false 2021 Q1 0001681087 --12-31 P6Y P6Y P7Y7M24D P8Y4M9D P6Y8M4D 0001681087 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 xbrli:shares 0001681087 2021-05-06 iso4217:USD 0001681087 2021-03-31 0001681087 2020-12-31 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares 0001681087 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2019-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2019-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2019-12-31 0001681087 2019-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember 2020-03-31 0001681087 2020-03-31 avro:Segment 0001681087 avro:MPSIILicenseAgreementMember avro:UniversityOfManchesterAgreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-12-31 0001681087 avro:MPSIILicenseAgreementMember avro:UniversityOfManchesterAgreementMember 2020-09-29 2020-09-30 0001681087 avro:MPSIILicenseAgreementMember avro:UniversityOfManchesterAgreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 iso4217:GBP iso4217:CAD 0001681087 avro:FabrylicenseagreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2016-01-27 0001681087 avro:FabrylicenseagreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2016-01-27 2016-01-27 0001681087 avro:UHNagreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:UHNagreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:Interleukin12LicenseAgreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2016-01-27 2016-01-27 0001681087 avro:Interleukin12LicenseAgreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2016-01-27 0001681087 avro:Interleukin12LicenseAgreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2018-01-01 2018-12-31 0001681087 avro:Interleukin12LicenseAgreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:Interleukin12LicenseAgreementMember avro:UHNagreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:BioMarinPharmaceuticalIncMember 2017-08-31 2017-08-31 0001681087 avro:BioMarinPharmaceuticalIncMember 2017-08-31 0001681087 avro:BioMarinPharmaceuticalIncMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:BioMarinPharmaceuticalIncMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:GenstemTherapeuticsIncMember 2017-10-02 2017-10-02 0001681087 avro:GenstemTherapeuticsIncMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:GenstemTherapeuticsIncMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:LundUniversityRightsHoldersAgreementMember 2016-11-17 2016-11-17 0001681087 avro:LundUniversityRightsHoldersAgreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:LundUniversityRightsHoldersAgreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap:MoneyMarketFundsMember us-gaap:CashEquivalentsMember us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:MoneyMarketFundsMember us-gaap:CashEquivalentsMember us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap:MoneyMarketFundsMember us-gaap:CashEquivalentsMember us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:MoneyMarketFundsMember us-gaap:CashEquivalentsMember us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:OfficeEquipmentMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:OfficeEquipmentMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:LeaseholdImprovementsMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:LeaseholdImprovementsMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:ComputerEquipmentMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:ComputerEquipmentMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandEighteenStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandEighteenStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandEighteenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandEighteenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandNineteenInducementsPlanMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandNineteenInducementsPlanMember 2020-12-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandTwentyInducementsPlanMember 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:TwoThousandTwentyInducementsPlanMember 2020-12-31 xbrli:pure 0001681087 2020-01-01 2020-12-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RestrictedStockMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 us-gaap:RestrictedStockMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:LicenseAgreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:LicenseAgreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31 0001681087 avro:OfficersAndBoardMembersMember avro:SubleaseAgreementMember 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001681087 avro:OfficersAndBoardMembersMember avro:SubleaseAgreementMember 2020-01-01 2020-03-31

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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 March 31, 2021

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: 001-38537

 

 

AVROBIO, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

81-0710585

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

 

One Kendall Square

Building 300, Suite 201

Cambridge, MA

 

02139

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617914-8420

 

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, $0.0001 par value per share

 

AVRO

 

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

 

Smaller 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 May 6, 2021, the registrant had 41,766,122 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1

 

Balance Sheets

1

 

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

2

 

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

3

 

Statements of Cash Flows

4

 

Notes to Financial Statements

5

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

24

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

25

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

26

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

26

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

26

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

 

 


i


 

Summary of the Material Risks Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that you should be aware of in evaluating our business. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

We have incurred net losses since inception. We expect to incur net losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

 

 

We will need additional funding, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.

 

 

Business interruptions resulting from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic or similar public health crises have caused and may continue to cause a disruption of the development of our product candidates and adversely impact our business.

 

 

Our lentiviral-based gene therapy product candidates are based on a novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product candidate development and of subsequently obtaining regulatory approval.

 

 

Our product candidates and the process for administering our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences following any potential marketing approval.

 

 

Success in preclinical studies or early clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained in later trials.

 

 

We may find it difficult to enroll patients in our clinical trials, which could delay or prevent us from proceeding with clinical trials of our product candidates.

 

 

We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or we may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.

 

 

Even if we complete the necessary preclinical and clinical studies, we cannot predict when or if we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize a product candidate and the approval may be for a narrower indication than we seek.

 

 

Our regulatory approach for AVR-RD-01 for the treatment of Fabry disease recently changed, and there can be no assurance that our new, proposed regulatory pathway will be accepted by regulatory agencies.

