Kodiak Sciences Inc. (KOD) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements based upon current beliefs, plans and expectations related to future events and our future financial performance that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our intentions, plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts and projections. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
Kodiak Sciences (“we,” the “Company” or "Kodiak") is a biopharmaceutical company committed to researching, developing, and commercializing transformative therapeutics to treat a broad spectrum of retinal diseases. We are focused on bringing new science to the design and manufacture of next generation retinal medicines to prevent and treat the leading causes of blindness globally. Our ABC Platform™ uses molecular engineering to merge the fields of protein-based and chemistry-based therapies and has been at the core of Kodiak's discovery engine. We are developing a portfolio of three late-stage clinical programs, two of which are late-stage today and derived from our ABC Platform and one which is platform-independent and which we believe can progress rapidly into pivotal studies.
Kodiak's lead investigational medicine, tarcocimab, is a novel anti-VEGF antibody biopolymer conjugate under development for the treatment of high prevalence retinal vascular diseases including diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in working-age patients in the developed world, and wet age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in elderly patients in the developed world.
KSI-501 is our second investigational medicine, a first-in-class anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific antibody biopolymer conjugate designed to inhibit both IL-6 mediated inflammation and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and vascular permeability. KSI-501 is being developed for the treatment of high prevalence retinal vascular diseases to address the unmet needs of targeting multiple biologies and extended durability.
Additionally, Kodiak is developing a third investigational medicine, KSI-101, a novel anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific protein, the unconjugated protein portion of KSI-501. Kodiak intends to develop KSI-101 for the treatment of retinal inflammatory diseases, as currently there are no available intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina.
Kodiak has expanded its early research pipeline of duet and triplet inhibitors that embed small molecules and other bioactive molecules in the biopolymer backbone to provide a high drug-antibody ratio (“DAR”). The diverse bioactives are designed to be released over time to achieve sustained inhibition of targeted biological pathways. We believe this unique combination of high DAR and extended therapeutic benefit offers potential for broad and important utility for multifactorial ophthalmic and systemic diseases.
Recent Updates
Tarcocimab Clinical Program Summary and Update
Kodiak’s lead clinical program tarcocimab is an investigational anti-VEGF therapy built on Kodiak’s Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate (“ABC”) Platform and is designed to maintain potent and effective drug levels in ocular tissues for longer than existing available agents. Kodiak’s objective with tarcocimab is to enable earlier treatment and prevention of vision loss for patients with diabetic retinopathy and to develop a new durability agent to improve outcomes for patients with retinal vascular diseases.
To date, tarcocimab has been studied in six pivotal clinical studies: Phase 3 GLOW1 study in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (“NPDR”), Phase 3 BEACON study in retinal vein occlusion (“RVO”), Phase 3 DAYLIGHT study in wet age-related macular degeneration (“wet AMD”), Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies with identical study design in diabetic macular edema (“DME”), and Phase 2/3 DAZZLE study in wet AMD. Of the six registrational studies, GLOW1, BEACON and DAYLIGHT successfully met the primary endpoint. More information about study design and results from each individual pivotal study are summarized below:
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GLOW1 – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy without DME
The Phase 3 GLOW1 study was a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal superiority study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in treatment-naïve patients with moderately severe to severe NPDR. Patients were randomized to receive either tarcocimab every six months after initiating doses given at baseline, 8 weeks and 20 weeks into the study, or to receive sham injections. The primary endpoint was at one year.
On November 6, 2023, Kodiak announced that GLOW1 met its primary endpoint of the proportion of patients with at least a 2-step improvement on the Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) score, a grading system measuring the degree of retinopathy. Tarcocimab achieved a 29-fold increased response rate ratio, with 41.1% of evaluable patients on tarcocimab demonstrating at least 2-step improvement versus 1.4% of evaluable patients in the sham group (p less than 0.0001). Visual acuity and retinal anatomy were improved and stable with tarcocimab on its extended-dosing intervals. At one year, GLOW1 also met its key secondary endpoint of greater reductions in the proportion of patients developing sight-threatening complications (such as diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy), versus sham, demonstrating an 89% decreased risk, achieving 21.0% versus 2.3% (p less than 0.0001). Tarcocimab also showed a 95% risk reduction in the development of DME, versus sham, from 13.7% on sham versus 0.7% on tarcocimab. The rates of serious ocular adverse events and intraocular inflammation in patients treated with tarcocimab and sham were similar.
