General form of registration statement for all companies including face-amount certificate companies

Significant Accounting Policies

v3.19.2
Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]    
Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial results of Monopar Therapeutics Inc., its French branch, its wholly-owned French subsidiary, Monopar Therapeutics, SARL, and its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, Monopar Therapeutics Pty Ltd and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include all disclosures required by GAAP for interim financial reporting. All intercompany accounts have been eliminated. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements are set out below and have been consistently applied in all periods presented. The Company has been primarily involved in performing research activities, developing product candidates, and raising capital to support and expand these activities.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 to conform to the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s comprehensive loss, total assets, or stockholders’ equity.

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2019 and as of December 31, 2018, the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and the Company’s condensed consolidated cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The condensed consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations or cash flows which may be reported for the remainder of 2019 or for any future period. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2018, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 26, 2019.

 

Functional Currency

 

The Company's consolidated functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. The Company's Australian subsidiary and French subsidiary use the Australian Dollar and European Euro, respectively, as their functional currency. At each quarter end, each foreign subsidiary's balance sheets are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon the quarter-end exchange rate, while their statements of operations and comprehensive loss are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon an average exchange rate during the period.

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Comprehensive loss represents net loss plus any gains or losses not reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, such as foreign currency translations gains and losses that are typically reflected on a Company’s condensed consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Going Concern Assessment

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued to provide guidance on determining when and how reporting companies must disclose going-concern uncertainties in their financial statements. The ASU requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issuance of the entity’s financial statements (or within one year after the date on which the financial statements are available to be issued, when applicable). Further, a company must provide certain disclosures if there is “substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.” In July 2019, the Company analyzed its minimum cash requirements through September 2020 and has determined that, based upon the Company’s current available cash, the Company has no substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 consist entirely of a money market account.

 

Deferred Offering Costs

 

Deferred offering costs represent legal and auditing expenses related to fundraising efforts that have not yet been concluded.

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

Prepayments are expenditures for goods or services before the goods are used or the services are received and are charged to operations as the benefits are realized. Prepaid expenses include insurance premiums and software costs that are expensed monthly over the life of the contract.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company maintained cash and cash equivalents at two financial institutions. Balances at one financial institution for both periods presented were in excess of the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurable limit.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

For financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, deferred offering costs, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, the carrying amounts are reasonable estimates of fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as amended, addressing the measurement of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities. Under this standard, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

In determining fair values of all reported assets and liabilities that represent financial instruments, the Company uses the carrying market values of such amounts. The standard establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available under the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

 

Level 1 - instrument valuations are obtained from real-time quotes for transactions in active exchange markets involving identical assets.

 

Level 2 - instrument valuations are obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments.

 

Level 3 - instrument valuations are obtained without observable market values and require a high-level of judgment to determine the fair value.

 

Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each reporting period. There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018. The following table presents the assets and liabilities recorded that are reported at fair value on our condensed consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis. No values were recorded in Level 2 or Level 3 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

June 30, 2019   Level 1     Total  
Assets            
Cash equivalents(1)   $ 5,066,830     $ 5,066,830  
Total   $ 5,066,830     $ 5,066,830  

 

(1) Cash equivalents represent the fair value of the Company’s investment in a money market account at June 30, 2019.

  

December 31, 2018   Level 1     Total  
Assets            
Cash equivalents(1)   $ 6,788,333     $ 6,788,333  
Total   $ 6,788,333     $ 6,788,333  

 

(1) Cash equivalents represent the fair value of the Company’s investment in a money market account at December 31, 2018.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

Net loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares of the sum of a) common stock outstanding and b) potential dilutive shares of common stock (such as stock options and warrants) outstanding during the period. As of June 30, 2019, potentially dilutive securities included stock options to purchase up to 1,105,896 shares of the Company’s common stock. As of June 30, 2018, potentially dilutive securities included stock options to purchase up to 661,429 shares of the Company’s common stock. For all periods presented, potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of fully diluted net loss per share as their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed as incurred. Major components of R&D expenses include salaries and benefits paid to the Company’s R&D staff, fees paid to consultants and to the entities that conduct certain R&D activities on the Company’s behalf and materials and supplies which are used in R&D activities during the reporting period.

