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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain prior year reported amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, accruals for research and development costs, fair value of assets, stock-based compensation, income taxes and uncertain tax positions. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other market-specific and relevant assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, however, actual results may differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition
The Company accounts for revenues in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that fall within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) we satisfy a performance obligation. We only apply the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration we are entitled to in exchange for the goods or services we transfer to the customer.
At contract inception, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract, determine those that are performance obligations, and assess whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. To date, our revenues have been generated solely from the Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis (the “Novartis Agreement”). The Novartis Agreement includes licenses of intellectual property, cost reimbursements, research and development services, upfront signing fees, milestone payments and royalties on future licensee’s product sales.
As part of accounting for this arrangement, we must apply judgment to determine whether the performance obligations are distinct, and develop assumptions in determining the stand-alone selling price for each distinct performance obligation identified in the contract. To determine the stand-alone selling price, we rely on assumptions which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement rates for personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
Licenses of Intellectual Property
If the license to our intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, we recognize revenues from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other promises, we utilize judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenues. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
Milestone Payments
At the inception of an arrangement that includes development milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which we recognize revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each reporting period, we re-evaluate the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint and, if necessary, adjust our estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect collaboration and license revenue in the period of adjustment.
Research and development services
Amounts related to research and development services are recognized as the related services or activities are performed, in accordance with the contract terms. The cost associated with full-time equivalent researchers is estimated each period and billable to Novartis based at specified full-time equivalent rates.
Royalties:
The sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, are considered to be predominately related to the license included in the arrangement, and we will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, we have not recognized any royalty revenue from the Novartis Agreement.
We recognize contract assets when we have a right to consideration in exchange for goods or services that the Company has transferred to a customer when that right is conditional on something other than the passage of time. A receivable will be recorded on the balance sheet when the Company has unconditional rights to consideration (i.e., only the passage of time is required before payment becomes due). A contract liability is an obligation to transfer goods or services for which the Company has received consideration, or for which an amount of consideration is due from the customer. Receivables cannot be netted against contract liabilities and would be presented separately from contract assets. Contract assets and contract liabilities are netted at the contract level.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which to transact and the market-based risk. Fair value accounting is applied for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, tax credit receivable, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. The Company invests in money market funds, U.S. Treasury securities, government notes and corporate debt securities. The Company limits its credit risk associated with its cash and cash equivalents by placing them with banks and institutions it believes are highly credit worthy and in highly rated investments. However, the Company had deposits in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured limit of $250,000. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customer, and the risk with respect to accounts receivable is further mitigated by the short duration of customer payment terms, generally within 60 days, and the pedigree
of the customer base. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, Novartis accounted for 100% of the Company’s revenue and accounts receivable.
The Company’s future results of operations involve several other risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect the Company’s future operating results and cause actual results to vary materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, uncertainty of results of clinical trials and reaching milestones, uncertainty of regulatory approval of the Company’s product candidates, uncertainty of market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, competition from substitute products, including those that may be developed or marketed by larger companies, securing and protecting intellectual property, strategic relationships and dependence on key individuals and sole source suppliers.
The Company’s product candidates require approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and comparable foreign regulatory agencies prior to commercial sales in their respective jurisdictions. There can be no assurance that any product candidates will receive the necessary approvals. If the Company was denied approval, approval was delayed or the Company was unable to maintain approval for any product candidate, it could have a materially adverse impact on the Company.
Segments
The Company operates and manages its business as one reportable and operating segment, which is the business of developing and commercializing novel therapies for fibrotic diseases. The Company’s chief executive officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for allocating and evaluating financial performance. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States of America.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less from the purchase date to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in Money Market Funds, United States (“U.S.”) treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities and corporate debt securities and are stated at fair value.
Short-Term Investments
The Company’s short-term investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency securities and corporate debt securities with remaining maturities beyond three months at the date of purchase. The Company has classified and accounted for its short-term investments as available-for-sale securities as the Company may sell these securities at any time even prior to maturity and such investments represent cash available for current operations. As a result, short-term investments may include securities with maturities beyond twelve months that are classified within current assets in the Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, all of the Company’s short-term investments were classified as available-for-sale and were carried at fair market value with unrealized losses recorded in other comprehensive loss in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. See Note 3 for further details.
Short-term investments are considered impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company consults with its investment managers and considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of its short-term investments on a quarterly basis. If the cost of an individual investment exceeds its fair value, the Company evaluates, among other factors, general market conditions, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than cost and its intent and ability to hold the investment. Once a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge will be recorded to other expense, net, in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss and a new cost basis in the short-term investment will be established. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not recorded any impairment related to other-than-temporary declines in the fair value of short-term investments and long lived assets.
The Company records an allowance for credit losses using an expected loss model. Credit losses are limited to the amount by which the amortized cost of an investment exceeds its fair value. A previously recognized credit loss may be decreased in subsequent periods if the Company’s estimate of fair value for the investment increases. To determine whether to record a credit loss, the Company considers issuer specific credit ratings and historical losses as well as current economic conditions and its expectations for future economic conditions.
