Gain Therapeutics, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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(Mark one)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2023

or

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 001-40237

GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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(301) 500-1556

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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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 and post such files).    ☒  Yes    ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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.

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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 April 30, 2023, the registrant had 12,328,846 shares of common stock outstanding.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) 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 forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and are often characterized by the use of words such as “aim”, “believe,” “can,” “could,” “potential,” “plan,” “predict,” “goals,” “seek,” “should,” “may,” “may have,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” or the negative of these terms, other comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. These include, but are not limited to, statements about:

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You should read this Quarterly Report with the understanding that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, expectations, uncertainties, assumptions, estimates and projections about our company and other important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements, actual industry results, or other actual results or events to differ materially from historical results, from any plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in such forward-looking statements or from any future results, performance, achievements or other events expressed, suggested or implied by such forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any forward-looking information or statements as predictors of future results or events. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences in results and events include, without limitation, those specifically addressed under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (“Annual Report”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 23, 2023. The effect of these factors is difficult to predict. In addition, factors other than these could also adversely affect our results, and the reader should not consider these factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties. New factors emerge from time to time, and management cannot assess the impact of any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results or events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Any forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements for any reason after the date of this Quarterly Report to conform these statements to actual results or changes in expectations, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

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Item 1. Financial Statements.

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

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

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GAIN THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Operations and Business

Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (together with its subsidiary, the “Company”), was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware (U.S.) on June 26, 2020. On July 20, 2020, the Company consummated a corporate reorganization, pursuant to which all of the issued and outstanding common and preferred stock of GT Gain Therapeutics SA, a Swiss company formed in 2017, were exchanged for common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, of Gain Therapeutics, Inc., reflecting a 10:1 stock split. The corporate reorganization was accounted for as a recapitalization for accounting purposes, resulting in GT Gain Therapeutics SA becoming the predecessor entity of the Company. As a result of the corporate reorganization, GT Gain Therapeutics SA became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gain Therapeutics, Inc.

On March 17, 2021, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 related to its Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In conjunction with the IPO the Company completed a reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding equity instruments. The reverse stock split was approved by the stockholders on March 4, 2021 and became effective on March 17, 2021. Upon closing of the IPO, the Series A and the Series B Preferred Stock, as resulting from the reverse stock split, were converted to common stock at a ratio of 1-for-1.  

The Company is a biotechnology company developing novel small molecule therapeutics to treat diseases across several therapeutic areas, including central nervous system (“CNS”) disorders, lysosomal storage disorders (“LSDs”), metabolic disorders, and other diseases that can be targeted through protein degradation, such as oncology. The Company uses its exclusively in-licensed computational target and drug discovery platform, Site-Directed Enzyme Enhancement Therapy (“SEE-Tx®”), to discover novel allosteric binding sites on proteins implicated in a disease and to identify proprietary small molecules that bind these sites to modulate protein function and treat the underlying cause of the disease.

Risks and Uncertainties

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

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed financial statements (the “interim financial statements”) reflect the accounts of Gain Therapeutics, Inc., GT Gain Therapeutics SA and its wholly owned branch, Gain Therapeutics Sucursal en España. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the preparation of the interim financial statements. The interim financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US 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”).

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The interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as applied for the audited annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, 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, 2023, the results of its operations and its statements of stockholders’ equity and its statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

The results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023, any other interim periods, or any future year or period. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the notes thereto, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “Annual Report”).

The accompanying interim financial statements reflect the application of significant accounting policies as described below and elsewhere in these notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. As of March 31, 2023, the Company’s significant accounting policies and estimates, which are detailed in the Annual Report, have not changed.

Going Concern

At each reporting period, the Company evaluates whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The Company is required to make certain additional disclosures if it concludes substantial doubt exists about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company has incurred recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and has primarily funded these losses through the completion of its initial public offering (IPO) in March 2021, other equity financings and research grants. The Company anticipates incurring additional losses until such time, if ever, that it can generate significant sales of its product candidates currently in development. Substantial additional capital will be needed by the Company to fund its operations and to develop its product candidates.

