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Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 September (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number: 001-39620
PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 47-5195942
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
99 High Street, 30th Floor
Boston, MA
02110
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 617-300-8460
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per sharePRAXThe Nasdaq Global Select Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ☒   No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☒   No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
 Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes  ☐   No  ☒
As of November 4, 2022, the registrant had 47,118,578, shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.



SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains express or implied forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s belief and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, but are not limited to, statements about:
the success, cost and timing of our product candidate development activities and clinical trials;
our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates;
the ability to license additional intellectual property relating to our product candidates from third parties and to comply with our existing license agreements and collaboration agreements;
the ability and willingness of our third-party research institution collaborators to continue research and development activities relating to our product candidates;
our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, in light of the intellectual property rights of others;
our ability to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete further development and, if approved, commercialization of our product candidates;
the commercialization of our product candidates, if approved;
our plans to research, develop and, if approved, commercialize our product candidates;
future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of our product candidates, if approved, and any other approved product;
the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets;
the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved;
the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;
regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;
our ability to contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to perform adequately;
the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel;
the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and
the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including mitigation efforts and economic effects, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on any of the foregoing or other aspects of our business operations, including but not limited to our ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause



actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under the section titled "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits hereto completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q represent our views as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business and the markets for our product candidates. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market, and other data from our own internal estimates and research as well as from reports, research surveys, studies, and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any third-party information presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, their estimates, in particular, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.



Table of Contents

  Page
PART I.
Item 1.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
PART II.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.
                   Signatures



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
September 30, 2022December 31, 2021
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$62,440 $138,704 
Marketable securities61,300 137,207 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets8,572 11,498 
Total current assets132,312 287,409 
Property and equipment, net1,077 1,213 
Operating lease right-of-use assets3,097 3,653 
Other non-current assets416 472 
Total assets$136,902 $292,747 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$10,122 $10,780 
Accrued expenses17,884 26,844 
Operating lease liabilities977 810 
Total current liabilities28,983 38,434 
Long-term liabilities:
Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities2,756 3,501 
Total liabilities31,739 41,935 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021
— — 
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 46,864,327 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2022, and 45,300,514 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021
Additional paid-in capital595,165 567,598 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(536)(176)
Accumulated deficit(489,471)(316,615)
Total stockholders’ equity105,163 250,812 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$136,902 $292,747 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
1


PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022202120222021
Operating expenses:
Research and development$30,439 $33,139 $126,711 $76,746 
General and administrative13,851 11,634 46,822 31,929 
Total operating expenses44,290 44,773 173,533 108,675 
Loss from operations(44,290)(44,773)(173,533)(108,675)
Other income:
Other income, net345 73 677 201 
Total other income345 73 677 201 
Loss before income taxes$(43,945)$(44,700)$(172,856)$(108,474)
Provision for income taxes— (5)— (5)
Net loss$(43,945)$(44,705)$(172,856)$(108,479)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted$(0.96)$(1.00)$(3.79)$(2.61)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted45,774,376 44,714,941 45,591,888 41,608,017 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2


PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022202120222021
Net loss$(43,945)$(44,705)$(172,856)$(108,479)
Change in unrealized losses on marketable securities, net of tax144 25 (360)(25)
Comprehensive loss$(43,801)$(44,680)$(173,216)$(108,504)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
3



PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
Common StockAdditional
Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
SharesAmount
Balance at December 31, 202145,300,514 $$567,598 $(316,615)$(176)$250,812 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 7,886 — — 7,886 
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market public offerings, net of issuance costs70,410 — 1,368 — — 1,368 
Vesting of restricted stock units81,130 — — — — — 
Shares withheld for taxes for vesting of restricted stock units(17,850)— (230)— — (230)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options72,278 — 333 — — 333 
Change in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — (430)(430)
Net loss— — — (68,717)— (68,717)
Balance at March 31, 202245,506,482 $$576,955 $(385,332)$(606)$191,022 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 7,611 — — 7,611 
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan51,645 — 454 — — 454 
Vesting of restricted stock units6,361 — — — — — 
Shares withheld for taxes for vesting of restricted stock units(2,225)— (17)— — (17)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options13,143 — 67 — — 67 
Change in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — (74)(74)
Net loss— — — (60,194)— (60,194)
Balance at June 30, 202245,575,406 $$585,070 $(445,526)$(680)$138,869 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 6,730 — — 6,730 
Issuance of common stock from at-the-market public offerings, net of issuance costs of $109
1,105,006 — 2,962 — — 2,962 
Vesting of restricted stock units5,312 — — — — — 
Shares withheld for taxes for vesting of restricted stock units(1,638)— (6)— — (6)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options180,241 — 409 — — 409 
Change in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — 144 144 
Net loss— — — (43,945)— (43,945)
Balance at September 30, 202246,864,327 $$595,165 $(489,471)$(536)$105,163 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
4


PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
Common StockAdditional
Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
SharesAmount
Balance at December 31, 202038,268,543 $$437,007 $(149,554)$— $287,457 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 4,666 — — 4,666 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options352,506 — 851 — — 851 
Change in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — (86)(86)
Net loss— — — (27,373)— (27,373)
Balance at March 31, 202138,621,049 $$442,524 $(176,927)$(86)$265,515 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 5,400 — — 5,400 
Issuance of common stock from follow-on public offering, net of offering costs of $229
5,750,000 98,412 — — 98,413 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options322,113 — 809 — — 809 
Change in unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — 36 36 
Net loss— — — (36,401)— (36,401)
Balance at June 30, 202144,693,162 $$547,145 $(213,328)$(50)$333,772 
Stock-based compensation expense— — 6,521 — — 6,521 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options90,909 — 309 — — 309 
Change unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax— — — — 25 25 
Net loss— — — (44,705)— (44,705)
Balance at September 30, 202144,784,071 $$553,975 $(258,033)$(25)$295,922 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5


PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20222021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss$(172,856)$(108,479)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense314 89 
Stock-based compensation expense22,227 16,587 
Non-cash operating lease expense556 942 
Amortization of premiums and discounts on marketable securities, net807 1,454 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets2,326 749 
Accounts payable(658)4,031 
Accrued expenses(8,431)5,481 
Operating lease liabilities(578)(566)
Other56 15 
Net cash used in operating activities(156,237)(79,697)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment(444)(519)
Purchases of marketable securities(83,022)(164,170)
Maturities of marketable securities157,761 14,000 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities74,295 (150,689)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from follow-on public offering, net of issuance costs— 98,480 
Proceeds from at-the-market offerings, net of issuance costs4,330 — 
Payment of issuance costs for at-the-market offerings and initial public offering(262)(575)
Payments of tax withholdings related to vesting of restricted stock units(253)— 
Proceeds from exercise of options and employee stock purchase plan contributions1,263 1,968 
Net cash provided by financing activities5,078 99,873 
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(76,864)(130,513)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period139,720 297,208 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period$62,856 $166,695 
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents62,440 165,679 
Restricted cash416 1,016 
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$62,856 $166,695 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities:
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities$— $4,086 
Offering costs included in accrued expenses$— $68 
Purchases of property and equipment included in accrued expenses$— $116 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6


PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Nature of the Business
Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (“Praxis” or the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company translating genetic insights into the development of therapies for central nervous system ("CNS") disorders characterized by neuronal excitation-inhibition imbalance. Normal brain function requires a delicate balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which, when dysregulated, can lead to abnormal function and disease. The Company is applying insights from genetic epilepsies to both rare and more prevalent neurological disorders, using its understanding of shared biological targets and circuits in the brain, to develop patient-guided therapies. The Company applies a deliberate and pragmatic precision approach, leveraging a suite of translational tools including novel transgenic and predictive translational animal models and electrophysiology markers, to enable an efficient path to proof-of-concept in patients. Through this approach, the Company has established a broad CNS portfolio including multiple programs across movement disorders and epilepsy, with four clinical-stage product candidates. For its lead clinical-stage program, the Company expects to announce topline results from the Phase 2b clinical trial in essential tremor in the first quarter of 2023 and expects to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in the first quarter of 2023. The Company expects the initiation of first-in-patient studies for its lead antisense oligonucleotide epilepsy program in the fourth quarter of 2022 and its lead small molecule epilepsy program in the first quarter of 2023, as well as the launch of an additional clinical epilepsy program this year. In addition, the Company has established a robust pipeline of preclinical stage programs through internal research and in-licensing, including one of the largest portfolios of targeted epilepsy programs in the industry.
Praxis was incorporated in 2015 and commenced operations in 2016. The Company has funded its operations primarily with proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock and from the sale of common stock through an initial public offering, a follow-on public offering and at-the-market offerings under its shelf registration statement. From inception through September 30, 2022, the Company raised $520.8 million in aggregate cash proceeds from these transactions, net of issuance costs.
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 completing preclinical studies and clinical trials, receiving regulatory approvals for product candidates, development by competitors of new biopharmaceutical products, dependence on key personnel, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations and the ability to secure additional capital to fund operations. Programs currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval, prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s product development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize revenue from product sales.
Liquidity
In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), the Company has evaluated whether there are 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 these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.
The Company has incurred recurring losses since its inception, including a net loss of $172.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. In addition, as of September 30, 2022, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $489.5 million. The Company expects to continue to generate operating losses for the foreseeable future.
The analysis of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the third quarter of 2022 included consideration of the Company’s current cash needs, ongoing research and development plans which are limited to advancing product candidates through, but not beyond their current clinical trial phases, anticipated cost savings resulting from its operational cost reduction plans, including ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to the
7


Company’s strategic focus. Such estimates contain significant judgment as the Company’s ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to the Company’s strategic focus contains uncertainties as to whether the Company can attain such benefits. Based on the analysis, the Company concluded that its available cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2022 will be sufficient to fund current prioritized operations and capital expenditure requirements into the first quarter of 2024, which is at least 12 months from the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. As a result, the Company concluded that it did not identify conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the date these financial statements were issued. The Company’s current operating plan is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and the Company could use its capital resources sooner than it expects, in which case the Company would evaluate further reductions in its expenses or obtaining additional financing sooner than it otherwise would, which additional financing may not be available or may only be available on terms that are not acceptable to the Company.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and ASUs of the FASB.
The significant accounting policies used in preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are consistent with those discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than as noted below.
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Information
The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2022, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and the condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are unaudited. The unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements, and in the opinion of management reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2022, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. Financial statement disclosures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are condensed and do not include all disclosures required for an annual set of financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ended December 31, 2022, any other interim periods, or any future year or period.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, accrued and prepaid research and development expenses, stock-based compensation expense and the recoverability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance. 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 materially from those estimates.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
8


