Jasper Therapeutics, Inc 10-Q for FY2024 Q1
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (JSPR)
About this 10-Q
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc filed this 10-Q on May 14, 2024, covering the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (FY2024 Q1).
Headline figures
Quarter ended March 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Net loss
- $13.73M
- compared with a net loss of $14.26M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- -$1.03
- compared with -$1.62 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
For
the quarterly period ended
OR
For the transition period from ______________ to ______________
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
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| 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
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As
of May 9, 2024, the number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding was
JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED
MARCH 31, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Other non-current assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Earnout liability | ||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock: $ | ||||||||
| Common stock: $ | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | ||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Interest income | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liability | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other expense, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total other income (expense), net | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock through underwritten offering, net of discounts and commissions and offering expenses of $3.3 million | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Accumulated | Total Stockholders’ | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock through underwritten offering, net of discounts and commissions and offering expenses of $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock through ATM offering, net of commissions and offering expenses of $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reclassification of common stock warrants from liability to equity | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Settlement of restricted stock units | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vesting of founders’ restricted stock | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cash flows used in operating activities | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | ||||||||
| Non-cash lease expense | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability | — | |||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liability | ||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other receivables | — | |||||||
| Other non-current assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Operating lease liability | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other non-current liabilities | — | ( | ) | |||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows used in investing activities | ||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock through ATM and underwritten offerings, net | ||||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of common stock options | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | ||||||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the period | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental and non-cash items reconciliations: | ||||||||
| Reclassification of common stock warrant liability into additional paid-in capital | $ | $ | ||||||
| Unpaid offerings issuance costs included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Vesting of founders’ restricted stock | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
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JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Description of Business
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, Jasper Tx Corp. (collectively, “Jasper” or the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics targeting mast cell driven diseases such as chronic spontaneous urticaria and chronic inducible urticaria. The Company also has ongoing programs in diseases where targeting diseased hematopoietic stem cells can provide benefits, such as lower to intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome, and stem cell transplant conditioning regimens.
The Company is headquartered in Redwood City, California. The Company is a Delaware corporation and was incorporated in March 2018. In September 2021, the Company completed a merger with Amplitude Healthcare Acquisition Corporation and became a public company.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The
Company has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception. During the three months ended March
31, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred net losses of $
As
of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting.
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The accompanying condensed financial statements are consolidated and include the accounts of Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Jasper Tx Corp. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Accordingly, these condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the related notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2023 included in the Company’s Annual Report on the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024. The information as of December 31, 2023, included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024 or for any other interim period or for any other future year.
Reverse Stock Split
On January 4, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”) of its common stock. The par value per share and the number of authorized shares were not adjusted as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. The shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock options, common stock warrants and other equity instruments were proportionately reduced and the respective exercise prices, if applicable, were proportionately increased in accordance with the terms of the agreements governing such securities. In addition, the shares available for grants under the Company’s incentive plans were adjusted as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. All references to common stock, options to purchase common stock, outstanding common stock warrants, common stock share data, per share data, and related information contained in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions made in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, the determination of the accrued research and development expenses, valuation of earnout liability and the measurement of stock-based compensation expense. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | $ | ||||||
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Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash held in operating accounts and investments in money market funds. Restricted cash relates to the letter of credit secured in conjunction with the operating lease (Note 8).
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained with financial institutions in the United States of America. Cash balances are held at financial institutions and account balances may exceed federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities’ balances and periodically evaluates the creditworthiness of its financial institutions.
The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the development stage, including, but not limited to, development and regulatory approval of new product candidates, development of markets and distribution channels, dependence on key personnel, and the ability to obtain additional capital as needed to fund its product plans. To achieve profitable operations, the Company must successfully develop and obtain requisite regulatory approvals for, manufacture, and market its product candidates. There can be no assurance that any such product candidate can be developed and approved or manufactured at an acceptable cost and with appropriate performance characteristics, or that such product will be successfully marketed. These factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future financial results.
Products developed by the Company require approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other international regulatory agencies prior to commercial sales. There can be no assurance that the Company’s future products will receive the necessary clearances. If the Company were denied such clearances or such clearances were delayed, it could have a materially adverse impact on the Company.
Segment Reporting
The Company has determined it operates as a single operating and reportable segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on a consolidated basis for the purposes of allocating resources. All long-lived assets are located in the United States.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this ASU were effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022; however, in December 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, which extended the sunset date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024. An entity may elect to apply the amendments for contract modifications by Topic or Industry Subtopic as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. Once elected for a Topic or an Industry Subtopic, the amendments must be applied prospectively for all eligible contract modifications for that Topic or Industry Subtopic. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. This ASU requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. Public entities with a single reportable segment are required to apply the disclosure requirements in ASU 2023-07, as well as all existing segment disclosures and reconciliation requirements in ASC Topic 280 on an interim and annual basis. ASU No. 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the disclosures within the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU requires public entities, on an annual basis, to provide disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation, as well as disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU No. 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on the disclosures within the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established as a basis for considering such assumptions and for inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:
| ● | Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date; |
| ● | Level 2 – Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities 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 related assets or liabilities; and |
| ● | Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities that are supported by little or no market data. |
In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires management to make judgments and consider factors specific to the asset or liability.
The fair value of Level 1 securities is determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 1 securities consist of highly liquid money market funds. In addition, restricted cash collateralized by money market funds is a financial asset measured at fair value and is a Level 1 financial instrument under the fair value hierarchy.
Financial assets and liabilities are considered Level 2 when their fair values are determined using inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, such as pricing for similar securities, recently executed transactions, cash flow models with yield curves, and benchmark securities. In addition, Level 2 financial instruments are valued using comparisons to like-kind financial instruments and models that use readily observable market data as their basis. The Company had no financial instruments classified at Level 2 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
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 liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis included earnout liability, which was recognized in connection with the business combination in September 2021.
During the periods presented, the Company has not changed the manner in which it values liabilities that are measured at estimated fair value using Level 3 inputs. There were no transfers within the hierarchy during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
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| March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Financial assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Total fair value of assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Earnout liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Total fair value of financial liabilities | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Financial assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Total fair value of assets | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Earnout liability | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Total fair value of financial liabilities | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Earnout Liability | ||||
| Fair Value as of December 31, 2022 | $ | | ||
| Change in the fair value included in other expense | ||||
| Fair Value as of March 31, 2023 | $ | |||
| Fair Value as of December 31, 2023 | $ | |||
| Change in the fair value included in other expense | ||||
| Fair Value as of March 31, 2024 | $ | |||
The estimated fair value of the earnout liability is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model, which uses a distribution of potential outcomes on a monthly basis over the earnout period prioritizing the most reliable information available. The assumptions utilized in the calculation are based on the achievement of certain stock price milestones, including the Company’s current common stock price, expected volatility, risk-free rate and expected term. The estimates of fair value are uncertain and changes in any of the estimated inputs used as of the date of this report could have resulted in significant adjustments to the fair value.
9
| Fair value (in thousands) | Valuation methodology | Significant unobservable input | ||||||||||
| Earnout liability | $ | | Common stock price | $ | ||||||||
| Expected term (in years) | ||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | % | |||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | |||||||||||
As
of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the earnout liability was minimal.
| Fair value (in thousands) | Valuation methodology | Significant unobservable input | ||||||||||
| Earnout liability | $ | Common stock price | $ | |||||||||
| Expected term (in years) | ||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | % | |||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | |||||||||||
NOTE 4. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Prepaid insurance | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid travel expenses | ||||||||
| Research and development prepaid expenses | ||||||||
| Payroll tax credit receivable | ||||||||
| Other prepaid expenses and current assets | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
Property and equipment, net
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Leasehold improvements | $ | $ | ||||||
| Lab equipment | ||||||||
| Office furniture & fixtures | ||||||||
| Computer equipment | ||||||||
| Capitalized software | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, gross | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||
10
Depreciation
and amortization expense for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Research and development accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued employee and related compensation expenses | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
Other non-current liabilities
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| CIRM grant liability | $ | $ | ||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
NOTE 5. CIRM GRANT
In
November 2020, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“CIRM”) awarded the Company $
NOTE 6. SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENTS
Amgen License Agreement
In November 2019, the Company entered into a worldwide exclusive license agreement with Amgen Inc. (“Amgen”) for briquilimab (formerly known as AMG-191 and JSP191) that also includes translational science and materials from The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (“Stanford”) (the “Amgen License Agreement”). The Company was assigned and accepted Amgen’s rights and obligations, effective November 21, 2019, under the Investigator Sponsored Research Agreement (the “ISRA”), entered into in June 2013, between Amgen and Stanford, and the Quality Agreement between Amgen and Stanford, effective as of October 7, 2015. Under the ISRA, the Company exercised its option and entered into a definitive license with Stanford for rights to certain Stanford intellectual property related to the study of briquilimab (see Stanford License Agreement below).