 

The Company accrues and expenses the costs for clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the percentage of work completed over the life of the individual study in accordance with agreements established with contract research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed upon fee to be paid for such services. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials are expensed immediately as R&D expenses. Clinical trial site costs related to patient screening and enrollment are accrued as patients are screened/entered into the trial. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no clinical trials in progress.

 

In-process Research and Development

 

In-process research and development (“IPR&D”) expense represent the costs to acquire technologies to be used in research and development that have not reached technological feasibility, have no alternative future uses and thus are expensed as incurred. IPR&D expense also includes upfront license fees and milestones paid to collaborators for technologies with no alternative use.

 

Collaborative Arrangements

 

The Company and its future collaborative partners would be active participants in collaborative arrangements and all parties would be exposed to significant risks and rewards depending on the technical and commercial success of the activities. Contractual payments to the other parties in collaboration agreements and costs incurred by the Company when the Company is deemed to be the principal participant for a given transaction are recognized on a gross basis in R&D expenses. Royalties and license payments are recorded as earned.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, no milestones were met and no royalties were earned, therefore, the Company did not pay or accrue/expense any milestone or royalty payments.

 

Licensing Agreements

 

The Company has various agreements licensing technology utilized in the development of its product or technology programs. The licenses contain success milestone obligations and royalties on future sales. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, no milestones were met and no royalties were earned, therefore, the Company did not pay or accrue/expense any milestone or royalty payments under any of its license agreements.

 

Patent Costs

 

The Company expenses costs relating to issued patents and patent applications, including costs relating to legal, renewal and application fees, as a component of general and administrative expenses in its condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Leases

 

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company has adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases, which has been amended by ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, which for operating leases, requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is intended to improve financial reporting of leasing transactions by requiring organizations that lease assets to recognize assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases on the balance sheet.

 

As a result, the Company has recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet the unamortized present value of its lease payments as (a) a lease liability in other current liabilities and (b) a right-of-use asset in other current assets.

 

Income Taxes

 

From December 2014 to December 16, 2015, the Company was an LLC taxed as a partnership under the Internal Revenue Code, during which period the members separately accounted for their pro-rata share of income, deductions, losses, and credits of the Company. On December 16, 2015, the Company converted from an LLC to a C Corporation. On December 16, 2015, the Company began using an asset and liability approach for accounting for deferred income taxes, which requires recognition of deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in its financial statements, but have not been reflected in its taxable income. Estimates and judgments are required in the calculation of certain tax liabilities and in the determination of the recoverability of certain deferred income tax assets, which arise from temporary differences and carry forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

 

The Company regularly assesses the likelihood that its deferred income tax assets will be realized from recoverable income taxes or recovered from future taxable income. To the extent that the Company believes any amounts are more likely than not to be realized, the Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred income tax assets. In the event the Company determines that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are not realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. Similarly, if the Company subsequently realizes deferred income tax assets that were previously determined to be unrealizable are now realizable, the respective valuation allowance would be reversed, resulting in an adjustment to earnings in the period such determination is made.

 

Internal Revenue Code Section 382 provides that, after an ownership change, the amount of a loss corporation’s net operating loss (“NOL”) for any post-change year that may be offset by pre-change losses shall not exceed the section 382 limitation for that year. Because the Company will continue to raise equity in the coming years, section 382 will limit the Company’s usage of NOLs in the future.

 

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes, requires that the tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences, and credit carryforwards be recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses that realization is "more likely than not." Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on the Company's ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. The Company has reviewed the positive and negative evidence relating to the realizability of the deferred tax assets and has concluded that the deferred tax assets are not more likely than not to be realized with the exception of its U.S. Federal R&D tax credits which will be utilized to reduce payroll taxes in future periods. The Company intends to maintain the valuation allowance until sufficient evidence exists to support its reversal. The Company regularly reviews its tax positions. For a tax benefit to be recognized, the related tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Any amount recognized is generally the largest benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as an income tax expense. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company did not have any interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits.

  

The Company is subject to U.S. Federal, Illinois and California income taxes. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. The Company was incorporated on December 16, 2015 and is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the short tax period December 16, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The Company does not anticipate significant changes to its current uncertain tax positions through June 30, 2019. The Company plans on filing its tax returns for the year ended December 31, 2018 prior to the extended filing deadlines in all jurisdictions.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation arrangements with employees, non-employee directors and consultants using a fair value method, which requires the recognition of compensation expense for costs related to all stock-based payments, including stock options. The fair value method requires the Company to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model.