The Company does not expect any recently issued accounting pronouncements to have a material impact on its financial statements.
3. Marketable Securities
The following is a summary of the Company's investment portfolio as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2022
Gross UnrealizedEstimated
CostGainsLossesFair Value
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$44,819 $— $(498)$44,321 
Commercial paper12,996 — — 12,996 
Debt securities issued by U.S. government agencies4,021 — (38)3,983 
Total securities with a maturity of one year or less$61,836 $— $(536)$61,300 
Total available-for-sale securities$61,836 $— $(536)$61,300 
As of December 31, 2021
Gross UnrealizedEstimated
CostGainsLossesFair Value
Available-for-sale securities:
Corporate debt securities$52,214 $— $(31)$52,183 
Commercial paper34,993 — — 34,993 
Debt securities issued by U.S. government agencies12,111 — (8)12,103 
Other debt securities6,398 — 6,399 
Total securities with a maturity of one year or less$105,716 $$(39)$105,678 
Corporate debt securities31,667 — (138)31,529 
Total securities with a maturity of one to two years$31,667 $— $(138)$31,529 
Total available-for-sale securities$137,383 $$(177)$137,207 
As of September 30, 2022, the Company had 9 securities with a total fair market value of $48.3 million in an unrealized loss position. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 14 securities with a total fair market value of $95.8 million in an unrealized loss position. The Company believes that any unrealized losses associated with the decline in value of its securities is temporary and primarily related to the change in market interest rates since purchase, and believes that it is more likely than not that it will be able to hold its debt securities to maturity. Therefore, the Company anticipates a full recovery of the amortized cost basis of its debt securities at maturity and an allowance was not recognized.
Securities are evaluated for impairment at the end of each reporting period. The Company did not record any impairment related to its available-for-sale securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.
4. Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company categorizes financial assets measured at fair value based on a fair value hierarchy. The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify financial assets based on observable inputs and unobservable inputs used to value the financial assets:
9


Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets;
Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are unobservable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset; or
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the valuation of the asset and unobservable.
The following tables present information about the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level of the fair value hierarchy utilized to determine such fair values as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
As of September 30, 2022
Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds$58,218 $— $— $58,218 
Marketable securities:
Corporate debt securities— 44,321 — 44,321 
Commercial paper— 12,996 — 12,996 
Debt securities issued by U.S. government agencies3,983 — — 3,983 
$62,201 $57,317 $— $119,518 

As of December 31, 2021
Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds$131,372 $— $— $131,372 
Marketable securities:
Corporate debt securities— 83,712 — 83,712 
Commercial paper— 34,993 — 34,993 
Debt securities issued by U.S. government agencies12,103 — — 12,103 
Other debt securities— 6,399 — 6,399 
$143,475 $125,104 $— $268,579 
5. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
September 30, 2022December 31, 2021
Accrued external research and development expenses$12,978 $17,763 
Accrued personnel-related expenses2,648 7,180 
Accrued other2,258 1,901 
Total accrued expenses$17,884 $26,844 
6. Commitments and Contingencies
In May 2021, the Company entered into a sublease agreement for office space located in Boston, Massachusetts that expires on January 31, 2026, with no option to renew or terminate early. The base rent increases by approximately 2% annually. The Company issued a letter of credit to the landlord related to the security deposit, secured by restricted cash, which is reflected within other non-current assets on the accompanying
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condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. This lease qualifies as an operating lease.
7. Common Stock and Preferred Stock
Common Stock
As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the authorized capital stock of the Company included 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value.
As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company did not hold any treasury shares.
Shares Reserved for Future Issuance
The Company has reserved the following shares of common stock for future issuance:
September 30,
2022
December 31,
2021
Shares reserved for exercise of outstanding stock options9,159,415 6,468,501 
Shares reserved for future awards under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan1,364,855 2,667,780 
Shares reserved for future awards under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan929,661 654,204 
Shares reserved for vesting of restricted stock units789,419 440,079 
Total shares of authorized common stock reserved for future issuance12,243,350 10,230,564 

Preferred Stock
As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the authorized capital stock of the Company included 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value.
8. Stock-Based Compensation
2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
The total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "2020 Plan”) as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was 7,449,480 shares and 5,184,455 shares, respectively.

2017 Stock Incentive Plan
The total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2017 Plan”) as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was 5,937,763 shares. Any authorization to issue new options under the 2017 Plan was cancelled upon the effectiveness of the 2020 Plan and no further awards will be granted under the 2017 Plan.

2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "2020 ESPP”) as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was 981,306 shares and 654,204 shares, respectively.