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The Amgen License Agreement terminates on a country-by-country basis on the 10th anniversary of the date on which the exploitation of the licensed products is no longer covered by a valid claim under a licensed patent in such country. On a country-by-country basis, upon the expiration of the term in each country with respect to the licensed products, the licenses to the Company by Amgen become fully paid and non-exclusive. The Company and Amgen have the right to terminate the agreement for a material breach as specified in the agreement.
Stanford License Agreement
In March 2021, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with Stanford (the “Stanford License Agreement”). In July 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to the Stanford License Agreement to modify certain milestones set forth thereunder. The Company received a worldwide, exclusive license, with a right to sublicense, for briquilimab in the field of depleting endogenous blood stem cells in patients for whom hematopoietic cell transplantation is indicated. Stanford transferred to the Company certain know-how and patents related to briquilimab (together, the “Licensed Technology”). Under the terms of this agreement, the Company is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop, manufacture, and sell licensed product and to develop markets for a licensed product. In addition, the Company is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to meet the milestones as specified in the agreement over the six years from execution of the Stanford License Agreement and must notify Stanford in writing as each milestone is met.
The
Company is obligated to pay annual license maintenance fees, beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement
and ending upon the first commercial sale of a product, method, or service in the licensed field of use, as follows: $
The Stanford License Agreement expires on a country-by-country basis on the last-to-expire valid claim of a licensed patent in such country. The Company may terminate the agreement by giving Stanford written notice at least 12 months in advance of the effective date of termination. The Company may also terminate the agreement solely with respect to any particular patent application or patent by giving Stanford written notice at least 60 days in advance of the effective date of termination. Stanford may terminate the agreement after 90 days from a written notice by Stanford, specifying a problem, including a delinquency on any report required pursuant to the agreement or any payment, missing a milestone or a material breach, unless the Company remediates the problem in that 90-day period.
NOTE 7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Contingent Earnout Liability
Upon
the closing of the business combination and pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, dated May 5, 2021 and amended on
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The Earnout Shares placed in escrow are legally issued and outstanding shares that participate in voting and dividends. The Earnout Shares (along with related escrowed dividends, if any) will be forfeited and not released from escrow at the end of the Earnout Period unless the triggering events described above are achieved during the Earnout Period. Upon the closing of the business combination, the contingent obligation to release the Earnout Shares was accounted for as a liability-classified financial instrument upon their initial recognition because the triggering events that determine the number of shares required to be released from escrow include events that were not solely indexed to the common stock of the Company. The earnout liability is remeasured each reporting period with changes in fair value recognized in earnings.
The
estimated fair value of the earnout liability was less than $
NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating Leases
As
of March 31, 2024, the Company leased approximately
In
conjunction with signing the lease, the Company secured a letter of credit in favor of the lessor in the amount of $
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Lease cost | ||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | $ | ||||||
| Short-term lease cost | ||||||||
| Total lease cost | $ | $ | ||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities (in thousands) | $ | $ | ||||||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (years) | ||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | % | % | ||||||
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| Amount | ||||
| Year ending December 31, | ||||
| 2024 (remainder of the year) | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| Total undiscounted lease payments | ||||
| Less imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total discounted lease payments | ||||
| Less current portion of lease liability | ( | ) | ||
| Noncurrent portion of lease liability | $ | |||
Stanford Sponsored Research Agreement
In September 2020, the Company entered into a sponsored research agreement with Stanford for a research program related to the treatment of Fanconi Anemia patients in Bone Marrow Failure requiring allogeneic transplant with non-sibling donors at Stanford Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital using briquilimab (the “Research Project”). Stanford will perform the Research Project and is fully responsible for costs and operations related to the Research Project. In addition, Stanford owns the entire right, title, and interest in and to all technology developed using Stanford facilities and by Stanford personnel through the performance of the Research Project under this agreement (the “Fanconi Anemia Research Project IP”). Under this agreement, Stanford granted the Company an exclusive option to license Stanford’s rights in the Fanconi Anemia Research Project IP (the “Fanconi Anemia Option”) in the field of commercialization of briquilimab. There is no license granted or other intellectual property transferred under this agreement until the Fanconi Anemia Option is exercised. As of March 31, 2024, the Company has not yet exercised the Fanconi Anemia Option.
As
consideration for the services performed by Stanford under this sponsored research agreement, the Company agreed to pay Stanford a total
of $
License Agreements
In
March 2021, the Company entered into the Stanford License Agreement (Note 6), which was amended in July 2023, pursuant to which the Company
is required to pay annual license maintenance fees, clinical development and commercial sales milestone payments of up to an aggregate
of $
Legal Proceedings
The Company, from time to time, may be party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company was not subject to any material legal proceedings during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and, to the best of its knowledge, no material legal proceedings are currently pending.
14
Guarantees and Indemnifications
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that contain a variety of representations and provide for general indemnification. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves claims that may be made against the Company in the future. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any material indemnification claims that were probable or reasonably possible and consequently has not recorded related liabilities.
