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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals Corp. (“Kiniksa US”), Primatope Therapeutics, Inc. (“Primatope”) and Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals (UK), Ltd. (“Kiniksa UK”) as well as the subsidiaries of Kiniksa UK, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals (Germany) GmbH (“Kiniksa Germany”) and Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals (France) SARL (“Kiniksa France”), after elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions.

In assessing the consolidation requirement for variable interest entities (“VIE”s), the Company focuses on identifying whether it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE. In the event that the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the VIE would be included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. At December 31, 2019 and 2018 and during the years then ended, the Company was not the primary beneficiary of a VIE.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the accrual for research and development expenses and the valuation of common shares and share‑based awards. Estimates are periodically reviewed in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reporting and Functional Currency

The financial results of the Company's global activities are reported in U.S. dollars (“USD”) and its foreign subsidiaries generally utilize their respective local currency to be their functional currency.

Transactions in other currencies are recorded in the functional currency at the rate of exchange prevailing when the transactions occur. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in other currencies are re-measured into the functional currency at the rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Exchange gains and losses arising from re-measurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in income in the period in which they occur.

For our foreign subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities denominated in local currencies are translated into USD at end-of-period exchange rates and the resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders' equity (deficit).

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company classifies deposits in banks, money market funds and cash invested temporarily in various instruments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase as cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, cash and cash equivalents consisted principally of U.S. Treasury notes, amounts held in money market accounts and cash on deposit at commercial banks.

Short-term Investments

Short‑Term Investments

The Company generally invests its excess cash in money market funds and short‑term investments in U.S. Treasury notes. Such investments included in short‑term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are considered available‑for‑sale debt securities and are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included as a component of shareholders’ equity (deficit). Realized gains and losses, if any, on short‑term investments are included in interest income.

The Company evaluates its short‑term investments with unrealized losses for other‑than‑temporary impairment. When assessing short‑term investments for other‑than‑temporary declines in value, the Company considers such factors as, among other things, how significant the decline in value is as a percentage of the original cost, the Company’s ability and intent to retain the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value and market conditions in general. If any adjustment to fair value reflects a decline in the value of the investment that the Company considers to be “other than temporary,” the Company reduces the investment to fair value through a charge to the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. No such adjustments were necessary during the periods presented.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, substantially all of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were held at two financial institutions. The Company generally maintains balances in various operating accounts at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality, in amounts that may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.

Restricted Cash

In conjunction with the Company’s lease agreement entered into in March 2018 (see Note 5), the Company maintains a letter of credit for the benefit of the landlord. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the underlying cash balance of $210 securing this letter of credit, was classified as non‑current in its consolidated balance sheet.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the related assets using the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of these assets and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are eliminated from the consolidated balance sheet and any resulting gains or losses are included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period of disposal. The expected useful lives of the respective assets are as follows:


		Estimated Useful Life
Computer hardware and software		3 - 5 years
Laboratory equipment		5 years
Furniture, fixtures and vehicles		5 - 7 years
Leasehold improvements		Shorter of estimated useful life or lease term

Impairment of Long‑Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment. Long-lived assets to be held and used are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Factors that the Company considers in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant underperformance of the business in relation to expectations, significant negative industry or economic trends and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. If an impairment review is performed to evaluate a long-lived asset group for recoverability, the Company compares forecasts of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the long-lived asset group to its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset group are less than its carrying amount. The impairment loss would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the impaired asset group over its fair value, determined based on discounted cash flows. To date, the Company has not recorded any impairment losses on long-lived assets.

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process common equity financings as deferred offering costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of convertible preferred shares or in shareholders’ equity (deficit) as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the offering. Should an in-process equity financing be abandoned, the deferred offering costs will be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2018, the Company recorded deferred offering costs of $433 related to the follow-on offering of its Class A common shares and private placement of its Class A1 Common Shares. The follow-on offering and concurrent private placement were finalized in February 2019, and all prior deferred costs were recorded as a reduction to the carrying value. There were no deferred offering costs recorded as of December 31, 2019.

Fair Value Measurements

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

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

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

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

The Company’s restricted cash, which is held in a money market fund, is carried at fair value, determined based on Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy described above (see Note 3). The Company’s cash equivalents and short-term investments, consisting of money market accounts and U.S. Treasury notes, are carried at fair value, determined based on Level 1 and 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy described above (see Note 3). The carrying values of the Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.

Leases

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which set forth the principles for recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of lease arrangements to enhance the transparency and comparability of financial reporting related to the arrangements. ASU 2016-02, including subsequently issued amendments, is collectively referred to as Accounting Standards Codification, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”). The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition approach as applied to leases existing as of the adoption date. The standard will be applied to all leases entered into after the initial adoption date.

