Caribou Biosciences, Inc 10-Q for FY2023 Q1
Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (CRBU)
10-Q
2023-05-09
For: 2023-03-31
View Original
Added on
April 06, 2026
About this 10-Q
Caribou Biosciences, Inc filed this 10-Q on May 9, 2023, covering the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (FY2023 Q1).
Headline figures
Quarter ended March 31, 2023, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $3.5M
- up 31.5% from $2.66M a year earlier
- Net loss
- $28.04M
- compared with a net loss of $19.09M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- -$0.46
- compared with -$0.32 a year earlier
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 March 31, 2023
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: 001-40631
______________________________________
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
______________________________________
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (510 ) 982-6030
______________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
The | ||||||||||||||
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 x No o
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 x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | o | Accelerated filer | o | |||||||||||
| x | Smaller 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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of May 4, 2023, the registrant had 61,363,713 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, outstanding.
Table of Contents
| Page | ||||||||
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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
CARIBOU BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Marketable securities, short-term | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | |||||||||||
| Contract assets | |||||||||||
| Other receivables | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total current assets | |||||||||||
| NON-CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Investments in equity securities | |||||||||||
| Marketable securities, long-term | |||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | |||||||||||
| Operating lease, right of use assets | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | |||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities, current | |||||||||||
Deferred revenue ($ | |||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | |||||||||||
| LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | |||||||||||
| Deferred revenue, net of current portion | |||||||||||
| MSKCC success payments liability | |||||||||||
| Lease liabilities, non-current | |||||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total liabilities | |||||||||||
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9) | |||||||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, par value $ | |||||||||||
Common stock, par value $ | |||||||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | |||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | |||||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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CARIBOU BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensing and collaboration revenue | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale marketable securities, net of tax | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net comprehensive loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
CARIBOU BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share amounts)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Accumulated Deficit | Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE—December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock on exercise of options | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock in connection with at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE—March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE—December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock on exercise of options | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE—March 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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CARIBOU BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Gain on disposal of fixed assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Non-cash consideration for licensing and collaboration revenue | ( | ||||||||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities | |||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | |||||||||||
| Change in fair value of MSKCC success payments liability | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Amortization of investment premiums | ( | ||||||||||
| Non-cash lease expense | |||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ||||||||||
| Contract assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Other receivables | |||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Other assets | ( | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ||||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue, current and long-term | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | ( | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Purchases of marketable securities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | ( | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options and purchases of common stock under employee stock purchase plan | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock related to at-the-market offering, net of offering expenses | |||||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | |||||||||||
| NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH | ( | ( | |||||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — BEGINNING OF PERIOD | |||||||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH — END OF PERIOD | $ | $ | |||||||||
| RECONCILIATION OF CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | |||||||||||
| TOTAL CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH | $ | $ | |||||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Offering costs included in accrued expenses | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Right-of-use-assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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CARIBOU BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Description of the Business, Organization, and Liquidity
Business and Organization
Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) is a clinical-stage Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (“CRISPR”) genome-editing biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases. Our genome-editing platform, including our novel chRDNA (CRISPR hybrid RNA-DNA, or “chRDNA,” pronounced “chardonnay”) technologies, enables superior editing precision to develop cell therapies that are armored to improve antitumor activity. We are advancing a pipeline of allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, cell therapies from our chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) T (“CAR-T”) cell and CAR-natural killer (“CAR-NK”) cell platforms as readily available therapeutic treatments for patients.
We incorporated in October 2011 as a Delaware corporation and are headquartered in Berkeley, California. We have four wholly owned subsidiaries: Antler Holdco, LLC, incorporated in Delaware in April 2019; Microbe Holdco, LLC, incorporated in Delaware in June 2020; Arboreal Holdco, LLC, incorporated in Delaware in November 2020; and Biloba Holdco, LLC, incorporated in Delaware in April 2021. Our wholly owned subsidiaries hold interests in our equity investments and do not have operating activities.
Liquidity
We have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception and we had an accumulated deficit of $225.3 million as of March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we incurred a net loss of $28.0 million and used $27.9 million of cash in operating activities. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses, and our ability to achieve and sustain profitability will depend on the successful development, approval, and commercialization of our product candidates and on our achievement of sufficient revenue to support our cost structure. We may never achieve profitability and, unless and until we do, we will need to continue to raise additional capital. Our management expects that existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $291.0 million as of March 31, 2023, will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan for at least the next 12 months from the date of issuance of our condensed consolidated financial statements.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in Note 2 to the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”).
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of Caribou Biosciences, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our 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 our condensed consolidated financial statements; and the reported amounts of revenue, income, and expenses during the applicable reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, common stock valuation, stock-based compensation expense, accrued expenses related to research and development activities, valuation of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSKCC”) success payments liability, and income taxes. Our management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that they believe to be 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. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates.
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Segments
We operate and manage our business as one
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Uncertainties
Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, contract assets, other receivables, and investments in marketable securities and equity securities. Substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents are deposited in accounts at two financial institutions, and account balances may at times exceed federally insured limits. We mitigate the risks by investing in high-grade instruments, limiting our exposure to one issuer, and we monitor the ongoing creditworthiness of the financial institutions and issuers.
Licensees that represent 10% or more of our revenue and accounts receivable and contract assets were as follows:
Revenue | Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | As of March 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2023 | March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensee A | % | % | % | * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensee B | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Licensee C | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | % | % | % | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Less than 10%
We monitor economic conditions to identify facts or circumstances that may indicate if any of our accounts receivable are not collectible or if the contract assets should be impaired. No
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326). This ASU provides guidance on the measurement of credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. ASU 2016-13 replaces the current incurred loss impairment approach with a methodology to reflect expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to explain credit loss estimates. This ASU is to be applied on a modified retrospective approach and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim reporting periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods therein. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023. The impact on our financial statements and related disclosures was not material.
3. Fair Value Measurements and Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The authoritative guidance on fair value measurements establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements as follows:
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
6
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entireties based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires our management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.