NOTE 9. COMMON STOCK
The
Company is authorized to issue
Holders
of the voting common stock and the non-voting common stock have similar rights, except that non-voting stockholders are not entitled
to vote, including for the election of directors. Holders of voting common stock do not have conversion rights, while holders of non-voting common
stock have the right to convert each share of non-voting common stock held by such holder into one share of voting common stock
at such holder’s election by providing written notice to the Company, provided that as a result of such conversion, such holder,
together with its affiliates, would not beneficially own in excess of
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Outstanding and issued common stock options | ||||||||
| Shares issuable upon exercise of common stock warrants | ||||||||
| Shares available for grant under 2021 Equity Incentive Plan | ||||||||
| Shares available for grant under 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan | ||||||||
| Shares available for grant under 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||||||||
| Total shares of common stock reserved | ||||||||
Shelf Registration Statement
On
October 7, 2022, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Prior S-3”) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”), which was declared effective on October 18, 2022. The Company could sell from time to time up to
$
ATM Offering
In
November 2022, the Company entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the
“Agent”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell through or to the Agent, as sales agent or principal, shares of
the Company’s common stock from time to time (the “ATM Offering”). On November 10, 2022, the Company filed with the
SEC a prospectus supplement under the Prior S-3 in connection with the ATM Offering, pursuant to which the Company could offer and sell
shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $
15
On
May 5, 2023, the Company filed with the SEC a prospectus under the New S-3 in connection with the ATM Offering (the “ATM Prospectus”),
pursuant to which the Company can now offer and sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $
As
of March 31, 2024, $
Public Offering
In
January 2023, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, William Blair & Company,
L.L.C. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., as the representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “2023 Underwriters”),
relating to an underwritten public offering under the Prior S-3 of
Underwritten Offering
In
February 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C., as the representatives
of the several underwriters named therein, related to an underwritten offering under the New S-3 of
As
of March 31, 2024, $
NOTE 10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The
Company can grant stock-vested awards under its 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“2021 Plan”), 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(“ESPP”) and the 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2022 Inducement Plan”). As of March
31, 2024,
Under
the 2021 Plan, the Company can grant incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance awards and other awards to employees, directors and consultants. Under
the 2022 Inducement Plan, the Company can grant nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, RSUs,
performance awards and other awards, but only to an individual, as a material inducement to such individual to enter into employment
with the Company or an affiliate of the Company, who (i) has not previously been an employee or director of the Company or (ii) is rehired
following a bona fide period of non-employment with the Company. Under the ESPP, the Company can grant purchase rights to employees to
purchase shares of common stock at a purchase price which is equal to
Stock Option Activity
| Options Outstanding | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Options granted | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Options exercised | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
| Options cancelled/forfeited | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
16
The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference
between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of outstanding, in-the-money options. The total
intrinsic value of the options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
The total fair value of options that vested during
the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
Future stock-based compensation for unvested options
as of March 31, 2024 was $
Performance-based stock options
| Options Outstanding | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Options granted | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Options cancelled/forfeited | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Balance, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Vested and expected to vest, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Exercisable, March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
As of December 31, 2023 the Company had no unvested outstanding RSUs under the 2021 Plan and no RSUs were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company issued no shares of common stock under
the ESPP during each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and recognized less than $
17
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| General and administrative | $ | $ | ||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
The Company recognized less than $
Valuation of Stock Options
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Expected term (in years) | ||||||||
| Expected volatility | % | % | ||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | % | ||||||
| Expected dividend yield | ||||||||
Valuation of ESPP Awards
No ESPP awards were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
NOTE 11. NET LOSS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Numerator: | ||||||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Denominator: | ||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||
| Less: Weighted-average unvested restricted shares | ( | ) | ||||||
| Less: Shares subject to earnout | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
18
| March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Outstanding and issued common stock options | ||||||||
| Shares issuable upon exercise of common stock warrants | ||||||||
| Unvested restricted common stock | ||||||||
| Unvested restricted stock units | ||||||||
| Total | ||||||||
NOTE 12. RELATED PARTIES
The Company entered into consulting agreements
with two founders, one of whom is also a member of the Board, and each of whom also received founders’ common stock shares for services
and assigned patents. The Company recorded $
In the first quarter of 2024 a senior executive
of the Company joined the Board of Directors of an information technology service provider that the Company has historically utilized
to support a broad array of the Company’s systems infrastructure as well as for general information technology support services. For
the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company paid that service provider $
19
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2024. Certain of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, including information with respect to plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors”, in Part I - Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024, as updated by the factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part II - Item 1A of this Quarterly Report, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. You should carefully read the section entitled “Risk Factors” to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below. 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.
Throughout this Quarterly Report, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Jasper,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this Quarterly Report refer to Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal securities laws. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report may include, for example, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future; |
| ● | our ability to research, discover and develop additional product candidates; |
| ● | the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials; |
| ● | the potential attributes and benefits of our product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to obtain funding for our operations; |
| ● | our projected financial information, anticipated growth rate and market opportunity; |
| ● | our ability to maintain the listing of our public securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; |
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| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
| ● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, officers, key employees or directors; |
| ● | our ability to grow and manage growth profitably; |
| ● | the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model, developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry; |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; |
| ● | our ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; and |
| ● | our ability to maintain our existing license agreements and manufacturing arrangements. |
These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I - Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024, as updated by the factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part II - Item 1A of this Quarterly Report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified, and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them and to the risk factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics targeting mast cell driven diseases such as Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (“CSU”), Chronic Inducible Urticaria (“CIndU”) and Asthma. We also have ongoing programs in diseases where targeting diseased hemopoietic stem cells can provide benefits, such as Lower to Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (“LR-MDS”), and stem cell transplant conditioning regimens.
Our lead product candidate, briquilimab, is a monoclonal antibody designed to block stem cell factor (“SCF”) from binding to and signaling through the CD117 (“c-Kit”) receptor on mast and stem cells. The SCF/c-Kit pathway is a survival signal for mast cells and we believe that blocking this pathway may lead to depletion of these cells from skin, which could lead to significant clinical benefit for patients with mast-cell driven diseases such as chronic urticarias. To that end, we have commenced a Phase 1b/2a clinical study in CSU, a Phase 1b/2a clinical study in CIndU, are planning to commence a Phase 1b/2a study in Asthma and are actively evaluating the potential for briquilimab in additional mast cell driven diseases.
We also believe that utilizing briquilimab to block SCF binding and signaling can result in the depletion of diseased hematopoietic stem cells (“HSCs”) from the bone marrow in certain hematologic malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome (“MDS”), and as a result, we are currently enrolling a Phase 1 trial evaluating briquilimab as a second-line therapy in patients with LR-MDS. We are also developing briquilimab as a one-time conditioning therapy in severe combined immunodeficiency (“SCID”) patients undergoing a second stem cell transplant for which we are currently conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Briquilimab is also being studied by our academic and institutional partners, Stanford University and the National Institutes of Health, in other transplant settings, including Fanconi Anemia (“FA”), sickle cell disease (“SCD”), chronic granulomatous disease and GATA-2 Type MDS.
21
We intend to become a fully integrated discovery, development and commercial company in the field of mast cell therapeutics. We are developing our product candidates to be used individually or, in some cases, in combination with other therapeutics. Our goal is to advance our product candidates through regulatory approval and bring them to the commercial market based on the data from our clinical trials and communications with regulatory agencies and payor communities. We expect to continue to broaden our pipeline with additional mast cell indications and next-generation products by leveraging our research organization.
We have an exclusive license agreement with Amgen Inc. (“Amgen”) for the development and commercialization of the briquilimab monoclonal antibody in all indications and territories worldwide. We also have an exclusive license agreement with Stanford University for the right to use briquilimab in the clearance of diseased stem cells prior to the transplantation of HSCs.
Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to performing research and development, enabling manufacturing activities in support of our product development efforts, hiring personnel, acquiring and developing our technology and product candidates, performing business planning, establishing our intellectual property portfolio, raising capital and providing general and administrative support for these activities. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenses and substantial losses for the foreseeable future as we continue our development of and seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates and commercialize any approved products, seek to expand our product pipeline and invest in our organization. We expect to incur increased expenses associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, audit, accounting, regulatory, tax-related, director and officer insurance, investor relations and other expenses.
We have incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred net losses of $13.7 million and $14.3 million, respectively. We generated negative operating cash flows of $15.7 million and $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $183.3 million.
We had cash and cash equivalents of $118.5 million as of March 31, 2024. We expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operating plan for at least twelve months from the date of filing of this Quarterly Report. We expect to continue to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future, and our transition to profitability will depend upon successful development, approval and commercialization of our product candidates and upon achievement of sufficient revenues to support our cost structure. We do not expect to generate any revenue from commercial product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates. We may never achieve profitability, and unless we do and until then, we will need to continue to raise additional capital.
Our management plans to monitor expenses and raise additional capital through a combination of public and private equity, debt financings, strategic alliances, and licensing arrangements. Our ability to access capital when needed is not assured and, if capital is not available to us when, and in the amounts, needed, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate, or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We expect our expenses will increase substantially in connection with our ongoing and planned activities, as we:
| ● | advance product candidates through preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
| ● | procure the manufacture of supplies for our preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
| ● | acquire, discover, validate, and develop additional product candidates; |
22
| ● | attract, hire and retain additional personnel; |
| ● | operate as a public company; |
| ● | implement operational, financial and management systems; |
| ● | pursue regulatory approval for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials; |
| ● | establish a sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any product candidate for which we may obtain marketing approval and related commercial manufacturing build-out; and |
| ● | obtain, maintain, expand, and protect our portfolio of intellectual property rights. |
We do not currently own or operate any manufacturing facility. We rely on contract manufacturing organizations (“CMOs”) to produce our drug candidates in accordance with the FDA’s current good manufacturing practices (“cGMP”) regulations for use in our clinical studies. The manufacture of pharmaceuticals is subject to extensive cGMP regulations, which impose various procedural and documentation requirements and govern all areas of record keeping, production processes and controls, personnel and quality control. Under our license agreement with Amgen, we have received a substantial amount of drug product to support initiation of our planned clinical trials of briquilimab. In November 2019, we entered into development and manufacturing agreements with Lonza Sales AG (“Lonza”) relating to the manufacturing of briquilimab and product quality testing. The facility of Lonza in Slough, United Kingdom is responsible for production and testing of drug substance. The facility of Lonza in Stein, Switzerland is responsible for production and testing of drug product. Labelling, packaging and storage of finished drug product is provided by PCI Pharma Services, in San Diego, California. Our agreement with Lonza includes certain limitations on our ability to enter into supply arrangements with any other supplier without Lonza’s consent. In addition, Lonza has the right to increase the prices it charges us for certain supplies depending on a number of factors, some of which are outside of our control.
