UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________
Commission File Number:
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
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The |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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☒ |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
As of August 8, 2024, the registrant had
Table of Contents
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Page |
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PART I. |
5 |
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Item 1. |
5 |
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5 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss |
6 |
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
7 |
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8 |
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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |
9 |
Item 2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
25 |
Item 3. |
37 |
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Item 4. |
37 |
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PART II. |
39 |
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Item 1. |
39 |
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Item 1A. |
39 |
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Item 2. |
88 |
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Item 3. |
88 |
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Item 4. |
88 |
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Item 5. |
88 |
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Item 6. |
89 |
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90 |
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i
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, product candidates, planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, results of preclinical studies, clinical trials, research and development costs, regulatory approvals, commercial strategy, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that are in some cases beyond our control and may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report may include, but are not limited to, statements about:
• our ability to identify, develop, and commercialize current and future product candidates based on our RAP technology platform;
• the initiation, timing, progress, and results of our research and development programs, preclinical studies and clinical trials;
• the translation of endpoints in our current and planned clinical trials to future registrational trials;
• our ability to replicate positive results from earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials conducted by us or third parties in current or future clinical trials;
• our ability to demonstrate that our current and future product candidates are safe and effective for their proposed indications;
• the number of patients with the diseases or disorders we elect to pursue with our product candidates, and the willingness of those patient populations to use and adhere to our product candidates if approved in the future;
• the implementation of our business model, and strategic plans for our business, programs, future product candidates, platform, and technology;
• our ability to advance any product candidates through applicable regulatory approval processes;
• our ability to obtain additional cash and the sufficiency of our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund our future operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements;
• the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing;
• our ability to comply with our obligations under our intellectual property licenses with third parties, including Janssen;
• our ability to maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;
• developments relating to our competitors and our industry;
• existing regulations and regulatory developments in the United States and other jurisdictions;
• our ability to identify and enter into future license agreements and collaborations;
• general economic, industry, and market conditions, including rising interest rates and inflation;
• our ability to attract, hire, and retain our key personnel and additional qualified personnel; and
• our anticipated use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about our business, the industry in which we operate and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or development. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Because forward-looking statements are
1
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.
You should read this Quarterly Report, the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report and the other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.
2
SUMMARY RISK FACTORS
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, the following:
• We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability. We have incurred significant financial losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant financial losses for the foreseeable future.
• We will require additional funding in order to finance operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, or on acceptable terms, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts.
• Our business is highly dependent on the success of our product candidates, particularly RAP-219 for focal epilepsy. If we are unable to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize one or more of our product candidates, or if we experience delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
• The successful development of pharmaceutical products involves a lengthy and expensive process and is highly uncertain.
• Due to the significant resources required for the development of our pipeline, and depending on our ability to access capital, we must prioritize the development of certain product candidates over others. Moreover, we may fail to expend our limited resources on product candidates or indications that may have been more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
• The regulatory approval processes of the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), and other comparable regulatory authorities are lengthy, time-consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our business will be substantially harmed.
• We are dependent on a third party having accurately generated, collected, interpreted and reported data from certain preclinical studies and clinical trials that were previously conducted for our product candidates. In addition, we rely in part on preclinical data using earlier generation TARPg8 NAMs and third-party published data with other TARPg8 NAMs for support of RAP-219. It is possible that similar studies with RAP-219 would not have generated entirely consistent results and, as such, the studies performed with other molecules of the same class may not be reflective of the therapeutic potential of RAP-219.
• If our clinical trials fail to replicate positive results from earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials conducted by us or third parties, we may be unable to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates.
• If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect, the development and commercialization of our product candidates may be delayed, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.
• Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following regulatory approval, if obtained.
• We have concentrated our research and development efforts on the treatment of disorders of the brain and nervous system, a field that faces certain challenges in drug development.
• Even if any of our product candidates receives regulatory approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success, in which case we may not generate significant revenues or become profitable.
• The number of patients with the diseases and disorders for which we are developing our product candidates has not been established with precision. If the actual number of patients with the diseases or disorders we elect to pursue with our product candidates is smaller than we anticipate, we may have difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials, which may delay or prevent development of our product candidates. Even if such product candidates are successfully developed and approved, the markets for our product candidates may be smaller than we expect and our revenue potential and ability to achieve profitability may be materially adversely affected.
• We rely on third parties to assist in conducting our clinical trials. If they do not perform satisfactorily, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidates, or such approval or commercialization may be delayed, and our business could be substantially harmed.
3
• We depend on in-licensed intellectual property. If we fail to comply with our obligations under our intellectual property licenses with third parties, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.
• If we or our licensors are unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for our product candidates, or if the scope of the patent protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products similar or identical to our product candidates and our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates may be adversely affected.
The summary risk factors described above should be read together with the text of the full risk factors in the section titled “Risk Factors” and the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report, as well as in other documents that we file with the SEC. The risks summarized above or described in full elsewhere in this Quarterly Report are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and future, growth prospects.
4
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
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June 30, |
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December 31, |
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Assets |
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Current assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Short-term investments |
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Restricted cash |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Operating lease right of use asset, net |
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Other assets |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) |
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Current liabilities |
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Accounts payable (1) |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (1) |
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Operating lease liability |
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Total current liabilities |
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Series B preferred stock tranche right liability |
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— |
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Operating lease liability, net of current portion |
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Total liabilities |
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Series A convertible preferred stock, $ |
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— |
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Series B convertible preferred stock, $ |
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— |
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Stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
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Undesignated preferred stock, $ |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
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( |
) |
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Accumulated deficit |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
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( |
) |
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Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock, and stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
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$ |
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$ |
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
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For the three months ended June 30, |
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For the six months ended |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Operating expenses |
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Research and development (1) |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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||||
General and administrative (2) |
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Total operating expenses |
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Loss from operations |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Other income (expense): |
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Interest income |
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Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
||
Net loss before income taxes |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
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— |
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— |
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||
Net loss |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic |
|
$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
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Comprehensive loss: |
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Net loss |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Total other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
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|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Series A Convertible |
|
|
Series B Convertible |
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Common Stock |
|
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Additional |
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Accumulated |
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Accumulated |
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Total |
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|||||||||||||||||||
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Capital |
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Income (Loss) |
|
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Deficit |
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(Deficit) |
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||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
|
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$ |
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|
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$ |
|
|
|
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$ |
|
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$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
||||||||
Issuance of Series B convertible preferred |
|
|
— |
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|
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— |
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|
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— |
|
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|
— |
|
|
|
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|
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— |
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— |
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||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
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|
||
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Balance at March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||||||
Conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock to common stock upon closing of the initial public offering |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock to common stock upon closing of the initial public offering |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Issuance of common stock from initial public offering, net of issuance costs of $ |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Issuance of common stock from private placement, net of issuance cost of $ |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Balance at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
||||
|
|
Series A Convertible |
|
|
Series B Convertible |
|
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Additional |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
Income (Loss) |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
(Deficit) |
|
||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||||
Issuance of Series A convertible preferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
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— |
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— |
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— |
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|
|
|
||||
Issuance of restricted common stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Balance at March 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||||
Issuance of restricted common stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Net loss |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Balance at June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
For the six months |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net loss |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net (accretion) and amortization of investments in marketable securities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-cash lease expense |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Other assets |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
Accounts payable |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
||
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Purchases of short-term investments |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Maturities of short-term investments |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from initial public offering and concurrent private placement, net of underwriter discounts and commissions and deferred offering costs |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs paid |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Proceeds from issuance restricted common stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
||
Payment of deferred offering costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Supplemental cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Supplemental disclosure for noncash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Settlement of Series A preferred stock tranche right liability |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Settlement of Series B preferred stock tranche right liability |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at period end |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock into common stock upon closing of initial public offering |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock into common stock upon closing of initial public offering |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Restricted cash |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
8
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Nature of the Business and Basis of Presentation
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiary (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovery and development of transformational small molecule medicines for patients suffering from central nervous system disorders. The Company was incorporated in the state of Delaware in February 2022 as Precision Neuroscience NewCo, Inc. In October 2022, the Company changed its name to Rapport Therapeutics, Inc. The Company is located in Boston, Massachusetts and San Diego, California.
The Company is subject to risks and uncertainties common to early stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including, but not limited to, completing preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approval for product candidates, market acceptance of products, development by competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, the ability to attract and retain qualified employees, reliance on third-party organizations, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations, and the ability to raise additional capital to fund operations. The Company’s product candidates currently under development will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing and regulatory approval prior to commercialization. These efforts require significant amounts of additional capital, adequate personnel and infrastructure, and extensive compliance-reporting capabilities. Even if the Company’s development efforts are successful, it is uncertain when, if ever, the Company will realize significant revenue from product sales.
Reverse stock split
On May 31, 2024, the Company effected a
Liquidity
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis of continuity of operations, realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the ordinary course of business. The Company has incurred recurring losses since its inception, including net losses of $
The Company will need additional financing to support its continuing operations and pursue its growth strategy. Until such time as the Company can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, it expects to finance its operations though equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. The Company may not be able to obtain funding on acceptable terms, or at all. The terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of the Company’s stockholders.
The inability to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on the Company’s financial condition and its ability to pursue its business strategy. The company will need to generate significant revenue to achieve profitability, and it may never do so.
If the Company is unable to obtain funding, it could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs, which could adversely affect its business prospects, or it may be unable to continue operations. Although management continues to pursue these plans, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient funding on terms acceptable to the Company to fund continuing operations, if at all.
9
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of the Company. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual 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 financial position as of June 30, 2024 and the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.The condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 was derived from audited annual financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024, any other interim periods, or any future year or period.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no significant changes from the significant accounting policies and estimates disclosed in Note 2 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 and notes thereto, included in the Company’s IPO final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) (4) under the Securities Act with the SEC on June 7, 2024.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected within these condensed consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, research and development expenses and accruals, the valuation of the Company’s common stock and stock-based awards and the valuation of preferred stock tranche right liability. The Company bases its estimates on known trends and other market-specific or relevant factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, as there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates or assumptions.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents at high-quality and accredited financial institutions in amounts that could exceed federally insured limits. Cash equivalents are invested in money market funds and U.S. Treasury bills. However, the Company does not believe that it is subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships. The Company’s short-term investments consist of U.S. Treasury bills, government securities, and government agency securities and as a result, the Company believes represent minimal credit risk.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 consisted of a letter of credit totaling $
Short-term investments
The Company’s short-term investments consist of investments in debt securities, including U.S. Treasury bills, government securities, and U.S. agency securities with remaining maturities beyond three months at the date of purchase that are available to be converted into cash to fund its current operations. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, all of the Company’s debt securities were classified as available-for-sale and were carried at fair market value (see Note 3). The unrealized gains and losses on the
10
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Company’s available-for-sale debt securities are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Debt securities in an unrealized loss position are evaluated for impairment at least quarterly. For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first assesses whether or not it intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the investment security’s amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through net loss.
For available-for-sale debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. In conducting this assessment for debt securities in an unrealized loss position, management evaluates the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, any changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors.
If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the investment security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit losses is recorded for the credit loss, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. Any unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an allowance for credit loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss). As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there was
The Company’s interest income consists of interest earned from cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company capitalizes certain legal, professional, accounting and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in-process equity financings as deferred offering costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of an equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds from the offering, either as a reduction of the carrying value of the convertible preferred stock or in stockholders’ equity (deficit) as a reduction of additional paid-in capital generated as a result of the offering. Should the in-process equity financing be abandoned, the deferred offering costs would be expensed immediately as a charge to operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Upon closing of the Company’s IPO in June 2024, these deferred offering costs were included in the $
Net Loss Per Share
The Company calculated basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders using the two-class method required for companies with participating securities. The Company considers Series A convertible preferred stock and Series B convertible preferred stock to be participating securities as the holders are entitled to receive cumulative dividends as well as residuals in liquidation.
Under the two-class method, basic net loss per share available to common stockholders was calculated by dividing the net loss available to common stockholder by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, which excludes unvested restricted stock. The net loss available to common stockholders was not allocated to the Series A convertible preferred stock or Series B convertible preferred stock as the holders of convertible preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share in losses. Diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders was computed by giving effect to all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. For purposes of this calculation, preferred stock, unvested restricted stock and stock options were considered common stock equivalents but had been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders as their effect was anti-dilutive. In periods in which the Company reports a net loss available to common stockholders, diluted net loss per share available to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share available to common stockholders, since dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Following the closing of its IPO, the Company only has one class of shares outstanding, and basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net
11
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares assuming the dilutive effect of outstanding stock awards. For periods in which the Company reports a net loss, diluted net loss per common share is the same as basic net loss per common share, since dilutive common shares are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is anti-dilutive.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss as well as other changes in stockholders’ deficit that result from transactions and economic events other than those with stockholders. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, comprehensive loss includes unrealized losses on short-term investments. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, there was no difference between net loss and comprehensive loss.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires all public entities, including public entities with a single reportable segment, to provide in interim and annual periods one or more measures of segment profit or loss used by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Additionally, the standard requires disclosures of significant segment expenses and other segment items as well as incremental qualitative disclosures. The guidance in this update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the effects of this pronouncement on its related disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires enhanced income tax disclosures, including specific categories and disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation, disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on its related disclosures.
3. Fair Value Measurements
The following tables present the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and indicate the level within the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):
|
|
Fair Value Measurements at |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
U.S. Treasury bills |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Short-term investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. Treasury bills, government securities, |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
12
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
|
|
Fair Value Measurements at |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
U.S. Treasury bills |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Short-term investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. Treasury bills and government securities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Series B preferred stock tranche right liability |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Money market funds are highly liquid and actively traded marketable securities that generally transact at a stable $
The Company classifies its U.S. Treasury securities as short-term because they are available to be converted into cash to fund current operations. The fair value of the Company’s U.S. Treasury bills, government securities, and government agency securities are classified as Level 2 because they are valued using observable inputs to quoted market prices, benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency and U.S. Treasury securities.
The underlying securities held in the money market funds held by the Company are all government backed securities.
Short-term investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
||||
Short-term investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. Treasury bills, government securities, |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
Amortized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair Value |
|
||||
Short-term investments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
U.S. Treasury bills and government securities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
The contractual maturities of the Company’s short-term investments in available-for-sale debt securities held were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
Due within one year |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Due between one and two years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
As of June 30, 2024, all investments in an unrealized loss position were in this position for less than 12 months. The Company evaluated its securities for potential other-than-temporary impairment and considered the decline in market value to be primarily attributable to current economic and market conditions. Additionally, the Company does not intend to sell the securities in an
13
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
unrealized loss position and does not expect it will be required to sell the securities before recovery of the unamortized cost basis. Given the Company’s intent and ability to hold such securities until recovery, and the lack of a significant change in credit risk for these investments, the Company does not consider these investments to be impaired as of June 30, 2024. The Company did not recognize any credit losses during both the three and six months ended June 30, 2024.
Valuation of Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
The Series A and Series B preferred stock tranche right liabilities in the table above are composed of the fair value of obligations to issue Series A convertible preferred stock and Series B convertible preferred stock, respectively (see Note 6), either upon achievement of certain specified milestones, upon the waiver of such milestone achievement by a majority vote of the respective series convertible preferred stockholders or in relation to the Series B convertible preferred stock, upon a shareholder exercising its right to early exercise the tranche right. The fair value of the tranche right liability was determined based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which represented a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the tranche right liabilities were determined using a Contingent Forward Analysis, which is a scenario-based lattice model that accounts for the different possible milestone scenarios and their associated probabilities, as estimated by the Company. The valuation model considered the probability of closing the tranche, the estimated future value of the Convertible Preferred Stock to be issued at each closing and the investment required at each closing. Future values were converted to present value using a discount rate appropriate for probability-adjusted cash flows. The risk-free rate was determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve for time periods approximately equal to the remaining estimated time to each tranche closing.
Series A Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
The following tables provide a roll-forward of the aggregate fair value of the Company’s Series A preferred stock tranche right liability during the six months ended June 30, 2023, for which fair value is determined using Level 3 inputs (in thousands):
|
|
Series A |
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2022 |
|
$ |
|
|
Change in fair value of Series A preferred stock tranche |
|
|
|
|
Settlement of Series A preferred stock tranche right |
|
|
( |
) |
Balance as of June 30, 2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
Series B Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
The significant unobservable inputs used in the valuation model to measure the Series B preferred stock tranche right liability that is categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
|
|
Second |
|
|
Probability of meeting Series B milestone |
|
|
% |
|
Milestone achievement date |
|
|
||
Risk-free rate |
|
|
% |
|
Expected value of Series B if milestones are not met |
|
$ |
|
|
14
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The following tables provide a roll-forward of the aggregate fair value of the Company’s Series B preferred stock tranche right liability during the six months ended June 30, 2024, for which fair value is determined using Level 3 inputs (in thousands):
|
|
Series B |
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
Change in fair value of Series B preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
Settlement of Series B preferred stock tranche right |
|
|
( |
) |
Balance as of June 30, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
4. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
||
Lab equipment |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Computer equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Construction in process |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Total property and equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less: Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Depreciation expense of property and equipment for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $
5. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2024 |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
||
Research and development |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Professional fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Related party consulting fees |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Employee related |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
6. Preferred Stock
The Company has issued Series A convertible preferred stock and Series B convertible preferred stock.
On May 30, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which was filed upon the closing of the IPO on June 10, 2024, and which, among other things, created
Immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO on June 6, 2024, pursuant to the reverse stock split and a proportional adjustment to the existing conversion rations of each series of the Company’s preferred stock as discussed further below, all of the Company’s outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock were converted into an aggregate of
15
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
In December 2022, the Company completed its first closing of Series A convertible preferred stock and issued and sold
The purchase agreement for the Series A convertible preferred stock provided investors the obligation to purchase an additional
In February 2023, the Company amended the Series A convertible preferred stock purchase agreement to add an additional investor, who purchased
In conjunction with the amendment to the Series A convertible preferred stock purchase agreement, the Company’s existing Series A convertible preferred stockholders agreed to waive the second and third tranche milestones and exercised the tranche right in February 2023. As a result, an aggregate of
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
In August 2023, the Company issued and sold
The purchase agreement for the Series B convertible preferred stock provided investors the obligation to purchase an additional
Concurrent with the original issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock,
Subsequent to the original issuance in August 2023,
As of December 31, 2023, the Company remeasured the Series B tranche right liability to be $
In February 2024, the Company’s Series B convertible preferred stockholders voted to waive the second tranche milestones and purchase the remaining Series B Milestone Tranche shares. Immediately prior to the waiver, the Company remeasured the Series B
16
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
tranche right liability to be $
Upon issuance of each series of Preferred Stock, the Company assessed the embedded conversion and liquidation features of the securities and determined that such features did not require the Company to separately account for these features.
Convertible preferred stock consisted of the following (in thousands, except share amounts):
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Preferred |
|
|
Preferred |
|
|
Carrying |
|
|
Liquidation |
|
|
Conversion |
|
|
Common |
|
||||||
Series A convertible preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
||||||
Series B convertible preferred stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
As of June 30, 2024, all of the Company’s outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock.
The holders of the convertible preferred stock have the following rights and preferences:
Voting
The holders of the convertible preferred stock are entitled to vote, together with the holders of common stock, as a single class, on all matters submitted to the shareholders for a vote and are entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which the convertible preferred stock could convert on the record date for determination of shareholders entitled to vote. A majority vote of the holders of convertible preferred stock along with a majority vote of the Series B convertible preferred stock (the “Required Vote”) is required to, among others, liquidate or dissolve the Company, amend the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, reclassify common stock or establish another class of capital stock, create shares that would rank senior to or authorize additional shares of convertible preferred stock, declare a dividend or make a distribution, or change the authorized number of directors constituting the board of directors.
In addition, the holders of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, voting exclusively and as a separate class, are entitled to elect up to three directors of the Company. The holders of shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, voting exclusively and as a separate class, are entitled to elect up to two directors of the Company.
Conversion
Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock is convertible into common stock, at any time, at the option of the holder, and without the payment of additional consideration, at the applicable conversion ratio then in effect, provided that such holder may waive such option to convert upon written notice to the Company. Holders of Series B convertible preferred stock are not entitled to elect to convert shares of Series B convertible preferred stock into shares of Common Stock at any time during the period commencing on the date of the first issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock and ending immediately following the earliest to occur of (i) the Series B Milestone Tranche closing, (ii) the achievement of the second tranche milestone, (iii) the date such holder’s obligation to purchase its Second Tranche Shares is fulfilled, (iv) the termination of such holder’s obligations to complete the Series B Milestone Tranche closing and (v) such date as agreed to by the Company and the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, voting as a separate, exclusive class. In addition, each share of convertible preferred stock will be automatically converted into shares of common stock at the then-effective applicable conversion ratio upon either (i) the closing of a firm-commitment underwritten public offering of its common stock at a price per share of at least $
17
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
million of gross proceeds, net of underwriting discount and commissions, to the Company, or (ii) the date specified by vote or written consent of the holders of the Required Vote, voting as a single class.
The conversion ratio of each class of convertible preferred stock is determined by dividing the Applicable Original Issue Price of each class of convertible preferred stock by the Conversion Price of each class. As of December 31, 2023, the Conversion Price was $
There shall be no adjustment in the conversion price of the convertible preferred stock as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of additional shares of the Company’s common stock if the Company receives written notice from the holders of the Required Vote of the then outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock agreeing that no such adjustment shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of additional shares of the Company’s common stock.
In the event that any holder of convertible preferred stock who is required to participate in a subsequent closing pursuant to the purchase agreement does not purchase the aggregate number of subsequent closing shares, then each share of convertible preferred stock held by such holder shall automatically be converted into shares of common stock at a ratio of one share of common stock for every ten shares of convertible preferred stock held immediately prior to the consummation of such subsequent closing.
Dividends
The holders of the convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, only when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, non-cumulative dividends at the rate of
The Company shall not declare, pay or set aside any dividends on common shares of the Company unless the holders of convertible preferred stock then outstanding shall first receive, or simultaneously receive, the Preferred Dividend on each outstanding convertible preferred stock and a dividend on each outstanding convertible preferred stock in an amount at least equal to the product of (1) the dividend payable on each share of such class or series determined, as if all shares of such class or series had been converted into common stock and (2) the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of a share of such series of convertible preferred stock, in each case calculated on the record date for determination of the holders entitle to receive such dividend. As of both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023,
Liquidation
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or upon the occurrence of a Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), the holders of shares of convertible preferred stock then outstanding shall be entitled, on a pari passu basis among the series of convertible preferred stock, to be paid out of the assets or funds of the Company available for distribution to stockholders before any payment is made to the holders of common stock. The holders of convertible preferred stock are entitled to an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) the Applicable Original Issue Price, plus any dividends declared but unpaid thereon, or (ii) the amount that would have been payable had all shares of each series of convertible preferred stock been converted into common stock immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below). After the payment in full of the convertible preferred stock preference amount, the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of common stock on a pro rata basis.
Unless at least the holders of the Required Vote, elect otherwise, a Deemed Liquidation Event shall include a merger, consolidation, or share exchange (other than one in which stockholders of the Company own a majority by voting power of the outstanding shares of the surviving or acquiring corporation) or a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the closing of the transfer of
Redemption
The convertible preferred stock does not have redemption rights, except for the contingent redemption upon the occurrence of a Deemed Liquidation Event.
18
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
7. Common Stock
The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Company’s common stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of the convertible preferred stock set forth above.
On May 30, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which was filed upon the closing of the IPO on June 10, 2024 and which, among other things, increased the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance from
In June 2024, the Company completed its IPO of its common stock. In connection with its IPO, the Company issued and sold
In connection with its IPO, the Company issued and sold
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had reserved
8. Stock-Based Compensation
2022 Plan
The 2022 Plan provides for the Company to grant incentive stock options (“ISO”) or non-qualified stock options, unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (collectively, the “Awards”) to the employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. The 2022 Plan is administered by the board of directors, or at the discretion of the board of directors, by a committee of the board of directors. The exercise prices, vesting and other restrictions are determined at the discretion of the board of directors, or its committee if so delegated.
As of December 31, 2023, the total number of shares of common stock authorized and issuable under the 2022 Plan was
Subsequent to the effectiveness of the 2024 Plan, the shares of common stock underlying any awards under the 2022 Plan that are forfeited, canceled, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) and shares withheld upon exercise of an option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding will be added to the shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2024 Plan.
2024 Plan
In May 2024, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and its stockholders approved, the 2024 Plan, which became effective in June 2024. The 2024 Plan allows the Company to make equity-based and cash-based incentive awards to its officers, employees, directors, and consultants. The 2024 plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance under the 2024 Plan is
19
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
under the 2024 Plan will automatically increase on January 1, 2025 and each January 1 thereafter, by
The shares of common stock underlying any awards under the 2024 Plan and the 2022 Plan that are forfeited, cancelled, held back upon exercise or settlement of an award to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Company prior to vesting, satisfied without the issuance of stock, expire, or are otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) will be added back to the shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2024 Plan.
2024 ESPP
In May 2024, the Company’s board of directors adopted, and its stockholders approved, the 2024 ESPP, which became effective in June 2024. The 2024 ESPP initially reserved and authorized the issuance of up to a total of
Stock Options
The Company has granted stock options with service-based vesting conditions. Stock options generally vest over
|
|
Number of |
|
|
Weighted- |
|
|
Weighted- |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
||||
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Exercised |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Forfeited |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Expired |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Options outstanding at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Options vested and exercisable at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Options vested and expected to vest at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||||
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $
20
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Restricted Stock Awards (“RSA”)
The Company awards restricted stock both under the 2022 Plan as well as outside of the 2022 Plan.
Service-Based RSAs
The majority of the RSAs have service-based vesting conditions and vest over a period from immediately to
The following table summarizes the Company’s service-based RSA grant activity for the six months ended June 30, 2024:
|
|
RSAs |
|
|
Weighted- |
|
||
Unvested shares at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
Granted |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Vested |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Forfeited |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Unvested shares at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
The aggregate fair value of service-based RSAs that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, was $
Performance-Based RSAs
The Company has also granted performance-based RSAs to certain employees and directors with a vesting commencement date contingent upon the subsequent closing of the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock financing. The Company has determined that it has met all the conditions to establish the grant date for these performance-based RSAs at the original issuance date. Therefore, these awards are deemed to contain an implied performance condition. The vesting of the performance-based RSAs is also subject to grantees’ continued service until the 4th anniversary date of the closing of a subsequent financing.
Share-based compensation expense associated with the performance-based RSAs is recognized if the performance condition is considered probable of achievement. In February 2023, the existing Series A convertible preferred stock investors waived the second and third tranche milestones and the Company closed on the sale of its second and third tranches of Series A convertible preferred stock. As a result, the performance condition was deemed to be met.
The following table summarizes the Company’s performance-based RSA grant activity for the six months ended June 30, 2024:
|
|
RSAs |
|
|
Weighted- |
|
||
Unvested shares at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
Granted |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Vested |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Forfeited |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Unvested shares at June 30, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
The aggregate fair value of performance-based RSAs that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $
21
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense for stock options of $
|
|
For the Three Months |
|
|
For the Six Months |
|
||||||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||||
General and Administrative |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Research and Development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
9. Leases
Operating Lease
In June 2023, the Company entered into a lease for its corporate headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. The lease commenced August 31, 2023 with an initial term of
In February 2024, the Company entered into a lease for laboratory and office space in San Diego, California with a lease term of
10. Related Party Transactions
Janssen
Janssen Pharmaceutical NV (“Janssen”) is a related party to a founding investor in the Company, Johnson & Johnson Innovation—JJDC, Inc., as both entities are direct subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred costs of $
Third Rock Ventures
Third Rock Ventures LLC (“Third Rock”) is a founding investor in the Company. For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company incurred costs of $
22
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
11. Commitments and Contingencies
Indemnification Agreements
In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnification of varying scopes and terms to vendors, lessors, business partners and other parties with respect to certain matters including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with the board of directors that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is, in many cases, unlimited. To date, the Company has not incurred any material costs as a result of such indemnifications. The Company is not aware of any indemnification arrangements that could have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows, and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in its condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, the Company may become involved in legal proceedings or other litigation relating to claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues a liability for such matters when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and that such expenditures can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment is required to determine both probability and estimated exposure amount. Legal fees and other costs associated with such proceedings are expensed as incurred. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company was not a party to any material legal proceedings or claims.
