock

Due to the absence of an active market for the Company’s common stock, the Company utilized methodologies in accordance with the framework of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Technical Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately- Held Company Equity Securities issued as Compensation, to estimate the fair value of its common stock. The valuation methodology includes estimates and assumptions that require significant judgments made by the Company’s management. These estimates assumptions include a number of objective and subjective factors, including external market conditions affecting the biotechnology industry sector, and the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering or sale.

Significant changes to the key assumptions used in the valuations could result in different fair values of the Company’s common stock at each valuation date.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities and net operating loss carryforwards using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent it believes these assets will more likely than not be realized. These deferred tax assets are subject to periodic assessments as to recoverability and if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the benefits will not be realized, valuation allowances are recorded which would increase the provision for income taxes. In making such determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations.

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which eliminates the guidance in Topic 740, Income Taxes, that required an entity to separate deferred tax assets and liabilities between current and noncurrent amounts in a classified balance sheet. The amendments require that all deferred tax assets and liabilities of the same jurisdiction or a tax filing group, as well as any related valuation allowance, be offset and presented as a single noncurrent amount in a classified balance sheet. The standard became effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, and may be applied on either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption was permitted and the Company early adopted this standard for the year ended December 31, 2015 and currently for December 31, 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

The Company applies a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for all tax uncertainties. Only those benefits that have a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities are recognized. Based on its evaluation, the Company has concluded there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in its financial statements.

The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. There are no uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2016 or 2015 and as such, no interest or penalties were recorded in income tax expense. 

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive Loss

Net loss and comprehensive loss were the same for all periods presented; therefore, a separate statement of comprehensive loss is not included in the accompanying financial statements.

Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Basic loss per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock and if-converted methods. For purposes of the computation of diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders, the Series A convertible preferred stock, Series B convertible preferred stock, convertible promissory notes, common stock purchase warrants, and common stock options are considered to be potentially dilutive securities but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders because their effect would be anti-dilutive given the net loss reported for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Therefore, basic and diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders was the same for all periods presented.

The following table sets forth the outstanding potentially dilutive securities that have been excluded in the calculation of diluted loss per share attributable to common stockholders (in common stock equivalent shares):

	December 31,
	2016		2015
Series A convertible preferred stock		—		400,000
Series B convertible preferred stock		—		399,512
Convertible promissory notes		—		56,500
Common stock purchase warrants		829,285		610,487
Restricted stock unit		455,430		—
Common stock options		1,477,300		1,282,862
Total		2,762,015		2,749,361

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). This standard requires management to perform an evaluation in each interim and annual reporting period whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. If such conditions or events exist, ASU 2014-14 also requires certain disclosures of management’s plans and evaluation, as well as the plans, if any, that are intended to mitigate those conditions or events that will alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU No. 2014- 15 is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016 and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not been previously issued. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2014-15 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Since ASU 2014-09 was issued, several additional ASUs have been issued to clarify various elements of the guidance. These standards provide guidance on recognizing revenue, including a five-step model to determine when revenue recognition is appropriate. The standard requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Adoption of the new standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We plan to use the modified retrospective method of adoption and will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our next fiscal year. We have completed an initial evaluation of the potential impact from adopting the new standard, including a detailed review of performance obligations for all material revenue streams. Based on this initial evaluation, we do not expect adoption will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Related disclosures will be expanded in line with the requirements of the standard. We will continue our evaluation until our adoption of the new standard.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments — Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). This standard affects the accounting for equity instruments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective in the first quarter of 2019. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-01 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). This standard amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases, including the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. This standard also introduces new disclosure requirements for leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years for public business entities. Early adoption is permitted and the new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, and provides for certain practical expedients. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). This standard involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods for public business entities. The method of adoption is dependent on the specific aspect of accounting addressed in this new guidance. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 on its financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The amendments in this ASU provide guidance on the following eight specific cash flow classification issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; (6) distributions received from equity method investees; (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. Current GAAP does not include specific guidance on these eight cash flow classification issues. The amendments of this ASU are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.