We do not currently have sales and marketing infrastructure to support commercial launch of our product candidates, if approved. We may build such capabilities in North America prior to potential launch of briquilimab. Outside of North America, we may rely on licensing, co-sale and co-promotion agreements with strategic partners for the commercialization of our product candidates. If we build a commercial infrastructure to support marketing in North America, such commercial infrastructure could be expected to include a targeted sales force supported by sales management, internal sales support, an internal marketing group and distribution support. To develop the appropriate commercial infrastructure internally, we would have to invest financial and management resources, some of which would have to be deployed prior to any confirmation that briquilimab will be approved.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate revenue from the sale of our product candidates, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and may be forced to reduce our operations.
Components of Results of Operations
Operating Expenses
Research and Development
The largest component of our total operating expenses since our inception has been research and development activities, including the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates. Research and development expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefits for research and development employees, including stock-based compensation; expenses incurred under agreements with clinical research organizations (“CROs”) and investigative sites that conduct preclinical and clinical studies; the costs of acquiring and manufacturing clinical study materials and other supplies; payments under licensing and research and development agreements; other outside services and consulting costs; and facilities, information technology and overhead expenses. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
23
External research and development costs include:
| ● | costs incurred under agreements with third-party CROs, CMOs and other third parties that conduct preclinical and clinical activities on our behalf and manufacture our product candidates; |
| ● | costs associated with acquiring technology and intellectual property licenses that have no alternative future uses; |
| ● | consulting fees associated with our research and development activities; and |
| ● | other costs associated with our research and development programs, including laboratory materials and supplies. |
Internal research and development costs include:
| ● | employee-related costs, including salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expense for our research and development personnel; and |
| ● | other expenses and allocated overheads incurred in connection with our research and development programs. |
We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we advance our product candidates into and through preclinical studies and clinical trials, pursue regulatory approval of our product candidates and expand our pipeline of product candidates. The process of conducting the necessary preclinical and clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming. The actual probability of success for our product candidates may be affected by a variety of factors, including the safety and efficacy of our product candidates, early clinical data, investment in our clinical programs, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or if, when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of our product candidates, if approved.
Our future research and development costs may vary significantly based on factors, such as:
| ● | the scope, rate of progress, expense and results of our discovery and preclinical development activities; |
| ● | the costs and timing of our chemistry, manufacturing and controls activities, including fulfilling cGMP-related standards and compliance, and identifying and qualifying suppliers; |
| ● | per patient clinical trial costs; |
| ● | the number of trials required for approval; |
| ● | the number of sites included in our clinical trials; |
| ● | the countries in which the trials are conducted; |
| ● | delays in adding a sufficient number of trial sites and recruiting suitable patients to participate in our clinical trials; |
| ● | the number of patients that participate in the trials; |
| ● | the number of doses that patients receive; |
| ● | patient drop-out or discontinuation rates; |
| ● | potential additional safety monitoring requested by regulatory agencies; |
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| ● | the duration of patient participation in the trials and follow up; |
| ● | the cost and timing of manufacturing our product candidates; |
| ● | the phase of development of our product candidates; |
| ● | the efficacy and safety profile of our product candidates; |
| ● | the timing, receipt, and terms of any approvals from applicable regulatory authorities, including the FDA and non-U.S. regulators; |
| ● | maintaining a continued acceptable safety profile of our product candidates following approval, if any, of our product candidates; |
| ● | significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance; |
| ● | changes in the standard of care on which a clinical development plan was based, which may require new or additional trials; |
| ● | the extent to which we establish additional strategic collaborations or other arrangements; and |
| ● | the impact of any business interruptions to our operations or to those of the third parties with whom we work, particularly in light of geopolitical and macroeconomic trends. |
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and expenses, including salaries, employee benefits, stock-based compensation for our executive and other administrative personnel; legal services, including relating to intellectual property and corporate matters; accounting, auditing, consulting and tax services; insurance; and facility and other allocated costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we anticipate an increase in our personnel headcount to support expansion of research and development activities, as well as to support our operations generally. We also expect to continue to incur significant expenses associated with being a public company, including costs related to accounting, audit, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with applicable Nasdaq and SEC requirements; additional director and officer insurance costs; and investor and public relations costs.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net includes foreign currency transactions gains and losses, interest income, changes in the fair value of common stock warrant liability and earnout liability. These financial instruments were classified as liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets and re-measured at each reporting period end until they are exercised, settled or have expired. In January 2023, all outstanding common stock warrants met equity classification and are no longer remeasured. The estimated fair value of the earnout liability was less than $0.1 million as of March 31, 2024 and was minimal as of December 31, 2023, due to the price of our common stock relative to the price that would trigger a release of the earnout shares.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except percentages):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 10,298 | $ | 9,805 | $ | 493 | 5 | |||||||||
| General and administrative | 4,774 | 4,142 | 632 | 15 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 15,072 | 13,947 | 1,125 | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (15,072 | ) | (13,947 | ) | (1,125 | ) | 8 | |||||||||
| Interest income | 1,386 | 1,096 | 290 | 26 | ||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of earnout liability | (20 | ) | (764 | ) | 744 | (97 | ) | |||||||||
| Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability | — | (575 | ) | 575 | (100 | ) | ||||||||||
| Other expense, net | (22 | ) | (70 | ) | 48 | (69 | ) | |||||||||
| Total other income (expense), net | 1,344 | (313 | ) | 1,657 | 529 | |||||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | $ | (13,728 | ) | $ | (14,260 | ) | $ | 532 | (4 | ) | ||||||
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Change | Change | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| External costs: | ||||||||||||||||
| CRO, CMO and other third-party preclinical studies and clinical trials | $ | 4,046 | $ | 4,760 | $ | (714 | ) | (15 | ) | |||||||
| Consulting costs | 1,323 | 1,032 | 291 | 28 | ||||||||||||
| Other research and development costs, including laboratory materials and supplies | 659 | 683 | (24 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total external costs | 6,028 | 6,475 | (447 | ) | (7 | ) | ||||||||||
| Internal costs: | ||||||||||||||||
| Personnel-related costs | 3,075 | 2,312 | 763 | 33 | ||||||||||||
| Facilities and overhead costs | 1,195 | 1,018 | 177 | 17 | ||||||||||||
| Total internal costs | 4,270 | 3,330 | 940 | 28 | ||||||||||||
| Total research and development expense: | $ | 10,298 | $ | 9,805 | $ | 493 | 5 | |||||||||
Research and development expenses increased by $0.5 million, from $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, mainly due to hiring of additional personnel, progression of our clinical trials and an increase in consulting costs, offset by a decrease in product development activities.
External CRO, CMO and other third-party preclinical studies and clinical trials expenses decreased by $0.8 million, from $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The decrease is primarily due to a $2.4 million decrease in manufacturing expenses and a $0.4 million decrease in expenses related to pre-clinical studies, partially offset by an increase of $2.1 million in CRO expenses. Expenses related to professional consulting services increased by $0.3 million, from $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, due to additional work performed by consultants related to our pre-clinical studies.