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Restricted Stock Units
The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock unit activity:
SharesWeighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Unvested as of December 31, 2021440,079 $41.86 
Issued652,328 15.00 
Vested(92,803)48.11 
Forfeited(210,185)22.76 
Unvested as of September 30, 2022789,419 $23.42 
As of September 30, 2022, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units was $14.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.88 years.
Stock Options
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity:
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
per Share
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(In years)(In thousands)
Outstanding as of December 31, 20216,468,501 $16.92 
Granted3,932,802 9.29 
Exercised(265,662)3.04 $850 
Cancelled or Forfeited(976,226)17.99 
Outstanding as of September 30, 20229,159,415 $13.94 8.49$327 
Exercisable as of September 30, 20222,993,364 $14.69 7.55$71 
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 20228,956,409 $13.91 8.56$318 
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding, exercisable, and vested and expected to vest is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying stock options and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock at September 30, 2022. The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying stock options and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock on the exercise date.
Stock Option Valuation
The weighted-average assumptions that the Company used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the grant-date fair value of stock options granted to employees and non-employees on the date of grant were as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20222022
Risk-free interest rate2.76 %2.50 %
Expected term (in years)6.006.07
Expected volatility88.08 %89.22 %
Expected dividend yield— %— %
Weighted average grant-date fair value per share$2.16 $6.70 
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As of September 30, 2022, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options was $53.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.38 years.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022202120222021
Research and development$1,999 $2,787 $8,200 $7,136 
General and administrative4,731 3,734 14,027 9,451 
Total stock-based compensation expense$6,730 $6,521 $22,227 $16,587 
9. Net Loss per Share
The following potential shares of common stock, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because including them would have been anti-dilutive:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022202120222021
Outstanding stock options9,159,415 6,414,070 9,159,415 6,414,070 
Unvested restricted stock units789,419 383,196 789,419 383,196 
Potential shares issuable under the 2020 ESPP48,182 — 48,182 — 
9,997,016 6,797,266 9,997,016 6,797,266 
10. Related Party Transactions
On September 11, 2019, the Company entered into a Cooperation and License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with RogCon Inc. (“RogCon”). Under the License Agreement, RogCon granted to the Company an exclusive, worldwide license under RogCon’s intellectual property to research, develop and commercialize products for the treatment of all forms of epilepsy and/or neurodevelopmental disorders in each case caused by any mutation of the SCN2A gene. Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, the Company will conduct, at its own cost and expense, the research and development activities assigned to it under the associated research plan. In addition, the Company is responsible for reimbursing RogCon for any costs associated with research and development activities RogCon performs at the request of the Company. One of the founders of RogCon became the Company’s General Counsel in June 2020. The Company continues to reimburse RogCon for its out-of-pocket costs incurred for activities performed under the License Agreement. Expenses incurred during all periods presented were not material. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had accrued expenses of $0.3 million due to RogCon under the License Agreement.
11. Restructuring
In June 2022, the Company began a strategic realignment to focus resources on its Movement Disorders and Epilepsy franchises, which resulted in a reduction of the Company’s workforce.
The Company incurred $1.0 million of costs related to the realignment, of which $0.6 million has been recognized in research and development expenses and $0.4 million has been recognized in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. These costs relate to employee severance, benefits and related costs. The Company does not expect to incur any additional significant costs related to the strategic realignment.
As of September 30, 2022, all of the $1.0 million costs were paid.
12. Subsequent Events
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The Company considers events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements to provide additional evidence for certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. The Company has concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that require disclosure.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial information and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 28, 2022. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2022, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company translating genetic insights into the development of therapies for central nervous system, or CNS, disorders characterized by neuronal excitation-inhibition imbalance. Normal brain function requires a delicate balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which, when dysregulated, can lead to abnormal function and disease. We are applying insights from genetic epilepsies to both rare and more prevalent neurological disorders, using our understanding of shared biological targets and circuits in the brain, to develop patient-guided therapies. We apply a deliberate and pragmatic precision approach, leveraging a suite of translational tools including novel transgenic and predictive translational animal models and electrophysiology markers, to enable an efficient path to proof-of-concept in patients. Through this approach, we have established a broad CNS portfolio with multiple programs across movement disorders and epilepsy, with four clinical-stage product candidates. For our lead clinical-stage program, we expect to announce topline results from the Phase 2b clinical trial in essential tremor, or ET, in the first quarter of 2023 and expect to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, or PD, in the first quarter of 2023. We expect the initiation of first-in-patient studies for our lead antisense oligonucleotide, or ASO, epilepsy program in the fourth quarter of 2022 and our lead small molecule epilepsy program in the first quarter of 2023, as well as the launch of an additional clinical epilepsy program this year. In addition, we have established a robust pipeline of preclinical-stage programs through internal research and in-licensing, including one of the largest portfolios of targeted epilepsy programs in the industry.
Within Movement Disorders, our lead clinical candidate, PRAX-944, is being developed for the treatment of ET and PD. We expect to report topline results from the Phase 2b placebo-controlled Essential1 Study for daytime treatment of ET in the first quarter of 2023. Following topline results, we intend to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, for an end-of-Phase 2 meeting in the first half of 2023 and initiate our Phase 3 development program in ET in mid-2023. We plan to initiate a Phase 2, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of PRAX-944 as a non-dopaminergic treatment for the motor symptoms of PD in the first quarter of 2023, and expect to report topline results in the second half of 2023.
Within Epilepsy, we plan to initiate the first dose cohort of the EMBRAVE study for PRAX-222, an ASO designed to decrease the expression levels of the protein encoded by the gene SCN2A in pediatric patients with early-seizure-onset SCN2A Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy, or DEE, in the fourth quarter of 2022. Following collection of the safety and efficacy data from the first cohort of patients in the EMBRAVE study, the data will be evaluated and submitted to the FDA to seek authorization for dose escalation. Topline results from the initial dose cohort are expected in 2023. We plan to initiate a Phase 2, placebo-controlled study with PRAX-562 in the first quarter of 2023 for the treatment of rare pediatric DEEs, with initial cohorts in SCN2A and SCN8A DEEs, and expect to report topline results in 2023. In October 2022, we received additional detail from the FDA regarding the clinical hold for our Investigational New Drug application for PRAX-562 for the treatment of pediatric patients with SCN2A and SCN8A DEEs. Based on the feedback from the FDA, we expect that no new preclinical or clinical studies will be required to clear the clinical hold. In addition, we expect to initiate a Phase 1 study with PRAX-628 in the fourth quarter of 2022 and subsequently initiate a Phase 2 study in focal epilepsy in 2023.
