12/04/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/04/2025 06:07
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 audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in our final prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2025 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act for our IPO, our unaudited condensed financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, future results of operations and financial position, and our objectives for future operations, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "might," "intend," "target," "ongoing," "project," "estimate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions intended to identify statements about the future. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of this Quarterly Report, 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 or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating central nervous system, or CNS, disorders. We were founded by globally recognized leaders in psychiatry and neuroscience research to address the lack of circuit-specific pharmacotherapies available for patients. Our discovery platform holds the potential to fill this void by identifying neural circuits causally linked to disease and targeting those circuits for therapeutic modulation. We believe our deep understanding of these causal links between the modulation of defined neural circuits and the resulting changes in disease-specific behaviors will enable us to develop therapeutics that can deliver efficacy, safety, tolerability and ease-of-use advantages to patients and prescribers.
Our lead product candidate, ML-007C-MA, is a fixed-dose combination of an M1/M4muscarinic agonist, ML-007, co-formulated with a peripherally acting anticholinergic, or PAC, which we are initially developing for the treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease psychosis, or ADP. ML-007C-MA is designed to activate both M1and M4muscarinic receptors centrally to drive efficacy, while synchronizing the pharmacokinetics of the agonist and antagonist components to mitigate peripheral cholinergic side effects. ML-007 alone, co-administered or co-formulated with the PAC has been evaluated in four Phase 1 trials, with a total of 270 healthy participants enrolled and more than 1,500 doses of ML-007 administered. Based on our clinical and preclinical data, we believe that ML-007C-MA has demonstrated the potential to be a well-tolerated treatment option with convenient dosing, while achieving or exceeding cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, exposures expected to result in improvement across key symptom domains. We are currently conducting ZEPHYR, a Phase 2 trial evaluating ML-007C-MA for the treatment of acute schizophrenia, and expect topline results in the second half of 2026. We are also conducting VISTA, a Phase 2 trial evaluating ML-007C-MA for the treatment of ADP, and expect topline results in the second half of 2027.
Since our inception in 2018, we have devoted substantially all of our time and efforts to performing research and development activities, raising capital and recruiting management and technical staff to support our operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the sales of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and research and development grants received and most recently, with net proceeds from our initial public offering, or IPO, and concurrent private placement, or the Concurrent Private Placement.
We have incurred significant net losses since inception. Our net losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 were $81.6 million and $56.4 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2025, we had an accumulated deficit of $281.0 million. We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenses and net losses for the foreseeable future as we advance our current and future product candidates through preclinical and clinical development, seek regulatory approval for such product candidates, maintain and expand our intellectual property portfolio, hire additional research and development and business personnel, expand our infrastructure and operate as a public company.
Following the closing of our IPO, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, accounting, insurance, investor relations and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We will not generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete clinical development and obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, we expect to incur significant expenses related to developing our commercialization capability to support product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution activities initially in the United States.
As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of public or private equity offerings and debt financings or other sources, such as potential collaboration agreements, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such agreements as and when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
At this time, due to the inherently unpredictable nature of clinical and preclinical development and given the current stage of our product candidates, we cannot reasonably estimate the costs we will incur and the timelines that will be required to complete development, obtain marketing approval and commercialize our current product candidates or any future product candidates, if at all. For the same reasons, we are also unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve profitability. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. If we fail to become profitable or sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to raise additional capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations at planned levels, and as a result we may be forced to substantially reduce or terminate our operations.
As of September 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $227.2 million. Based on our current operational plans and assumptions, we expect that the $269.8 million of estimated net proceeds from the IPO and the Concurrent Private Placement, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, the placement agent fee and offering expenses, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, will be sufficient to fund our operations through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we expect. If we are unable to raise sufficient funding, we may be unable to continue to operate in the long term. See "-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Plan of Operation and Future Funding Requirements" below.
NeuroSolis Asset Purchase Agreement
In June 2020, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement, or the NeuroSolis Agreement, with NeuroSolis Inc., or NeuroSolis, to acquire NeuroSolis's proprietary M1/M4agonist molecules and associated intellectual property.
Pursuant to the NeuroSolis Agreement, NeuroSolis sold us its assets related to both its proprietary M1/M4agonist molecules, and its program for the identification of molecules that modulate the activity of the muscarinic M1receptor or the muscarinic M4receptor. We did not assume any liabilities of NeuroSolis in connection with our purchase of these assets. We are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve specified development and regulatory milestones by developing a product covered by a transferred patent, including ML-007C-MA.