 

 

Only certain of our clinical trials, including the Phase 2 clinical trial of AVR-RD-01 for Fabry disease and the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AVR-RD-02 for Gaucher disease type 1, utilize our commercial-scale plato® platform.

 

 

We face significant competition in our industry and there can be no assurance that our product candidates, if approved, will achieve acceptance in the market over existing established therapies. In addition, our competitors may develop therapies that are more advanced or effective than ours, which may adversely affect our ability to successfully market or commercialize any of our product candidates.

 

 

Gene therapies are novel, complex and difficult to manufacture. We could experience production problems that result in delays in our development or commercialization programs or otherwise adversely affect our business.

 

 

We expect to rely on third parties to conduct some or all aspects of our vector production, product manufacturing, protocol development, research and preclinical and clinical testing, and these third parties may not perform satisfactorily.

 

 

We are dependent on a limited number of suppliers for some of our components and materials used in our product candidates.

 

 

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts.

 

 

Our rights to develop and commercialize our product candidates are subject, in part, to the terms and conditions of licenses granted to us by others. In particular, we have in-licensed certain intellectual property rights and know-how relevant to AVR-RD-01 for our Fabry program, AVR-RD-02 for our Gaucher type 1 program and AVR-RD-05 for our Hunter program, but do not own any patents or patent applications covering these product candidates.

 

ii


 

 

We and our independent registered public accounting firm previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which have now been remediated. Nevertheless, if we experience material weaknesses or deficiencies in the future or otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective internal controls, we may be unable to produce timely and accurate financial statements, and we may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective, which could adversely impact our investors’ confidence and our stock price.

The summary risk factors described above should be read together with the text of the full risk factors below, in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, as well as in other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The risks summarized above or described in full below are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not precisely known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth prospects.

iii


Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “could,” “designed to,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “strives,” “should,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Our forward-looking statements are based on a series of expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our company, are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve substantial risks and uncertainty. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements. Our business and our forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties inherent in our statements regarding:

 

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our clinical trial programs, clinical supply and business generally, as well as our plans and expectations with respect to the timing and resumption of any development activities that were or may be temporarily paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

the timing, progress and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials for our programs and product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation and completion of studies or trials and related preparatory work, the period during which the results of the trials will become available and our research and development programs;

 

the existence or absence of side effects or other properties relating to our product candidates which could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential, or result in significant negative consequences following any potential marketing approval;

 

the durability of effects from our product candidates;

 

the timing, scope or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals;

 

the anticipated regulatory pathway for our product candidates and planned interactions with regulatory agencies;

 

our ability to develop and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical studies;

 

our expectations regarding the size of the patient populations for our product candidates, if approved for commercial use;

 

the implementation of our business model and our strategic plans for our business, product candidates, technology and plato platform;

 

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;

 

the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;

 

the scalability and commercial viability of our manufacturing methods and processes, including our move to a closed, automated system;

 

the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our product candidates, in particular, and gene therapy, in general;

 

our ability to establish or maintain collaborations or strategic relationships or obtain additional funding;

 

our competitive position;

 

the scope of protection we and/or our licensors are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our current and future product candidates, as well as any statements as to whether we do or do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any third-party intellectual property rights;

 

our financial performance;

 

our ability to retain the continued service of our key professionals and to identify, hire and retain additional qualified professionals;

 

developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including other lentiviral-based gene therapy companies;

 

our expectations related to the use of our cash reserves;

 

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

 

our ability to avoid any findings of material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the future;

iv


 

 

the impact of laws and regulations, including without limitation recently enacted tax reform legislation;

 

our expectations regarding the time during which we are an emerging growth company under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or JOBS Act; and

 

other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”

 

All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors or risks and uncertainties referred to in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or included in our other public disclosures or our other periodic reports or other documents or filings filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Except as required by law, we do not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections or other circumstances affecting such forward-looking statements occurring after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. Any public statements or disclosures by us following this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Note Regarding Trademarks

 

All brand names or trademarks appearing in this report are the property of their respective holders. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to AVROBIO, Inc.

 

 

v


 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

233,027

 

 

$

259,682

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

9,037

 

 

 

7,560

 

Total current assets

 

 

242,064

 

 

 

267,242

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

2,930

 

 

 

3,064

 

Restricted cash

 

 

492

 

 

 

492

 

Other assets

 

 

426

 

 

 

436

 

Total assets

 

$

245,912

 

 

$

271,234

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

2,698

 

 

$

2,682

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

9,822

 

 

 

13,693

 

Deferred rent

 

 

248

 

 

 

239

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

12,768

 

 

 

16,614

 

Deferred rent, net of current portion

 

 

214

 

 

 

276

 

Total liabilities

 

 

12,982

 

 

 

16,890

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000 shares authorized; no shares

   issued or outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000 shares authorized; 41,766 and 41,569 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