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Our external costs by program for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Briquilimab platform | $ | 2,288 | $ | 4,478 | ||||
| MDS/AML clinical trial | 575 | 869 | ||||||
| SCID clinical trial | 404 | 481 | ||||||
| Chronic Urticarias | 2,560 | 115 | ||||||
| Other | 201 | 532 | ||||||
| Total external costs | $ | 6,028 | $ | 6,475 | ||||
Personnel-related costs, including employee payroll and related expenses increased by $0.8 million, from $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as a result of hiring additional employees in our research and development organization. Stock-based compensation expenses decreased by $0.1 million, from $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Facilities and overheads include common facilities, human resources and information technology related expenses allocated to research and development, which increased by $0.2 million, from $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by $0.7 million, from $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Employee payroll and related expenses increased by $0.9 million, from $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as a result of continued hiring of executives and administrative employees. Stock-based compensation expenses were $0.8 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Expenses related to professional consulting services increased by $0.2 million, from $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Other expenses, including insurance, office supplies, subscriptions and other miscellaneous expenses, decreased by $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily related to decreased insurance expenses.
Total Other Income (Expense), Net
Total other income (expense), net increased by $1.6 million, from $0.3 million net expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.3 million net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Interest income increased by $0.3 million, from $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to higher cash balances invested in money market funds.
We recognized zero and $0.6 million of other expense related to the change in the fair value of the common stock warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These warrants are publicly traded, were classified as liabilities and were remeasured at fair value, which was the closing market price of a warrant, at the end of each reporting period until January 2023. In January 2023, a holder converted all its outstanding shares of non-voting common stock into shares of voting common stock, and we no longer have any outstanding shares of non-voting common stock. As such, the outstanding warrants met equity classification criteria, were reclassified to equity and are no longer remeasured at fair value at the end of each reporting period.
Our earnout liability relates to the sponsor earnout shares placed in escrow upon the closing of the business combination in September 2021. These shares will be released from escrow upon achieving agreed-upon common stock price targets within the specified period. Refer to Note 7 in our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I - Item 1 of this Quarterly Report for additional details. This liability is recorded at fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation model and is re-measured at each period end until shares are released or forfeited. The significant inputs used in the Monte Carlo model include the expected volatility of our common stock, the expected risk-free interest rate, the expected common stock closing price and the expected term when shares will be released. We recognized less than $0.1 million and $0.8 million of other expense related to the increase in the fair value of the earnout liability for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, mainly due to the increase in our common stock price during the respective periods.
Other expense, net is comprised of foreign currency transactions gains and losses and was less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2024, we had $118.5 million of cash and cash equivalents.
In order to assist in funding our future operations, including our planned clinical trials, on April 28, 2023, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which was declared effective on May 5, 2023 and will expire on May 5, 2026 (the “S-3”), which allows us to, from time to time, offer up to $250.0 million of securities, including any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, units and depositary shares. We believe that the S-3 will provide us with the flexibility to raise additional capital to finance our operations as needed. From time to time, we may offer securities under the S-3 in response to market conditions or other circumstances if we believe such a plan of financing is in the best interests of our stockholders. The terms of any offering under the S-3 will be established at the time of such offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement to the S-3 filed with the SEC prior to the completion of any such offering.
On November 10, 2022, we entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Agent”), pursuant to which we may offer and sell through or to the Agent, as sales agent or principal, shares of our voting common stock from time to time (the “ATM Offering”). The Agent will use 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 will pay a commission equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of any shares sold through the Agent pursuant to the Sales Agreement. We are not obligated to sell any shares under the Sales Agreement. The Sales Agreement will continue until all shares available under the Sales Agreement have been sold unless it is terminated earlier. On May 5, 2023, we filed with the SEC a prospectus under the S-3 in connection with the ATM Offering (the “ATM Prospectus”), pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million. As of March 31, 2024, there have been no sales pursuant to the ATM Prospectus.
In February 2024, we closed an underwritten offering that was conducted off the S-3 and issued 3,900,000 shares of common stock for net proceeds of $47.2 million. As of March 31, 2024, $75.0 million remained allocated and available under the ATM Prospectus and $124.5 million remained available and unallocated under the S-3.
Future Funding Requirements
Our primary uses of cash are to fund our operations, which consist primarily of research and development expenditures related to our programs and, to a lesser extent, general and administrative expenditures. We anticipate that we will continue to incur significant expenses for the foreseeable future as we continue to advance our product candidates, expand our corporate infrastructure, operate as a public company, further our research and development initiatives for our product candidates, scale our laboratory and manufacturing operations, and incur marketing costs associated with potential commercialization. We are subject to all the risks typically related to the development of new drug candidates, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business. We anticipate that we will need substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations.
We have incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception. As of March 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $183.3 million. Based on our current operating plan, we have concluded that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan for at least the next twelve months from the date of filing of this Quarterly Report. We have based these estimates on our current assumptions, which may require future adjustments based on our ongoing business decisions.
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Our future financing requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| ● | the timing, scope, progress, results and costs of research and development, preclinical and non-clinical studies and clinical trials for our current and future product candidates; |
| ● | the number, scope and duration of clinical trials required for regulatory approval of our current and future product candidates; |
| ● | the outcome, timing and costs of seeking and obtaining regulatory approvals from the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for our product candidates, including any requirement to conduct additional studies or generate additional data beyond that which we currently expect would be required to support a marketing application; |
| ● | the costs of manufacturing clinical and commercial supplies of our current and future product candidates; |
| ● | the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution, for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval; |
| ● | any product liability or other lawsuits related to our product candidates; |
| ● | the revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of any product candidates for which we may receive marketing approval; |
| ● | our ability to establish a commercially viable pricing structure and obtain approval for coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party and government payers; |
| ● | the costs to establish, maintain, expand, enforce and defend the scope of our intellectual property portfolio, including the amount and timing of any payments we may be required to make, or that we may receive, in connection with licensing, preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing our patents or other intellectual property rights; |
| ● | expenses incurred to attract, hire and retain skilled personnel; and |
| ● | the costs of operating as a public company. |
A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of our product candidates. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such change.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
We enter into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs for clinical trials, with CMOs for clinical supplies manufacturing and with other vendors for preclinical studies, supplies and other services and products for operating purposes. These contracts generally provide for termination on notice or may have a potential termination fee if a purchase order is cancelled within a specified time, and therefore are cancelable contracts. We do not expect any such contract terminations and did not have any non-cancellable obligations under these agreements as of March 31, 2024.
Leases
In August 2020 and January 2022, we leased approximately 13,400 square feet of space for our headquarters in Redwood City, California. The lease expires in August 2026. We have an option to extend the term for an additional five years to August 2031. In addition to base rent, we pay our share of operating expenses and taxes. As of March 31, 2024, our rent commitments under the lease agreement were $1.2 million within the next 12 months from March 31, 2024, and $1.6 million for the remainder of the lease term.
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Stanford Sponsored Research Agreement
Effective September 2020, we entered into a sponsored research agreement with Stanford for a research program related to the treatment of Fanconi Anemia patients in Bone Marrow Failure requiring allogeneic transplant with non-sibling donors at Stanford Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital using briquilimab. As consideration for the services performed by Stanford under this sponsored research agreement, we agreed to pay Stanford a total of $0.9 million over approximately three years upon the achievement of development and clinical milestones, including FDA filings and patient enrollment. In February 2021, we paid $0.3 million related to the achievement of the first milestone under this agreement. In February 2022, the second milestone was achieved, and we paid $0.3 million in March 2022. The third and final milestone in the amount of $0.3 million was achieved in July 2023 and was recognized as a research and development expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Stanford License Agreement
In March 2021, we entered into the Stanford License Agreement. In July 2023, we entered into an amendment to the Stanford License Agreement to modify certain milestones set forth thereunder. Pursuant to the Stanford License Agreement we are required to pay annual license maintenance fees, beginning on the first anniversary of the effective date of the agreement and ending upon the first commercial sale of a product, method, or service in the licensed field of use, as follows: $25,000 for each first and second year, $35,000 for each third and fourth year, and $50,000 at each anniversary thereafter ending upon the first commercial sale. We are also obligated to pay late-stage clinical development milestone payments and first commercial sales milestone payments of up to $9.0 million in total. We will also pay low single-digit royalties on net sales of licensed products. All products were in development as of March 31, 2024, and no such royalties were due as of such date and no milestones were achieved.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for the periods presented (in thousands):
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (15,736 | ) | $ | (10,335 | ) | ||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (25 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 47,349 | 101,511 | ||||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 31,588 | $ | 91,150 | ||||
Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $15.7 million and $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Cash used in operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2024 was primarily due to our net loss for the period of $13.7 million, adjusted by non-cash net loss of $1.6 million and a net change of $3.6 million in our net operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash amounts consisted of $1.2 million related to stock-based compensation expense, $0.3 million related to depreciation and amortization expense, and $0.1 million non-cash lease expense. The changes in our net operating assets and liabilities were primarily due to a decrease of $1.8 million in accounts payable, a decrease of $1.7 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, a decrease of $0.2 million in operating lease liability and an increase of $0.1 million in other non-current assets, offset by an increase of $0.2 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
Cash used in operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to our net loss for the period of $14.3 million, adjusted by non-cash net loss of $3.0 million and a net change of $0.9 million in our net operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash amounts consisted of $1.3 million net loss related to the changes in fair value of common stock warrant liability and the earnout liability, $1.3 million related to stock-based compensation expense, $0.3 million related to depreciation and amortization expense and $0.1 million non-cash lease expense. The changes in our net operating assets and liabilities were primarily due to an increase of $2.1 million in accounts payable, a decrease of $0.7 million in other receivables and a decrease of less than $0.1 million in other non-current assets, partially offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, an increase of $0.3 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets, a decrease of $0.2 million in operating lease liabilities and a decrease of less than $0.1 million in other non-current liabilities.