The Company’s activities have consisted primarily of organizing and staffing the Company, expanding its operations, securing financing, acquiring, developing and securing its in-licensed technology, performing research and conducting preclinical studies. The Company faces risks associated with early-stage biotechnology companies whose product candidates are in development. Product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing, establishing manufacturing capacity and obtaining regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital for the Company to complete its research and development activities, achieve its research and development objectives, defend its intellectual property rights, and recruit and retain skilled personnel, and key members of management. 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 plans to seek additional funding through public or private equity offerings, debt financings, other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. The Company may not be able to obtain financing on acceptable terms, or at all, and the Company may not be able to enter into strategic alliances or other arrangements on favorable terms, or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders. If the Company is unable to obtain funding when and if needed, the Company could be required to delay, reduce or eliminate research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or future commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect its business prospects.

Management believes that the Company will be able to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2024. The Company based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and the Company could exhaust the available capital resources sooner than expected.

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In accordance with ASU No. 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern”, the Company has evaluated whether there are certain conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As of the issuance date of these financial statements, the Company expects that its cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its forecasted operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months from the issuance date of these financial statements.

Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.

Segment information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker, the Chief Executive Officer, oversees the Company’s operations and manages the business as a single operating segment, which is research and development in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on developing novel therapeutics to treat diseases caused by protein misfolding, such as rare genetic diseases and neurological disorders. Geographically, the research and development activities are mainly performed in Switzerland and Spain. The Company does not consider these geographies to be separate segments.

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2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Company is incorporated in the United States of America and has operations in Switzerland and Spain. The Company’s functional currency is U.S dollars (USD). The functional currencies of the Company’s foreign operations are the local currencies (Swiss Franc in Switzerland and Euro in Spain). Assets and liabilities reported in the consolidated balance sheets are translated into USD (the currency in which these financial statements are presented) at the exchange rates applicable at the balance sheet dates and for the consolidated statement of operations at the average exchange rates for the periods presented. Items representing the share capital and additional paid-in capital are presented at the historical exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations into U.S. dollars are excluded from the determination of net income and are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity. The Company has not utilized any foreign currency hedging strategies to mitigate the effect of its foreign currency exposure. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, accumulated currency translation adjustment recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss amounted to $176,668 and $158,576.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, judgments and assumptions including those related to recognition of accrued expenses, defined benefit pension liability, share-based compensation, and recognition of research grants. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable by management under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. To the extent that material differences arise between the estimates and actual results, the Company’s future results of operations will be affected.

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Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company classifies cash on hand and held at banks, and all highly liquid investments in money market, certificates of deposit, time deposit, and other short-term liquid securities with original maturities of less than 90 days, as cash and cash equivalents.

Marketable Securities

The Company classifies marketable securities as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale at the time these instruments are purchased, based on the requirements of ASC 320.

Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale since the Company does not have the positive intent and the capacity to hold the marketable securities until the maturity date. Available-for-sale marketable securities are carried out at fair value with the “unrealized gains/loss” excluded from the computation of the earnings of the period and accounted for in other comprehensive loss. The accretion of discounts (or amortization of premiums) are accounted for in the Company’s statements of operations as financial income (or expense).

Marketable securities are classified in the Company’s balance sheet based on their maturities and the Company’s reasonable expectations with regard to those securities. Marketable securities with a maturity date within 12 months from reporting date are classified as “current assets”. Marketable securities with a maturity date over 12 months from reporting date are classified as “non-current assets”.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company has no significant off-balance sheet risk, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that may expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents which are deposited in accredited financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. The Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents in financial institutions that it believes have high credit quality and has not experienced any losses on such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships.

Deferred Issuance Costs

The Company may capitalize certain legal, professional accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred issuance costs until such equity issuances are consummated. After consummation of the equity issuance, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds generated as a result of the offering. Should the planned equity financing be abandoned, the deferred issuance costs will be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, including any accessory and direct costs that are necessary to make the assets fit for use, and adjusted by the corresponding accumulated depreciation. The depreciation expenses are recorded using the straight-line method in the consolidated financial statements of operations and have been calculated by taking into consideration the use, purpose and financial-technical duration of the assets, on the basis of their estimated useful economic lives. The Company believes the above criteria to be represented by the following depreciation rates:

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Ordinary maintenance costs are entirely attributed to the consolidated statements of operations in the year in which they are incurred. Extraordinary maintenance costs, the purpose of which is to extend the useful economic life of the asset, to technologically upgrade it and/or to increase its productivity or safety for the purposes of the economic productivity of the Company, are attributed to the asset to which they refer and depreciated on the basis of its estimated useful economic lives. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method based upon the terms of the applicable lease or estimated useful life of the improvements, whichever is lower.