524,241

 

 

 

518,756

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(291,315

)

 

 

(264,416

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

232,930

 

 

 

254,344

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

245,912

 

 

$

271,234

 

 

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

 

1


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

$

18,527

 

 

$

18,274

 

 

General and administrative

 

 

8,357

 

 

 

8,315

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

26,884

 

 

 

26,589

 

 

Loss from operations

 

 

(26,884

)

 

 

(26,589

)

 

Other (expense) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

10

 

 

 

632

 

 

Other expense

 

 

(25

)

 

 

(16

)

 

Total other (expense) income, net

 

 

(15

)

 

 

616

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(26,899

)

 

$

(25,973

)

 

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(26,899

)

 

$

(25,973

)

 

Net loss per share — basic and diluted

 

$

(0.65

)

 

$

(0.77

)

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding — basic and diluted

 

 

41,618

 

 

 

33,667

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

2


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Total

Stockholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Capital

 

 

Deficit

 

 

Equity

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

 

 

41,569

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

518,756

 

 

$

(264,416

)

 

$

254,344

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,635

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,635

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

197

 

 

 

 

 

 

850

 

 

 

 

 

 

850

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(26,899

)

 

 

(26,899

)

Balance as of March 31, 2021

 

 

41,766

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

524,241

 

 

$

(291,315

)

 

$

232,930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Total

Stockholders’

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Capital

 

 

Deficit

 

 

Equity

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

 

 

31,643

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

330,714

 

 

$

(144,704

)

 

$

186,013

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,822

 

Exercise of stock options

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

35

 

Vesting of restricted stock awards and units

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock upon public offering, net of offering costs of $419

 

 

4,350

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

93,627

 

 

 

 

 

 

93,628

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,973

)

 

 

(25,973

)

Balance as of March 31, 2020

 

 

36,011

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

427,198

 

 

$

(170,677

)

 

$

256,525

 

 

 

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

 

3


 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(26,899

)

 

$

(25,973

)

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

291

 

 

 

283

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

4,635

 

 

 

2,822

 

Deferred rent expense

 

 

(52

)

 

 

(53

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(1,477

)

 

 

976

 

Other assets

 

 

10

 

 

 

319

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(26

)

 

 

(1,443

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

(3,821

)

 

 

635

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(27,339

)

 

 

(22,434

)

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(115

)

 

 

(577

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(115

)

 

 

(577

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

850

 

 

 

35

 

Proceeds from issuance of common shares upon completion of public offering,

   net of offering costs

 

 

 

 

 

93,628

 

Other financing activities

 

 

(51

)

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

799

 

 

 

93,663

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(26,655

)

 

 

70,652

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

 

 

260,174

 

 

 

187,535

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

 

$

233,519

 

 

$

258,187

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and

accrued expenses

 

$

42

 

 

 

Common stock offering costs incurred but unpaid at period end

 

 

 

$

249

 

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

233,027

 

 

$

257,695

 

Restricted cash

 

 

492

 

 

 

492

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

$

233,519

 

 

$

258,187

 

 

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

 

4


 

AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

1. Nature of the Business

AVROBIO, Inc. (the “Company” or “AVROBIO”) is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on developing potentially curative ex vivo lentiviral gene therapies to treat rare diseases following a single dose treatment regimen.

The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to clinical-stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including but not limited to, risks associated with completing preclinical studies and clinical trials, receiving regulatory approvals for product candidates, development by competitors of new biopharmaceutical products, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize revenue from product sales.               

The Company has incurred recurring losses since its inception, including net losses of $26,899 and $25,973 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $291,315. The Company has primarily funded these losses through the proceeds from sales of common and preferred stock. Although the Company has incurred recurring losses and expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, the Company expects that its existing cash and cash equivalents on hand as of March 31, 2021 of $233,027 will be sufficient to fund current planned operations and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months from the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. However, the future viability of the Company is dependent on its ability to raise additional capital to finance its operations. The Company’s inability to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on its financial condition and ability to pursue its business strategies. There can be no assurance that the current operating plan will be achieved or that additional funding will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.   

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (the “unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements”) have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative United States generally accepted accounting principles as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2021, and the results of its operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, its statements of stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and its statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

The results for the three months ended March 31, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021, any other interim periods, or any future year or period. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 18, 2021.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the application of certain significant accounting policies as described below and elsewhere in these notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. As of March 31, 2021, there have been no changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

 

5


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

Segment Information

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the chief executive officer (“CEO”). The Company and the CEO view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment. All material long-lived assets of the Company reside in the United States.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that the Company make estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, judgments and methodologies. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.

Significant estimates relied upon in preparing the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the determination of the fair value of share-based awards issued and the estimation of accrued research and development expenses.