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Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was less than $0.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, which primarily consisted of purchases of the computer and lab equipment.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $47.3 million, which consisted primarily of net proceeds from the issuance and sale of shares of common stock in an underwritten public offering of $47.2 million and cash received from the exercise of stock options of $0.2 million.
Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $101.5 million, which consisted primarily of net proceeds from the issuance and sale of shares of common stock in an underwritten public offering and the ATM Offering of $101.5 million and less than $0.1 million cash received from exercises of stock options.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II - Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024. Since the date of such financial statements, there have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I - Item 1 of this Quarterly Report for more information regarding recently issued accounting pronouncements.
JOBS Act
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have opted to take advantage of the exemption for complying with new or revised accounting standards within the same time periods as private companies, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following November 22, 2024, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter; and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
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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, 2024. For a discussion of our exposure to market risk, refer to the section titled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in Part II - Item 7A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Our disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. As required by Rule 13a-15(b) or Rule 15d-15(b) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently party to, and none of our property is currently the subject of, any material legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024, in Part I –Item 1A, Risk Factors, describes important risk factors that could cause our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects to differ materially from those indicated or suggested by forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report or presented elsewhere by management from time to time. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in the risk factors that appear in Part I - Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business.
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital
We have incurred significant net losses and negative operating cash flows since our inception. We expect to incur net losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability.
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to enabling cures through therapeutics targeting mast and hematopoietic stem cells and have a limited operating history. Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that any potential product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate effect or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval and become commercially viable. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales to date, and we continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred losses and negative operating cash flows in each period since our inception. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we reported net losses of $13.7 million and $14.3 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we reported negative operating cash flows of $15.7 million and $10.3 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $183.3 million. We have devoted all of our efforts to organizing and staffing our company, business and scientific planning, raising capital, acquiring and developing technology, identifying potential product candidates, undertaking research and preclinical studies of potential product candidates, developing manufacturing capabilities and evaluating a clinical path for our pipeline programs. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase as we continue our research and development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates.
The net losses we incur may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
| ● | continue the clinical development of briquilimab in chronic diseases such as Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (“CSU”), Chronic Inducible Urticaria (“CIndU”), Asthma, Lower to Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (“LR-MDS”) and other indications; |
| ● | continue the open label Phase 1/2 clinical trial for briquilimab for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (“SCID”); |
| ● | continue our current research programs and development of other potential product candidates from our current research programs; |
| ● | seek to identify additional product candidates and research programs; |
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| ● | initiate preclinical testing and clinical trials for any other product candidates we identify and develop; |
| ● | maintain, expand, enforce, defend and protect our intellectual property portfolio, and provide reimbursement of third-party expenses related to our patent portfolio; |
| ● | seek marketing approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials; |
| ● | ultimately establish a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any product candidates for which we may obtain marketing approval; |
| ● | adapt our regulatory compliance efforts to incorporate requirements applicable to any approved product candidates; |
| ● | hire additional research and development and clinical personnel; |
| ● | hire commercial personnel and advance market access and reimbursement strategies; |
| ● | add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our product development; |
| ● | acquire or in-license product candidates, intellectual property and technologies; |
| ● | develop or in-license manufacturing and distribution technologies; |
| ● | should we decide to do so and receive approval for any of our product candidates, build and maintain, or purchase and validate, commercial-scale manufacturing facilities designed to comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) requirements; and |
| ● | incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses in operating as a public company. |
As a company, we have not completed clinical development of any product candidate and expect that it will be several years, if ever, before we have a product candidate ready for commercialization. To become and remain profitable, we must develop and, either directly or through collaborators, eventually commercialize a product or products with significant market potential. This will require us to be successful in a range of challenging activities, including identifying product candidates, completing preclinical testing and clinical trials of product candidates, obtaining marketing approval for these product candidates, manufacturing, marketing and selling those products for which we may obtain marketing approval and satisfying any post-marketing requirements.
We may never succeed in these activities and, even if we do, may never generate revenues that are significant or large enough to achieve profitability. Our product candidates and research programs are currently only in the early stages of development. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing product candidates, we are unable to predict the extent of any future losses or when we will become profitable, if at all. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations. A decline in the value of our company could also cause you to lose all or part of your investment.
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We will need substantial additional funding, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and product development programs or future commercialization efforts.
We expect to spend substantial amounts of cash to conduct further research and development and preclinical testing and clinical trials of our product candidates, to seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates and to launch and commercialize any product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval. Furthermore, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in order to maintain our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and product development programs or future commercialization efforts. As of March 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents were $118.5 million and we had an accumulated deficit of $183.3 million. Although we raised total estimated net proceeds of $47.2 million in February 2024 in connection with the issuance and sale of 3,900,000 shares of our common stock in an underwritten offering, we will need to raise additional financing to continue our products’ development for the foreseeable future, and will continue to need to do so until we become profitable. Our future financing requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| ● | the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product candidates; |
| ● | the costs of continuing to build our technology platform for use in developing our product candidates; |
| ● | the costs of developing, acquiring or in-licensing additional targeted therapies to use in combination with briquilimab and other product candidates we may develop; |
| ● | the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property and proprietary rights and defending intellectual property-related claims in the United States and internationally; |
| ● | the number and characteristics of product candidates that we develop or may in-license; |
| ● | our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all; |
| ● | the achievement of milestones or occurrence of other developments that trigger payments under any collaboration agreements we enter into; |
| ● | the outcome, timing and cost of meeting regulatory requirements established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the European Medical Agency (the “EMA”) and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities; |
| ● | the cost and timing of completion of commercial-scale outsourced manufacturing activities; |
| ● | 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 on our own; and |
| ● | the costs of operating as a public company. |
Conducting preclinical testing and clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, even if we successfully develop product candidates and those are approved, we may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of products that we do not expect to be commercially available for several years, if at all. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives.
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We currently have an effective universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which we filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023, and which was declared effective on May 5, 2023 and will expire on May 5, 2026 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). Pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, we may offer from time to time up to an aggregate of $250.0 million of securities, including any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, units and depositary shares. On November 10, 2022, we entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Agent”), pursuant to which we may offer and sell through or to the Agent, as sales agent or principal, shares of common stock from time to time (the “ATM Offering”). On May 5, 2023, we filed with the SEC under the Shelf Registration Statement a prospectus with the SEC in connection with the ATM Offering (the “ATM Prospectus”), pursuant to which we may offer pursuant to the ATM Offering shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million. No securities were sold pursuant to the ATM Prospectus as of March 31, 2024. In February 2024, we issued and sold 3,900,000 shares of our common stock in an underwritten offering pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for an estimated net proceeds of $47.2 million pursuant an underwriting agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C., as the representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
As of May 13, 2024, $75.0 million remains allocated and available under the ATM Prospectus and approximately $124.5 million remains available and unallocated under the Shelf Registration Statement.