BEACON – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Retinal Vein Occlusion
The Phase 3 BEACON study was a randomized, double-masked, multicenter, active comparator-controlled study in treatment naïve patients with vision loss and macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion, including both branch ("BRVO") and central ("CRVO") subtypes. In the initial six months of the study, patients received tarcocimab on a fixed every-8-week dosing regimen following 2 monthly loading doses or aflibercept 2mg on a fixed monthly dosing regimen per its label. In the second six months of the study, tarcocimab and aflibercept were tested head-to-head according to a pro re nata (“PRN") protocol in which patients in both groups were treated only when disease reactivated according to matched predefined disease activity criteria.
In August 2022, Kodiak announced that the BEACON study met the primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity change from baseline at week 24 for subjects given tarcocimab every two months after 2 monthly loading doses compared to subjects given monthly aflibercept.
On September 7, 2023, Kodiak announced new one-year results from the BEACON study. Tarcocimab demonstrated matched efficacy with differentiated durability versus aflibercept in the head-to-head comparison. After 4 initiating doses in the first 6 months, 47% of tarcocimab-treated patients required no additional injections in the second 6 months while matching the vision and anatomic outcomes of aflibercept-treated patients. Despite receiving 6 initiating monthly doses, only 37% of aflibercept patients were injection free in the second half of the study. 77% of tarcocimab treated patients received 5 or fewer doses in year one, while 93% of aflibercept treated patients received 6 or more doses. BRVO patients received a median of 4.0 injections on tarcocimab versus 7.0 injections of aflibercept. Despite materially fewer injections in tarcocimab treated patients, vision outcomes favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 76.6 letters versus 75.6 letters for aflibercept treated patients. All RVO patients received a median of 5.0 injections on tarcocimab versus 7.0 injections of aflibercept. Despite materially fewer injections in tarcocimab treated patients, vision outcomes favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 74.6 letters versus 74.3 letters for aflibercept treated patients.
Safety and tolerability were comparable between tarcocimab and aflibercept. Intraocular inflammation (IOI) rate was comparable between groups (tarcocimab 2.5% vs aflibercept 0.7%). No cases of inflammation associated with vascular occlusion or vasculitis were reported.
DAYLIGHT – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Wet AMD
The DAYLIGHT study was a randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a high intensity dosing regimen of tarcocimab in 557 treatment-naïve subjects with wet AMD. On July 24, 2023, Kodiak announced that the DAYLIGHT study met the primary endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity gains at year 1 for tarcocimab dosed monthly compared to aflibercept dosed every 8 weeks following 3 monthly loading doses. Intraocular inflammation occurred in 3.3% of patients treated with monthly tarcocimab and 0.4% of patients treated with aflibercept with no vasculitis or occlusion.
GLEAM / GLIMMER – Paired Phase 3 Studies in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Diabetic Macular Edema
The GLEAM and GLIMMER studies were identically designed, randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, durability and safety of tarcocimab in 460 and 457 treatment-naïve subjects with DME, respectively, run in parallel.
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On July 24, 2023, Kodiak announced that although high proportions of patients on meaningfully longer treatment intervals were observed with tarcocimab, with half of patients on every 24-week dosing at the primary endpoint, the GLEAM and GLIMMER studies did not meet their primary efficacy endpoints of showing non-inferior visual acuity gains for tarcocimab dosed every 8 to 24 weeks after 3 monthly loading doses compared to aflibercept given every 8 weeks after 5 monthly loading doses. At the primary efficacy endpoint of the GLEAM study, patients treated with tarcocimab gained an observed average of 6.4 eye chart letters (to 73.1 letters), compared with 10.3 letters for patients treated with aflibercept (to 76.5 letters). In GLIMMER, patients treated with tarcocimab gained an observed average of 7.4 eye chart letters at the primary endpoint (to 72.5 letters) compared with 12.2 letters (to 76.4 letters) for patients treated with aflibercept.