 

Stock-based Compensation

For stock-based awards issued to employees and members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) for their services on the Board, the Company measures the estimated fair value of the stock-based award on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense for those awards over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award. The Company issues stock-based awards with only service-based vesting conditions and records the expense for these awards using the straight-line method. The Company has not issued any stock-based awards with performance- or market-based vesting conditions. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Prior to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, the measurement date for non-employee awards was generally the date the services are completed, resulting in financial reporting period adjustments to stock-based compensation during the vesting terms for changes in the fair value of the awards. After adoption of ASU 2018-07, the measurement date for non-employee awards is the later of the adoption date of ASU 2018-07, or the date of grant, without change in the fair value of the award. For stock-based awards granted to nonemployees subject to graded vesting that only contain service conditions, the Company has elected to recognize stock-based compensation expense using the straight-line recognition method.

The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient’s cash compensation costs are classified.

Given the absence of an active market for the Company’s common stock prior to its initial public offering (“IPO”), the Company and the Board, the members of which the Company believes have extensive business, finance, and venture capital experience, were required to estimate the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of each grant of a stock-based award. The Company and the Board determined the estimated fair value of the Company’s equity instruments based on a number of factors, including external market conditions affecting the biotechnology industry sector. The Company and the Board utilized various valuation 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. Each valuation methodology includes estimates and assumptions that require the Company’s judgment. These estimates and assumptions include a number of objective and subjective factors in determining the value of the Company’s common stock at each grant date, including: (1) prices paid for the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock, which the Company had sold to outside investors in arm’s-length transactions, and the rights, preferences, and privileges of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock and common stock; (2) valuations performed by an independent valuation specialist; (3) the Company’s stage of development; (4) the fact that the grants of stock-based awards involved illiquid securities in a private company; and (5) the

6


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the common stock underlying the stock-based awards, such as an IPO or sale of the Company, given prevailing market conditions.

 

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. As there was no public market for its common stock prior to June 21, 2018, which was the first day of trading, and as the trading history of the Company’s common stock was limited through December 31, 2020, the Company determined the volatility for awards granted up through December 31, 2020 based on an analysis of reported data for a group of guideline companies that issued options with substantially similar terms. Beginning with options granted in 2021, the Company estimates its expected stock volatility using a weighted-average calculation based on the historical volatility of the Company and publicly traded peer companies and expects to continue to do so until such time as it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. The expected volatility has been determined using a weighted-average of the historical volatility measures of this peer group of companies and began utilizing the Company’s historical volatility in fiscal year 2021. The Company expects to continue to do so until such time as it has adequate historical data regarding the volatility of its own traded stock price. The expected term of the Company’s stock options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. The Company has not paid, and does not anticipate paying, cash dividends on its common stock; therefore, the expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, and may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. The Company may take advantage of these exemptions until the Company is no longer an “emerging growth company.” Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period afforded by the JOBS Act for the implementation of new or revised accounting standards. The Company has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards and as a result of this election, its consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. The Company may take advantage of these exemptions up until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of its IPO or such earlier time that it is no longer an “emerging growth company”.

Subsequent Event Considerations

The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements to provide additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. Subsequent events have been evaluated as required.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, (Topic 842) Leases, or ASU 2016-02. ASU 2016-02 requires an entity to recognize assets and liabilities arising from a lease for both financing and operating leases. The ASU will also require new qualitative and quantitative disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. For public entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. As a result of the Company having elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company for the year ended December 31, 2022, and all interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements. Based on this evaluation the Company currently expects that its operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and recognized as right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities upon adoption of this standard, which will increase the Company’s total assets and total liabilities.

7


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, or ASU 2016-13. ASU 2016-13 requires that credit losses be reported as an allowance using an expected losses model, representing the entity's current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred. The accounting guidance currently in effect is based on an incurred loss model. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, this standard now requires allowances to be recorded instead of reducing the amortized cost of the investment. ASU 2016-13 is effective for non-EGCs for fiscal years beginning December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years, and will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those fiscal years, assuming the Company remains an EGC. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects the adoption of ASU 2016-13 may have on its financial statements.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses”, or ASU 2019-11. ASU 2019-11 is an accounting pronouncement that amends ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The amendments update guidance on reporting credit losses for financial assets. These amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The amendments in both ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2019-11 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. As a result of the Company having elected the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, 2016-13 and ASU 2019-11 are effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2016-13 and ASU 2019-11 and their impact on its consolidated financial statements and financial statement disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, or ASU 2019-12. ASU 2019-12 eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 is effective for non-EGCs for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years and will be effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2022, assuming the Company remains an EGC. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effects the adoption of ASU 2019-12 may have on its financial statements.

 

3. License Agreements

Agreement with The University of Manchester

On September 30, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement (“MPSII License Agreement”) with The University of Manchester, England (“UoM”), whereby UoM granted to the Company an exclusive worldwide license under certain patent and other intellectual property rights, subject to certain retained rights, to develop, commercialize and sell an ex vivo lentiviral gene therapy for use in the treatment of Hunter syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (“MPSII”).  As consideration for the MPSII License Agreement, the Company agreed to pay UoM an upfront, one-time fee of $8,000, which was recognized as research and development expense during the year ended December 31, 2020.