Our financial instruments consist of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 financial instruments. We generally classify our marketable securities as Level 2. Instruments are classified as Level 2 when observable market prices for identical securities that are traded in less active markets are used. When observable market prices for identical securities are not available, such instruments are priced using benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings, matrix pricing, and valuation models. These valuation models are proprietary to the pricing providers or brokers and incorporate a number of inputs, including in approximate order of priority: benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data including market research publications. For certain security types, additional inputs may be used, or some of the standard inputs may not be applicable. Evaluators may prioritize inputs differently on any given day for any security based on market conditions, and not all inputs listed are available for use in the evaluation process for each security evaluation on any given day. Changes in the ability to observe valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels of certain securities within the fair value hierarchy. We recognize transfers into and out of levels within the fair value hierarchy in the period in which the actual event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer occurs. No such transfers occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Level 1 financial instruments are comprised of money market fund investments and U.S. Treasury bills. Level 2 financial instruments are comprised of commercial paper, corporate debt securities, and U.S. government agency bonds. Financial assets and liabilities are considered Level 3 when their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 financial instruments consist of the MSKCC success payments liability.
The following table sets forth our financial instruments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
| Fair Value Measurements as of March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury bills ($ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government agency bonds | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund investments (included in cash and cash equivalents) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value of assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MSKCC success payments liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value of liabilities | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper ($ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury bills | |||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency bonds ($ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund investments (included in cash and cash equivalents) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value of assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MSKCC success payments liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value of liabilities | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
The fair value and amortized cost of cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities by major security type as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are presented in the following tables (in thousands):
| As of March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost Basis | Unrealized Gains | Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury bills ($ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. government agency bonds | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper ($ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market investments (included in cash equivalents) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classified as: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities, short-term | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities, long-term | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
8
| As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Amortized Cost Basis | Unrealized Gains | Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commercial paper ($ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury bills | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government agency bonds ($ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Money market investments (included in cash equivalents) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classified as: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities, short-term | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marketable securities, long-term | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents and marketable securities | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the fair value of our Level 3 financial liability (in thousands):
| MSKCC Success Payments Liability | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | ||||
| Change in fair value | ( | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | ||||
Our liability for the MSKCC success payments is carried at fair value and changes are recognized as expense or income as part of other income (expense) until the success payments liability is paid or expires (Note 4). We recorded a $0.3 million and $1.6 million change in the fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability as a gain in other income (expense) in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022, we utilized a Monte Carlo simulation model that models the future movement of stock prices based on several key variables. This model requires significant estimates and assumptions in determining the estimated fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability at each balance sheet date. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the MSKCC success payments are subject to a significant amount of judgment including the expected volatility that was estimated using available information about the historical volatility of stocks of publicly traded companies that are similar to us, the estimated term, and the estimated number and timing of valuation measurement dates. The table below summarizes key assumptions used in the valuation of MSKCC success payments liability:
| As of December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||
| Fair value of common stock | $ | ||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | |||||||||||
| Expected volatility | |||||||||||
| Probability of achieving multiple of Initial Share Price | |||||||||||
| Expected term (years) | |||||||||||
The computation of expected volatility was estimated using a combination of available information about the historical volatility of stocks of similar publicly traded companies for a period matching the expected term assumption and
9
the historical and implied volatility of our stock. The risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, and expected term assumptions depend on the estimated timing of our phase 1 clinical trial for our CB-012 product candidate utilizing the know-how, biological materials, and intellectual property licensed under the Exclusive License Agreement, dated November 13, 2020, with MSKCC (the “MSKCC Agreement”) and the estimated timing of marketing approval for this product candidate from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). In addition, we incorporated the estimated number and timing of valuation measurement dates in the calculation of the MSKCC success payments liability.
As of March 31, 2023 we did not note any significant changes to the inputs used in the MSKCC success payments liability fair value calculation, other than a change in the fair value of our common stock to $5.31 per share.
4. Significant Agreements
Since December 31, 2022, there have been no material changes to the key terms of our significant agreements. For further information regarding our significant agreements, please see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K.
On February 9, 2021, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (as amended the “AbbVie Agreement”) with AbbVie Manufacturing Management Unlimited Company (“AbbVie”). We received an upfront cash payment of $30.0 million from AbbVie during the year ended December 31, 2021. We recognized short-term deferred revenue in the amount of $10.4 million and long-term deferred revenue in the amount of $11.3 million related to this upfront cash payment in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2023. We recognized short-term deferred revenue in the amount of $9.4 million and long-term deferred revenue in the amount of $13.3 million related to this upfront cash payment in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022.
We recognized $1.6 million and $0.9 million in revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, relating to the AbbVie Agreement. As of March 31, 2023, we recorded $0.9 million in accounts receivable and as of December 31, 2022, we had recorded no amounts in accounts receivable in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 we had $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in contract assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.
We enter into agreements with third parties to in-license intellectual property and related materials and know-how. These agreements may include non-refundable, upfront payments; annual license maintenance fees; sublicensing fees; obligations to reimburse for patent prosecution and maintenance fees; success payments; regulatory clinical and commercial milestones; and royalty payments. Our obligation to make such payments is contingent upon milestones being achieved, licensed products being commercialized, and the agreements remaining in effect.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, as research and development expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations related to our license agreements. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded $0.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively, as general and administrative expense for patent prosecution and maintenance costs in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, which includes reimbursements of patent prosecution and maintenance costs of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from CRISPR Therapeutics AG and Intellia Therapeutics, Inc.
As of March 31, 2023, certain license and assignment agreements included potential future payments from us for development, regulatory, and sales milestones totaling approximately $161.2 million.
5. Revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue
We disaggregate revenue by geographical market based on the location of research and development activities of our licensees and collaborators. The following table is a summary of revenue by geographic location for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Rest of world | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we recognized $1.9 million of revenue related to performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, and we recognized $1.6 million of revenue related to performance obligations satisfied over time.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we recognized $1.7 million of revenue related to performance obligations satisfied at a point in time, and we recognized $0.9 million of revenue related to performance obligations satisfied over time.
Contract Balances
Accounts receivable relate to our right to consideration for performance obligations completed (or partially completed) for which we have an unconditional right to consideration. Our accounts receivable balances represent amounts that we billed to our licensees with invoices outstanding as of the end of a reporting period.
Contract assets are rights to consideration in exchange for a license that we have granted to a licensee when the right is conditional on something other than the passage of time. Our contract asset balances represent research costs related to the AbbVie Agreement, as well as royalties and milestone payments from our other license agreements that are unbilled as of the end of a reporting period.
Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue and relate to amounts invoiced to, or advance consideration received from, licensees that precede our satisfaction of the associated performance obligations. Our deferred revenue primarily results from the upfront payment received relating to the performance obligation that is satisfied over time under the AbbVie Agreement. The remaining deferred revenue relates to upfront payments received under license agreements that also include non-refundable annual license fees, which are accounted for as material rights for license renewals and are recognized at the point in time annual license fees are paid by the licensees and the renewal periods begin.