An unexpected increase in cataract adverse events was reported over time in the tarcocimab arms of both GLEAM and GLIMMER, with 19% on tarcocimab versus 9% on aflibercept at the primary endpoint based on the pooled safety population. Kodiak’s evaluation suggested that the decline in visual acuity associated with cataracts likely contributed meaningfully to the failure of each study.
Half of tarcocimab treated patients in the GLEAM and GLIMMER studies were on every 24-week dosing at the primary endpoint, two-thirds achieved at least one 6-month dosing interval during the studies, and three-quarters achieved at least one 5-month or longer treatment interval. Intraocular inflammation was rare, occurring in 1.3% and 0.2% of tarcocimab and aflibercept treated patients, respectively. No cases of intraocular inflammation with vasculitis or vascular occlusion were observed.
DAZZLE – Phase 2b/3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Wet AMD
The DAZZLE study was a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal study designed to evaluate the durability, efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in patients with treatment-naïve wet AMD. In February 2022 Kodiak announced that this initial pivotal study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity gains for subjects dosed on extended regimens every 12-, 16- or 20 weeks with tarcocimab compared to subjects given aflibercept every 8 weeks. Following this announcement, Kodiak discontinued the study and concluded remaining trial-associated activities.
Given we have three successful Phase 3 studies across three different diseases, an additional successful pivotal study in one of these indications is required for regulatory approval. We believe tarcocimab demonstrated strong and consistent durability of approximately 6 months for the majority of patients and favorable safety across the full pivotal program, and we believe tarcocimab has the potential to become an important medicine for patients and a meaningfully differentiated product in the marketplace. Therefore, we have activated GLOW2, a Phase 3 study in diabetic retinopathy (“DR”). The GLOW2 study has a similar design as GLOW1 with the benefit of an additional, third monthly loading dose (weeks 0, 4 and 8). We discussed the study design with the FDA, and the study is currently recruiting patients.
Additionally, in light of the importance of wet AMD in today’s anti-VEGF market, we also plan to study tarcocimab as a second investigational arm in the KSI-501 Phase 3 DAYBREAK study to evaluate its durability, strengthen its competitive position in wet AMD and bolster our ex-US regulatory dossier. We are discussing the study design of DAYBREAK with the FDA and plan to initiate the study as soon as regulatory alignment is completed, which we hope is mid-2024.
We made adjustments to the tarcocimab product that improve the manufacturability in a prefilled syringe and we believe may also enhance the utility of the product. We believe now is the time to implement these changes given the additional clinical studies we plan to conduct, and the FDA has agreed that these additional clinical studies should be sufficient to bridge the former material to the go-to-market material we would like to commercialize going forward. Both GLOW2 and DAYBREAK will be run using our go-to-market formulation of tarcocimab.
Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug Substance Manufacturing
In August 2020, we entered into a manufacturing agreement with Lonza Ltd (“Lonza”) for the clinical and commercial supply of the Company’s antibody biopolymer conjugate drug substance which included a custom-built manufacturing facility. The manufacturing agreement has an initial term of 8 years, and the Company has the right to extend the term up to a total of 16 years. The Company and Lonza each have the ability to terminate this agreement upon the occurrence of certain events.
In April 2021, the agreement was amended to provide for greater manufacturing flexibility, to define a comprehensive mandate as an antibody biopolymer conjugates manufacturing facility to be used for the Company’s antibody biopolymer conjugates pipeline, at clinical as well as commercial scales, across a broad capacity range under the tight quality controls required for ophthalmology and retinal medicines, and to allow for future process and equipment changes as needed.
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Under the agreement, Kodiak and Lonza planned a custom-built facility (“Ursus”) dedicated to the commercial-scale manufacturing of Kodiak’s drug substance. In January 2023, the custom-built manufacturing suite Ursus was commissioned as a cGMP facility. Kodiak worked together with Lonza and regulatory authorities to obtain approval for Ursus, and we released our first commercial scale cGMP batch of tarcocimab in July 2023. In October 2023, Kodiak made a final payment of $26.8 million to Lonza for final activation of Ursus. Separately, tarcocimab drug product based on our go-to-market formulation was released in March 2024 and is ready for use in the GLOW2 and DAYBREAK pivotal studies.