We have made upfront and development milestone payments of $150,000 in the aggregate to NeuroSolis. In addition, we agreed to issue NeuroSolis up to an aggregate of 62,083 shares of our common stock, contingent upon the occurrence of specified development and regulatory milestones, of which 26,607 were issued in June 2025.
Stellaromics Agreement
In October 2023, we entered into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement with Stellaromics, Inc., or Stellaromics, an entity focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary three-dimensional transcriptomic device inclusive of a confocal, probes, operating software and sample analysis software, pursuant to which we transferred all our rights and obligations to the licenses for STARmap and SNAIL-RCA technologies from Stanford University, or the Stellaromics Agreement. In exchange for the transfer of intellectual property, we received an equity investment in Stellaromics common stock and the right to continue using these technologies in devices already owned. See "-Loss from Equity Method Investment" below and the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report for information regarding our equity method investment.
Components of Our Results of Operations
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue from any sources, including from product sales, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the foreseeable future.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the development of our product candidates and our research activities, including our discovery efforts, and include:
We expense research and development costs as incurred. Costs for external development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific activities. 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 financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expenses.
We typically use our employee and infrastructure resources across our development programs and therefore we do not allocate personnel costs, license payments made under our licensing arrangements or other internal costs to specific development programs or product candidates. We also do not track external expenses by specific development program or product candidate.
Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect that our research and development expenses will continue to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue conducting clinical trials, advance our preclinical programs into the clinic and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates.
The process of conducting the necessary preclinical and clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time consuming. We cannot reasonably estimate the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete development of our current or future product candidates. There are numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the duration and cost of successfully developing product candidates, which can vary significantly, including:
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of our current and future product candidates may significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of those product candidates and we may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. As a result of these uncertainties, we are unable to precisely forecast the duration and completion costs of our research and development activities.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and other related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in our executive, finance, business development and administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters; professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services; insurance costs; travel expenses; and facility-related expenses, which include direct depreciation costs and allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and other operating costs.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our personnel headcount to support our continued clinical development efforts, research and development activities, manufacturing activities and related expansion of our operations. We also anticipate increased expenses associated with being a public company, including costs for audit, legal, regulatory and tax-related services related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, director and officer insurance premiums and investor relations costs.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest income earned on our cash, cash equivalents and investments.
Loss from Equity Method Investment
In October 2023, we entered into the Stellaromics Agreement. As of September 30, 2025, we held approximately 3.7% of the outstanding capital stock of Stellaromics. Additionally, Christopher A. Kroeger, M.D., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors, and George Pavlov, one of our directors, are members of Stellaromics' board of directors, and our largest stockholder, Catalyst4, Inc., holds greater than 30.0% of the outstanding capital stock of Stellaromics. We have significant influence over, but do not control, Stellaromics through our noncontrolling representation on Stellaromics' board of directors and our equity interest in Stellaromics. We determined that Stellaromics is a variable interest entity because it does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its operations without additional subordinated financial support. We are not the primary beneficiary as we do not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact Stellaromics' economic performance. Accordingly, we do not consolidate the financial statements of Stellaromics and account for this investment using the equity method of accounting.
Under the equity method of accounting, our investments are initially recorded at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. Upon recording an equity method investment, we evaluate whether there are basis differences between the carrying value and fair value of our proportionate share of the investee's underlying net assets. Typically, we amortize identified basis differences on a straight-line basis over the underlying asset's or liability's estimated useful life when calculating the attributable earnings or losses. If we are unable to attribute all of the basis difference to specific assets or liabilities of the investee, we consider the residual excess of the cost of the investment over the proportional fair value of the investee's assets and liabilities to be equity method goodwill, which is recognized within the equity investment balance. We subsequently record in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss our share of income or loss of the other entity within the equity method investment, net line item.
We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may be impaired and consider qualitative and quantitative factors including the investee's financial metrics, product and commercial outlook and cash usage. If a decline in the value of an equity method investment is determined to be other than temporary, a loss is recorded in earnings in the current period and the investment is written down to fair value.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net consists primarily of amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity for available-for-sale debt securities.