The following table presents changes in our contract assets and liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2023 (in thousands):
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | Additions | Deductions | Balance as of March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Contract assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unbilled accounts receivable | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Contract liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue, current and long-term | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||||||||||||
Unbilled accounts receivable decreased $0.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to the decrease in unbilled research costs under the AbbVie Agreement.
Deferred revenue decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to a higher amount of revenue recognized compared to the amount of additional billings during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recognized $1.1 million and $0.6 million of revenue, respectively, which were included in the opening contract liabilities balances at the beginning of the respective periods.
Transaction Prices Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent in aggregate the amount of a transaction price that has been allocated to performance obligations not delivered as of the end of a reporting period. The value of transaction prices allocated to remaining unsatisfied performance obligations as of March 31, 2023 was approximately $38.3 million. We expect to recognize approximately $10.9 million of remaining performance obligations as revenue in the next 12 months and to recognize the remainder thereafter.
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Capitalized Contract Acquisition Costs and Fulfillment Costs
We did not incur any expenses to obtain license and collaboration agreements, and costs to fulfill those contracts do not generate or enhance our resources. As such, no costs to obtain or fulfill a contract have been capitalized in any period.
6. Balance Sheet Items
Other receivables consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Patent cost reimbursements | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued interest on marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Prepaid contract manufacturing and clinical costs | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Prepaid insurance | |||||||||||
| Prepaid income taxes | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Lab equipment | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | |||||||||||
| Computer equipment | |||||||||||
| Furniture and equipment | |||||||||||
| Construction in progress | |||||||||||
| Total property and equipment, gross | |||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | $ | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expenses related to property and equipment were $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Accrued employee compensation and related expenses | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued research and development expenses | |||||||||||
| Accrued patent expenses | |||||||||||
| Accrued expenses related to sublicensing revenues | |||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||
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7. Related Party Transactions
Private Company, Related Party
On May 15, 2020, we entered into an Exclusive License Agreement, as amended, with a private company, related party (the “Private Company License Agreement”), under which we granted the private company an exclusive worldwide license to certain CRISPR intellectual property rights and know-how in a defined field. As consideration for the exclusive license, the private company issued to us 7,500,000 shares of convertible preferred stock with an estimated fair value of $7.5 million, which was the price paid for similar shares by another investor, and which was an arm’s length transaction. This represents a material voting interest in the private company and entitles us to hold one of the four private company’s board of director seats and to jointly vote with another stockholder on a second board of director seat. As of March 31, 2023, we have appointed one of the four directors of the private company. We concluded that the private company is a variable interest entity and that we are not its primary beneficiary based on our representation on its board of directors. As the private company’s convertible preferred stock is not in substance common stock, we record this investment using the measurement alternative in accordance with ASC 321, Investments–Equity Securities. Under the measurement alternative, our investment in the private company’s convertible preferred stock was initially recorded at its estimated fair value, but the carrying value may be adjusted through earnings upon an impairment or when there is an observable price change involving the same or a similar investment with the private company. As of each of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the carrying value of the investment was $7.5
8. Leases
Operating Lease Obligations
As of March 31, 2023 we had operating leases for our laboratory and office space in Berkeley, California, consisting of approximately 75,000 square feet, with remaining lease terms up to 9.3 years. Certain of our laboratory and office space lease agreements include options to extend the terms for a period of five years and contain provisions for future rent increases. In addition to base rent, we pay our share of operating expenses and taxes.
The components of lease costs, which are included in our statements of operations and comprehensive loss, were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Operating lease cost(1) | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | |||||||||||
| Total lease cost | $ | $ | |||||||||
(1) Includes $0.6 million and $0.5 million of variable lease cost related to operating expenses and taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Supplemental information related to our leases was as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Operating cash flows from operating leases | $ | $ | |||||||||
The weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate for our laboratory and office leases were as follows:
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) | |||||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate | % | % | |||||||||
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The following table summarizes a maturity analysis of our operating lease liabilities showing the aggregate lease payments as of March 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Remainder of 2023(1) | $ | ||||
2024(2) | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
| 2026 | |||||
| 2027 | |||||
| Thereafter | |||||
| Total undiscounted lease payments | |||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | ||||
| Total discounted lease payments | |||||
| Less: current portion of lease liability | ( | ||||
| Noncurrent portion of lease liability | $ | ||||
(1) Reflects an offset of $1.1 million related to incentives expected to be received in 2023.
(2) Reflects an offset of $0.6 million related to incentives expected to be received in 2024.
9. Commitments and Contingencies
Research and Development Agreements
We enter into various agreements in the ordinary course of business, such as those with suppliers, contract research organizations (“CROs”), contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”), clinical trial sites, and the like. These agreements provide for termination at the request of either party, generally with less than one-year notice and are, therefore, cancellable contracts and, if cancelled, are not anticipated to have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, we enter into agreements that contain a variety of representations and warranties and provide for certain indemnifications by us. Our exposure under these agreements is unknown because claims may be made against us in the future. To date, we have not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to our indemnification obligations. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we did not have any material indemnification claims that were probable or reasonably possible, and consequently, we have not recorded related liabilities.
Litigation
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We record a liability for such litigation when it is probable that future losses will be incurred and if such losses can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment by us is required to determine both probability and the estimated amount.
On February 10, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against our company and certain of our officers and current and former members of our board of directors, Greenhalgh v. Caribou Biosciences, Inc., et al., Case Number 3:23-cv-00609-VC (the “Greenhalgh Case”). The Greenhalgh Case was voluntarily dismissed on March 16, 2023.
On April 11, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against our company and certain of our officers and current and former members of our board of directors, Bergman v. Caribou Biosciences, Inc., et al., Case Number 4:23-cv-01742-YGR (the “Bergman Case”). The Bergman complaint challenges disclosures regarding our company’s business, operations, and prospects, specifically with respect to the alleged durability of CB-010’s therapeutic effect and the product candidate’s clinical and commercial prospects, in alleged violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The allegations and claims asserted in the Bergman Case are the same allegations and claims asserted in the Greenhalgh Case. Plaintiff in the Bergman Case has filed a motion to consolidate the Bergman Case with the Greenhalgh case, and that motion is pending.