Our disclosed preclinical pipeline also consists of discovery programs in development for KCNT1 related epilepsy, three ASOs targeting SCN2A in patients with loss-of-function mutations, PCDH19 and SYNGAP1, respectively, and two additional discovery programs for undisclosed targets in movement disorders and epilepsy. We plan to advance ASO candidate PRAX-080 for PCDH19 into preclinical development in 2023.
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Following the completion of the PRAX-114 Phase 2 Acapella Study for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in the third quarter of 2022, we do not currently plan to pursue further development of PRAX-114 for psychiatric disorders. The PRAX-114 Phase 2 Acapella study (N=110) was intended to provide additional understanding of the dose range and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRAX-114 at doses of 10, 20, 40 and 60 mg. Topline data indicated a linear dose response trend on the primary endpoint of change from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score at Day 15, but were not statistically significant. In multiple secondary endpoints evaluating 40 mg of PRAX-114 relative to placebo, nominal statistical significance was achieved at Day 4, but not maintained at subsequent timepoints.
We were incorporated in 2015 and commenced operations in 2016. Since inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to developing our preclinical and clinical product candidates, building our intellectual property, or IP, portfolio, business planning, raising capital and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We employ a “virtual” research and development model, relying heavily upon external consultants, collaborators and contract research organizations, or CROs, to conduct our preclinical and clinical activities. Since inception, we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the sale and issuance of equity securities.
We are a development stage company and we have not generated any revenue from product sales, and do not expect to do so for several years, if at all. All of our product candidates are still in preclinical and clinical development. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates, if approved. We have incurred recurring operating losses since inception, including a net loss of $172.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $489.5 million. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we expand our research and development activities. In addition, our losses from operations may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities. We anticipate that our expenses will be maintained or increased in connection with our ongoing activities, as we:
advance our lead product candidate, PRAX-944, to a late stage clinical trial;
advance our PRAX-562 product candidate in the Phase 2 clinical trial;
advance our PRAX-222 product candidate in the EMBRAVE clinical trial;
advance our PRAX-628 product candidate in the Phase 1 clinical trial;
advance our preclinical candidates to clinical trials;
further invest in our pipeline;
further invest in our manufacturing capabilities;
seek regulatory approval for our product candidates;
maintain, expand, protect and defend our IP portfolio;
acquire or in-license technology;
establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval; and
when needed, increase our headcount to support our development efforts and any future commercialization efforts.
In addition, as we progress toward potential marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution.
As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the sale of equity, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as, and when, needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or
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discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates or delay our pursuit of potential in-licenses or acquisitions.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.
As of September 30, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $123.7 million. We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2022 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditures into the first quarter of 2024. We have based this analysis on our current cash needs, ongoing research and development plans which are limited to advancing product candidates through, but not beyond their current clinical trial phases, anticipated cost savings resulting from our operational cost reduction plans, including ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to our strategic focus. Such estimates contain significant judgement as our ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to our strategic focus contains uncertainties as to whether we can attain such benefits. Our current operating plan is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we expect, in which case we would evaluate further reductions in our expenses or obtaining additional financing sooner than we otherwise would, which additional financing may not be available or may only be available on terms that are not acceptable to us. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Restructuring
In June 2022, we began a strategic realignment to focus resources on our Movement Disorders and Epilepsy franchises, which resulted in a reduction of our workforce.
We incurred $1.0 million of costs related to the realignment, of which $0.6 million has been recognized in research and development expenses and $0.4 million has been recognized in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. These costs relate to employee severance, benefits and related costs. We do not expect to incur any additional significant costs related to the strategic realignment.
As of September 30, 2022, all of the $1.0 million costs were paid.
COVID-19 Business Update
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to experience some disruptions and increased risk in our operations and those third parties upon whom we rely. These include disruptions and risks related to the conduct of our clinical trials and preclinical studies as policies at various clinical sites and federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations continue to evolve, including quarantines, travel restrictions and redirection of healthcare resources toward pandemic response efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the enrollment of some of our ongoing clinical trials, including slower patient enrollment and treatment in some of our clinical studies, the impact of which has varied by clinical study and program, but none of which have significantly impacted our overall clinical trial timelines. While we have experienced limited financial impacts to date, given the global economic slowdown, the overall disruption of global healthcare systems and the other risks and uncertainties associated with the pandemic such as increased inflation, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. We continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic as we evolve our business continuity plans, clinical development plans and response strategy.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue since inception and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products for several years, if at all. If our development efforts for our current or future product candidates are successful and result in marketing approval or collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from a combination of product sales or payments from such collaboration or license agreements.
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Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expense
The nature of our business and primary focus of our activities generate a significant amount of research and development costs. Research and development expenses represent costs incurred by us for the following:
costs to develop our portfolio;
discovery efforts leading to development candidates;
clinical development costs for our product candidates; and
costs to develop our manufacturing technology and infrastructure.
The costs above comprise the following categories:
personnel-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense;
expenses incurred under agreements with third parties, such as consultants, investigative sites and CROs, that conduct our preclinical and clinical studies and in-licensing arrangements;
costs incurred to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements;