Income Taxes
Since our inception, we have not recorded income tax benefits for the net operating losses, or NOLs, incurred or the research and development tax credits generated in each year due to the uncertainty of realizing a benefit from those items. As of December 31, 2024, we had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $58.6 million and $10.5 million, respectively, which may be available to offset future taxable income. The federal net operating loss carryforwards do not expire, but may only be used to offset 80% of annual taxable income. The state net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in 2039. As of December 31, 2024, we also had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards of $8.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively, which may be available to offset future tax liabilities and expire at various dates beginning in 2039.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
|
Research and development |
$ |
27,094 |
$ |
16,814 |
$ |
10,280 |
||||||
|
General and administrative |
4,404 |
4,080 |
324 |
|||||||||
|
Total operating expenses |
31,498 |
20,894 |
10,604 |
|||||||||
|
Loss from operations |
(31,498 |
) |
(20,894 |
) |
(10,604 |
) |
||||||
|
Other income (expense), net: |
||||||||||||
|
Interest income |
1,549 |
1,081 |
468 |
|||||||||
|
Other income, net |
531 |
797 |
(266 |
) |
||||||||
|
Total other income, net |
2,080 |
1,878 |
202 |
|||||||||
|
Net loss attributable to common stockholders |
$ |
(29,418 |
) |
$ |
(19,016 |
) |
$ |
(10,402 |
) |
|||
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Clinical trial expenses |
$ |
11,915 |
$ |
3,907 |
$ |
8,008 |
||||||
|
Employee related expenses |
7,043 |
5,620 |
1,423 |
|||||||||
|
Formulation and CMC expenses |
4,175 |
3,352 |
823 |
|||||||||
|
Preclinical program expenses |
2,792 |
3,460 |
(668 |
) |
||||||||
|
Other expenses |
1,169 |
475 |
694 |
|||||||||
|
Total |
$ |
27,094 |
$ |
16,814 |
$ |
10,280 |
||||||
Research and development expenses were $27.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $16.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in total research and development expenses of $10.3 million was primarily due to an increase of $8.0 million in clinical trial expenses, an increase of $1.4 million in employee-related expenses related to increased headcount associated with expanded clinical activities, and an increase of $0.8 million in formulation and chemistry, manufacturing and controls, or CMC, expenses, offset by a decrease of $0.7 million in preclinical program expenses. Research and development expenses were reduced as a result of grant earnings recognized of $1.2 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Professional and other fees |
$ |
2,500 |
$ |
2,020 |
$ |
480 |
||||||
|
Employee related expenses |
1,904 |
2,060 |
(156 |
) |
||||||||
|
Total |
$ |
4,404 |
$ |
4,080 |
$ |
324 |
||||||
General and administrative expenses were $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in total general and administrative expenses of $0.3 million was primarily due to an increase of $0.5 million in professional fees driven by increased legal and consulting costs, partially offset by a decrease of $0.2 million in employee-related expenses.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest Income
Interestincome was $1.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in interest income of $0.4 million was due to the increased short-term and long-term investments held at September 30, 2025 compared to September 30, 2024.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease of $0.3 million was primarily due to decreased amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on investments held during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
|
Research and development |
$ |
73,726 |
$ |
47,810 |
$ |
25,916 |
||||||
|
General and administrative |
11,980 |
12,359 |
(379 |
) |
||||||||
|
Total operating expenses |
85,706 |
60,169 |
25,537 |
|||||||||
|
Loss from operations |
(85,706 |
) |
(60,169 |
) |
(25,537 |
) |
||||||
|
Other income (expense), net: |
||||||||||||
|
Interest income |
3,048 |
3,605 |
(557 |
) |
||||||||
|
Loss from equity method investment |
- |
(986 |
) |
986 |
||||||||
|
Other income, net |
1,054 |
1,199 |
(145 |
) |
||||||||
|
Total other income, net |
4,102 |
3,818 |
284 |
|||||||||
|
Net loss attributable to common stockholders |
$ |
(81,604 |
) |
$ |
(56,351 |
) |
$ |
(25,253 |
) |
|||
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Clinical trial expenses |
$ |
29,874 |
$ |
13,336 |
$ |
16,538 |
||||||
|
Employee related expenses |
21,050 |
15,309 |
5,741 |
|||||||||
|
Formulation and CMC expenses |
11,728 |
8,679 |
3,049 |
|||||||||
|
Preclinical program expenses |
7,042 |
9,162 |
(2,120 |
) |
||||||||
|
Other expenses |
4,032 |
1,324 |
2,708 |
|||||||||
|
Total |
$ |
73,726 |
$ |
47,810 |
$ |
25,916 |
||||||
Research and development expenses were $73.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $47.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in total research and development expenses of $25.9 million was primarily due to an increase of $16.5 million in clinical trial expenses, an increase of $5.7 million in employee-related expenses related to increased headcount associated with expanded clinical activities, and an increase of $3.0 million in formulation and CMC expenses, offset by a decrease of $2.1 million in preclinical program expenses. Research and development expenses were reduced as a result of grant earnings recognized of $2.0 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Professional and other fees |
$ |
6,114 |
$ |
6,777 |
$ |
(663 |
) |
|||||
|
Employee related expenses |
5,866 |
5,582 |
284 |
|||||||||
|
Total |
$ |
11,980 |
$ |
12,359 |
$ |
(379 |
) |
|||||
General and administrative expenses were $12.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in total general and administrative expenses of $0.4 million was primarily due to a decrease of $0.7 million in professional fees driven by decreased consulting costs, partially offset by an increase of $0.3 million in employee-related expenses.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest Income
Interestincome was $3.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $3.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in interest income of $0.6 million was due to the decreased short-term and long-term investments held at September 30, 2025 compared to September 30, 2024.