NeuroPace Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work
In November 2023, the Company entered into a master services agreement (the “NeuroPace Agreement”) with NeuroPace Inc. (“NeuroPace”), the manufacturer and distributor of the RNS system. Pursuant to the NeuroPace Agreement and in accordance with statement of work agreements entered into from time to time, NeuroPace provides the Company with certain services with respect to data from the RNS systems used in our clinical trials. The NeuroPace Agreement also grants the Company a royalty-free, worldwide, exclusive, non-transferable license to all data collected by the RNS systems in its Phase 2a clinical trial and the outcomes of algorithms that are applied to such data, as well as the ability to publish the outcomes of algorithms, subject to certain conditions. The consideration the Company will pay to NeuroPace for such services is set out in each statement of work agreement.
The NeuroPace Agreement contains an exclusivity provision providing that, at any time while providing services under the NeuroPace Agreement and for a period after the final clinical study report, NeuroPace may not perform any services that are the same as the services covered by the NeuroPace Agreement to any business that directly competes with us, subject to the specific terms of the NeuroPace Agreement. The NeuroPace Agreement also contains standard representations and warranties, confidentiality and intellectual property protective provisions and indemnification terms.
The NeuroPace Agreement expires on the later of
Concurrently with the execution of the NeuroPace Agreement, the parties also entered into an initial statement of work under the NeuroPace Agreement, as amended in March 2024 (the “NeuroPace SOW”), pursuant to which NeuroPace agreed to provide services related to the Company’s Phase 2a clinical trial of RAP-219, including, among other things, clinical trial readiness support, identification of potential patients satisfying the enrollment criteria and RNS system data reporting and data analysis. Pursuant to the payment schedule set out in the NeuroPace SOW, we will pay NeuroPace an aggregate of up to $
23
Rapport Therapeutics, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
12. Net Loss per Share
Basic and diluted net loss per common share attributable to common stockholders was calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six months ended June 30, |
|
||||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||||
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss attributable to common stockholders |
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted |
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
For purposes of this calculation, the Company excluded the following potential common shares, presented based on amounts outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share available to common shareholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
|
|
As of June 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Series A convertible preferred stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Series B convertible preferred stock |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Options to purchase common stock |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Unvested restricted common stock—service based |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Unvested restricted common stock—performance based |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
24
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 in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this Quarterly Report") and with our audited financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2023 included in our final prospectus dated June 6, 2024 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain forward-looking statements based upon our current plans and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and beliefs. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. You should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovery and development of transformational small molecule medicines for patients suffering from central nervous system (“CNS”) disorders. Neuronal receptors are complex assemblies of proteins, comprising receptor principal subunits and their receptor associated proteins (“RAPs”), the latter of which play crucial roles in regulating receptor expression and function. Our founders have made pioneering discoveries related to RAP function to form the basis of our RAP technology platform. We believe that our deep expertise in RAP biology provides an opportunity for us to interrogate previously inaccessible targets and develop CNS drugs that are specific for receptor variants and neuroanatomical regions associated with certain diseases. RAP-219, our most advanced product candidate, is an AMPA receptor (“AMPAR”) negative allosteric modulator (“NAM”). RAP-219 is designed to achieve neuroanatomical specificity through its selective targeting of a RAP known as TARPg8, which is associated with the neuronal AMPAR, a clinically validated target for epilepsy. Whereas AMPARs are distributed widely in the CNS, TARPg8 is expressed only in discrete regions, including the hippocampus, a key site involved in focal epilepsy. We completed our Phase 1 trials in healthy adults to assess the safety and tolerability of RAP-219, and we are on track to initiate a Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in adult patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy in the third quarter of 2024, with topline results expected in mid 2025. We believe RAP-219 also has therapeutic potential in peripheral neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder, and we intend to initiate Phase 2a trials in these indications in the second half of 2024 and in 2025, respectively. We have also initiated our second multiple ascending dose (“MAD”) clinical trial of RAP-219 to assess dosing regimens that may accelerate therapeutic exposure, which will inform dosing for our planned Phase 2a trial for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Results from this MAD trial are expected in the second half of 2024. In addition, we have identified another TARPg8 targeted molecule with differentiated chemical and pharmacokinetic properties, RAP-199, for which we expect to initiate a Phase 1 trial in the first half of 2025.
Beyond TARPg8, we have two advanced discovery-stage nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (“nAChR”) programs stemming from our RAP technology platform. Our first discovery-stage nAChR program comprises modulators of a6 nAChRs that we are developing for the treatment of chronic pain. Our second discovery-stage nAChR program comprises modulators of a9a10 nAChRs that we are developing for the treatment of hearing disorders. We continue to leverage our RAP technology platform to discover additional product candidates.
Since our inception in February 2022, we have not generated any revenue from product sales or other sources and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We have devoted substantially all of our efforts to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, research and development activities, building our intellectual property portfolio, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. In June 2024, we completed our initial public offering ("IPO"), pursuant to which we issued and sold 9,200,000 shares of common stock (inclusive of 1,200,000 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional shares). In addition, we issued and sold 1,058,824 shares of common stock to certain institutional accredited investors in a concurrent private placement. The aggregate net proceeds received by us from the IPO and concurrent private placement were $157.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, placement agent fees as well as other offering and private placement costs of $16.8 million. To date, we have funded our operations primarily with proceeds from the issuance and sale of our common stock, convertible notes and convertible preferred stock. As of June 30, 2024, we had raised aggregate gross proceeds of $424.4 million from these financings, and had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $336.1 million, excluding our restricted cash.
We have incurred significant operating losses in each year since our inception. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and eventual commercialization of any product candidates we may develop. Our net losses were $18.1 and $6.4 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $40.8
25
million and $12.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $86.2 million. We expect our expenses and operating losses will increase substantially as we:
In addition, we have several preclinical and clinical development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payment obligations under our licensing arrangements. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on the timing of our preclinical studies and planned clinical trials and our expenditures on other research and development activities.
We do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our potential future product candidates, which will not be for at least the next several years, if ever. If we obtain regulatory approval for any of our potential future product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution. Accordingly, until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of our potential future product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. See the section titled “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market potential future product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the end of 2026. See the sections titled “—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Condition and Need for Additional Capital” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
License and Collaboration Agreements
Option and License Agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutical NV
In August 2022, we entered into an option and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutical NV, as amended on April 3, 2023, April 18, 2023, May 2, 2023, October 2, 2023, and April 9, 2024 (collectively, the “Janssen License”), under which we received an exclusive option to obtain from Janssen (a) a worldwide exclusive license for the research, development, and commercialization of transmembrane TARPg8 AMPAR products for the diagnosis, treatment, prophylaxis or palliation of any disease or condition in humans or other animals (the “Field”) and (b) an assignment of certain patents related to TARPg8, in each case of (a)-(b), subject to certain retained rights by Janssen. Pursuant to the Janssen License, we also received a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license
26
(exclusive under certain joint patents) for the research, development, and commercialization of certain neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine (“nACh”) products in the Field.
We made a non-refundable, non-creditable upfront payment of $1.0 million to Janssen after we entered into the Janssen License. In October 2022, we exercised the option and paid a non-refundable, non-creditable option fee of $4.0 million to Janssen. If we succeed in developing and commercializing TARPg8 products, Janssen will be eligible to receive (i) up to $76.0 million in development milestone payments and up to $40.0 million sales milestone payments for the product containing the lead TARPg8 development candidate, and (ii) up to $25.0 million in development milestone payments and up to $42.0 million sales milestone payments for other TARPg8 products containing a non-lead TARPg8 development candidate.
Janssen is also eligible to receive (a) royalties ranging from mid-single digits to high single digits on worldwide net sales of any products containing a TARPg8 development candidate and (b) royalties ranging from low-single digits to mid-single digits for other TARPg8 products that do not contain a TARPg8 development candidate, in each case of (a) and (b), subject to potential reductions following the expiration of valid claims and regulatory exclusivity covering such TARPg8 products, the launch of certain generic products and the application of certain anti-stacking reductions for third party intellectual property payments, subject to a customary reduction floor. The royalties for any TARPg8 product will expire on a country-by-country basis upon the latest to occur of (i) the expiration of all valid patent claims covering such product in such country, (ii) the expiration of all regulatory exclusivities in such country, and (iii) a specified number of years following the first commercial sale of such product in such country. The Janssen License provides us with certain other exclusive rights with respect to small molecules with activity against TARPg8 and nACh.
We have the right to terminate the Janssen License for any or no reason upon providing prior written notice to Janssen upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to Janssen. Either party may terminate the license agreement in its entirety for the other party’s material breach if such party fails to cure the breach or upon certain insolvency events involving the other party.
We determined that the Janssen License represented an asset acquisition, rather than a business combination, as substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired in the Janssen License was concentrated in a single asset, the TARPg8 compound, which was in the early stage of development at the time of acquisition. As the IPR&D asset was determined to have no alternative future use, we recognized the aggregate acquisition cost as related party acquired in-process research and development expense in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss for the period from February 10, 2022 (inception) to December 31, 2022.
NeuroPace Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work
In November 2023, we entered into a master services agreement (the “NeuroPace Agreement”) with NeuroPace Inc. (“NeuroPace”), the manufacturer and distributor of the responsive neurostimulation (“RNS”) system. Pursuant to the NeuroPace Agreement and in accordance with statement of work agreements entered into from time to time, NeuroPace provides us with certain services with respect to data from the RNS systems used in our clinical trials. The NeuroPace Agreement also grants us a royalty-free, worldwide, exclusive, non-transferable license to all data collected by the RNS systems in our Phase 2a clinical trial and the outcomes of algorithms that are applied to such data, as well as the ability to publish the outcomes of algorithms, subject to certain conditions. The consideration we will pay to NeuroPace for such services is set out in each statement of work agreement.
The NeuroPace Agreement contains an exclusivity provision providing that, at any time while providing services under the NeuroPace Agreement and for a period after the final clinical study report, NeuroPace may not perform any services that are the same as the services covered by the NeuroPace Agreement to any business that directly competes with us, subject to the specific terms of the NeuroPace Agreement. The NeuroPace Agreement also contains standard representations and warranties, confidentiality and intellectual property protective provisions and indemnification terms.
The NeuroPace Agreement expires on the later of three years from the effective date or the completion of all services under all statement of work agreements entered into prior to the third anniversary of the effective date. Either party may terminate the NeuroPace Agreement or any statement of work agreement (i) without cause by giving written notice to the other party within a specified period of time, (ii) by giving written notice upon a curable material breach that is not remediated within a specified period of time, or (iii) immediately upon written notice in the event of a material breach that cannot be cured.
Concurrently with the execution of the NeuroPace Agreement, the parties also entered into an initial statement of work, as amended in March 2024 (the “NeuroPace SOW”), under the NeuroPace Agreement, pursuant to which NeuroPace agreed to provide services related to our Phase 2a clinical trial of RAP-219, including, among other things, clinical trial readiness support, identification of potential patients satisfying the enrollment criteria and RNS system data reporting and data analysis. Pursuant to the payment schedule set out in the NeuroPace SOW, we will pay NeuroPace an aggregate of up to $3.7 million over a period of approximately two years in connection with NeuroPace’s provision of services and achievement of certain patient enrollment and deliverable milestones.
27
During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we paid NeuroPace $0.1 million and recognized $0.3 million in research and development expense for services performed. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we paid NeuroPace $0.4 million and recognized $0.6 million in research and development expense for services performed, resulting in a prepaid expense balance of $1.3 million as of June 30, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we paid NeuroPace $1.5 million, which was recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023.
Components of Results of Operations
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with the development and research of our clinical and pre-clinical potential future product candidates. Our research and development expenses include:
Our primary focus since inception has been the development of RAP-219. Our research and development costs consist primarily of personnel-related costs and external costs, such as fees paid to Contract Manufacturing Organizations (“CMOs”), Contract Research Organizations (“CROs”) and consultants in connection with our non-clinical studies, preclinical studies and clinical trials. We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Because we are working on multiple research and development programs at one time, we track many of our external expenses on a program-by-program basis. We do not allocate personnel-related costs or other indirect costs, to specific product development programs because these costs are deployed across multiple programs and, as such, are not separately classified.
Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher and more variable development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. We expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially in the near term as we advance RAP-219 through clinical development, pursue regulatory approval of RAP-219, continue to discover and develop additional product candidates and incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts, including the associated manufacturing activities.
Upfront and milestone payments made are accrued for and expensed when the achievement of the milestone is probable up to the point of regulatory approval. Milestone payments made upon regulatory approval will be capitalized and amortized over the remaining useful life of the related product.
28
At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of any of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from sales or licensing of our product candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with drug development, including the uncertainty of:
A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates or potential future product candidate could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate or potential future product candidate. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate would be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate or potential future product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to slower than expected patient enrollment or other reasons, we would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. We may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, and, even if we do, drug commercialization takes several years and millions of dollars in development costs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, and stock-based compensation charges for those individuals in executive, finance, human resources, facility operations, and other administrative functions. Other significant costs include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters, professional fees for auditing, accounting, tax and consulting services, office and information technology costs, insurance costs, and facilities, depreciation and other general and administrative expenses, which include direct or allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities and utilities.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase for the foreseeable future to support development of product candidates and our continued research activities. These increases will likely include additional costs related to the hiring of additional personnel and fees paid to outside consultants, among other expenses. We also anticipate increased expenses related to audit, accounting, legal, regulatory, and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with The Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and SEC requirements, director and officer insurance premiums, and investor relations costs associated with operating as a public company.
Other Income (Expense)
Change in Fair Value of Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liabilities
Our Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock purchase agreements provided the investors the obligation to participate in subsequent offerings of Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock upon achievement of certain specified milestones, upon the waiver of such milestone achievement by a majority vote of the respective series convertible preferred stockholders, or with respect to the Series B convertible preferred stock, upon exercise of the stockholders right to early exercise the preferred stock tranche right. The preferred stock tranche rights are classified as liabilities and initially recorded at fair value upon the issuance date of the
29
rights. The liabilities were subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting date and immediately prior to being settled, and changes in fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liabilities were recognized as a component of other income (expense), net in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In February 2023, we closed the Series A second and third financings, resulting in full settlement of the tranche right, upon both of which we issued additional shares of Series A convertible preferred stock. Immediately prior to the issuance of such shares, the preferred stock tranche right liability was remeasured to fair value with the change in fair value recognized as a component of other income (expense), net. As a result of the Series A preferred stock tranche right settlement in February 2023, we will no longer recognize changes in the fair value of the Series A preferred stock tranche liability in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. In March 2024, we closed the Series B second financing, resulting in full settlement of the tranche right, upon which we issued additional shares of Series B convertible preferred stock. Immediately prior to the issuance of such shares, the preferred stock tranche right liability was remeasured to fair value with the change in fair value recognized as a component of other income (expense), net. As a result of the Series B preferred stock tranche right settlement in March 2024, we will no longer recognize changes in the fair value of the Series B preferred stock tranche liability in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest earned from our cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long term investments.
Income Taxes
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we recorded an income tax provision of zero and $3 thousand, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and June 30, 2024, we recorded a full valuation allowance of our net deferred tax assets, as we believed it was more likely than not we would not be able to utilize our deferred tax assets prior to their expiration.
Since our inception, we have not recorded any income tax benefits for the net losses we have incurred in each year or for our research and development tax credits, as we believe, based upon the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that all of our net operating losses (“NOLs”), carryforwards and tax credits will be not realized. As of June 30, 2024, we had federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $6.0 million and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $1.6 million which may be available to offset future taxable income and begin to expire in 2042. The total federal NOLs of $6.0 million are not subject to expiration. As of June 30, 2024, we also had federal and state tax research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $1.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively, to offset future tax liabilities, which begin to expire in 2037 and 2042, respectively. We have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets at June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, we had no unrecognized tax benefits.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
|
|
For the three months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
$ |
15,689 |
|
|
$ |
4,721 |
|
|
$ |
10,968 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
5,111 |
|
|
|
1,909 |
|
|
|
3,202 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
20,800 |
|
|
|
6,630 |
|
|
|
14,170 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(20,800 |
) |
|
|
(6,630 |
) |
|
|
(14,170 |
) |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest income |
|
|
2,679 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
2,458 |
|
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
2,679 |
|
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
2,458 |
|
Net loss before income taxes |
|
|
(18,121 |
) |
|
|
(6,409 |
) |
|
|
(11,712 |
) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(18,121 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,411 |
) |
|
$ |
(11,710 |
) |
30
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
|
|
For the three months |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Direct external program expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
RAP-219 program |
|
$ |
4,846 |
|
|
$ |
1,669 |
|
|
$ |
3,177 |
|
|
Preclinical programs |
|
|
5,648 |
|
|
|
996 |
|
|
|
4,652 |
|
|
Internal and unallocated expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Personnel-related costs (including stock-based |
|
|
4,590 |
|
|
|
1,950 |
|
|
|
2,640 |
|
|
Other costs |
|
|
605 |
|
|
|
106 |
|
|
|
499 |
|
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
15,689 |
|
|
$ |
4,721 |
|
|
$ |
10,968 |
|
|
Research and development expenses were $15.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $4.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $11.0 million consisted of the following:
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
For the three months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation) |
|
$ |
3,436 |
|
|
$ |
923 |
|
|
$ |
2,513 |
|
Professional and consulting costs |
|
|
1,108 |
|
|
750 |
|
|
|
358 |
|
|
Facility related and other |
|
|
567 |
|
|
236 |
|
|
|
331 |
|
|
Total general and administrative expense |
|
$ |
5,111 |
|
|
$ |
1,909 |
|
|
$ |
3,202 |
|
General and administrative expense were $5.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $3.2 million consisted of the following:
31
Other Income (Expense)
|
|
For the three months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest income |
|
$ |
2,679 |
|
|
$ |
221 |
|
|
$ |
2,458 |
|
Total other income (expense), net |
|
$ |
2,679 |
|
|
$ |
221 |
|
|
$ |
2,458 |
|
Interest Income
Interest income was $2.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $2.5 million is primarily due to opening additional interest-bearing accounts subsequent to June 30, 2023 in addition to the increased cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments balances from the Series B convertible preferred stock financing in August 2023 and February 2024, and our IPO in June 2024.
Income Taxes
For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we recorded an income tax provision of zero and $2 thousand, respectively.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
|
|
For the six months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
$ |
28,193 |
|
|
$ |
8,620 |
|
|
$ |
19,573 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
9,701 |
|
|
|
3,201 |
|
|
|
6,500 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
37,894 |
|
|
|
11,821 |
|
|
|
26,073 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(37,894 |
) |
|
|
(11,821 |
) |
|
|
(26,073 |
) |
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest income |
|
|
4,494 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
4,198 |
|
Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right |
|
|
(7,390 |
) |
|
|
(1,030 |
) |
|
|
(6,360 |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
|
(2,896 |
) |
|
|
(734 |
) |
|
|
(2,162 |
) |
Net loss before income taxes |
|
|
(40,790 |
) |
|
|
(12,555 |
) |
|
|
(28,235 |
) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(40,790 |
) |
|
$ |
(12,558 |
) |
|
$ |
(28,232 |
) |
32
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
|
|
For the six months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Direct external program expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
RAP-219 program |
|
$ |
8,747 |
|
|
$ |
2,786 |
|
|
$ |
5,961 |
|
Preclinical programs |
|
|
9,582 |
|
|
|
1,707 |
|
|
|
7,875 |
|
Internal and unallocated expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Personnel-related costs (including stock-based |
|
|
8,607 |
|
|
|
3,890 |
|
|
|
4,717 |
|
Other costs |
|
|
1,257 |
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
1,020 |
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
28,193 |
|
|
$ |
8,620 |
|
|
$ |
19,573 |
|
Research and development expenses were $28.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $19.6 million consisted of the following:
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
For the six months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Personnel-related (including stock-based compensation) |
|
$ |
5,833 |
|
|
$ |
1,315 |
|
|
$ |
4,518 |
|
Professional and consulting costs |
|
|
2,973 |
|
|
|
1,442 |
|
|
|
1,531 |
|
Facility related and other |
|
|
895 |
|
|
|
444 |
|
|
|
451 |
|
Total general and administrative expense |
|
$ |
9,701 |
|
|
$ |
3,201 |
|
|
$ |
6,500 |
|
General and administrative expense were $9.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $6.5 million consisted of the following:
33
Other Income (Expense)
|
|
For the six months |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest income |
|
$ |
4,494 |
|
|
$ |
296 |
|
|
$ |
4,198 |
|
Change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right |
|
|
(7,390 |
) |
|
|
(1,030 |
) |
|
|
(6,360 |
) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
$ |
(2,896 |
) |
|
$ |
(734 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,162 |
) |
Interest Income
Interest income was $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase of $4.2 million is primarily due to opening additional interest-bearing accounts subsequent to June 30, 2023 in addition to the increased cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments balances from the Series B convertible preferred stock financing in August 2023 and February 2024, and our IPO in June 2024.
Change in Fair Value of Preferred Stock Tranche Right Liability
The change in fair value of the preferred stock tranche right liability expense was $7.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability for the six months ended June 30, 2024 consisted of an increase in the fair value of the Series A preferred stock tranche right liability of $1.0 million as a result of the waiver of the second and third milestones and settlement of the Series A tranche right liability. The change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 consisted of an increase in the fair value of the Series B preferred stock tranche right liability of $7.4 million. In conjunction with the waiver of the second tranche milestone in February 2024 and the settlement of the Series B tranche right in March 2024, the Series B tranche right liability was remeasured immediately prior to the waiver, resulting in a $7.4 million increase in fair value.
Income Taxes
For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we recorded an income tax provision of zero and $3 thousand, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
Since our inception in February 2022, we have not generated any revenue from any sources and have incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we advance the clinical development of our product candidates and pipeline. Further, we expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. To date, we have funded our operations with proceeds from the sale of convertible notes, convertible preferred stock, and the issuance of common stock in our IPO and concurrent private placement. Through June 30, 2024, we received aggregate gross proceeds of $424.4 million from the issuance of convertible promissory notes and the sale of our convertible preferred stock and common stock. As of June 30, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $110.2 million and short-term investments of $226.0 million.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented:
|
|
For the six months ended |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
$ |
(33,967 |
) |
|
$ |
(11,400 |
) |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(149,030 |
) |
|
|
(147 |
) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
223,012 |
|
|
|
59,916 |
|
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
40,015 |
|
|
$ |
48,369 |
|
34
Operating Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, operating activities used $34.0 million of cash, resulting primarily from our net loss of $40.8 million, non-cash accretion of investments in marketable securities of $1.8 million, and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.3 million, partially offset by $3.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability of $7.4 million. The $3.3 million change in operating assets and liabilities is primarily driven by an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1.2 million primarily due to advanced payments on new contracts related to our clinical trials, a decrease in accounts payable of $1.0 million and accrued expenses of $0.8 million due to payments to vendors.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, operating activities used $11.4 million of cash, resulting primarily from our net loss of $12.6 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $1.6 million, partially offset by $1.7 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and non-cash change in fair value of preferred stock tranche right liability of $1.0 million.
Investing Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $149.0 million, primarily consisting of purchases of short-term investments of $183.2 million and purchases of property and equipment of $2.0 million, partially offset by maturities of short-term investments of $36.2 million.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities was $0.1 million, consisting of purchases of property and equipment of $0.1 million.
Financing Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash provided by financing activities was $223.0 million, primarily consisting of net proceeds from our IPO and concurrent private placement of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $159.1 million, and net proceeds of $63.9 million from our additional issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, net cash provided by financing activities was $59.9 million, primarily consisting of net proceeds of $59.9 million from our additional issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock.
Future Funding Requirements
As of June 30, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $336.1 million, excluding our restricted cash. As of the issuance date of the condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2024, we expect that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through at least 12 months from the issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the end of 2026. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could exhaust our available capital resources sooner than we expect. However, our forecast for the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operations is a forward-looking statement that involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary materially. Additionally, the process of conducting preclinical studies and testing potential future product candidates in clinical trials is costly, and the timing of progress and expenses in these studies and trials is uncertain. We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future.
We expect our expenses to increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we advance the non-clinical and preclinical studies and the current and future clinical trials of our product candidates. Our funding requirements and timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend on many factors, including:
35
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue to support our cost structure, we expect to finance our cash needs through equity offerings, debt financings, or other capital sources, potentially including collaborations, licenses, and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Additional debt financing and equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, or declaring dividends. If we raise funds through collaborations, license arrangements, or other similar arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or potential future product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us and/or may reduce the value of our common stock. Our failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings, or through other sources when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market our product candidates and potential future product candidates even if we would otherwise prefer to develop and market such potential future product candidates ourselves.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Leases
As of the June 30, 2024, we had future minimum operating lease payments under non-cancelable leases of $2.0 million related to leases we have recognized on our consolidated balance sheet, which are due over the following 2.5 years. In addition, we have one lease that has been entered into but has not yet commenced, for which we expect to pay approximately $9.6 million over the five-year lease term.
Option and License Agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutical NV
We made an upfront non-refundable, non-creditable payment of $1.0 million to Janssen after we entered into the Janssen License. In October 2022, we exercised the option and made a non-refundable, non-creditable option fee of $4.0 million to Janssen. If we succeed in developing and commercializing TARPg8 products, Janssen will be eligible to receive (i) up to $76.0 million in development milestone payments and up to $40.0 million sales milestone payments for the product containing the lead TARPg8 development candidate and (ii) up to $25.0 million in development milestone payments and up to $42.0 million sales milestone payments for the other products containing a non-lead TARPg8 development candidate. We are also required to pay tiered royalties related to the TARPg8 development candidate of a mid to high single-digit percentage on worldwide net sales and tiered royalties related to the TARPg8 products that do not contain a TARPg8 development candidate of low to mid single-digit percentages on annual net sales of the products covered by the license.
NeuroPace Master Services Agreement and Statement of Work
In connection with the execution of the NeuroPace Agreement, the parties also entered into an initial statement of work under the NeuroPace Agreement, pursuant to which NeuroPace agreed to provide services related to our Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of RAP-219, including, among other things, clinical trial readiness support, data analysis and data reporting. Pursuant to the payment schedule set out in the statement of work, we will pay NeuroPace an aggregate of up to $3.7 million over a period of approximately two years in connection with NeuroPace’s provision of services and achievement of certain patient enrollment and deliverable milestones.
36
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we paid NeuroPace $1.5 million, which was recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023. During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we paid NeuroPace $0.1 million and recognized $0.3 million in research and development expense for services performed. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, we paid NeuroPace $0.4 million and recognized $0.6 million in research and development expense for services performed, resulting in a prepaid expense balance of $1.3 million as of June 30, 2024.
Apart from the contracts with payment commitments that we have documented above, we have entered into contracts in the normal course of business with CROs, CMOs and other third parties for preclinical research studies and testing, clinical trials and manufacturing services. These contracts do not contain any minimum purchase commitments and are cancelable by us upon prior notice and, as a result, are not included in the table of contractual obligations and commitments above. Payments due upon cancellation consist only of payments for services provided and expenses incurred, including non-cancelable obligations of our service providers, up to the date of cancellation.
Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of expenses incurred during the reporting periods. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
During the six months ended June 30, 2024, there were no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates described under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates which are included in the Company’s final prospectus for its IPO filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act on June 7, 2024.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected not to “opt out” such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until such time that we either (i) irrevocably elect to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. As a result of this election, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to other public companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. We may choose to early adopt any new or revised accounting standards whenever such early adoption is permitted for private companies.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2—“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are smaller reporting company, as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and are not required to provide the information required by this Item.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Management's 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 SEC’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
37
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, our 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 SEC 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 Control over Financial Reporting
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 June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
38
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to any litigation or legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are probable to have material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Our business involves significant risks. Stockholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) and in the other documents that we file with the SEC. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects could be materially and adversely affected if any of these risks occur, and as a result, the market price of our common stock could decline and stockholders could lose all or part of their investment. This Quarterly Report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page 1 for more information. Our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain important factors, including those set forth below.
Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Condition and Need for Additional Capital
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability. We have incurred significant financial losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur significant financial losses for the foreseeable future.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. We were formed in February 2022 and our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, developing our receptor associated protein (“RAP”) technology platform and technology, identifying potential product candidates, securing intellectual property rights, and planning and undertaking preclinical studies and clinical trials. Substantially all of our product candidates were initially developed by Janssen Pharmaceutical NV (“Janssen”), which we in-licensed pursuant to the option and license agreement with Janssen (the “Janssen License”), entered into shortly after our formation. We have not yet demonstrated an ability to generate revenues, obtain regulatory approvals, manufacture any product on a commercial scale or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Our limited operating history as a company makes any assessment of our future success and viability subject to significant uncertainty. We will encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by early-stage biopharmaceutical companies in rapidly evolving fields, and we have not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome such risks and difficulties. If we do not address these risks and difficulties successfully, our business will suffer.
The success of our business depends primarily upon our ability to identify, develop, and commercialize product candidates based on our RAP technology platform. We do not know whether we will be able to develop any product candidates that succeed through preclinical and clinical development or products of commercial value. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales to date. We will continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our preclinical and clinical development and ongoing operations. As a result, we are not profitable and have incurred losses in each period since our inception. Net losses and negative cash flows have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital. Our net losses totaled $10.7 million and $34.8 million for the period from February 10, 2022 (inception) to December 31, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2023, respectively. Our net losses totaled $40.8 million and $12.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, we have not yet generated revenues and had an accumulated deficit of $86.2 million. We expect to continue to incur significant 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.
We anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if, and as, we:
39
Biopharmaceutical product development entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that any potential product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval, secure market access and reimbursement and become commercially viable, and therefore any investment in us is highly speculative. Accordingly, before making an investment in us, our prospects, factoring in the costs, uncertainties, delays and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in clinical development, especially clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies such as ours, should be carefully considered. Any predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they would otherwise be if we had a longer operating history or a history of successfully developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products. We may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known or unknown factors in achieving our business objectives.
Additionally, our expenses could increase beyond our expectations if we are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), or other comparable regulatory authorities to perform clinical trials in addition to those that we currently expect, or if there are any delays in establishing appropriate manufacturing arrangements for or in completing our clinical trials or the development of any of our product candidates.
We will require additional funding in order to finance operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed, or on acceptable terms, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts.
Developing biopharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a very time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. We expect our expenses to continue to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we conduct clinical trials of, and seek regulatory and marketing approval for, our product candidates. Even if our current or future product candidates are approved for commercial sale, we anticipate incurring significant costs associated with commercializing any approved product candidate. To date, we have funded our operations principally through private financings and our initial public offering (“IPO”) and concurrent private placement, which closed in June 2024. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the clinical and preclinical development of our product candidates, continue to identify additional targets using our RAP technology platform, commence additional preclinical studies and clinical trials, and continue to identify and develop additional product candidates either through internal development or through acquisitions or in-licensing product candidates.
As of June 30, 2024, we had $336.1 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, excluding restricted cash. Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through the end of 2026. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect. We may also raise additional financing on an opportunistic basis in the future. For example, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. Attempting to secure additional financing may divert our management from our day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop our product candidates. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including but not limited to:
40
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research and development of product candidates, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of our working capital requirements. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution which make it difficult to predict when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Furthermore, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in order to support our continuing operations. Our ability to raise additional funds will depend on financial, economic, political and market conditions and other factors, over which we may have no or limited control. Additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If we fail to obtain necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, it could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, future commercialization efforts or other operations.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our product candidates.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our operations with our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, any future equity or debt financings and upfront and milestone and royalty payments, if any, received under any future licenses or collaborations. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, or issue any equity or convertible debt securities in connection with a collaboration agreement or other contractual arrangement, the ownership interests of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. In addition, the possibility of such issuance may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Debt financing, if available, may result in increased fixed payment obligations and involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, declaring dividends or acquiring, selling or licensing intellectual property rights or assets, which could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our intellectual property, technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. We could also be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborators or others at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable. Any of these occurrences may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and prospects.
We maintain the majority of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major U.S. and multi-national financial institutions, and our deposits at certain of these institutions exceed insured limits. Market conditions and changes in financial regulations and policies can impact the viability of these institutions. In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there can be no assurance that we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Any
41
inability to access or delay in accessing these funds could adversely affect our business and financial position. In addition, changes in regulations governing financial institutions are beyond our control and difficult to predict; consequently, the impact of such changes on our business and results of operations is difficult to predict and may have an adverse effect on us.
The obligations from our license agreement with Janssen may be a drain on our cash resources, or may cause us to incur debt obligations to satisfy the payment obligations.
Under the terms of the Janssen License, Janssen is entitled to substantial contingent payments upon the occurrence of certain events. For example, we will be required to pay Janssen up to $76.0 million in development milestone payments and up to $40.0 million sales milestone payments for products containing RAP-219. In order to satisfy our obligations to make these payments, if and when they are triggered, we may need to issue equity or convertible debt securities that may cause dilution to our stockholders, or we may use our existing cash and cash equivalents or incur debt obligations to satisfy the payment obligations in cash, which may adversely affect our financial position. In addition, these obligations may impede our ability to raise money in future public offerings of debt or equity securities or to obtain a third-party line of credit.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our business is highly dependent on the success of our product candidates, particularly RAP-219 for focal epilepsy. If we are unable to successfully complete clinical development, obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize one or more of our product candidates, or if we experience delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.
To date, as an organization, we have not completed the development of any product candidates and nearly all of our candidates remain in early-stage clinical or preclinical development. Our future success and ability to generate revenue from our product candidates is dependent on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize one or more of our product candidates. All of our product candidates will require substantial additional investment for clinical development, regulatory review and approval in one or more jurisdictions. If any of our product candidates, particularly RAP-219, encounters safety or efficacy problems, development delays or regulatory issues or other problems, our development plans and business would be materially harmed.
We may not have the financial resources to continue development of our product candidates if we experience any issues that delay or prevent regulatory approval of, or our ability to commercialize, our product candidates, including:
42
In addition, clinical trials conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries, and regulatory approval in one country does not guarantee regulatory approval in any other country. We expect to conduct one or more of our clinical trials with one or more trial sites that are located outside the United States. Although the FDA may accept data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States, acceptance of this data is subject to conditions imposed by the FDA, and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept data from trials conducted outside of the United States. If the FDA does not accept the data from any trial that we conduct outside the United States, it would likely result in the need for additional trials, which would be costly and time-consuming and could delay or permanently halt our development of the applicable product candidates.
The successful development of pharmaceutical products involves a lengthy and expensive process and is highly uncertain.
Successful development of pharmaceutical products involves a lengthy and expensive process, is highly uncertain, and is dependent on numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. Product candidates that appear promising in the early phases of development may fail to reach the market for several reasons, including:
For example, in December 2023, we withdrew the development of another TARPg8 targeted molecule (RAP-482) in-licensed from Janssen that received a full clinical hold from the FDA prior to initiation of a Phase 1 trial, in order to prioritize development of our lead product candidate, RAP-219, and our other development candidates and programs. Furthermore, the length of time necessary to complete clinical trials and submit an application for marketing approval for a final decision by a regulatory authority varies significantly from one product candidate to the next and from one country or jurisdiction to the next and may be difficult to predict.
Even if we are successful in obtaining marketing approval, commercial success of any approved products will also depend in large part on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors, including government payors such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs and managed care organizations in the United States or country-specific governmental organizations in foreign countries, which may be affected by existing and future healthcare reform measures designed to reduce the cost of healthcare. Third-party payors could require us to conduct additional studies, including post-marketing studies related to the cost effectiveness of a product, to qualify for reimbursement, which could be costly and divert our resources. If government and other healthcare payors were not to provide coverage and adequate reimbursement for our products once approved, market acceptance and commercial success would be reduced. Even if we are able to obtain coverage and adequate reimbursement for our products once approved, there may be features or characteristics of our products, such as dose preparation requirements, that prevent our products from achieving market acceptance by the healthcare or patient communities.
In addition, if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, we will be subject to significant regulatory obligations regarding the submission of safety and other post-marketing information and reports and registration, and will need to continue to comply (or ensure that our third-party providers comply) with current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMPs”) and Good Clinical Practices (“GCPs”) for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval. In addition, there is always the risk that we, a regulatory authority or a third party might identify previously unknown problems with a product post-approval, such as AEs of unanticipated severity or frequency. Compliance with these requirements is costly, and any failure to comply or other issues with our product candidates post-approval could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Due to the significant resources required for the development of our pipeline, and depending on our ability to access capital, we must prioritize the development of certain product candidates over others. Moreover, we may fail to expend our limited resources on product candidates or indications that may have been more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
We have completed phase 1 clinical development of our lead product candidate, RAP-219, for the treatment of focal epilepsy, and we are on track to initiate a Phase 2a trial of RAP-219. We also intend to initiate additional Phase 2a trials of RAP-219 for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder. Our other product candidates and programs are at various stages of preclinical development. We seek to rapidly advance discovery and development of transformational small molecule medicines for patients suffering from central nervous system disorders.
Due to the significant resources required for the development of our product candidates, we must decide which product candidates and indications to pursue and advance and the amount of resources to allocate to each. Our decisions concerning the allocation of research, development, collaboration, management and financial resources toward particular product candidates, therapeutic areas or indications may not lead to the development of viable commercial products and may divert resources away from better opportunities. If we make incorrect determinations regarding the viability or market potential of any of our product candidates or misread trends in the pharmaceutical industry, in particular for disorders of the brain and nervous system, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, we may fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities, be required to forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or other diseases and disease pathways that may later prove to have greater commercial potential than those we choose to pursue, or relinquish valuable rights to such product candidates through collaboration, licensing or royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been advantageous for us to invest additional resources to retain sole development and commercialization rights.
We may seek to grow our business through acquisitions or investments in new or complementary businesses, products or technologies, through the licensing of products or technologies from third parties or other strategic alliances. The failure to manage acquisitions, investments, licenses or other strategic alliances, or the failure to integrate them with our existing business, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, dilute our stockholders’ ownership, increase our debt or cause us to incur significant expense.
Our success depends on our ability to continually enhance and broaden our product offerings in response to changing clinician and patients’ needs, competitive technologies and market pressures. Accordingly, from time to time we may consider opportunities to acquire, make investments in or license other technologies, products and businesses that may enhance our capabilities, complement our existing products and technologies or expand the breadth of our markets or customer base. Potential and completed acquisitions, strategic investments, licenses and other alliances involve numerous risks, including:
We do not know if we will be able to identify acquisitions or strategic relationships we deem suitable, whether we will be able to successfully complete any such transactions on favorable terms, if at all, or whether we will be able to successfully integrate any acquired business, product or technology into our business or retain any key personnel, suppliers, sales agent, health care facilities, physicians or other health care providers. Our ability to successfully grow through strategic transactions depends upon our ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate suitable target businesses, technologies or products and to obtain any necessary financing. These efforts could be expensive and time-consuming and may disrupt our ongoing business and prevent management from focusing on our operations.
To finance any acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances, we may choose to issue shares of our common stock as consideration, which could dilute the ownership of our stockholders. If the price of our common stock is low or volatile, we may be
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unable to consummate any acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances using our common stock as consideration. Additional funds may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.
We, our collaborators and our service providers are, or may become, subject to a variety of stringent and evolving privacy and data security laws, regulations, and rules, contractual obligations, industry standards, policies and other obligations related to privacy and data security. Any actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could expose us to significant fines or other penalties and otherwise harm our business and operations.
In the ordinary course of our business, we and the third parties upon which we rely (such as our third party Contract Research Organizations (“CROs”) and other contractors and consultants) collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, process) personal data and other sensitive information, including proprietary and confidential business data, trade secrets, intellectual property, sensitive third-party data, business plans, transactions, financial information and data we collect about trial participants in connection with clinical trials (collectively, sensitive data). Our data processing activities subject us to numerous evolving privacy and data security obligations, such as various laws, regulations, guidance, industry standards, external and internal privacy and security policies, contractual requirements, and other obligations relating to privacy and data security.
The legislative and regulatory framework for the processing of personal data worldwide is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. In the United States, numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, including federal health information privacy laws, state information security and data breach notification laws, federal and state consumer protection laws (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act), and other similar laws (e.g., wiretapping laws) govern the processing of health-related and other personal data.
At the state level, numerous U.S. states have enacted comprehensive privacy laws that impose certain obligations on covered businesses, including providing specific disclosures in privacy notices and affording individuals certain rights concerning their personal data. Similar laws are being considered in several other states, as well as at the federal and local levels, and we expect more states to pass similar laws in the future. While these states exempt some data processed in the context of clinical trials, these developments may further complicate compliance efforts, and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us and the third parties upon whom we rely.
Additionally, we may be subject to new laws governing the privacy of consumer health data. For example, Washington’s My Health My Data Act broadly defines consumer health data, creates a private right of action to allow individuals to sue for violations of the law, imposes stringent consent requirements and grants consumers certain rights with respect to their health data, including to request deletion of their information. Connecticut and Nevada have also passed similar laws regulating consumer health data. These various privacy and data security laws may impact our business activities, including our identification of research subjects, relationships with business partners and ultimately the marketing and distribution of our products.
Outside the United States, an increasing number of laws, regulations, and industry standards may govern privacy and data security. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“EU GDPR”) and the United Kingdom’s GDPR (“UK GDPR”) impose strict requirements for processing personal data.
The EU GDPR and the UK GDPR (together, “GDPR”) establish stringent requirements regarding the processing of personal data, including strict requirements relating to processing of sensitive data (such as health data), ensuring there is a legal basis or condition to justify the processing of personal data, where required strict requirements relating to obtaining consent of individuals, transparent disclosures about how personal data is to be used, limitations on retention of information, implementing safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of personal data, where required providing notification of data breaches, maintaining records of processing activities and documenting data protection impact assessments where there is high risk processing and taking certain measures when engaging third-party processors.
Under GDPR, companies may face temporary or definitive bans on data processing and other corrective activities, fines of up to €20 million (£17.5 million GBP) or 4% of annual global revenues, whichever is greater, and private litigation related to processing of personal data brought by classes of data subjects or consumer protection organizations authorized at law to represent their interests. Non-compliance could also result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
In addition, we may be unable to transfer personal data from Europe and other jurisdictions to the United States or other countries due to data localization requirements or limitations on cross-border data flows. Europe and other jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring data to be localized or limiting the transfer of personal data to other countries. In particular, the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and the United Kingdom (“UK”) have restricted the transfer of personal data to the United States and other countries whose privacy laws it generally believes are inadequate. Other jurisdictions may adopt similarly stringent interpretations of their data localization and cross-border data transfer laws. Although there are currently various mechanisms that may be used to transfer personal data from the EEA and UK to the United States in compliance with law, such as the EEA’s standard contractual clauses, the UK’s International Data Transfer Agreement / Addendum, and the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and the UK extension thereto (which allows for transfers to relevant U.S.-based organizations who self-certify compliance and participate in the Framework), these
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mechanisms are subject to legal challenges, and there is no assurance that we can satisfy or rely on these measures to lawfully transfer personal data to the United States. If there is no lawful manner for us to transfer personal data from the EEA, the UK, or other jurisdictions to the United States, or if the requirements for a legally-compliant transfer are too onerous, we could face significant adverse consequences, including the interruption or degradation of our operations, the need to relocate part of or all of our business or data processing activities to other jurisdictions (such as Europe) at significant expense, increased exposure to regulatory actions, substantial fines and penalties, the inability to transfer data and work with partners, vendors and other third parties, and injunctions against our processing or transferring of personal data necessary to operate our business. Additionally, companies that transfer personal data out of the EEA and UK to other jurisdictions, particularly to the United States, are subject to increased scrutiny from regulators, individual litigants, and activities activist groups. Some European regulators have ordered certain companies to suspend or permanently cease certain transfers of personal data out of Europe for allegedly violating the GDPR’s cross-border data transfer limitations.
Although the UK is regarded as a third country under the EU GDPR, the European Commission has issued an adequacy decision recognizing the UK as providing adequate protection under the EU GDPR and, therefore, transfers of personal data originating in the EEA to the UK remain unrestricted. Likewise, the UK government has confirmed that personal data transfers from the UK to the EEA remain free flowing. The UK government has introduced a Data Protection and Digital Information Bill ("UK Bill") into the UK legislative process. The aim of the UK Bill is to reform the UK’s data protection regime following Brexit. If passed, the final version of the UK Bill may have the effect of further altering the similarities between the UK and EEA data protection regime and threaten the UK adequacy decision from the European Commission. The potential of the respective provisions and enforcement of the EU GDPR and UK GDPR further diverging in the future creates additional regulatory challenges and uncertainties for us. The lack of clarity on future UK laws and regulations and their interaction with EU laws and regulations could add legal risk, uncertainty, complexity and cost to our handling of European personal data and our privacy and data security compliance programs and could require us to implement different compliance measures for the UK and the EEA.
In addition to privacy and data security laws, we are contractually subject to industry standards adopted by industry groups and may become subject to such obligations in the future. We are also bound by other contractual obligations related to privacy and data security, and our efforts to comply with such obligations may not be successful.
We publish privacy policies, and we may publish marketing materials, and other statements, such as compliance with certain certifications or self-regulatory principles, regarding privacy and data security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair, or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators, or other adverse consequences.
Obligations related to privacy and data security (and consumers’ data privacy expectations) are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating uncertainty. Additionally, these obligations may be subject to differing applications and interpretations, which may be inconsistent or conflict among jurisdictions. Preparing for and complying with these obligations requires us to devote significant resources and may necessitate changes to our services, information technologies, systems, and practices and to those of any third parties that process personal data on our behalf.
We may at times fail (or be perceived to have failed) in our efforts to comply with our privacy and data security obligations. Moreover, despite our efforts, our personnel or third parties on whom we rely may fail to comply with such obligations, which could negatively impact our business operations. If we or the third parties on which we rely fail, or are perceived to have failed, to address or comply with applicable privacy and data security obligations, we could face significant consequences, including but not limited to: government enforcement actions (e.g., investigations, fines, penalties, audits, inspections, and similar); litigation (including class-action claims) and mass arbitration demands; additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; bans on processing personal data; and orders to destroy or not use personal data. In particular, plaintiffs have become increasingly more active in bringing privacy-related claims against companies, including class claims and mass arbitration demands. Some of these claims allow for the recovery of statutory damages on a per violation basis, and, if viable, carry the potential for monumental statutory damages, depending on the volume of data and the number of violations. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, or financial condition, including but not limited to: loss of customers; interruptions or stoppages in our business operations (including, as relevant, clinical trials); inability to process personal data or to operate in certain jurisdictions; limited ability to develop or commercialize our products; expenditure of time and resources to defend any claim or inquiry; adverse publicity; or substantial changes to our business model or operations.
Our information technology systems and infrastructure, or those of our collaborators and service providers, or our data, may be subject to cyber-attacks, security breaches, compromises or other incidents, which could result in additional costs, loss of revenue, significant liabilities, harm to our brand, material disruption of our development programs and operations, or other adverse consequences.
In the ordinary course of our business, we and the third parties upon which we rely, process sensitive data, and, as a result, we and the third parties upon which we rely face a variety of evolving threats that could cause cyber-attacks, security breaches, compromises, or other incidents. Although we take steps to develop and maintain systems and controls designed to protect our sensitive data,
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systems and infrastructure, there can be no assurance that our internal technology systems and infrastructure, or those of third parties upon which we rely, will be sufficient to protect against a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise or other incident such as an industrial espionage attack, ransomware, or insider threat attack, which may compromise our system infrastructure or lead to the loss, destruction, alteration or dissemination of, or damage to, our sensitive data. Such threats are prevalent and continue to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and come from a variety of sources, including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, personnel (such as through theft or misuse), sophisticated nation states, and nation-state-supported actors.
The risk of a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. Such risks come from a variety of evolving threats, including but not limited to, social-engineering attacks (including through deep fakes, which may be increasingly more difficult to identify as fake, and phishing attacks), malicious code (such as viruses and worms), malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), denial-of-service attacks, credential stuffing, credential harvesting, personnel misconduct or error, ransomware attacks, supply-chain attacks, software bugs, server malfunctions, software or hardware failures, loss of data or other information technology assets, adware, attacks enhanced or facilitated by AI, telecommunications failures, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other similar threats.
Individuals engage in and are expected to continue to engage in cyber-attacks, including without limitation nation-state actors for geopolitical reasons and in conjunction with military conflicts and defense activities. During times of war and other major conflicts, we and the third parties upon which we rely, may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of cyber-attacks, including retaliatory cyber-attacks, that could materially disrupt our systems and operations, supply chain, and ability to produce, sell and distribute our services.
We also face increased risks of a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident due to our reliance on internet technology and the number of our employees who work on a hybrid basis at home, in the office, or other public spaces. This may create additional opportunities for cyber criminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, business transactions (such as acquisitions or integrations) could expose us to additional cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, as our systems could be negatively affected by vulnerabilities present in acquired or integrated entities’ systems and technologies that were not found during due diligence of such acquired or integrated entities.
In addition, our reliance on third-party service providers could introduce new cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, including supply-chain attacks. We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive data in a variety of contexts and our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited. These third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place and if our third-party service providers experience a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise or incident, or other interruption, we could experience adverse consequences. While we may be entitled to damages if our third-party service providers fail to satisfy their privacy or security-related obligations to us, any award may be insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award.
We may be unable to detect vulnerabilities in our information technology systems and infrastructure on a timely basis or until after a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident has occurred. Further, we may experience delays in developing and deploying remedial measures designed to adequately address any such identified vulnerabilities.
We have in the past experienced threats and security incidents related to our data and systems, and we may in the future experience additional threats, compromises, breaches or incidents. If we, or a third party upon whom we rely, experience a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident, or are perceived to have experienced a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal data); litigation (including individual and group claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; reputational harm; monetary fund diversions; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss; and other potentially significant harms. Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our privacy and data security obligations.
Further, applicable privacy and data security obligations may require us to notify relevant stakeholders of a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident. Such disclosures are costly, and the disclosure or the failure to comply with such requirements could lead to adverse consequences. In addition, cyber-attacks, security breaches, compromises, or other incidents may cause stakeholders (including investors and potential customers) to stop supporting our business, deter new customers from using our products, and negatively impact our ability to grow and operate our business.
If we were to experience a cyber-attack, security breach, compromise, or other incident that causes interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.
The use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning (“ML”), in our operations, and the operations of third parties upon which we rely, may result in spending additional resources and present new
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risks and challenges that can impact our business including by posing security and other risks to our sensitive data, and as a result we may be exposed to reputational harm, other adverse consequences, and liability.
The use of new and evolving technologies, such as AI/ML, in our operations, and the operations of third parties upon which we rely presents new risks and challenges that could negatively impact our business. The use of certain AI/ML technologies can give rise to intellectual property risks, including compromises to proprietary intellectual property and intellectual property infringement. Additionally, several jurisdictions around the globe, including Europe and certain U.S. states, have proposed, enacted, or are considering, laws governing the development and use of AI/ML, such as the European Union’s AI Act. We expect other jurisdictions will adopt similar laws. Additionally, certain privacy laws extend rights to consumers (such as the right to delete certain personal data) and regulate automated decision making, which may be incompatible with our use of AI/ML. These obligations may make it harder for us to conduct our business using AI/ML, lead to regulatory fines or penalties, require us to change our business practices, retrain our AI/ML, or prevent or limit our use of AI/ML. For example, the Federal Trade Commission has required other companies to turn over (or disgorge) valuable insights or trainings generated through the use of AI/ML where they allege the company has violated privacy and consumer protection laws. If we cannot use AI/ML or that use is restricted, our business may be less efficient, or we may be at a competitive disadvantage.
The rapid evolution of AI/ML will require the application of significant resources to design, develop, test and maintain our products and services to help ensure that AI/ML is implemented in accordance with applicable law and regulation and in a socially responsible manner and to minimize any real or perceived unintended harmful impacts. Our vendors may in turn incorporate AI/ML tools into their own offerings, and the providers of these AI/ML tools may not meet existing or rapidly evolving regulatory or industry standards, including with respect to privacy and data security. Further, bad actors around the world use increasingly sophisticated methods, including the use of AI/ML, to engage in illegal activities involving the theft and misuse of sensitive data. Any of these effects could damage our reputation, result in the loss of valuable property and information, cause us to breach applicable laws and regulations, and adversely impact our business.
Risks Related to the Discovery and Development of Our Current or Future Product Candidates
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities are lengthy, time-consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, our business will be substantially harmed.
We are not permitted to commercialize, market, promote or sell any product candidate in the United States without obtaining regulatory approval from the FDA. Foreign regulatory authorities, such as the EMA, impose similar requirements. The time required to obtain approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities is inherently unpredictable, but typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical trials and depends upon numerous factors, including substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, approval policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. For instance, jurisdictions outside of the United States, such as the European Union or Japan, may have different requirements for regulatory approval, which may require us to conduct additional clinical, nonclinical or chemistry, manufacturing and control studies. Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision to overturn prior established case law giving deference to regulatory agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutory language has introduced uncertainty regarding the extent to which FDA’s regulations, policies, and decisions may become subject to increasing legal challenges, delays, and/or changes. To date, we have not submitted an NDA to the FDA or similar drug approval submissions to comparable foreign regulatory authorities for any product candidate. We must complete additional preclinical studies and clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates in humans before we will be able to obtain these approvals.
Clinical testing is expensive, difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and is inherently uncertain as to outcome. We cannot guarantee that any clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. The clinical development of our initial and potential additional product candidates is susceptible to the risk of failure inherent at any stage of development, including failure to demonstrate efficacy in a clinical trial or across a broad population of patients, the occurrence of AEs that are severe or medically or commercially unacceptable, failure to comply with protocols or applicable regulatory requirements and determination by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities that a product candidate may not continue development or is not approvable. It is possible that even if any of our product candidates have a beneficial effect, that effect will not be detected during clinical evaluation as a result of one or more of a variety of factors, including the size, duration, design, measurements, conduct or analysis of our clinical trials. Conversely, as a result of the same factors, our clinical trials may indicate an apparent positive effect of such product candidate that is greater than the actual positive effect, if any. Similarly, in our clinical trials we may fail to detect toxicity of, or intolerability caused by, such product candidate, or mistakenly believe that our product candidates are toxic or not well tolerated when that is not in fact the case. Serious AEs or other AEs, as well as tolerability issues, could hinder or prevent market acceptance of the product candidate at issue.
Our current and future product candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
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This lengthy approval process as well as the unpredictability of clinical trial results may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval to market any product candidate we develop, which would substantially harm our business, results of operations and prospects. The FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and determining when or whether regulatory approval will be granted for any product candidate that we develop. Even if we believe the data collected from future clinical trials of our product candidates are promising, such data may not be sufficient to support approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities.
In addition, even if we were to obtain approval, regulatory authorities may approve any of our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request, may not approve the price we intend to charge for our products, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials or may approve a product candidate with a label that does not include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of that product candidate. Any of the foregoing scenarios could materially harm the commercial prospects for our product candidates.
The FDA, EMA or comparable regulatory authorities may disagree with our regulatory plan for our product candidates.
The general approach for FDA approval of a new drug is dispositive data from two or more adequate and well-controlled clinical trials of the product candidate in the relevant patient population. Adequate and well-controlled clinical trials typically involve a large number of patients, have significant costs and take years to complete. The FDA, EMA or other comparable regulatory authorities may disagree with us about whether a clinical trial is adequate and well-controlled or may request that we conduct additional clinical trials prior to regulatory approval. In addition, there is no assurance that the doses, endpoints and trial designs that we intend to use for our planned clinical trials, including those that we have developed based on feedback from regulatory agencies or those that have been used for the approval of similar drugs, will be acceptable for future approvals. For instance, we may seek FDA regulatory flexibility and pursue marketing approval based on data from only one adequate and well-controlled clinical investigation. However, the FDA may be unwilling to apply regulatory flexibility and our clinical trial results may not support approval of our product candidates. In addition, our product candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval, or regulatory approval could be delayed, for many reasons, including the following:
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We are dependent on a third party having accurately generated, collected, interpreted and reported data from certain preclinical studies and clinical trials that were previously conducted for our product candidates.