As part of the agreement, the Company is obligated to make milestone payments of up to an aggregate of $80,000 upon the achievement of specified development and regulatory milestones, to pay royalties, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis, of a mid-single digit percentage based on net sales of products licensed under the agreement and to pay a low double digit percentage of any sublicense fees received by the Company. The next anticipated payment milestones under the MPSII License Agreement include $2,000, which would become due following the date of regulatory approval of the clinical trial application for the investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical trial sponsored by UoM, and $4,000, upon the dosing of the first patient in the investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical trial sponsored by UoM.  

Unless terminated earlier, the agreement expires upon the later of 15 years from the effective date or the expiration of the last valid claim of the licensed patents, subject to certain surviving rights and obligations. UoM and the Company can each terminate the agreement in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the other party, or a material breach by the other party and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time. UoM has the right to terminate the agreement in the event of certain actions relating to challenge or opposition to the licensed intellectual property brought by the Company or its affiliates or sublicensees.

8


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

Concurrently with the MPSII License Agreement, the Company entered into a collaborative research funding agreement with UoM (“CRFA”). Under the CRFA, the Company has agreed to fund the budgeted costs of an investigator-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical trial to be sponsored by UoM in connection with the development activities under the MPSII License Agreement, which are currently estimated to equal approximately £9,100 in the aggregate. 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, the Company incurred no expenses related to the CRFA.  

Agreements with University Health Network (“UHN”)

Fabry License Agreement—  

On January 27, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with UHN, pursuant to which UHN granted the Company an option to enter into an exclusive license under the UHN intellectual property related to Fabry disease in accordance with the pre-negotiated licensing terms. On November 4, 2016, the Company exercised its option and entered into a license agreement with UHN, pursuant to which UHN granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license under certain intellectual property rights and a non-exclusive worldwide license under certain know-how, in each case subject to certain retained rights, to develop, commercialize and sell products for use in the treatment of Fabry disease. In addition, for three years following the execution of the agreement, UHN granted the Company an exclusive option to obtain a license under certain improvements to the licensed intellectual property rights as well as an option to negotiate a license under certain other improvements.

Under this agreement, the Company paid an option fee of CAD $20, an upfront license fee of CAD $75, plus the annual license maintenance fee for the first year. Thereafter, the Company is also required to pay UHN future annual license maintenance fees until the first sale of a licensed product in certain markets. The Company is also obligated to make future milestone payments in an aggregate amount of up to CAD $2,450 upon the achievement of specified milestones as well as royalties on a country-by-country basis of a low to mid-single-digit percentage of annual net sales of licensed products and a lower single-digit royalty percentage in certain circumstances. Additionally, the Company has agreed to pay a low double-digit royalty percentage of all sublicensing revenue.

The agreement requires the Company to meet certain performance milestones within specified timeframes. UHN may terminate the agreement if the Company fails to meet these performance milestones despite using commercially reasonable efforts and the Company is unable to reach agreement with UHN on revised timeframes. The Company’s royalty obligation expires on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis upon the latest to occur of the expiration or termination of the last valid claim under the licensed intellectual property rights in such country, the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale of such licensed product in such country and the expiration of any applicable regulatory exclusivity in such country.

Unless terminated earlier, the agreement expires upon the expiration of the Company’s royalty obligation for all licensed products. UHN can terminate the agreement if the Company fails to make any payments within a specified period after receiving written notice of such failure, or in the event that the Company fails to obtain or maintain insurance. Either the Company or UHN may terminate the license agreement in the event of a material breach by the other party and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time. The Company can voluntarily terminate the agreement with prior notice to UHN.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded research and development expense related to this agreement with UHN of $44 and $0, respectively, which consists of reimbursable funded study trial costs. No milestone or maintenance fees were incurred related to this agreement in the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Interleukin 12 License Agreement—

9


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

On January 27, 2016, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with UHN, pursuant to which UHN granted the Company a license to certain patent rights for the commercial development, manufacture, distribution and use of any products or processes resulting from development of those patent rights related to Interleukin 12. Upon execution of this agreement, the Company paid an upfront license fee of CAD $264. In addition, as part of the initial consideration for the license, the Company issued to UHN 1,161,665 shares of the Company’s common stock and agreed to pay UHN up to $2,000 upon the closing of an IPO if certain criteria are met. The fair value of the shares issued to UHN of $480 and the upfront fee was expensed upon the execution of the agreement. Upon the closing of the IPO in 2018, as the criteria were met, the Company paid UHN $2,000. The Company is also required to pay UHN future annual license maintenance fees of CAD $50 on each anniversary of the effective date of the license agreement prior to expiration or termination and potential future milestone payments of up to CAD $19,275 upon the achievement of specified clinical and regulatory milestones. The Company also agreed to pay UHN royalties of a low single-digit percentage of net sales of licensed products sold by the Company. If the Company grants any sublicense rights under the license agreement, the Company has agreed to pay UHN a low double-digit royalty percentage of any sublicense income received by the Company.