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10. Common Stock
Common stock reserved for future issuance consisted of the following:
| As of March 31, 2023 | As of December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Stock options, issued and outstanding | |||||||||||
| Stock options, authorized for future issuance | |||||||||||
| Stock available under our employee stock purchase plan | |||||||||||
| Unvested restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units | |||||||||||
Shelf Registration Statement
On August 9, 2022, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (“Shelf Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Shelf Registration Statement allows us to sell from time to time up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, or units comprised of any combination of these securities, for our own account in one or more offerings (including the $100.0 million of common stock reserved for our at-the-market equity offering program described below). The SEC declared the Shelf Registration Statement effective on August 16, 2022. The terms of any offering under the Shelf Registration Statement will be established at the time of such offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement filed with the SEC prior to the completion of any such offering.
At-the-market Equity Offering Program
On August 9, 2022, we also entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM (the “ATM Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) with respect to an at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program, pursuant to which, through Jefferies as sales agent, we may from time to time, sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100.0 million in gross proceeds under the Shelf Registration Statement. As of March 31, 2023, we have sold 168,635 shares of our common stock under the ATM Sales Agreement at an average price per share of $7.32 for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.2 million ($1.0 million net of offering expenses).
11. Stock-Based Compensation
Equity Incentive Plans
In July 2021, our board of directors adopted and our stockholders approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) that became effective on July 22, 2021. As of March 31, 2023, we had 6,495,096 shares available for issuance under the 2021 Plan.
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The following table summarizes stock option activity under our equity incentive plans during the three months ended March 31, 2023:
| Stock Options | Weighted- Average Exercise Price | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Options granted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Options exercised | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Options cancelled or forfeited | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable at March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
*The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the stock option exercise price and the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock at the end of each reporting period referenced above.
Grant Date Fair Value
During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we granted 2,536,340 and 339,030 stock options to employees with a weighted average grant date fair value of $4.13 and $6.68 , respectively.
We estimated the fair value of each employee and non-employee stock option award on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following assumptions:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volatility | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected term (in years) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected dividend yield | |||||||||||||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2023, there was $34.2 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to employee and non-employee stock options that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.
Restricted Stock Units
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we did not grant any restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or performance-based RSUs (“PSUs”) under the 2021 Plan. A summary of the status of and change in unvested RSUs and PSUs as of March 31, 2023 was as follows:
| Number of Shares Underlying Outstanding RSUs and PSUs | Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per RSU and PSU | ||||||||||
| Unvested, January 1, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Unvested, March 31, 2023 | $ | ||||||||||
The PSUs were granted to our executive officers and will vest contingent upon the achievement of a clinical milestone for CB-010 during a performance period ending December 31, 2024 and the executive officer’s continued
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employment during the performance period. As of March 31, 2023, the achievement of this milestone was not considered probable and, therefore, no stock-based compensation was recorded.
As of March 31, 2023, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs was $0.9 million, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average vesting period of 1.7 years. As of March 31, 2023, there was approximately $0.6 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested PSUs.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”)
In July 2021, our board of directors adopted and our stockholders approved the ESPP, which became effective on July 22, 2021. We have issued 139,384 shares of common stock under the ESPP as of March 31, 2023. We recorded $0.1 million in accrued liabilities related to contributions withheld as of March 31, 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
We recorded stock-based compensation expense related to employee and non-employee equity-based awards grants in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
The above stock-based compensation expense related to the following equity-based awards (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock options | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ESPP | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RSUs | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense related to employees was $3.1 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There was no stock-based compensation expense related to non-employees for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
12. 401(k) Savings Plan
13. Income Taxes
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14. Net Loss Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Numerator: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
| Denominator: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted-average common shares outstanding used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||||||||
Because we were in a net loss position for all periods presented, basic net loss per share is the same as diluted net loss per share for all periods, as the inclusion of all common stock equivalents outstanding would have been anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities that were not included in the diluted per share calculations because they would be anti-dilutive were as follows:
| As of March 31, 2023 | As of March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| Stock options outstanding | |||||||||||
| RSUs and PSUs issued and outstanding | |||||||||||
| Shares committed under ESPP | |||||||||||
15. Subsequent Events
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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 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Part I, Item 1, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) and with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 9, 2023.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Form 10-Q, including statements regarding our business strategy, plans, and objectives; expectations regarding our clinical and preclinical development programs, including our timing expectations with respect to such programs and the expected timing of disclosure of clinical data from such programs; future regulatory filings; our results of operations and financial position; plans and objectives of management for future operations; and the like, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.
As a result of many factors, including but not limited to risks related to our limited operating history, history of net operating losses, financial position and our ability to raise additional capital as needed to fund our operations and product candidate development; risks associated with the initiation, cost, timing, progress, and results of current and future research and development programs, preclinical studies, and clinical trials; the risk that initial or interim clinical trial data will not ultimately be predictive of the safety and efficacy of our product candidates or that clinical outcomes may differ as more clinical data becomes available; the risk that preclinical study results will not be borne out in human patients; risks related to our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; risks that our product candidates, if approved, may not gain market acceptance due to negative public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of cell therapies involving genome editing; risks related to our ability to meet future regulatory standards with respect to our products; risks related to our ability to establish and/or maintain intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and genome-editing technology; risks of third parties asserting that our product candidates infringe their patents; risks related to developments of our competitors and our industry; risks related to our reliance on third parties to conduct our clinical trials and manufacture our product candidates; risks caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises or geopolitical events on our business and operations; and other risks described in greater detail in the section of our Form 10-K titled “Risk Factors,” and in other filings we make with the SEC, the events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or may not occur, and actual results could differ materially from those described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. As a result of these risks, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (“CRISPR”) genome-editing biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases. Our genome-editing platform, including our novel chRDNA (CRISPR hybrid RNA-DNA, or “chRDNA,” pronounced “chardonnay”) technologies, enables superior editing precision to develop cell therapies that are armored to improve antitumor activity. We are advancing a pipeline of allogeneic, or off-the-shelf, cell therapies from our chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) T (“CAR-T”) cell and CAR-natural killer (“CAR-NK”) cell platforms as readily available therapeutic treatments for patients.
We are initially focused on advancing multiple allogeneic cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Our therapies are directed at established tumor cell surface targets for which autologous CAR-T cell therapeutics have already demonstrated clinical proof of concept, including CD19 and B cell maturation antigen (“BCMA”), as well as targets such as C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (“CLL-1,” also known as CD371). We use our chRDNA technologies to armor our cell therapies by using multiple genome-editing strategies, such as checkpoint disruption, immune cloaking, or a combination of these two strategies to enhance their antitumor activity.