If we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders may be reduced, and accordingly these stockholders may experience substantial dilution. We may also issue equity securities that provide for rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock. Given our need for cash and that equity issuances are the most common type of fundraising for similarly situated companies, the risk of dilution is particularly significant for our stockholders.
Any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from our day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize product candidates. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. We have no committed source of additional capital and, if we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of product candidates or other research and development initiatives. Our license agreements and any future collaboration agreements may also be terminated if we are unable to meet the payment or other obligations under the agreements. We could be required to seek collaborators for product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or on terms that are less favorable than might otherwise be available or relinquish or license on unfavorable terms our rights to product candidates in markets where we otherwise would seek to pursue development or commercialization ourselves.
Our management believes that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 will be sufficient to fund our operating plan for at least twelve months from the date of filing of this Quarterly Report. However, we will need to raise additional financing to continue our products’ development for the foreseeable future, and will continue to need to do so until we become profitable. If we are unable to obtain funding when and as needed on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue one or more of our research or development programs or the commercialization of any product candidate, or be unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any of the above events could significantly harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
As a result of our history of losses and negative cash flows from operations, we will need to raise additional financing to continue our products’ development.
Our history of operating losses and negative cash flows from operations combined with our anticipated use of cash to fund operations raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern beyond the 12-month period reported by us and our auditors in prior periods. While management believes that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024, will be sufficient to fund our operating plan for at least twelve months from the filing date of this Quarterly Report, we will need to raise additional financing to continue our products’ development for the foreseeable future, and will continue to need to do so until we become profitable. Our future viability as an ongoing business is dependent on our ability to generate cash from our operating activities or to raise additional capital to finance our operations.
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The perception that we might be unable to continue as a going concern may also make it more difficult to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations on terms that are favorable to us, or at all, and could result in the loss of confidence by investors and employees. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, we may have to liquidate our assets and may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on our consolidated financial statements, and it is likely that our investors will lose all or a part of their investment.
Risks Related to Discovery, Development, Manufacturing and Commercialization
We may not be successful in our efforts to identify, develop and commercialize additional product candidates. If these efforts are unsuccessful, we may never become a commercial stage company or generate any revenues.
The success of our business depends primarily upon our ability to identify, develop, and commercialize additional product candidates based on, or complementary with, our technology platform. We are currently enrolling patients in a Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating briquilimab in patients with CSU, a Phase1b/2a trial evaluating briquilimab in patients with CIndU, a Phase 1 trial evaluating briquilimab as a second-line therapy in subjects with LR-MDS and a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of briquilimab as a conditioning agent prior to allogenic transplant for SCID patients. We are also in the process of initiating other product development programs in mast cell driven diseases that are still in the research or preclinical stage of development, and in May 2024, we announced the expansion of our mast cell development program with a Phase 1b/2a study evaluating briquilimab in asthma patients. Our research programs may fail to identify additional indications for clinical development or product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons. Our research methodology may be unsuccessful in identifying potential product candidates, our potential product candidates may be shown to have harmful side effects in preclinical in vitro experiments or animal model studies, they may not show promising signals of efficacy in such experiments or studies or they may have other characteristics that may make the product candidates impractical to manufacture, unmarketable or unlikely to receive marketing approval. The historical failure rate for product candidates is high due to risks relating to safety, efficacy, clinical execution, changing standards of medical care, and other unpredictable variables. In addition, although we believe our technology platform will position us to rapidly expand our portfolio of product candidates beyond our current product candidates, our ability to expand our portfolio may never materialize.
If any of these events occur, we may be forced to abandon our research or development efforts for a program or programs, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential programs or product candidates that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful, which would be costly and time-consuming.
We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular product candidate or indication and fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on research programs and product candidates that we identify for specific indications among many potential options. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential. For example, on January 10, 2023, we announced, as part of an overall portfolio prioritization, that we will focus on the development of our lead product candidate, briquilimab (formerly known as JSP191), in chronic mast and stem cell diseases as well as a conditioning agent for stem cell transplant in rare diseases. This portfolio includes new programs as a therapeutic for patients with CSU and CIndU, along with our existing programs for briquilimab as a therapeutic for patients with LR-MDS and as a conditioning agent for stem cell transplant in patients with sickle cell disease, Fanconi anemia or severe combined immunodeficiency. In addition, in May 2024, we announced the expansion of our mast cell development program with a Phase 1b/2a study evaluating briquilimab in asthma patients. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial medicines or profitable market opportunities. Our projections of both the number of people who have these diseases, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with our product candidates, are based on estimates. If any of our estimates are inaccurate, the market opportunities for any of our product candidates could be significantly diminished and have an adverse material impact on our business. Additionally, the potentially addressable patient population for our product candidates may be limited, or may not be amenable to treatment with our product candidates. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable product candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate (including briquilimab), we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing, or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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Risks Related to Other Legal Compliance Matters
Investors’ expectations of our performance relating to environmental, social and governance factors may impose additional costs and expose us to new risks.
There is an increasing focus from certain investors, employees, regulators and other stakeholders concerning corporate responsibility, specifically related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors. Some investors and investor advocacy groups may use these factors to guide investment strategies and, in some cases, investors may choose not to invest in our company if they believe our policies relating to corporate responsibility are inadequate. Third-party providers of corporate responsibility ratings and reports on companies have increased to meet growing investor demand for measurement of corporate responsibility performance, and a variety of organizations currently measure the performance of companies on such ESG topics, and the results of these assessments are widely publicized. Investors, particularly institutional investors, use these ratings to benchmark companies against their peers and if we are perceived as lagging with respect to ESG initiatives, certain investors may engage with us to improve ESG disclosures or performance and may also make voting decisions, or take other actions, to hold us and our board of directors accountable. In addition, the criteria by which our corporate responsibility practices are assessed may change, which could result in greater expectations of us and cause us to undertake costly initiatives to satisfy such new criteria. If we elect not to or are unable to satisfy such new criteria, investors may conclude that our policies with respect to corporate responsibility are inadequate.
We may face reputational damage in the event our corporate responsibility initiatives or objectives do not meet the standards set by our investors, stockholders, lawmakers, listing exchanges or other constituencies, or if we are unable to achieve an acceptable ESG or sustainability rating from third-party rating services. A low ESG or sustainability rating by a third-party rating service could also result in the exclusion of our common stock from consideration by certain investors who may elect to invest with our competition instead. Ongoing focus on corporate responsibility matters by investors and other parties as described above may impose additional costs or expose us to new risks. Any failure or perceived failure by us in this regard could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and on our business, share price, financial condition, or results of operations, including the sustainability of our business over time.
In addition, on March 6, 2024, the SEC finalized new rules for public companies that will require, among other things, climate-related disclosures and analysis of the impact of climate-related issues on our business strategy, results of operations, and financial condition (the “SEC Climate Disclosure Rules”). The new rules require disclosure of, among other things and to the extent material, our climate-related risks and opportunities, greenhouse gas emissions inventory, climate-related targets and goals, and financial impacts of physical and transition risks. Subsequently, in April 2024, the SEC issued an order staying implementation of the SEC Climate Disclosure Rules pending the resolution of certain challenges. Knotholes, our legal, accounting, and other compliance expenses may increase significantly, and compliance efforts may divert management time and attention as we prepare for the potential implementation of the SEC Climate Disclosure Rules, and such expenses, efforts and diversions of management time and attention may be even greater if the SEC Climate Disclosure Rules ultimately go into effect. We may also be exposed to legal or regulatory action or claims as a result of these new regulations. Separately, the SEC has also announced that it is scrutinizing existing climate-change related disclosures in public filings, increasing the potential for enforcement if the SEC were to allege our existing climate disclosures are misleading or deficient. All of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, and/or stock price.
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Risks Related to Employee Matters, Managing Growth and Information Technology
We will need to grow the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth.