The agreement requires the Company to meet certain diligence requirements based upon specified milestones. The agreement expires on the later of the date the last patent rights expire in the last country or ten years from the date of first sale. UHN can terminate the agreement if the Company fails to make any payments within a specified period after receiving written notice of such failure, or in the event that the Company fails to obtain or maintain insurance. The Company can voluntarily terminate the agreement with prior notice to UHN. Either the Company or UHN may terminate the license agreement in the event of a material breach by the other party and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded research and development expense related to this agreement with UHN of $39 and $35, respectively, which consists of license maintenance fees. No milestone fees were incurred related to this agreement in the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Agreement with BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (“BioMarin”)

On August 31, 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement with BioMarin, pursuant to which BioMarin granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license under certain intellectual property rights owned or controlled by BioMarin to develop, commercialize and sell products for use in the treatment of Pompe disease. The license agreement was amended in February 2018 and again in January 2020 to, among things, provide that BioMarin would supply the Company with certain technology materials. As consideration for this agreement, the Company paid an upfront license fee of $500 in cash and issued 233,765 shares of Series B Preferred Stock to BioMarin at the time of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock financing in January 2018. The Company has a license agreement with BioMarin, pursuant to which BioMarin granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license under certain intellectual property rights owned or controlled by BioMarin to develop, commercialize and sell products for use in the treatment of Pompe disease. The Company is also obligated to make future milestone payments of up to $13,000 upon the achievement of certain specified milestones and agreed to pay BioMarin royalties of a low single-digit percentage of net sales of licensed products sold by the Company or its affiliates covered by patent rights in a relevant country.

The Company has recognized no expenses related to the license for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Unless terminated earlier, the agreement expires upon the expiration of the Company’s royalty obligation for all licensed products throughout the world. BioMarin and the Company can terminate the agreement in the event of a material breach by the other party and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time. The Company may terminate the agreement at will upon written notice to BioMarin. BioMarin has the right to terminate the agreement upon the Company’s bankruptcy or insolvency, or in the event of any challenge or opposition to the licensed patent rights or related actions brought by the Company or its affiliates or sublicensees, or if the Company, its affiliates or sublicensees knowingly assist a third-party in challenging or otherwise opposing the licensed patent rights, except as required under a court order or subpoena.

Agreement with GenStem Therapeutics, Inc. (“GenStem”)

10


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement with GenStem, pursuant to which GenStem granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license, subject to certain retained rights, under certain intellectual property rights owned or controlled by GenStem to develop, commercialize and sell products for use in the treatment of cystinosis. Under this agreement, the Company paid an upfront license fee of $1,000 and is required to make payments upon completion of certain milestones up to an aggregate of $16,000. The Company also agreed to pay GenStem a tiered mid to high single-digit royalty percentage on annual net sales of licensed products as well as a low double-digit percentage of sublicense income received from certain third-party licensees. The Company’s royalty obligation expires on a licensed product-by-licensed product and country-by-country basis on the eleventh anniversary of the first commercial sale of such licensed product in such country or the expiration of the last valid claim under the licensed patent rights covering such licensed product in such country, whichever is later. Unless terminated earlier, the agreement expires upon the expiration of the Company’s royalty obligation for all licensed products throughout the world. GenStem and the Company can terminate the agreement in the event of a material breach by the other party and failure to cure such breach within a certain period of time. The Company may terminate the agreement at will upon the specified prior written notice to GenStem.

The Company has recognized no research and development expenses related to milestone payments for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

Agreement with Lund University Rights Holders

On November 17, 2016, the Company entered into a license agreement with affiliates of Lund University, along with certain other relevant rights holders that may be added from time to time, pursuant to which such rights holders granted to the Company an exclusive worldwide license, subject to certain retained rights, under certain intellectual property rights to develop, commercialize and sell products in any and all uses relevant to Gaucher disease. As consideration for the license, the Company is required to make payments in connection with the achievement of certain milestones up to an aggregate of $550. The agreement expires on the latest of (i) the twentieth anniversary of the end of a certain research project the Company is funding pursuant to an agreement with Lund University, (ii) the expiration of the term of any patent filed on the licensed rights that covers a licensed product, (iii) the expiration of any applicable marketing exclusivity right and (iv) such time that neither the Company nor any sublicensees, partners or contractors are commercializing a licensed product. Either the Company or the rights holders acting together may terminate the license agreement if the other such party commits a material breach and fails to cure such breach within a certain period of time, or if the other party enters into liquidation, becomes insolvent, or enters into composition or statutory reorganization proceedings.