costs incurred with third-party contract development and manufacturing organizations to acquire, develop and manufacture materials for preclinical and clinical studies; and
depreciation, amortization and other direct and allocated expenses, including rent and other operating costs, incurred as a result of our research and development activities.
We expense research and development costs as incurred. We recognize external development costs based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information provided to us by our vendors and our clinical investigative sites. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in our consolidated balance sheets as prepaid expenses or accrued expenses. Non-refundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized, even when there is no alternative future use for the research and development. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
As a company operating in a virtual environment, a significant portion of our research and development costs have been external costs. We track direct external research and development expenses to specific franchises and product candidates upon commencement. Due to the number of ongoing studies and our ability to use resources across several projects, indirect or shared operating costs incurred for our research and development franchises, such as personnel, facility costs and certain consulting costs, are not recorded or maintained on a franchise-specific basis.
The following table reflects our research and development expenses, including direct expenses summarized by major franchise and other exploratory CNS indications and indirect or shared operating costs recognized as research and development expenses during each period presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2022202120222021
Movement disorders
$9,262 $6,735 $26,777 $12,107 
Epilepsy
7,630 4,942 32,579 15,707 
Psychiatry
2,642 9,188 28,394 19,029 
Other exploratory CNS indications414 1,475 2,853 2,957 
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)8,714 8,334 30,590 21,584 
Other indirect research and development expenses1,777 2,465 5,518 5,362 
Total research and development expenses$30,439 $33,139 $126,711 $76,746 
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Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will be maintained or increase in the foreseeable future as we advance our product candidates through the development phase, and as we continue to discover and develop additional product candidates, build manufacturing capabilities and expand into additional therapeutic areas.
At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of, and obtain regulatory approval for, any of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from sales or licensing of our product candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, including the uncertainty of:
our ability to add and retain key research and development personnel;
the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities;
the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
our ability to successfully complete clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority;
our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and then successfully commercialize, our product candidates;
our successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;
the costs associated with the development of any additional product candidates we identify in-house or acquire through collaborations;
our ability to discover, develop and utilize biomarkers to demonstrate target engagement, pathway engagement and the impact on disease progression of our product candidates;
our ability to establish and maintain agreements with third-party manufacturers for clinical supply for our clinical trials and commercial manufacturing, if our product candidates are approved;
the terms and timing of any collaboration, license or other arrangement, including the terms and timing of any milestone payments thereunder;
our ability to obtain and maintain patent, trade secret and other IP protection and regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates, if approved;
our receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
our ability to commercialize products, if approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and
the continued acceptable safety profiles of the product candidates following approval.
A change in any of these variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates would significantly change the costs, timing and viability associated with the development of that product candidate. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to delay our planned start of clinical trials or require us to conduct clinical trials or other testing beyond those that we currently expect, or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our planned clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time to complete our clinical development activities. We may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. Drug commercialization will take several years and require significant development costs.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation, for personnel in our executive, finance, legal, commercial and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and administrative consulting services; commercial-related costs to support market assessments and scenario planning; insurance costs; administrative travel expenses; and facility-related expenses,
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which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for office rent and other operating costs. Costs to secure and defend our IP are expensed as incurred and are classified as general and administrative expenses. These costs relate to the operation of the business and are unrelated to the research and development function or any individual franchise or product candidate.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses may increase in the future as we increase our headcount, when needed, to support the expected growth in our research and development activities and the potential commercialization of our product candidates. We also expect to incur additional IP-related expenses as we file patent applications to protect innovations arising from our research and development activities.
Other Income
Other Income, Net
Other income, net consists of interest income from our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and amortization of investment premiums and discounts.
Income Taxes
Since our inception, we have not recorded any U.S. federal or state income tax benefits for the net losses we have incurred in each year or for our earned research and development tax credits due to our uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items. Income taxes are determined at the applicable tax rates adjusted for non-deductible expenses, research and development tax credits and other permanent differences. Our income tax provision may be significantly affected by changes to our estimates. The income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was not material.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our consolidated statements of operations for each period presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Change
20222021
Operating expenses:
Research and development$30,439 $33,139 $(2,700)
General and administrative13,851 11,634 2,217 
Total operating expenses44,290 44,773 (483)
Loss from operations(44,290)(44,773)483 
Other income:
Other income, net345 73 272 
Total other income345 73 272 
Loss before income taxes$(43,945)$(44,700)$755 
Provision for income taxes— (5)
Net loss$(43,945)$(44,705)$760 
Research and Development Expense
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for each period presented, along with the changes in those items (in thousands):
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Three Months Ended
September 30,
Change
20222021
Movement disorders
$9,262 $6,735 $2,527 
Epilepsy
7,630 4,942 2,688 
Psychiatry
2,642 9,188 (6,546)
Other exploratory CNS indications414 1,475 (1,061)
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)8,714 8,334 380 
Other indirect research and development expenses1,777 2,465 (688)
Total research and development expenses$30,439 $33,139 $(2,700)
The $2.7 million decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to the following:
$6.5 million decrease in expense related to our psychiatry franchise, driven primarily by a decrease in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-114 Phase 2/3 Aria clinical trial for which we announced topline results in the second quarter of 2022;
$2.7 million increase in expense related to our epilepsy franchise, driven primarily by an increase in preclinical activities for PRAX-628 and our earlier stage assets and an increase in clinical-related spend to support the initiation of the PRAX-222 EMBRAVE clinical trial; and