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Our lead product candidate, CB-010, to our knowledge, is the first clinical-stage allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (“PD-1”) removed from the CAR-T cell surface by a genome-edited knockout of the PDCD1 gene. We have demonstrated in preclinical models that the PD-1 knockout improved the durability of antitumor activity by disrupting a pathway that leads to rapid T cell exhaustion. CB-010 is being evaluated in our ongoing ANTLER phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (“r/r B-NHL”). We completed the dose escalation portion of the ANTLER trial and advanced into the dose expansion portion, enrolling second-line large B cell lymphoma (“LBCL”) patients to determine the recommended phase 2 dose. CB-010 has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (“RMAT”) designation for r/r LBCL and fast track designation for r/r B-NHL from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). We plan to provide a safety and efficacy update in the second half of 2023 from the ongoing ANTLER trial, including data from at least 15 patients from dose escalation with a minimum of six months of follow up.
Our second product candidate, CB-011, is an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy that targets BCMA. To our knowledge, it is the first anti-BCMA CAR-T cell therapy incorporating an immune cloaking approach that includes both the removal of the endogenous beta-2 microglobulin (“B2M”) protein by a genome-edited knockout of the B2M gene and insertion of a B2M–human-leukocyte-antigen-E–peptide transgene (“B2M–HLA-E”), enabling expression of HLA-E on the CAR-T cell surface. This strategy is designed to reduce CAR-T cell rejection by both patient T cells and natural killer (“NK”) cells to potentially enable more durable antitumor activity. CB-011 is being evaluated in our ongoing CaMMouflage phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (“r/r MM”). CB-011 has received fast track designation for r/r MM from the FDA. We plan to provide updates on dose escalation as the CaMMouflage Phase 1 trial advances.
Our third product candidate, CB-012, is an allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy targeting CLL-1, currently in preclinical development for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (“r/r AML”). CB-012 is, to our knowledge, the first allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy with both checkpoint disruption and immune cloaking strategies. We believe that CLL-1 is an attractive target for acute myeloid leukemia (“AML”) due to its expression on myeloid cancer cells, its enrichment in leukemic stem cells, and its absence on hematopoietic stem cells (“HSCs”). CB-012 is being evaluated in investigational new drug (“IND”) application-enabling studies to support a planned IND application submission for r/r AML in the second half of 2023.
We are developing allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapies derived from genome-edited induced pluripotent stem cells (“iPSCs”) for the treatment of solid tumors. CB-020 is our first CAR-NK product candidate from our CAR-NK platform and we have selected receptor tyrosine kinase like orphan receptor 1 (“ROR1”) as the tumor cell-surface target for CB-020. CB-020 and potential future CAR-NK cell therapy product candidates will contain genome edits designed to overcome some of the challenges of targeting solid tumors, such as trafficking, tumor infiltration, heterogeneity, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Since our founding in 2011, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to organizing and staffing, business planning, raising capital, expanding our genome-editing platform technologies, developing our product candidates and building our pipeline, creating and maintaining our intellectual property portfolio, and establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture, testing, and clinical trial evaluations of our product candidates. We do not have any products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. We have incurred net losses since commencement of our operations.
To date, we have primarily funded our operations through revenue from our license and collaboration agreements; the sale of shares of Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (“Intellia”) common stock; the sale of our convertible preferred stock in private placements before our initial public offering (“IPO”) in 2021; and proceeds from our IPO.
Our net losses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $28.0 million and $19.1 million, respectively. We had an accumulated deficit of $225.3 million as of March 31, 2023. Our net losses and operating losses may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year depending primarily on the timing of expenses associated with our clinical trials and nonclinical studies and our other research and development expenses. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
•progress our ANTLER phase 1 clinical trial for our CB-010 product candidate and our CaMMouflage phase 1 clinical trial for our CB-011 product candidate;
•continue our current research programs and our preclinical and clinical development of our other current product candidates, including CB-012, CB-020, and any other product candidates we identify and choose to develop;
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•hire additional clinical, quality control, regulatory, technical operations, and scientific personnel;
•seek to identify additional research programs and additional product candidates;
•further develop our genome-editing technologies;
•acquire or in-license technologies;
•expand, maintain, enforce, and defend our intellectual property portfolio;
•seek regulatory and marketing approvals for any of our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;
•establish and expand manufacturing capabilities and supply chain capacity for our product candidates;
•add operational, legal, financial, and management information systems and personnel;
•experience any delays, challenges, or other issues associated with any of the above, including the failure of clinical trials meeting endpoints, the generation of unanticipated preclinical results or clinical trial data subject to differing interpretations, or the occurrence of potential safety issues or other development or regulatory challenges;
•make royalty, milestone, or other payments under current, and any future, in-license or assignment agreements;
•establish a sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval; and
•continue to operate as a public company.
We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities and we outsource a substantial portion of our clinical trial studies to third parties. We use multiple contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”) to individually manufacture, under current good manufacturing processes, chRDNA guides, Cas9 and Cas12a proteins, plasmids, and adeno-associated virus serotype 6 vectors used in the manufacture of our CAR-T cells as well as our CAR-NK cell therapy product candidates. We expect to rely on our CMOs for the manufacturing of our product candidates to expedite readiness for future clinical trials, and most of these CMOs have capabilities for commercial manufacturing. Additionally, we may decide to build our own manufacturing facility in the future to provide us greater flexibility and control over our clinical or commercial manufacturing needs.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with therapeutic product development, we may never achieve profitability and, unless and until we are able to develop and commercialize our product candidates, we will need to continue to raise additional capital. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through equity offerings (including our at-the-market facility), debt financings, collaborations and strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, or other sources. There are no assurances that we will be successful in obtaining an adequate level of financing to support our business plans as needed on acceptable terms, or at all. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our intellectual property, 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 capital as and when needed or on attractive terms, we may have to significantly delay, reduce, or discontinue the development and commercialization of our product candidates or scale back or terminate our pursuit of new in-licenses and acquisitions.
Components of Results of Operations
Licensing and Collaboration Revenue
We have not generated any revenue from product sales to date and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the foreseeable future. If our development efforts for our product candidates are successful and result in regulatory approval and commercialization, we may generate revenue in the future from product sales. We cannot predict if, when, or to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of our product candidates if we succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for these product candidates.