As of March 31, 2024 we had 52 full-time employees. As our development, manufacturing and commercialization plans and strategies develop and we continue our operations as a public company, we expect to need and are actively recruiting additional managerial, operational, sales, marketing, financial and other personnel. Future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including:
| ● | identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining and motivating additional employees; |
| ● | managing our internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical, FDA and international regulatory review process for our product candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and |
| ● | improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. |
Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our product candidates will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth, and our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of time to managing these growth activities.
We currently rely, and for the foreseeable future will continue to rely, in substantial part on certain independent organizations, advisors and consultants to provide certain services, including substantially all aspects of regulatory approval, clinical management and manufacturing. We cannot assure you that the services of independent organizations, advisors and consultants will continue to be available to us on a timely basis when needed, or that we can find qualified replacements. In addition, if we are unable to effectively manage our outsourced activities or if the quality or accuracy of the services provided by consultants is compromised for any reason, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates or otherwise advance our business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to manage our existing consultants or find other competent outside contractors and consultants on economically reasonable terms, or at all. If we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and contractors, or if we are not able to effectively build out new facilities to accommodate this expansion, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary for further development and commercialization of our product candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development and commercialization goals.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock and Warrants
If our operations and performance do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts or for other reasons, the market price of our securities may decline, and the market price of our common stock may continue to be volatile.
Any of the factors listed below could have a negative impact on your investment in our securities, and our securities may trade at prices significantly below the price you paid for them. In such circumstances, the trading price of our securities may not recover and may experience a further decline.
Factors affecting the trading price of our securities may include:
| ● | adverse regulatory decisions; |
| ● | any delay in our regulatory filings for our product candidates and any adverse development or perceived adverse development with respect to the applicable regulatory authority’s review of such filings, including without limitation the FDA’s issuance of a “refusal to file” letter or a request for additional information; |
| ● | the Israel-Hamas war, the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the global impact of restrictions and sanctions imposed on Russia and the impact thereof on the markets generally, including any adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions such as inflation; |
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| ● | the commencement, enrollment or results of any future clinical trials we may conduct, or changes in the development status of our product candidates; |
| ● | adverse results from, delays in or termination of clinical trials; |
| ● | unanticipated serious safety concerns related to the use of our product candidates; |
| ● | lower than expected market acceptance of our product candidates following approval for commercialization; |
| ● | changes in financial estimates by us or by any securities analysts who might cover our stock; |
| ● | changes in the market valuations of similar companies; |
| ● | stock market price and volume fluctuations of comparable companies and, in particular, those that operate in the biopharmaceutical industry; |
| ● | publication of research reports about us or our industry or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts; |
| ● | announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or divestitures; |
| ● | announcements of investigations or regulatory scrutiny of our operations or lawsuits filed against us; |
| ● | investors’ general perception of our business or management; |
| ● | recruitment or departure of key personnel; |
| ● | overall performance of the equity markets; |
| ● | disputes or other developments relating to intellectual property rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain, maintain, defend, protect and enforce patent and other intellectual property rights for our technologies; |
| ● | significant lawsuits, including patent or stockholder litigation; |
| ● | proposed changes to healthcare laws in the U.S. or foreign jurisdictions, or speculation regarding such changes; |
| ● | general political and economic conditions; and |
| ● | other events or factors, many of which are beyond our control. |
In addition, the stock market in general, Nasdaq and pharmaceutical companies in particular have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. The trading price of our common stock is, and is likely to continue to be, volatile. For example, from January 3, 2023 to December 31, 2023, our closing stock price ranged from $4.24 to $27.40 per share, and from January 2, 2024 to May 2, 2024, our closing stock price ranged from $6.63 to $30.00 per share. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our securities, regardless of our actual operating performance. As a result of this volatility, our stockholders may not be able to sell their common stock at or above the prices at which they purchased their shares. Moreover, in the past, stockholders have initiated class action lawsuits against pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies following periods of volatility in the market prices of these companies’ stock. Such litigation, if instituted against us, could cause us to incur substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from our business.
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Insiders have substantial control over us, which could limit your ability to affect the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
As of March 31, 2024, our directors and executive officers and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 25% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our company or our assets. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control, even if that change in control would benefit our other stockholders. This significant concentration of ownership may also adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in companies with controlling stockholders.
Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our stockholders in the public market, the issuance of rights to purchase our common stock, including pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan and the ESPP, and future exercises of registration rights could result in the additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders and cause the market price for our common stock to decline.
The sale of shares of our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. In addition, if we sell shares of our common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales may also result in material dilution to our existing stockholders, and new investors could gain rights, preferences, and privileges senior to the holders of our common stock.
Pursuant to the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), which became effective on September 23, 2021, we are authorized to grant equity awards to our employees, directors and consultants. In addition, pursuant to the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), which became effective on September 23, 2021, we are authorized to sell shares to our employees. As of March 31, 2024, 892,650 shares and 166,958 shares of our common stock are reserved for future issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan and the ESPP, respectively. In addition, the Equity Incentive Plan and ESPP provide for annual automatic increases in the number of shares reserved thereunder, in each case, on January 1 of each year through and including January 1, 2031. As a result of such annual increases, our stockholders may experience additional dilution, which could cause the price of our common stock to fall.
On March 14, 2022, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) adopted the 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Inducement Plan”). On June 2, 2023, the Compensation Committee approved an amendment and restatement of our 2022 Inducement Plan to increase the maximum number of shares of our voting common stock available for grant by 250,000 shares of common stock to an aggregate of 550,000 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2024, 81,885 shares of our common stock are available for future issuance under the 2022 Inducement Plan. The 2022 Inducement Plan has not been and will not be approved by our stockholders. Under the 2022 Inducement Plan, we can grant nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance awards and other awards, but only to an individual, as a material inducement to such individual to enter into employment with us or an affiliate of ours, who (i) has not previously been an employee or director of ours or (ii) is rehired following a bona fide period of non-employment with us.
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As of March 31, 2024, options to purchase an aggregate of 1,398,331 shares of our common stock and no restricted stock units were outstanding, and we have granted additional options to purchase shares of our common stock after this date.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement entered into in connection with the Business Combination, certain of our stockholders can demand that we register their registrable securities under certain circumstances and will each also have piggyback registration rights for these securities. In addition, we are required to file and maintain an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering such securities and certain of our other securities. We filed a registration statement on October 18, 2021, which was first amended on March 29, 2022 and further amended on October 7, 2022, in order to satisfy the foregoing obligations and we have currently registered for resale an aggregate of 3,601,936 shares of our common stock, including up to 499,986 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of our outstanding warrants. The registration of these securities permits the public sale of such securities, subject to certain contractual restrictions on transfer imposed by the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement and the Business Combination Agreement, which contractual restrictions on transfer terminated on March 23, 2022. The presence of these additional shares of our common stock trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.
In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of shares of our common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our common stock. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to our stockholders.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024,
none of our directors or officers (as defined in Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
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Item 6. Exhibits
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ** | Furnished herewith. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| Date: May 14, 2024 | By: | /s/ Ronald Martell |
| Ronald Martell | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: May 14, 2024 | By: | /s/ Herb Cross |
| Herb Cross | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||
| (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) | ||
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Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Ronald Martell, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Jasper Therapeutics, 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| (c) | 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 |
| (d) | 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; and |
| 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. |
| /s/ Ronald Martell | |
Ronald Martell President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
Dated: May 14, 2024
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Herb Cross, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Jasper Therapeutics, 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| (c) | 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 |
| (d) | 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; and |
| 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. |
| /s/ Herb Cross | |
Herb Cross Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) |
Dated: May 14, 2024
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER 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 on Form 10-Q of Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended March 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to their knowledge that:
| (1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and |
| (2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
| By: | /s/ Ronald Martell | By: | /s/ Herb Cross | |
| Ronald Martell | Herb Cross | |||
|
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
| May 14, 2024 | May 14, 2024 |
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
This certification accompanies the Report, is not deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act (whether made before or after the date of the Report), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.