Nature of business and basis of presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Nature of business and basis of presentation
Nature of business and basis of presentation	1. Nature of business and basis of presentation Nature of business—Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on precision oncology through synthetic lethality. The Company began principal operations in 2006 and is headquartered in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Prior to the acquisition of Atrin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Atrin”), the Company was engaged in the clinical development of cancer therapeutics that reactivate the mutant p53 tumor suppressor protein. In December 2020, the Company announced that its pivotal Phase 3 myelodysplastic syndromes trial failed to meet its predefined primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) rate. Given these results, FDA feedback and the costs of continuing the APR-246 development program, the Company shifted focus of its activities to the assets acquired in the May 16, 2022 acquisition of Atrin (see Note 3). The Company’s lead product candidate, which was acquired in the Atrin acquisition, is ATRN-119, a Phase 1-ready small molecule ATR inhibitor being developed for solid tumor indications. Agreement and plan of merger—On May 16, 2022, the Company acquired Atrin (the “Atrin Acquisition”). Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan or Merger dated May 16, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), the Company issued to the stockholders of Atrin 55,869 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 2,949,630 shares of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) (as described below). The Series A Preferred Stock had a conversion value on the closing date of $68.8 million. In addition, the Company assumed options granted under the Atrin stock option plan, which became options to purchase 163,757 shares of the Company’s common stock. See Note 3 for additional information. Series A Preferred Stock—In connection with the Atrin Acquisition, the Company issued 2,949,630 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into 10 shares of common stock on a pre-Reverse Stock Split (as defined below) basis. Reverse stock split—On February 10, 2023, the Company effectuated a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split reduces the Company’s shares of outstanding common stock, stock options and RSU’s. Fractional shares of common stock that would have otherwise resulted from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded down to the nearest whole share and cash in lieu of payments were made to stockholders. All share and per share data for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements and the related disclosures have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect the Reverse Stock Split. The number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share remains unchanged. Basis of presentation and management plans—The accompanying financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital, and has financed its operations through the issuance of convertible preferred stock and common stock. The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for the Company’s intellectual property will be maintained, that any therapeutic products developed will obtain required regulatory approval or that any approved or consumer products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant product sales. The Company believes that the June 30, 2023 cash balance of approximately $27.7 million will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the fourth quarter of 2024. In the event that additional funds are not available thereafter, management would expect to significantly reduce expenditures to conserve cash, which would involve scaling back or curtailing new development activity.

Nature of business and basis of presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Nature of business and basis of presentation

Nature of business and basis of presentation

1. Nature of business and basis of presentation

Nature of business—Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on precision oncology through synthetic lethality. The Company began principal operations in 2006 and is headquartered in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Prior to the acquisition of Atrin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Atrin”), the Company was engaged in the clinical development of cancer therapeutics that reactivate the mutant p53 tumor suppressor protein. In December 2020, the Company announced that its pivotal Phase 3 myelodysplastic syndromes trial failed to meet its predefined primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) rate. Given these results, FDA feedback and the costs of continuing the APR-246 development program, the Company shifted focus of its activities to the assets acquired in the May 16, 2022 acquisition of Atrin (see Note 3). The Company’s lead product candidate, which was acquired in the Atrin acquisition, is ATRN-119, a Phase 1-ready small molecule ATR inhibitor being developed for solid tumor indications.

Agreement and plan of merger—On May 16, 2022, the Company acquired Atrin (the “Atrin Acquisition”). Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan or Merger dated May 16, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), the Company issued to the stockholders of Atrin 55,869 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 2,949,630 shares of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) (as described below). The Series A Preferred Stock had a conversion value on the closing date of $68.8 million. In addition, the Company assumed options granted under the Atrin stock option plan, which became options to purchase 163,757 shares of the Company’s common stock. See Note 3 for additional information.

Series A Preferred Stock—In connection with the Atrin Acquisition, the Company issued 2,949,630 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into 10 shares of common stock on a pre-Reverse Stock Split (as defined below) basis.

Reverse stock split—On February 10, 2023, the Company effectuated a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split reduces the Company’s shares of outstanding common stock, stock options and RSU’s. Fractional shares of common stock that would have otherwise resulted from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded down to the nearest whole share and cash in lieu of payments were made to stockholders. All share and per share data for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements and the related disclosures have been adjusted retrospectively to reflect the Reverse Stock Split. The number of authorized shares of common stock and the par value per share remains unchanged.

Basis of presentation and management plans—The accompanying financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to business planning, research and development, recruiting management and technical staff, and raising capital, and has financed its operations through the issuance of convertible preferred stock and common stock.

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the biopharmaceutical industry. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully completed, that adequate protection for the Company’s intellectual property will be maintained, that any therapeutic products developed will obtain required regulatory approval or that any approved or consumer products will be commercially viable. Even if the Company’s development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will generate significant product sales.

The Company believes that the June 30, 2023 cash balance of approximately $27.7 million will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations into the fourth quarter of 2024. In the event that additional funds are not available thereafter, management would expect to significantly reduce expenditures to conserve cash, which would involve scaling back or curtailing new development activity.