KSI-501 Clinical Program Update
KSI-501 is a first-in-class bispecific molecule designed to inhibit two mechanisms implicated in retinal diseases: vascular endothelial growth factor (“VEGF”) and interleukin-6 (“IL-6”). IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and growth factor implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple retinal diseases and, in conditions for which anti-VEGF treatment is used, elevated levels of ocular IL-6 have been associated with poor anti-VEGF treatment response. The bispecific mechanism of action of KSI-501 is designed to provide potent inhibition of (i) VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and vascular permeability through a soluble decoy receptor inhibiting the binding of VEGF-A and PLGF to their cognate receptors and (ii) IL-6 mediated inflammation through an antibody that binds soluble interleukin-6, inhibiting its binding to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors. In cell-based assays, KSI-501 inhibited angiogenesis and also normalized inner and outer blood retinal barriers; dual inhibition of VEGF and IL-6 by KSI-501 conferred superior normalization of cell morphology and junctional biology compared to either anti-VEGF or anti-IL-6 monotherapy. We believe KSI-501 has the potential to become a new category of retinal medicines with greater therapeutic efficacy than existing therapies.
Kodiak intends to develop KSI-501 as two therapeutic programs in parallel, KSI-501 (formerly KSI-501ABC) and KSI-101 (formerly KSI-501P), to address different unmet needs.
KSI-501
KSI-501 is an anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific antibody biopolymer conjugate built on the ABC platform and is being developed for high prevalence retinal vascular diseases to address the unmet needs of targeting multiple biologies and extended durability. A Phase 1 trial was conducted to evaluate its safety, tolerability and bioactivity in DME patients. In February 2024, the Phase 1 study results were presented at the Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration 2024 Virtual Meeting. Kodiak believes the Phase 1 study met its objectives: 1) repeated monthly dosing of KSI-501 was safe and well tolerated; 2) KSI-501 demonstrated bioactivity in both functional (vision) and anatomical (OCT CST) measures.
Kodiak intends to advance KSI-501 into a Phase 3 study DAYBREAK in 2024 to evaluate its efficacy, durability and safety in wet AMD. The DAYBREAK study is intended to be a non-inferiority study evaluating KSI-501 dosed every 4 to 24 weeks, compared to aflibercept dosed per label. The DAYBREAK study will use an enhanced formulation of KSI-501 educated from tarcocimab’s commercial manufacturing scale-up. We are in the process of obtaining regulatory feedback on the study design and intend to initiate the study as soon as regulatory alignment is completed, targeting mid-2024.
KSI-101
KSI-101 is the unconjugated protein portion of KSI-501 and is a novel bispecific protein targeting IL-6 and VEGF. We intend to develop KSI-101 for patients who have retinal fluid and inflammation. Currently there are no available intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina. We believe that retinal inflammatory conditions represent a new market segment separate from the established anti-VEGF market. KSI-101 is a clinical prospect with opportunities and risks uncoupled from the ABC Platform, and as such is an important part of our late-phase portfolio. We intend to initiate a dose-finding Phase 1b study in the second quarter of 2024 to evaluate its safety and tolerability and identify two dose levels to progress into pivotal studies. We are currently in the process of obtaining regulatory feedback on the design of the pivotal program, and we hope to initiate dual Phase 2b/3 studies later in 2024.
KSI-501 and KSI-101 manufacturing
We have been progressing the manufacturing of KSI-501 and KSI-101 in preparation for the anticipated clinical studies. Clinical material for both KSI-501 (50 mg/mL strength in our enhanced formulation) and KSI-101 (100 mg/mL strength) were successfully manufactured in the first quarter of 2024.
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Technology Platform Development
We continued progressing our technology development with our “duet” and “triplet” inhibitors that embed small molecules and other bioactive molecules in the biopolymer backbone to provide a high drug-antibody ratio ("DAR"). The diverse bioactives are designed to be released over time to achieve sustained inhibition of targeted biological pathways. The biopolymer embedded with its poly-pharmacy payloads is conjugated to a protein therapeutic to form a “triplet” for tissue and cell targeting or omits the protein therapeutic to form a “duet”. We believe this unique combination of high DAR and extended therapeutic benefit offers potential for broad and important utility for multifactorial ophthalmic and systemic diseases.