Capitalized Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes the costs of software obtained for internal use in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software. Capitalized software development costs consist of costs incurred during the development stage and include purchased software licenses, implementation costs, consulting costs, and payroll-related costs for projects that qualify for capitalization. All other costs, primarily related to maintenance and minor software fixes, are expensed as incurred. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, internal-use software amount to $209 thousand and $214 thousand, respectively, and refer to the external and internal labor costs incurred in the development of the Company’s enterprise resource planning system.  

The Company amortizes the capitalized software development costs on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally six years, beginning when the asset is substantially ready for use. The amortization of capitalized software development costs is reflected in general and administrative expenses.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

In accordance with ASC Topic 360-10-20, “Property, Plant and Equipment,” the Company performs an impairment test whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets with finite lives may be impaired. Impairment is measured by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted pre-tax cash flows expected to result from the use of such assets and their ultimate disposition. In circumstances where impairment is determined to exist, the Company will write down the asset to its fair value based on the present value of estimated cash flows. No impairments have been identified by management as of and for any periods presented.

Patents

Patent-related costs, refer to legal fees incurred in connection with filing and prosecuting patent applications and are expensed as incurred due to uncertainty about the recovery of the expenditure. Amounts incurred are classified as general and administrative expenses.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception based on whether or not the Company has the right to control the asset during the contract period and other facts and circumstances as per ASC 842. Operating lease right of use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, both of which are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. Leases with a term of 12 months or less at inception are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term in the consolidated statement of operations. The Company determines the lease term by assuming the exercise of renewal options that are reasonably certain.

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable are reported at their nominal amounts due to their short-term maturities. Trade accounts payable are recorded net of trade discounts; cash discounts are recorded at the time of payment.

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Payables for Social Security Charges

Social security charges are reported in compliance with rules and laws applicable in the countries where Company employees work. Charges are accrued in accordance with the policies stipulated and in connection with salaries due for the period.

Accrued Expenses

As part of the process of preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with the Company personnel to identify services that have been performed on its behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when the Company has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on facts and circumstances known at the time of the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. There may be instances in which payments made to the Company’s vendors exceed the level of services provided, and result in a prepayment reported under other current assets, which is subsequently expensed in the consolidated statement of operations when the related activity has been performed. To date, there have been no material differences between the Company’s estimates of accrued expenses reported at each balance sheet date and the amounts actually incurred.

Pension Obligations

The Company operates defined benefit pension plan and defined contribution pension plans in accordance with local regulations and practices in the countries in which the Company operates. These plans are funded by regular contributions made by the Company and its employees. For the defined benefit pension plan, the liability recognized in the consolidated balance sheets is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the balance sheet date less the fair value of plan assets. The overfunded or underfunded status of the defined benefit plan is calculated as the difference between plan assets and the projected benefit obligations. Estimates are used in determining the assumptions incorporated in the calculation of the pension obligations, which is supported by input from independent actuaries. Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized in the consolidated statements of equity under accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), and are charged or credited to income over the employees’ expected average remaining working lives. The measurement date used for the Company’s employees defined benefit plan is December 31.

For defined contribution pension plans, the Company pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis. The Company has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. The contributions are recognized as employee benefit expense when they are due.

Equity-based Compensation and Warrants

The Company applies the fair value method of measuring equity-based compensation and warrants, which requires an entity to measure the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award.

The Company issues equity-based compensation with service-based vesting conditions and records the expense for these awards using the straight-line method. The Company recognizes the related costs in the consolidated statement of operations and as additional paid-in capital in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity, in accordance with the vesting period during which the award recipients are required to provide services in exchange for the award. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Before becoming a public company, given the absence of an active trading market for the Company’s common stock, the Company and its Board of Directors estimated the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the grant date for determining the estimated fair value of the Company’s equity instruments based on a number of factors, including prices paid for the Company’s convertible preferred stock sold to outside investors in arm’s-length transactions, the

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Company’s stage of development and the fact that the grants of stock-based awards involved illiquid securities in a private company.