The Company has recognized no expenses related to this agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

4. Fair Value Measurement

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicates the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents money market funds

 

$

231,651

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

231,651

 

 

 

$

231,651

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

231,651

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents — money market funds

 

$

44,416

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

44,416

 

 

 

$

44,416

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

44,416

 

 

The fair value of cash equivalents was determined through quoted prices by third-party pricing services.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, there were no transfers between levels.

 

11


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

5. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Tax incentive refund

 

$

2,739

 

 

$

2,558

 

Prepaid research and development expenses

 

 

4,297

 

 

 

3,145

 

Prepaid insurance

 

 

692

 

 

 

973

 

Prepaid compensation benefits

 

 

922

 

 

 

609

 

Other current assets

 

 

387

 

 

 

275

 

 

 

$

9,037

 

 

$

7,560

 

 

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Laboratory and office equipment

 

$

4,105

 

 

$

3,965

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

1,394

 

 

 

1,377

 

Computer equipment

 

 

143

 

 

 

143

 

 

 

 

5,642

 

 

 

5,485

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(2,712

)

 

 

(2,421

)

Property and equipment, net

 

$

2,930

 

 

$

3,064

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $291 and $283 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.    

Restricted Cash

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had restricted cash as presented in the table below, which consists of cash used to secure letters of credit for the benefit of the landlord in connection with the Company’s lease agreements. The cash will be restricted until the termination or modification of the lease arrangement.

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Restricted cash

 

$

492

 

 

$

492

 

 

Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Compensation and benefit costs

 

$

3,460

 

 

$

6,402

 

Research and development expenses

 

 

5,151

 

 

 

5,847

 

Consulting and professional fees

 

 

942

 

 

 

1,096

 

Other liabilities

 

 

269

 

 

 

348

 

 

 

$

9,822

 

 

$

13,693

 

 

 

12


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

6. Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

The Company, from time to time, may be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company was not subject to any material legal proceedings during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no material legal proceedings are currently pending or threatened.

Other

The Company is also party to various agreements, principally relating to licensed technology, that require future payments relating to milestones not met at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, or royalties on future sales. No milestone or royalty payments under these agreements are expected to be payable in the immediate future, except as disclosed in Note 3 “License Agreements.”

The Company enters into standard indemnification agreements in the ordinary course of business. Pursuant to the agreements, the Company agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, generally the Company’s business partners, in connection with any U.S. patent or any copyright or other intellectual property infringement claim by any third-party with respect to the Company’s products. Further, the Company indemnifies its directors and officers who are, or were, serving at the Company’s request in such capacities. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as of March 31, 2021. The Company does not anticipate recognizing any significant losses relating to these arrangements. The term of these indemnification agreements is generally perpetual any time after execution of the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company has never incurred costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements.

 

7. Stockholders’ Equity         

 

Common Stock

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the authorized capital stock of the Company included 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, no undesignated preferred stock was outstanding.

As of March 31, 2021, no cash dividends have been declared or paid.

Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company has reserved the following shares of common stock for future issuance:

 

 

 

March 31,

2021

 

 

December 31,

2020

 

Shares reserved for exercise of outstanding stock options

 

 

7,663,046

 

 

 

5,559,545

 

Shares reserved for vesting of restricted stock units

 

 

1,055

 

 

 

1,198

 

Shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 Stock Option

   and Grant Plan

 

 

3,433,617

 

 

 

3,877,478

 

Shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 Employee Stock

   Purchase Plan

 

 

1,178,590

 

 

 

762,900

 

Shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Inducement Plan

 

 

171,300

 

 

 

365,050

 

Shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Inducement Plan

 

 

1,700,000

 

 

 

1,700,000

 

Total shares of authorized common stock reserved for future

   issuance

 

 

14,147,608

 

 

 

12,266,171

 

 

13


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

8. Stock-based Compensation         

Stock Option Valuation

The assumptions that the Company used to determine the grant-date fair value of stock options granted to employees and members of the board of directors were as follows, presented on a weighted-average basis:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Expected option life (years)

 

 

6.00

 

 

 

6.00

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

 

0.63

%

 

 

0.96

%

Expected volatility

 

 

80.67

%

 

 

75.49

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

%

 

 

%

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

Number of

Options

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term

(Years)

 

 

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2020

 

 

5,559,545

 

 

$

14.97

 

 

 

7.65

 

 

$

13,511

 

Granted

 

 

2,359,416

 

 

$

15.66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(196,872

)

 

$

4.32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled or forfeited

 

 

(59,043

)

 

$

17.88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding as of March 31, 2021

 

 

7,663,046

 

 

$

15.45

 

 

 

8.36

 

 

$

9,922

 

Exercisable as of March 31, 2021

 

 

2,254,165

 

 

$

12.75

 

 

 

6.68

 

 

$

8,626

 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying stock options and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock.