At the inception of an arrangement, the Company determines whether the arrangement is or contains a “lease” as defined by ASC 842. A lease is an arrangement, or part of an arrangement, that conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or equipment (an identified asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company determines if the arrangement conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time. It assesses throughout the period of use whether the Company has both of the following (1) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset and (2) the right to direct the use of the identified asset. This determination is reassessed if the terms of the arrangement are changed. Leases are classified as operating or finance leases based on the terms of the lease agreement and certain characteristics of the identified asset. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of the minimum future lease payments.

Most leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the balance sheet as ROU assets with corresponding lease liabilities and, if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company has elected not to recognize leases with a term of one year or less on its balance sheet. Operating leases, ROU assets and their corresponding lease liabilities are recorded based on the present value of lease payments over the expected remaining lease term. However, certain adjustments to the ROU assets may be required for items such as incentives received. The interest rate implicit in lease arrangements is typically not readily determinable. As a result, the Company utilizes its incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

In accordance with the guidance in ASU 2016-02, components of a lease should be split into three categories: lease components (e.g., land, building, etc.), non-lease components (e.g., common area maintenance, consumables, etc.), and non-components (e.g., property taxes, insurance, etc.); then the fixed and in-substance fixed contract consideration (including any related to non-components) must be allocated based on fair values to the lease components and non-lease components.

Although separation of lease and non-lease components is required, certain practical expedients are available. Companies may elect the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components. In which case, the Company would account for each lease component and the related non-lease component together as a single component. The Company has elected to account for the lease and non-lease components of each of its operating leases as a single lease component and allocate all of the arrangement consideration to the lease component only. The lease component results in an operating right-of-use asset being recorded on the balance sheet and amortized on a straight-line basis as lease expense.

Segment Information

The Company manages its operations as a single operating segment for the purposes of assessing performance and making operating decisions. The Company’s singular focus is on developing and delivering therapeutic medicines for patients suffering from debilitating diseases with significant unmet medical need.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred to discover, research and develop drug candidates, including personnel expenses, share‑based compensation expense, allocated facility‑related and depreciation expenses, third‑party license fees and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct preclinical and clinical development activities and clinical trials as well as to manufacture clinical trial materials. Non‑refundable prepayments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses. Such amounts are recognized as an expense as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed, or until it is no longer expected that the goods will be delivered, or the services rendered. Milestone and other payments made to third-parties with respect to in-process research and development, in accordance with the Company’s license, acquisition and other similar agreements are expensed when determined to be probable and estimable.

Research Contract Costs and Accruals

The Company has entered into various research and development-related contracts with companies both inside and outside of the United States. The related costs are recorded as research and development expenses as incurred. The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research and development costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the studies or clinical trials, including the phase or completion of events, invoices received and contracted costs. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from the Company's estimates. The Company's historical accrual estimates have not been materially different from the actual costs.

Patent Costs

The Company charges patent-related costs in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications to operations as incurred as their realization is uncertain. These costs are classified as general and administrative expenses.

Share-Based Compensation

Share‑Based Compensation

The Company measures all share-based awards granted to employees and directors based on their fair value on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense for those awards over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The Company issues share-based awards with both service-based vesting conditions and performance-based vesting conditions. Expense for awards with service-based vesting is recorded using the straight-line method, and expense for awards with performance-based vesting conditions is recognized using the accelerated-attribution method.

For share-based awards granted to consultants and non-employees, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period of the awards, which is generally the period during which services are rendered by such consultants and non-employees until completed. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to completion of the service, the fair value of these awards is remeasured using the then-current fair value of the Company's Class A common shares and updated assumption inputs in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

The Company classifies share-based compensation expense in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the same manner in which the award recipient's payroll costs are classified or in which the award recipient's service payments are classified.