$2.5 million increase in expense related to our movement disorders franchise, driven primarily by an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-944 Phase 2b Essential1 clinical trial and our Phase 1 healthy volunteers trial.
General and Administrative Expense
The $2.2 million increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel-related costs due to increased headcount.
Other Income
Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was comprised of interest income on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and investment premium and discount amortization.
Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our consolidated statements of operations for each period presented (in thousands):
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Change
20222021
Operating expenses:
Research and development$126,711 $76,746 $49,965 
General and administrative46,822 31,929 14,893 
Total operating expenses173,533 108,675 64,858 
Loss from operations(173,533)(108,675)(64,858)
Other income:
Other income, net677 201 476 
Total other income677 201 476 
Loss before income taxes$(172,856)$(108,474)$(64,382)
Provision for income taxes— (5)
Net loss$(172,856)$(108,479)$(64,377)
Research and Development Expense
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The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for each period presented, along with the changes in those items (in thousands):
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Change
20222021
Movement disorders$26,777 $12,107 $14,670 
Epilepsy32,579 15,707 16,872 
Psychiatry28,394 19,029 9,365 
Other exploratory CNS indications2,853 2,957 (104)
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)30,590 21,584 9,006 
Other indirect research and development expenses5,518 5,362 156 
Total research and development expenses$126,711 $76,746 $49,965 
The $50.0 million increase in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to the following:
$16.9 million increase in expense related to our epilepsy franchise, driven primarily by an increase in preclinical activities for PRAX-628 and our earlier stage assets, an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-562 Phase 1 trials in healthy volunteers, an increase in clinical-related spend to support the initiation of the PRAX-222 EMBRAVE clinical trial, and the payment of a $2.0 million license fee to Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in January of 2022 upon exercise of our exclusive option to obtain the rights and license to further develop and commercialize PRAX-222;
$14.7 million increase in expense related to our movement disorders franchise, driven primarily by an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-944 Phase 2b Essential1 clinical trial, an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-114 Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating PRAX-114 for the treatment of ET, and an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-944 Phase 1 healthy volunteer trials;
$9.4 million increase in expense related to our psychiatry franchise, driven primarily by an increase in clinical-related spend for our PRAX-114 Phase 2 Acapella clinical trial which was initiated in the second quarter of 2021 and our Phase 2 placebo-controlled study evaluating PRAX-114 for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder which was initiated in the fourth quarter of 2021; and
$9.0 million increase in personnel-related costs due to increased headcount.
General and Administrative Expense
The $14.9 million increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to the following:
$10.9 million increase in personnel-related costs due to increased headcount; and
$3.4 million increase in professional fees, including a $1.6 million increase in legal fees due to increased corporate activity and patent-related work.
Other Income
Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, was comprised of interest income on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and investment premium and discount amortization.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since our inception, we have incurred significant losses in each period. We have not yet commercialized any of our product candidates, which are in various phases of preclinical and clinical development, and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products for several years, if at all.
To date, we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock and from the sale of common stock through an initial public offering, a follow-on public offering and at-the-market offerings under our shelf registration statement. From inception through September 30, 2022, we
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have raised $520.8 million in aggregate cash proceeds from such transactions, net of issuance costs. As of September 30, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $123.7 million.
On November 3, 2021, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement, or the sales agreement, with Jefferies LLC, or Jefferies, to provide for the offering, issuance and sale of up to an aggregate amount of $125.0 million of common stock from time to time in at-the-market offerings for which Jefferies acts as sales agent. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we issued and sold 1,105,006 shares under the sales agreement for aggregate net proceeds of $3.0 million after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we issued and sold 1,175,416 shares under the sales agreement for aggregate net proceeds of $4.3 million after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us. We have issued and sold a total of 1,567,413 shares under the sales agreement for aggregate net proceeds of $11.4 million after deducting commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
Historical Cash Flows
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for each period presented (in thousands):
Nine Months Ended September 30,
20222021
Net cash (used in) provided by:
Operating activities$(156,237)$(79,697)
Investing activities74,295 (150,689)
Financing activities5,078 99,873 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$(76,864)$(130,513)
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities are greatly influenced by our use of cash for operating expenses and working capital requirements to support our business. We have historically experienced negative cash flows from operating activities as we have invested in developing our portfolio, drug discovery efforts and related infrastructure. The cash used in operating activities resulted primarily from our net losses adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in operating assets and liabilities, which are primarily the result of increased expenses and timing of vendor payments.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash used in operating activities of $156.2 million was primarily due to our $172.9 million net loss and $7.3 million in changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily related to a decrease in accrued expenses, partially offset by $23.9 million of non-cash charges primarily related to stock-based compensation.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in operating activities of $79.7 million was primarily due to our $108.5 million net loss, partially offset by $19.1 million of non-cash charges primarily related to stock-based compensation and $9.7 million in changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily related to an increase in accrued expenses and accounts payable.
Investing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by investing activities of $74.3 million was primarily related to maturities of marketable securities, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash used in investing activities of $150.7 million was primarily related to the purchase of marketable securities, partially offset by the maturities of marketable securities.
Financing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net cash provided by financing activities of $5.1 million consisted of net proceeds from at-the-market offerings of $4.3 million and proceeds from purchases of common stock under our employee stock purchase plan and from the exercise of stock options, partially offset by the
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payment of issuance costs for our at-the-market offerings and the payment of taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock units.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities of $99.9 million consisted of net proceeds from our follow-on public offering of $98.5 million and net proceeds from the exercise of stock options, partially offset by the payment of issuance costs for our initial public offering.
Plan of Operation and Future Funding Requirements