 

Stock-based compensation costs for options granted to employees and non-employee directors are based on the fair value of the underlying option calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the date of grant for stock options and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. Determining the appropriate fair value model and related assumptions requires judgment, including estimating the future stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected term. The expected volatility rates are estimated based on the actual volatility of comparable public companies over recent historical periods of the same length as the expected term. The Company selected these companies based on comparable characteristics, including market capitalization, stage of development and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected term (life) of the stock-based awards. The expected term for options granted to date is estimated using the simplified method. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has not paid dividends and does not anticipate paying a cash dividend in the future vesting period and, accordingly, uses an expected dividend yield of zero. The risk-free interest rate is based on the rate of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities consistent with the estimated expected term of the awards. Prior to January 1, 2019, the measurement of consultant stock-based compensation was subject to periodic adjustments as the underlying equity instruments vest. Since January 1, 2019, consultant stock-based compensation is valued on the grant date and is recognized as an expense over the period in which services are rendered.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The ASU modifies, and in certain cases eliminates, the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of ASU No. 2018-13 and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

These consolidated financial statements include the books of Monopar Therapeutics Inc., its French branch, its wholly-owned French subsidiary, Monopar Therapeutics, SARL and its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary, Monopar Therapeutics Pty Ltd and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and include all disclosures required by GAAP for financial reporting. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below and have been consistently applied in all periods presented. The Company has been primarily involved in performing research activities, developing product candidates, and raising capital to support and expand these activities.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 to conform to the year ended December 31, 2017 presentation. The reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s net loss, total assets, or stockholders’ equity.

 

Functional Currency

 

The Company's consolidated functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. The Company's Australian subsidiary and French subsidiary use the Australian Dollar and European Euro, respectively, as their functional currency. At each quarter end, each foreign subsidiary's balance sheets are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon the quarter-end exchange rate, while their statements of operations and comprehensive loss are translated into U.S. Dollars based upon an average exchange rate during the period.

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Comprehensive loss represents net loss plus any gains or losses not reported in the statements of operations, such as foreign currency translations gains and losses that are typically reflected on a company’s statements of stockholders’ equity.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Going Concern Assessment

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued to provide guidance on determining when and how reporting companies must disclose going-concern uncertainties in their financial statements. The ASU requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date of issuance of the entity’s financial statements (or within one year after the date on which the financial statements are available to be issued, when applicable). Further, a company must provide certain disclosures if there is “substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.” In February 2019, the Company analyzed its minimum cash requirements through March 2020 and has determined that, based upon the Company’s current available cash, the Company has no substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 consist entirely of money market accounts.

 

Restricted Cash

 

On July 9, 2015, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial and Option Agreement (“CTOA”) with Cancer Research UK. Pursuant to the CTOA, the Company deposited $0.8 million into an escrow account to cover certain future indemnities, claims or potential termination costs incurred by Cancer Research UK. Restricted cash was $0 as of December 31, 2018 and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2017. In connection with a portfolio reprioritization review, on March 21, 2018, Cancer Research UK notified us that it was terminating the CTOA and transferred to us the data generated under the CTOA. These funds were released from escrow in September 2018 and were deposited into a money market account and reclassified as cash equivalents.

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

Prepayments are expenditures for goods or services before the goods are used or the services are received and are charged to operations as the benefits are realized. Prepaid expenses include insurance premiums and software costs that are expensed monthly over the life of the contract.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents at one financial institution. As of December 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents were in excess of the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurable limit.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

For financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, deferred offering costs, accounts payable and accrued expenses, the carrying amounts are reasonable estimates of fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, as amended, addressing the measurement of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities. Under this standard, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

In determining fair values of all reported assets and liabilities that represent financial instruments, the Company uses the carrying market values of such amounts. The standard establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:

 

Level 1 - instrument valuations are obtained from real-time quotes for transactions in active exchange markets involving identical assets.

 

Level 2 - instrument valuations are obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments.

 

Level 3 - instrument valuations are obtained without observable market values and require a high-level of judgment to determine the fair value.