Digital Health Platform Development
We are developing a visual engagement technology and imager (“VETi”) designed by Kodiak engineers initially to be used by eye care professionals for vision and ophthalmic anatomical examination, diagnosis and monitoring. Our longer-term goal with VETi, built with semiconductor technologies, is to deliver a wearable device for long-term health engagement and monitoring.
We believe the Kodiak VETi platform as a medical engagement and imaging platform has the potential to disrupt ophthalmology clinical trials by enabling new trial endpoints, thereby enabling faster and more cost-effective medicines development in ophthalmic disease, an area that historically requires lengthy and expensive trials. VETi may also aid in market build and shaping for undertreated or underdiagnosed diseases, such as diabetic eye diseases where Kodiak’s product candidates tarcocimab and KSI-501 are being studied and where early treatment and prevention may allow patients to achieve better outcomes.
Financial Operations Overview
Since inception in June 2009, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to discovering and developing product candidates and manufacturing processes, building our ABC Platform and assembling our core capabilities in drug development for high prevalence retinal diseases. We plan to continue to use third-party contract research organizations, or CROs, to carry out our preclinical and clinical development. We rely on third-party contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, to manufacture and supply our preclinical and clinical materials to be used during the development of our product candidates. We continue to invest in commercial manufacturing capacity. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any product revenue since inception.
We have funded our operations primarily through the sale and issuance of equity securities. In October 2018, we completed our initial public offering, or IPO. In December 2019, we completed a follow-on offering. In November 2020, we completed a second follow-on offering.
We have incurred significant operating losses to date and expect that our operating losses will increase significantly as we advance our product candidates, through preclinical and clinical development, seek regulatory approval, prepare for and, if approved, proceed to commercialization; broaden and improve our platform; acquire, discover, validate and develop additional product candidates; obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property portfolio; and hire additional personnel. We expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Our net loss was $260.5 million, $333.8 million and $267.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $1,152.5 million.
Our ability to generate product revenue will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of our product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the sale of equity, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. Adequate funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as, and when, needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue the development and commercialization of tarcocimab for RVO, wet AMD, or DR or delay our efforts to advance and expand our product pipeline.
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $285.5 million.
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Components of Operating Results
Research and Development Expenses
Substantially all of our research and development expenses consist of expenses incurred in connection with the development of our product candidates and ABC Platform. These expenses include certain payroll and personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, for our research and product development employees; laboratory supplies and facility costs; consulting costs; contract manufacturing and fees paid to CROs to conduct certain research and development activities on our behalf; and allocated overhead, including rent, equipment, depreciation and utilities. We expense both internal and external research and development expenses as they are incurred. Costs of certain activities, such as manufacturing and preclinical and clinical studies, are generally recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks. Nonrefundable payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are recognized as expense as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed.
We are focusing substantially all of our resources and development efforts on the development of our product candidates. Predicting the timing or the final cost to complete our clinical program or validation of our commercial manufacturing and supply processes is difficult and delays may occur because of many factors, including factors outside of our control. For example, if the FDA or other regulatory authorities were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate, or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. Furthermore, we are unable to predict when or if our drug candidates will receive regulatory approval with any certainty.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist principally of payroll and personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation; professional fees for legal, consulting, accounting and tax services; compliance costs associated with being a public company; allocated overhead, including rent, equipment, depreciation and utilities; and other general operating expenses not otherwise classified as research and development expenses.
Interest Income
Interest income consists primarily of interest income earned on our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists primarily of the change in fair value and settlement of derivative contracts, tax expense and the amortized issuance costs from the liability related to the future sale of royalties to Baker Bros. Advisors, LP ("BBA") in 2019.