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Given the absence of an active public market for the Company’s common stock prior to March 18, 2021, which was the first day the Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”), the Company determined the volatility and the expected term for awards granted based on an analysis of reported data for a peer group of similar biopharmaceutical companies that issued options with substantially similar terms. After the IPO, the Company continues to determine its volatility in the same manner, and it expects not to change its methodology until such time as the Company has reliable historical data regarding the volatility of the Company’s traded stock price and expected term of exercise patterns. 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.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model is also used for the warrants issued, using consistent inputs and methodology to quantify such inputs, as described above in relation to equity-based compensation.

The Company recognizes expenses related to Restricted Stock Units (or RSUs) based on fair market value, determined as the closing price on Nasdaq of the Company’s common stock on grant date, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur.

The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based awards and warrants represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment.

Revenue Recognition

The Company derives limited revenue from its collaboration and licensing agreements. The Company recognizes revenue related to these agreements in accordance with ASC 606, “Revenues from Contracts with Customers” and ASC 808, “Collaborative Arrangements”. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment from third-party customers of one or more of the following: non-refundable initiation fee, reimbursement of development costs, future development and regulatory milestone payments and royalties on net sales of the licensed product.

In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations, the Company applies the five-step model of ASC606: (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. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services it transfers to the customer. If a contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606 at inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within such contract, determines which of those goods and services are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.  

Costs and revenues associated with collaborative arrangements are reported in the consolidated statements of operations on a gross basis when the counterpart is identified as being a customer, when the performance obligations incurred and rendered to fulfil the agreements are deemed to be in the ordinary course of the Company’s business, or when there is an expectation that the collaborative arrangement will result in a future constant flow of revenues in the form of sales of products, royalties or licenses.

Research grants

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under the grants are recorded based on management’s best estimate of the periods in which the related expenditures are incurred and activities performed and are classified in the consolidated statement of operations as a reduction to research and development expenses.

Research and Development Expenses

The Company expenses all costs incurred in performing research and development activities. Research and development expenses include salaries and other related costs, materials and supplies, preclinical expenses, manufacturing expenses, contract services and other third-party expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and other related costs, for personnel and consultants in the Company’s executive, administrative and finance functions. General and administrative expenses also include professional fees for legal, finance, accounting, intellectual property, auditing, tax and consulting services, travel expenses and facility-related expenses, which include allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method deferred income tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statements carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and the related tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the associated deferred taxes are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded if it is “more likely than not” that a portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

As of each reporting date, the Company considers existing evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact its view with regard to future realization of deferred tax assets. In consideration of the start-up status of the Company, a full valuation allowance has been established to offset the deferred tax assets, as the related realization is currently uncertain. In the future, should management conclude that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets are partially or fully realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced to the extent of such expected realization, and the corresponding amount will be recognized as income tax benefit in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

Fair value measurement

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. The Company applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels based on their observability in the market and degree of judgment involved:

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible and consider counterparty credit risk in their assessment of fair value.

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Comprehensive income/(loss)

Comprehensive income/(loss) is composed of net income/(loss) and certain changes in stockholder’s equity that are excluded from the net income/(loss), primarily foreign currency translation adjustments, defined benefit obligation adjustments and unrealized income/(loss) on available for sale securities.

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the reported net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The Company gives consideration to all potentially dilutive impacts, except where the effect of including such securities would be antidilutive. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 common stock equivalents consisted of stock options, RSUs, PRSUs and warrants. Because the Company has reported net losses since inception, these potential impacts would be anti-dilutive, and therefore, common stock equivalents have been excluded from the computation, resulting in basic and diluted net loss per share being the same for all periods presented.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard setting bodies that the Company adopts as of the specified effective date. There were no new accounting pronouncements effective in 2023 with a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

The Company considers all short-term, highly liquid investments, with an original maturity of three months or less, to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include short-term highly liquid investments which are readily convertible into cash and relate to money market securities. The Company’s institutional money market accounts permit daily redemption and the fair values of these investments are based upon the quoted prices in active markets provided by the holding financial institutions, which are considered Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. Given their short-term maturities and the underlying value being mainly represented by cash equivalents, their face value amount approximates the related fair market value.

The Company has not experienced any losses in these accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are broken down as follows:

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Restricted cash refers to an amount required under the Company’s office lease agreement in Lugano and deposited into a restricted bank account as a guarantee for expenses to be incurred in case of damage to the premises upon the termination of the lease.