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,729 and $133, respectively.

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of the Company’s stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $10.69 and $13.68, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted common stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

 

 

 

Number

of Shares

 

 

Weighted-

Average

Grant

Date Fair

Value

 

Issued and unvested as of December 31, 2020

 

 

1,198

 

 

$

15.65

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(143

)

 

$

15.65

 

Forfeited, cancelled or expired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued and unvested as of March 31, 2021

 

 

1,055

 

 

$

15.65

 

 

The total fair value of restricted stock units vested during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $2 and $15, respectively.

14


AVROBIO, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

Research and development

$

2,115

 

 

$

1,443

 

 

General and administrative

 

2,520

 

 

 

1,379

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

4,635

 

 

$

2,822

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2021, total unrecognized compensation cost related to the unvested stock-based awards was $56,945, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.23 years.

9. Net Loss Per Share

For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, stock options and unvested restricted stock are considered to be common stock equivalents but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. Therefore, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share is the same.

The following potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Options to purchase common stock

 

 

7,663,046

 

 

 

5,310,482

 

Restricted common stock

 

 

1,055

 

 

 

21,798

 

 

10. Related Party Transactions

UHN   

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $39 and $35, respectively, of research and development expense related to the license agreements with UHN. Refer to Note 3 “License Agreements” for additional information regarding the UHN license agreements.  

Others

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded expenses of $641 and $360, respectively, related to a sublease to rent lab space, provided by an entity affiliated with a member of the Company’s board of directors.   

 

 

15


 

Item 2.

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

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2020 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Factors that might cause future results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as supplemented by our subsequent filings with the SEC.

Overview

We are a leading clinical-stage gene therapy company with a mission to free people from a lifetime of genetic disease. Our company is focused on developing potentially curative ex vivo lentiviral-based gene therapies to treat patients with rare diseases following a single dose treatment regimen. Our gene therapies employ hematopoietic stem cells that are harvested from the patient and then modified with a lentiviral vector to insert the equivalent of a functional copy of the gene that is defective in the target disease. We believe that our approach, which is designed to transform stem cells from patients into therapeutic products, has the potential to provide curative benefit for a range of diseases. Our initial focus is on a group of rare genetic diseases referred to as lysosomal disorders, some of which today are primarily managed with enzyme replacement therapies, or ERTs. These lysosomal disorders have well-understood biologies, identified patient populations, established standards of care yet with significant unmet needs, and represent large market opportunities with approximately $4.8 billion in worldwide net sales in 2020.

Our initial pipeline is comprised of six lentiviral-based gene therapy programs: AVR-RD-01 for the treatment of Fabry disease; AVR-RD-04 for the treatment of cystinosis; AVR-RD-02 for the treatment of Gaucher disease type 1; AVR-RD-05 for the treatment of Hunter syndrome; AVR-RD-06 for the treatment of Gaucher disease type 3; and AVR-RD-03 for the treatment of Pompe disease. AVR-RD-01 is currently being evaluated for the treatment of Fabry disease in an investigator-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial and a Company-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial. Five patients have been dosed in the investigator-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial of AVR-RD-01, and enrollment is complete. Seven patients have been dosed in our Company-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trial of AVR-RD-01, which we refer to as the FAB-GT clinical trial, and we are actively recruiting additional potential patients for our currently active sites in Australia, Canada and the United States. AVR-RD-04 is currently being studied for the treatment of cystinosis by our collaborators at the University of California, San Diego, or UCSD, in a Phase 1/2 investigator-sponsored clinical trial, and three patients have been dosed. One patient has been dosed in our Company-sponsored Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AVR-RD-02 for the treatment of Gaucher disease type 1, which we refer to as the Guard1 clinical trial, and we are actively recruiting in Australia and Canada, with additional sites planned in the United States, Israel and Europe. AVR-RD-05 is being studied for the treatment of Hunter syndrome by our collaborators at The University of Manchester, and a Phase 1/2 investigator-sponsored clinical trial is expected to commence in the first half of 2022. AVR-RD-06 is our preclinical program for the treatment of Gaucher disease type 3, for which we expect to request a meeting with the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, this year to discuss a potential path to the clinic. Our AVR-RD-03 program for Pompe disease is currently in preclinical development, and in 2020 we completed IND-enabling proof-of-concept preclinical studies, with toxicology studies expected to be completed in 2021. We currently expect to have dosed an aggregate of 20 to 25 patients across our pipeline by the end of 2021.

Since our inception in 2015, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, acquiring or discovering product candidates and securing related intellectual property rights, conducting discovery, research and development activities for our programs and planning for potential commercialization. To date, we have not generated any product revenue and have financed our operations primarily through the private placement of our securities and through public offerings of our common stock. Through March 31, 2021, we had received gross cash proceeds of $87.5 million from sales of our preferred stock;