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | Dollar | Percent | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 206,298 | $ | 267,591 | $ | (61,293 | ) | (23 | %) | |||||||
| General and administrative | 71,023 | 73,788 | (2,765 | ) | (4 | %) | ||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (277,321 | ) | (341,379 | ) | 64,058 | (19 | %) | |||||||||
| Interest income | 16,733 | 7,071 | 9,662 | 137 | % | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | (13 | ) | (18 | ) | 5 | * | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | 110 | 503 | (393 | ) | * | |||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (260,491 | ) | $ | (333,823 | ) | $ | 73,332 | (22 | %) |
* Change is not meaningful
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses decreased $61.3 million, or 23%, during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022.
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The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | Dollar | ||||||||||
| Tarcocimab program expenses | $ | 90,513 | $ | 132,953 | $ | (42,440 | ) | |||||
| KSI-501 program expenses | 7,264 | 6,964 | 300 | |||||||||
| ABC Platform and other program expenses | 20,997 | 27,409 | (6,412 | ) | ||||||||
| Payroll and personnel expenses | 65,382 | 79,314 | (13,932 | ) | ||||||||
| Facilities and other research and development expenses | 22,142 | 20,951 | 1,191 | |||||||||
| Total research and development expenses | $ | 206,298 | $ | 267,591 | $ | (61,293 | ) |
Tarcocimab program expenses decreased $42.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily driven by the wind-down of the pivotal clinical studies in the tarcocimab development program.
The Phase 1 study of KSI-501 began enrolling patients with DME in the beginning of the second quarter of 2023. KSI-501 program expenses increased $0.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to clinical trial progression, partially offset by a decrease in manufacturing activities.
ABC Platform and other program expenses decreased $6.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to timing of manufacturing runs.
Payroll and personnel expenses decreased $13.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily driven by forfeitures related to stock-based compensation expense.
Facilities and other research and development expenses increased $1.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, due to a variety of activities including the expense related to the lease component of the Ursus manufacturing facility, which commenced in 2023.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased $2.8 million, or 4%, during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily driven by a decrease in professional fees for consulting, legal and accounting expenses.
Interest Income
Interest income increased $9.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, which was mainly attributable to higher interest rates earned in 2023.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net decreased $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, which was mainly attributable to gain from settlement of foreign currency forward contracts in 2022.
Comparison of the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources; Plan of Operations
Sources of Liquidity
We have funded our operations primarily through the sale and issuance of common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock, convertible notes, warrants and the sale of royalties. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $285.5 million. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to support our operations into 2026.
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Future Funding Requirements
We have incurred net losses since our inception. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we had net losses of $260.5 million, $333.8 million, and $267.0 million, of which $88.6 million, $106.0 million, and $61.4 million related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense, respectively. We expect to continue to incur additional losses in future periods. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $1,152.5 million. We believe that the cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating and capital expenditure requirements at least 12 months following the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could deplete our available capital resources sooner than we expect. Because of the risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of product candidates, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on and could increase significantly as a result of many factors.
To date, we have not generated any product revenue. We do not expect to generate any product revenue unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize any of our product candidates or enter into collaborative agreements with third parties, and we do not know when, or if, either will occur. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect our losses to increase as we continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. We are subject to all of the risks typically related to the development of new product candidates, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business.
We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could deplete our capital resources sooner than we expect. The timing and amount of our operating expenditures and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
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the scope, timing, rate of progress and costs of our drug discovery, preclinical development activities, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;
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the number and scope of clinical programs we decide to pursue;
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the scope and costs of manufacturing development and commercial manufacturing activities;
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the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;
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the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;
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the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;
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our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;
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our efforts to enhance operational systems and our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel, including personnel to support the development of our product candidates;
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the costs associated with being a public company; and
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the cost and timing associated with commercializing our product candidates, if they receive marketing approval.
A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we will continue to require additional capital to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such operating plans. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us additional covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or additional debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to us or our stockholders. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be required to delay, reduce, or terminate some or all of our development programs and clinical trials. We may also be required to sell or license rights to our product candidates in certain territories or indications to others that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves.