To date, all of our revenue consists of licensing and collaboration revenue earned from collaboration and/or licensing agreements entered into with third parties, including related parties. Under these agreements, we license rights to certain intellectual property controlled by us. The terms of these arrangements typically include payments to us of one or more of the following: nonrefundable, upfront license fees or exclusivity fees; annual maintenance fees; regulatory and/or
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commercial milestone payments; research and development payments; and royalties on the net sales of products and/or services. Each of these payments results in licensing and collaboration revenue. Revenue under such licensing and collaboration agreements was $3.5 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Notes 4 and 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
For additional information about our revenue recognition policy related to our licensing and collaboration agreements, see Note 2 to the annual consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K.
For the foreseeable future we expect substantially all of our revenue will be generated from licensing and collaboration agreements.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses consist of internal and external expenses incurred in connection with the development of our product candidates and our platform technologies, and our in-licensing and assignment agreements.
External costs include:
•costs associated with acquiring technology and intellectual property licenses that have no alternative future uses, sublicensing revenue, and milestones under our licensing agreements;
•costs incurred in connection with the preclinical and clinical development and manufacturing of our product candidates, including under agreements with contract research organizations (“CROs”), CMOs, and clinical sites; and
•other research and development costs, including laboratory materials and supplies, and consulting services.
Internal costs include:
•personnel-related costs, including salaries, benefits, and share-based compensation expense, for our research and development personnel; and
•allocated facilities and other overhead expenses, including expenses for rent, facilities maintenance, and depreciation.
We expense research and development costs as incurred. Costs of certain activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks. However, payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are deferred and capitalized as prepaid expenses and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The capitalized amounts are recognized as expense as the goods are delivered or as related services are performed. We separately track certain external costs on a program-by-program basis; however, we do not track costs that are deployed across multiple programs.
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 increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to implement our business strategy; advance our CB-010 and CB-011 product candidates through clinical trials and later stages of development; conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials for our other product candidates; seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials; expand our research and development efforts and incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts; and seek to identify, in-license, acquire, and/or develop additional product candidates.
The successful development of our CB-010, CB-011, CB-012, and CB-020 product candidates, as well as other potential future product candidates, is highly uncertain. Accordingly, at this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing, and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, we will generate revenue and material net cash inflows from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates for which we may obtain marketing approval. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. The duration, costs, and timing of preclinical studies, clinical trials, and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including:
•sufficiency of our financial and other resources;
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•acceptance of our CRISPR chRDNA genome-editing technology;
•ability to develop differentiating features so that our products have a competitive edge;
•completion of preclinical studies;
•establishment, maintenance, enforcement, and defense of our patents and other intellectual property rights;
•our ability to not infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate third-party intellectual property rights;
•clearance of IND applications to initiate clinical trials on product candidates;
•successful enrollment in, and completion of, our clinical trials on our product candidates;
•data from our clinical trials that support an acceptable risk-benefit profile of our product candidates for the intended patient populations and that demonstrate safety and efficacy;
•entry into collaborations to further the development of our product candidates or for the development of new product candidates;
•successful development of our internal process development and transfer to larger-scale facilities;
•establishment of agreements with CMOs for clinical and commercial supplies and scaling up manufacturing processes and capabilities to support our clinical trials;
•receipt of marketing approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;
•grant of regulatory exclusivity for our product candidates;
•establishment of sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities necessary for commercialization of our product candidates if and when approved, whether by us or in collaboration with third parties;
•maintenance of a continued acceptable safety profile of our products post-approval;
•acceptance of our product candidates, if and when approved by the applicable regulatory authorities, by patients, the medical community, and third-party payors;
•ability of our products to compete with other therapies and treatment options;
•establishment and maintenance of healthcare coverage and adequate reimbursement; and
•expanded indications and patient populations for our products.
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| External costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses related to licensing, sublicensing revenue, and milestones | $ | 430 | $ | 308 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Services provided by CROs, CMOs, clinical sites, and other third parties that conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf | 10,279 | 3,972 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other research and development expenses | 4,719 | 2,336 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total external costs | 15,428 | 6,616 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Internal costs: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personnel-related expenses | 7,936 | 5,597 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Facilities and other allocated expenses | 2,345 | 1,711 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total internal costs | 10,281 | 7,308 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total research and development expenses | $ | 25,709 | $ | 13,924 | |||||||||||||||||||
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General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, intellectual property costs, consulting costs, and allocated overhead, including rent, equipment depreciation, and utilities. Personnel-related costs consist of salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation for our general and administrative personnel. Intellectual property costs include expenses for filing, prosecuting, and maintaining patents and patent applications, including certain patents and patent applications that we license from third parties. We are entitled to receive reimbursement from third parties of a portion of the costs for filing, prosecuting, and maintaining certain patents and patent applications. We accrue for these reimbursements as the respective expenses are incurred and classify such reimbursements as a reduction of general and administrative expenses. During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded $0.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of patent cost reimbursements as a reduction to general and administrative expense.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses may increase in the future as a result of expanding our operations, including hiring personnel, preparing for potential commercialization of our product candidates, and additional facility occupancy costs, as well as other expenses necessary to support the growth and operations of a clinical-stage public company.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense) consists primarily of interest income earned on cash and marketable securities, change in the fair value of our equity investments, and change in the fair value of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSKCC”) success payments liability under the Exclusive License Agreement, dated November 13, 2020, with MSKCC (the “MSKCC Agreement”).
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Licensing and collaboration revenue | $ | 3,502 | $ | 2,664 | $ | 838 | |||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 25,709 | 13,924 | 11,785 | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 8,909 | 9,593 | (684) | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 34,618 | 23,517 | 11,101 | ||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (31,116) | (20,853) | (10,263) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): | |||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of equity securities | (15) | (88) | 73 | ||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability | 255 | 1,596 | (1,341) | ||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 2,832 | 257 | 2,575 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other income | 3,072 | 1,765 | 1,307 | ||||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (28,044) | $ | (19,088) | $ | (8,956) | |||||||||||
Licensing and Collaboration Revenue
Licensing and collaboration revenue increased by $0.8 million to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This increase was primarily related to increases of $0.7 million related to recognition of revenue under the Collaboration and License Agreement (as amended, the “AbbVie Agreement”) with AbbVie Manufacturing Management Unlimited Company (“AbbVie”) and $0.2 million related to other license agreements with various licensees.