We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing research and development activities, particularly as we advance the preclinical activities and clinical trials of our product candidates. As a result, we expect to incur substantial operating losses and negative operating cash flows for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
advance the clinical development of our clinical-stage product candidates within our movement disorders and epilepsy franchises;
advance the development of any additional product candidates;
conduct research and continue preclinical development of potential product candidates;
make strategic investments in manufacturing capabilities;
maintain our IP portfolio and opportunistically acquire complementary IP;
seek to obtain regulatory approvals for our product candidates;
potentially establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure and scale-up manufacturing capabilities to commercialize any products for which we may obtain regulatory approval;
when needed, add clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our product development and potential future commercialization efforts and to support our operations as a public company; and
experience any delays or encounter any issues with any of the above, including but not limited to failed studies, complex results, safety issues or other regulatory challenges.
In June 2022, following the Aria Study topline results, we announced a strategic realignment to focus resources on our Movement Disorders and Epilepsy franchises, which resulted in a reduction of our workforce and future operating expenses and extended our cash runway.
We are unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements, but based on our current operating plan, we believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of September 30, 2022 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the first quarter of 2024. We have based this analysis on our current cash needs, ongoing research and development plans which are limited to advancing product candidates through, but not beyond their current clinical trial phases, anticipated cost savings resulting from our operational cost reduction plans, including ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to our strategic focus. Such estimates contain significant judgement as our ongoing efforts to eliminate costs not related to our strategic focus contains uncertainties as to whether we can attain such benefits. Our current operating plan is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we expect, in which case we would evaluate further reductions in our expenses or obtaining additional financing sooner than we otherwise would, which additional financing may not be available or may only be available on terms that are not acceptable to us.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development and potential collaborations with third parties for the development of our product candidates, we may incorrectly estimate the timing and amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenses associated with completing the research and development of our product candidates. Our funding requirements and timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
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the scope, progress, results and costs of preclinical studies and clinical trials for our franchises and product candidates;
the number and characteristics of product candidates and technologies that we develop or may in-license;
the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;
the costs necessary to obtain regulatory approvals, if any, for products in the United States and other jurisdictions, and the costs of post-marketing studies that could be required by regulatory authorities in jurisdictions where approval is obtained;
the costs and timing of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our IP rights and defending any IP-related claims;
the continuation of our existing licensing arrangements and entry into new collaborations and licensing arrangements;
the costs we incur in maintaining business operations;
the costs associated with being a public company;
the revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of any product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;
the effect of competing technological and market developments;
the impact of any business interruptions to our operations or to those of our manufacturers, suppliers or other vendors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crisis; and
the extent to which we acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies, including entering into licensing or collaboration arrangements for product candidates, although we currently have no commitments or agreements to complete any such acquisitions or investments in businesses.
Identifying potential product candidates and conducting preclinical testing and clinical trials is a time consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of products that we do not expect to be commercially available for many years, if ever. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funds to achieve our business objectives.
Adequate additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. We do not currently have any committed external source of funds. Market volatility could also adversely impact our ability to access capital as and when needed. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock. Additional debt financing and preferred equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends and may require the issuance of warrants, which could potentially result in dilution to the holders of our common stock.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates to third parties that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the
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disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies from those described under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
We have reviewed all recently issued standards and have determined that, other than as disclosed in Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, such standards will not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or do not otherwise apply to our current operations.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are or may be in the form of money market funds or marketable debt securities and are or may be invested in U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency obligations. However, because of the short-term nature and low risk profile of the instruments in our portfolio, an immediate change in market interest rates of 100 basis points would not have a material impact on the fair market value of our investment portfolio or on our financial position or results of operations.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Management’s Evaluation of Our Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") as controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2022. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2022, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are not party to any material legal matters or claims. We may become party to legal matters and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We cannot predict the outcome of any such legal matters or claims, and despite the potential outcomes, the existence thereof may have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 filed with the SEC on August 8, 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
We did not make any sales of unregistered securities during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Use of Proceeds from Public Offering of Common Stock
In October 2020, we completed the initial public offering of our common stock, or IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold 11,500,000 shares of our common stock at a price to the public of $19.00 per share. All of the shares issued and sold in the IPO were registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S‑1 (File No. 333-249074), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2020.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
We did not make any repurchases of shares of common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
Description
101.INS*Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
*Filed herewith.
**    The certifications furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto are deemed to accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such certifications will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
Date: November 9, 2022By: /s/ Marcio Souza
  Marcio Souza
  Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 9, 2022By: /s/ Timothy Kelly
  Timothy Kelly
  Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
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