Substantially all of our product candidates were initially developed by Janssen, which we in-licensed pursuant to the Janssen License shortly after our formation. We entered into this license on the basis of our interpretation of the medical and scientific meaningfulness of Janssen’s initial data. Therefore, we are dependent on Janssen having designed certain preclinical studies and clinical trials; conducted its research and development in accordance with the applicable protocols, legal and regulatory requirements, and scientific standards; having accurately reported the results of all preclinical studies conducted with respect to such product candidates; and having correctly collected and interpreted the data from these studies and trials. These risks also apply to any additional product candidates that we may acquire or in-license in the future. If these activities were not compliant, accurate or correct, the clinical development, regulatory approval or commercialization of our product candidates will be adversely affected and the earlier-reported results may not support data that we generate in our own preclinical or clinical work with those product candidates.
In addition, we rely in part on preclinical data using earlier generation TARPg8 NAMs and third-party published data with other TARPg8 NAMs for support of RAP-219. While we believe it is an accepted scientific practice to reference preclinical data generated using other molecules of the same class, it is possible that similar studies with RAP-219 would not have generated entirely consistent results and, as such, the studies performed with other molecules of the same class may not be reflective of the therapeutic potential of RAP-219.
If our clinical trials fail to replicate positive results from earlier preclinical studies or clinical trials conducted by us or third parties, we may be unable to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates.
The results observed from preclinical studies or early-stage clinical trials of our product candidates may not necessarily be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials that we conduct. Similarly, positive results from such preclinical studies or early-stage clinical trials may not be replicated in our subsequent preclinical studies or clinical trials. For instance, results seen in preclinical animal models of epilepsy or pain may not translate to similar results in patients, and results from our Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in focal epilepsy may not translate to clinical seizures. Furthermore, our product candidates may not be able to demonstrate similar activity or adverse event profiles as other product candidates that we believe may have similar profiles.
In addition, in our planned future clinical trials, we may utilize clinical trial designs or dosing regimens that have not been tested in prior clinical trials. For instance, our Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in focal epilepsy utilizes a novel study design due to the biomarker-based primary endpoint, intracranial electroencephalography (“iEEG”) data. Specifically, iEEG data will be recorded by an implanted responsive neurostimulation (“RNS”) system, which includes an electrode that monitors intracranial brain waves and detects the magnitude, duration and frequency of electrographic activity associated with clinical seizures. We are not aware of any other trials that have used iEEG data as a primary endpoint and have not engaged and do not plan to engage with the FDA on the use of this endpoint in our Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial, as this trial will not be used as a registrational trial. Accordingly, the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities may have questions around the interpretability of this data, and iEEG data may not be translatable to a clinical seizure endpoint in future registrational trials.
There can be no assurance that any of our clinical trials will ultimately be successful or support further clinical development of any of our product candidates. There is a high failure rate for drugs proceeding through clinical trials. Many companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in late-stage clinical trials after achieving positive results in early-stage development, and we cannot be certain that we will not face similar setbacks. These setbacks have been caused by, among other things, preclinical findings made while clinical trials were underway or safety or efficacy observations made in preclinical studies and clinical trials, including previously unreported adverse effects or AEs.
Additionally, we may utilize an “open-label” clinical trial design. An “open-label” clinical trial is one where both the patient and investigator know whether the patient is receiving the investigational product candidate or either an existing approved drug or placebo. Our Phase 2a proof-of-concept study in focal epilepsy is an open label study. Most open-label clinical trials test only the
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investigational product candidate and sometimes may do so at different dose levels. Open-label clinical trials are subject to various limitations that may exaggerate any therapeutic effect as patients in open-label clinical trials are aware when they are receiving treatment. Open-label clinical trials may be subject to a “patient bias” where patients perceive their symptoms to have improved merely due to their awareness of receiving an experimental treatment. In addition, open-label clinical trials may be subject to an “investigator bias” where those assessing and reviewing the physiological outcomes of the clinical trials are aware of which patients have received treatment and may interpret the information of the treated group more favorably given this knowledge. The results from an open-label trial may not be predictive of future clinical trial results of a product candidate when studied in a controlled environment with a placebo or active control.
Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses and many companies that believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials nonetheless failed to obtain FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authority approval.
We may incur unexpected costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be unable to complete, the development and commercialization of our product candidates.
To obtain the requisite regulatory approvals to commercialize any of our product candidates, we must demonstrate through extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials that our product candidates are safe and effective in humans. We may experience delays in completing our clinical trials or preclinical studies and initiating or completing additional clinical trials or preclinical studies, including as a result of regulators not allowing or delay in allowing clinical trials to proceed under an IND or similar foreign authorization, or not approving or delaying approval for any clinical trial grant or similar approval we need to initiate a clinical trial. We may also experience numerous unforeseen events during our clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize the product candidates we develop, including:
Regulators or IRBs of the institutions in which clinical trials are being conducted may suspend, limit or terminate a clinical trial, or data monitoring committees may recommend that we suspend or terminate a clinical trial, due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a drug, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial. Negative or inconclusive results from our clinical trials or preclinical studies could mandate repeated or additional clinical trials and, to the extent we choose to conduct clinical trials in other indications, could result in changes to or delays in clinical trials of our product candidates in such other indications. We do not know whether any clinical trials that we conduct will demonstrate adequate efficacy and safety to result in regulatory approval to market our
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product candidates for the indications that we are pursuing. If later-stage clinical trials do not produce favorable results, our ability to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates will be adversely impacted.
Our failure to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials and to demonstrate the efficacy and safety necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates would significantly harm our business. Our product candidate development costs will also increase if we experience delays in testing or regulatory approvals and we may be required to obtain additional funds to complete clinical trials. There can be no assurance that our clinical trials will begin as planned or be completed on schedule, if at all, or that we will not need to restructure or otherwise modify our trials after they have begun. Significant clinical trial delays also could shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do and impair our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, which may harm our business and results of operations. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, delays of clinical trials may ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates.
Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following regulatory approval, if obtained.
Undesirable side effects caused by any of our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label, the inclusion of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities.
We may observe safety or tolerability issues beyond those we anticipate with our product candidates in ongoing or future clinical trials. For example, while no Grade 3 or higher AEs have been observed, to date, RAP-219 has only been tested in healthy volunteers and has not yet been tested in patients, so it is possible that such events may occur in our ongoing RAP-219 clinical program or in our clinical programs for other product candidates. Additionally, it is possible that human subjects with focal epilepsy may experience greater side effects in our clinical program for RAP-219 than observed in healthy volunteers. We continue to learn more about our product candidates, and unfavorable pharmacology profiles, including extended half-lives, could lead to adverse outcomes or concerns by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities.
Many compounds that initially showed promise in clinical or earlier-stage testing are later found to cause undesirable or unexpected side effects that prevented further development of the compound. Results of future clinical trials of our product candidates could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects or unexpected characteristics, despite a favorable tolerability profile observed in earlier-stage testing. At any time, we may decide to terminate or greatly narrow the target population for a clinical development program due to unacceptable side effects or safety concerns.
If unacceptable side effects arise in the development of our product candidates, we, the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities, the IRBs, or independent ethics committees at the institutions in which our trials are conducted, could suspend, limit or terminate our clinical trials, or the independent safety monitoring committee could recommend that we suspend, limit or terminate our trials, or the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities could order us to cease clinical trials or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. We may be unable to overcome any such suspensions or holds that are placed on our clinical trials. Treatment-emergent side effects that are deemed to be drug-related could delay recruitment of clinical trial subjects or may cause subjects that enroll in our clinical trials to discontinue participation in our clinical trials. In addition, these side effects may not be appropriately recognized or managed by the treating medical staff. We may need to train medical personnel using our product candidates to understand the side effect profiles for our clinical trials and upon any commercialization of any of our product candidates. Inadequate training in recognizing or managing the potential side effects of our product candidates could result in harm to patients that are administered our product candidates. Any of these occurrences may adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.
Moreover, clinical trials of our product candidates are conducted in carefully defined sets of patients who have agreed to enter into clinical trials. Consequently, it is possible that our clinical trials may indicate an apparent positive effect of a product candidate that is greater than the actual positive effect, if any, or alternatively fail to identify undesirable side effects.
Even if we complete the necessary preclinical studies and clinical trials, the marketing approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain and may prevent us from obtaining approvals for the commercialization of our product candidates.
Any product candidate we develop and the activities associated with its development and commercialization, including its design, testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, record keeping, labeling, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale, and distribution, are subject to comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States, and by the EMA and other comparable regulatory authorities in other countries. Failure to obtain marketing approval for a product candidate will prevent us from commercializing the product candidate in a given jurisdiction. We have not received approval to market any product candidates from regulatory authorities in any jurisdiction and it is possible that none of the product candidates we are developing or may seek to develop in the future will ever obtain regulatory approval.
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We have no experience in submitting and supporting the applications necessary to gain marketing approvals and expect to rely on third-party CROs or regulatory consultants to assist us in this process. Securing regulatory approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to the various regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish the product candidate’s safety and efficacy. Securing regulatory approval also requires the submission of information about the product manufacturing process to, and inspection of manufacturing facilities by, the relevant regulatory authority. Any product candidates we develop may not be effective, may be only moderately effective, or may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude its obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use.
The process of obtaining marketing approvals, both in the United States and abroad, is expensive, may take many years if additional clinical trials are required, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon a variety of factors, including the type, complexity, and novelty of the product candidates involved. Changes in marketing approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment of additional statutes or regulations, or changes in regulatory review for each submitted product application, may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. The FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical or other studies. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from preclinical and clinical testing could delay, limit, or prevent marketing approval of a product candidate. Any marketing approval that we may ultimately obtain could be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render the approved product not commercially viable.
If we experience delays in obtaining approval or if we fail to obtain approval of any product candidates we may develop, the commercial prospects for those product candidates may be harmed, and our ability to generate revenues will be materially impaired.
Interim, topline and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more patient data becomes available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.
From time to time, we may publish interim, topline or preliminary data from our clinical trials. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Preliminary or topline data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data we previously published. As a result, interim and preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final data could significantly harm our reputation and business prospects.
If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect, the development and commercialization of our product candidates may be delayed, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.
For planning purposes, we sometimes estimate the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory and other product development objectives. These milestones may include our expectations regarding the commencement or completion of scientific studies and clinical trials, the submission of regulatory filings or commercialization objectives. From time to time, we may publicly announce the expected timing of some of these milestones, such as the completion of an ongoing clinical trial, the initiation of other clinical programs, receipt of marketing approval or a commercial launch of a product. The achievement of many of these milestones may be outside of our control. All of these milestones are based on a variety of assumptions which, if not realized as expected, may cause the timing of achievement of the milestones to vary considerably from our estimates, including:
If we fail to achieve announced milestones in the timeframes we expect, the development and commercialization of our product candidates may be delayed, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.
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We have concentrated our research and development efforts on the treatment of disorders of the brain and nervous system, a field that faces certain challenges in drug development.
We have focused our research and development efforts on addressing disorders of the brain and nervous system. Efforts by pharmaceutical companies in this field have faced certain challenges in drug development. In particular, many neurological disorders, such as focal epilepsy, neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder, rely on subjective patient-reported outcomes as key endpoints. This makes them more difficult to evaluate than indications with more objective endpoints. For example, in our Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial, we are using change in clinical seizure frequency (measured by patient-recorded paper diaries) as a secondary endpoint . Furthermore, these indications are often subject to a placebo effect, which may make it more challenging to isolate the effects of our product candidates. There can be no guarantee that we will successfully overcome these challenges with RAP-219, even with the use of the RNS system from NeuroPace Inc. (“NeuroPace”) for primary and secondary endpoints in our Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in focal epilepsy, or our other product candidates or that we will not encounter other challenges in the development of our product candidates. Moreover, given the history of clinical failures in this field, future clinical or regulatory failures by us or others may have result in further negative perception of the likelihood of success in this field, which may significantly and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
We may be subject to additional risks because we intend to evaluate our product candidates in combination with the standard of care for the indications that we are pursuing.
We intend to evaluate our product candidates in combination with other compounds, specifically the standard of care for the indications that we are pursuing. The use of our product candidates in combination with such other compounds may subject us to risks that we would not face if our product candidates were being administered as a monotherapy. The outcome and cost of developing a product candidate to be used with other compounds is difficult to predict and dependent on a number of factors that are outside our control. If we experience efficacy or safety issues in our clinical trials in which our product candidates are being administered with other compounds, we may not receive regulatory approval for our product candidates, which could prevent us from ever generating revenue or achieving profitability.
If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or otherwise adversely affected.
We may experience difficulties in patient enrollment in our clinical trials for a variety of reasons. The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with our protocols depends, among other things, on our ability to enroll a sufficient number of patients who remain in the study until its conclusion.
Patient enrollment is affected by many factors, including:
We may experience challenges in recruiting principal investigators and patients to participate in ongoing and future clinical trials for such product candidates if we are unable to sufficiently demonstrate the potential of such product candidates to them. In addition, our clinical trials may compete with other clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as our product candidates, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Since the number of
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qualified clinical investigators is limited, we may conduct some of our clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials in such clinical trial site. Furthermore, if significant AEs or other side effects are observed in any of our clinical trials, we may have difficulty recruiting patients to our trials and patients may drop out of our trials. Additionally, patients, including patients in any control groups, may withdraw from the clinical trial for various reasons, including but not limited to if they are not experiencing improvement in their underlying disease or condition, or if they experience other difficulties or issues relating to their underlying disease or condition. Participants with CNS disorders such as bipolar disorder constitute a vulnerable patient population and may withdraw from the clinical trial if they are not experiencing improvement in their underlying disease or condition or if they experience other difficulties or issues relating to their underlying disease or condition or otherwise, which may or may not be related to our product candidate in clinical trial. Withdrawal of patients from our clinical trials may compromise the quality of our data.
Our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for our clinical trials would result in significant delays or might require us to abandon one or more clinical trials or our development efforts altogether. Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs, affect the timing or outcome of the planned clinical trials, product candidate development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to seek and obtain the regulatory approval required to commence product sales and generate revenue, which could prevent completion of these trials, adversely affect our ability to advance the development of our product candidates, cause our value to decline and limit our ability to obtain additional financing if needed.
Even if any of our product candidates receives regulatory approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success, in which case we may not generate significant revenues or become profitable.
We have never commercialized a product, and even if any of our product candidates is approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities for marketing and sale, it may nonetheless fail to achieve sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community. Many of the indications for our product candidates have well-established standards of care that physicians, patients and payors are familiar with and, in some cases, are available generically. Even if our product candidates are successful in registrational clinical trials, they may not be successful in displacing these current standards of care if we are unable to demonstrate superior efficacy, safety, ease of administration and/or cost-effectiveness. For example, physicians may be reluctant to take their patients off their current medications and switch their treatment regimen to our product candidates. Further, patients often acclimate to the treatment regimen that they are currently taking and do not want to switch unless their physicians recommend switching products or they are required to switch due to lack of coverage and adequate reimbursement. Even if we are able to demonstrate our product candidates’ safety and efficacy to the FDA and other regulators, safety or efficacy concerns in the medical community may hinder market acceptance.
Efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of our product candidates may require significant resources, including management time and financial resources, and may not be successful. If any product candidate is approved but does not achieve an adequate level of market acceptance, we may not generate significant revenues and we may not become profitable. The degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
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Any failure by one or more of our product candidates that obtains regulatory approval to achieve market acceptance or commercial success would adversely affect our business prospects.
If we fail to discover, develop and commercialize other product candidates, we may be unable to grow our business and our ability to achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.
Although the development and commercialization of our current product candidates are our initial focus, as part of our longer-term growth strategy, we plan to develop other product candidates. In addition to the product candidates in our clinical-stage pipeline, we have in-licensed additional assets that are in earlier stages of development. We intend to evaluate internal opportunities from our existing product candidates or other potential product candidates, and also may choose to in-license or acquire other product candidates to treat patients suffering from other disorders with significant unmet medical needs and limited treatment options. These other potential product candidates will require additional, time-consuming development efforts prior to commercial sale, including preclinical studies, clinical trials and approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities. All product candidates are prone to the risks of failure that are inherent in pharmaceutical product development, including the possibility that the product candidate will not be shown to be sufficiently safe and effective for approval by regulatory authorities. In addition, we cannot be certain that any such products that are approved will be manufactured or produced economically, successfully commercialized or widely accepted in the marketplace or be more effective than other commercially available alternatives.
In addition, we intend to devote substantial capital and resources for basic research to discover and identify additional product candidates. These research programs require substantial technical, financial and human resources, whether or not any product candidates are ultimately identified. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for many reasons, including the following:
In the future, we may also seek to in-license or acquire product candidates or the underlying technology. The process of proposing, negotiating and implementing a license or acquisition is lengthy and complex. Other companies, including some with substantially greater financial, marketing and sales resources, may compete with us for the license or acquisition of product candidates. We have limited resources to identify and execute the acquisition or in-licensing of third-party products, businesses and technologies and integrate them into our current infrastructure. Moreover, we may devote resources to potential acquisitions or in-licensing opportunities that are never completed, or we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such efforts. We may not be able to acquire the rights to additional product candidates on terms that we find acceptable, or at all.
In addition, future acquisitions may entail numerous operational and financial risks, including:
If we are unsuccessful in identifying and developing additional product candidates, either through internal development or licensing or acquisition from third parties, our potential for growth and achieving our strategic objectives may be impaired.
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The number of patients with the diseases and disorders for which we are developing our product candidates has not been established with precision. If the actual number of patients with the diseases or disorders we elect to pursue with our product candidates is smaller than we anticipate, we may have difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials, which may delay or prevent development of our product candidates. Even if such product candidates are successfully developed and approved, the markets for our product candidates may be smaller than we expect and our revenue potential and ability to achieve profitability may be materially adversely affected.
Our pipeline includes product candidates for a variety of neuroscience diseases. There is no precise method of establishing the actual number of patients with any of these disorders in any geography over any time period. With respect to many of the indications in which we have developed, are developing, or plan to develop our product candidates, we have estimates of the prevalence of the disease or disorder. Our estimates as to prevalence may not be accurate, and the actual prevalence or addressable patient population for some or all of those indications, or any other indication that we elect to pursue, may be significantly smaller than our estimates. In estimating the potential prevalence of indications we are pursuing, or may in the future pursue, including our estimates as to the prevalence of focal epilepsy, neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder, we apply assumptions to available information that may not prove to be accurate. In each case, there is a range of estimates in the published literature and in marketing studies, which include estimates within the range that are lower than our estimates. The actual number of patients with these disease indications may, however, be significantly lower than we believe. Even if our prevalence estimates are correct, our product candidates may be developed for only a subset of patients with the relevant disease or disorder or our product candidates, if approved, may be indicated for or used by only a subset. In the event the number of patients with the diseases and disorders we are studying is significantly lower than we expect, we may have difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials, which may delay or prevent development of our product candidates. If any of our product candidates are approved and our prevalence estimates with respect to any indication or our other market assumptions are not accurate, the markets for our product candidates for these indications may be smaller than we anticipate, which could limit our revenues and our ability to achieve profitability or to meet our expectations with respect to revenues or profits.
Competitive products may reduce or eliminate the commercial opportunity for our product candidates, if approved. If our competitors develop technologies or product candidates more rapidly than we do, or their technologies or product candidates are more effective or safer than ours, our ability to develop and successfully commercialize our product candidates may be adversely affected.
The clinical and commercial landscapes for the treatment of neuroscience diseases are highly competitive and subject to rapid and significant technological change. We face competition with respect to our indications for our product candidates and will face competition with respect to any other drug candidates that we may seek to develop or commercialize in the future, from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide. There are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell drugs or are pursuing the development of drug candidates for the treatment of the indications that we are pursuing. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations that conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing and commercialization.
We believe that a significant number of product candidates are currently under development for the same indications we are currently pursuing, and some or all may become commercially available in the future for the treatment of conditions for which we are trying or may try to develop product candidates. Our potential competitors include large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, specialty pharmaceutical and generic drug companies, academic institutions, government agencies and research institutions. See the section titled “Business—Competition” included in our IPO final prospectus dated June 6, 2024, for examples of the competition that our product candidates face.
In most cases, we do not currently plan to run head-to-head clinical trials evaluating our product candidates against the current standards of care, which may make it more challenging for our product candidates to compete against the current standards of care due to the lack of head-to-head clinical trial data.
Our competitors may have significantly greater financial resources, established presence in the market, expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical and clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and reimbursement and marketing approved products than we do. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than we may be in obtaining regulatory approval for therapies and achieving widespread market acceptance. Our competitors’ products may be more effective, or more effectively marketed and sold, than any product candidate we may commercialize and may render our therapies obsolete or non-competitive before we can recover development and commercialization expenses. If any of our product candidates are approved, it could compete with a range of therapeutic treatments that are in development. In addition, our competitors may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing technologies and drug products that are more effective or less costly than our product candidates, which could render our product candidates obsolete and noncompetitive.
If we obtain approval for any of our product candidates, we may face competition based on many different factors, including the efficacy, safety and tolerability of our products, the ease with which our products can be administered, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals for these products, the availability and cost of manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities, price,
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reimbursement coverage and patent position. Existing and future competing products could present superior treatment alternatives, including being more effective, safer, less expensive or marketed and sold more effectively than any products we may develop. Competitive products may make any products we develop obsolete or noncompetitive before we recover the expense of developing and commercializing our product candidates. Such competitors could also recruit our employees, which could negatively impact our level of expertise and our ability to execute our business plan.
In addition, our competitors may obtain patent protection, regulatory exclusivities or FDA approval and commercialize products more rapidly than we do, which may impact future approvals or sales of any of our product candidates that receive regulatory approval. If the FDA approves the commercial sale of any product candidate, we will also be competing with respect to marketing capabilities and manufacturing efficiency. We expect competition among products will be based on product efficacy and safety, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals, availability of supply, marketing and sales capabilities, product price, reimbursement coverage by government and private third-party payors, regulatory exclusivities and patent position. Our profitability and financial position will suffer if our product candidates receive regulatory approval but cannot compete effectively in the marketplace.
Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller and other early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These third parties compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
If we are unable to develop our sales, marketing and distribution capability on our own or through collaborations with marketing partners, we will not be successful in commercializing our product candidates.
We currently have no marketing, sales or distribution capabilities. We intend to establish a sales and marketing organization, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize one or more of our product candidates that may receive regulatory approval in key territories. These efforts will require substantial additional resources, some or all of which may be incurred in advance of any approval of the product candidate. Any failure or delay in the development of our or third parties’ internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of our product candidates.
Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize our product candidates on our own include:
With respect to our existing and future product candidates, we may choose to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems to serve as an alternative to our own sales force and distribution systems. Our future product revenue may be lower than if we directly marketed or sold our product candidates, if approved. In addition, any revenue we receive will depend in whole or in part upon the efforts of these third parties, which may not be successful and are generally not within our control. If we are not successful in commercializing any approved products, our future product revenue will suffer and we may incur significant additional losses.
If we do not establish sales and marketing capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not be successful in commercializing our product candidates.
Risks Related to Employee Matters and Managing Growth
We expect to expand our organization, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could disrupt our operations.
We expect to experience significant growth in the number of our employees and the scope of our operations, particularly in the areas of regulatory affairs and sales, marketing and distribution, as well as to continue to support our public company operations. To manage these growth activities, we must continue to implement and improve our managerial, operational, quality and financial systems, expand our facilities and continue to recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Our management may need to devote a significant amount of its attention to managing these growth activities. Due to our limited financial resources and the limited experience of our management team in managing a company with such anticipated growth, we may not be able to effectively manage the expansion or relocation of our operations, retain key employees, or identify, recruit and train additional qualified personnel. Our inability to manage the expansion or relocation of our operations effectively may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, give rise
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to operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected growth could also require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects, such as the development of additional product candidates. If we are unable to effectively manage our expected growth, our expenses may increase more than expected, our ability to generate revenues could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our business strategy, including the successful commercialization of our product candidates.
Our ability to develop product candidates, leverage our RAP technology platform and our future growth depends on attracting, hiring and retaining our key personnel and recruiting additional qualified personnel.
Our success depends upon the continued contributions of our key management and scientific personnel, many of whom have been instrumental for us and have substantial experience with developing therapies, identifying potential product candidates and building the technologies related to the clinical development of our product candidates. Given the specialized nature of brain diseases and our approach, there is an inherent scarcity of experienced personnel in these fields. As we continue developing our product candidates in our pipeline, we will require personnel with medical, scientific, or technical qualifications specific to each program. The loss of key personnel, in particular our Chief Scientific Officer, neuropharmacologists and neuroscientists, would delay our research and development activities. We currently do not have “key person” insurance on any of our employees. Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our team may terminate their employment with us on short notice. The competition for qualified personnel in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries is intense, and our future success depends upon our ability to attract, retain, and motivate highly skilled scientific, technical and managerial employees. We face competition for personnel from other companies, universities, public and private research institutions, and other organizations. If our recruitment and retention efforts are unsuccessful in the future, it may be difficult for us to implement our business strategy, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, our clinical operations and research and development programs depend on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists, data scientists, and engineers, particularly in Massachusetts and California. There is powerful competition for skilled personnel in these geographical markets, and we have from time to time experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, difficulty in hiring and retaining employees with appropriate qualifications on acceptable terms, or at all. Many of the companies with which we compete for experienced personnel have greater resources than we do, and any of our employees may terminate their employment with us at any time. If we hire employees from competitors or other companies, their former employers may attempt to assert that these employees or we have breached legal obligations, resulting in a diversion of our time and resources and, potentially, damages. In addition, job candidates and existing employees often consider the value of the stock awards they receive in connection with their employment. If the perceived benefits of our stock awards decline, it may harm our ability to recruit and retain highly skilled employees. If we fail to attract new personnel or fail to retain and motivate our current personnel, our business and future growth prospects would be harmed.
Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties
We rely on third parties to assist in conducting our clinical trials. If they do not perform satisfactorily, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidates, or such approval or commercialization may be delayed, and our business could be substantially harmed.
We have relied upon and plan to continue to rely on third parties, such as CROs, clinical data management organizations, medical institutions and clinical investigators, to conduct our clinical trials and expect to rely on these third parties to conduct clinical trials of any other product candidate that we develop. Our ability to complete clinical trials in a timely fashion depends on a number of key factors. These factors include protocol design, regulatory and IRB approval, patient enrollment rates and compliance with GCPs. We have opened clinical trial sites and are enrolling patients in a number of countries where our experience is limited. In most cases, we use the services of third parties, including CROs, to carry out our clinical trial-related activities and rely on such parties to accurately report their results. Our reliance on third parties for clinical development activities may impact or limit our control over the timing, conduct, expense and quality of our clinical trials. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with GCPs for conducting, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. The FDA enforces these GCPs through periodic inspections of clinical trial sponsors, principal investigators, clinical trial sites and IRBs. For certain commercial prescription drug products, manufacturers and other parties involved in the supply chain must also meet chain of distribution requirements and build electronic, interoperable systems for product tracking and tracing and for notifying the FDA of counterfeit, diverted, stolen and intentionally adulterated products or other products that are otherwise unfit for distribution in the United States.
We remain responsible for ensuring that each of our trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal and regulatory requirements and scientific standards. Our failure or the failure of third parties to comply with the applicable protocol, legal and regulatory requirements and scientific standards can result in rejection of our clinical trial data or other sanctions. If we or our third-party clinical trial providers or third-party CROs do not successfully carry out these clinical activities, our clinical trials or the potential regulatory approval of a product candidate may be delayed or be unsuccessful. Additionally, if we or our third-party
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contractors fail to comply with applicable GCPs for any reason, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our product candidates, which would delay the regulatory approval process. We cannot be certain that, upon inspection, the FDA will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with GCPs. We are also required to register certain clinical trials and post the results of completed clinical trials on a government-sponsored database, ClinicalTrials.gov, within certain timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicity and civil and criminal sanctions.