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4. Marketable Securities

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As of March 31, 2023, the Company reports $12.8 million of marketable securities, related to United States Treasury Securities (“USTS”), within current and non-current assets. The USTS purchased have maturity dates ranging from April 2023 to April 2024, on a monthly basis, in tranches of $1.0 million each month. The Company classifies the USTS, which are accounted for as available-for-sale, within the Level 1 fair value hierarchy category as the fair value is based on quoted market prices in active markets with a high level of daily trading volume.

The following table summarizes the Company’s investment in available-for-sale marketable securities with the detail of the unrealized gains /losses and the estimated fair value as of March 31, 2023:

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As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not intend to sell any of the debt securities included in the table above, and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell any of these securities before recovery of the unrealized losses, which will be at maturity. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities as of March 31, 2023 were primarily due to changes in interest rates, and not due to increased credit risks associated with specific securities. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2023, the Company has not recorded an allowance for credit losses related to its available-for-sale debt securities.

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5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

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Tax credits consist of a value added tax credit (“VAT”), which is an indirect tax receivable from Swiss and Spanish tax authorities on purchases of goods and services executed in those countries.

Prepaid expenses refers to pre-payments made to the Company’s vendors for future services. Deferred expenses mainly refer to research agreements entered into with third parties for research projects that will be recognized as expenses throughout the research period.

Prepaid D&O insurance costs relate to an annual insurance premium which will be recognized in the statement of operations on a monthly basis throughout the one-year insurance period.

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6. Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:

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Property and equipment consist of computers, furniture and fixtures, lab instruments. No disposals, nor impairments occurred during the periods. Depreciation has been calculated by taking into consideration the use, purpose and financial-technical duration of the assets, based on their estimated economic lives. Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $8,300 and $5,300, respectively.

7. Operating Lease; Right of Use (“ROU”) Assets

The Company’s leased assets include offices in Bethesda, Maryland, Lugano, Switzerland and Barcelona, Spain and a lab in Barcelona, Spain. The current lease portfolio consists of leases with remaining terms ranging from three to five years. Renewal options are excluded from the calculation of lease liabilities since the Company is not reasonably certain that will exercise the renewal option. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

The breakdown of the significant components of ROU assets, lease liabilities and operating lease expense is reported in the table below, together with the discount rate used in order to calculate the net present value of the lease liabilities as of those periods.

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The operating lease expenses were as follows:

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The future minimum lease payments for the Company’s operating leases as of March 31, 2023, are as follows:

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8. Accounts Payable

Accounts payable are reported at their nominal value. Accounts payable refer to amounts due to third parties on outstanding invoices received for services already provided. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, accounts payable amounted to $2.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively. All accounts payable are due in less than 12 months.

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9. Other Current Liabilities and Deferred Income

Other current liabilities and deferred income consist of the following as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

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Accrued payroll refers to accruals for year-end bonuses, accrued vacations and overtime to be paid to employees.

Accrued expenses refer to invoices to be received from vendors for services performed and not yet billed.

Tax provision refers to a tax payable due to the Spanish Tax Authorities related to taxable income generated in Spain. Increase versus prior year is attributable to the allocation of stock-based compensation expenses on stock options granted to our Spanish employees whose costs, for tax purposes, will be deductible at the time of the exercise.

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10. Pension Obligations

Net pension obligation related to the Company’s defined pension plan refers only to Swiss employees and as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, can be summarized as follows:

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Service cost is reported in general and administrative expenses. All other components of net period costs are reported in interest income, net in the consolidated statement of operations.

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11. Loans

In August 2020, the Company obtained a CHF 638,000 ($700,221 at the historical foreign exchange rate) nine-year loan. The loan has zero interest and is due in quarterly installments of CHF 20,000, with payments commencing on December 31, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2029. The loan is part of the infrastructure put in place by the Federal Council and Swiss Parliament in view of the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the loan issued under the program does not bear interest and there are no applicable issuance costs. The Company accounts for its loan at face value, which is deemed to approximate the related fair value.

The future payments under the loan are reported in the table below:

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12. Fair Value Measurement

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. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds, restricted cash and financial liabilities are considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term nature and the contractual terms of those instruments. The fair values of money market funds are based upon the quoted prices in active markets provided by the holding financial institution, which are considered Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy

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according to ASC 820. There have been no changes to the valuation methods utilized by the Company, nor were there transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy.

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