 

Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each reporting period. There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. The following table presents the assets and liabilities recorded that are reported at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets on a recurring basis.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis  

 

December 31, 2018   Level 1   Level 2   Total
  Assets                          
  Cash equivalents(1)     $ 6,788,333     $ —       $ 6,788,333  
  Total     $ 6,788,333     $ —       $ 6,788,333  

 

(1) Cash equivalents represent the fair value of the Company’s investments in a money market account at December 31, 2018.      

 

December 31, 2017   Level 1   Level 2   Total
  Assets                          
  Cash equivalents(1)     $ 8,872,982     $ —       $ 8,872,982  
  Restricted cash(2)       31       800,000       800,031  
  Total     $ 8,873,013     $ 800,000     $ 9,673,013  

 

(1) Cash equivalents represent the fair value of the Company’s investments in two money market accounts at December 31, 2017.

(2) Restricted cash represents the fair value of the Company’s investments in an $800,000 certificate of deposit and $31 in a money market account at December 31, 2017.

   

Net Loss per Share

 

Net loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2018 is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share for the year ended December 31, 2018 is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding and potential shares of common stock during the period. As of December 31, 2018, potentially dilutive securities included 1,105,896 options to purchase common stock. As of December 31, 2017, potentially dilutive securities included stock options to purchase up to 658,592 shares of the Company’s common stock. For all periods presented, potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of fully diluted net loss per share as their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed as incurred. Major components of research and development expenses include salaries and benefits paid to the Company’s R&D staff, fees paid to consultants and to the entities that conduct certain development activities on the Company’s behalf and materials and supplies.

 

The Company accrues and expenses the costs for clinical trial activities performed by third parties based upon estimates of the percentage of work completed over the life of the individual study in accordance with agreements established with contract research organizations and clinical trial sites. The Company determines the estimates through discussions with internal clinical personnel and external service providers as to progress or stage of completion of trials or services and the agreed upon fee to be paid for such services. Costs of setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials are expensed immediately as research and development expenses. Clinical trial site costs related to patient enrollment are accrued as patients are entered into the trial. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had no clinical trials in progress.

 

In-process Research and Development

 

In-process research and development (“IPR&D”) expense represents the costs to acquire technologies to be used in research and development that have not reached technological feasibility, have no alternative future uses and thus are expensed as incurred. IPR&D expense also includes upfront license fees and milestones paid to collaborators for technologies with no alternative use.

 

Collaborative Arrangements

 

The Company and its future collaborative partner would be active participants in a collaborative arrangement and all parties would be exposed to significant risks and rewards depending on the technical and commercial success of the activities. Contractual payments to the other party in collaboration agreements and costs incurred by the Company when the Company is deemed to be the principal participant for a given transaction are recognized on a gross basis in R&D expenses. Royalties and license payments are recorded as earned.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no milestones were met and no royalties were earned, therefore, the Company did not pay or accrue/expense any milestone or royalty payments.

 

Licensing Agreements

 

The Company has various agreements to license technology utilized in the development of its programs. The licenses contain success milestone obligations and royalties on future sales. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, no milestones were met and no royalties were earned, therefore, the Company did not pay or accrue/expense any milestone or royalty payments under any of its license agreements.

 

Patent Costs

 

The Company expenses costs relating to issued patents and patent applications, including costs relating to legal, renewal and application fees, as a component of general and administrative expenses in its consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Income Taxes

 

From December 2014 to December 16, 2015, the Company was an LLC taxed as a partnership under the Internal Revenue Code, during which period the members separately accounted for their pro-rata share of income, deductions, losses, and credits of the Company. On December 16, 2015, the Company converted from an LLC to a C Corporation. Beginning on December 16, 2015, the Company uses an asset and liability approach for accounting for deferred income taxes, which requires recognition of deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in its financial statements, but have not been reflected in its taxable income. Estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of certain tax liabilities and in the determination of the recoverability of certain deferred income tax assets, which arise from temporary differences and carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.

 

The Company regularly assesses the likelihood that its deferred income tax assets will be realized from recoverable income taxes or recovered from future taxable income. To the extent that the Company believes any amounts are more likely not to be realized, the Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred income tax assets. In the event the Company determines that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are not realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. Similarly, if the Company subsequently realizes deferred income tax assets that were previously determined to be unrealizable, the respective valuation allowance would be reversed, resulting in an adjustment to earnings in the period such determination is made.

 

Internal Revenue Code Section 382 provides that, after an ownership change, the amount of a loss corporation’s net operating loss (“NOL”) for any post-change year that may be offset by pre-change losses shall not exceed the section 382 limitation for that year. Because the Company will continue to raise equity in the coming years, section 382 may limit the Company’s usage of NOLs in the future.

 

Based on the available evidence, the Company believed it was not likely to utilize its minimal deferred tax assets in the future and as a result, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company intends to maintain the valuation allowance until sufficient evidence exists to support their reversal. The Company regularly reviews its tax positions and for a tax benefit to be recognized, the related tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Any amount recognized is generally the largest benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as an income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not have any interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits.

 

The Company is subject to U.S. Federal, Illinois and California income taxes. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply. The Company was incorporated on December 16, 2015 and is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and for the short tax period December 16, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The Company does not anticipate significant changes to its current uncertain tax positions through December 31, 2018. The Company plans on filing its tax returns for the year ending December 31, 2018 prior to the filing deadlines in all jurisdictions.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was enacted. The Tax Reform Bill was effective as of January 1, 2018. In accordance with ASC guidance, deferred tax assets/liabilities in the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, were reflected at the tax rate in which the deferred tax assets/liabilities are anticipated to be realized. As a result, the Company changed the tax rate for tax provision purposes commencing on December 31, 2017 from 34% to 21%.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation arrangements with employees, non-employee directors and consultants using a fair value method, which requires the recognition of compensation expense for costs related to all stock-based payments, including stock options. The fair value method requires the Company to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model.

 

Stock-based compensation costs for options granted to employees and non-employee directors are based on the fair value of the underlying option calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the date of grant for stock options and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. Determining the appropriate fair value model and related assumptions requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected term. The expected volatility rates are estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable public companies over a historical term equal to the expected term in duration. The Company selected these companies based on comparable characteristics, including market capitalization, stage of development and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the stock-based awards. The expected term for options granted to date is estimated using the simplified method. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has not paid dividends and does not anticipate paying a cash dividend in the future vesting period and, accordingly, uses an expected dividend yield of zero. The risk-free interest rate is based on the rate of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities consistent with the estimated expected term of the awards. The measurement of consultant share-based compensation is subject to periodic adjustments as the underlying equity instruments vest and is recognized as an expense over the period over which services are rendered.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements 

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The purpose is to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. The Company has adopted this ASU and determined that it does not have a material effect on its financial condition and consolidated results of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which has been amended by ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, which for operating leases, requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis. This ASU was further amended by ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, issued in July 2018. The ASU 2018-11 is intended to reduce costs and ease implementation of the Leases standard for financial statement preparers. ASU 2018-11 provides a new transition method and a practical expedient for separating components of a contract. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU No. 2017-01”). The amendments in ASU No. 2017-01 clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill and consolidation. For public companies, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. For all other companies and organizations, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has adopted this ASU and determined it does not have a material impact on its financial condition and consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendment amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements, provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under ASC 718. This ASU is effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has adopted this ASU and determined that it does not have a material effect on its financial condition and consolidated results of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260); Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception. This ASU simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features, a provision in an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded feature) that provides a downward adjustment of the current exercise price based on the price of future equity offerings. Down round features are common in warrants, convertible preferred shares, and convertible debt instruments issued by private companies and development-stage public companies. This new ASU requires companies to disregard the down round feature when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to its own stock, for purposes of determining liability or equity classification. The provisions of this new ASU related to down rounds are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

 

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, that clarifies the guidance in ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10). For public business entities, ASU 2018-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2018. Public business entities with fiscal years beginning between December 15, 2017, and June 15, 2018, are not required to adopt ASU 2018-03 until the interim period beginning after June 15, 2018. The Company has early adopted this ASU and determined that it does not have a material effect on its financial condition and consolidated results of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118. This ASU amends certain SEC material on Topic 740 for the income tax accounting implications of the recently issued Tax Cuts and JOBS Act. ASU 2018-05 is effective upon inclusion in the FASB Codification. The Company has adopted this ASU and determined it does not have a material impact on its financial condition and consolidated results of operations and comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The ASU is intended to reduce the cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for nonemployee share-based payments. The ASU expands the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (which currently only includes share-based payments to employees) to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. The ASU supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. For all other companies, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than a company’s adoption date of Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The ASU modifies, and in certain cases eliminates, the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. The amendments in ASU No. 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of ASU No. 2018-13 and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.