Furthermore, the third parties conducting clinical trials on our behalf are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such contractors, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time, skill and resources to our ongoing development programs. Moreover, many CROs, including some of those that we have engaged to conduct our clinical trials, are experiencing enrollment challenges as a result of, among other things, high employee turnover driven by the post-COVID macroeconomic environment and the inexperience of new employees. Furthermore, at clinical trial sites, the availability of staff and trial participants has been limited due to a decrease in the number of clinical investigative sites across the globe. These contractors may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other drug development activities, which could impede their ability to devote appropriate time to our clinical programs. If these third parties, including clinical investigators, do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines or conduct our clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated protocols, we may not be able to obtain, or may be delayed in obtaining, regulatory approvals for our product candidates. If that occurs, we will not be able to, or may be delayed in our efforts to, successfully commercialize our product candidates. In such an event, our financial results and the commercial prospects for any product candidates that we seek to develop could be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed, impaired or foreclosed.
In addition, we may rely on other third parties to collect, report and analyze data for our clinical trials. For example, our Phase 2a clinical trial has been designed to evaluate RAP-219 in adult patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who have been implanted with the RNS system from NeuroPace. NeuroPace is assisting us with clinical trial readiness, including identifying patients for enrollment in our trial, as well as services for the collection, reporting and analysis of patient data collected from the implanted RNS systems throughout the Phase 2a clinical trial. If NeuroPace does not successfully carry out its contractual obligations for any reason, meet expected deadlines, conduct our Phase 2a clinical trial in accordance with applicable law, including regulatory and data privacy requirements, or encounters issues with its RNS system, including issues that raise questions of safety, effectiveness or data integrity, or we are otherwise unable to maintain our relationship with NeuroPace, we would have to redesign and conduct a new clinical trial to evaluate RAP-219 in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and our business, financial condition and prospects would be harmed.
We also rely on other third parties to store and distribute drug supplies for our clinical trials. Any performance failure on the part of our distributors could delay clinical development or regulatory approval of our product candidates or commercialization of any resulting products, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential product revenue.
Any of the third-party organizations we utilize may terminate their engagements with us under certain circumstances. The replacement of an existing CRO or other third party may result in the delay of the affected trials or otherwise adversely affect our efforts to obtain regulatory approvals and commercialize our product candidates. We may not be able to enter into alternative arrangements or do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, even if there are suitable replacements for one or more of these service providers, there is a natural transition period when a new service provider begins work. As a result, delays may occur, which could negatively impact our ability to meet our expected clinical development timelines and harm our business, financial condition and prospects.
Our use of third parties to manufacture our product candidates, including those located outside of the United States in jurisdictions such as China, may increase the risk that we will not have sufficient quantities of our product candidates, raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”) or drug products when needed or at an acceptable cost.
We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities for the production of clinical or commercial quantities of our product candidates, and we lack the resources and the capabilities to do so. Our current strategy is to outsource all manufacturing of our product candidates to third parties, including in jurisdictions outside of the United States such as China.
We currently rely on and engage third-party manufacturers to provide all of the API and the final drug product formulation of all of our product candidates that are being used in our clinical trials and preclinical studies. If we were to need an alternate manufacturer, we would incur added costs and delays in identifying and qualifying any such replacement. In addition, we typically order raw materials, API and drug product and services on a purchase order basis and do not enter into long-term dedicated capacity or minimum supply arrangements with any commercial manufacturer. We may not be able to timely secure needed supply arrangements on satisfactory terms, or at all. Our failure to secure these arrangements as needed could have a material adverse effect on our ability to complete the development of our product candidates or, to commercialize them, if approved. We may be unable to conclude agreements for commercial supply with third-party manufacturers or may be unable to do so on acceptable terms. There may be difficulties in scaling up to commercial quantities and formulation of our product candidates, and the costs of manufacturing could be prohibitive.
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Many of the third-party manufacturers we rely on have only recently begun working with us and have limited or no experience manufacturing our API and final drug products. If our manufacturers have difficulty or suffer delays in successfully manufacturing material that meets our specifications, it may limit supply of our product candidates and could delay our clinical trials.
Even if we are able to establish and maintain arrangements with third-party manufacturers, reliance on third-party manufacturers entails additional risks, including:
If we do not maintain our key manufacturing relationships, we may fail to find replacement manufacturers or develop our own manufacturing capabilities, which could delay or impair our ability to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates. If we do find replacement manufacturers, we may not be able to enter into agreements with them on terms and conditions favorable to us and there could be a substantial delay before new facilities could be qualified and registered with the FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities.
Additionally, if any third-party manufacturer with whom we contract fails to perform its obligations, we may be forced to manufacture the materials ourselves, for which we may not have the capabilities or resources, or to enter into an agreement with a different manufacturer. In either scenario, our clinical trials supply could be delayed significantly as we establish alternative supply sources. In some cases, the technical skills required to manufacture our product candidates may be unique or proprietary to the original manufacturer and we may have difficulty, or there may be contractual restrictions prohibiting us from, transferring such skills to a back-up or alternate supplier, or we may be unable to transfer such skills at all. In addition, if we are required to change third-party manufacturers for any reason, we will be required to verify that the new manufacturer maintains facilities and procedures that comply with quality standards and with all applicable regulations. We will also need to verify, such as through a manufacturing comparability study, that any new manufacturing process will produce our product candidate according to the specifications previously submitted to the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities. We may be unsuccessful in demonstrating the comparability of clinical supplies, which could require the conduct of additional clinical trials. The delays associated with the verification of a new third-party manufacturer could negatively affect our ability to develop product candidates or commercialize our products in a timely manner or within budget. Furthermore, a third-party manufacturer may possess technology related to the manufacture of our product candidate that such third party owns independently. This would increase our reliance on such third-party manufacturer or require us to obtain a license from such third-party manufacturer in order to have another third party manufacture our product candidates.
If any of our product candidates is approved by any regulatory agency, we intend to utilize arrangements with third-party contract manufacturers for the commercial production of those products. This process is difficult and time consuming and we may face competition for access to manufacturing facilities as there are a limited number of contract manufacturers operating under cGMPs that are capable of manufacturing our product candidates. Consequently, we may not be able to reach agreement with third-party manufacturers on satisfactory terms, which could delay our commercialization.
Some of our manufacturers are located outside of the United States, including in China. There is currently significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and various other countries, including China, with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. Increased tariffs or pending legislation that would impose federal contracting or federal funding limitations on parties directly using or connected to those using the services or equipment of certain foreign entities with known or alleged associations with foreign adversaries could potentially disrupt our existing supply chains and impose additional costs on our business. In particular, certain Chinese biotechnology companies and CMOs may become subject to trade restrictions, sanctions, and other regulatory requirements by the U.S. government, which could restrict or even prohibit our ability to work with such entities, thereby potentially disrupting our supplies and manufacturing. Additionally, it is possible further tariffs may be imposed that could affect imports of any APIs used in our product candidates in the future, or our business may be adversely impacted by retaliatory trade measures taken by China or other countries, including restricted access to such raw materials used in our product candidates. Given the unpredictable regulatory environment in China and the United States and uncertainty regarding how the U.S. or foreign governments will act with respect to tariffs, international trade agreements and policies, further governmental action related to
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tariffs, additional taxes, contracting matters, regulatory changes or other retaliatory trade measures in the future could occur with a corresponding detrimental impact on our business and financial condition.
Our failure, or the failure of our third-party manufacturers, to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us, including clinical holds, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, seizures or voluntary recalls of product candidates, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly affect supplies of our product candidates. The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture our product candidates must be evaluated by the FDA. We do not control the manufacturing process of, and are completely dependent on, our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with cGMPs. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities, we may not be able to secure and/or maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates manufactured at these facilities. In addition, we have no control over the ability of our contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA finds deficiencies or a comparable foreign regulatory authority does not approve these facilities for the manufacture of our product candidates or if it withdraws any such approval in the future, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market our product candidates, if approved. Contract manufacturers may face manufacturing or quality control problems causing drug substance production and shipment delays or a situation where the contractor may not be able to maintain compliance with the applicable cGMP requirements. Any failure to comply with cGMP requirements or other FDA, EMA and comparable foreign regulatory requirements could adversely affect our clinical research activities and our ability to develop our product candidates and market our products, if approved.
The FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities require manufacturers to register manufacturing facilities, and also inspect these facilities to confirm compliance with cGMPs.
Contract manufacturers may face manufacturing or quality control problems causing drug substance production and shipment delays or a situation where the contractor may not be able to maintain compliance with the applicable cGMP requirements. Any failure to comply with cGMP requirements or other FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory requirements could adversely affect our clinical research activities and our ability to develop our product candidates and market our products following approval, if obtained.
Furthermore, should we decide to use any APIs in any of our product candidates that are proprietary to one or more third parties, we would need to maintain licenses to those APIs from those third parties. If we are unable to gain or continue to access rights to such APIs prior to conducting preclinical toxicology studies intended to support clinical trials, we may need to develop alternate product candidates from these programs by either accessing or developing alternate APIs, resulting in increased development costs and delays in commercialization of these product candidates. If we are unable to gain or maintain continued access rights to the desired APIs on commercially reasonable terms or develop suitable alternate APIs, we may not be able to commercialize product candidates from these programs.
We may seek to establish collaborations and, if we are not able to establish them on commercially reasonable terms, we may have to alter our development and commercialization plans.
We plan to opportunistically pursue strategic partnerships, as the advancement of our product candidates and development programs and the potential commercialization of our current and future product candidates will require substantial additional cash to fund expenses. If we believe that partnerships can accelerate the development or maximize the market potential of our product candidates, we will consider entering into product, target and/or geographic specific strategic partnerships on an opportunistic basis. Likely collaborators may include large and mid-size pharmaceutical companies, regional and national pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies. In addition, if we are able to obtain regulatory approval for product candidates from foreign regulatory authorities, we may enter into partnerships or collaborations with international biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies for the commercialization of such product candidates.
We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Whether we reach a definitive agreement for a partnership or collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator’s resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed partnerships or collaboration and the proposed collaborator’s evaluation of a number of factors. Those factors may include the potential differentiation of our product candidate from competing product candidates, design or results of clinical trials, the likelihood of approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities and the regulatory pathway for any such approval, the potential market for the product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and delivering the product to patients and the potential of competing products. The collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available for partnership or collaboration and whether such a partnership or collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be able to further develop our product candidates or bring them to market and generate product revenue.
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Partnerships and collaborations are each complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. Further, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators. Any partnership or collaboration agreements that we enter into in the future may contain restrictions on our ability to enter into potential partnerships or collaborations or to otherwise develop specified product candidates. We may not be able to negotiate partnerships or collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of the product candidate for which we are seeking to collaborate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense.
Furthermore, if conflicts arise between our collaborators and us, the other party may act in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement our strategies. Our collaborators could conduct multiple product development efforts and could develop, either alone or with others, products in related fields that are competitive with the product candidates we may develop that are the subject of these partnerships or collaborations with us.
Competing products may preclude us from entering into partnerships or collaborations with their competitors, fail to obtain timely regulatory approvals, prevent us from obtaining timely regulatory approvals, terminate their agreements with us prematurely or fail to devote sufficient resources to the partnership or collaboration efforts, including development, delivery, manufacturing and commercialization of products. Any of these developments could harm our company and product development efforts.
If we enter into collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of our product candidates, our prospects with respect to those product candidates will depend in significant part on the success of those collaborations.
We may enter into collaborations for the development and commercialization of certain of our product candidates. If we enter into such collaborations, we will have limited control over the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators will dedicate to the development or commercialization of our product candidates. Our ability to generate revenues from these arrangements will depend on any future collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. In addition, any future collaborators may have the right to abandon research or development projects and terminate applicable agreements, including funding obligations, prior to or upon the expiration of the agreed upon terms.
Collaborations involving our product candidates pose a number of risks, including the following:
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Collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of product candidates in the most efficient manner or at all. If any future collaborator of ours is involved in a business combination, it could decide to delay, diminish or terminate the development or commercialization of any product candidate licensed to it by us.
If any third-party manufacturer of our product candidates is unable to increase the scale of its production of our product candidates or increase the product yield of its manufacturing, then our manufacturing costs may increase and commercialization may be delayed.
In order to produce sufficient quantities to meet the demand for clinical trials and, if approved, subsequent commercialization of our product candidates, our third-party manufacturers will be required to increase their production and optimize their manufacturing processes while maintaining the quality of our product candidates. The transition to larger scale production could prove difficult. In addition, if our third-party manufacturers are not able to optimize their manufacturing processes to increase the product yield for our product candidates, or if they are unable to produce increased amounts of our product candidates while maintaining the same quality then we may not be able to meet the demands of clinical trials or market demands, which could decrease our ability to generate profits and have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Changes in methods of product candidate manufacturing or formulation may result in additional costs or delay.
As product candidates proceed through preclinical studies to late-stage clinical trials towards potential approval and commercialization, it is common that various aspects of the development program, such as the vendors used to manufacture drug product or manufacturing methods and formulation, are altered along the way in an effort to optimize processes and results. Such changes carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives. Any of these changes could cause our product candidates to perform differently and affect the results of planned clinical trials or other future clinical trials conducted with the materials manufactured using altered processes. Such changes may also require additional testing, FDA notification or FDA approval. This could delay or prevent completion of clinical trials, require conducting bridging clinical trials or the repetition of one or more clinical trials, increase clinical trial costs, delay or prevent approval of our product candidates and jeopardize our ability to commence sales and generate revenue.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in other jurisdictions.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in one jurisdiction does not guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, while a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. For example, even if the FDA grants marketing approval of a product candidate, the European Commission or comparable foreign regulatory authorities must also approve the manufacturing and marketing of the product candidate in those countries. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional preclinical studies or clinical trials, as clinical trials conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions. In many jurisdictions outside the United States, a product candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to approval.
We may also submit marketing applications in other countries. Regulatory authorities in jurisdictions outside of the United States have requirements for approval of product candidates with which we must comply prior to marketing in those jurisdictions. Obtaining foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our product candidates will be harmed.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of any product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our product candidates.
If any of our product candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies and submission of safety, efficacy and other post-market information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States and requirements of comparable foreign regulatory authorities. In addition, we will be subject to continued compliance with cGMP and GCP requirements for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval.
Manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA, EMA and other comparable regulatory authority requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP regulations and
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applicable product tracking and tracing requirements. As such, we and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any NDA, other marketing application and previous responses to inspection observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.
Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our product candidates may be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing testing, including Phase 4 clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product candidate. Certain endpoint data we hope to include in any approved product labeling also may not make it into such labeling, including exploratory or secondary endpoint data such as patient-reported outcome measures. The FDA may also require a risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (“REMS”) program as a condition of approval of our product candidates, which could entail requirements for long-term patient follow-up, a medication guide, physician communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. In addition, if the FDA, EMA or other comparable regulatory authority approves our product candidates, we will have to comply with requirements including submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports and registration.
The FDA may impose consent decrees or withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our product candidates, including AEs of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our third-party manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information, imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:
Additionally, under the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act (“FDORA”) sponsors of approved drugs and biologics must provide 6 months’ notice to the FDA of any changes in marketing status, such as the withdrawal of a drug, and failure to do so could result in the FDA placing the product on a list of discontinued products, which would revoke the product’s ability to be marketed. The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Products may be promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The policies of the FDA, EMA and other comparable regulatory authorities may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2024 decision to overturn established case law giving deference to regulatory agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutory language has introduced uncertainty regarding the extent to which the FDA’s regulations, policies and decisions may become subject to increasing legal challenges, delays, and/or changes. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
While we may in the future seek designations for our product candidates with the FDA, EMA and other comparable regulatory authorities that are intended to confer benefits such as a faster development process, an accelerated regulatory pathway or regulatory exclusivity, there can be no assurance that we will successfully obtain such designations. In addition, even if one or more of our product candidates are granted such designations, we may not be able to realize the intended benefits of such designations.
The FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities offer certain designations for product candidates that are designed to encourage the research and development of product candidates that are intended to address conditions with significant unmet medical need. These designations may confer benefits such as additional interaction with regulatory authorities, a potentially accelerated regulatory pathway and priority review. However, there can be no assurance that we will successfully obtain such designations for our product candidates. In addition, while such designations could expedite the development or approval process, they generally do not change the standards for approval. Even if we obtain such designations for our product candidates, there can be no assurance that we will realize their intended benefits.
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For example, we may seek a Fast Track Designation for future product candidates we develop. If a product is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and preclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need for this condition, the product sponsor may apply for Fast Track Designation. The FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant this designation, so even if we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for this designation, we cannot be certain that the FDA would decide to grant it. Even if we do receive Fast Track Designation, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may rescind the Fast Track Designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development activities.
We may seek Breakthrough Therapy Designation for any product candidate that we develop. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition, and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over currently approved therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. For drugs that have been designated as breakthrough therapies, interaction and communication between the FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens. Drugs designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA are also eligible for accelerated approval and priority review.
Designation as a breakthrough therapy is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe a product candidate we develop meets the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation. In any event, the receipt of Breakthrough Therapy Designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to drugs considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if any product candidate we develop qualifies as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may later decide that the drug no longer meets the conditions for qualification and rescind the designation.
Even in the absence of obtaining Fast Track and/or Breakthrough Therapy Designations, a sponsor can seek priority review at the time of submitting a marketing application. The FDA may designate a product for priority review if it is a product that treats a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness when compared with other available therapies. Significant improvement may be illustrated by evidence of increased effectiveness in the treatment of a condition, elimination or substantial reduction of a treatment-limiting adverse reaction, documented enhancement of patient compliance that may lead to improvement in serious outcomes, or evidence of safety and effectiveness in a new subpopulation. A priority review designation is intended to direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of such applications, and to shorten the FDA’s goal for taking action on a marketing application from ten months to six months. Priority review designation may be rescinded if a product no longer meets the qualifying criteria.
Where appropriate, we may secure approval from the FDA, EMA or other comparable regulatory authorities through the use of expedited approval pathways, such as accelerated approval. If we are unable to obtain such approvals, we may be required to conduct additional preclinical studies or clinical trials beyond those that we contemplate, which could increase the expense of obtaining, and delay the receipt of, necessary marketing approvals. Even if we receive accelerated approval from the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities, if our confirmatory trials do not verify clinical benefit, or if we do not comply with rigorous post-marketing requirements, the FDA, EMA, or such other regulatory authorities may seek to withdraw the accelerated approval.
Where possible, we plan to pursue accelerated development strategies in areas of high unmet need. We may seek an accelerated approval pathway for our one or more of our therapeutic candidates from the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities. Under the accelerated approval provisions in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the FDA’s implementing regulations, the FDA may grant accelerated approval to a therapeutic candidate designed to treat a serious or life-threatening condition that provides meaningful therapeutic benefit over available therapies upon a determination that the therapeutic candidate has an effect on a surrogate endpoint or intermediate clinical endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA considers a clinical benefit to be a positive therapeutic effect that is clinically meaningful in the context of a given disease, such as irreversible morbidity or mortality. For the purposes of accelerated approval, a surrogate endpoint is a marker, such as a laboratory measurement, radiographic image, physical sign, or other measure that is thought to predict clinical benefit, but is not itself a measure of clinical benefit. An intermediate clinical endpoint is a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit. The accelerated approval pathway may be used in cases in which the advantage of a new drug over available therapy may not be a direct therapeutic advantage but is a clinically important improvement from a patient and public health perspective. If granted, accelerated approval is usually contingent on the sponsor’s agreement to conduct, in a diligent manner, additional post-approval confirmatory studies to verify and describe the drug’s clinical benefit. Under FDORA, the FDA is permitted to require, as appropriate, that a post-approval confirmatory study or studies be underway prior to approval or within a specified time period after the date of approval for a product granted accelerated approval. FDORA also gives the FDA increased authority to withdraw approval of a drug or biologic granted accelerated approval on an expedited basis if the sponsor fails to conduct such studies in a timely manner, send status updates on such studies to the FDA every 180 days to be publicly posted by the agency, or if such post-approval studies fail to verify the drug’s predicted clinical
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benefit. The FDA is empowered to take action, such as issuing fines, against companies that fail to conduct with due diligence any post-approval confirmatory study or submit timely reports to the agency on their progress.
Prior to seeking accelerated approval, we would seek feedback from the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities and would otherwise evaluate our ability to seek and receive such accelerated approval. There can be no assurance that after our evaluation of the feedback and other factors we will decide to pursue or submit an NDA or BLA for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval. Similarly, there can be no assurance that after subsequent feedback from the FDA, EMA, or other comparable regulatory authorities, we will continue to pursue or apply for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval, even if we initially decide to do so. Furthermore, if we decide to submit an application for accelerated approval, there can be no assurance that such application will be accepted or that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, or at all. The FDA, EMA or other comparable regulatory authorities could also require us to conduct further studies prior to considering our application or granting approval of any type, including, for example, if other products are approved via the accelerated pathway and subsequently converted by FDA to full approval. A failure to obtain accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review or approval for our therapeutic candidate would result in a longer time period to commercialization of such therapeutic candidate, could increase the cost of development of such therapeutic candidate and could harm our competitive position in the marketplace.
Our relationships with healthcare providers and physicians and third-party payors will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations, which could expose us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.
It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. These laws include anti-kickback statutes, false claims statutes, data privacy and security laws, as well as transparency laws regarding payments or other items of value provided to healthcare providers. Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors in the United States and elsewhere play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of pharmaceutical products. Arrangements with third-party payors and customers can expose pharmaceutical manufacturers to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we conduct research and would sell, market and distribute our products. As a pharmaceutical company, even though we do not and will not control referrals of healthcare services or bill directly to Medicare, Medicaid or other third-party payors, federal and state healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate may apply. For more information on healthcare laws and regulations that may impact our company, see the section titled “Business—Government Regulation—Other Healthcare Laws” included in our IPO final prospectus dated June 6, 2024.
The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of healthcare reform, especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Federal and state enforcement bodies have recently increased their scrutiny of interactions between healthcare companies and healthcare providers, which has led to a number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and settlements in the healthcare industry. Ensuring business arrangements comply with applicable healthcare and privacy laws, as well as responding to possible investigations by government authorities, can be time and resource-consuming and can divert a company’s attention from the business.
It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices do not comply with current or future statutes, regulations, agency guidance or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws or any other governmental laws and regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant penalties, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, the exclusion from participation in federal and state healthcare programs, individual imprisonment, reputational harm and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws. Further, defending against any such actions can be costly and time consuming, and may require significant financial and personnel resources. Therefore, even if we are successful in defending against any such actions that may be brought against us, our business may be impaired. If any of the physicians or other providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found to not be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded healthcare programs and imprisonment. If any of the above occur, our ability to operate our business and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Coverage and reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for our product candidates, if approved, which could make it difficult for us to sell any product candidates profitably.
The success of our product candidates, if approved, depends on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors. We cannot be sure that coverage and reimbursement will be available for, or accurately estimate the potential revenue from, our product candidates or assure that coverage and reimbursement will be available for any product that we may develop. For more information on the laws and regulations that may impact coverage and reimbursement of our product candidates,
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see the section titled “Business—Government Regulation—Coverage and Reimbursement” included in our IPO final prospectus dated June 6, 2024.
Patients who are provided medical treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. Coverage and adequate reimbursement from governmental healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and commercial payors is critical to new product acceptance.
Government authorities and other third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which drugs and treatments they will cover and the amount of reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including the third-party payor’s determination that use of a product is:
In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors. As a result, obtaining coverage and reimbursement approval of a product from a government or other third-party payor is a time-consuming and costly process that could require us to provide to each payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products on a payor-by-payor basis, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained. In the United States, the principal decisions about reimbursement for new medicines are typically made by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”). CMS decides whether and to what extent a new medicine will be covered and reimbursed under Medicare and private payors tend to follow CMS to a substantial degree. Even if we obtain coverage for a given product, the resulting reimbursement payment rates might not be adequate for us to achieve or sustain profitability or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Additionally, third-party payors may not cover, or provide adequate reimbursement for, long-term follow-up evaluations required following the use of product candidates, once approved. Patients are unlikely to use our product candidates, once approved, unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of their cost. There is significant uncertainty related to insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products. It is difficult to predict at this time what third-party payors will decide with respect to the coverage and reimbursement for our product candidates. Even if favorable coverage and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
Net prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. Increasingly, third-party payors are requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices and are challenging the prices charged for medical products. We cannot be sure that reimbursement will be available for any product candidate that we commercialize and, if reimbursement is available, the level of reimbursement. In addition, many pharmaceutical manufacturers must calculate and report certain price reporting metrics to the government, such as average sales price and best price. Penalties may apply in some cases when such metrics are not submitted accurately and timely. Further, these prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs. Payment methodologies may be subject to changes in healthcare legislation and regulatory initiatives.
Moreover, increasing efforts by governmental and other third-party payors in the United States and abroad to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and the level of reimbursement for newly approved products and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our product candidates. There has been increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing practices. Specifically, there have been several recent U.S. Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, reduce the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for drugs.
At the state level, legislatures have increasingly passed legislation and implemented regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing.
We expect that healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our products. Legislative and regulatory proposals have been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and
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promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. We cannot be sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals or clearances of our product candidates, if any, may be.
In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a product must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing product pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its Member States to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost effectiveness of a particular product candidate to currently available therapies. A Member State may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our product candidates. Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally prices tend to be significantly lower.
Ongoing healthcare legislative and regulatory reform measures may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing regulations could impact our business in the future by requiring, for example, (1) changes to our manufacturing arrangements, (2) additions or modifications to product labeling, (3) the recall or discontinuation of our products or (4) additional record-keeping requirements. If any such changes were to be imposed, they could adversely affect the operation of our business. See the section titled “Business—Current and Future U.S. Healthcare Reform” included in our IPO final prospectus dated June 6, 2024.
The containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal, state and foreign governments, and the prices of products have been a focus in this effort. There have been a number of federal and state proposals during the last few years regarding the pricing of pharmaceutical products, limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for drugs and other medical products, government control and other changes to the healthcare system in the United States. Governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. For instance, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) includes several provisions that will impact our business to varying degrees, including provisions that allow the U.S. government to negotiate Medicare Part B and Part D pricing for certain high-cost drugs and biologics without generic or biosimilar competition, among others. All of our disclosed product candidates are small molecule drugs and certain of them are being developed in indications that may rely heavily on Medicare reimbursement, such as neuropathic pain. Accordingly, these new price-negotiation provisions may have a negative impact on our future revenue and profits. Further, the IRA imposes rebates with respect to certain drugs and biologics covered under Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D to penalize price increases that outpace inflation. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our revenue generated from the sale of any approved products.
Moreover, payment methodologies may be subject to changes in healthcare legislation and regulatory initiatives. For example, CMS may develop new payment and delivery models, such as bundled payment models. In addition, recently there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their commercial products, which has resulted in several Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted state and federal legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for pharmaceutical products. Congress has indicated that it will continue to seek new legislative measures to control drug costs.
These laws, and future state and federal healthcare reform measures may be adopted in the future, any of which may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, and vendors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other illegal activity by our current and any future employees, independent contractors, consultants, CMOs, and vendors. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless, and/or negligent conduct that fails to comply with FDA or other regulations, provide true, complete and accurate information to the FDA, EMA, and other comparable regulatory authorities, comply with manufacturing standards we may establish, comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately, or disclose unauthorized activities to us. If we obtain FDA approval of any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our potential exposure under these laws will increase significantly, and our costs associated with compliance with these laws are likely to increase. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in
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regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. It is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Off-label use or misuse of our product candidates may harm our reputation in the marketplace or result in injuries that lead to costly product liability suits.