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The following table summarizes our revenue by licensee for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie | $ | 1,608 | $ | 933 | $ | 675 | |||||||||||
| Other licensees | 1,894 | 1,731 | 163 | ||||||||||||||
| Total licensing revenue | $ | 3,502 | $ | 2,664 | $ | 838 | |||||||||||
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by $11.8 million to $25.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $13.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This increase was primarily related to increases of $6.3 million in external CMO and CRO activities, driven by increases of $4.8 million due to timing of CMO activities for our product candidates, and $1.5 million in CRO activities primarily to advance our CB-010 ANTLER phase 1 trial; $2.4 million in other research and development expenses to advance CB-012 investigational new drug (“IND”) application-enabling studies and other preclinical research, as well as other outside services related to research and development; $2.3 million in personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases; and $0.7 million in facilities and other allocated expenses.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased by $0.7 million to $8.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily related to decreases of $0.8 million in director and officer insurance and legal expenses; and $0.4 million in patent prosecution and maintenance costs; partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, due to headcount increases.
Total Other Income
Total other income increased by $1.3 million for three months ended March 31, 2023 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022.
We recognized a gain related to the change in the fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability in the amount of $0.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Other income, net increased by $2.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to March 31, 2022. The increase primarily relates to a $2.5 million increase in interest income earned from marketable securities.
Liquidity, Capital Resources, and Capital Requirements
Sources of Liquidity
Since our inception, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We have funded our operations through sales of our convertible preferred stock, which generated approximately $150.1 million in aggregate net proceeds, and from our IPO, which generated approximately $321.0 million in net proceeds. We have also received approximately $88.4 million in net proceeds from the sale of Intellia common stock. Additionally, through March 31, 2023, we received approximately $85.9 million from licensing agreements, licensing and collaboration agreements, a service agreement, patent assignments, and government grants, including $33.8 million that was received from AbbVie under the AbbVie Agreement.
In order to assist in funding our future operations, including our planned clinical trials, on August 9, 2022, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) with the SEC, which allows us to, from time to time, sell up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, or units comprised of any combination thereof (including the $100.0 million of common stock reserved for our at-the-market
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equity offering program described below). The Shelf Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on August 16, 2022.
On August 9, 2022, we entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM (the “ ATM Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in the ATM Sales Agreement, we may, from time to time, in our sole discretion, issue and sell, through Jefferies, acting as sales agent, up to $100.0 million of our shares of common stock, by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Jefferies uses commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal sales and trading practices to sell shares from time to time, based upon our instructions (including any price or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions we may impose). We pay Jefferies a commission equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of any shares sold through Jefferies pursuant to the ATM Sales Agreement. As of March 31, 2023, we have sold 168,635 shares of our common stock under the ATM Sales Agreement at an average price per share of $7.32 for aggregate gross proceeds of $1.2 million ($1.0 million net of offering expenses).
As of March 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $291.0 million. We will continue to be dependent upon equity financing, debt financing, collaboration and licensing arrangements, and/or other forms of capital raises at least until we are able to generate significant positive cash flows from our operations. We have no current ongoing material financing commitments, such as lines of credit or guarantees, that are expected to affect our liquidity over the next five years, except for our lease commitments as described in Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and payments under certain of our license agreements as described in Note 4 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
Based on our current operating plan, we expect that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan for at least the next 12 months from the date of this Form 10-Q. We have based these estimates on our current assumptions, which may require future adjustments based on our ongoing business decisions.
Funding Requirements
Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses and research and development expenditures. Cash used to fund 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.
Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the following:
•the initiation, progress, timing, costs, and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product candidates;
•the clinical development plans we establish for these product candidates;
•the number and characteristics of the product candidates that we develop;
•the increase in the number of our employees and expansion of our physical facilities to support growth initiatives;
•the outcome, timing, and cost of meeting regulatory requirements established by the FDA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities;
•whether we enter into any additional collaboration agreements and the terms of any such agreements;
•the cost of filing and prosecuting our patent applications, and maintaining and enforcing our patents and other intellectual property rights;
•the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;
•the cost of defending intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement actions brought by third parties against our products after we receive regulatory approval;
•the effect of competing technological and market developments;
•the cost and timing of completion of commercial-scale outsourced manufacturing activities or the cost and timing of completion of clinical-scale and commercial-scale internal manufacturing activities;
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•the cost of establishing sales, marketing, and distribution capabilities for any product candidates for which we may receive regulatory approval in regions where we choose to commercialize our products without a partner;
•the amount of revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates, should any of our product candidates receive marketing approval;
•the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments by or to third parties under any collaboration or licensing agreements;
•our implementation of various computerized informational systems and efforts to enhance operational systems;
•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health crises or geopolitical events on our clinical development or operations;
•the impact of inflationary pressures on the cost of our operations; and
•the costs associated with being a public company.
Furthermore, our operating plans may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for clinical trials and other research and development expenditures.
If we need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of, or suspend one or more of our preclinical studies, clinical trials, research and development programs, and/or commercialization efforts. We may seek to raise any necessary additional capital through a combination of equity offerings (including our at-the-market equity offering program), debt financings, collaborations and strategic alliances, licensing arrangements, or other sources. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, or declaring dividends. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in dilution to our stockholders. If we raise additional capital through marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties or other sources, we may have to relinquish certain valuable rights to our product candidates, technologies, future revenue streams, or research programs or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
Cash Flows
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | Change | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||
| Cash used in operating activities | $ | (27,939) | $ | (21,673) | $ | (6,266) | |||||||||||
| Cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 20,703 | (72,107) | 92,810 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by financing activities | 1,642 | 990 | 652 | ||||||||||||||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (5,594) | $ | (92,790) | $ | 87,196 | |||||||||||
Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $27.9 million and $21.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to our net loss of $28.0 million, adjusted by non-cash charges of $2.5 million and net changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $2.4 million. Our non-cash charges were primarily comprised of $3.1 million of stock-based compensation, $0.6 million of depreciation and amortization expense, and non-cash lease expense of $0.5 million, which were partially offset by amortization of investment premiums of $1.5 million, and change in the fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability of $0.3 million. The changes in our operating assets and liabilities were due to increases of $1.3 million in
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accounts receivable, and decreases of $4.1 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, $1.1 million in deferred revenue, and $0.3 million in operating lease liabilities, partially offset by decreases in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1.8 million, contract assets of $0.6 million, and other receivables of $0.5 million, and an increase of $1.5 million in accounts payable.