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment are recorded at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:
Laboratory equipment5 years
Computer equipment and software3 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of remaining lease term or estimated useful life
Upon retirement or sale of the assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the balance sheets and the resulting gain or loss is recorded to the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of the contract and a records right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability on the balance sheet at lease commencement based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. The Company only considers payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of commencement.
For leases with an initial term greater than 12 months, lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments discounted by the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate. The Company measures ROU assets based on the corresponding lease liability adjusted for (i) payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date, (ii) initial direct costs incurred and (iii) tenant incentives under the lease. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company calculates the present value of future minimum lease payments using its estimated incremental borrowing rate when the discount rate implicit in the lease is not known. The incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. In determining its incremental borrowing rate, the Company gives consideration to its credit risk, term of the lease, total lease payments and an analysis of peer companies with profiles similar to its own.
The Company has elected the short-term lease practical expedient to exclude leases with a term less than 12 months from its ROU assets and lease liabilities. The Company records rent expense for short-term leases in its statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records variable lease payments as incurred. The Company has also elected to not separate lease and non-lease components and, as a result, accounts for any lease and non-lease components as a single lease component.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. There was no impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel costs for the Company’s research and development employees. Also included are non-personnel costs such as fees paid to consultants and third parties for preclinical and clinical studies, research and development services, laboratory supplies and equipment maintenance costs, license costs, contract manufacturing costs and allocations of facility related costs. The Company estimates preclinical and clinical studies and research expenses based on the services performed, pursuant to contracts with research institutions that conduct and manage preclinical and clinical studies and research services on its behalf. We estimate the amount of work completed through review of detailed budgets and timelines included in our contracts and agreements, and update these estimates with information obtained from third-party service providers and internal personnel on a quarterly basis. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the original estimates, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly. Payments made to third parties
under these arrangements in advance of the performance of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses and are expensed as services are rendered.
Payments associated with licensing agreements to acquire exclusive licenses to develop, use, manufacture and commercialize products that have not reached technological feasibility and do not have alternate commercial use are expensed as incurred.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock-based equity awards include restricted stock awards, stock options, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), performance-based restricted stock units ("PSUs"), and shares that will be issued under the Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Stock-based compensation for awards that are granted to employees is accounted at fair value on the award grant date and the expense is recognized over the period the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which is generally on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. The expense is recorded in either research and development or general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss based on the function to which the related services are provided. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur.
The Company utilizes the Monte Carlo simulation model with significant inputs including volatility and closing price of stock on grant for estimating the fair value of equity awards with market-based vesting conditions and uses the closing price of common stock on the date of grant for PSUs and RSUs with a performance or service-based vesting condition.
The Black-Scholes option-pricing model, used to estimate fair value of stock options with service-based vesting conditions, requires the use of the following assumptions:
Expected term—The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term for the Company’s stock options was calculated utilizing the simplified method, which represents the average of the weighted-average vesting term and the contract period of the awards. The expected term for the ESPP is the offering period.
Expected volatility—Prior to the Company being public, the Company did not have any trading history for its common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average historical volatilities of common stock of comparable publicly traded entities over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on their size, stage in the life cycle or area of specialty. As the Company went public in June 2020, the Company will continue to apply this process for stock options and ESPP awards until enough historical information regarding the volatility of its stock price becomes available.
Risk-free interest rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant for zero-coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term of the awards.
Expected dividend—The Company has never paid dividends on the common stock and has no plans to pay dividends on the common stock. Therefore, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero.
Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Current income tax expense or benefit represents the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current year. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and net operating loss and credit carryforwards and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such items are expected to reverse. Deferred income tax assets are reduced, as necessary, by a valuation allowance when management determines it is more likely than not that some or all the tax benefits will not be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC No. 740, Income Taxes. The Company assesses all material positions taken in any income tax return, including all significant uncertain positions, in all tax years that are still subject to assessment or challenge by relevant taxing authorities. Assessing an uncertain tax position begins with the initial determination of the position’s sustainability and is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of each balance sheet date, unresolved uncertain tax positions must be reassessed, and the Company will determine whether (i) the factors underlying the sustainability assertion have changed and (ii) the amount of the recognized tax benefit is still appropriate. The recognition and
measurement of tax benefits requires significant judgment. Judgments concerning the recognition and measurement of a tax benefit might change as new information becomes available.
The Company includes any penalties and interest expense related to income taxes as a component of income tax expense, as necessary.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholders' equity that result from transactions and economic events other than those with stockholders. The Company's comprehensive loss represents unrealized losses on short-term investments.
Interest and other income
Interest and other income includes interest income from our short-term investment portfolio.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributed to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and, if dilutive, the weighted-average number of potential shares of common stock.
Common stock equivalent shares are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss or income per share if their effect is antidilutive. In periods in which the Company reports a net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is generally the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders since dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is antidilutive. The Company reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.