If our product candidates are approved by the FDA, we may only promote or market our product candidates in a manner consistent with their FDA-approved labeling. We will train our marketing and sales force against promoting our product candidates for uses outside of the approved indications for use, known as “off-label uses.” We cannot, however, prevent a physician from using our product candidates off-label, when in the physician’s independent professional medical judgment he or she deems it appropriate. Furthermore, the use of our product candidates for indications other than those approved by the FDA may not effectively treat such conditions. Any such off-label use of our product candidates could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients. There may also be increased risk of injury to patients if physicians attempt to use our product candidates for these uses for which they are not approved, which could lead to product liability suits that might require significant financial and management resources and that could harm our reputation.
Inadequate funding for the FDA or other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
Disruptions at the FDA or other government agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, including as a result of reaching the debt ceiling, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
EU drug marketing and reimbursement regulations may materially affect our ability to market and receive coverage for our products in the EU Member States.
We intend to seek approval to market our product candidates in both the United States and in selected foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions for our product candidates, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions. In some foreign countries, particularly those in the European Union, the pricing of products is subject to governmental control and other market regulations which could put pressure on the pricing and usage of our product candidates. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after obtaining marketing approval of a product candidate. In addition, market acceptance and sales of our product candidates will depend significantly on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for our product candidates and may be affected by existing and future healthcare reform measures.
Much like the federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibition in the United States, the provision of benefits or advantages to physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply, order or use of medicinal products is also prohibited in the European Union. The provision of benefits or advantages to reward improper performance generally is typically governed by the national anti-bribery laws of EU Member States and the Bribery Act 2010 in the United Kingdom. Infringement of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment. EU Directive 2001/83/EC, which is the EU Directive governing medicinal products for human use, further provides that, where medicinal products are being promoted to persons qualified to prescribe or supply them, no gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind may be supplied, offered or promised to such persons unless they are inexpensive and relevant to the practice of medicine or pharmacy. This provision has been transposed into the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and so remains applicable in the United Kingdom despite its departure from the European Union.
Payments made to physicians in certain EU Member States must be publicly disclosed. Moreover, agreements with physicians often must be the subject of prior notification and approval by the physician’s employer, his or her competent professional
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organization and/or the regulatory authorities of the individual EU Member States. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes or professional codes of conduct, applicable in the EU Member States. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.
In addition, in some foreign countries, including some countries in the European Union, the proposed pricing for a product must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing product pricing and reimbursement vary widely from country to country. For example, some EU Member States have the option to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. Reference pricing used by various EU Member States and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced EU Member States, can further reduce prices. An EU Member State may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. In some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial or other studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of any of our product candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for biopharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally prices tend to be significantly lower. Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels or if reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, our revenues from sales and the potential profitability of any of our product candidates in those countries would be negatively affected.
We are subject to export and import controls, economic sanctions, and anti-corruption laws and regulations of the United States and other jurisdictions. We can face criminal liability and other serious consequences for violations of these laws and regulations, which can harm our business.
We are subject to export control and import laws and regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, U.S. Customs regulations, and various economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Export controls and trade sanctions laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit altogether the provision, sale, or supply of our products to certain governments, persons, entities, countries, and territories, including those that are the target of comprehensive sanctions or an embargo. We are also subject to anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, and other state and national anti-bribery laws in the countries in which we conduct activities. Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and prohibit companies and their employees, agents, contractors, and other partners from authorizing, promising, offering, or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or anything else of value to recipients in the public or private sector. The FCPA also requires public companies to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our employees, agents, contractors, and other partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have actual knowledge of such activities. Any violation of the laws and regulations described above may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties, imprisonment, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm and other consequences.
If we or any third-party manufacturer we engage now or in the future fail to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs or liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We and third-party manufacturers we engage now are, and any third-party manufacturer we may engage in the future will be, subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures and the handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste products. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties.
Although we maintain general liability insurance as well as workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in connection with our storage or disposal of biological, hazardous or radioactive materials.
In addition, we may incur substantial costs in order to comply with current or future environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. These current or future laws and regulations may impair our research, development or commercialization efforts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in substantial fines, penalties or other sanctions.
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Further, with respect to the operations of our current and any future third-party contract manufacturers, it is possible that if they fail to operate in compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations or properly dispose of wastes associated with our products, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, suffer reputational harm or experience a disruption in the manufacture and supply of our product candidates or products. In addition, our supply chain may be adversely impacted if any of our third-party contract manufacturers become subject to injunctions or other sanctions as a result of their non-compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
We depend on in-licensed intellectual property. If we fail to comply with our obligations under our intellectual property licenses with third parties, we could lose license rights that are important to our business.
We are a party to the Janssen License, which is a non-exclusive, fully paid up, and royalty-free intellectual property license agreement. In connection with our efforts to expand our pipeline of product candidates, we expect to enter into additional license agreements in the future. We have certain obligations under the Janssen License and expect that future license agreements may impose various diligence, milestone payment, royalty, insurance, and other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with these obligations, our licensors may have the right to terminate the relevant agreement, in which event we would not be able to develop or market the products covered by such licensed intellectual property, or to pursue other remedies.
We may not be able to obtain licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, or at all. Furthermore, if we lose intellectual property rights licensed under existing agreements or fail to obtain future licenses, we may be required to expend considerable time and resources to develop or license replacement technology. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable to develop or commercialize the affected proprietary technologies and product candidates, which could harm our business significantly.
If we or our licensors are unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for our product candidates, or if the scope of the patent protection obtained is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products similar or identical to our product candidates, and our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates may be adversely affected.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in the United States and other countries with respect to our product candidates, their respective components, formulations, combination therapies, methods used to manufacture them and methods of treatment that are important to our business. If we or our licensors do not adequately protect our or our licensors’ intellectual property rights, competitors may be able to erode or negate any competitive advantage we may have, which could harm our business and ability to achieve profitability. We and our licensors seek to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the United States and abroad related to our product candidates that are important to our business. We may in the future also license or purchase patent applications filed by others. If we or our licensors are unable to secure or maintain patent protection with respect to our product candidates and any proprietary product candidates and technology we develop, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially harmed.
If the scope of the patent protection we or our licensors obtain is not sufficiently broad, we may not be able to prevent others from developing and commercializing products and technology similar or identical to our product candidates or otherwise maintain a competitive advantage. The degree of patent protection we require to successfully compete in the marketplace may be unavailable or severely limited in some cases and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep any competitive advantage. We cannot provide any assurances that any of our or our licensors’ patents have, or that any of our or our licensors’ pending patent applications that mature into issued patents will include, claims with a scope sufficient to protect our product candidates or otherwise provide any competitive advantage. In addition, to the extent that we license intellectual property, we cannot make assurances that those licenses will remain in force.
Even if our owned and licensed patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent competitors from competing with us, or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. The scope of the invention claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued, and this scope can be reinterpreted after issuance. Any patents that eventually issue may be challenged, narrowed or invalidated by third parties. Consequently, we do not know whether any of our product candidates will be protectable or remain protected by valid and enforceable patent rights. Our competitors or other third parties may be able to circumvent our owned or licensed patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner.
The patent prosecution process is expensive and time consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. In addition, we may not pursue or obtain patent protection in all relevant markets. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Moreover, in some circumstances, we do not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications, or to maintain the patents, covering product candidates that we license from third parties and are reliant on our licensors. Therefore, we cannot be certain that these patents and applications will be prosecuted and enforced in a
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manner consistent with the best interests of our business. If such licensors fail to maintain such patents, or lose rights to those patents, the rights we have licensed may be reduced or eliminated.
Furthermore, patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years after it is filed. Various extensions may be available; however, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases, at all. Therefore, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to make the inventions claimed in our owned or licensed patents or pending patent applications, or that we or our licensors were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions.
The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual questions, and has in recent years been the subject of much litigation. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability, and commercial value of our and our licensors’ patent rights are highly uncertain. Our and our licensors’ pending and future patent applications may not result in patents being issued which protect our product candidates or which effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive products.
The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity, or enforceability, and our owned and licensed patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. There may be prior art of which we are not aware that may affect the validity or enforceability of a patent claim. There also may be prior art of which we are aware, but which we do not believe affects the validity or enforceability of a claim, which may, nonetheless, ultimately be found to affect the validity or enforceability of a claim. We or our licensors may in the future, become subject to a third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art, opposition, derivation, revocation, re-examination, post-grant and inter partes review, or interference proceeding and other similar proceedings challenging our patent rights or the patent rights of others in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) or other foreign patent office. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or freedom to operate or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated, or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our product candidates.
Furthermore, given the amount of time required for the development, testing, and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. As a result, our owned and licensed patent portfolio may not provide us with sufficient rights to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to our product candidates.
In addition, we rely on certain of our licensors to prosecute patent applications and maintain patents and otherwise protect the intellectual property we license from them and may continue to do so in the future. We have limited control over these activities or any other intellectual property that may be related to our in-licensed intellectual property. For example, we cannot be certain that such activities by these licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights. We have limited control over the manner in which our licensors initiate an infringement proceeding against a third-party infringer of the intellectual property rights or defend certain of the intellectual property that is licensed to us. It is possible that any licensors’ infringement proceeding or defense activities may be less vigorous than had we conducted them ourselves.
Moreover, some of our owned and in-licensed patents and patent applications may in the future be co-owned with third parties. If we are unable to obtain an exclusive license to any such third-party co-owners’ interest in such patents or patent applications, such co-owners may be able to license their rights to other third parties, including our competitors, and our competitors could market competing products and technology. In addition, we or our licensors may need the cooperation of any such co-owners of our owned and in-licensed patents in order to enforce such patents against third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us or our licensors. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.
If our efforts to protect the proprietary nature of the intellectual property related to our product candidates are not adequate, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.
We rely upon a combination of patents, confidentiality agreements, trade secret protection and license agreements to protect the intellectual property related to our product candidates. Any disclosure to or misappropriation by third parties of our confidential proprietary information could enable competitors to quickly duplicate or surpass our technological achievements, thus eroding our competitive position in our market. We, or any partners, collaborators, or licensors, may fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made in the course of development and commercialization activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them. Therefore, we may miss potential opportunities to strengthen our patent position.
It is possible that defects of form in the preparation or filing of our or our licensors’ patents or patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, for example with respect to proper priority claims, inventorship, claim scope, or requests for patent term adjustments. If we or our partners, collaborators, or licensors fail to establish, maintain or protect such patents and other intellectual property rights, such rights may be reduced or eliminated. If our partners, collaborators, or licensors are not fully cooperative or
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disagree with us as to the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of any patent rights, such patent rights could be compromised. If there are material defects in the form, preparation, prosecution, or enforcement of our patents or patent applications, such patents may be invalid and/or unenforceable, and such applications may never result in valid, enforceable patents. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an adverse impact on our business.
We anticipate additional patent applications will be filed both in the United States and in other countries, as appropriate. However, we cannot predict:
Additionally, we cannot be certain that the claims in our pending patent applications covering our product candidates and their methods of use will be considered patentable by the USPTO, or by patent offices in foreign countries, or that the claims in any of our issued patents will be considered valid or patentable by courts in the United States or foreign countries. Method of use patents protect the use of a product for the specified method. These types of patents do not prevent a competitor from making and marketing a product that is identical to our product for an indication that is outside the scope of the patented method. Moreover, even if competitors do not actively promote their product for our targeted indications, physicians may prescribe these products “off-label.” Although off-label prescriptions may, but not necessarily, contribute to a finding of infringement of method of use patents, the practice is common and such infringement is difficult to prevent or prosecute.
Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
We cannot be certain that an allowed patent application will become an issued patent because there may be events that cause withdrawal of the allowance of a patent application. For example, after a patent application has been allowed, but prior to being issued, material that could be relevant to patentability may be identified. In such circumstances, the applicant may pull the application from allowance in order for the USPTO to review the application in view of the new material. We cannot be certain that the USPTO will issue the application in view of the new material. Periodic maintenance fees on any issued patent are due to be paid to the USPTO and foreign countries may require the payment of maintenance fees or patent annuities during the lifetime of a patent application and/or any subsequent patent that issues from the application. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other similar provisions during the patent application process and following the issuance of a patent. While an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application. Such noncompliance can result in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. Such an event could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Issued patents covering our product candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or the USPTO.
If we or one of our licensing partners initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our product candidates, as applicable, is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace, and there are various grounds upon which a third party can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. Third parties may also raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, inter partes review, post grant review and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (such as opposition proceedings). Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment to our or our licensors’ patents in such a way that they no longer cover our product candidates. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which
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we, our patent counsel, our licensors and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability, or if we are otherwise unable to adequately protect our or our licensors’ rights, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our product candidates. Such a loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business and our ability to commercialize or license our technology and product candidates.
Changes to patent law in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our product candidates.
As is the case with other biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry involves both technological and legal complexity, and is therefore costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry involve both technological and legal complexity and is therefore costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. Recent patent reform legislation in the U.S. and other countries, including the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the “Leahy-Smith Act”), signed into law on September 16, 2011, could increase those uncertainties and costs. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and provide more efficient and cost-effective avenues for competitors to challenge the validity of patents. In addition, the Leahy-Smith Act has transformed the U.S. patent system into a “first-to-file” system. The first-to-file provisions, however, only became effective on March 16, 2013. Accordingly, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could make it more difficult to obtain patent protection for our inventions and increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Moreover, recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our or our licensors’ ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our or our licensors’ ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our or our licensors’ existing patents and patents that we or our licensors might obtain in the future. We cannot predict how future decisions by the courts, Congress or the USPTO may impact the value of our or our licensors’ patents. Similarly, any adverse changes in the patent laws of other jurisdictions could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Changes in the laws and regulations governing patents in other jurisdictions could similarly have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain and effectively enforce our patent rights.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
We may not be able to pursue patent coverage of our product candidates in certain countries outside of the United States. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States may be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. The breadth and strength of our or our licensors’ patents issued in foreign jurisdictions or regions may not be the same as the corresponding patents issued in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our or our licensors’ inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our or our licensors’ inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and further, may export otherwise infringing products to certain territories where we have patent protection, but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our product candidates and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protections, particularly those relating to biotechnology and biopharmaceutical products. This difficulty with enforcing patents could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our or our licensors’ patents or marketing of competing products otherwise generally in violation of our proprietary rights. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our or our licensors’ patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly, put our or our licensors’ patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
If we do not obtain patent term extension for any of our current product candidates, our business may be materially harmed.
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Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of any FDA marketing approval of our current product candidates, one or more of our or our licensors’ U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (the “Hatch-Waxman Amendments”). The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent extension term of up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent may be extended and only those claims covering the approved drug, a method for using it, or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. However, we may not be granted an extension because of, for example, failing to exercise due diligence during the testing phase or regulatory review process, failing to apply for a patent extension within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents, or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we believe we are entitled to, our competitors may obtain approval of competing products sooner than we would expect, and our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially harmed.
Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing or otherwise misappropriating their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.
Our commercial success depends upon our ability and the ability of our collaborators to commercialize, develop, manufacture, market, and sell our product candidates without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. We have yet to conduct comprehensive freedom to operate searches to determine whether we would infringe patents issued to third parties. We may become party to, or threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our product candidates, including interference proceedings before the USPTO. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue developing and marketing our product candidates. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties could have a similar negative impact on our business.
If a third party alleges that we infringe its intellectual property rights, we may face a number of issues, including, but not limited to:
Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization. Patents issued in the United States by law enjoy a presumption of validity that can be rebutted only with evidence that is “clear and convincing,” a heightened standard of proof. There may be issued third-party patents of which we are currently unaware with claims to compositions, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods for treatment related to the use or manufacture of our product candidates. Patent applications can take many years to issue. There may be currently pending patent applications which may later result in issued patents that may be infringed by our product candidates. Moreover, we may fail to identify relevant patents or incorrectly conclude that a patent is invalid, not enforceable, exhausted, or not infringed by our activities. If any third-party patents, held now or obtained in the future by a third party, were found by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover the manufacturing process of our product candidates, constructs or molecules used in or formed during the manufacturing process, or any final product or methods use of the product, the
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holders of any such patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize the product unless we obtained a license under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or they are finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. Similarly, if any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover any aspect of our formulations, any combination therapies or patient selection methods, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the product unless we obtained a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize our product candidates may be impaired or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business. Even if we obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize our product candidates.
Parties making claims against us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize our product candidates. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, could involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing product candidates, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need or may choose to obtain licenses from third parties to advance our research or allow commercialization of our product candidates. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be unable to further develop and commercialize our product candidates, which could harm our business significantly.
We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and time consuming.
In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours or our licensors’ is invalid or unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing. Defense against these assertions, non-infringement, invalidity or unenforceability regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure.
Post-grant proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by the USPTO may be brought to determine the validity or priority of inventions with respect to our patents or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could result in a loss of our current patent rights and could require us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Litigation or post-grant proceedings may result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets or confidential information, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect those rights as fully as those within the United States.
Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, our licensors may have rights to file and prosecute such claims, and we are reliant on them.
Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.
Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
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We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our patents and other intellectual property.
We generally enter into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, and contractors. These agreements generally provide that inventions conceived by the party in the course of rendering services to us will be our exclusive property. However, those agreements may not be honored and may not effectively assign intellectual property rights to us. Moreover, there may be some circumstances where we are unable to negotiate for such ownership rights. Disputes regarding ownership or inventorship of intellectual property can also arise in other contexts, such as collaborations and sponsored research. If we are subject to a dispute challenging our rights in or to patents or other intellectual property, such a dispute could be expensive and time-consuming. If we were unsuccessful, we could lose valuable rights in intellectual property that we regard as our own.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to seeking patents for some of our product candidates, we also rely on trade secrets, including unpatented know-how, technology, and other proprietary information, to maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect these trade secrets, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have access to them, such as our employees, corporate collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, contract manufacturers, consultants, advisors, and other third parties. We also enter into confidentiality and invention or patent assignment agreements with our employees and consultants. Despite these efforts, any of these parties may breach the agreements and disclose our proprietary information, including our trade secrets, and we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such breaches. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, expensive, and time consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. If we are unable to prevent unauthorized material disclosure of our intellectual property to third parties, we may not be able to establish or maintain a competitive advantage in our market, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. If we choose to go to court to stop a third party from using any of our trade secrets, we may incur substantial costs. These lawsuits may consume our time and other resources even if we are successful. In addition, some courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. As a result, we may encounter significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property both in the United States and abroad. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor, we would have no right to prevent them from using that technology or information to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed to or independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position would be harmed.
We may be subject to claims that we wrongfully hired an employee from a competitor or that our employees have misappropriated intellectual property, including trade secrets of their former employers.
Many of our employees were previously employed at, or may have previously provided or may be currently providing consulting services to, universities or other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. We could in the future be subject to claims that we or our employees have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed alleged trade secrets or other confidential information of former employers or competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees do not use the proprietary information or know how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we caused an employee to breach the terms of his or her non-competition or non-solicitation agreement, or that we or these employees have, inadvertently or otherwise, used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such employee’s former employer or competitor. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected.
Our trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented or declared generic or determined to be infringing on other marks. We rely on both registration and common law protection for our trademarks. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names or may be forced to stop using these names, which we need for name recognition by potential partners or customers in our markets of interest. During the trademark registration process, we may receive Office Actions from the USPTO objecting to the registration of our trademark. Although we would be given an opportunity to respond to those objections, we may be unable to overcome such rejections. In addition, in the USPTO and in comparable agencies in many foreign jurisdictions, third parties are given an opportunity to oppose pending trademark applications and/or to seek the cancellation of registered trademarks. Opposition or cancellation proceedings may be filed against our trademarks, and our trademarks may not survive such proceedings. If we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, we may not be able to compete effectively and our business may be adversely affected.
European patents and patent applications could be challenged in the recently created Unified Patent Court for the European Union.
Our or our licensors’ European patents and patent applications could be challenged in the recently created Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) for the European Union. We may decide to opt out our European patents and patent applications from the UPC. However, if certain formalities and requirements are not met, our European patents and patent applications could be challenged for
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non-compliance and brought under the jurisdiction of the UPC. We cannot be certain that our or our licensors’ European patents and patent applications will avoid falling under the jurisdiction of the UPC, if we decide to opt out of the UPC. Under the UPC, a granted European patent would be valid and enforceable in numerous European countries. A successful invalidity challenge to a European patent under the UPC would result in loss of patent protection in those European countries. Accordingly, a single proceeding under the UPC could result in the partial or complete loss of patent protection in numerous European countries, rather than in each validated European country separately as such patents always have been adjudicated. Such a loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business and our ability to commercialize our technology and product candidates and, resultantly, on our business, financial condition, prospects and results of operations
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
An active trading market for our common stock may not be sustained.
An active or liquid market in our common stock may not be sustained. The lack of an active market may impair the value of our stockholders’ shares, and our stockholders’ ability to sell their shares at the desired time and price. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our common stock and our ability to enter into strategic collaborations or acquire other companies, products, or technologies by using our common stock as consideration.
The price of our common stock may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for our stockholders.
The trading price of our common stock may be volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control, including limited trading volume. In addition to the factors discussed in this section, these factors include:
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In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for biopharmaceutical companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. This type of litigation, if instituted, could result in substantial costs, reputational harm and a diversion of management’s attention and resources.
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below expectations.
Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate significantly, due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and may be difficult to predict, including:
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The cumulative effects of these factors could result in large fluctuations and unpredictability in our quarterly and annual operating results. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. Investors should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance.
This variability and unpredictability could also result in our failing to meet the expectations of industry or financial analysts or investors for any period. If our future revenue or operating results fall below the expectations of analysts or investors or below any forecasts we may provide to the market, or if any forecasts we provide to the market are below the expectations of analysts or investors, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Such a stock price decline could occur even when we have met any previously publicly stated revenue or earnings guidance we may provide.
If securities or industry analysts do not continue to publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price may decline. Similarly, if one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which might cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.
Our executive officers, directors, principal stockholders and their respective affiliates own a significant percentage of our common stock and have the ability to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.
Our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates collectively own a significant percentage of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if acting together, have significant influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our organizational documents, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and any other significant corporate transaction. In addition, certain of our principal stockholders, including Third Rock Ventures V, L.P. and ARCH Venture Fund XII, L.P., have designated certain members of our board of directors. The interests of these stockholders may not be the same as or may even conflict with the interests of our other stockholders. For example, these stockholders could delay or prevent a change of control of our company, even if such a change of control would benefit our other stockholders, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our company or our assets and might affect the prevailing market price of our common stock. The significant concentration of stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could cause our common stock price to fall.
Our common stock price could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of common stock or the perception that these sales could occur, which might also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
As of June 30, 2024, we had 35,576,457 shares of common stock outstanding. Shares of unvested restricted common stock will become available for sale immediately upon the vesting of such shares, as applicable, and the expiration of any applicable market stand-off or lock-up agreements. Shares issued upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to future awards that may be granted under our equity incentive plans or pursuant to future awards granted under those plans will become available for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of applicable vesting schedules, any applicable market stand-off and lock-up agreements, and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Certain holders of our common stock have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering the sale of their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders, until such shares can otherwise be sold without restriction under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or until the rights terminate pursuant to the terms of the stockholder agreements between us and such holders. We have registered the offer and sale of all shares of common stock that we may issue under our equity compensation plans, and those shares are available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us or lock-up restrictions. Once we register the offer and sale of shares for the holders of registration rights, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to the lock-up agreements.
In addition, in the future, we may issue additional shares of common stock, or other equity or debt securities convertible into common stock, in connection with a financing, acquisition, employee arrangement, or otherwise. Any such issuance could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and could cause the price of our common stock to decline.
Our issuance of additional capital stock in connection with financings, acquisitions, investments, our stock incentive plans or otherwise will dilute all other stockholders.
We expect to issue additional capital stock in the future that will result in dilution to all other stockholders. We expect to grant equity awards to employees, directors and consultants under our stock incentive plans. We may also raise capital through equity financings in the future. As part of our business strategy, we may acquire or make investments in complementary companies, products
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or technologies and issue equity securities to pay for any such acquisition or investment. Any such issuances of additional capital stock may cause stockholders to experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per share value of our common stock to decline.
We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock and, consequently, our stockholders’ ability to achieve a return on their investment will depend on appreciation of the value of our common stock.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. As a result, any investment return on our common stock will depend upon increases in the value for our common stock, which is not certain.
Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of our company, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current directors and members of management.
Our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. In addition, because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Among other things, these provisions:
Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
Our amended and restated bylaws designate certain courts as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or employees.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any state law claims for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of, or a claim based on, fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers, and employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (including the interpretation, validity or enforceability thereof) or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine (the “Delaware Forum Provision”). The Delaware Forum Provision does not apply to any causes of action arising under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the U.S. shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the “Federal Forum Provision”). In addition, our amended and restated bylaws provide that any person or entity
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purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our common stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions; provided, however, that stockholders cannot and will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
The Delaware Forum Provision and the Federal Forum Provision in our amended and restated bylaws may impose additional litigation costs on stockholders in pursuing any such claims. Additionally, the forum selection clauses in our amended and restated bylaws may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that they find favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. In addition, while the Delaware Supreme Court and other state courts have upheld the validity of federal forum selection provisions purporting to require claims under the Securities Act or Exchange Act be brought in federal court, there is uncertainty as to whether other courts will enforce our Federal Forum Provision. If the Federal Forum Provision is found to be unenforceable, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters. The Federal Forum Provision may also impose additional litigation costs on stockholders who assert that the provision is not enforceable or invalid. The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the federal district courts of the U.S. may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments may be more or less favorable to us than our stockholders.
We may not be able to continue to satisfy the listing requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).
We must meet certain financial and liquidity criteria to maintain our common stock’s listing on Nasdaq. If we fail to meet any of Nasdaq’s listing standards, our common stock may be delisted. In addition, our board of directors may determine that the cost of maintaining our listing on a national securities exchange outweighs the benefits of such listing. A delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq may materially impair our stockholders’ ability to buy and sell our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our common stock. The delisting of our common stock could significantly impair our ability to raise capital and the value of our stockholders’ investment.
Other General Risks
Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, stock price, and results of operations.
The global credit and financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and disruptions (including as a result of actual or perceived changes in interest rates, inflation and macroeconomic uncertainties), which has included severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, high inflation, uncertainty about economic stability, global supply chain disruptions, and increases in unemployment rates. The financial markets and the global economy may also be adversely affected by the current or anticipated impact of political uncertainty, including the 2024 U.S. presidential election, military conflicts, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, terrorism, or other geopolitical events. Sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other countries in response to such conflicts, including the one in Ukraine, may also continue to adversely impact the financial markets and the global economy, and any economic countermeasures by the affected countries or others could exacerbate market and economic instability. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including a decrease in the demand for our drug candidates and in our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. For example, there has been proposed U.S. legislation that may restrict the ability of U.S. biopharmaceutical companies to purchase services or products from, or otherwise collaborate with, certain Chinese biotechnology companies of concern without losing the ability to contract with, or otherwise receive funding from, the U.S. government. We continue to assess the legislation as it develops to determine whether it could have an effect on our contractual relationships. Furthermore, any disruptions to our supply chain as a result of unfavorable global economic conditions, including due to geopolitical conflicts or public health crises, could negatively impact the timely execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials. In addition, current inflationary trends in the global economy may impact salaries and wages, costs of goods and transportation expenses, among other things, and recent and potential future disruptions in access to bank deposits or lending commitments due to bank failures may create market and economic instability. We cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the foregoing, and the current economic climate and financial market conditions generally, could adversely impact our business.
We, or the third parties upon whom we depend, may be adversely affected by natural disasters, public health crises or other business interruptions and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.
Natural disasters or public health crises could severely disrupt our operations, and have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage, public health crisis or other event occurred that prevented us from conducting our clinical trials, releasing clinical trial results or delaying our ability to obtain regulatory approval
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for our product candidates, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time.
We are eligible to be treated as an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” and our election of reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies may make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (“JOBS Act”). For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, as an emerging growth company, we are only required to provide two years of audited financial statements. We could be an emerging growth company until as late as December 31, 2029, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” which occurs when the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, or if we have total annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more during any fiscal year before that time, in which cases we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31, or if we issue more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during any three-year period before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company immediately. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include:
Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we could still qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow us to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our share price may be more volatile.