The fair value of each restricted share award is estimated on the date of grant based on the fair value of the Company’s Class A common shares or Class B common shares on that same date.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the expected share price volatility, the expected term of the award, the risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends (see Note 9). Prior to May 2018, the Company was a private company and, accordingly, lacks company-specific historical and implied volatility information for its shares. Therefore, it estimates its expected share price volatility based on the historical volatility of 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 share price. The expected term of the Company’s options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The expected term of options granted to non-employees is equal to the contractual term of the option award. 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. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends on common shares and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

The fair value of each restricted share unit award is based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A common shares on the date of grant. Restricted share unit awards with an associated performance condition are evaluated on a regular basis for probability of achievement, to determine the timing of recording share-based compensation expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in shareholders’ equity (deficit) that result from transactions and economic events other than those with shareholders. For the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s other comprehensive loss was comprised of unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments and currency translation adjustments, net of tax.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using 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 recognized in the consolidated financial statements or in the Company’s tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded in the benefit for income taxes. The Company assesses the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent it believes, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance is established through a charge to income tax expense. Potential for recovery of deferred tax assets is evaluated by estimating the future taxable profits expected and considering prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

As an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda, the Company is principally subject to taxation in Bermuda. Under the current laws of Bermuda, tax on a company’s income is assessed at a zero percent tax rate. As a result, the Company has not recorded any income tax benefits from losses incurred in Bermuda during each reporting period, and no net operating loss carryforwards will be available to the Company for those losses. The Company’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Kiniksa US, and Primatope are subject to federal and state income taxes in the United States. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Kiniksa UK., and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Kiniksa Germany and Kiniksa France are subject to taxation in their respective countries.

The Company’s benefit for income taxes primarily relates to net credits earned against taxable income generated by its wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily, Kiniksa US, under cost‑plus arrangements that they have with the Company. The benefit for income taxes is impacted by the Foreign Derived Intangible Income, or (“FDII”), deduction and U.S. federal and state research and development tax credits. FDII was enacted as part of the tax reform enacted by the United States in December 2017, generally referred to as the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with additional proposed regulations and guidance issued in 2019. Upon the completion of the Company’s assessment, the Company has included the tax impact of FDII in its income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2019, based on its understanding of the rules available at the time of this filing. However, the amounts recorded could be impacted in the future when the proposed regulations and guidance are finalized.

The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine the amount of tax benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained, the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of the benefit that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The provision for income taxes includes the effects of any resulting tax reserves, or unrecognized tax benefits, that are considered appropriate as well as the related net interest and penalties. In 2019, the Company identified an uncertain tax position related to historic research and development credits as a result of a R&D study performed (see Note 11).

Net Loss per Share

The Company follows the two‑class method when computing net loss per share as the Company has issued shares that meet the definition of participating securities. The two‑class method determines net loss per share for each class of common and participating securities according to dividends declared or accumulated and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The two‑class method requires income available to common shareholders for the period to be allocated between common and participating securities based upon their respective rights to receive dividends as if all income for the period had been distributed.

Basic net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss attributable to common shareholders is computed by adjusting net loss attributable to common shareholders to reallocate undistributed earnings based on the potential impact of dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders is computed by dividing the diluted net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares. For purpose of this calculation, outstanding options, unvested restricted common shares and convertible preferred shares are considered potential dilutive common shares.

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Account Standards Update (“ASU”), No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). The standard, including subsequently issued amendments, collectively referred to as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842, established principles of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of lease arrangements applicable to lessees and lessors in order to enhance the transparency and compatibility of financial reporting related to the arrangements, including with respect to the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from a lease. The Company adopted new accounting guidance regarding the accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach that was applied to leases existing as of, or entered into prior to, January 1, 2019. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, “Leases” for a discussion of the Company’s policy with respect to this standard and Note 5, “Leases” for a discussion of the Company’s adoption of this standard and its impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Upon the adoption of ASC 842, the Company recorded operating lease right-of-use assets of $3,682 and operating lease liabilities of $3,917 for its leases which were in effect and had commenced prior to January 1, 2019 and had original lease terms of more than 12 months.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other— Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) (“ASU 2018-15”), which amends ASC 350-40 to address a customer’s accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement (“CCA”) that is a service contract. ASU 2018-15 aligns the accounting for costs incurred to implement a CCA that is a service contract with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Specifically, the ASU amends ASC 350 to include in its scope implementation costs of a CCA that is a service contract and clarifies that a customer should apply ASC 350-40 to determine which implementation costs should be capitalized in a CCA that is considered a service contract. The standard became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that ASC 350-40 may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures .

In June 2016, the FASB, issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments: Credit Losses (Topic 326)(“ASU 2016-13)”, as clarified in ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05. The objective of the standard is to provide information about expected credit losses on financial instruments at each reporting date and to change how other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities are recorded. The standard became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2020. The Company does not anticipate the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740)(“ASU 2019-12”). The objective of the standard is to improve areas of GAAP by removing certain exceptions permitted by ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes and clarifying existing guidance to facilitate consistent application. The standard will become effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the new standard to determine the potential impact of ASU 2019-12 on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.