Cash used in operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily due to our net loss of $19.1 million, adjusted by non-cash charges of $2.5 million and net changes in our operating assets and liabilities of $5.1 million. Our non-cash charges were primarily comprised of $3.0 million of stock-based compensation, non-cash lease expense of $0.5 million, amortization of investment premiums of $0.3 million, and $0.3 million of depreciation and amortization expense, which were partially offset by the change in the fair value of the MSKCC success payments liability of $1.6 million. The changes in our operating assets and liabilities were due to decreases of $0.8 million in accounts receivable and $1.3 million in other receivables, offset by increases in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1.3 million, other assets of $0.5 million, and increases of $1.9 million in accounts payable, $2.8 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, $0.6 million in deferred revenue, and $0.1 million in operating lease liabilities.
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2023 cash provided by investing activities was $20.7 million, and during the three months ended March 31, 2022 cash used in investing activities was $72.1 million.
Cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily due to proceeds from the sales and maturities of marketable securities of $98.7 million, partially offset by purchases of marketable securities of $75.9 million and property and equipment of $2.0 million.
Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily due to purchases of marketable securities of $110.7 million and property and equipment of $0.7 million, partially offset by the proceeds from maturities of marketable securities of $39.3 million.
Cash Provided by Financing Activities
During the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, cash provided by financing activities was $1.6 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was due to net proceeds from our at-the-market equity offering program of $1.1 million and the exercise of stock options and purchases of common stock under the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of $0.5 million.
Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily due to exercise of stock options and purchases of common stock under the 2021 ESPP plan of $1.0 million.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes included in our Form 10-K. Since the date of such financial statements, there have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting estimates as compared to those disclosed in our Form 10-K.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
Indemnification Agreements
As permitted under Delaware General Corporation Law and in accordance with our amended and restated bylaws, we indemnify our executive officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while such officer or director is or was serving in such capacity. We are also party to indemnification agreements with our executive officers, directors, and controller. We believe the fair value of the indemnification rights and agreements is minimal. Accordingly, we have not recorded any liabilities for these indemnification rights and agreements as of March 31, 2023.
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Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that we (a) are no longer an emerging growth company or (b) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
We expect to use the extended transition period for any other new or revised accounting standards during the period in which we remain an emerging growth company.
We are also a “smaller reporting company.” 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 consolidated 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.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
There have been no material changes to our market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2023. For a discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to the section titled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Form 10-K.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Management’s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is (a) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of March 31, 2023, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). 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 principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, based upon the evaluation described above, as of March 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act during the three months ended March 31, 2023 that 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.
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have a material adverse effect on us due to defense and settlement costs, diversion of our management resources, and other factors.
On February 10, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against our company and certain of our officers and current and former members of our board of directors, Greenhalgh v. Caribou Biosciences, Inc., et al., Case Number 3:23-cv-00609-VC (the “Greenhalgh Case”). The Greenhalgh Case was voluntarily dismissed on March 16, 2023.
On April 11, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against our company and certain of our officers and current and former members of our board of directors, Bergman v. Caribou Biosciences, Inc., et al., Case Number 4:23-cv-01742-YGR (the “Bergman Case”). The Bergman complaint challenges disclosures regarding our company’s business, operations, and prospects, specifically with respect to the alleged durability of CB-010’s therapeutic effect and the product candidate’s clinical and commercial prospects, in alleged violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The allegations and claims asserted in the Bergman Case are the same allegations and claims asserted in the Greenhalgh Case. Plaintiff in the Bergman Case has filed a motion to consolidate the Bergman Case with the Greenhalgh case, and that motion is pending.
On March 22, 2023, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Alameda against our company and certain of our officers and current and former members of our board of directors, Lowry v. Caribou Biosciences, Inc., et al., Case Number T23-1084 (the “Lowry Case”). The Lowry Case challenges disclosures regarding our company’s business, operations, and prospects, specifically with respect to the alleged durability of CB-010’s therapeutic effect and the product candidate’s clinical and commercial prospects, in alleged violation of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act. The allegations and claims in the Lowry Case are substantially similar to the Securities Act claims asserted in the Bergman and Greenhalgh Cases. On April 26, 2023, we filed a motion to stay the Lowry Case during the pendency of the parallel federal court litigation in the Bergman Case and the Greenhalgh Case. We believe all of these lawsuits are without merit.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A. to Part I of our Form 10-K. The risks described in our Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and/or operating results.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Use of Proceeds from our IPO
The net proceeds from our IPO, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses of $28.6 million, were $321.0 million. We are holding a significant portion of the balance of the net proceeds from our IPO in money market mutual funds, U.S. Treasury bills, corporate debt securities, and U.S. government agency bonds. There has been no material change in our planned use of the net proceeds from our IPO described in the final prospectus for our IPO filed on July 23, 2021 with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) of the Securities Act.
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 3.1 | ||||||||
| 3.2 | ||||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 10.1† | ||||||||
| 10.2† | ||||||||
| 10.3+ | ||||||||
| 10.4+ | ||||||||
| 10.5+ | ||||||||
| 10.6+ | ||||||||
| 10.7+ | ||||||||
| 10.8+ | ||||||||
| 31.1* | ||||||||
| 31.2* | ||||||||
| 32.1** | ||||||||
| 32.2** | ||||||||
| 101.INS* | Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL 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 | |||||||
| 104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
______________________________________________
*Filed herewith.
**Furnished herewith.
† Indicates certain portions of this document that constitute confidential information have been redacted in accordance
with Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(10)
31
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan
32
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| Caribou Biosciences, Inc. | ||||||||
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Rachel E. Haurwitz | ||||||
Rachel E. Haurwitz President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jason V. O'Byrne | ||||||
| Jason V. O’Byrne | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||||||
33
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Rachel E. Haurwitz, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 of Caribou Biosciences, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(c)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Rachel E. Haurwitz | ||||||
| Rachel E. Haurwitz | ||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Jason V. O’Byrne, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 of Caribou Biosciences, Inc.;
2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:
(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(c)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
5.The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jason V. O’Byrne | ||||||
| Jason V. O’Byrne | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Rachel E. Haurwitz | ||||||
| Rachel E. Haurwitz | ||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Caribou Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
Date: May 9, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jason V. O’Byrne | ||||||
| Jason V. O’Byrne | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||