In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can also take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and therefore we are not subject to the same requirements to adopt new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which require, among other things, that we file with the SEC annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules subsequently adopted by the SEC and The Nasdaq Global Select Market to implement provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, impose significant requirements, including requiring establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial reporting controls and changes in corporate governance practices. Further, in July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted. There are significant corporate governance and executive compensation related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that require the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations in these areas such as “say on pay” and proxy access. Recent legislation permits emerging growth companies to implement many of these requirements over a longer period and up to five years after completion of a
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company’s IPO. Stockholder activism, the current political environment and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate.
The rules and regulations applicable to public companies have substantially increased, and will continue to increase, our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly. If these requirements divert the attention of our management and personnel from other business concerns, they could have an adverse effect on our business. These increased costs will continue to decrease our net income or increase our net loss, and may require us to reduce costs in other areas of our business or increase the prices of our products or services. For example, these rules and regulations make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. We cannot predict or estimate the amount or timing of additional costs we may incur to respond to these requirements. The impact of these requirements could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors, our board committees or as executive officers.
If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, stockholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.
Ensuring that we have adequate internal financial and accounting controls and procedures in place so that we can produce accurate financial statements on a timely basis is a costly and time-consuming effort that needs to be reevaluated frequently. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We have begun the process of documenting, reviewing and improving our internal controls and procedures for compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404, or any subsequent testing by our independent registered public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.
We are required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis and our management is required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. However, for as long as we are an emerging growth company or a non-accelerated filer, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We could remain an emerging growth company until as late as December 31, 2029. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting could lead to restatements of our financial statements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.
Our disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.
We are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. We must design our disclosure controls and procedures to reasonably assure that information we must disclose in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, and recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. We believe that any disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well-conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. For example, our directors or executive officers could inadvertently fail to disclose a new relationship or arrangement causing us to fail to make a required related party transaction disclosure. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by an unauthorized override of the controls. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes may be limited.
As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $6.0 million of federal net operating losses (“NOLs”). Federal NOLs generated in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal NOL carryforwards in a taxable year is limited to 80% of our taxable income in such year. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $1.6 million of state NOLs. Of the state NOLs, some are of indefinite life, but most expire at various dates, beginning in 2042. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $1.5 million of federal research and development tax credit carryforwards. Federal tax credit carryforwards expire at various dates, beginning in 2042. As of December 31, 2023, we had approximately $0.5 million of state research and development tax credit carryforwards. The state tax credits, which have various carryforward rules, begin to expire in 2037.
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Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by “5 percent shareholders” over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOLs and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research and development tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. A corporation that experiences an ownership change will generally be subject to an annual limitation on the use of its pre-ownership change NOLs equal to the value of the corporation immediately before the ownership change, multiplied by the long-term tax-exempt rate (subject to certain adjustments). We may have experienced ownership changes in the past and may experience ownership changes in the future. There is also a risk that due to regulatory changes, such as suspensions on the use of NOLs by federal or state taxing authorities or other unforeseen reasons, portions of our existing NOLs could expire or otherwise be unavailable to reduce future income tax liabilities. As a result, our ability to use our pre-change NOLs and tax credits to offset future taxable income, if any, or taxes could be subject to limitations. Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply. As a result, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our NOLs and tax credits.
Changes in tax law could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, regulations and administrative guidance are subject to change as a result of the legislative process and review and interpretation by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Treasury Department and other taxing authorities. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application), including with respect to net operating losses and research and development tax credits, could adversely affect us or holders of our common stock. In recent years, many such changes have been made and changes are likely to continue to occur in the future. Future changes in tax laws could have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations. We urge investors to consult with their legal and tax advisers regarding the implications of potential changes in tax laws on an investment in our common stock.
Clinical trial and product liability lawsuits against us could divert our resources and could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to limit commercialization of any products that we may develop.
We face an inherent risk of clinical trial and product liability exposure related to the testing of our product candidates in clinical trials, and we will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell any products that we develop. While we currently have no products that have been approved for commercial sale, the ongoing, planned and future use of product candidates by us in clinical trials, and the sale of any approved products in the future, may expose us to liability claims. These claims might be made by patients that use the product, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling such products. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against claims that our product candidates or products caused injuries, we will incur substantial liabilities. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
Although we currently hold clinical trial liability insurance, we will need to obtain and maintain additional insurance coverage as we expand our clinical trials or if we commence commercialization of our product candidates. Insurance coverage is increasingly expensive. We may not be able to obtain and maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in an amount adequate to satisfy any liability that may arise. If a successful clinical trial or product liability claim or series of claims is brought against us for uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities, our assets may not be sufficient to cover such claims and our business operations could be impaired.
We may become involved in litigation that could divert management’s attention and harm our business, and insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover all costs and damages.
From time to time we may be subject to litigation claims through the ordinary course of our business operations regarding, but not limited to, securities litigation, employment matters, security of patient and employee personal data, contractual relations with collaborators and licensors and intellectual property rights. In the past, securities class action litigation has often followed certain significant business transactions, such as the sale of a company or announcement of any other strategic transaction, the announcement
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of negative events, such as negative results from clinical trials, or periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. These events may also result in or be concurrent with investigations by the SEC. We may be exposed to such litigation or investigation even if no wrongdoing occurred. Litigation and investigations are usually expensive and divert management’s attention and resources, which could adversely affect our business and cash resources and our ability to consummate a potential strategic transaction or the ultimate value our stockholders receive in any such transaction.
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
(a) Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
None.
(b) Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering and Concurrent Private Placement
On June 6, 2024, our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-279486) for our IPO was declared effective by the SEC, pursuant to which we issued and sold an aggregate of 9,200,000 shares of common stock (inclusive of 1,200,000 shares of common stock sold pursuant to the underwriters' exercise of their option to purchase additional shares) at a public offering price of $17.00 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $156.4 million and aggregate net cash proceeds of $140.9 million, after deducting approximately $10.9 million in underwriting discounts and commissions and approximately $4.6 million in other offering costs. Concurrently with the IPO, we also completed a private placement, in which we issued and sold an aggregate of 1,058,824 shares of our common stock at the IPO price to Sofinnova Venture Partners, XI, L.P. and affiliates of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, including certain investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. The aggregate cash purchase price of the private placement shares was $18.0 million, resulting in aggregate net cash proceeds of $16.7 million, after deducting approximately $1.3 million in placement agent fees and other private placement costs.
Our IPO and concurrent private placement closed on June 10, 2024. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated acted as joint book-running managers for the offering and placement agents for the concurrent private placement.
In connection with our IPO and concurrent private placement, no payments for such expenses were made directly or indirectly to (i) any of our officers or directors or their associates, (ii) any persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities or (iii) any of our affiliates.
There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our initial public offering and concurrent private placement as described in our final prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act on June 7, 2024.
(c) Issuer Repurchases of Securities
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
(a) On August 6, 2024, Terry-Ann Burrell, a member of our Board, provided notice of her resignation from the Board as a Class II director and all committees thereof, effective on August 8, 2024 immediately following the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC. Her resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to our operations, policies or practices.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, none of our directors or officers
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Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
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Description |
3.1 |
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3.2 |
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4.1 |
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4.2 |
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10.1 |
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10.2# |
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10.3# |
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10.4# |
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10.5# |
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10.6# |
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10.7#+* |
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10.8#+* |
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Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Troy Ignelzi, effective as of June 10, 2024. |
10.9#+* |
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Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Cheryl Gault, effective as of June 10, 2024. |
31.1* |
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31.2* |
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32.1** |
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101.INS* |
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Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
101.SCH* |
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Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase Documents |
104* |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101) |
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
# Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement
+ Certain exhibits to these agreements have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The registrant will furnish copies of any of the exhibits to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
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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.
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Rapport Therapeutics, Inc. |
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Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Abraham N. Ceesay, M.B.A. |
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Chief Executive Officer and Director |
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Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
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Troy Ignelzi |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit 10.7
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made between Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Abraham N. Ceesay (the “Executive”) and is effective as of the closing of the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Effective Date”). Except with respect to the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents (each as defined below), this Agreement supersedes in all respects all prior agreements between the Executive and the Company regarding the subject matter herein, including without limitation (i) the Offer Letter between the Executive and the Company dated December 12, 2022 (the “Prior Agreement”), and (ii) any other offer letter, employment agreement or severance agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive and the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company on the new terms and conditions contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment.
(a) Term. The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall be employed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing until such employment is terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof (the “Term”). The Executive’s employment with the Company shall continue to be “at will,” meaning that the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or the Executive at any time and for any reason subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Executive shall devote the Executive’s full working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may serve on other boards of directors, with the approval of the Board, or engage in religious, charitable or other community activities as long as such services and activities do not interfere with the Executive’s performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company.
2. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. The Executive’s initial base salary shall be paid at the rate of $628,000 per year. The Executive’s base salary shall be subject to periodic review by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The base salary in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Base Salary.” The Base Salary shall be payable in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s usual payroll practices for its executive officers.
(b) Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be eligible to receive cash incentive compensation as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to time. The Executive’s initial target annual incentive compensation shall be 55 percent of the Executive’s Base Salary. The target annual incentive compensation in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Target Bonus.” The actual amount of the Executive’s annual incentive compensation, if any, shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee, subject to the terms of any applicable incentive compensation plan that may be in effect from time to time. Except as may be provided by the Board or the Compensation Committee or as may otherwise be set forth in the applicable incentive compensation plan the Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such incentive compensation is paid in order to earn or receive any annual incentive compensation.
(c) Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive during the Term in performing services hereunder, in accordance with the policies and procedures then in effect and established by the Company for its executives.
(d) Other Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans in effect from time to time, subject to the terms of such plans.
(e) Paid Time Off. The Executive shall be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s applicable paid time off policy for executives, as may be in effect from time to time.
(f) Equity. The equity awards held by the Executive shall continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable equity plan and/or award agreement(s) governing the terms of such equity awards (collectively, the “Equity Documents”); provided, however, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Documents, Section 6(a)(ii) of this Agreement shall apply in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason in either event within the Change in Control Period (as such terms are defined below).
(g) Sign-On Bonus Repayment. The Executive previously received a one-time signing bonus of $250,000, less applicable tax-related deductions and withholdings (the “Sign-On Bonus”) in connection with the commencement of the Executive’s employment with the Company. In the event the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive resigns without Good Reason (as such terms are defined below), in either case, prior to the third anniversary of the date the Executive commenced employment with the Company, the Executive will repay within 30 days after the Date of Termination (as defined below) the applicable percentage of the Sign-On Bonus as follows:
Length of Service |
Percentage of Sign-On Bonus Repayment |
At least 12 months but less than 24 months |
50 % |
At least 24 months but less than 36 months |
25 % |
3. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated without any breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon death.
(b) Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment if the Executive is disabled and unable to perform or expected to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period. If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled so as to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions with or without reasonable accommodation, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to the Company a certification in reasonable detail by a physician selected by the Company to whom the Executive or the Executive’s guardian has no reasonable objection as to whether the Executive is so disabled or how long such disability is expected to continue, and such certification shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue. The Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable request of the physician in connection with such certification. If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit such certification, the Company’s determination of such issue shall be binding on the Executive. Nothing in this Section 3(b) shall be construed to waive the Executive’s rights, if any, under existing law including, without limitation, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following:
(i) the Executive’s statements or acts with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other third parties with which such entity does business that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company;
(ii) the Executive’s commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud;
(iii) the Executive’s failure to perform his or her assigned duties and responsibilities to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board which failure continues, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, for thirty (30) days after written notice given to the Executive describing in reasonable detail such failure;
(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or insubordination with respect to the Company that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company; or
(v) the Executive’s violation of any (A) material provision of any agreement(s) between the Executive and the Company or any Company policies including, without limitation, agreements relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment of inventions or (B) material Company policies related to ethics or workplace conduct.
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(d) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement which does not constitute a termination for Cause under Section 3(c) and does not result from the death or disability of the Executive under Section 3(a) or (b) shall be deemed a termination without Cause.
(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder at any time for any reason, including but not limited to, Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has completed all steps of the Good Reason Process (hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive’s consent (each, a “Good Reason Condition”):
(i) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Company’s financial performance similarly affecting all or substantially all senior management employees of the Company
(ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s duties, authority, or responsibilities following a Change in Control;
(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive provides services to the Company; or
(iv) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.
The “Good Reason Process” consists of the following steps:
(i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a Good Reason Condition has occurred;
(ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason Condition within 60 days of the first occurrence of such condition;
(iii) the Executive cooperates in good faith with the Company’s efforts, for a period of not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the Good Reason Condition;
(iv) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason Condition continues to exist at the end of the Cure Period; and
(v) the Executive terminates employment within 60 days after the end of the Cure Period.
If the Company cures the Good Reason Condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.
4. Matters related to Termination.
(a) Notice of Termination. Except for termination as specified in Section 3(a), any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or any such termination by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon.
(b) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by death, the date of death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated on account of disability under Section 3(b) or by the Company for Cause under Section 3(c), the date on which Notice of Termination is given; (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause under Section 3(d), the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or the date otherwise specified by the Company in the Notice of Termination; (iv) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) other than for Good Reason, 30 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) for Good Reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given after the end of the Cure Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive gives a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the Date of Termination and such acceleration shall not result in a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Accrued Obligations. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or to the Executive’s authorized representative or estate) (i) any Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination and, if applicable, any accrued but unused vacation through the Date of Termination; (ii) unpaid expense reimbursements (subject to, and in accordance with, Section 2(c) of this Agreement); and (iii) any vested benefits the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company through the Date of Termination, which vested benefits shall be paid and/or provided in accordance with the terms of such employee benefit plans (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).
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(d) Resignation of All Other Positions. To the extent applicable, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all officer and board member positions that the Executive holds with the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries and affiliates upon the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason. The Executive shall execute any documents in reasonable form as may be requested to confirm or effectuate any such resignations.
5. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason Outside the Change in Control Period. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), in each case outside of the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to (i) the Executive signing a separation agreement and release in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company, which shall include, without limitation, a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement, a reaffirmation of all of the Executive’s Continuing Obligations (as defined below), and, in the Company’s sole discretion, a one-year post-employment noncompetition agreement, and shall provide that if the Executive breaches any of the Continuing Obligations, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease (the “Separation Agreement”), and (ii) the Separation Agreement becoming irrevocable, all within 60 days after the Date of Termination (or such shorter period as set forth in the Separation Agreement), which shall include a seven (7) business day revocation period:
(a) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Base Salary (the “Severance Amount”); and
(b) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under Section 5, to the extent taxable, shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over twelve (12) months commencing within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments, to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), shall begin to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period; provided, further, that the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Date of Termination. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
6. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason within the Change in Control Period. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply in lieu of, and expressly supersede, the provisions of Section 5 if (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated either (a) by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), and (ii) the Date of Termination is within the Change in Control Period. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) in no event will the Executive be entitled to severance pay and benefits under both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement, and (ii) if the Company has commenced providing severance pay and benefits to the Executive under Section 5 prior to the date that the Executive becomes eligible to receive severance pay and benefits under this Section 6, the severance pay and benefits previously provided to the Covered Executive under Section 5 shall reduce the severance pay and benefits to be provided under this Section 6. These provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect after the Change in Control Period.
(a) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d) or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e) and in each case the Date of Termination occurs within the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to the signing of a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement (the
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“Release”) by the Executive and the Release becoming fully effective, all within the time frame set forth in the Release but in no event more than 60 days after the Date of Termination:
(i) the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of (A) the Executive’s then-current Base Salary (or the Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) plus (B) the Executive’s Target Bonus for the then-current year (or the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) (the “Change in Control Payment”); and
(ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable option agreement or other stock-based award agreement, all stock options and other stock-based awards held by the Executive that are subject solely to time-based vesting (the “Time-Based Equity Awards”) shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable or nonforfeitable as of the later of (i) the Date of Termination (or, if later, the Change in Control) or (ii) the effective date of the Release (the “Accelerated Vesting Date”), provided that in order to effectuate the accelerated vesting contemplated by this subsection, the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards that would otherwise terminate or be forfeited on the Date of Termination will be delayed until the earlier of (A) the later of the effective date of the Release or the date of the Change in Control (at which time acceleration will occur), or (B) the earlier of the date that the Release can no longer become fully effective or, to the extent the Date of Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, the date that is three (3) months following the Date of Termination if a Change in Control has not been consummated on or prior to such date (at which time the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards will terminate or be forfeited). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no additional vesting of the Time-Based Equity Awards shall occur during the period between the Date of Termination and the Accelerated Vesting Date; and
(iii) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under COBRA, the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under this Section 6(a), to the extent taxable, shall be paid or commence to be paid within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall be paid or commence to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period.
(b) Additional Limitation.
(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the Code, and the applicable regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be $1.00 less than the amount at which the Executive becomes subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall only occur if it would result in the Executive receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than the Executive would receive if the Aggregate Payments were not subject to such reduction. In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction that is subject to Section 280G of the Code: (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (2) cash payments subject to Section 409A of the Code; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c).
(ii) For purposes of this Section 6(b), the “After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and employment taxes imposed on the Executive as a result of the Executive’s receipt of the Aggregate Payments. For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual taxation in each
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applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.
(iii) The determination as to whether a reduction in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or the Executive. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Change in Control” shall mean a “Sale Event” as defined in the Company’s 2024 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(ii) “Change in Control Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date that is three months prior to a Change in Control and ending on the 12 month anniversary of such Change in Control.
7. Section 409A.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement or otherwise on account of the Executive’s separation from service would be considered deferred compensation otherwise subject to the 20 percent additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (A) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (B) the Executive’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule.
(b) All in-kind benefits provided and expenses eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement shall be provided by the Company or incurred by the Executive during the time periods set forth in this Agreement. All reimbursements shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event shall any reimbursement be paid after the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of in-kind benefits provided or reimbursable expenses incurred in one taxable year shall not affect the in-kind benefits to be provided or the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except for any lifetime or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses). Such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) To the extent that any payment or benefit described in this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code, and to the extent that such payment or benefit is payable upon the Executive’s termination of employment, then such payments or benefits shall be payable only upon the Executive’s “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
(d) The parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenants Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either party, and as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code and all related rules and regulations in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either party.
(e) The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, such Section.
8. Continuing Obligations.
(a) Restrictive Covenants Agreement. The terms of the Employee Confidentiality, Assignment, and Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2023 (the “Restrictive Covenants Agreement”), between the Company and the Executive, attached hereto as Exhibit A, continue to be in full force and effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the obligations in this Section 8 and those
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that arise in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and any other agreement relating to confidentiality, assignment of inventions, or other restrictive covenants shall collectively be referred to as the “Continuing Obligations.” For the avoidance of doubt, all restrictive covenants obligations are supplemental to one another, and in the event of any conflict between restrictive covenants obligations, the most restrictive provision that is enforceable shall govern.
(b) Third-Party Agreements and Rights. The Executive hereby confirms that the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party which restricts in any way the Executive’s use or disclosure of information, other than confidentiality restrictions (if any), or the Executive’s engagement in any business. The Executive represents to the Company that the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company and the performance of the Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any obligations the Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In the Executive’s work for the Company, the Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and the Executive will not bring to the premises of the Company any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party.
(c) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in (i) the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company, and (ii) the investigation, whether internal or external, of any matters about which the Company believes the Executive may have knowledge or information. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims, actions or investigations shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to answer questions or to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 8(c).
(d) Relief. The Executive agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages caused to the Company which might result from any breach by the Executive of the Continuing Obligations, and that in any event money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that if the Executive breaches, or proposes to breach, any portion of the Continuing Obligations, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to all other remedies that it may have, to an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief to restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to the Company.
9. Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of such courts and (b) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction.
10. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Executive and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or THE EXECUTIVE’s employment by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE EXECUTIVE’S or the Company’s performance under, or the enforcement of, this Agreement.
11. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements between the parties concerning such subject matter, including the Prior Agreement, provided that the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents remain in full force and effect.
12. Withholding; Tax Effect. All payments made by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to make any payments to compensate the Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments or benefits or for any deduction or withholding from any payment or benefit.
13. Assignment; Successors and Assigns. Neither the Executive nor the Company may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including the Restrictive Covenants Agreement) without the Executive’s consent to any affiliate or to any person or entity with whom the Company shall hereafter effect a reorganization or consolidation, into which the Company merges or to whom it transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets; provided, further that if the Executive remains employed or becomes employed by the Company, the purchaser or any of their affiliates in
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connection with any such transaction, then the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits or vesting pursuant to Section 5 or pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement solely as a result of such transaction. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Executive and the Company, and each of the Executive’s and the Company’s respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns. In the event of the Executive’s death after the Executive’s termination of employment but prior to the completion by the Company of all payments due to the Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall continue such payments to the Executive’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to the Executive’s death (or to the Executive’s estate, if the Executive fails to make such designation).
14. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
15. Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement and/or the termination of the Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to effectuate the terms contained herein.
16. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.
17. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention of the Board. Notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall also be sufficient if sent by email to the Company email address of the Executive or, in the case of Company, the Company email address of the Chair of the Board, with confirmation of receipt.
18. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
19. Effect on Other Plans and Agreements. An election by the Executive to resign for Good Reason under the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a voluntary termination of employment by the Executive for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of any of the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the rights of the Executive under the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies except that the Executive shall have no rights to any severance benefits under any Company severance pay plan, offer letter or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all severance pay and benefits provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 of this Agreement (as applicable) shall be reduced and/or offset by any amounts or benefits paid to the Executive to satisfy the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., as amended, and any applicable state plant or facility closing or mass layoff law (whether as damages, as payment of salary or other wages during an applicable notice period or otherwise). In the event that the Executive is party to an agreement with the Company providing for payments or benefits under such plan or agreement and under this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern and the Executive may receive payment under this Agreement only and not both. Further, Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement are mutually exclusive and in no event shall the Executive be entitled to payments or benefits pursuant to both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement.
20. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes shall be determined in accordance with the law as it would be interpreted and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the Effective Date.
RAPPORT THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
Its: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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EXECUTIVE
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/s/ Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Exhibit A
Restrictive Covenants Agreement
Exhibit 10.8
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made between Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Troy Ignelzi (the “Executive”) and is effective as of the closing of the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Effective Date”). Except with respect to the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents (each as defined below), this Agreement supersedes in all respects all prior agreements between the Executive and the Company regarding the subject matter herein, including without limitation (i) the Offer Letter between the Executive and the Company dated October 24, 2023 (the “Prior Agreement”), and (ii) any other offer letter, employment agreement or severance agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive and the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company on the new terms and conditions contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment.
(a) Term. The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall be employed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing until such employment is terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof (the “Term”). The Executive’s employment with the Company shall continue to be “at will,” meaning that the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or the Executive at any time and for any reason subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) or other duly authorized executive. The Executive shall devote the Executive’s full working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may serve on other boards of directors, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), or engage in religious, charitable or other community activities as long as such services and activities do not interfere with the Executive’s performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company.
2. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. The Executive’s initial base salary shall be paid at the rate of $500,000 per year. The Executive’s base salary shall be subject to periodic review by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The base salary in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Base Salary.” The Base Salary shall be payable in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s usual payroll practices for its executive officers.
(b) Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be eligible to receive cash incentive compensation as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to time. The Executive’s initial target annual incentive compensation shall be 40 percent of the Executive’s Base Salary. The target annual incentive compensation in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Target Bonus.” The actual amount of the Executive’s annual incentive compensation, if any, shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee, subject to the terms of any applicable incentive compensation plan that may be in effect from time to time. Except as may be provided by the Board or the Compensation Committee or as may otherwise be set forth in the applicable incentive compensation plan the Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such incentive compensation is paid in order to earn or receive any annual incentive compensation.
(c) Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive during the Term in performing services hereunder, in accordance with the policies and procedures then in effect and established by the Company for its executives.
(d) Other Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans in effect from time to time, subject to the terms of such plans.
(e) Paid Time Off. The Executive shall be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s applicable paid time off policy for executives, as may be in effect from time to time.
(f) Equity. The equity awards held by the Executive shall continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable equity plan and/or award agreement(s) governing the terms of such equity awards (collectively, the “Equity Documents”); provided, however, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Documents, Section 6(a)(ii) of this Agreement shall apply in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason in either event within the Change in Control Period (as such terms are defined below).
3. Relocation Assistance. In the event the Executive purchases a new residence in the Cambridge/Boston area within three (3) years of the date the Executive commenced employment with the Company, the Company will provide the Executive with a relocation benefit to be mutually agreed upon with the Executive and the Company at such future date.
4. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated without any breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon death.
(b) Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment if the Executive is disabled and unable to perform or expected to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period. If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled so as to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions with or without reasonable accommodation, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to the Company a certification in reasonable detail by a physician selected by the Company to whom the Executive or the Executive’s guardian has no reasonable objection as to whether the Executive is so disabled or how long such disability is expected to continue, and such certification shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue. The Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable request of the physician in connection with such certification. If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit such certification, the Company’s determination of such issue shall be binding on the Executive. Nothing in this Section 3(b) shall be construed to waive the Executive’s rights, if any, under existing law including, without limitation, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following:
(i) the Executive’s statements or acts with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other third parties with which such entity does business that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company;
(ii) the Executive’s commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud;
(iii) the Executive’s failure to perform his or her assigned duties and responsibilities to the reasonable satisfaction of the CEO which failure continues, in the reasonable judgment of the CEO, for thirty (30) days after written notice given to the Executive describing in reasonable detail such failure;
(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or insubordination with respect to the Company that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company; or
(v) the Executive’s violation of any (A) material provision of any agreement(s) between the Executive and the Company or any Company policies including, without limitation, agreements relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment of inventions or (B) material Company policies related to ethics or workplace conduct.
(d) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement which does not constitute a termination for Cause under Section 3(c) and does not result from the death or disability of the Executive under Section 3(a) or (b) shall be deemed a termination without Cause.
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(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder at any time for any reason, including but not limited to, Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has completed all steps of the Good Reason Process (hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive’s consent (each, a “Good Reason Condition”):
(i) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Company’s financial performance similarly affecting all or substantially all senior management employees of the Company
(ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s duties, authority, or responsibilities following a Change in Control;
(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive provides services to the Company; or
(iv) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.
The “Good Reason Process” consists of the following steps:
(i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a Good Reason Condition has occurred;
(ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason Condition within 60 days of the first occurrence of such condition;
(iii) the Executive cooperates in good faith with the Company’s efforts, for a period of not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the Good Reason Condition;
(iv) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason Condition continues to exist at the end of the Cure Period; and
(v) the Executive terminates employment within 60 days after the end of the Cure Period.
If the Company cures the Good Reason Condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.
5. Matters related to Termination.
(a) Notice of Termination. Except for termination as specified in Section 3(a), any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or any such termination by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon.
(b) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by death, the date of death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated on account of disability under Section 3(b) or by the Company for Cause under Section 3(c), the date on which Notice of Termination is given; (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause under Section 3(d), the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or the date otherwise specified by the Company in the Notice of Termination; (iv) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) other than for Good Reason, 30 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) for Good Reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given after the end of the Cure Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive gives a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the Date of Termination and such acceleration shall not result in a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Accrued Obligations. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or to the Executive’s authorized representative or estate) (i) any Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination and, if applicable, any accrued but unused vacation through the Date of Termination; (ii) unpaid expense reimbursements (subject to, and in accordance with, Section 2(c) of this Agreement); and (iii) any vested benefits the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company through the Date of Termination, which vested benefits shall be paid and/or provided in accordance with the terms of such employee benefit plans (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).
(d) Resignation of All Other Positions. To the extent applicable, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all officer and board member positions that the Executive holds with the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries and affiliates upon the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason. The Executive shall execute any documents in reasonable form as may be requested to confirm or effectuate any such resignations.
6. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason Outside the Change in Control Period. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), in each case outside of the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to (i) the Executive signing a separation agreement and
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release in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company, which shall include, without limitation, a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement, a reaffirmation of all of the Executive’s Continuing Obligations (as defined below), and, in the Company’s sole discretion, a one-year post-employment noncompetition agreement, and shall provide that if the Executive breaches any of the Continuing Obligations, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease (the “Separation Agreement”), and (ii) the Separation Agreement becoming irrevocable, all within 60 days after the Date of Termination (or such shorter period as set forth in the Separation Agreement), which shall include a revocation period of at least seven (7) days:
(a) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Base Salary (the “Severance Amount”); and
(b) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under Section 5, to the extent taxable, shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over twelve (12) months commencing within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments, to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), shall begin to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period; provided, further, that the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Date of Termination. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
7. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason within the Change in Control Period. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply in lieu of, and expressly supersede, the provisions of Section 5 if (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated either (a) by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), and (ii) the Date of Termination is within the Change in Control Period. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) in no event will the Executive be entitled to severance pay and benefits under both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement, and (ii) if the Company has commenced providing severance pay and benefits to the Executive under Section 5 prior to the date that the Executive becomes eligible to receive severance pay and benefits under this Section 6, the severance pay and benefits previously provided to the Covered Executive under Section 5 shall reduce the severance pay and benefits to be provided under this Section 6. These provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect after the Change in Control Period.
(a) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d) or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e) and in each case the Date of Termination occurs within the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to the signing of a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement (the “Release”) by the Executive and the Release becoming fully effective, all within the time frame set forth in the Release but in no event more than 60 days after the Date of Termination:
(i) the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to one (1) times the sum of (A) the Executive’s then-current Base Salary (or the Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) plus (B) the Executive’s Target Bonus for the then-current year (or the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) (the “Change in Control Payment”); and
(ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable option agreement or other stock-based award agreement, all stock options and other stock-based awards held by the Executive that are subject solely to time-based vesting (the “Time-Based Equity Awards”) shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable or nonforfeitable as of the later of (i) the Date of Termination (or, if later, the Change in Control) or (ii) the effective date of the Release (the “Accelerated Vesting Date”), provided that in order to effectuate the accelerated vesting contemplated by this subsection, the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards that would otherwise terminate or be forfeited on the Date of
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Termination will be delayed until the earlier of (A) the later of the effective date of the Release or the date of the Change in Control (at which time acceleration will occur), or (B) the earlier of the date that the Release can no longer become fully effective or, to the extent the Date of Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, the date that is three (3) months following the Date of Termination if a Change in Control has not been consummated on or prior to such date (at which time the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards will terminate or be forfeited). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no additional vesting of the Time-Based Equity Awards shall occur during the period between the Date of Termination and the Accelerated Vesting Date; and
(iii) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under COBRA, the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under this Section 6(a), to the extent taxable, shall be paid or commence to be paid within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall be paid or commence to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period.
(b) Additional Limitation.
(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the Code, and the applicable regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be $1.00 less than the amount at which the Executive becomes subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall only occur if it would result in the Executive receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than the Executive would receive if the Aggregate Payments were not subject to such reduction. In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction that is subject to Section 280G of the Code: (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (2) cash payments subject to Section 409A of the Code; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c).
(ii) For purposes of this Section 6(b), the “After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and employment taxes imposed on the Executive as a result of the Executive’s receipt of the Aggregate Payments. For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual taxation in each applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.
(iii) The determination as to whether a reduction in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or the Executive. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.
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(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Change in Control” shall mean a “Sale Event” as defined in the Company’s 2024 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(ii) “Change in Control Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date that is three months prior to a Change in Control and ending on the 12 month anniversary of such Change in Control.
8. Section 409A.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement or otherwise on account of the Executive’s separation from service would be considered deferred compensation otherwise subject to the 20 percent additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (A) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (B) the Executive’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule.
(b) All in-kind benefits provided and expenses eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement shall be provided by the Company or incurred by the Executive during the time periods set forth in this Agreement. All reimbursements shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event shall any reimbursement be paid after the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of in-kind benefits provided or reimbursable expenses incurred in one taxable year shall not affect the in-kind benefits to be provided or the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except for any lifetime or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses). Such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) To the extent that any payment or benefit described in this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code, and to the extent that such payment or benefit is payable upon the Executive’s termination of employment, then such payments or benefits shall be payable only upon the Executive’s “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
(d) The parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenants Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either party, and as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code and all related rules and regulations in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either party.
(e) The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, such Section.
9. Continuing Obligations.
(a) Restrictive Covenants Agreement. The terms of the Employee Confidentiality, Assignment, and Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated October 28, 2023 (the “Restrictive Covenants Agreement”), between the Company and the Executive, attached hereto as Exhibit A, continue to be in full force and effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the obligations in this Section 8 and those that arise in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and any other agreement relating to confidentiality, assignment of inventions, or other restrictive covenants shall collectively be referred to as the “Continuing Obligations.” For the avoidance of doubt, all restrictive covenants obligations are supplemental to one another, and in the event of any conflict between restrictive covenants obligations, the most restrictive provision that is enforceable shall govern.
(b) Third-Party Agreements and Rights. The Executive hereby confirms that the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party which restricts in any way the Executive’s use or disclosure of information, other than confidentiality restrictions (if any), or the Executive’s engagement in any business. The Executive represents to the
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Company that the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company and the performance of the Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any obligations the Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In the Executive’s work for the Company, the Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and the Executive will not bring to the premises of the Company any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party.
(c) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in (i) the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company, and (ii) the investigation, whether internal or external, of any matters about which the Company believes the Executive may have knowledge or information. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims, actions or investigations shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to answer questions or to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 8(c).
(d) Relief. The Executive agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages caused to the Company which might result from any breach by the Executive of the Continuing Obligations, and that in any event money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that if the Executive breaches, or proposes to breach, any portion of the Continuing Obligations, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to all other remedies that it may have, to an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief to restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to the Company.
10. Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Michigan Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of such courts and (b) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction.
11. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Executive and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or THE EXECUTIVE’s employment by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE EXECUTIVE’S or the Company’s performance under, or the enforcement of, this Agreement.
12. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements between the parties concerning such subject matter, including the Prior Agreement, provided that the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents remain in full force and effect.
13. Withholding; Tax Effect. All payments made by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to make any payments to compensate the Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments or benefits or for any deduction or withholding from any payment or benefit.
14. Assignment; Successors and Assigns. Neither the Executive nor the Company may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including the Restrictive Covenants Agreement) without the Executive’s consent to any affiliate or to any person or entity with whom the Company shall hereafter effect a reorganization or consolidation, into which the Company merges or to whom it transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets; provided, further that if the Executive remains employed or becomes employed by the Company, the purchaser or any of their affiliates in connection with any such transaction, then the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits or vesting pursuant to Section 5 or pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement solely as a result of such transaction. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Executive and the Company, and each of the Executive’s and the Company’s respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns. In the event of the Executive’s death after the Executive’s termination of employment but prior to the completion by the Company of all payments due to the Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall continue such payments to the Executive’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to the Executive’s death (or to the Executive’s estate, if the Executive fails to make such designation).
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15. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
16. Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement and/or the termination of the Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to effectuate the terms contained herein.
17. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.
18. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention of the CEO. Notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall also be sufficient if sent by email to the Company email address of the Executive or, in the case of Company, the Company email address of the CEO, with confirmation of receipt.
19. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
20. Effect on Other Plans and Agreements. An election by the Executive to resign for Good Reason under the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a voluntary termination of employment by the Executive for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of any of the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the rights of the Executive under the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies except that the Executive shall have no rights to any severance benefits under any Company severance pay plan, offer letter or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all severance pay and benefits provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 of this Agreement (as applicable) shall be reduced and/or offset by any amounts or benefits paid to the Executive to satisfy the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., as amended, and any applicable state plant or facility closing or mass layoff law (whether as damages, as payment of salary or other wages during an applicable notice period or otherwise). In the event that the Executive is party to an agreement with the Company providing for payments or benefits under such plan or agreement and under this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern and the Executive may receive payment under this Agreement only and not both. Further, Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement are mutually exclusive and in no event shall the Executive be entitled to payments or benefits pursuant to both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement.
21. Governing Law. This is a Michigan contract and shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes shall be determined in accordance with the law as it would be interpreted and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the Effective Date.
RAPPORT THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Its: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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EXECUTIVE
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/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
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Troy Ignelzi |
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Exhibit A
Restrictive Covenants Agreement
Exhibit 10.9
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is made between Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Cheryl Gault (the “Executive”) and is effective as of the closing of the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Effective Date”). Except with respect to the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents (each as defined below), this Agreement supersedes in all respects all prior agreements between the Executive and the Company regarding the subject matter herein, including without limitation (i) the Offer Letter between the Executive and the Company dated June 29, 2023 (the “Prior Agreement”), and (ii) any other offer letter, employment agreement or severance agreement.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the Executive and the Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company on the new terms and conditions contained herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment.
(a) Term. The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall be employed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement commencing as of the Effective Date and continuing until such employment is terminated in accordance with the provisions hereof (the “Term”). The Executive’s employment with the Company shall continue to be “at will,” meaning that the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or the Executive at any time and for any reason subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Position and Duties. The Executive shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall have such powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) or other duly authorized executive. The Executive shall devote the Executive’s full working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may serve on other boards of directors, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), or engage in religious, charitable or other community activities as long as such services and activities do not interfere with the Executive’s performance of the Executive’s duties to the Company.
2. Compensation and Related Matters.
(a) Base Salary. The Executive’s initial base salary shall be paid at the rate of $455,000 per year. The Executive’s base salary shall be subject to periodic review by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). The base salary in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Base Salary.” The Base Salary shall be payable in a manner that is consistent with the Company’s usual payroll practices for its executive officers.
(b) Incentive Compensation. The Executive shall be eligible to receive cash incentive compensation as determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee from time to time. The Executive’s initial target annual incentive compensation shall be 40 percent of the Executive’s Base Salary. The target annual incentive compensation in effect at any given time is referred to herein as “Target Bonus.” The actual amount of the Executive’s annual incentive compensation, if any, shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board or the Compensation Committee, subject to the terms of any applicable incentive compensation plan that may be in effect from time to time. Except as may be provided by the Board or the Compensation Committee or as may otherwise be set forth in the applicable incentive compensation plan the Executive must be employed by the Company on the date such incentive compensation is paid in order to earn or receive any annual incentive compensation.
(c) Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive during the Term in performing services hereunder, in accordance with the policies and procedures then in effect and established by the Company for its executives.
(d) Other Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Company’s employee benefit plans in effect from time to time, subject to the terms of such plans.
(e) Paid Time Off. The Executive shall be entitled to take paid time off in accordance with the Company’s applicable paid time off policy for executives, as may be in effect from time to time.
(f) Equity. The equity awards held by the Executive shall continue to be governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable equity plan and/or award agreement(s) governing the terms of such equity awards (collectively, the “Equity Documents”); provided, however, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Documents, Section 6(a)(ii) of this Agreement shall apply in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason in either event within the Change in Control Period (as such terms are defined below).
(g) Sign-On Bonus Repayment. The Executive previously received a one-time signing bonus of $75,000, less applicable tax-related deductions and withholdings (the “Sign-On Bonus”) in connection with the commencement of the Executive’s employment with the Company. In the event the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive resigns without Good Reason (as such terms are defined below), in either case, prior to the first anniversary of the date the Executive commenced employment with the Company, the Executive will repay the full Sign-On Bonus within ten (10) business days after the Date of Termination (as defined below).
3. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated without any breach of this Agreement under the following circumstances:
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon death.
(b) Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment if the Executive is disabled and unable to perform or expected to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions under this Agreement with or without reasonable accommodation for a period of 180 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period. If any question shall arise as to whether during any period the Executive is disabled so as to be unable to perform the essential functions of the Executive’s then existing position or positions with or without reasonable accommodation, the Executive may, and at the request of the Company shall, submit to the Company a certification in reasonable detail by a physician selected by the Company to whom the Executive or the Executive’s guardian has no reasonable objection as to whether the Executive is so disabled or how long such disability is expected to continue, and such certification shall for the purposes of this Agreement be conclusive of the issue. The Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable request of the physician in connection with such certification. If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit such certification, the Company’s determination of such issue shall be binding on the Executive. Nothing in this Section 3(b) shall be construed to waive the Executive’s rights, if any, under existing law including, without limitation, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
(c) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean any of the following:
(i) the Executive’s statements or acts with respect to the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any current or prospective customers, suppliers vendors or other third parties with which such entity does business that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company;
(ii) the Executive’s commission of (A) a felony or (B) any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud;
(iii) the Executive’s failure to perform his or her assigned duties and responsibilities to the reasonable satisfaction of the CEO which failure continues, in the reasonable judgment of the CEO, for thirty (30) days after written notice given to the Executive describing in reasonable detail such failure;
(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or insubordination with respect to the Company that results in or is reasonably anticipated to result in harm to the Company; or
(v) the Executive’s violation of any (A) material provision of any agreement(s) between the Executive and the Company or any Company policies including, without limitation, agreements relating to noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure and/or assignment of inventions or (B) material Company policies related to ethics or workplace conduct.
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(d) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time without Cause. Any termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement which does not constitute a termination for Cause under Section 3(c) and does not result from the death or disability of the Executive under Section 3(a) or (b) shall be deemed a termination without Cause.
(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder at any time for any reason, including but not limited to, Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has completed all steps of the Good Reason Process (hereinafter defined) following the occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive’s consent (each, a “Good Reason Condition”):
(i) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary except for across-the-board salary reductions based on the Company’s financial performance similarly affecting all or substantially all senior management employees of the Company
(ii) a material reduction in the Executive’s duties, authority, or responsibilities following a Change in Control;
(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive provides services to the Company; or
(iv) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.
The “Good Reason Process” consists of the following steps:
(i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a Good Reason Condition has occurred;
(ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing of the first occurrence of the Good Reason Condition within 60 days of the first occurrence of such condition;
(iii) the Executive cooperates in good faith with the Company’s efforts, for a period of not less than 30 days following such notice (the “Cure Period”), to remedy the Good Reason Condition;
(iv) notwithstanding such efforts, the Good Reason Condition continues to exist at the end of the Cure Period; and
(v) the Executive terminates employment within 60 days after the end of the Cure Period.
If the Company cures the Good Reason Condition during the Cure Period, Good Reason shall be deemed not to have occurred.
4. Matters related to Termination.
(a) Notice of Termination. Except for termination as specified in Section 3(a), any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or any such termination by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon.
(b) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean: (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by death, the date of death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated on account of disability under Section 3(b) or by the Company for Cause under Section 3(c), the date on which Notice of Termination is given; (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause under Section 3(d), the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or the date otherwise specified by the Company in the Notice of Termination; (iv) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) other than for Good Reason, 30 days after the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive under Section 3(e) for Good Reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given after the end of the Cure Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive gives a Notice of Termination to the Company, the Company may unilaterally accelerate the Date of Termination and such acceleration shall not result in a termination by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.
(c) Accrued Obligations. If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, the Company shall pay or provide to the Executive (or to the Executive’s authorized representative or estate) (i) any Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination and, if applicable, any accrued but unused vacation through the Date of Termination; (ii) unpaid expense reimbursements (subject to, and in accordance with, Section 2(c) of this Agreement); and (iii) any vested benefits the Executive may have under any employee benefit plan of the Company through the Date of Termination, which vested benefits shall be paid and/or provided in accordance with the terms of such employee benefit plans (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).
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(d) Resignation of All Other Positions. To the extent applicable, the Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all officer and board member positions that the Executive holds with the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries and affiliates upon the termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason. The Executive shall execute any documents in reasonable form as may be requested to confirm or effectuate any such resignations.
5. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason Outside the Change in Control Period. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), in each case outside of the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to (i) the Executive signing a separation agreement and release in a form and manner satisfactory to the Company, which shall include, without limitation, a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement, a reaffirmation of all of the Executive’s Continuing Obligations (as defined below), and, in the Company’s sole discretion, a one-year post-employment noncompetition agreement, and shall provide that if the Executive breaches any of the Continuing Obligations, all payments of the Severance Amount shall immediately cease (the “Separation Agreement”), and (ii) the Separation Agreement becoming irrevocable, all within 60 days after the Date of Termination (or such shorter period as set forth in the Separation Agreement), which shall include a seven (7) business day revocation period:
(a) the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Base Salary (the “Severance Amount”); and
(b) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under Section 5, to the extent taxable, shall be paid out in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s payroll practice over twelve (12) months commencing within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments, to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), shall begin to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period; provided, further, that the initial payment shall include a catch-up payment to cover amounts retroactive to the day immediately following the Date of Termination. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
6. Severance Pay and Benefits Upon Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason within the Change in Control Period. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply in lieu of, and expressly supersede, the provisions of Section 5 if (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated either (a) by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d), or (b) by the Executive for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e), and (ii) the Date of Termination is within the Change in Control Period. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) in no event will the Executive be entitled to severance pay and benefits under both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement, and (ii) if the Company has commenced providing severance pay and benefits to the Executive under Section 5 prior to the date that the Executive becomes eligible to receive severance pay and benefits under this Section 6, the severance pay and benefits previously provided to the Covered Executive under Section 5 shall reduce the severance pay and benefits to be provided under this Section 6. These provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect after the Change in Control Period.
(a) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause as provided in Section 3(d) or the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 3(e) and in each case the Date of Termination occurs within the Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and subject to the signing of a general release of claims against the Company and all related persons and entities that shall not release the Executive’s rights under this Agreement (the
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“Release”) by the Executive and the Release becoming fully effective, all within the time frame set forth in the Release but in no event more than 60 days after the Date of Termination:
(i) the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum in cash in an amount equal to one (1) times the sum of (A) the Executive’s then-current Base Salary (or the Executive’s Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) plus (B) the Executive’s Target Bonus for the then-current year (or the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control, if higher) (the “Change in Control Payment”); and
(ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any applicable option agreement or other stock-based award agreement, all stock options and other stock-based awards held by the Executive that are subject solely to time-based vesting (the “Time-Based Equity Awards”) shall immediately accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable or nonforfeitable as of the later of (i) the Date of Termination (or, if later, the Change in Control) or (ii) the effective date of the Release (the “Accelerated Vesting Date”), provided that in order to effectuate the accelerated vesting contemplated by this subsection, the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards that would otherwise terminate or be forfeited on the Date of Termination will be delayed until the earlier of (A) the later of the effective date of the Release or the date of the Change in Control (at which time acceleration will occur), or (B) the earlier of the date that the Release can no longer become fully effective or, to the extent the Date of Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control, the date that is three (3) months following the Date of Termination if a Change in Control has not been consummated on or prior to such date (at which time the unvested portion of the Executive’s Time-Based Equity Awards will terminate or be forfeited). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no additional vesting of the Time-Based Equity Awards shall occur during the period between the Date of Termination and the Accelerated Vesting Date; and
(iii) subject to the Executive’s copayment of premium amounts at the applicable active employees’ rate and the Executive’s proper election to receive benefits under COBRA, the Company shall pay to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider a monthly payment equal to the monthly employer contribution that the Company would have made to provide health insurance to the Executive if the Executive had remained employed by the Company until the earliest of (A) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (B) the date that the Executive becomes eligible for group medical plan benefits under any other employer’s group medical plan; or (C) the cessation of the Executive’s health continuation rights under COBRA; provided, however, that if the Company determines that it cannot pay such amounts to the group health plan provider or the COBRA provider (if applicable) without potentially violating applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then the Company shall convert such payments to payroll payments directly to the Executive for the time period specified above. Such payments to the Executive shall be subject to tax-related deductions and withholdings and paid on the Company’s regular payroll dates.
The amounts payable under this Section 6(a), to the extent taxable, shall be paid or commence to be paid within 60 days after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that if the 60-day period begins in one calendar year and ends in a second calendar year, such payments to the extent they qualify as “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall be paid or commence to be paid in the second calendar year by the last day of such 60-day period.
(b) Additional Limitation.
(i) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the amount of any compensation, payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, calculated in a manner consistent with Section 280G of the Code, and the applicable regulations thereunder (the “Aggregate Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) so that the sum of all of the Aggregate Payments shall be $1.00 less than the amount at which the Executive becomes subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; provided that such reduction shall only occur if it would result in the Executive receiving a higher After Tax Amount (as defined below) than the Executive would receive if the Aggregate Payments were not subject to such reduction. In such event, the Aggregate Payments shall be reduced in the following order, in each case, in reverse chronological order beginning with the Aggregate Payments that are to be paid the furthest in time from consummation of the transaction that is subject to Section 280G of the Code: (1) cash payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code; (2) cash payments subject to Section 409A of the Code; (3) equity-based payments and acceleration; and (4) non-cash forms of benefits; provided that in the case of all the foregoing Aggregate Payments all amounts or payments that are not subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c) shall be reduced before any amounts that are subject to calculation under Treas. Reg. §1.280G-1, Q&A-24(b) or (c).
(ii) For purposes of this Section 6(b), the “After Tax Amount” means the amount of the Aggregate Payments less all federal, state, and local income, excise and employment taxes imposed on the Executive as a result of the Executive’s receipt of the Aggregate Payments. For purposes of determining the After Tax Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable to individuals for the calendar year in which the determination is to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of individual taxation in each
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applicable state and locality, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.
(iii) The determination as to whether a reduction in the Aggregate Payments shall be made pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the Date of Termination, if applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably requested by the Company or the Executive. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) “Change in Control” shall mean a “Sale Event” as defined in the Company’s 2024 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
(ii) “Change in Control Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date that is three months prior to a Change in Control and ending on the 12 month anniversary of such Change in Control.
7. Section 409A.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, the Company determines that the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then to the extent any payment or benefit that the Executive becomes entitled to under this Agreement or otherwise on account of the Executive’s separation from service would be considered deferred compensation otherwise subject to the 20 percent additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, such payment shall not be payable and such benefit shall not be provided until the date that is the earlier of (A) six months and one day after the Executive’s separation from service, or (B) the Executive’s death. If any such delayed cash payment is otherwise payable on an installment basis, the first payment shall include a catch-up payment covering amounts that would otherwise have been paid during the six-month period but for the application of this provision, and the balance of the installments shall be payable in accordance with their original schedule.
(b) All in-kind benefits provided and expenses eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement shall be provided by the Company or incurred by the Executive during the time periods set forth in this Agreement. All reimbursements shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event shall any reimbursement be paid after the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of in-kind benefits provided or reimbursable expenses incurred in one taxable year shall not affect the in-kind benefits to be provided or the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year (except for any lifetime or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses). Such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(c) To the extent that any payment or benefit described in this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code, and to the extent that such payment or benefit is payable upon the Executive’s termination of employment, then such payments or benefits shall be payable only upon the Executive’s “separation from service.” The determination of whether and when a separation from service has occurred shall be made in accordance with the presumptions set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).
(d) The parties intend that this Agreement will be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be read in such a manner so that all payments hereunder comply with Section 409A of the Code. Each payment pursuant to this Agreement or the Restrictive Covenants Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). The parties agree that this Agreement may be amended, as reasonably requested by either party, and as may be necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code and all related rules and regulations in order to preserve the payments and benefits provided hereunder without additional cost to either party.
(e) The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to the Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, such Section.
8. Continuing Obligations.
(a) Restrictive Covenants Agreement. The terms of the Employee Confidentiality, Assignment, and Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated June 29, 2023 (the “Restrictive Covenants Agreement”), between the Company and the Executive, attached hereto
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as Exhibit A, continue to be in full force and effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the obligations in this Section 8 and those that arise in the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and any other agreement relating to confidentiality, assignment of inventions, or other restrictive covenants shall collectively be referred to as the “Continuing Obligations.” For the avoidance of doubt, all restrictive covenants obligations are supplemental to one another, and in the event of any conflict between restrictive covenants obligations, the most restrictive provision that is enforceable shall govern.
(b) Third-Party Agreements and Rights. The Executive hereby confirms that the Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any previous employer or other party which restricts in any way the Executive’s use or disclosure of information, other than confidentiality restrictions (if any), or the Executive’s engagement in any business. The Executive represents to the Company that the Executive’s execution of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment with the Company and the performance of the Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any obligations the Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In the Executive’s work for the Company, the Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and the Executive will not bring to the premises of the Company any copies or other tangible embodiments of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other party.
(c) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company in (i) the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company, and (ii) the investigation, whether internal or external, of any matters about which the Company believes the Executive may have knowledge or information. The Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims, actions or investigations shall include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to answer questions or to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at mutually convenient times. During and after the Executive’s employment, the Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that transpired while the Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Executive’s performance of obligations pursuant to this Section 8(c).
(d) Relief. The Executive agrees that it would be difficult to measure any damages caused to the Company which might result from any breach by the Executive of the Continuing Obligations, and that in any event money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that if the Executive breaches, or proposes to breach, any portion of the Continuing Obligations, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to all other remedies that it may have, to an injunction or other appropriate equitable relief to restrain any such breach without showing or proving any actual damage to the Company.
9. Consent to Jurisdiction. The parties hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Accordingly, with respect to any such court action, the Executive (a) submits to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of such courts and (b) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction.
10. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Executive and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or THE EXECUTIVE’s employment by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE EXECUTIVE’S or the Company’s performance under, or the enforcement of, this Agreement.
11. Integration. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements between the parties concerning such subject matter, including the Prior Agreement, provided that the Restrictive Covenants Agreement and the Equity Documents remain in full force and effect.
12. Withholding; Tax Effect. All payments made by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to make any payments to compensate the Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments or benefits or for any deduction or withholding from any payment or benefit.
13. Assignment; Successors and Assigns. Neither the Executive nor the Company may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest in it, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including the Restrictive Covenants Agreement) without the Executive’s consent to any affiliate or to any person or entity with whom the Company shall hereafter effect a reorganization or consolidation, into which the Company merges or to whom it transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets; provided,
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further that if the Executive remains employed or becomes employed by the Company, the purchaser or any of their affiliates in connection with any such transaction, then the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits or vesting pursuant to Section 5 or pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement solely as a result of such transaction. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Executive and the Company, and each of the Executive’s and the Company’s respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns. In the event of the Executive’s death after the Executive’s termination of employment but prior to the completion by the Company of all payments due to the Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall continue such payments to the Executive’s beneficiary designated in writing to the Company prior to the Executive’s death (or to the Executive’s estate, if the Executive fails to make such designation).
14. Enforceability. If any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion or provision of any section of this Agreement) shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
15. Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement and/or the termination of the Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to effectuate the terms contained herein.
16. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The failure of any party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach.
17. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and delivered in person or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Executive at the last address the Executive has filed in writing with the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its main offices, attention of the CEO. Notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall also be sufficient if sent by email to the Company email address of the Executive or, in the case of Company, the Company email address of the CEO, with confirmation of receipt.
18. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized representative of the Company.
19. Effect on Other Plans and Agreements. An election by the Executive to resign for Good Reason under the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a voluntary termination of employment by the Executive for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of any of the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the rights of the Executive under the Company’s benefit plans, programs or policies except that the Executive shall have no rights to any severance benefits under any Company severance pay plan, offer letter or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all severance pay and benefits provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 of this Agreement (as applicable) shall be reduced and/or offset by any amounts or benefits paid to the Executive to satisfy the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., as amended, and any applicable state plant or facility closing or mass layoff law (whether as damages, as payment of salary or other wages during an applicable notice period or otherwise). In the event that the Executive is party to an agreement with the Company providing for payments or benefits under such plan or agreement and under this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall govern and the Executive may receive payment under this Agreement only and not both. Further, Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement are mutually exclusive and in no event shall the Executive be entitled to payments or benefits pursuant to both Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement.
20. Governing Law. This is a Massachusetts contract and shall be construed under and be governed in all respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. With respect to any disputes concerning federal law, such disputes shall be determined in accordance with the law as it would be interpreted and applied by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be taken to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same document.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the Effective Date.
RAPPORT THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
Its: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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EXECUTIVE
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/s/ Cheryl Gault |
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Cheryl Gault |
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Exhibit A
Restrictive Covenants Agreement
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Abraham N. Ceesay, certify that:
Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Abraham N. Ceesay, MBA |
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Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Troy Ignelzi, certify that:
Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
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Troy Ignelzi |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Rapport Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned officers of the Company hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Abraham N. Ceesay |
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Abraham N. Ceesay, MBA |
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Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
Date: August 8, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Troy Ignelzi |
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Troy Ignelzi |
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Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |