11/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/10/2025 07:45
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 unaudited interim condensed financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and audited financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the related Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 ("Annual Report"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 27, 2025. This discussion and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain forward-looking statements based upon current beliefs, plans, and expectations related to future events and our future financial performance that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, forecasts and projections. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors including, but not limited to, those set forth under the section titled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future, and you should carefully read the section titled "Risk Factors" to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see the section titled "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a world-class team of G protein-coupled receptor ("GPCR") experts and drug developers advancing cutting-edge science to unlock the full potential of GPCR therapies for patients with significant unmet needs. Our proprietary Native Complex Platform™ is designed to enable new approaches to GPCR drug discovery and has led to the development of a diverse pipeline of novel oral small molecule drug candidates.
Our proprietary Native Complex Platform™ replicates the natural structure, function, and dynamics of GPCRs outside of cells at an industrial scale for, as we believe it, the first time. Our foundational technologies enable us to isolate, purify, and reconstitute full-length, properly folded GPCR proteins within ternary complexes with ligands and transducer proteins in a lipid bilayer that mimics the cell membrane. We then apply state-of-the-art discovery tools and technologies to these defined and tunable protein complexes to structurally design, screen for, and optimize potential product candidates. Leveraging our platform, we conduct GPCR oral small molecule drug discovery using an industrialized and iterative structure-based drug design approach for a diverse collection of GPCR targets. Our Native Complex Platform™ is designed to enable us to target specific GPCRs, uncover novel binding pockets for validated receptors, and pursue a wide spectrum of pharmacologies, including agonists (which activate GPCR signaling), antagonists (which inhibit GPCR signaling), and allosteric modulators (which either increase or decrease the degree of GPCR activation by endogenous ligands), to affect GPCR signaling in different ways to achieve desired therapeutic effects.
We are advancing a deep portfolio of oral small molecule GPCR-targeted programs with novel mechanistic approaches to treat diseases across multiple therapeutic areas for patients with significant unmet needs. Our wholly-owned pipeline is summarized in the figure below.
Recent Developments
Financial Overview
We were incorporated in Delaware in December 2019 under the name GPCR NewCo, Inc. In June 2021, we changed our name to Septerna, Inc. We are headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception, except for the year ended December 31, 2023, when we recorded net income of $4.2 million, resulting from the gain on sale of non-financial asset of $47.6 million for the sale of an in-progress research and development ("IPR&D") asset related to a GPCR program and the three months ended September 30, 2025 when we recorded net income of $8.2 million, resulting from the $21.5 million of revenue and $12.5 million of gain on sale of a non-financial asset. Our revenue to date has been generated solely from research services and the recognition of the one-time, non-refundable upfront payment of $195.0 million from our collaboration agreement. Since our founding, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our proprietary and structure-based drug discovery platform, identifying and discovering our product candidates, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, conducting research and preclinical studies, including investigational new drug ("IND")-enabling studies, initiating and conducting clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates and related raw materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We have not had any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Further, we do not expect to generate revenue from commercial product sales until such time, if ever, that we are able to successfully complete the development and obtain marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates. Our ability to generate product revenue will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates.
We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenditures for the next several years as we:
Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from period to period, depending upon the timing of our expenditures on research and development activities. Cash used to fund operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, which includes accrued research and development, in the statements of cash flows in our audited and unaudited interim condensed financial statements included elsewhere in the Quarterly Report. Our net loss was $38.1 million and $51.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of September 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $156.5 million.
As a result, we will require substantial additional funding to further develop our product candidates and support our continuing operations. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements. See the section titled "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Future Funding Requirements" below for additional information.
We have historically financed our operations primarily through the issuances of convertible promissory notes and convertible preferred stock, and, most recently, through an initial public offering ("IPO"). In October 2024, we completed our IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 18.4 million shares of our common stock (inclusive of an additional 2.4 million shares of our common stock issued and sold pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional shares in full). The aggregate net proceeds received by us from the IPO was $302.8 million, net of total offering costs of $28.4 million.
We use contract research and development organizations to conduct our preclinical work and clinical trials. Additionally, we utilize third-party contract manufacturing organizations ("CMOs"), to manufacture and supply our preclinical and clinical materials during the development of our product candidates. We expect to use similar contract resources for the commercialization of our products, at least until our resources and operations are at a scale that justifies investment in internal manufacturing capabilities.
We conduct research and manufacturing work outside of the U.S., including China, that may be affected by tariffs, including tariffs that have been or may in the future be imposed by the U.S. or other countries through reciprocal tariffs. While we do not currently believe tariffs will have a material impact on our business or results of operations, we will continue to carefully monitor the situation. Additionally, we continue to actively monitor macroeconomic conditions and market volatility resulting from global and national economic developments, political unrest, high inflation, disruptions in capital markets, changes in international trade relationships, changes in or the disruptions of U.S. governmental agencies, whether from a continued U.S. federal government shutdown or reduced resources, new laws and regulations or amendments to existing laws and regulations in the U.S. and foreign countries, and military conflicts. While we believe such factors have had no significant impact on our business or financial results during the periods presented, future developments and potential impacts on our business are uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence.
Collaboration, Research Service, and Asset Purchase Agreements
Novo Collaboration Agreement
In May 2025, we entered into a global Collaboration and License Agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S ("Novo") (the "Novo Collaboration Agreement"). Under the Novo Collaboration Agreement, we and Novo are exclusively collaborating to leverage our proprietary Native Complex Platform™ to discover, develop and commercialize multiple potential oral small molecule therapies for metabolic-related diseases based on certain specified molecular targets. The collaboration objective is to discover and develop several novel mono-, dual-, or triple-acting oral small molecule drug candidates directed across five GPCRs, including the GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors (the "Collaboration Targets"). The collaboration includes our most advanced preclinical metabolic program focused on developing an oral small molecule agonist to the GIP receptor. We and Novo have initially commenced four simultaneous research and development programs (each an "R&D Program") with each pursuing one or more Collaboration Targets from discovery through development candidate selection.
In July 2025, the Novo Collaboration Agreement became effective and, subsequently, we received a one-time, non-refundable upfront payment of $195.0 million, which was recorded as deferred revenue in our condensed balance sheet. For each R&D Program, we are also eligible to receive up to approximately $498.0 million in research, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. In addition, we are entitled to escalating, tiered royalties ranging from mid-to-high single-digits based on global product sales
on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis with respect to a R&D Program until the later of ten years after the date of first commercial sale of the first product in such R&D Program in such country, expiration of specified patent rights covering such product in such country or the expiration of specified regulatory exclusivity for the first product in such R&D Program in such country. See Note 3 to the condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional information.
Vertex Asset Purchase and Research Service Agreement
Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement
In September 2023, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated ("Vertex") under which Vertex acquired an IPR&D asset related to a GPCR program, including all intellectual property, materials, and compounds associated with the program ("Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement"). The Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement also provided for a potential milestone payment payable to us contingent upon the achievement of a milestone event.
In July 2025, this milestone event was determined to have been achieved and, as a result, we received a payment of $12.5 million in August 2025, which was recorded as a gain on sale of the non-financial asset within our total operating income (expenses) in our condensed statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. We will not receive any other payments related to this IPR&D asset.
Vertex Research Service Agreement
In conjunction with the Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement in September 2023, we entered into a research service agreement with Vertex under which we agreed to perform certain exploratory research activities for Vertex ("Vertex Research Service Agreement").
The Vertex Research Service Agreement was for a two-year term, which expired in September 2025. We recognized revenue associated with the Vertex Research Service Agreement over the performance period of the research services as the services were provided.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. Our ability to generate product revenue, if ever, will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of any product candidates that we identify. If we fail to complete the development of any future product candidates in a timely manner or to obtain regulatory approval for such product candidates, our ability to generate future revenue and our results of operations and financial position would be materially adversely affected. Our revenues to date have been exclusively related to license and research and development ("R&D") services. Our license and research service revenue consists of amounts recognized from the portions of the non-refundable upfront payment and R&D services performed by us.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses consist of (i) research and development expenses and (ii) general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses account for the largest component of our total operating expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of direct and unallocated costs incurred for the research and development of our product candidates.
Our research and development expenses consist of:
We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and third-party service providers.
A significant portion of our research and development costs have been external costs, which we track by stage of development. However, we do not track our unallocated costs on a program specific basis because these costs are deployed across multiple projects and, as such, are not separately classified.
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 expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to developing our product candidates, as our product candidates advance into later stages of development, as we begin to conduct clinical trials, as we seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, and as we incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing product candidates, many of which are outside of our control, including the uncertainty of:
Any changes in the outcome of any of these variables could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of our product candidates. For example, if the FDA, EMA or any other comparable foreign regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. We may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, costs related to maintenance and filing of intellectual property, legal fees related to corporate matters, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing, consulting, tax and investor relations services, insurance costs, general corporate expenses, and IT-related and facility-related costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses. Personnel-related costs include salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation for our personnel in executive, legal, finance and accounting, human resources, and other administrative functions.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase substantially in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as we continue to increase our headcount to support our business growth and to advance our research and development programs.
Other Income, Net
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities during the period.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net consists primarily of changes in the fair value of our cash equivalents held in money market funds, loss on disposal of our fixed assets and foreign currency transaction gain or loss.
Income Taxes
We are subject to corporate U. S. federal and state income taxation. Our benefit for income taxes is recorded in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. We establish a valuation allowance against all of our net deferred tax assets. We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, including but not limited to our historical operating results, income or loss in recent periods, cumulative losses in recent years, forecasted earnings (losses), future taxable income (loss), and significant risk and uncertainty related to forecasts, and concluded the deferred tax assets are not more likely than not to be realized.
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ("H.R.1") was signed into law, which introduced significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax code. Among other changes, H.R.1 makes permanent key elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including restoring 100% bonus depreciation, eliminating the capitalization requirement for domestic research and development expenses, and modifying the business interest expense limitation, which now allows depreciation and amortization to be included in the limitation calculation. ASC 740 requires the effects of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred tax balances to be recognized in the period in which the legislation is enacted in the third quarter of 2025. We are still in the process of evaluating H.R.1's impact on our condensed financial statements and an estimate of the financial impact cannot be made at this time. However, we do not expect the impact to be material to our condensed financial statements.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
Our results of operations for each of the periods indicated are summarized in the table below (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Revenue |
$ |
21,495 |
$ |
176 |
$ |
21,319 |
$ |
21,833 |
$ |
863 |
$ |
20,970 |
||||||||||||
|
Operating (income) expenses: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Research and development |
24,264 |
17,832 |
6,432 |
65,723 |
46,020 |
19,703 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
General and administrative |
7,117 |
4,894 |
2,223 |
20,884 |
10,948 |
9,936 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Gain on sale of non-financial asset |
(12,500 |
) |
- |
(12,500 |
) |
(12,500 |
) |
- |
(12,500 |
) |
||||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses |
18,881 |
22,726 |
(3,845 |
) |
74,107 |
56,968 |
17,139 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Income (loss) from operations |
2,614 |
(22,550 |
) |
25,164 |
(52,274 |
) |
(56,105 |
) |
3,831 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Other income, net: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Interest income |
5,565 |
1,900 |
3,665 |
14,192 |
4,709 |
9,483 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Other expense, net |
(6 |
) |
(9 |
) |
3 |
(59 |
) |
(72 |
) |
13 |
||||||||||||||
|
Total other income, net |
5,559 |
1,891 |
3,668 |
14,133 |
4,637 |
9,496 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Income (loss) before benefit for income taxes |
8,173 |
(20,659 |
) |
28,832 |
(38,141 |
) |
(51,468 |
) |
13,327 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Benefit for income taxes |
- |
136 |
(136 |
) |
- |
338 |
(338 |
) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
8,173 |
$ |
(20,523 |
) |
$ |
28,696 |
$ |
(38,141 |
) |
$ |
(51,130 |
) |
$ |
12,989 |
|||||||||
Revenue
Our revenue was generated from research activities performed for Novo in connection with the Novo Collaboration Agreement and Vertex in connection with the Vertex Research Service Agreement. We recorded revenue of $21.5 million and $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. We recorded revenue of $21.8 million and $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
$21.3 million of our total revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was generated from research activities performed for Novo in connection with the Novo Collaboration Agreement while the remainder was generated from research activities performed for Vertex in connection with the Vertex Research Service Agreement.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated by direct and unallocated costs (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Direct costs: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SEP-479 (PTH1R) |
$ |
2,595 |
$ |
3,560 |
$ |
(965 |
) |
$ |
9,328 |
$ |
8,306 |
$ |
1,022 |
|||||||||||
|
SEP-631 (MRGPRX2) |
3,073 |
550 |
2,523 |
6,838 |
1,424 |
5,414 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Other programs |
6,604 |
1,521 |
5,083 |
16,600 |
3,674 |
12,926 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Unallocated costs: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Payroll-related costs |
7,886 |
4,227 |
3,659 |
19,619 |
12,203 |
7,416 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
External research and development |
651 |
4,763 |
(4,112 |
) |
3,124 |
11,222 |
(8,098 |
) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Facility-related and office costs |
2,113 |
1,841 |
272 |
6,089 |
4,276 |
1,813 |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Other costs |
1,342 |
1,370 |
(28 |
) |
4,125 |
4,915 |
(790 |
) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Total research and development |
$ |
24,264 |
$ |
17,832 |
$ |
6,432 |
$ |
65,723 |
$ |
46,020 |
$ |
19,703 |
||||||||||||
Research and development expenses were $24.3 million and $17.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase was primarily due to (i) $6.6 million of higher direct costs associated with our clinical and preclinical and research programs, (ii) $3.6 million of higher employee-related costs as a result of increased headcount as we continue to grow our business, and (iii) $0.3 million of higher facility-related and office costs as we expanded our office space in July 2024 to accommodate higher occupancy and larger operational activities, partially offset by $4.1 million of lower expenses attributable to unallocated external research and development costs.
Research and development expenses were $65.7 million and $46.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase was primarily due to (i) $19.3 million of higher direct costs associated with our clinical and preclinical and research programs, including $2.3 million of higher clinical trial expenses, (ii) 7.4 million of higher employee-related costs as a result of increased headcount as we continue to grow our business, and (iii) $1.8 million of higher facility-related and office costs as we expanded our office space in July 2024 to accommodate higher occupancy and larger operational activities, partially offset by $8.1 million of lower expenses attributable to unallocated external research and development costs and $0.8 million of lower other research and development expense.
In February 2025, the SEP-786 clinical study was discontinued and, as a result, we do not anticipate incurring significant additional clinical trial costs associated with this study. In September 2025, we announced the selection of SEP-479 as our next-generation oral small molecule PTH1R agonist development candidate and are now advancing SEP-479 through the completion of the remaining preclinical studies, manufacturing of clinical drug supply, and preparation of regulatory submissions in support of our plan to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for SEP-479 in the first half of 2026. We expect to continue to incur increased research and development expenses as we advance the ongoing clinical trial for SEP-631 towards completion, progress SEP-479 towards clinical development, continue to advance our TSHR NAM preclinical program and multiple discovery-stage programs in our pipeline, and continue to invest in our Native Complex PlatformTM.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses were $7.1 million and $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase was primarily due to (i) $1.5 million of higher employee-related costs as a result of increased headcount to support our growing operations, (ii) $0.5 million of higher IT-related expenses, (iii) $0.3 million of higher legal and consulting fees, and (iv) $0.2 million of higher facility-related and office costs as a result of increased operational activities and operating as a public company.
General and administrative expenses were $20.9 million and $10.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increase was primarily due to (i) $4.4 million of higher employee-related costs as a result of increased headcount, (ii) $2.2 million of higher legal and consulting fees, (iii) $1.0 million of accounting and consulting fees, (iv) $1.3 million of higher
IT-related expenses, (v) $0.4 million of higher facility-related and office costs as a result of increased operational activities and operating as a public company and (vi) $0.6 million of other general and administrative expenses.
Gain on Sale of Non-Financial Asset
Gain on sale of non-financial asset of $12.5 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was attributable to a milestone payment under the Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023. No gain on sale of non-financial asset was recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Other Income, Net
Interest Income
Interest income was $5.6 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Interest income was $14.2 million and $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The increases in interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, were due to higher interest rates and higher balances of invested cash in cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Benefit for Income Taxes
We recognized $0.1 million and $0.3 million of benefit for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. We did not record a benefit or provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Our net losses were $38.1 million and $51.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of September 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $156.5 million. Since our founding, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our proprietary and structure-based drug discovery platform, identifying and discovering our product candidates, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, conducting research and preclinical studies, including IND-enabling studies, initiating and conducting clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates and related raw materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We expect to continue to incur substantial expenditures for our research and development programs.
We have historically financed our operations primarily through the issuances of convertible promissory notes and convertible preferred stock, and most recently, through an IPO. In October 2024, we completed our IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 18.4 million shares of common stock (inclusive of 2.4 million shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional shares in full). The aggregate net proceeds received by us from the IPO was $302.8 million, net of total offering costs of $28.4 million.
In July 2025, upon the effectiveness of the Novo Collaboration Agreement, we received a one-time, non-refundable upfront payment of $195.0 million. In August 2025, we received a $12.5 million milestone payment from the Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement. We believe our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $561.6 million as of September 30, 2025 will be sufficient to fund our operations and capital expenditure requirements at least into 2029.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
|||||||
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
$ |
125,177 |
$ |
(46,512 |
) |
|||
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
(44,052 |
) |
(27,359 |
) |
||||
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
668 |
73,630 |
||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ |
81,793 |
$ |
(241 |
) |
|||
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $125.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. The net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was due to $169.8 million of net change in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by $38.1 million of net loss, net non-cash charges of $6.5 million primarily attributable to gain on sale of non-financial asset and amortization of premiums (discounts), net.
Net cash used in operating activities was $46.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was due to our net loss of $51.1 million, partially offset by $1.7 million of net change in operating assets and liabilities, $2.9 million of non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, non-cash operating lease expense, deferred income tax and accretion of discounts, net, on marketable securities.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities of $44.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was attributable to $223.5 million of purchases of marketable securities and $0.5 million of purchases of property and equipment, partially offset by the maturity of $167.4 million of marketable securities and the receipt of the $12.5 million milestone payment related to the Vertex Asset Purchase Agreement.
Net cash used in investing activities of $27.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was attributable to $65.8 million of purchases of available-for-sale marketable securities and $1.5 million of purchases of property and equipment, partially offset by the receipt of the remaining $22.6 million from the sale of non-financial asset during the year ended December 31, 2023 and the maturity of $17.3 million of available-for-sale marketable securities.
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities of $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was primarily attributable to the proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Net cash provided by financing activities of $73.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily attributable to the net proceeds from the sale and issuance of our Series B convertible preferred stock.
Future Funding Requirements
Our primary use of cash is to fund our operations, primarily research and development expenditures. Cash used for operating expenses is impacted by the timing of when we pay these expenses, as reflected in the change in our outstanding accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid expenses.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our operating capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
We will need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for clinical trials, other research and development expenditures, and business development activities. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated clinical studies.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of private and public equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements. However, the trading prices for our common stock and for other biopharmaceutical companies have been highly volatile. As a result, we may face difficulties raising capital through sales of our common stock, and such sales may be on unfavorable terms. Similarly, adverse macroeconomic conditions and market volatility resulting from global and national economic developments, political unrest, high inflation, disruptions in capital markets, changes in international trade relationships, changes in or the disruptions of U.S. governmental agencies, whether from a continued U.S. federal government shutdown or reduced resources, global health crises, or other factors could materially and adversely affect our ability to consummate an equity or debt financing on favorable terms or at all. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, existing stockholders' ownership interests will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect existing stockholders' rights as common stockholders. 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 acquisitions or capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution 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 or other arrangements when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our research, product development or future commercialization efforts, or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We historically financed our operations primarily through the issuances of convertible promissory notes and convertible preferred stock, and most recently, through an IPO. In October 2024, we completed our IPO, which resulted in net proceeds of $302.8 million, net of total offering costs of $28.4 million. Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to raising capital, organizing and staffing our company, business and scientific planning, conducting discovery and research and development activities, establishing, maintaining, and protecting our intellectual property portfolio, developing and progressing our product candidates and preparing for clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates and component materials, engaging in collaboration activities, and providing general and administrative support for these operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Management's discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. ("U.S. GAAP"). The preparation of these condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed financial statements, as well as the reported revenue generated and 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 and any such differences may be material. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management's judgments and estimates.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, there have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates as described in our Annual Report, except as described below.
Revenue Recognition
We account for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606"). Under ASC 606, we recognize revenue when the customer obtains control of the promised goods or services at an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. See Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies, to our condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for additional information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 1 to our condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We qualify as "emerging growth company" under the JOBS Act, which permits us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. We could be an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.235 billion in annual gross revenue; (ii) the date we qualify as a "large accelerated filers" as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, with at least $700.0 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; (iii) the issuance, in any three-year period, by us of more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of our IPO. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may continue to qualify as a "smaller reporting company," which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million.