Loss from Equity Method Investment
The loss from equity method investment of $1.0 million recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was due to recognition of the loss from equity method investment related to our investment in Stellaromics. As of September 30, 2025, the carrying value of the equity method investment was $0, and no further losses will be recorded because we do not have any obligation to fund future losses.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease of $0.1 million was primarily due to decreased amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on investments held during the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
We have incurred significant net losses since inception. We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenses and net losses for the foreseeable future, as we advance our current and future product candidates through preclinical and clinical development, seek regulatory approval for our current and future product candidates through clinical and preclinical development, maintain and expand our intellectual property portfolio, hire additional research and development and business personnel, scale-up of our production capabilities and operate as a public company. As of September 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $227.2 million and an accumulated deficit of $281.0 million. Historically, we have financed our operations primarily through issuances of our redeemable convertible preferred stock and research and development grants received, and more recently, with proceeds from our IPO and Concurrent Private Placement.
In October 2025, we closed our IPO, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 16,962,500 shares of our common stock (inclusive of 2,212,500 shares pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters' overallotment option in full) at a public offering price of $17.00 per share for gross proceeds of $288.4 million. We estimate the aggregate net proceeds from our IPO, including the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares, to be approximately $262.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Concurrent with our IPO, we also closed our Concurrent Private Placement, in which we issued and sold 476,707 shares of our common stock at a price of $17.00 per share. We received aggregate net proceeds of $7.5 million from our Concurrent Private Placement, after deducting placement agent fees and estimated private placement expenses.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||||
|
2025 |
2024 |
Change |
||||||||||
|
Cash flows used in operating activities |
$ |
(91,308 |
) |
$ |
(57,327 |
) |
$ |
(33,981 |
) |
|||
|
Cash flows used in investing activities |
(80,654 |
) |
(113,182 |
) |
32,528 |
|||||||
|
Cash flows provided by financing activities |
197,855 |
118,055 |
79,800 |
|||||||||
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ |
25,893 |
$ |
(52,454 |
) |
$ |
78,347 |
|||||
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities are heavily influenced by our use of cash for operating expenses and working capital required to support our business. We have historically generated negative cash flows from operating activities due to expenses incurred in our clinical trials, preclinical studies, and research and development initiatives.
Net cash used in operating activities was $91.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, reflecting a net loss of $81.6 million and a net change in our net operating assets and liabilities of $11.1 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $1.4 million. The change in our net operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $10.8 million increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $2.0 million decrease in deferred grant earnings and a $0.6 million decrease in operating lease liability, offset by a $1.8 million increase in accrued expenses and a $0.5 million increase in accounts payable. Non-cash charges primarily consisted of $0.6 million of non-cash lease expense, $0.5 million of common stock issued to NeuroSolis, $0.5 million of stock-based compensation expense, and $0.4 million of depreciation, offset by $0.7 million of net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on investments.
Net cash used in operating activities was $57.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, reflecting a net loss of $56.4 million and a net change in our net operating assets and liabilities of $2.5 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $1.6 million. The change in our net operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in accounts payable, a $1.0 million decrease in deferred grant earnings, a $0.9 million increase in prepaid expenses and other assets and a $0.5 million decrease in operating lease liability, offset by a $1.0 million increase in accrued expenses. Non-cash charges primarily consisted of $1.0 million of loss from equity method investment, $0.9 million of stock-based compensation expense, $0.5 million of non-cash lease expense and $0.5 million of depreciation, offset by $1.3 million of net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on investments.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $80.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $113.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The decrease in cash used by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was driven by the maturities of short-term investments.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $197.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $118.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to proceeds received from the issuance and sale of shares of our Series D Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
Plan of Operation and Future Funding Requirements
We use our capital resources mainly to fund operating expenses, including research and development expenditures. We plan to increase our research and development expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue clinical trial activities, advance our preclinical programs into the clinic and continue to discover and develop additional product candidates. At this time, due to the inherently unpredictable nature of clinical and preclinical development and given the early stage of our product candidates, we cannot reasonably estimate the costs we will incur and the timelines that will be required to complete development, obtain marketing approval and commercialize our current product candidates or any future product candidates, if at all. For the same reasons, we are also unable to predict when, if ever, we will generate revenue from product sales or whether, or when, if ever, we may achieve profitability. Clinical and preclinical development timelines, the probability of success, and development costs can differ materially from expectations. In addition, we cannot forecast which product candidates may be subject to future collaborations, when such arrangements will be secured, if at all, and to what degree such arrangements would affect our development plans and capital requirements.
As of September 30, 2025, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $227.2 million. Based on our current operational plans and assumptions, we expect that the $269.8 million of estimated net proceeds from our IPO and Concurrent Private Placement, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, the placement agent fee and offering expenses, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, will be sufficient to fund our operations through 2027. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, however, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we expect.
The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend largely on:
Our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, will not be sufficient to complete development of any product candidate. Accordingly, we will be required to obtain further funding to achieve our business objectives.
Until we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through a combination of public or private equity offerings and debt financings. We may also consider entering into collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements or selectively partnering for clinical development and commercialization as well as funding through other sources. The sale of additional equity may result in additional dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of debt financing would result in debt service obligations, and the instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financial covenants that could restrict our operations or our ability to incur additional indebtedness or pay dividends, among other things. If we raise additional funds through governmental funding, collaborations, strategic partnerships and 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 not able to secure adequate additional funding, we may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible and/or suspend or curtail planned programs or cease operations. Any of these actions could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Contractual Obligations
In August 2020, we entered into a lab and office lease agreement in Redwood City, California. We rented additional space under amendments to the lease agreement in August 2022 and August 2023. We currently lease a total of 13,734 square feet, and the term of the lease extends to June 2031. The lease provides for escalating annualized base rent payments starting at $0.8 million and increasing to $1.2 million in the final year of the lease. Remaining lease payments from January 1, 2025 through the end of the lease term total $7.0 million.
In September 2023, we entered into a lease agreement for office space located in Burlington, Massachusetts. This lease commenced in April 2024 and has an initial term of approximately five years, with an option to extend the term for an additional five years. Cash that is required as security deposit to be held in accordance with the lease is $0.2 million. Remaining lease payments from January 1, 2025 through the end of the lease term total $1.4 million.
We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs and other vendors to assist in the performance of our clinical trials, CMC, research and development and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts typically do not contain minimum purchase commitments and generally provide for termination on notice. Payments due upon cancellation consist of payments for services provided or expenses incurred to date, including payment of noncancelable obligations of our service providers, up to the date of cancellation, and may also include termination penalties. As of September 30, 2025, the timing, the amount or likelihood of such payments are not known.
We are also party to certain grant agreements with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and license and collaboration agreements with NeuroSolis, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University and other universities. We may be obligated to make certain future payments under these agreements that are contingent upon future events such as our achievement of specified regulatory and commercial milestones or royalties on net product sales under these agreements. As of September 30, 2025, we were unable to estimate the timing or likelihood of achieving these milestones or generating future product sales.
Our agreements to license intellectual property include potential milestone payments that are dependent upon the development of products using the licensed intellectual property and contingent upon the achievement of development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. As of September 30, 2025, we were unable to estimate the timing or likelihood of these milestones.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, costs and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
A summary of our critical accounting policies is presented in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024 included in our final prospectus filed with the SEC on October 27, 2025 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act for our IPO. There were no material changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
The JOBS Act provides that, among other things, an "emerging growth company" can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of some accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. As an emerging growth company, we have elected to take advantage of the extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards and to adopt certain of the reduced disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies. As a result of the accounting standards election, we will not be subject to the same implementation timing for new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, which may make comparison of our financials to those of other public companies more difficult. We may choose to early adopt any new or revised accounting standards whenever such early adoption is permitted for private companies. We intend to rely on certain of the other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor's attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b), and (ii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding a supplement to the auditor's report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis).
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) December 31, 2030, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a "large accelerated filer" as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year (and we have been a public company for at least 12 months and have filed one annual report on Form 10-K) or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
We are also a "smaller reporting company," as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (ii) our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million.
If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our annual report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.