The significant uncertainties caused by any public health crises, the on-going geopolitical conflicts, inflation, rising interest rates, bank failures, ongoing supply chain disruptions and volatile equity capital markets may also negatively impact our operations and capital resources. We and our key clinical and manufacturing partners have been able to continue to advance our operations, and we continue to monitor the impact of the aforementioned events on our ability to continue the
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development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. One or more of these events may ultimately have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and operating plans.
Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategies. See the section titled “Risk Factors” for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.
Summary Statement of Cash Flows
The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented below (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | (154,183 | ) | $ | (206,459 | ) | ||
| Investing activities | 249,226 | (336,513 | ) | |||||
| Financing activities | 31 | 1,895 | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 95,074 | $ | (541,077 | ) |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities decreased to $154.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to a decrease in net loss during the year driven by the maturation of the tarcocimab clinical program and timing of manufacturing activities. Cash used in operating activities was also driven by changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was $249.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily related to net maturities of marketable securities of $290.7 million, partially offset by capital expenditures of $41.4 million during the year.
Material Cash Requirements and Material Known Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Operating Leases
Operating lease payments represent our commitment for future minimum rent made under non-cancelable leases for our corporate offices in Palo Alto, California, office and laboratory space in Visp, Switzerland, and related to our Ursus facility. Total future undiscounted payments for our operating lease obligations as of December 31, 2023 were $105.0 million, of which $14.8 million is due in the next twelve months.
Manufacturing Agreements
The Company has entered into service and equipment purchase agreements in the normal course of business with various providers, which can contain minimum commitments or other noncancelable obligations.
As of December 31, 2023, future contractual obligations related to these manufacturing agreements that may be subject to cancellation fees was $15.4 million, of which $11.0 million is expected to be due in the next twelve months.
In addition, future manufacturing contractual obligations totaling approximately 123.0 million Swiss Francs may be incurred for the potential clinical and commercial supply of tarcocimab and other antibody biopolymer conjugates medicines based on the agreements with Lonza for production at the Ursus Facility.
For further information on our leases and manufacturing agreements, refer to Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Clinical Agreements
The Company may incur potential contingent payments upon our achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, as applicable. Due to the uncertainty of the achievement and timing of the events requiring payment under these agreements, the amounts to be paid by us are not fixed or determinable at this time.
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Critical Accounting Policies, Significant Judgments and Use of Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience 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 value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates.
Accrued Research and Development
Our accrued research and development costs are estimated based on the level of services performed, including the phase or completion of events, and contracted costs. Accrued clinical trial and related costs are estimated using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided by outside service providers regarding their actual costs incurred. Management determined accrual estimates through reports from and discussions with clinical personnel and outside service providers as to the progress of trials, or the services completed. The estimated costs of research and development provided, but not yet invoiced, are included in accrued liabilities and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the original estimates, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. Payments made to third parties under these arrangements in advance of the performance of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses and other assets until the services are rendered.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure and recognize compensation expense for all stock‑based awards made to employees, directors and non‑employees, based on estimated fair values of the awards on the grant date and recognized using the straight‑line method over the requisite service period.
The fair value of options is estimated on the grant date using the Black‑Scholes option valuation model or Monte Carlo simulation model. The calculation of stock‑based compensation expense requires that we make certain assumptions and judgments about a number of complex and subjective variables used in the valuation model, including the expected term, expected volatility of the underlying common stock and risk‑free interest rate. Our stock-based awards are subject to either service, performance-based or market-based vesting conditions. We evaluate whether achievement of the performance conditions is probable and record expense over the appropriate service period based on this assessment.
Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value and ultimately how much stock-based compensation expense is recognized. These inputs are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop.
See Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements for stock-based compensation expense and related assumptions used in determining the fair value of our awards.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the estimated undiscounted net cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are deemed not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. We applied significant judgment in determining we have one asset group and that there is no lower level to group assets for impairment testing. The determination of the asset group primarily considers the interdependencies of our assets, shared cost structure, and the interrelated future cash flow generation. We assessed the recoverability of our asset group in 2023 based on our decision to wind-down the tarcocimab program following the topline results from the Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies. We determined that the estimated undiscounted net cash flows which the asset group is forecasted to generate exceeded the carrying amount of the asset group and therefore, no impairment loss was recognized in 2023.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is discussed under Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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